This is my hidden treasure in the Oak Park area. From the outside it doesn't look like much but the interior is nicely done, classy and stylish. This was my second time there and again the chef brought us two free appetizers just to taste his new inventions. The quality of the specialized Maki rolls is very good. I would specially recommend the maki roll. the baked surface gives it an almost un-sushi taste :) I am definitely coming back!
(5)
Neuman K.
The best in the area. Great servers and fresh sushi. Chef Stefano is the best! Try their Jalapeno pepper tuna! Tons of regular customers.Why? Food and friendly people. You can't go wrong in Fuji Grill. Ask for Chef Stefano's special soy sauce. The best!
(5)
Todd J.
The Wasabi Roll was delicious, so we ordered two! The chef treated us with a couple complimentary dishes which were fantastic. Highly recommend!
(5)
Shawn H.
Service was beyond excellent. Staff was very friendly and quite attentive. We were given several free samples of new dishes. Don't be put off by the fact it is in a strip mall, the food was delicious. As much as I enjoy Sen in Oak Park, I'll be choosing Fuji Grill because it is less crowded, has better service and quite frankly was better food.
(5)
Eric T.
I've been a fan of Fuji Grill for years, although it wasn't without its issues. It's under new management, however, and it has changed... For the better! The last few times I've been here the food and the service have been exceptional. The new chef is committed to very fresh fish and interesting new dishes (the toro appetizer is excellent). It's easy to overlook this place due to its odd location, but give it a shot if you haven't lately - it's my new favorite sushi place in Oak Park.
(5)
Little R.
I thought this place was pretty good. Cozy, comfortable ambiance. Service that has its heart in the right place, even if slow. Fresh, tasty sushi. It's a great find on Harlem. Definitely check it out if you're in the area.
(4)
Kelli A.
Do NOT let the outside appearance of the strip mall influence you. This is the absolute best sushi I have had in the Oak Park area, and will go back frequently! The service and ambiance were excellent, casual, and very comfortable. I can't say enough how much we enjoyed the rolls, especially the Godzilla! Wow!!! And the specialty rolls are very large, so be aware when you order. HIGHY recommend Fuji Grill!!!
(5)
Peter H.
service was spectacular, chef sent over two freebies, white tuna and jalapeno somethin or other. got some specialty rolls, ordered WAY TOO MUCH. do not let the location fool you.
(4)
Cheree M.
My mom and sister are regulars here and had been raving about this place for weeks, so finally I joined them on a Saturday for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised. Totally taken aback by the interior I would have never guessed it looked so nice from the outside. The outside decor does NOT do this place justice. So the food...When we arrived we were greeted immediately and served a complimentary chef's special appetizer. Delicious! I order the bbq eel roll and three pieces of smoked salmon while my mother and sister enjoyed lunch boxes. I also ordered a to-go order for my husband and our total bill was about $75, which wasn't bad for 4 people. Over-all I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely be back. The seafood was fresh, good portions and very tasty. Service was really good too.
(4)
Susannah Y.
I just had a great dinner at Fuji Grill. The service was excellent and the food was oh so yummy. We were served complimentary appetizers (thank you very much). I had 7 pieces of sushi, Cali roll and the Fuji roll. It was such a nice dinner to end my day!
(4)
Meg X.
I went here with my friends. We started a dinner club and go to a new place every month. I hate fish, and I hate going to sushi places and ordering chicken or beef because everyone acts like it's some great shame to not like fish. Then it becomes a game of "Oh but you'll LOVE this, just try it!" "No, thanks." "No, I know you said you hate fish, but try this! You'll be surprised!" Sometimes I take a bite to shut them up. Later, with that fish taste still in my mouth (mixed with the taste of the two pieces of gum I chewed to get rid of the taste) I sit morosely on the couch staring at nothing, rubbing my belly and making a face that has been described as "pained." It was the same with this place. The other six or seven people there all got sushi, and they loved it. The waiter was friendly and attentive. The place was practically deserted so we got four star service. I had a steak dish and it was ok but not filling. The place looks scary as hell from the outside but inside it's ok. A little outdated on the decor but clean and respectable. So, if you like sushi, this is a good place (according to my dinner companions). Don't let the strip-mall setting fool you.
(3)
Brianne W.
My go to for maki take-out. I have never dined in, but the interior looks nice and the cashier is always pleasant. Always fresh and delicious....great specialty rolls too!
(5)
Nicole L.
I'll jump on the Fuji bandwagon! A friend and I just went here for lunch and it was wonderful! We came right when they opened and we were the only people there. After we ordered the waitress brought over the chef's specialty of the day. It was a jalapeno popper with tuna and cream cheese covered in teryaki sauce with another sauce as well. It was absolutely delicious! He got the crunch salad and I got the Crazy Chicago Roll. Both were large and filling and ultimately, very satisfying. About 1/2 way through our meal the sushi chef himself came out with two small sashimi pieces of salmon belly with a paper thin slice of jalapeno on top and presented in a small amount of soy sauce. He asked us to try it as he'd just cut it at that moment. It had wonderful fatty marbling, the color was pale salmon pink and it was so velvety and fresh we were sad it was gone so quickly. I'm still thinking about that salmon! The chef and server both were so happy and friendly - they made the meal that much better. We'll definitely be heading back to Fuji!
(5)
Caroline B.
Fuji Grill, my new favorite sushi spot in Oak Park. They would have a full 5 stars if only they delivered :( I have dined in and gotten carry out and both times was happy with my order. I dined in on a Thursday night around 7 and had the whole place to myself, which was a little disconcerting not going to lie. It ended up working in our favor though because we received a couple items on the house such as the jalapeno appetizer and red vanilla bean ice cream after our meal. I will definitely be coming back here, even if I have to drive there myself.
(4)
E.A. H.
Honestly...skip it. Go to Sagano in Oak Park...or Sen. Or drive out to Elmhurst to go to Sushi Nest. Hell...pick up grocery store sushi at the Whole Foods. I used to go to Fuji Grill pretty regularly because it was the only nearby sushi place. But last time I was there with a group of friends...I had an off piece of sushi. Plain salmon sushi. Off. What gives? It put one of the diners who wasn't a big fish fan to begin with completely off sushi to this day. Besides the "off" salmon...I found most of the rest of their sushi/maki/sashimi menu rather uninspiring. And they're slow. Painfully so. Their seating capacity is not proportional to the number of people they have working at the sushi bar or in the kitchen. The only reason it doesn't get one star...is that I've never had an issue with non-sushi items on the menu. I'd still go here if I was in the mood for teriyaki chicken. I hear there's a new owner...so I might...MIGHT try it again. But after having funny fish once...it's really hard to want to go back.
(2)
Janelle P.
Awesome!
(5)
Jacob G.
Don't let the location of this place deceive you, it's the best sushi in the area. I've been here only a couple of times, but the service is always extremely friendly, food is fresh, and I've never had a roll I didn't like. The best part is the chef will come out and give you a free appetizer and talk to you, something you don't see at many places. Each time I've gone he's given us two free appetizers which were both delicious.
(5)
CJ S.
Attention all sushi chefs! Customers don't want to see you place your phone on the sushi board. I don't care if you do clean it before and after you make sushi. I've tried going here once before as the hours said they open at 11am. However, when I got there I was greeted with a sign stating they they open at 5pm Monday thru Friday. So I came back the next day after calling to confirm their hours of business. Having been to many sushi establishments, it was to my surprise when I walked in to a few customers and their excitement over the food. I thought "I may have stumbled on a hidden gem." Then I asked, "what did you all have?" Non of them actually had sushi, which was why I was there. I sat at the sushi bar, which was very sticky. Then I was put in a panic state. I took the black napkin off the plate and a few black pellets fell on the counter. I was disgusted as I thought they were something else. I wanted to run out. I've worked at a pet store for many years. so, upon looking closer I got a good laugh, it turned out to be those little black seeds you see on sushi rolls like in the grocery store. I was given a free appetizer, and it was good. The sushi was okay. I had one roll that tasted so fishy I just wanted to spit it out. I ordered 3 rolls and a drink. All under $40 so that was good. Not sure if I would go back anytime soon or at all. Food was okay. Chef Stefano was great, Just keep your phone off the sushi board. Not busy at all. I was the only customer after the couple there before me left. Not sure what star rating to give, so three is fair I think. It's not bad, and not great. It's okay.
(3)
Lisa A.
What a stunning surprise to see such a high rating from YELPERS! and I had such a bad experience. There were 4 adults and 2 children in our group and service was average. To start they did serve us a free appetizer which was nice. It was stuffed Jalapenos with cream cheese...not spicy at all. Their tea was served cold and when we asked for really hot tea, she brought out more cold tea...what is an Asian restaurant doing serving lukewarm tea? We ordered Agedashi Tofu which is a favorite of mine and they were out of Tofu on a Saturday night? The Gomae appetizer was tasty. My husband had the steak bento combination box and the meat was cold and tough. The tempura style vegetables were served with a soggy batter and no Panko was used. I shared a Love Boat sushi platter for $59.95 and there wasn't that much sushi on the platter. 12-14 pieces of sushi, 4 pieces of sashimi, 1 spicy tuna roll and 2 small futomaki rolls and 2 pieces of Ikura that was by request. (they were nice to substitute) I would have done better ordering one of the sushi combinations. I was very surprised the sushi rice was hard and tasteless based on the ratings of this place. I needed to end my dinner nicely so went out for dessert right after this to Petersen's.
(1)
Deena H.
This place really is misjudged because it is in this tiny plaza with a JJ fish and a subway so you immediately think fish sticks. But honestly once you give it a chance you will be happily surprised. The chef is super smiley and funny. They have this deep fried jalapeño thing I can't remember the name and it was amazing. It is definitely number 2 to sen in my opinion but worth it.
(4)
Katelyn Z.
My meal was great I normally don't try new things but I got a veggie dumpling starter and the chicken noodles it was good and I was celebrating my friends birthday who loves it here
(4)
Don J.
Don't let this places location scare you. Quality food, great chef. I have eaten here many times the sushi never has failed. Recently I ordered the steak bento box. It was great... my only gripe was the steak was not so good. Very tough very chewy. Other then the steak everything was outstanding. My favorite sushi place by far!
(4)
Sarah S.
I got super excited when I found all the great reviews for Fuji Grill. How could I have missed it for all these years? Turns out because it is tucked away in an unsightly strip mall. It is a very nice, small, traditionally decorated Japanese restaurant. We went for lunch and were the only ones in the room, which was a little bit awkward. The menu is pretty standard Japanese food with equivalent pricing to other local sushi places. The lunch menu has substantially more combo options for a bento box than other local places, which is notable. It combines various options of rolls, nigiri and sashimi with some tempura, soup and salad. The service was friendly and quick. The chef was also very friendly and recommended the salmon since it was extremely fresh. And it was. This place excels at fish quality. The sashimi was outstanding, as were the rolls. The miso soup and hot tea were standard. I was not impressed with the tempura; the batter was very heavy. I also was disappointed with the salad dressing because it was very salty (heavier on soy, less emphasis on ginger/miso). I eat a LOT of Japanese food. I think that if you come to Fugi Grill and order only sushi then you will be very happy with your meal. Other components fell short. It is not my favorite sushi place in the area but I wouldn't mind coming back every once in a while.
(4)
Jasper D.
We had driven by this unassuming spot for years, and we used to laugh, thinking that its strip mall location did not seem like the sort of place for good sushi. Boy, were we wrong! It is a place for GREAT sushi! When my wife and I want to have sushi and sashimi, we come here, We love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chef/owner do his thing. This is a really nice place and the staff is helpful. We just wish it had a full cocktail menu.
(5)
Enzo D.
Based on the high rating on Yelp, I felt excited thinking I found a new hidden gem! You can imagine how disappointed I feel writing this review! 1. The place was freezing! Even with UGG boots on, my feet were ice cold! 2. The customer service was good, the sushi chef prepared a complimentary appetizer for us to try (which was very good). 3. I give high ratings to the vegetable Goyza. Utterly delicious, 4. We ordered Edamame. When we reached the half bowl mark, my friend asks, "what is that?" As she point to a short white 2" object. At first I thought it wAs a worm, but soon found out it was a piece of noodle. That ruined my appetite for the Edamame. We were the first and only customer. Where did this dirty piece of noodle come from? 5. I ordered a beef teriyaki bento box. The beef was so tough that I had to chew for about three minutes and it was still so tough I was afraid to swallow for fear of choking I will not be returning to Fuji a Grill! There are too many other great places to eat in the Oak Park River Forest area.
(1)
Dan H.
From the street, Fuji Grill looks like any other nondescript strip mall restaurant, but inside it is very bright and clean. I don't always enjoy sushi, but everything I sampled here was amazing. Don't miss the jalapeno appetizer.
(5)
Valerie K.
Love this place! I almost always get take-out due to my schedule, and I've never been disappointed. I've had most of the rolls on their menu, and they're all delicious. A couple of times, the chef has thrown in a free appetizer as well. Once as a jalapeño pepper with cream cheese and tuna. YUM! This place is fantastic and very reasonably priced.
(5)
Mojo P.
Visited Fuji Grill for the first time Saturday evening, and I can easily see myself becoming a regular. Amazing food, tremendously good service and I loved everything. Their location is humble, but don't be deceived - this is a hidden gem. We began the meal with a complimentary jalapeño appetizer that was crunchy and savory. Lovely sauce. For appetizers, we enjoyed piping hot miso soup, seaweed salad (which was OMG) and white tuna carpaccio. The carpaccio was exceptional! Loved the warm house sake, too. For dinner we shared four rolls: Rainbow Dragon, Lobster, Kiss of Fire and Smoky Bear. All of them arrived in a very timely manner, and the presentation was lovely - including the dragon saying "hi!" written in hot sauce. All of these were delicious and fresh. Really hit the spot. Service is friendly, charming and attentive, After the meal, the chef sent us a complimentary taste of the house salmon specialty, a marinated strip with roe, and I am definitely coming back for that. It was the bomb! Go, this is the best sushi experience in the Forest Park/Oak Park/River Forest area.
(5)
Dedulax A.
First time, and will surely be back. I had a Philadelphia roll, and Godzilla roll. My partner and I were so full we needed to take a break in between... Yes it was that good!! Go for it. This place is good for dine-in as well. Competitive prices. Parking a plus
(5)
Kayla R.
Don't let the rough exterior fool you! Our go-to spot for great sushi in the area. The pork gyozas are always on point and the chef remembers customers and hooks it up with free jalapeño popper appetizer samples, which are the bomb! The sushi is delicious and lots of choices. They even have sushi making parties!!! And he best part is we have never had to wait for a table! Service is so quick and dining in is a lavish experience!!
(5)
Laura B.
A great find. The waitress was sweet, the food was good, and the portions very generous. We received several complimentary dishes, including a really tasty pickled pepper. I wish that the chef would go a little lighter on the saucing but it's pretty easy to maneuver a bit of mayo off. A little more pricey than I expected but worth every penny.
(4)
Liz G.
Tucked away in a tiny strip mall, we had to pass it and turn around to go there. We met up with friends and sat at the sushi bar. Chef Stefano was wonderful and very attentive. The sushi was to die for. Everything we ate was very fresh and carefully prepared. Its an understatement to say that I'll be back soon.
(5)
Jim O.
Very good sushi! We were last customers on Sunday and the chef/proprietor brought us multiple apps for free and treated us to a saki bomb which he did with us. Everything was delicious and fish seemed fr
(4)
Jay K.
A big fan of this restaurant since the first time i went here. They use the quality fish and always recommend fantastic rolls for me every time i visit. They give a fun show when cutting whole salmon. also Try the nigiris and special rolls!
(5)
Jenni E.
I have passed by this place hundreds of times being from this area, and had never thought of stopping in. However, I saw a sign in the window for lunch specials and I needed lunch... I walked in at noon and it was empty and pretty much stayed that way except for one other small group of people. The waitress was very friendly and accommodating and got my drink and menu over to me quickly. They had a few options to choose from as far as lunch specials went and I settled on a spicy tuna and spicy salmon roll. All of the lunch items come with soup, salad and a couple of tempura veggies. Everything tasted great. I too was surprised with a taste of something sent over from the chef. I thought this was a great touch and really makes you feel special. I thought it was especially nice considering that he sent me something spicy, when I had ordered two spicy rolls. It seems that he customizes the free item to something you would like based on what you ordered. The price was right for lunch and I had a great experience. I would come back again if I was in the area.
(4)
Madeline O.
My family and I go to this restaurant at least once a week. I could sing praises of the service, how wonderful the staff is, and how everything on the menu is simply delicious. I think the best compliment I could give, however, is that I have been a vegetarian (including not eating fish) for 18+ years; I will only ever eat fish from Chef Stefano. My first bite was of the Tuna Takani (a splendid appetizer) and I haven't looked back since! I recommend the tuna/jalapeño appetizer and the sweet potato roll (great for vegetarians!).
(5)
Meghan P.
Highly recommend the jalapeno appetizers and the Crazy Chicago maki. Super fresh food. If it were in the city, it'd be 4-stars, but the fact that this place is in Forest Park, it's clearly deserving of a five-star review. Best sushi near Oak Park that we've experienced... and we've tried a lot!
(5)
Mike D.
This is a great sushi place. You would never suspect it since it is in a mini strip mall. Why would you ever go to a sushi place in a mini strip mall? GO TO THIS PLACE. It is a great sushi place and the fish is so fresh - try the sashimi. The owner typically gives out one or two...or more free dishes to anyone who dines there...And by dishes I don't mean entrees but free appetizers, but who cares...its free and great. It is truly a great experience and I highly recommend trying this place out, you wont be disapointed.
(5)
Dana T.
I'm super snobby about sushi, generally suspicious of any seafood that is more than 30 minutes from an ocean. I moved to Forest Park recently and stumbled on Fuji Grill in my hood. I've been back about ten times since! It's my go-to for all sushi cravings. The reviews posted here are mostly accurate, so I'll just add based on my most recent experience: - The location and ambiance are nothing to write home about (or take a fancy date) but you won't overpay for high quality sushi. I can't stand going into the city and paying $18 for a mediocre spicy tuna roll. There's usually parking in front, which is a plus. It's clean with decent lighting, kind of what you'd expect in a strip mall and the type of hole in the wall sushi bar I like best. - Chef Stefano is very friendly and talented, a great host. Sit at the bar if you can. - Standard beer and sake menu. - I only ordered a non-sushi dinner item once, for takeout, and it wasn't all that impressive for the price. I'll stick with sushi from now on. The rolls and sashimi are all good. Generous nigiri (individual sushi cuts on rice). You can ask for off-menu rolls too. They sometimes have exotic fish but usually it's the staple items that are most popular. Haven't tried the lunch specials, I always go for dinner. - The service from waitstaff has gotten pretty spotty, not sure what's happening there. It happened to me three times in a row now, hopefully will improve. Probably the only strike against the place - I'm pretty patient but it got ridiculous the last time I went, no hot towel, had to ask for water or any kind of liquid (appetizer came before drinks, not good when you are eating jalapeño), had to request check, noticed people at the tables were waiting a long time too and there were only four small parties in the whole place. (Hoping Stefano sees this and hires a better crew.) - Overall, good value for money. Delicious sushi. Nice owner. I'm still a fan!
(4)
AJ L.
Great place, really friendly service, very good fish. Owner was really nice, knew a lot of the regulars here. It was our first time, but we were made to feel very welcome. Sushi was delicious, I had pieces of nigiri -- salmon, yellowtail, tamago and unagi. Good sized pieces, served at the proper temperature (not ice cold!). Owner poured out a round of sake shots at the bar as we were leaving. Nice guy!
(5)
Russell W.
I have been to Fuji several times since I moved to Chicago and it is my favorite sushi place in the west burbs
(5)
Laura G.
Love!!!! Crunch Munch and Stefano are the bomb. Food is always great and fresh. So happy I don't have go to far for some great sushi!
(5)
Frank W.
Absolutely wonderful experience here. Perfect date night spot. Like some of the best sushi places I've ever been, this is a subtle place in a gaudy strip mall. Inside however it is peaceful, elegant, and friendly. The service and food were both superb. The sushi chef was very interactive and sent special dishes to our table. Couldn't have been happier with the experience and finally finding my perfect sushi spot after 6 months in Chicago.
(5)
Sarah C.
Just by looking at the outside, you would never expect that this little restaurant would have such fantastic sushi! I've been here with my friends several times and have never been disappointed with a single dish, the sushi is always fresh, delicious and beautifully prepared and even the yakia soba and chicken teriyaki are amazing. I live walking distance and have literately tried every other asian restaurant in the Forest Park/Oak Park area and this place is hands down, the best. If you're looking for good Japanese food around here, dont bother looking anywhere else.
(5)
Nicolas R.
This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. I have been to many Japanese restaurants all around the world, and the quality cuts, and portions are excellent and generous here. The owner and his staff are warm and inviting, and always seem to recommend exactly what i am in the mood for. The prices are very reasonable. I have not found a better restaurant in the Chicago MSA to date, and have been to several (6-7). I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great cuts of sushi and/or sashimi.
(5)
Christina G.
Fairly solid sushi, pretty yummy, but the one big downfall is location--a small strip mall in Forest Park. So not the most scenic area. Also I've been there many times and I've never seen more than one sushi chef working, which results in longer wait for sushi. Better for take-out in my opinion, but make sure you call 45 minutes ahead.
(3)
Rhonda G.
Let me start off by answering a question that many sushi lovers will ask. Is their anything special about this place that I can't get someplace else? The answer is No. It's pretty good sushi and I have no extreme ravings about it. If you're in the area, perhaps you live or work nearby or you're just driving through, then I say sure head on over to Fuji Grill. It's not crappy food, it's not too expensive, and there are limited options in the area. Yes Oak Park Has Sagano Sushi and Sushi House but to be perfectly honest, those places aren't anything special either and they cost a bit more (especially Sushi House). And yes service can be a bit slow....so choose your time wisely. Ps. they close at 2:30 and don't reopen until 5 for dinner
(4)
Norbert R.
Great Sushi! If you're looking for great sashimi this is the best place. Most sushi restaurants do a small cut but this place gives you half of the best fish quality possible. If you're tired of looking for a sushi place in the west suburbs this is it. Def coming back!
(5)
Bret G.
Get the golden sauce with the rice... Delightful
(5)
Johanna H.
If you are thinking about going to this place, just go! I went for the first time last Thursday. This is only the second sushi place I've been too, so I was worried about my etiquette. The chef and the waiter were so nice, I relaxed immediately. I order Negi Hamachi and Salmon Skin rolls. The waiter was nice and asked if I wanted the regular rolls or hand rolls. He explained the difference to me when I got an extremely confused look on my face. I got the regular roll, but I knew how to eat that. Before I could even think about what to do while waiting for my food, the waiter came back with a sample of their jalapeno pepper tuna appetizer, on the house. It was amazing! I definitely will order it again. Shortly after I finished the appetizer, the two rolls I ordered arrived. They were amazing! I generally have to order Negi Hamachi anywhere I go, it's one of my favorites. It was fresh and wonderful. This was my first time trying a salmon skin roll, and it was wonderful. The pieces were a little bit big for me to handle in one bite, but, honestly, I don't think that's a bad thing. The sushi was well made and there was a lot of it, so who would argue?? The chef and waiter checked on me multiple times during the meal, and were really wonderful about everything. In the end, the two rolls and a sprite *Next time, I'll get a green tea...I wasn't thinking when he asked if I wanted anything to drink* cost about 16 bucks before tip. That's an average for me when I went to the other sushi place I go to downtown. But at this place, the portion was bigger, the place was quiet *I was the only one there, since I got there just as they opened for dinner*, the staff was very attentive, and don't forget the sampler. So, go. Try it out. You won't be let down.
(5)
Nessie V.
Really average. Service was nice. Prices were higher than average. The thing that nixed it for me is that I'm pretty sure they use long grain rice in the maki and not sushi rice.
(3)
Nancy Y.
I had the DonKatsu (pork dish, a personal favorite) and it was among the best I've had, even when traveling in Kyushu. Hubby had the Tempura Udon Noodle Soup, and it was fantastic, too -- great miso broth, good tempura, noodles just right. Yum. We sampled the ahi sushi, which was also outstanding, on a delightful bed of perfectly marinated daikon. And, of course, great beer. We liked Fuji Grill fine before as a settling kind of easy dinner out, but under new management it's risen to near the top. We didn't realize there'd been a management change so went in for our usual favorites,but the new chef and staff have much higher standards and a different menu. Great experience, great food. So glad it's in the neighborhood!
(5)
Chris M.
Excellent excellent!! I had the classic Spider Roll and when I tell it you it was literally the best sushi ive ever had.. it certainly was.. No joke ladies and gents I tried yelp out for a change and they hit a home run this time!
(5)
Matthew M.
ok so everyone is hating on fuji. why ? because the previous owner was a fairly poor sushi man. I went in about 2 months ago and the head chef sent me a few pieces of fish and some oddities. He had noticed i wasn't just a normal roll or salmon guy. I have studied this menu over and over as well as tasted most of it. Everything is great. The new owner orders his fish multiple times a week always trying new ones. He has never given me an "off" piece of fish and will never give me or anyone one. He also has told me and multiple other people in the place if they dislike anything it is free and he will make you whatever you want instead. now im not saying this is the best sushi place in the world because i havent tasted all of them. But if you are looking for the best place to go and chill, and have a great meal i choose fuji. They are going to be installing a tv soon for sporting events and parties. As well as trying special dinners to people who are sick of california rolls and salmon sashimi. I wrote this review because the people who have bashed this place went to the old one. This is the new and improved fuji and i will try and get as many people as i can to go. The Chef is a sweet man who only wants people to eat great fish at a good price. So next time you are thinking sushi or even soba dont go to sushi house or sagano both of which will kill your wallet and make you feel like crap with theyre week old tuna. instead go to fuji and tell the chef matt sent you. Aka the white kid who is always at the bar. he will hook you up and you might just learn what real fish is. thank you for reading and remember eat everything life is to short. ps ask for the fried shrimp heads they will change your life. thank you again for reading
(5)
Ryan C.
THANK GOD, FUIJI GRILL HAS A NEW OWNER, WHO IS ALSO THE NEW CHEF!! I used to go to Fuji Grill with my friends quite often back in the days, and then we kind of stopped going there because the food quality was going down and the service was getting pretty bad... I mean the owner was a wiatch, if you know what I mean. I'm pretty sure that's what everyone(who stopped going to Fuji because of the mediocre food, depressing atmosphere, and slow service) thinks. BUT BUT BUT! I went back yesterday with her, I couldn't have been happier to find out that Fuji Grill's finally stepped up their game! (or more accurately, the new owner!) When we arrived, we immediately went straight to the sushi bar. I wanted to see up close, how good the new owner was. (oh, just in case if you don't know, the new chef is the new owner!) And while we were looking through the menu, the chef gave us a sample appetizer that has spicy tuna and cream cheese inside the crunchy jalapeno (the one just like Daina B. wrote!). That was actually very good! To make everything I have to say SHORT, JUST GO TO FUJI GRILL, THE BEST IN OAK PARK!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!
(5)
Albert L.
First time here and a GREAT experience. The owner and staff were very friendly and food was great! Since I'm not well educated when it comes to sushi, they took the time to explain the options. Made me feel very comfortable. Stefan, the owner, too over the business last year so stop in again if you haven't lately. Looking forward to getting some friends together for their sushi class!
(5)
Bill P.
fascinating!! what an unexpected surprise. just checked in on my way home, man.... real crunchy and godzilla was the bomb. i will definitely will go again and try other special rolls!
(5)
Carolyn K.
Very good! Fresh sushi in a friendly atmosphere. Sat at the sushi bar and was given a couple samples on the house. Good stuff! I'll be back!
(4)
Molly O.
ask what's fresh and you shall receive. sit at the bar and you will be enticed by all the possibilities, you might even get to taste a piece on the house. i love this place and it is obvious that the chef loves making incredible sushi. looks are deceiving when it comes to this joint. i was very impressed with the size of the sashimi to the point that i thought i needed to call for back up. great quality and quantity for the price.
(4)
Phil L.
Ok, just went back after almost a 2 year hiatus. Had the steak bento box and sashimi deluxe dinner. Let's start with the bento box... Steak was cubed and well done (guess the server didn't ask how we wanted it - so I'll take the blame for that) and even with the sauce, was dry and not very tasty... the tempura was greasy and not very crunchy (I like a little crunch in my tempura). The sashimi selection was blah (about 16-18 pieces: tuna, smoked salmon, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, octopus, and shrimp). The tuna did not look or taste super fresh (don't get me wrong, totally edible - just if you've had fresh tuna, you can taste the difference) and the octopus was like shoe leather. I did not have any of the rolls, but if its a bento box or sashimi you want, Sen is still a far better choice in my opinion.
(2)
Ray S.
This place is great if you love sushi! I recently started going there on a hunch by my girlfriend that it might be good. Although the location is a little bit quirky, the sushi is top notch. Stefano is the sushi master over there. He will accommodate any special requests you may have. The service is friendly and prompt. I would recommend this little gem to anyone who loves sushi.
(5)
John W.
service's very terrible. waitress Who I order some rolls is woman. That rolls have shrimps and I told her "I don't want shrimps because i allergic shrimps". She accept but in this rolls have shrimp. For me, I thing this situation is terrible because someone who's allergic eat that. It's very dangerous because they can die when eat that foods. You're waitress If you don't sure you can ask them again.
(1)
Guy L.
When my friend first took me here I was a little skeptical because it's in the corner of a little strip mall but looks can be deceiving. They have a very friendly staff, excellent food and great prices! Chef Stefano is great! He's very knowledgeable and loves making customers happy. This has become the spot for my friends and I when we want sushi. Not to mention that my friend is here almost every other week and has become friends with the chef. We usually sit at the bar and talk to Chef Stefano, he's very friendly and loves to talk to his customers making sure that everything is great. As soon as we sat down he had prepared an appetizer for us, which was spicy but very good, it was similar to a jalapeno popper. All the specialty rolls are delicious and fresh, there wasn't a roll I didn't like. My favorite specialty rolls are the Stefano Roll, Real Crunch Roll, New Volcano, and Fire Kamikaze. We have eaten here so many times that he knows us by name. As for the appetizers, I tried the Gyoza and the Soft Shell Crab, which were both awesome! The Gyoza, which is a pan fried pork meat dumpling, was delicious! The pork tasted perfect with great seasonings and the dipping sauce that came with it had a nice sweetness to it. The Soft Shell Crab was amazing! I have never had it before but it was so good. They fry it a little bit on the outside, so you get the nice fried crunch on the outside and the tenderness of the crab on the inside, perfect combination. They give you a soy dipping sauce with it that has a little kick to it but it's just great. Definitely recommend this! I recently had my birthday party here as well, it was a sushi making party and it was worth every penny! He had closed down the restaurant for us which made the experience even better. He started us off with a bento box that was great! Then he showed us how to make different kinds of sushi. Every was laughing and having a great time, it was the best birthday I had in a while. Of course, Chef Stefano loves saki bombs, so occasionally through out the sushi making process he started doing saki bombs with us. The party was a great experience and everybody loved it! I made believers out of my cousins. It's a great little restaurant with great food and great prices. Love this place! I will defiantly be back soon.
(5)
Thuoc N.
New owner is great! Wonderful service and great sushi. The location is a bit quirky but don't let that stop you. Stop in and have a wonderful night. Service was excellent and owner is very accommodating and friendly.
(5)
p. dexter w.
Went to see what the "new" Fuji is like, since we liked the "old" style. Menu has been updated, and we were very happy with the quality and variety of sushi and sashimi. new cold sake's featured, and dessert updates like green tea moshi. Lounge-music renditions of 90s pop was a nice touch, and the sushi chefs sent several freebies to the table, which were delicious: a peppered tuna tataki, and a jalapeno and tuna appetizer. Recommend a visit if you've never tried it, or want a quality alternative to area sushi restaurants like Sushi House without the wait. We'll be back to try more of the creative appetizers and sushi. Domo arigato gozamashita!
(4)
Tony G.
Under new ownership and management since October 2010. The food is remarkably improved. The owner kept sending out free food samples while we waited for our orders. He even gave us free sake after the meal. I am very impressed by the service and the quality of the food. If you tried Fuji Grill before and were unimpressed, you need to give it another try.
(5)
Kenneth L.
The Sushi is excellent, the ingredients are fresh, the Chef is generous and the staff is attentive. The atmosphere is ok. Best kept secret in Chicago-land. Stop living in the past and enjoy the now.
(5)
Yvonne O.
I love Fuji Grill's ood, but there are so many other issues that prevent me from giving them any higher of a rating. First, the service is crazy slow and mismatched. If you order hot appetizers, cold appetizers and sushi, you have no guarantee (even on repeat trips with the same order) of what will come out first and whether you will be able to eat the hot food before it gets cold. Sometimes you will also wait forever between courses. I also agree with John about the kid factor. There is something about this place that attracts parents with obnoxious and loud children. Once the kid next to me even threw food at our table - and the yuppie dad just laughed. The tempura is also touch and go - I think they have/had two different chefs with very different syles of making the panko batter and one is not good, while the other is great. My advice is to get take-out - and plan to arrive late to pick it up so that you are not waiting.
(3)
William O.
I absolutely love this non-fancy sushi treasure in Forest Park. Don't let the strip mall turn you off because the sushi is second to none in all of Chicagoland. Owner-chef Stefano creates both new age rolls for the trendy eater and great pieces of more traditional individual sushi. The sushi is as fresh as any place I've known and the staff couldn't be more friendly. Check this place out!
(5)
Annie O.
Fuji Grill is by the far the best sushi resturant in the area. The fish is always very fresh and head sushi chef Stefano is beyond amazing. Do not let the location fool you. The food is delicious and the service is fantastic as well. Definitely the place to go for sushi in the area, hands down. My family has loved sushi for years and were always on the hunt for a good sushi place in the area - Fuji Grill has delivered.
(5)
C B E.
I agree with Rhonda...this is not a place you go to get wowed but the fish is fresh & they carry good basic sushi. One of the dishes I like to get especially in the winter is their Yaki Nabe Udon soup. It is wonderful & they give you a generous size portion. Sometimes I'll ask that it be noodleless & they give me extra veggies & sometimes I'll order it with Soba noodles instead of Udon noodles. That & a couple of handrolls is a meal. Prices are fair, not jacked up like some of the other local sushi places. Fugi grill has been around for 10+ years & I hope it's around another 10.
(4)
Amy w.
The sushi is good....but the the staff acts as if you are a burden. The man making the sushi actually rolled hiseyes and let out a big sigh when the waitress turned in our order. Look, there are so many places to get sushi- why would I go some place where I don't feel welcome? We have tried this twice and both times- it was the same. I don't see us returning.
(2)
Scott D.
Solid but unremarkable sushi. Not bad. Solid and good. Not exceptional. This is a "go-to" place, not a place you take a first date to. Relatively affordable for sushi. Fast, courteous service. No-frills, dated dining room. This is my "go-to" sushi place when I want take out in the area, and I have NEVER been disappointed by the speed of service, quality of food, and the reasonable price. I tried some of the non-sushi teriaki, and I would definitely say -- stick with the sushi. Update: Very nice people, solid, consistent sushi. Worth the trip.
(4)
John N.
Fantastic sushi - fresh, creative and unique. Personally recommend the jalapeño tuna poppers. The kitchen entres are equally good along with service and atmosphere. Kid friendly as well and the Fuji Grill is a gem!
(5)
John L.
Ok, driving by, being that it's in a dumpy strip mall with J&J Fish, Subway, and a hair salon, you would look at this place and think it's Japanese takeout. IT'S NOT! I asked the owner and they've been there for over 10 years. I have been going to this place for the past 4 years and their sushi is excellent! The raw salmon nigiri simply melts in your mouth. The spicy scallops? Yum! It's affordable and I've never had a bad experience there. Last night they could've turned up the heat a little, but that's what hot sake, miso soup, and a scarf are for. :) 1/6/07 Update: went on Friday night immediately after work. Mistake. Rich Oak Park moms like to bring their toddlers there to scream and make squelching noises. I recommend waiting 'til later after the playground leaves...
(4)
Cindy R.
Since I work about 2 miles away, I used to eat here regularly (due to lack of sushi choices) before a sushi place opened I liked better in downtown Oak Park. This place has a lot of issues. First of all, service is extremely slow even if they are not busy. Also the hostess is unfriendly - she barely acknowledged us even when we had been going there every couple of weeks for a year! Their fish is average at best.
(2)
Jose O.
Its a must go restaurant. The food is amazing, very reasonable prices. Its a perfect place to take that special someone, friends and or family. The chef is very friendly, always welcome you in with a smile and a free treat to start your meal. If its your first time trying out sushi then this is the right place to give it a go. The fish is always fresh, so I guarantee you that you would fall in love with sushi when you try it out here and you will be a regular costumer :).
(5)
Brian F.
Give this place another shot if your opinion is based on the previous owner/staff. I think the new owner would have been better off changing the name when he took over. While its not my favorite place to eat sushi, it has improved considerably with the new owner's attention. That combined with the ease of parking in the strip mall has made it one of my regular lunch stops. Every time I eat there the chef prepares something new, yummy, and on the house for me to try,
(4)
Darci A.
Great menu and delicious food, love the free appetizer. One time the chef gave everyone saki bombs.
(4)
Bridget S.
I have a lot of fond memories of this place when I was in high school. I'm really happy it's doing so well because Chef Stephano is really amazing at what he does. He always makes you feel welcome and more like you are talking to a good friend than just eating at a restaurant. The sushi here is still amazing as I remember it, and hopefully it only gets better.
(5)
S.E. A.
Perfectly fine sushi. Maybe could be a bit more generous with the fish for the price. We appreciated that they accommodated a special request on one of our rolls. Great service overall.
(3)
Ang S.
We've been coming here for about a year now, once or twice a month, and have literally never been disappointed. It's a laid back, neighborhood place with great, fresh sushi and a nice staff. I don't know what else a place needs to get 5 stars!
(5)
Anthony M.
Love this little spot! I go here for Sushi at least once a month, friendly environment great Sushi that is priced fair....The owner Stefano is a good guy who cares about his Sushi and customers, if you're ever in the forest/oak park area and want Sushi you must go to Fuji Grill.
(5)
Jeff K.
Friendly, unpretentious, high quality, highly original, and just darn tasty sushi. While the unassuming location may not impress, the food will. Start with the Ocean Fire appetizer. You can thank me now for the suggestion, and then after you try it, thank me again. If tuna turns you on, try the Fire Kamikaze roll. For salmon, go for the Sun Set roll. While my wife and I usually get carry-out here, the dining room is intimate and inviting. At least half the time Stefano throws in a free appetizer sampler. A great find a little outside the Oak Park/Forest Park downtown areas.
(5)
Mrs. R R.
We decided to try this place out for a birthday party after all the great reviews. Sad to say it wasn't what I expected. The place is small but otherwise nice. Our group of 9 arrived on time for our reservation and yet our service was super slow. The place wasn't that busy to begin. We weren't asked to order appetizers to start instead it was ordered all at the same time as our dinner and some appetizers came out after the main dishes did. The sushi was for the most party very tasty on the positive side. No free appetizers offered compliments of the chef as others have posted. We asked for separate checks from the beginning yet when it was time to get them the waitress took over 25 min to try and figure them out. And we had to get up and go look for the waitress just to ask for the checks. This experience would have been better if it wasn't for the slow and disorganized service.
(2)
Monica L.
We stopped by on a cold night (used yelp's monocle while at the Forest Park Holiday Walk) and very glad we did! We were warmly greeted, promptly seated (requested a different table and were accommodated; server was also aware that the window seats were chilly and she made sure to seat us where it was warm), and offered hot towels for our hands. Upon learning it was our first time dining here, they offered us a sample of their jalapeño pepper roll, which was phenomenal. Our usual order -- salmon, yellow tail, white fish, and tuna -- actually came in their Fuji Sampler appetizer so we ordered that. YUM. I also tried the shrimp tempura -- could've scarfed it down with a bowl of rice but didn't want to get full too fast. Egg and unagi, plus a Sunset Roll all did not disappoint. The green tea ice cream (huge scoop, enough for both of us) was the perfect dessert to end an excellent meal. I should also mention that our hot tea was kept filled throughout our dinner, and all the staff were very friendly. We will definitely be back for more.
(5)
Sandra K.
Fuji Grill is a jewel in Forest Park. Fantastic high quality food in gracious surroundings. We loved the summer roll and walnut shrimp. I have been there several times and the overall range and quality of the food is really unparalleled in this area. If you are a fan of Japanese food in Oak Park or Forest Park and any of the surrounding neighborhoods, you simply have to taste for yourself!
(5)
Tamer A.
I will be brief. Very solid sushi, with wonderful fish. Engaging chef. Great service. Nice ambiance, once you get over the fact that you are in a strip mall. Honestly, though, this place is my very close #2 (almost tied for 1) for Sushi in Oak Park/Forest Park/River Forest area.
(4)
Andrew L.
Best sushi restaurant in the Chicagoland area. My family and I were impressed by their friendly service and fresh sushi. We ordered some of their special rolls, which were very original and unique. The ingridients really complemented each other as well.
(5)
Tasha F.
I've gone twice, thinking I've missed something because of the other awesome reviews. I live near west, but hate the parking night mare of many of the closer Japanese restaurants so I ventured to Oak Park. Now I love the atmosphere and that they give you a hot (or cold) towel to clean your hands before you eat. The first time I went, the temperature was off on my appetizers. However the chef sent an awesome complimentary jalepeno appetizers for me to try, which was awesome. I went recently, and it was not a menu standard. I ordered, again the temperature of my food was off. It was like some of the items were frozen and deep-fried, but the insides were still very cool, while the outside hot. This was the case for both dishes and my green tea tasted burnt. I love the atmosphere, until the obnoxious group of women came in, however the food is not there for me.
(2)
Yvonne B.
I would never have checked this place out if not for Yelp. Thank goodness there are so many fabulous reviews! Fuji Grill is in a shopping strip with a sign that looks... cheap. When I told my sister I got our sushi from this restaurant she was incredulous, "THAT place? I've never even thought to try it." Well. I know if we thought it then many other folks thought it too. Now, get over that exterior obstacle and step inside. I walked in and was greeted by two young ladies at the host(ess) counter. They had good posture and both courteously gave me their full attention. No texting or distracted looks. They were great! They gave me a full table menu to browse but also handed me a paper one for home. They helped me choose appetizers and rolls. Fuji Grill is a Japanese sushi restaurant with a few other dishes. I ordered two appetizers (bacon wrapped scallops and shrip shumai) and six rolls for four people. My bill came to $82 buckeroos. I was shocked silly by the price. I guess that's what I get when their rolls cost either $12.95 or $13.95 each. They must have appreciated my large order because they gave me a container filled with sliced jalapenos served sushi-style (jalapeno pepper tuna appetizer). I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but I ate all of them before my guests arrived. My guests didn't miss the jalapenos because we all went crazy over everything else. I wish I could tell you what all I ordered except that there was a LOT (Caterpillar, Stefano's Roll, Real Crunch, Godzilla, and Rainbow were possibly five of them). I also don't know which one was which. My assumption is that you can't go wrong at Fuji Grill. After all, six out of six rolls and two out of two appetizers were both gold-star winners!
(5)
Shannon W.
Great sushi!!!! Such a secret little hidden sushi spot you can miss if you aren't paying attention. It is very clean inside and you can see the chef making the sushi from wherever you sit. Very reasonably priced as well. It looks nothing like a sushi place on the outside but is perfect when you step in the doors.
(4)
Steve S.
Local sushi restaurant in small strip mall, very creative original rolls. All the fish was fresh very nice presentation, very good selection and prices for Chicagoland were very reasonable. Three blocks from train or green line worth the effort to try this place
(4)
David H.
My new favorite sushi spot in Chicagoland!! Arrived for the first time at dinner time on a Friday evening. This jem is located in a strip mall and had their exterior sign turned off. Hard to spot off the street. Was one of two tables eating at prime dinner hour!! Put Fuji Grill on your GPS everyone. You can't go wrong. Ordered the Philadelphia Rolls, salmon with cream cheese (which worked amazingly well) and cucumber. The smokiness of the salmon was complimented by the sweetness of the cream cheese. Received a complimentary sample of the Jalapeno Pepper Tuna (may not be the exact name) and it was awesome. Had the Spicy Salmon rolls. Ask for more spice, if you are a spice guy, beforehand and you will get what you are looking for. Finally, still had a hankering for some spice and asked for the Lobster rolls with spicy scallops with a touch of sriracha, I think by request, and a generous helping of wasabi. Would reccomend these prime rolls to anyone. Come and enjoy the Fuji Grill. A reasonably priced, bursting with flavor meal that will become your favorite hideaway on the outskirts of Oak Park on Harlem.
(5)
Melissah L.
I went here with my boyfriend and we were the only customers in the restaurant (we got there riiight at open). The service was fantastic (but we were the only people so I would hope it's good) and the sushi chef gave us a free appetizer. It was good food. I think the appetizer was deep-fried jalapeno peppers with tuna and cream cheese inside. Anything deep-fried tastes good, right? The rest of our meal included shumai, a spicy salmon roll and a king of dragon roll. The shumai was so-so, I could barely tell there was any shrimp in there and it probably came from the freezer aisle at the local Asian grocery store, but it was edible so we obviously ate it. The rolls were great though-- the ingredients were really fresh and they were presented beautifully. I sort of wish that the spicy salmon roll was served with avocado instead of cucumber, but I'm sure we could have gotten a substitution had we read the ingredients more thoroughly. Decent prices, casual atmosphere... recommend!!
(4)
Kevin S.
Simply the best! Stefano is tremendous at what he does. Andrew the new server is a great guy too. Top Notch! Now if I can only steal them away to Elmhurst.
(5)
Dennis B.
I cannot begin to say enough great things about this place. The service is one of the best I've had at any restaurant, everything is clean, the decor is wonderful. Now onto the food. I've been here twice with my wife and friends and have not been disappointed. For appetizers the jalapeno pepper tuna is a must, the super white tuna appetizer and sake ponzu appetizers are amazing. Now onto the rolls. We've had almost every specialty roll on the menu and our favorites are the amigo roll, the Stefano roll, the fire kamikaze, salmon lovers and the extra crunch roll. their fish is extremely fresh but the thing that I liked most was watching chef Stefano create each roll. You could tell by his enthusiasm and excitement while making the rolls that he truly enjoys his craft and that's what makes this place special. When someone puts that much love into the food they are making you know it will always be good. Do not let the outward appearance or location fool you, It just helps keep the hipsters at bay, this place is top notch. Oh and did I mention they host sushi making parties? Come on, it doesn't get any better than that.
(5)
Jason M.
Since moving to lovely Berwyn over two years ago I was reluctant to try any sushi in the area. Then I heard about this Sen place in Oak Park and how it got some sort of Michelin recognition. I went there and it was pretty good. When I decided for a second time in 2.5 years to try sushi in the Berwyn/Oak Park/Forest Park area I went with Fuji Grill and it was incredible. It's in a strip mall by a gas station and it was definitely memorable sushi. The chef even made some nice lady at the bar a special roll to her liking. He seems like a great fellow and I will be back.
(5)
Ronny M.
Fuji Grill is my favorite place to get sushi. Every time I walk in, I am treated with great respect. I sit down and am treated to a hot towel. It's so refreshing on my hands and face. It's a little thing like a hot towel that makes your experience all that much better. I always get green tea and miso soup. When I want to catch up with a friend I take them to Fuji Grill. When I sit down, I've been treated to a complimentary small dish before. (3 pieces) Fuji is in a strip mall which is a bit misleading. It is the best sushi I've had, and has become the standard when I go out to try to find Sushi closer to school. The flavors of Sushi from Fuji are very clean and simple with a ton of flavor, something I haven't had at any other sushi bar. Very clean, very flavorful. I've found that at other sushi bars I go to, if they do clean and simple well, then they don't do so well on their rolls. This is not the case at Fuji. At Fuji I am never unsatisfied. Their Sashimi, and rolls are splendid. If you're looking for fresh, flavorful food, come to Fuji. I am a huge fan of Unagi. I can even be a bit picky about it. Fuji's Unagi has great rich flavor that melts in my mouth and has a savory taste to it. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing. I can spend hours in Fuji with good company. The server won't make you feel like you are unwanted, or that you need to leave either. Fuji respects and enjoys your time with them. I find that really comforting because it makes you feel valued as a customer. Plus finding a place to be able to relax and conversate for hours in a world that seems to be about speed all the time is refreshing.
(5)
Colonel M.
Service was bad... Slow even with only 3 tables people... Food was average... Will not make a return trip
(1)
Rasmus N.
Great local Sushi place! Super fresh, generous rolls, and good prices! For us this is one of our regular spots! Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good casual sushi place!
(4)
Kristal B.
Seriously. Go. Stefano's Roll, A+ Service, Nice Atmosphere, Good Sake, Group Rolling Classes.....enough said.
(5)
Grace N.
Two necessities when moving into a new neighborhood is a cozy coffee shop, and a sushi place where I can wear my stretchy pants. Why stretchy pants? Because when I'm in slacker mode, I can justify my laziness by having a healthy meal, like rolls and a Kirin light. Enough about me. Let's talk about their scrumptious and creative rolls. The New Volcano roll was awesome. I've spent some time in Japan and the rolls were not as elaborate as here. My husband likes their bento meals. They usually give us complimentary samples (which is why my pants need to be stretchy). 5 star service in a casual environment, and drink specials to boot. What's not to daisuki?
(5)
dasom l.
It is a definately great place to get sushi in this area. I can tell the chef is using very fresh ingredients. Reasonable price and really nice staff. Those of who love spicy food, get the kiss of fire! My favorite roll of all :)
(5)
Binnan O.
Ambiance: Pretty unassuming place at the end in a strip mall but bright and clean inside with bamboo screens and light tan furniture creating a relaxing environment. The lighted sign wasn't working when we drove by and we almost missed it! The service was quick and super friendly, the chef welcomed us from behind the bar and brought us complementary dishes at the beginning and end of our meal which was a very welcome surprise. Our waters were always filled although we were one out of three couples here. Food: Got the Chicago roll, salmon obsession, spicy tuna and salmon skin roll with the ahi tuna poke as an appetizer. The poke consisted of tuna tossed in roe and sesame seeds served on thin clear wispy strands of lettuce (?) and a few cubes of avocado. The tuna itself was soft and buttery but I was not a fan of the thin tasteless shreds of lettuce. I didn't feel the dish really stand out and all I did was end up enjoying the yummy tuna in which case I might've just ordered tuna sashimi, basically not the best poke I've had. The roll themselves were excellent, the rice was a good consistency and the fish fresh. The chef gave us a sample of a jalapeño roll which was amazing, I really wish I had ordered one. The Chicago roll was huge and filled with tons of fish, would definitely order it again. Funny enough the simple spicy tuna and salmon skin rolls were among my favorites as well, the chef threw an extra clump of spicy tuna on top of the first roll which gave you an extra burst of flavor and the salmon skin was crispy and melded with the unagi sauce perfectly. The salmon obsession was a little fishy tasting which you might expect but I didn't take to it like I did with the other rolls. The rainbow dragon I have no comment on. To finish the meal, the chef gave us a sample of white albacore seared in a ginger soy sauce topped with dabs of unagi and spicy sauce which bursted with flavor and literally melted in your mouth, it was delightful. Overall, great place with great service and fresh buttery fish. I did not have one roll I didn't like, only ones I liked more than others. I think the prices are well deserved and would highly recommend the place to anyone.
(5)
Lola K P.
Girlfriend suggested this place, conveniently located off the expressway. I was kinda iffy on it, based on past reviews, but I can report that indeed the new change of ownership (earlier this year?) has got this place a rave review from me. The food was all excellent, we even got freebie samples courtesy of the chef/owner, the most attentive staff, clean, updated decor and bathrooms. Looking forward to returning soon! (Being the Californian picky-ass seafood snob that I am, please keep in mind that my rating is based on a survey of similar restaurants in the area, not my overall experiences, because obviously nothing touches my Tokyo restaurants.)
(5)
Allison R.
Aren't the best sushi places always in disgusting strip malls? I've dined in at Fuji Grill a few times. While it's not my favorite sushi place, they definitely do a lot of things right. I love the free appetizer that Chef Stefano gives you. The last time we dined in we also got free mochi too! On our last visit we tried the Hawaiian ahi poki which was the best thing I've tried there.
(4)
Daina B.
Who would have thought that a sushi restaurant next to a tanning salon and JJs fish would actually be palatable? When we arrived on Wednesday night, there was only one other group there so it was a little awkward at first, but thank goodness they had music playing. The waiter was friendly and welcoming, as was the chef. We ordered the ahi tuna appetizer, kamikaze roll, Chicago wild, and Spider roll. All three were yummy, but the kamikaze could have used a little less mayo. Oh and they brought our sushi out on a big boat, pretty rad. The ahi tuna appetizer was delicious as well. The waiter brought over not one, but two free samples of items from the chef that were on the menu. I wish I remembered what they were because they were SO good. The first was a jalapeno stuffed with spicy tuna and fried tempura style. The second was a type of tuna marinated in soy sauce and green onions (I think). I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. As we were finishing up three other couples arrived, causing our waiter to kind of forget to give us our check. We weren't in a hurry so it didn't really bother us, we just gently reminded him. The only thing I would change is to reduce their prices slightly. To go along with what others have been saying - If you haven't been here since the new owner took over give it another shot.
(4)
Shayne S.
Stopped in for my girlfriends birthday. Very good Sushi! Very friendly and nice staff. Peaceful music. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Sophie C.
Awesome place. Strongly recommend!!! Had dinner with friends and they all loved this place and will definitely come back for sure. Many nice dishes. Especially salmon sushi and today's special combo carparcio are great. Must try. Chef and server are very friendly. She changed dishes several times and refill drinks a lot. Treat us like first class. I love it!!! Again this is best sushi place I ever been and strongly recommend near this area.
(5)
Diane W.
After moving out to OP from the city it took me a while to find a sushi place that i loved. After reconciling myself to the fact that any sushi place in the 'burbs will be more expensive than the city, Fuji Grill is now my favorite go-to sushi spot. The service is always impeccable, and the sushi is super fresh and absolutely DELICIOUS. Fuji Grill is a hidden gem - it's easy to miss on Harlem, in a strip mall just north of Madison - but it's better than any other place in OP/RF/FP. Definitely worth a stop, and multiple returns.
(5)
Elibe E.
The Fuji Grill is almost an afterthought, positioned along a stretch of Harlem Ave. that's dominated by gas stations and strip malls. I met a friend here for a dinner and a few beverages on a weeknight. PROS: I was pleasantly surprised at the warmth and attentiveness from the owners. The restaurant was nearly deserted on this particular weeknight, but we were able to interact more with the sushi chef - good conversation. The owners presented us with several appetizers (on the house). We eventually ordered (vegetarian) gyoza, the Chicago Crazy roll, and several pieces of assorted nigiri (unagi, salmon, tuna). They were all excellent, and the fish was very fresh. CONS: My only gripe here was with the nigiri. The rice was a bit drier than I would have liked.
(3)
Amy J.
We ended up at Fuji Grill as my husband and I drove by and were suddenly in the mood for sushi. We have frequented quite a few places across Chicagoland, and this one has made it to our favorites list. The decor is well lit but comfortable - do not let the strip mall setting fool you! We were treated to a complimentary appetizer almost immediately after being seated. It was a great gesture, and one that we have not had elsewhere. At our request we were given some recommendations, and told also that the salmon today was super super fresh. We ended up ordering the Tuna Tataki appetizer, the Chicago Crazy and Rainbow Dragon speciality rolls, and the Alaskan classic roll. The Rainbow Dragon was hands down our favorite, with unagi in a roll and the assorted fresh sashimi on top. The Chicago Classic could have been more enjoyable if the roll had been a little bit tighter. We spent more time trying to get the roll into our mouths and it took away from enjoying it. We were again treated to a complimentary chef's choice white tuna sashimi which was the best sashimi I've ever had. We liked it so much we ordered another to pay for. We don't normally order dessert when out for sushi, but the prices were pretty standard - $12-14 for a specialty roll and $7-9 for a classic roll. We felt a little room to splurge so i tried the red bean ice cream, and my husband got the strawberry mochi. The red bean ice cream was so good my husband actually ended up stealing my dessert! It was my first time trying mochi and I would definitely order the strawberry again. All told, our bill for 3 rolls, an appetizer, sashimi, 2 non alocoholic drinks and dessert came to $60. We've spent $100+ elsewhere, so this felt like a bargain to us. I left off a 5th star because we waited over 20 minutes for our rolls, and we were the only ones in the restaurant. There were also 2 chefs working on the sushi bar so it seemed like it took a little longer than it should have. Our server was very attentive and kept my hot tea continually full.
(4)
Craig S.
After reading the reviews on this place, we had to go and try it out. Had high expectations, and wasn't disappointed. The rolls were top notch, the appetizers divine, they even tossed us a complimentary treat. I was blown away. We will return.
(5)
jeff f.
Im a fan!! good fresh cold sushi with a very friendly chef! i felt like more than a customer here. I was greeted when we walked in with open arms! :) like they have been waiting for us! the chef had plenty of recommendations and gave us a free starter that he made and even brought my wife and I a sample of something new he was trying! Everything we had we enjoyed! food is great ill be back!
(4)
Neo A.
I was reading all the reviews and expected more from this place. Everyone spoke so highly and it has ALOT of high marks. I guess they missed the mark with me and my friend yesterday. I was not blown away and I thought everything was mediocre at best. I had the dragon and spider roll. They were both "ok". My friend had a roll that was HUGE. It was too big for chop sticks. Even i had a hard time trying to grab a piece of her roll. And when i tasted it, i was underwhelmed and stuck with my dragon roll. I've had much better sushi at home.
(3)
Ruth H.
I stumbled upon Fuji Grill by mistake. Luckily, another sushi restaurant was closed on Mondays and I happen to check trusty Yelp for an alternative. What can I say, I'm sushi satisfied. The chef treated the visit with a complimentary stuffed jalapeno which helped wake up my palette but wasn't too overwhelmingly spicy. The rolls were yummy and refreshing. The special of the day, the Snow White roll (spicy tuna w/ cucumber, avocado topped with white tuna and black tobiko) was so fresh and delicious. My favorite was the Rock and Roll which was encrusted with panko. The rice in the rolls was flavored in a different and yummy distinct way. It has a sweet taste to it. The shrimp udon was nice and light but comforting. Definitely not just a one-time visit. I think I may have overeaten but it was that delicious. Great service and intimate atmosphere. Thanks Fuji Grill!
(5)
Marvin N.
Perfect little restaurant! Come here on a date night. It's small, but not cramped and the ambiance is very serene. The wait staff were very kind and attentive. Food: We ordered sashimi for appetizer. Fish was very tender and flavorful. It almost melts in your mouth. We ordered a sample for the sushi. Rice was very tender and flavorful. normally some sushi places don't put much prep into their rice, not the case with Fuji grill. Just like the sashimi, the fish was delectable. All in all, my girlfriend and I really enjoyed this place. Will be back for sure if we're in the area.
(5)
Diane C.
I lived in Los Angeles for many years....relocated to Berwyn in '08. Had sushi here only a couple/few times....nothing impressive. Went to Fuji Grill tonight after yoga. I am SO impressed and SO excited I have found my "sushi home". Wonderful small ambiance, incredible Chef/Owner, Stefano, who was so gracious and generous. EVERYTHING I had was absolutely fabulous....better than a lot of what I remember in L.A. He suggested dishes, offered dishes and was patient and kind. I will DEFINITELY make this a "habit".
(5)
Rosie D.
I used to live across the street from this place. And when I did I frequented it all the time. The sushi is pretty good, and I'd even go as far as to say it's the best you're going to get in the oak park/river forest/forest park area. The price is right too. Especially for a sushi place it's very reasonable. Would I say it's my favorite place...no. Would I say it's terrible....no Would I make a special trip to go there....no. If you're in the area and looking for some decent sushi I'd say give them a try. But make sure you get there during their hours of operation. They have a really crazy schedule which is rather annoying. The service is very slow as well so my advice to you (I used to do this when I frequented the place) is to call your order in ahead of time. That way you'll avoid annoying yourself.
(3)
Jay L.
I revisited here on the last Saturday. It's perfect sushi restaurant near downtown area. As always Chef and staffs were perfect for me. Fresh sushi came on table and taste also perfect. I love sushi, so I went a lot of another restaurants in Chicago area. I have never experienced like this place.Food taste is not all for me. Service is also very important to visit restaurant. I think here is the place to satisfy all. Ogumi roll is my favorite one. Whenever I tried it, it always give me feel like heaven!! even it's for only me!! :) I surprised on Saturday because there were a lot of people. On the first visit, there wasn't a lot of people, but this time was totally different. I will revisit again and again if the Chef Stafano is here. Food is the most perfect and service is also worth to visit here. The restaurant is very clean and not loud, so I might propose to my girlfriend here. I'm pretty sure the chef will help me to make unforgettable memory to us. In addition, I felt so bad when I saw 1 star review below. I don't know what she expected in sushi restaurant. Too many rice? worse food? If you don't like rice, you should order sashimi. The review should give facts for that restaurant if you experienced bad for service and food such as rude attitude and food poison. I have never seen that situation here. I hope everyone won't write any review when they feel bad before visiting any restaurant, not in restaurant. It will always make another users confused to look for good restaurants near Chicago area.
(5)
Mitch M.
I don't know what they did to shake things up here, but it's night-and-day with the formerly slow, sleepy service of years past. Now it's uptempo, smiley, fast, and - hey - here's a little complimentary plate from the chef (how often does THAT happen??) and the same really good vegetable rolls, tempura, sushi, noodles. My son likes the imported bubble gum flavor soda pop. We'll be back!
(4)
Kelly S.
I'm updating this to reflect our continued experience with Fuji Grill. Now that I've lived in Forest Park for about a year, I've become a regular customer--my boyfriend and I go at least once a week--and I've never been disappointed. We order take-out and also dine in, and the people are as wonderful as the sushi. This place is a total gem.
(5)
Cristina B.
I visited last night with 2 other sushi-lovers and 1 sushi-novice. The wait-staff was very polite and patient as we took our time looking over the large menu. The chef was very generous sending over a couple of complimentary items for us to try throughout our 3-hour stay and topped us off with glasses of plum wine! We never felt rushed and felt like they appreciated our business and wanted us to return. We were a tiny bit disappointed with the noodle-vegetable dish our sushi-novice friend ordered from the kitchen section of the menu. It was a rather small portion with only a few small pieces of broccoli and carrots. Our friend assured us that it tasted very good and she was not complaining, however compared to the elaborate and delicious sushi/sashimi "boat" that we ordered, the noodle dish looked unimpressive. Overall, we very much enjoyed our meal and dinner experience. Great food, great service. Well done! I will definitely be back.
(4)
Tracy L.
GO HERE NOW. if you're like oh, what's the tiny place over there doesn't look like it'd be good? HIDDEN TREASURE. The sushi-chef is Stefano. He's amazing. He worked in a restaurant in California...LA I think?, and brought his skills over here. Not too impressed with Chicago sushi? Me either, good sushi's hard to find here...but if you've got the craving for something really authentic-get over here. Service is amazing! A slightly friendly/sarcastic host is very helpful with leading you to the right choices, and he makes up some of the rolls on the menu. Stefano is fantastic and a great host. He gives us free appetizers every time we're there, and converses with us throughout our meal when we sit at the sushi bar. I keep saying that every roll I try I have a new favorite. You can't go wrong! I love love love their sushi =D OH! AND sushi making classes $50/person they shut the whole place down so it's VIP for your party of 10+ and alcohol and sushi all inclusive, we take sake-bombs and I REALLY want to see how that is! eh?eh? anyone wanna go?? yelp-event!? haha
(5)
Andrew S.
It's been a while since my last review and here is the update *8.21.2015* Fuji Grill is still my go to spot for the love of all that is sushi and sashimi! Time and time again this place never seizes to please me. The incredible freshness of the fish and excellent vibes makes it feel like I'm dining with friends and family here. So let's get down to it shall we? Decor: The look and feel of the place is actually quite nice! Inside the place is somewhat traditional Japanese style. The seating is decent but can get crowded during the weekend and busy hours. They do have a sushi bar section where you sit in front of the chef to see the master chef at work which is always fascinating to watch. Overall it is a comfortable place to dine and enjoy your time eating by yourself, or with family or friends. (If you judge a book by its cover... you're missing out on a lot good things in life my friend...) Food: Now this is what everyone comes for... The food quality here is execellent! Every time I have come here the sashimi has always been fresh! Over the many years of eating sushi my taste for sushi has been very traditional so to speak. I only really like to eat traditional nirigi or sashimi when dining Japanese. Maybe I was lucky every time I went but I have never gotten anything that didn't taste like it was straight out of the ocean! (Favorite sashimi: Maguro, Hamachi, Sake, Otoro, Saba, Tako) (Favorite nigiri: Toro, Maguro, Hamachi, Sake, Unagi, Masago w/Quail Egg, Saba, Tamago.) Service: The service here for me has always been great. Over the many years I have been dining here I have gotten to be great friends with the chef. The servers always attend to me when needed and really it's like spending time dining with family. Overall: Overall experience is a great one if you allow it to be! Come in with an open mindset and good attitude and it'll be a great experience. Don't come in with a negative attitude because no matter where you go it's gonna be a negative experience! If you want something majestic and breath taking experience go to Disneyland! But go to Fuji Grill if you want fresh sushi and great company with the chef or with friends/family and you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Hannah L.
Don't let appearances fool you! I thought this place was going to be disappointing when I saw it in a strip mall, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. Service - Waitress was super friendly, and the sushi chef was awesome! He sent out two dishes on the house (jalapeño pepper tuna and two pieces of fresh tuna). Appetizer - I loved my miso soup, albeit the salad was a little heavy on the sauce. Main Course - I ordered five rolls (went a little overboard): spicy salmon, fuji, fire kamikaze, crunchy, and wasabi. The spicy salmon didn't have as much crunch as other places I've eaten at, but the fish was very fresh. Of the rolls, the wasabi roll was my favorite. It had a perfect crunch on the outside and melted in your mouth. Absolute perfection! You should check this place out!
(4)
Kayle S.
The bountiful chirashi startled me. Not only did they indulge my special request for sake harasu (salmon belly) sashimi, but they had an excellent selection of beautiful fish in the bowl (but chirashi is the chef's selection, so it will be different every time). The chef introduced us to hamachi suna-zuri, the belly cut from the yellowtail tuna. Exquisite! I guess freezer technology has gotten so good that a Midwest sushi place can be just as good as New York or San Francisco. The chef and waiter were clear, discreet, helpful and friendly. The place only had three other groups while we were there, and one customer was exceptionally rude, making the chef redo the dish and then walking out with a nasty comment when they still weren't satisfied with the newly remade meals. Throughout the ordeal, the Fuji Grill staff were calm and respectful, minimizing the impact quite well. Their ability to deftly deal with a situation like that speaks to the high quality of service they provide.
(5)
K J.
I had an issue with my order tonight, but Fuji Grill definitely made it right, so I thought I'd let the world know that these are upstanding people running the restaurant. The sushi was good. Nice size pieces - more than what you get in the city. The restaurant's decor is very nice and the waitstaff is tops. Thanks for an enjoyable dinner.
(4)
Susie C.
From the last time I reviewed this was few years ago. My husband and I came back to this place for dinner. The sushi we had were much better than the last time I wrote this review. Appreciate the free jalapeno appetizers along with the salmon pieces from the chef. This time around we ordered the Alaskan roll which was decent. We ordered two other rolls but they didn't have it, so we looked for substitution. I don't recall the other rolls we had but they were not bad. Service was good. My husband also ordered the udon..it was $12 for a small portion and he felt the broth was too salty so he only ate the noodles and drained the water out. Overall decent experience this time around. Definitely not a 1 star. Will return again!
(3)
Beatriz R.
Hands down the best sushi I've had ever!! I went over a month ago and I can't remember all the rolls i tried but I will admit that they were all extremely fresh and delicious! The wait can be a bit long since they are made to order and super super fresh but while we waited they sent over these amazing little jalapeños little things that just blew me away!! Sweet baby Jesus I know I'm not one for spicy but these little suckers were just too good to pass up! I can't wait to come back the server was friendly and I loved the decor and atmosphere really cute and quaint.
(5)
Andrea R.
Fellow yelper Candice G* seems to know all the best sushi spots in the suburban strip malls. I'm usually skeptical about eating raw fish in a suburban strip mall, but I have complete trust in Candice & all you yelpers who raved about Fuji Grill. The majority of my party of 5 went the bento box route for lunch. So much food! It's been weeks since I indulged here and I'm full just thinking about it. I ordered an unagi and sweet potato maki bento box. This isn't actually an option, but our waiter aimed to please. Everything was delicious, including the complimentary pre and post bento box surprises they treated us to. The benefits of being the only table in the restaurant; the chef has time on his hands. My only complaint was that my salad was drowning in ginger dressing. I love ginger dressing, but not quite that much. The price was right and I didn't have to eat another meal for 3 days, although of course was chowing again when dinner came around. * yelp.com/user_details?us…
(4)
Danny W.
If you're brave enough to ride the Black and Blue line to the other end this is a pretty awesome little sushi spot to hit up. It's in a location that looks like it'd be serving Slurpees and taquitos, but they've actually got some pretty fresh delicious stuff...and for cheap. Lunched with some coworkers and for about 10 bones everyone was complaining about barely being able to finish. The unagi was awesome and the Jalapeno Pepper Tuna is tough to pass up as an appetizer. Eat all to the smooth jams they play in the background and you'll be singing Fuji's praises.
(4)
Kristin S.
Nothing fancy about the actual location of this strip-mall restaurant, but the sashimi, nigiri sushi & maki were all really good, expertly prepared, tasty and fresh. We typically order quite a smorgasbord when out for sushi, and we may have gone a bit overboard- but the rolls were beautiful and tasty, sashimi was fresh and the nigiri was very nice. I was also thrilled to see over a DOZEN vegetarian items on the menu, included about 10 vegetarian rolls- SWEET POTATO and ASPARAGUS TEMPURA rolls were AMAZING! Crispy and satisfying we didn't even miss the animal protein- great flavor and awesome presentation. All the staff were absolutely delightful, and Chef Stefano was wonderful- you can tell he gets great joy from his work and feeding people. Overall it's a clean joint, casual, and nothing too fancy, but, as for the bathroom- oh please please update this soon!
(4)
Christina B.
Okay, so the food is still generally a five star rating, BUT I am really starting to get peeved by the lack of servers on a crowded night. Last two or three times I've been in, the place has been surprisingly busy. It's nice to see, I want them to stay in business of course. The frustering part is they'll still only have one server for the whole place. So, we'll sit and wait for 30 minutes to get a refill of water for example, or won't get a refill at all. Or, we will be able to see our food on the sushi counter and it'll sit there for 10 minutes before we can eat it. I mean, this place isn't big, but still...two servers on busier nights. PS, word to the wise, don't go on Thursday night. That's the day they're super busy with only one server. Otherwise, food is still excellent. No complaints there.
(5)
Yolanda C.
by far the best sushi I've had. really, really good. we tried the stuffed jalapeños & OMG soooooo delicious spicy & sweet combination. Godzilla roll with the smoked salmon yum. Real Crunch Roll delicious as it sounds...good ambiance. GREAT service. I will be back.
(5)
Bo Y.
I really don't get how this place is rated as 4.5 stars overall. Nothing here is fresh and it's rundown. Even the outside signage is out....seriously I don't get what people see in this place.
(2)
Dejan B.
Went for my birthday after researching for sushi options other than those in Oak Park (NOT impressed with the good reviews for one restaurant there) or downtown...Somewhere easier for us to get to and park...This fit the bill overall though still off very busy part of Harlem Ave (not many parts aren't) and strip mall parking was kind of small and badly designed but still much better then driving downtown. The food...Good! Not as good as my still remembered favorite Sushi Ya in Schaumburg or sushi in Galena, IL (of all places) but still very good! Service was good. Atmosphere quiet and overall comfortable (some families with small kids which kind of broke the quiet but still ok) though tables and place overall was a little more close quarters then I would prefer. They have a sushi bar if you are into that thing and "kitchen" (non-sushi) food here as well that was good. I was happily stuffed at the end and I would recommend this place to anyone in Mont Clare/Galewood neighborhoods of Chicago as well as Oak Park, River Forest, and Elmwood Park... Sushi is a luxury for me, maybe once a year if that, not just because of the price and small amount of places but most importantly for me that is the diametric opposite of sustainable (not this place exclusively and not only sushi but all aquatic animals/agriculture/catching overall) but again that being said this fit the bill for my moments of vice...
(4)
Martha C.
I love this place. Customer service is excellent the waitress is really friendly ,but the most important is the food is fresh and delicious. I will keep coming .
(5)
Nicole W.
I think I'm still full from Fuji Grill. And I ate lunch there yesterday. So, think about that for a moment. This unassuming strip mall gem sure does pack a punch - to the gut. In a great way. While both the interior and menu are pretty basic, the freshness and portion sizes won me over time and time again. For $9-$12 you too can stuff yourselves silly with a lunch special that includes... -Miso soup: Flavorful and fresh -Bento box: Two sushi rolls (sweet potato roll is rich and awesome), heavily dressed salad (ginger dressing), sizable portion of tempura vegetables (in our case the kind folks at Fuji gave us soft shell crab). Everything was nicely prepared and tasty. Plus, the cool staff was playing slow jams (Sarah McLachlan FTW) in the background. Pretty smooth lunch, if you ask me!
(4)
Angelina R.
Came with my friends because we saw the great reviews and it was good but we expected more still vary yummy and we will be back..
(4)
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Address :315 Harlem Ave,suite. A
Forest Park, IL, 60130
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
James S.
This is my hidden treasure in the Oak Park area. From the outside it doesn't look like much but the interior is nicely done, classy and stylish. This was my second time there and again the chef brought us two free appetizers just to taste his new inventions. The quality of the specialized Maki rolls is very good. I would specially recommend the maki roll. the baked surface gives it an almost un-sushi taste :) I am definitely coming back!
(5)Neuman K.
The best in the area. Great servers and fresh sushi. Chef Stefano is the best! Try their Jalapeno pepper tuna! Tons of regular customers.Why? Food and friendly people. You can't go wrong in Fuji Grill. Ask for Chef Stefano's special soy sauce. The best!
(5)Todd J.
The Wasabi Roll was delicious, so we ordered two! The chef treated us with a couple complimentary dishes which were fantastic. Highly recommend!
(5)Shawn H.
Service was beyond excellent. Staff was very friendly and quite attentive. We were given several free samples of new dishes. Don't be put off by the fact it is in a strip mall, the food was delicious. As much as I enjoy Sen in Oak Park, I'll be choosing Fuji Grill because it is less crowded, has better service and quite frankly was better food.
(5)Eric T.
I've been a fan of Fuji Grill for years, although it wasn't without its issues. It's under new management, however, and it has changed... For the better! The last few times I've been here the food and the service have been exceptional. The new chef is committed to very fresh fish and interesting new dishes (the toro appetizer is excellent). It's easy to overlook this place due to its odd location, but give it a shot if you haven't lately - it's my new favorite sushi place in Oak Park.
(5)Little R.
I thought this place was pretty good. Cozy, comfortable ambiance. Service that has its heart in the right place, even if slow. Fresh, tasty sushi. It's a great find on Harlem. Definitely check it out if you're in the area.
(4)Kelli A.
Do NOT let the outside appearance of the strip mall influence you. This is the absolute best sushi I have had in the Oak Park area, and will go back frequently! The service and ambiance were excellent, casual, and very comfortable. I can't say enough how much we enjoyed the rolls, especially the Godzilla! Wow!!! And the specialty rolls are very large, so be aware when you order. HIGHY recommend Fuji Grill!!!
(5)Peter H.
service was spectacular, chef sent over two freebies, white tuna and jalapeno somethin or other. got some specialty rolls, ordered WAY TOO MUCH. do not let the location fool you.
(4)Cheree M.
My mom and sister are regulars here and had been raving about this place for weeks, so finally I joined them on a Saturday for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised. Totally taken aback by the interior I would have never guessed it looked so nice from the outside. The outside decor does NOT do this place justice. So the food...When we arrived we were greeted immediately and served a complimentary chef's special appetizer. Delicious! I order the bbq eel roll and three pieces of smoked salmon while my mother and sister enjoyed lunch boxes. I also ordered a to-go order for my husband and our total bill was about $75, which wasn't bad for 4 people. Over-all I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely be back. The seafood was fresh, good portions and very tasty. Service was really good too.
(4)Susannah Y.
I just had a great dinner at Fuji Grill. The service was excellent and the food was oh so yummy. We were served complimentary appetizers (thank you very much). I had 7 pieces of sushi, Cali roll and the Fuji roll. It was such a nice dinner to end my day!
(4)Meg X.
I went here with my friends. We started a dinner club and go to a new place every month. I hate fish, and I hate going to sushi places and ordering chicken or beef because everyone acts like it's some great shame to not like fish. Then it becomes a game of "Oh but you'll LOVE this, just try it!" "No, thanks." "No, I know you said you hate fish, but try this! You'll be surprised!" Sometimes I take a bite to shut them up. Later, with that fish taste still in my mouth (mixed with the taste of the two pieces of gum I chewed to get rid of the taste) I sit morosely on the couch staring at nothing, rubbing my belly and making a face that has been described as "pained." It was the same with this place. The other six or seven people there all got sushi, and they loved it. The waiter was friendly and attentive. The place was practically deserted so we got four star service. I had a steak dish and it was ok but not filling. The place looks scary as hell from the outside but inside it's ok. A little outdated on the decor but clean and respectable. So, if you like sushi, this is a good place (according to my dinner companions). Don't let the strip-mall setting fool you.
(3)Brianne W.
My go to for maki take-out. I have never dined in, but the interior looks nice and the cashier is always pleasant. Always fresh and delicious....great specialty rolls too!
(5)Nicole L.
I'll jump on the Fuji bandwagon! A friend and I just went here for lunch and it was wonderful! We came right when they opened and we were the only people there. After we ordered the waitress brought over the chef's specialty of the day. It was a jalapeno popper with tuna and cream cheese covered in teryaki sauce with another sauce as well. It was absolutely delicious! He got the crunch salad and I got the Crazy Chicago Roll. Both were large and filling and ultimately, very satisfying. About 1/2 way through our meal the sushi chef himself came out with two small sashimi pieces of salmon belly with a paper thin slice of jalapeno on top and presented in a small amount of soy sauce. He asked us to try it as he'd just cut it at that moment. It had wonderful fatty marbling, the color was pale salmon pink and it was so velvety and fresh we were sad it was gone so quickly. I'm still thinking about that salmon! The chef and server both were so happy and friendly - they made the meal that much better. We'll definitely be heading back to Fuji!
(5)Caroline B.
Fuji Grill, my new favorite sushi spot in Oak Park. They would have a full 5 stars if only they delivered :( I have dined in and gotten carry out and both times was happy with my order. I dined in on a Thursday night around 7 and had the whole place to myself, which was a little disconcerting not going to lie. It ended up working in our favor though because we received a couple items on the house such as the jalapeno appetizer and red vanilla bean ice cream after our meal. I will definitely be coming back here, even if I have to drive there myself.
(4)E.A. H.
Honestly...skip it. Go to Sagano in Oak Park...or Sen. Or drive out to Elmhurst to go to Sushi Nest. Hell...pick up grocery store sushi at the Whole Foods. I used to go to Fuji Grill pretty regularly because it was the only nearby sushi place. But last time I was there with a group of friends...I had an off piece of sushi. Plain salmon sushi. Off. What gives? It put one of the diners who wasn't a big fish fan to begin with completely off sushi to this day. Besides the "off" salmon...I found most of the rest of their sushi/maki/sashimi menu rather uninspiring. And they're slow. Painfully so. Their seating capacity is not proportional to the number of people they have working at the sushi bar or in the kitchen. The only reason it doesn't get one star...is that I've never had an issue with non-sushi items on the menu. I'd still go here if I was in the mood for teriyaki chicken. I hear there's a new owner...so I might...MIGHT try it again. But after having funny fish once...it's really hard to want to go back.
(2)Janelle P.
Awesome!
(5)Jacob G.
Don't let the location of this place deceive you, it's the best sushi in the area. I've been here only a couple of times, but the service is always extremely friendly, food is fresh, and I've never had a roll I didn't like. The best part is the chef will come out and give you a free appetizer and talk to you, something you don't see at many places. Each time I've gone he's given us two free appetizers which were both delicious.
(5)CJ S.
Attention all sushi chefs! Customers don't want to see you place your phone on the sushi board. I don't care if you do clean it before and after you make sushi. I've tried going here once before as the hours said they open at 11am. However, when I got there I was greeted with a sign stating they they open at 5pm Monday thru Friday. So I came back the next day after calling to confirm their hours of business. Having been to many sushi establishments, it was to my surprise when I walked in to a few customers and their excitement over the food. I thought "I may have stumbled on a hidden gem." Then I asked, "what did you all have?" Non of them actually had sushi, which was why I was there. I sat at the sushi bar, which was very sticky. Then I was put in a panic state. I took the black napkin off the plate and a few black pellets fell on the counter. I was disgusted as I thought they were something else. I wanted to run out. I've worked at a pet store for many years. so, upon looking closer I got a good laugh, it turned out to be those little black seeds you see on sushi rolls like in the grocery store. I was given a free appetizer, and it was good. The sushi was okay. I had one roll that tasted so fishy I just wanted to spit it out. I ordered 3 rolls and a drink. All under $40 so that was good. Not sure if I would go back anytime soon or at all. Food was okay. Chef Stefano was great, Just keep your phone off the sushi board. Not busy at all. I was the only customer after the couple there before me left. Not sure what star rating to give, so three is fair I think. It's not bad, and not great. It's okay.
(3)Lisa A.
What a stunning surprise to see such a high rating from YELPERS! and I had such a bad experience. There were 4 adults and 2 children in our group and service was average. To start they did serve us a free appetizer which was nice. It was stuffed Jalapenos with cream cheese...not spicy at all. Their tea was served cold and when we asked for really hot tea, she brought out more cold tea...what is an Asian restaurant doing serving lukewarm tea? We ordered Agedashi Tofu which is a favorite of mine and they were out of Tofu on a Saturday night? The Gomae appetizer was tasty. My husband had the steak bento combination box and the meat was cold and tough. The tempura style vegetables were served with a soggy batter and no Panko was used. I shared a Love Boat sushi platter for $59.95 and there wasn't that much sushi on the platter. 12-14 pieces of sushi, 4 pieces of sashimi, 1 spicy tuna roll and 2 small futomaki rolls and 2 pieces of Ikura that was by request. (they were nice to substitute) I would have done better ordering one of the sushi combinations. I was very surprised the sushi rice was hard and tasteless based on the ratings of this place. I needed to end my dinner nicely so went out for dessert right after this to Petersen's.
(1)Deena H.
This place really is misjudged because it is in this tiny plaza with a JJ fish and a subway so you immediately think fish sticks. But honestly once you give it a chance you will be happily surprised. The chef is super smiley and funny. They have this deep fried jalapeño thing I can't remember the name and it was amazing. It is definitely number 2 to sen in my opinion but worth it.
(4)Katelyn Z.
My meal was great I normally don't try new things but I got a veggie dumpling starter and the chicken noodles it was good and I was celebrating my friends birthday who loves it here
(4)Don J.
Don't let this places location scare you. Quality food, great chef. I have eaten here many times the sushi never has failed. Recently I ordered the steak bento box. It was great... my only gripe was the steak was not so good. Very tough very chewy. Other then the steak everything was outstanding. My favorite sushi place by far!
(4)Sarah S.
I got super excited when I found all the great reviews for Fuji Grill. How could I have missed it for all these years? Turns out because it is tucked away in an unsightly strip mall. It is a very nice, small, traditionally decorated Japanese restaurant. We went for lunch and were the only ones in the room, which was a little bit awkward. The menu is pretty standard Japanese food with equivalent pricing to other local sushi places. The lunch menu has substantially more combo options for a bento box than other local places, which is notable. It combines various options of rolls, nigiri and sashimi with some tempura, soup and salad. The service was friendly and quick. The chef was also very friendly and recommended the salmon since it was extremely fresh. And it was. This place excels at fish quality. The sashimi was outstanding, as were the rolls. The miso soup and hot tea were standard. I was not impressed with the tempura; the batter was very heavy. I also was disappointed with the salad dressing because it was very salty (heavier on soy, less emphasis on ginger/miso). I eat a LOT of Japanese food. I think that if you come to Fugi Grill and order only sushi then you will be very happy with your meal. Other components fell short. It is not my favorite sushi place in the area but I wouldn't mind coming back every once in a while.
(4)Jasper D.
We had driven by this unassuming spot for years, and we used to laugh, thinking that its strip mall location did not seem like the sort of place for good sushi. Boy, were we wrong! It is a place for GREAT sushi! When my wife and I want to have sushi and sashimi, we come here, We love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chef/owner do his thing. This is a really nice place and the staff is helpful. We just wish it had a full cocktail menu.
(5)Enzo D.
Based on the high rating on Yelp, I felt excited thinking I found a new hidden gem! You can imagine how disappointed I feel writing this review! 1. The place was freezing! Even with UGG boots on, my feet were ice cold! 2. The customer service was good, the sushi chef prepared a complimentary appetizer for us to try (which was very good). 3. I give high ratings to the vegetable Goyza. Utterly delicious, 4. We ordered Edamame. When we reached the half bowl mark, my friend asks, "what is that?" As she point to a short white 2" object. At first I thought it wAs a worm, but soon found out it was a piece of noodle. That ruined my appetite for the Edamame. We were the first and only customer. Where did this dirty piece of noodle come from? 5. I ordered a beef teriyaki bento box. The beef was so tough that I had to chew for about three minutes and it was still so tough I was afraid to swallow for fear of choking I will not be returning to Fuji a Grill! There are too many other great places to eat in the Oak Park River Forest area.
(1)Dan H.
From the street, Fuji Grill looks like any other nondescript strip mall restaurant, but inside it is very bright and clean. I don't always enjoy sushi, but everything I sampled here was amazing. Don't miss the jalapeno appetizer.
(5)Valerie K.
Love this place! I almost always get take-out due to my schedule, and I've never been disappointed. I've had most of the rolls on their menu, and they're all delicious. A couple of times, the chef has thrown in a free appetizer as well. Once as a jalapeño pepper with cream cheese and tuna. YUM! This place is fantastic and very reasonably priced.
(5)Mojo P.
Visited Fuji Grill for the first time Saturday evening, and I can easily see myself becoming a regular. Amazing food, tremendously good service and I loved everything. Their location is humble, but don't be deceived - this is a hidden gem. We began the meal with a complimentary jalapeño appetizer that was crunchy and savory. Lovely sauce. For appetizers, we enjoyed piping hot miso soup, seaweed salad (which was OMG) and white tuna carpaccio. The carpaccio was exceptional! Loved the warm house sake, too. For dinner we shared four rolls: Rainbow Dragon, Lobster, Kiss of Fire and Smoky Bear. All of them arrived in a very timely manner, and the presentation was lovely - including the dragon saying "hi!" written in hot sauce. All of these were delicious and fresh. Really hit the spot. Service is friendly, charming and attentive, After the meal, the chef sent us a complimentary taste of the house salmon specialty, a marinated strip with roe, and I am definitely coming back for that. It was the bomb! Go, this is the best sushi experience in the Forest Park/Oak Park/River Forest area.
(5)Dedulax A.
First time, and will surely be back. I had a Philadelphia roll, and Godzilla roll. My partner and I were so full we needed to take a break in between... Yes it was that good!! Go for it. This place is good for dine-in as well. Competitive prices. Parking a plus
(5)Kayla R.
Don't let the rough exterior fool you! Our go-to spot for great sushi in the area. The pork gyozas are always on point and the chef remembers customers and hooks it up with free jalapeño popper appetizer samples, which are the bomb! The sushi is delicious and lots of choices. They even have sushi making parties!!! And he best part is we have never had to wait for a table! Service is so quick and dining in is a lavish experience!!
(5)Laura B.
A great find. The waitress was sweet, the food was good, and the portions very generous. We received several complimentary dishes, including a really tasty pickled pepper. I wish that the chef would go a little lighter on the saucing but it's pretty easy to maneuver a bit of mayo off. A little more pricey than I expected but worth every penny.
(4)Liz G.
Tucked away in a tiny strip mall, we had to pass it and turn around to go there. We met up with friends and sat at the sushi bar. Chef Stefano was wonderful and very attentive. The sushi was to die for. Everything we ate was very fresh and carefully prepared. Its an understatement to say that I'll be back soon.
(5)Jim O.
Very good sushi! We were last customers on Sunday and the chef/proprietor brought us multiple apps for free and treated us to a saki bomb which he did with us. Everything was delicious and fish seemed fr
(4)Jay K.
A big fan of this restaurant since the first time i went here. They use the quality fish and always recommend fantastic rolls for me every time i visit. They give a fun show when cutting whole salmon. also Try the nigiris and special rolls!
(5)Jenni E.
I have passed by this place hundreds of times being from this area, and had never thought of stopping in. However, I saw a sign in the window for lunch specials and I needed lunch... I walked in at noon and it was empty and pretty much stayed that way except for one other small group of people. The waitress was very friendly and accommodating and got my drink and menu over to me quickly. They had a few options to choose from as far as lunch specials went and I settled on a spicy tuna and spicy salmon roll. All of the lunch items come with soup, salad and a couple of tempura veggies. Everything tasted great. I too was surprised with a taste of something sent over from the chef. I thought this was a great touch and really makes you feel special. I thought it was especially nice considering that he sent me something spicy, when I had ordered two spicy rolls. It seems that he customizes the free item to something you would like based on what you ordered. The price was right for lunch and I had a great experience. I would come back again if I was in the area.
(4)Madeline O.
My family and I go to this restaurant at least once a week. I could sing praises of the service, how wonderful the staff is, and how everything on the menu is simply delicious. I think the best compliment I could give, however, is that I have been a vegetarian (including not eating fish) for 18+ years; I will only ever eat fish from Chef Stefano. My first bite was of the Tuna Takani (a splendid appetizer) and I haven't looked back since! I recommend the tuna/jalapeño appetizer and the sweet potato roll (great for vegetarians!).
(5)Meghan P.
Highly recommend the jalapeno appetizers and the Crazy Chicago maki. Super fresh food. If it were in the city, it'd be 4-stars, but the fact that this place is in Forest Park, it's clearly deserving of a five-star review. Best sushi near Oak Park that we've experienced... and we've tried a lot!
(5)Mike D.
This is a great sushi place. You would never suspect it since it is in a mini strip mall. Why would you ever go to a sushi place in a mini strip mall? GO TO THIS PLACE. It is a great sushi place and the fish is so fresh - try the sashimi. The owner typically gives out one or two...or more free dishes to anyone who dines there...And by dishes I don't mean entrees but free appetizers, but who cares...its free and great. It is truly a great experience and I highly recommend trying this place out, you wont be disapointed.
(5)Dana T.
I'm super snobby about sushi, generally suspicious of any seafood that is more than 30 minutes from an ocean. I moved to Forest Park recently and stumbled on Fuji Grill in my hood. I've been back about ten times since! It's my go-to for all sushi cravings. The reviews posted here are mostly accurate, so I'll just add based on my most recent experience: - The location and ambiance are nothing to write home about (or take a fancy date) but you won't overpay for high quality sushi. I can't stand going into the city and paying $18 for a mediocre spicy tuna roll. There's usually parking in front, which is a plus. It's clean with decent lighting, kind of what you'd expect in a strip mall and the type of hole in the wall sushi bar I like best. - Chef Stefano is very friendly and talented, a great host. Sit at the bar if you can. - Standard beer and sake menu. - I only ordered a non-sushi dinner item once, for takeout, and it wasn't all that impressive for the price. I'll stick with sushi from now on. The rolls and sashimi are all good. Generous nigiri (individual sushi cuts on rice). You can ask for off-menu rolls too. They sometimes have exotic fish but usually it's the staple items that are most popular. Haven't tried the lunch specials, I always go for dinner. - The service from waitstaff has gotten pretty spotty, not sure what's happening there. It happened to me three times in a row now, hopefully will improve. Probably the only strike against the place - I'm pretty patient but it got ridiculous the last time I went, no hot towel, had to ask for water or any kind of liquid (appetizer came before drinks, not good when you are eating jalapeño), had to request check, noticed people at the tables were waiting a long time too and there were only four small parties in the whole place. (Hoping Stefano sees this and hires a better crew.) - Overall, good value for money. Delicious sushi. Nice owner. I'm still a fan!
(4)AJ L.
Great place, really friendly service, very good fish. Owner was really nice, knew a lot of the regulars here. It was our first time, but we were made to feel very welcome. Sushi was delicious, I had pieces of nigiri -- salmon, yellowtail, tamago and unagi. Good sized pieces, served at the proper temperature (not ice cold!). Owner poured out a round of sake shots at the bar as we were leaving. Nice guy!
(5)Russell W.
I have been to Fuji several times since I moved to Chicago and it is my favorite sushi place in the west burbs
(5)Laura G.
Love!!!! Crunch Munch and Stefano are the bomb. Food is always great and fresh. So happy I don't have go to far for some great sushi!
(5)Frank W.
Absolutely wonderful experience here. Perfect date night spot. Like some of the best sushi places I've ever been, this is a subtle place in a gaudy strip mall. Inside however it is peaceful, elegant, and friendly. The service and food were both superb. The sushi chef was very interactive and sent special dishes to our table. Couldn't have been happier with the experience and finally finding my perfect sushi spot after 6 months in Chicago.
(5)Sarah C.
Just by looking at the outside, you would never expect that this little restaurant would have such fantastic sushi! I've been here with my friends several times and have never been disappointed with a single dish, the sushi is always fresh, delicious and beautifully prepared and even the yakia soba and chicken teriyaki are amazing. I live walking distance and have literately tried every other asian restaurant in the Forest Park/Oak Park area and this place is hands down, the best. If you're looking for good Japanese food around here, dont bother looking anywhere else.
(5)Nicolas R.
This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. I have been to many Japanese restaurants all around the world, and the quality cuts, and portions are excellent and generous here. The owner and his staff are warm and inviting, and always seem to recommend exactly what i am in the mood for. The prices are very reasonable. I have not found a better restaurant in the Chicago MSA to date, and have been to several (6-7). I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great cuts of sushi and/or sashimi.
(5)Christina G.
Fairly solid sushi, pretty yummy, but the one big downfall is location--a small strip mall in Forest Park. So not the most scenic area. Also I've been there many times and I've never seen more than one sushi chef working, which results in longer wait for sushi. Better for take-out in my opinion, but make sure you call 45 minutes ahead.
(3)Rhonda G.
Let me start off by answering a question that many sushi lovers will ask. Is their anything special about this place that I can't get someplace else? The answer is No. It's pretty good sushi and I have no extreme ravings about it. If you're in the area, perhaps you live or work nearby or you're just driving through, then I say sure head on over to Fuji Grill. It's not crappy food, it's not too expensive, and there are limited options in the area. Yes Oak Park Has Sagano Sushi and Sushi House but to be perfectly honest, those places aren't anything special either and they cost a bit more (especially Sushi House). And yes service can be a bit slow....so choose your time wisely. Ps. they close at 2:30 and don't reopen until 5 for dinner
(4)Norbert R.
Great Sushi! If you're looking for great sashimi this is the best place. Most sushi restaurants do a small cut but this place gives you half of the best fish quality possible. If you're tired of looking for a sushi place in the west suburbs this is it. Def coming back!
(5)Bret G.
Get the golden sauce with the rice... Delightful
(5)Johanna H.
If you are thinking about going to this place, just go! I went for the first time last Thursday. This is only the second sushi place I've been too, so I was worried about my etiquette. The chef and the waiter were so nice, I relaxed immediately. I order Negi Hamachi and Salmon Skin rolls. The waiter was nice and asked if I wanted the regular rolls or hand rolls. He explained the difference to me when I got an extremely confused look on my face. I got the regular roll, but I knew how to eat that. Before I could even think about what to do while waiting for my food, the waiter came back with a sample of their jalapeno pepper tuna appetizer, on the house. It was amazing! I definitely will order it again. Shortly after I finished the appetizer, the two rolls I ordered arrived. They were amazing! I generally have to order Negi Hamachi anywhere I go, it's one of my favorites. It was fresh and wonderful. This was my first time trying a salmon skin roll, and it was wonderful. The pieces were a little bit big for me to handle in one bite, but, honestly, I don't think that's a bad thing. The sushi was well made and there was a lot of it, so who would argue?? The chef and waiter checked on me multiple times during the meal, and were really wonderful about everything. In the end, the two rolls and a sprite *Next time, I'll get a green tea...I wasn't thinking when he asked if I wanted anything to drink* cost about 16 bucks before tip. That's an average for me when I went to the other sushi place I go to downtown. But at this place, the portion was bigger, the place was quiet *I was the only one there, since I got there just as they opened for dinner*, the staff was very attentive, and don't forget the sampler. So, go. Try it out. You won't be let down.
(5)Nessie V.
Really average. Service was nice. Prices were higher than average. The thing that nixed it for me is that I'm pretty sure they use long grain rice in the maki and not sushi rice.
(3)Nancy Y.
I had the DonKatsu (pork dish, a personal favorite) and it was among the best I've had, even when traveling in Kyushu. Hubby had the Tempura Udon Noodle Soup, and it was fantastic, too -- great miso broth, good tempura, noodles just right. Yum. We sampled the ahi sushi, which was also outstanding, on a delightful bed of perfectly marinated daikon. And, of course, great beer. We liked Fuji Grill fine before as a settling kind of easy dinner out, but under new management it's risen to near the top. We didn't realize there'd been a management change so went in for our usual favorites,but the new chef and staff have much higher standards and a different menu. Great experience, great food. So glad it's in the neighborhood!
(5)Chris M.
Excellent excellent!! I had the classic Spider Roll and when I tell it you it was literally the best sushi ive ever had.. it certainly was.. No joke ladies and gents I tried yelp out for a change and they hit a home run this time!
(5)Matthew M.
ok so everyone is hating on fuji. why ? because the previous owner was a fairly poor sushi man. I went in about 2 months ago and the head chef sent me a few pieces of fish and some oddities. He had noticed i wasn't just a normal roll or salmon guy. I have studied this menu over and over as well as tasted most of it. Everything is great. The new owner orders his fish multiple times a week always trying new ones. He has never given me an "off" piece of fish and will never give me or anyone one. He also has told me and multiple other people in the place if they dislike anything it is free and he will make you whatever you want instead. now im not saying this is the best sushi place in the world because i havent tasted all of them. But if you are looking for the best place to go and chill, and have a great meal i choose fuji. They are going to be installing a tv soon for sporting events and parties. As well as trying special dinners to people who are sick of california rolls and salmon sashimi. I wrote this review because the people who have bashed this place went to the old one. This is the new and improved fuji and i will try and get as many people as i can to go. The Chef is a sweet man who only wants people to eat great fish at a good price. So next time you are thinking sushi or even soba dont go to sushi house or sagano both of which will kill your wallet and make you feel like crap with theyre week old tuna. instead go to fuji and tell the chef matt sent you. Aka the white kid who is always at the bar. he will hook you up and you might just learn what real fish is. thank you for reading and remember eat everything life is to short. ps ask for the fried shrimp heads they will change your life. thank you again for reading
(5)Ryan C.
THANK GOD, FUIJI GRILL HAS A NEW OWNER, WHO IS ALSO THE NEW CHEF!! I used to go to Fuji Grill with my friends quite often back in the days, and then we kind of stopped going there because the food quality was going down and the service was getting pretty bad... I mean the owner was a wiatch, if you know what I mean. I'm pretty sure that's what everyone(who stopped going to Fuji because of the mediocre food, depressing atmosphere, and slow service) thinks. BUT BUT BUT! I went back yesterday with her, I couldn't have been happier to find out that Fuji Grill's finally stepped up their game! (or more accurately, the new owner!) When we arrived, we immediately went straight to the sushi bar. I wanted to see up close, how good the new owner was. (oh, just in case if you don't know, the new chef is the new owner!) And while we were looking through the menu, the chef gave us a sample appetizer that has spicy tuna and cream cheese inside the crunchy jalapeno (the one just like Daina B. wrote!). That was actually very good! To make everything I have to say SHORT, JUST GO TO FUJI GRILL, THE BEST IN OAK PARK!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!
(5)Albert L.
First time here and a GREAT experience. The owner and staff were very friendly and food was great! Since I'm not well educated when it comes to sushi, they took the time to explain the options. Made me feel very comfortable. Stefan, the owner, too over the business last year so stop in again if you haven't lately. Looking forward to getting some friends together for their sushi class!
(5)Bill P.
fascinating!! what an unexpected surprise. just checked in on my way home, man.... real crunchy and godzilla was the bomb. i will definitely will go again and try other special rolls!
(5)Carolyn K.
Very good! Fresh sushi in a friendly atmosphere. Sat at the sushi bar and was given a couple samples on the house. Good stuff! I'll be back!
(4)Molly O.
ask what's fresh and you shall receive. sit at the bar and you will be enticed by all the possibilities, you might even get to taste a piece on the house. i love this place and it is obvious that the chef loves making incredible sushi. looks are deceiving when it comes to this joint. i was very impressed with the size of the sashimi to the point that i thought i needed to call for back up. great quality and quantity for the price.
(4)Phil L.
Ok, just went back after almost a 2 year hiatus. Had the steak bento box and sashimi deluxe dinner. Let's start with the bento box... Steak was cubed and well done (guess the server didn't ask how we wanted it - so I'll take the blame for that) and even with the sauce, was dry and not very tasty... the tempura was greasy and not very crunchy (I like a little crunch in my tempura). The sashimi selection was blah (about 16-18 pieces: tuna, smoked salmon, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, octopus, and shrimp). The tuna did not look or taste super fresh (don't get me wrong, totally edible - just if you've had fresh tuna, you can taste the difference) and the octopus was like shoe leather. I did not have any of the rolls, but if its a bento box or sashimi you want, Sen is still a far better choice in my opinion.
(2)Ray S.
This place is great if you love sushi! I recently started going there on a hunch by my girlfriend that it might be good. Although the location is a little bit quirky, the sushi is top notch. Stefano is the sushi master over there. He will accommodate any special requests you may have. The service is friendly and prompt. I would recommend this little gem to anyone who loves sushi.
(5)John W.
service's very terrible. waitress Who I order some rolls is woman. That rolls have shrimps and I told her "I don't want shrimps because i allergic shrimps". She accept but in this rolls have shrimp. For me, I thing this situation is terrible because someone who's allergic eat that. It's very dangerous because they can die when eat that foods. You're waitress If you don't sure you can ask them again.
(1)Guy L.
When my friend first took me here I was a little skeptical because it's in the corner of a little strip mall but looks can be deceiving. They have a very friendly staff, excellent food and great prices! Chef Stefano is great! He's very knowledgeable and loves making customers happy. This has become the spot for my friends and I when we want sushi. Not to mention that my friend is here almost every other week and has become friends with the chef. We usually sit at the bar and talk to Chef Stefano, he's very friendly and loves to talk to his customers making sure that everything is great. As soon as we sat down he had prepared an appetizer for us, which was spicy but very good, it was similar to a jalapeno popper. All the specialty rolls are delicious and fresh, there wasn't a roll I didn't like. My favorite specialty rolls are the Stefano Roll, Real Crunch Roll, New Volcano, and Fire Kamikaze. We have eaten here so many times that he knows us by name. As for the appetizers, I tried the Gyoza and the Soft Shell Crab, which were both awesome! The Gyoza, which is a pan fried pork meat dumpling, was delicious! The pork tasted perfect with great seasonings and the dipping sauce that came with it had a nice sweetness to it. The Soft Shell Crab was amazing! I have never had it before but it was so good. They fry it a little bit on the outside, so you get the nice fried crunch on the outside and the tenderness of the crab on the inside, perfect combination. They give you a soy dipping sauce with it that has a little kick to it but it's just great. Definitely recommend this! I recently had my birthday party here as well, it was a sushi making party and it was worth every penny! He had closed down the restaurant for us which made the experience even better. He started us off with a bento box that was great! Then he showed us how to make different kinds of sushi. Every was laughing and having a great time, it was the best birthday I had in a while. Of course, Chef Stefano loves saki bombs, so occasionally through out the sushi making process he started doing saki bombs with us. The party was a great experience and everybody loved it! I made believers out of my cousins. It's a great little restaurant with great food and great prices. Love this place! I will defiantly be back soon.
(5)Thuoc N.
New owner is great! Wonderful service and great sushi. The location is a bit quirky but don't let that stop you. Stop in and have a wonderful night. Service was excellent and owner is very accommodating and friendly.
(5)p. dexter w.
Went to see what the "new" Fuji is like, since we liked the "old" style. Menu has been updated, and we were very happy with the quality and variety of sushi and sashimi. new cold sake's featured, and dessert updates like green tea moshi. Lounge-music renditions of 90s pop was a nice touch, and the sushi chefs sent several freebies to the table, which were delicious: a peppered tuna tataki, and a jalapeno and tuna appetizer. Recommend a visit if you've never tried it, or want a quality alternative to area sushi restaurants like Sushi House without the wait. We'll be back to try more of the creative appetizers and sushi. Domo arigato gozamashita!
(4)Tony G.
Under new ownership and management since October 2010. The food is remarkably improved. The owner kept sending out free food samples while we waited for our orders. He even gave us free sake after the meal. I am very impressed by the service and the quality of the food. If you tried Fuji Grill before and were unimpressed, you need to give it another try.
(5)Kenneth L.
The Sushi is excellent, the ingredients are fresh, the Chef is generous and the staff is attentive. The atmosphere is ok. Best kept secret in Chicago-land. Stop living in the past and enjoy the now.
(5)Yvonne O.
I love Fuji Grill's ood, but there are so many other issues that prevent me from giving them any higher of a rating. First, the service is crazy slow and mismatched. If you order hot appetizers, cold appetizers and sushi, you have no guarantee (even on repeat trips with the same order) of what will come out first and whether you will be able to eat the hot food before it gets cold. Sometimes you will also wait forever between courses. I also agree with John about the kid factor. There is something about this place that attracts parents with obnoxious and loud children. Once the kid next to me even threw food at our table - and the yuppie dad just laughed. The tempura is also touch and go - I think they have/had two different chefs with very different syles of making the panko batter and one is not good, while the other is great. My advice is to get take-out - and plan to arrive late to pick it up so that you are not waiting.
(3)William O.
I absolutely love this non-fancy sushi treasure in Forest Park. Don't let the strip mall turn you off because the sushi is second to none in all of Chicagoland. Owner-chef Stefano creates both new age rolls for the trendy eater and great pieces of more traditional individual sushi. The sushi is as fresh as any place I've known and the staff couldn't be more friendly. Check this place out!
(5)Annie O.
Fuji Grill is by the far the best sushi resturant in the area. The fish is always very fresh and head sushi chef Stefano is beyond amazing. Do not let the location fool you. The food is delicious and the service is fantastic as well. Definitely the place to go for sushi in the area, hands down. My family has loved sushi for years and were always on the hunt for a good sushi place in the area - Fuji Grill has delivered.
(5)C B E.
I agree with Rhonda...this is not a place you go to get wowed but the fish is fresh & they carry good basic sushi. One of the dishes I like to get especially in the winter is their Yaki Nabe Udon soup. It is wonderful & they give you a generous size portion. Sometimes I'll ask that it be noodleless & they give me extra veggies & sometimes I'll order it with Soba noodles instead of Udon noodles. That & a couple of handrolls is a meal. Prices are fair, not jacked up like some of the other local sushi places. Fugi grill has been around for 10+ years & I hope it's around another 10.
(4)Amy w.
The sushi is good....but the the staff acts as if you are a burden. The man making the sushi actually rolled hiseyes and let out a big sigh when the waitress turned in our order. Look, there are so many places to get sushi- why would I go some place where I don't feel welcome? We have tried this twice and both times- it was the same. I don't see us returning.
(2)Scott D.
Solid but unremarkable sushi. Not bad. Solid and good. Not exceptional. This is a "go-to" place, not a place you take a first date to. Relatively affordable for sushi. Fast, courteous service. No-frills, dated dining room. This is my "go-to" sushi place when I want take out in the area, and I have NEVER been disappointed by the speed of service, quality of food, and the reasonable price. I tried some of the non-sushi teriaki, and I would definitely say -- stick with the sushi. Update: Very nice people, solid, consistent sushi. Worth the trip.
(4)John N.
Fantastic sushi - fresh, creative and unique. Personally recommend the jalapeño tuna poppers. The kitchen entres are equally good along with service and atmosphere. Kid friendly as well and the Fuji Grill is a gem!
(5)John L.
Ok, driving by, being that it's in a dumpy strip mall with J&J Fish, Subway, and a hair salon, you would look at this place and think it's Japanese takeout. IT'S NOT! I asked the owner and they've been there for over 10 years. I have been going to this place for the past 4 years and their sushi is excellent! The raw salmon nigiri simply melts in your mouth. The spicy scallops? Yum! It's affordable and I've never had a bad experience there. Last night they could've turned up the heat a little, but that's what hot sake, miso soup, and a scarf are for. :) 1/6/07 Update: went on Friday night immediately after work. Mistake. Rich Oak Park moms like to bring their toddlers there to scream and make squelching noises. I recommend waiting 'til later after the playground leaves...
(4)Cindy R.
Since I work about 2 miles away, I used to eat here regularly (due to lack of sushi choices) before a sushi place opened I liked better in downtown Oak Park. This place has a lot of issues. First of all, service is extremely slow even if they are not busy. Also the hostess is unfriendly - she barely acknowledged us even when we had been going there every couple of weeks for a year! Their fish is average at best.
(2)Jose O.
Its a must go restaurant. The food is amazing, very reasonable prices. Its a perfect place to take that special someone, friends and or family. The chef is very friendly, always welcome you in with a smile and a free treat to start your meal. If its your first time trying out sushi then this is the right place to give it a go. The fish is always fresh, so I guarantee you that you would fall in love with sushi when you try it out here and you will be a regular costumer :).
(5)Brian F.
Give this place another shot if your opinion is based on the previous owner/staff. I think the new owner would have been better off changing the name when he took over. While its not my favorite place to eat sushi, it has improved considerably with the new owner's attention. That combined with the ease of parking in the strip mall has made it one of my regular lunch stops. Every time I eat there the chef prepares something new, yummy, and on the house for me to try,
(4)Darci A.
Great menu and delicious food, love the free appetizer. One time the chef gave everyone saki bombs.
(4)Bridget S.
I have a lot of fond memories of this place when I was in high school. I'm really happy it's doing so well because Chef Stephano is really amazing at what he does. He always makes you feel welcome and more like you are talking to a good friend than just eating at a restaurant. The sushi here is still amazing as I remember it, and hopefully it only gets better.
(5)S.E. A.
Perfectly fine sushi. Maybe could be a bit more generous with the fish for the price. We appreciated that they accommodated a special request on one of our rolls. Great service overall.
(3)Ang S.
We've been coming here for about a year now, once or twice a month, and have literally never been disappointed. It's a laid back, neighborhood place with great, fresh sushi and a nice staff. I don't know what else a place needs to get 5 stars!
(5)Anthony M.
Love this little spot! I go here for Sushi at least once a month, friendly environment great Sushi that is priced fair....The owner Stefano is a good guy who cares about his Sushi and customers, if you're ever in the forest/oak park area and want Sushi you must go to Fuji Grill.
(5)Jeff K.
Friendly, unpretentious, high quality, highly original, and just darn tasty sushi. While the unassuming location may not impress, the food will. Start with the Ocean Fire appetizer. You can thank me now for the suggestion, and then after you try it, thank me again. If tuna turns you on, try the Fire Kamikaze roll. For salmon, go for the Sun Set roll. While my wife and I usually get carry-out here, the dining room is intimate and inviting. At least half the time Stefano throws in a free appetizer sampler. A great find a little outside the Oak Park/Forest Park downtown areas.
(5)Mrs. R R.
We decided to try this place out for a birthday party after all the great reviews. Sad to say it wasn't what I expected. The place is small but otherwise nice. Our group of 9 arrived on time for our reservation and yet our service was super slow. The place wasn't that busy to begin. We weren't asked to order appetizers to start instead it was ordered all at the same time as our dinner and some appetizers came out after the main dishes did. The sushi was for the most party very tasty on the positive side. No free appetizers offered compliments of the chef as others have posted. We asked for separate checks from the beginning yet when it was time to get them the waitress took over 25 min to try and figure them out. And we had to get up and go look for the waitress just to ask for the checks. This experience would have been better if it wasn't for the slow and disorganized service.
(2)Monica L.
We stopped by on a cold night (used yelp's monocle while at the Forest Park Holiday Walk) and very glad we did! We were warmly greeted, promptly seated (requested a different table and were accommodated; server was also aware that the window seats were chilly and she made sure to seat us where it was warm), and offered hot towels for our hands. Upon learning it was our first time dining here, they offered us a sample of their jalapeño pepper roll, which was phenomenal. Our usual order -- salmon, yellow tail, white fish, and tuna -- actually came in their Fuji Sampler appetizer so we ordered that. YUM. I also tried the shrimp tempura -- could've scarfed it down with a bowl of rice but didn't want to get full too fast. Egg and unagi, plus a Sunset Roll all did not disappoint. The green tea ice cream (huge scoop, enough for both of us) was the perfect dessert to end an excellent meal. I should also mention that our hot tea was kept filled throughout our dinner, and all the staff were very friendly. We will definitely be back for more.
(5)Sandra K.
Fuji Grill is a jewel in Forest Park. Fantastic high quality food in gracious surroundings. We loved the summer roll and walnut shrimp. I have been there several times and the overall range and quality of the food is really unparalleled in this area. If you are a fan of Japanese food in Oak Park or Forest Park and any of the surrounding neighborhoods, you simply have to taste for yourself!
(5)Tamer A.
I will be brief. Very solid sushi, with wonderful fish. Engaging chef. Great service. Nice ambiance, once you get over the fact that you are in a strip mall. Honestly, though, this place is my very close #2 (almost tied for 1) for Sushi in Oak Park/Forest Park/River Forest area.
(4)Andrew L.
Best sushi restaurant in the Chicagoland area. My family and I were impressed by their friendly service and fresh sushi. We ordered some of their special rolls, which were very original and unique. The ingridients really complemented each other as well.
(5)Tasha F.
I've gone twice, thinking I've missed something because of the other awesome reviews. I live near west, but hate the parking night mare of many of the closer Japanese restaurants so I ventured to Oak Park. Now I love the atmosphere and that they give you a hot (or cold) towel to clean your hands before you eat. The first time I went, the temperature was off on my appetizers. However the chef sent an awesome complimentary jalepeno appetizers for me to try, which was awesome. I went recently, and it was not a menu standard. I ordered, again the temperature of my food was off. It was like some of the items were frozen and deep-fried, but the insides were still very cool, while the outside hot. This was the case for both dishes and my green tea tasted burnt. I love the atmosphere, until the obnoxious group of women came in, however the food is not there for me.
(2)Yvonne B.
I would never have checked this place out if not for Yelp. Thank goodness there are so many fabulous reviews! Fuji Grill is in a shopping strip with a sign that looks... cheap. When I told my sister I got our sushi from this restaurant she was incredulous, "THAT place? I've never even thought to try it." Well. I know if we thought it then many other folks thought it too. Now, get over that exterior obstacle and step inside. I walked in and was greeted by two young ladies at the host(ess) counter. They had good posture and both courteously gave me their full attention. No texting or distracted looks. They were great! They gave me a full table menu to browse but also handed me a paper one for home. They helped me choose appetizers and rolls. Fuji Grill is a Japanese sushi restaurant with a few other dishes. I ordered two appetizers (bacon wrapped scallops and shrip shumai) and six rolls for four people. My bill came to $82 buckeroos. I was shocked silly by the price. I guess that's what I get when their rolls cost either $12.95 or $13.95 each. They must have appreciated my large order because they gave me a container filled with sliced jalapenos served sushi-style (jalapeno pepper tuna appetizer). I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but I ate all of them before my guests arrived. My guests didn't miss the jalapenos because we all went crazy over everything else. I wish I could tell you what all I ordered except that there was a LOT (Caterpillar, Stefano's Roll, Real Crunch, Godzilla, and Rainbow were possibly five of them). I also don't know which one was which. My assumption is that you can't go wrong at Fuji Grill. After all, six out of six rolls and two out of two appetizers were both gold-star winners!
(5)Shannon W.
Great sushi!!!! Such a secret little hidden sushi spot you can miss if you aren't paying attention. It is very clean inside and you can see the chef making the sushi from wherever you sit. Very reasonably priced as well. It looks nothing like a sushi place on the outside but is perfect when you step in the doors.
(4)Steve S.
Local sushi restaurant in small strip mall, very creative original rolls. All the fish was fresh very nice presentation, very good selection and prices for Chicagoland were very reasonable. Three blocks from train or green line worth the effort to try this place
(4)David H.
My new favorite sushi spot in Chicagoland!! Arrived for the first time at dinner time on a Friday evening. This jem is located in a strip mall and had their exterior sign turned off. Hard to spot off the street. Was one of two tables eating at prime dinner hour!! Put Fuji Grill on your GPS everyone. You can't go wrong. Ordered the Philadelphia Rolls, salmon with cream cheese (which worked amazingly well) and cucumber. The smokiness of the salmon was complimented by the sweetness of the cream cheese. Received a complimentary sample of the Jalapeno Pepper Tuna (may not be the exact name) and it was awesome. Had the Spicy Salmon rolls. Ask for more spice, if you are a spice guy, beforehand and you will get what you are looking for. Finally, still had a hankering for some spice and asked for the Lobster rolls with spicy scallops with a touch of sriracha, I think by request, and a generous helping of wasabi. Would reccomend these prime rolls to anyone. Come and enjoy the Fuji Grill. A reasonably priced, bursting with flavor meal that will become your favorite hideaway on the outskirts of Oak Park on Harlem.
(5)Melissah L.
I went here with my boyfriend and we were the only customers in the restaurant (we got there riiight at open). The service was fantastic (but we were the only people so I would hope it's good) and the sushi chef gave us a free appetizer. It was good food. I think the appetizer was deep-fried jalapeno peppers with tuna and cream cheese inside. Anything deep-fried tastes good, right? The rest of our meal included shumai, a spicy salmon roll and a king of dragon roll. The shumai was so-so, I could barely tell there was any shrimp in there and it probably came from the freezer aisle at the local Asian grocery store, but it was edible so we obviously ate it. The rolls were great though-- the ingredients were really fresh and they were presented beautifully. I sort of wish that the spicy salmon roll was served with avocado instead of cucumber, but I'm sure we could have gotten a substitution had we read the ingredients more thoroughly. Decent prices, casual atmosphere... recommend!!
(4)Kevin S.
Simply the best! Stefano is tremendous at what he does. Andrew the new server is a great guy too. Top Notch! Now if I can only steal them away to Elmhurst.
(5)Dennis B.
I cannot begin to say enough great things about this place. The service is one of the best I've had at any restaurant, everything is clean, the decor is wonderful. Now onto the food. I've been here twice with my wife and friends and have not been disappointed. For appetizers the jalapeno pepper tuna is a must, the super white tuna appetizer and sake ponzu appetizers are amazing. Now onto the rolls. We've had almost every specialty roll on the menu and our favorites are the amigo roll, the Stefano roll, the fire kamikaze, salmon lovers and the extra crunch roll. their fish is extremely fresh but the thing that I liked most was watching chef Stefano create each roll. You could tell by his enthusiasm and excitement while making the rolls that he truly enjoys his craft and that's what makes this place special. When someone puts that much love into the food they are making you know it will always be good. Do not let the outward appearance or location fool you, It just helps keep the hipsters at bay, this place is top notch. Oh and did I mention they host sushi making parties? Come on, it doesn't get any better than that.
(5)Jason M.
Since moving to lovely Berwyn over two years ago I was reluctant to try any sushi in the area. Then I heard about this Sen place in Oak Park and how it got some sort of Michelin recognition. I went there and it was pretty good. When I decided for a second time in 2.5 years to try sushi in the Berwyn/Oak Park/Forest Park area I went with Fuji Grill and it was incredible. It's in a strip mall by a gas station and it was definitely memorable sushi. The chef even made some nice lady at the bar a special roll to her liking. He seems like a great fellow and I will be back.
(5)Ronny M.
Fuji Grill is my favorite place to get sushi. Every time I walk in, I am treated with great respect. I sit down and am treated to a hot towel. It's so refreshing on my hands and face. It's a little thing like a hot towel that makes your experience all that much better. I always get green tea and miso soup. When I want to catch up with a friend I take them to Fuji Grill. When I sit down, I've been treated to a complimentary small dish before. (3 pieces) Fuji is in a strip mall which is a bit misleading. It is the best sushi I've had, and has become the standard when I go out to try to find Sushi closer to school. The flavors of Sushi from Fuji are very clean and simple with a ton of flavor, something I haven't had at any other sushi bar. Very clean, very flavorful. I've found that at other sushi bars I go to, if they do clean and simple well, then they don't do so well on their rolls. This is not the case at Fuji. At Fuji I am never unsatisfied. Their Sashimi, and rolls are splendid. If you're looking for fresh, flavorful food, come to Fuji. I am a huge fan of Unagi. I can even be a bit picky about it. Fuji's Unagi has great rich flavor that melts in my mouth and has a savory taste to it. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing. I can spend hours in Fuji with good company. The server won't make you feel like you are unwanted, or that you need to leave either. Fuji respects and enjoys your time with them. I find that really comforting because it makes you feel valued as a customer. Plus finding a place to be able to relax and conversate for hours in a world that seems to be about speed all the time is refreshing.
(5)Colonel M.
Service was bad... Slow even with only 3 tables people... Food was average... Will not make a return trip
(1)Rasmus N.
Great local Sushi place! Super fresh, generous rolls, and good prices! For us this is one of our regular spots! Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good casual sushi place!
(4)Kristal B.
Seriously. Go. Stefano's Roll, A+ Service, Nice Atmosphere, Good Sake, Group Rolling Classes.....enough said.
(5)Grace N.
Two necessities when moving into a new neighborhood is a cozy coffee shop, and a sushi place where I can wear my stretchy pants. Why stretchy pants? Because when I'm in slacker mode, I can justify my laziness by having a healthy meal, like rolls and a Kirin light. Enough about me. Let's talk about their scrumptious and creative rolls. The New Volcano roll was awesome. I've spent some time in Japan and the rolls were not as elaborate as here. My husband likes their bento meals. They usually give us complimentary samples (which is why my pants need to be stretchy). 5 star service in a casual environment, and drink specials to boot. What's not to daisuki?
(5)dasom l.
It is a definately great place to get sushi in this area. I can tell the chef is using very fresh ingredients. Reasonable price and really nice staff. Those of who love spicy food, get the kiss of fire! My favorite roll of all :)
(5)Binnan O.
Ambiance: Pretty unassuming place at the end in a strip mall but bright and clean inside with bamboo screens and light tan furniture creating a relaxing environment. The lighted sign wasn't working when we drove by and we almost missed it! The service was quick and super friendly, the chef welcomed us from behind the bar and brought us complementary dishes at the beginning and end of our meal which was a very welcome surprise. Our waters were always filled although we were one out of three couples here. Food: Got the Chicago roll, salmon obsession, spicy tuna and salmon skin roll with the ahi tuna poke as an appetizer. The poke consisted of tuna tossed in roe and sesame seeds served on thin clear wispy strands of lettuce (?) and a few cubes of avocado. The tuna itself was soft and buttery but I was not a fan of the thin tasteless shreds of lettuce. I didn't feel the dish really stand out and all I did was end up enjoying the yummy tuna in which case I might've just ordered tuna sashimi, basically not the best poke I've had. The roll themselves were excellent, the rice was a good consistency and the fish fresh. The chef gave us a sample of a jalapeño roll which was amazing, I really wish I had ordered one. The Chicago roll was huge and filled with tons of fish, would definitely order it again. Funny enough the simple spicy tuna and salmon skin rolls were among my favorites as well, the chef threw an extra clump of spicy tuna on top of the first roll which gave you an extra burst of flavor and the salmon skin was crispy and melded with the unagi sauce perfectly. The salmon obsession was a little fishy tasting which you might expect but I didn't take to it like I did with the other rolls. The rainbow dragon I have no comment on. To finish the meal, the chef gave us a sample of white albacore seared in a ginger soy sauce topped with dabs of unagi and spicy sauce which bursted with flavor and literally melted in your mouth, it was delightful. Overall, great place with great service and fresh buttery fish. I did not have one roll I didn't like, only ones I liked more than others. I think the prices are well deserved and would highly recommend the place to anyone.
(5)Lola K P.
Girlfriend suggested this place, conveniently located off the expressway. I was kinda iffy on it, based on past reviews, but I can report that indeed the new change of ownership (earlier this year?) has got this place a rave review from me. The food was all excellent, we even got freebie samples courtesy of the chef/owner, the most attentive staff, clean, updated decor and bathrooms. Looking forward to returning soon! (Being the Californian picky-ass seafood snob that I am, please keep in mind that my rating is based on a survey of similar restaurants in the area, not my overall experiences, because obviously nothing touches my Tokyo restaurants.)
(5)Allison R.
Aren't the best sushi places always in disgusting strip malls? I've dined in at Fuji Grill a few times. While it's not my favorite sushi place, they definitely do a lot of things right. I love the free appetizer that Chef Stefano gives you. The last time we dined in we also got free mochi too! On our last visit we tried the Hawaiian ahi poki which was the best thing I've tried there.
(4)Daina B.
Who would have thought that a sushi restaurant next to a tanning salon and JJs fish would actually be palatable? When we arrived on Wednesday night, there was only one other group there so it was a little awkward at first, but thank goodness they had music playing. The waiter was friendly and welcoming, as was the chef. We ordered the ahi tuna appetizer, kamikaze roll, Chicago wild, and Spider roll. All three were yummy, but the kamikaze could have used a little less mayo. Oh and they brought our sushi out on a big boat, pretty rad. The ahi tuna appetizer was delicious as well. The waiter brought over not one, but two free samples of items from the chef that were on the menu. I wish I remembered what they were because they were SO good. The first was a jalapeno stuffed with spicy tuna and fried tempura style. The second was a type of tuna marinated in soy sauce and green onions (I think). I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. As we were finishing up three other couples arrived, causing our waiter to kind of forget to give us our check. We weren't in a hurry so it didn't really bother us, we just gently reminded him. The only thing I would change is to reduce their prices slightly. To go along with what others have been saying - If you haven't been here since the new owner took over give it another shot.
(4)Shayne S.
Stopped in for my girlfriends birthday. Very good Sushi! Very friendly and nice staff. Peaceful music. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Sophie C.
Awesome place. Strongly recommend!!! Had dinner with friends and they all loved this place and will definitely come back for sure. Many nice dishes. Especially salmon sushi and today's special combo carparcio are great. Must try. Chef and server are very friendly. She changed dishes several times and refill drinks a lot. Treat us like first class. I love it!!! Again this is best sushi place I ever been and strongly recommend near this area.
(5)Diane W.
After moving out to OP from the city it took me a while to find a sushi place that i loved. After reconciling myself to the fact that any sushi place in the 'burbs will be more expensive than the city, Fuji Grill is now my favorite go-to sushi spot. The service is always impeccable, and the sushi is super fresh and absolutely DELICIOUS. Fuji Grill is a hidden gem - it's easy to miss on Harlem, in a strip mall just north of Madison - but it's better than any other place in OP/RF/FP. Definitely worth a stop, and multiple returns.
(5)Elibe E.
The Fuji Grill is almost an afterthought, positioned along a stretch of Harlem Ave. that's dominated by gas stations and strip malls. I met a friend here for a dinner and a few beverages on a weeknight. PROS: I was pleasantly surprised at the warmth and attentiveness from the owners. The restaurant was nearly deserted on this particular weeknight, but we were able to interact more with the sushi chef - good conversation. The owners presented us with several appetizers (on the house). We eventually ordered (vegetarian) gyoza, the Chicago Crazy roll, and several pieces of assorted nigiri (unagi, salmon, tuna). They were all excellent, and the fish was very fresh. CONS: My only gripe here was with the nigiri. The rice was a bit drier than I would have liked.
(3)Amy J.
We ended up at Fuji Grill as my husband and I drove by and were suddenly in the mood for sushi. We have frequented quite a few places across Chicagoland, and this one has made it to our favorites list. The decor is well lit but comfortable - do not let the strip mall setting fool you! We were treated to a complimentary appetizer almost immediately after being seated. It was a great gesture, and one that we have not had elsewhere. At our request we were given some recommendations, and told also that the salmon today was super super fresh. We ended up ordering the Tuna Tataki appetizer, the Chicago Crazy and Rainbow Dragon speciality rolls, and the Alaskan classic roll. The Rainbow Dragon was hands down our favorite, with unagi in a roll and the assorted fresh sashimi on top. The Chicago Classic could have been more enjoyable if the roll had been a little bit tighter. We spent more time trying to get the roll into our mouths and it took away from enjoying it. We were again treated to a complimentary chef's choice white tuna sashimi which was the best sashimi I've ever had. We liked it so much we ordered another to pay for. We don't normally order dessert when out for sushi, but the prices were pretty standard - $12-14 for a specialty roll and $7-9 for a classic roll. We felt a little room to splurge so i tried the red bean ice cream, and my husband got the strawberry mochi. The red bean ice cream was so good my husband actually ended up stealing my dessert! It was my first time trying mochi and I would definitely order the strawberry again. All told, our bill for 3 rolls, an appetizer, sashimi, 2 non alocoholic drinks and dessert came to $60. We've spent $100+ elsewhere, so this felt like a bargain to us. I left off a 5th star because we waited over 20 minutes for our rolls, and we were the only ones in the restaurant. There were also 2 chefs working on the sushi bar so it seemed like it took a little longer than it should have. Our server was very attentive and kept my hot tea continually full.
(4)Craig S.
After reading the reviews on this place, we had to go and try it out. Had high expectations, and wasn't disappointed. The rolls were top notch, the appetizers divine, they even tossed us a complimentary treat. I was blown away. We will return.
(5)jeff f.
Im a fan!! good fresh cold sushi with a very friendly chef! i felt like more than a customer here. I was greeted when we walked in with open arms! :) like they have been waiting for us! the chef had plenty of recommendations and gave us a free starter that he made and even brought my wife and I a sample of something new he was trying! Everything we had we enjoyed! food is great ill be back!
(4)Neo A.
I was reading all the reviews and expected more from this place. Everyone spoke so highly and it has ALOT of high marks. I guess they missed the mark with me and my friend yesterday. I was not blown away and I thought everything was mediocre at best. I had the dragon and spider roll. They were both "ok". My friend had a roll that was HUGE. It was too big for chop sticks. Even i had a hard time trying to grab a piece of her roll. And when i tasted it, i was underwhelmed and stuck with my dragon roll. I've had much better sushi at home.
(3)Ruth H.
I stumbled upon Fuji Grill by mistake. Luckily, another sushi restaurant was closed on Mondays and I happen to check trusty Yelp for an alternative. What can I say, I'm sushi satisfied. The chef treated the visit with a complimentary stuffed jalapeno which helped wake up my palette but wasn't too overwhelmingly spicy. The rolls were yummy and refreshing. The special of the day, the Snow White roll (spicy tuna w/ cucumber, avocado topped with white tuna and black tobiko) was so fresh and delicious. My favorite was the Rock and Roll which was encrusted with panko. The rice in the rolls was flavored in a different and yummy distinct way. It has a sweet taste to it. The shrimp udon was nice and light but comforting. Definitely not just a one-time visit. I think I may have overeaten but it was that delicious. Great service and intimate atmosphere. Thanks Fuji Grill!
(5)Marvin N.
Perfect little restaurant! Come here on a date night. It's small, but not cramped and the ambiance is very serene. The wait staff were very kind and attentive. Food: We ordered sashimi for appetizer. Fish was very tender and flavorful. It almost melts in your mouth. We ordered a sample for the sushi. Rice was very tender and flavorful. normally some sushi places don't put much prep into their rice, not the case with Fuji grill. Just like the sashimi, the fish was delectable. All in all, my girlfriend and I really enjoyed this place. Will be back for sure if we're in the area.
(5)Diane C.
I lived in Los Angeles for many years....relocated to Berwyn in '08. Had sushi here only a couple/few times....nothing impressive. Went to Fuji Grill tonight after yoga. I am SO impressed and SO excited I have found my "sushi home". Wonderful small ambiance, incredible Chef/Owner, Stefano, who was so gracious and generous. EVERYTHING I had was absolutely fabulous....better than a lot of what I remember in L.A. He suggested dishes, offered dishes and was patient and kind. I will DEFINITELY make this a "habit".
(5)Rosie D.
I used to live across the street from this place. And when I did I frequented it all the time. The sushi is pretty good, and I'd even go as far as to say it's the best you're going to get in the oak park/river forest/forest park area. The price is right too. Especially for a sushi place it's very reasonable. Would I say it's my favorite place...no. Would I say it's terrible....no Would I make a special trip to go there....no. If you're in the area and looking for some decent sushi I'd say give them a try. But make sure you get there during their hours of operation. They have a really crazy schedule which is rather annoying. The service is very slow as well so my advice to you (I used to do this when I frequented the place) is to call your order in ahead of time. That way you'll avoid annoying yourself.
(3)Jay L.
I revisited here on the last Saturday. It's perfect sushi restaurant near downtown area. As always Chef and staffs were perfect for me. Fresh sushi came on table and taste also perfect. I love sushi, so I went a lot of another restaurants in Chicago area. I have never experienced like this place.Food taste is not all for me. Service is also very important to visit restaurant. I think here is the place to satisfy all. Ogumi roll is my favorite one. Whenever I tried it, it always give me feel like heaven!! even it's for only me!! :) I surprised on Saturday because there were a lot of people. On the first visit, there wasn't a lot of people, but this time was totally different. I will revisit again and again if the Chef Stafano is here. Food is the most perfect and service is also worth to visit here. The restaurant is very clean and not loud, so I might propose to my girlfriend here. I'm pretty sure the chef will help me to make unforgettable memory to us. In addition, I felt so bad when I saw 1 star review below. I don't know what she expected in sushi restaurant. Too many rice? worse food? If you don't like rice, you should order sashimi. The review should give facts for that restaurant if you experienced bad for service and food such as rude attitude and food poison. I have never seen that situation here. I hope everyone won't write any review when they feel bad before visiting any restaurant, not in restaurant. It will always make another users confused to look for good restaurants near Chicago area.
(5)Mitch M.
I don't know what they did to shake things up here, but it's night-and-day with the formerly slow, sleepy service of years past. Now it's uptempo, smiley, fast, and - hey - here's a little complimentary plate from the chef (how often does THAT happen??) and the same really good vegetable rolls, tempura, sushi, noodles. My son likes the imported bubble gum flavor soda pop. We'll be back!
(4)Kelly S.
I'm updating this to reflect our continued experience with Fuji Grill. Now that I've lived in Forest Park for about a year, I've become a regular customer--my boyfriend and I go at least once a week--and I've never been disappointed. We order take-out and also dine in, and the people are as wonderful as the sushi. This place is a total gem.
(5)Cristina B.
I visited last night with 2 other sushi-lovers and 1 sushi-novice. The wait-staff was very polite and patient as we took our time looking over the large menu. The chef was very generous sending over a couple of complimentary items for us to try throughout our 3-hour stay and topped us off with glasses of plum wine! We never felt rushed and felt like they appreciated our business and wanted us to return. We were a tiny bit disappointed with the noodle-vegetable dish our sushi-novice friend ordered from the kitchen section of the menu. It was a rather small portion with only a few small pieces of broccoli and carrots. Our friend assured us that it tasted very good and she was not complaining, however compared to the elaborate and delicious sushi/sashimi "boat" that we ordered, the noodle dish looked unimpressive. Overall, we very much enjoyed our meal and dinner experience. Great food, great service. Well done! I will definitely be back.
(4)Tracy L.
GO HERE NOW. if you're like oh, what's the tiny place over there doesn't look like it'd be good? HIDDEN TREASURE. The sushi-chef is Stefano. He's amazing. He worked in a restaurant in California...LA I think?, and brought his skills over here. Not too impressed with Chicago sushi? Me either, good sushi's hard to find here...but if you've got the craving for something really authentic-get over here. Service is amazing! A slightly friendly/sarcastic host is very helpful with leading you to the right choices, and he makes up some of the rolls on the menu. Stefano is fantastic and a great host. He gives us free appetizers every time we're there, and converses with us throughout our meal when we sit at the sushi bar. I keep saying that every roll I try I have a new favorite. You can't go wrong! I love love love their sushi =D OH! AND sushi making classes $50/person they shut the whole place down so it's VIP for your party of 10+ and alcohol and sushi all inclusive, we take sake-bombs and I REALLY want to see how that is! eh?eh? anyone wanna go?? yelp-event!? haha
(5)Andrew S.
It's been a while since my last review and here is the update *8.21.2015* Fuji Grill is still my go to spot for the love of all that is sushi and sashimi! Time and time again this place never seizes to please me. The incredible freshness of the fish and excellent vibes makes it feel like I'm dining with friends and family here. So let's get down to it shall we? Decor: The look and feel of the place is actually quite nice! Inside the place is somewhat traditional Japanese style. The seating is decent but can get crowded during the weekend and busy hours. They do have a sushi bar section where you sit in front of the chef to see the master chef at work which is always fascinating to watch. Overall it is a comfortable place to dine and enjoy your time eating by yourself, or with family or friends. (If you judge a book by its cover... you're missing out on a lot good things in life my friend...) Food: Now this is what everyone comes for... The food quality here is execellent! Every time I have come here the sashimi has always been fresh! Over the many years of eating sushi my taste for sushi has been very traditional so to speak. I only really like to eat traditional nirigi or sashimi when dining Japanese. Maybe I was lucky every time I went but I have never gotten anything that didn't taste like it was straight out of the ocean! (Favorite sashimi: Maguro, Hamachi, Sake, Otoro, Saba, Tako) (Favorite nigiri: Toro, Maguro, Hamachi, Sake, Unagi, Masago w/Quail Egg, Saba, Tamago.) Service: The service here for me has always been great. Over the many years I have been dining here I have gotten to be great friends with the chef. The servers always attend to me when needed and really it's like spending time dining with family. Overall: Overall experience is a great one if you allow it to be! Come in with an open mindset and good attitude and it'll be a great experience. Don't come in with a negative attitude because no matter where you go it's gonna be a negative experience! If you want something majestic and breath taking experience go to Disneyland! But go to Fuji Grill if you want fresh sushi and great company with the chef or with friends/family and you won't be disappointed!
(5)Hannah L.
Don't let appearances fool you! I thought this place was going to be disappointing when I saw it in a strip mall, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. Service - Waitress was super friendly, and the sushi chef was awesome! He sent out two dishes on the house (jalapeño pepper tuna and two pieces of fresh tuna). Appetizer - I loved my miso soup, albeit the salad was a little heavy on the sauce. Main Course - I ordered five rolls (went a little overboard): spicy salmon, fuji, fire kamikaze, crunchy, and wasabi. The spicy salmon didn't have as much crunch as other places I've eaten at, but the fish was very fresh. Of the rolls, the wasabi roll was my favorite. It had a perfect crunch on the outside and melted in your mouth. Absolute perfection! You should check this place out!
(4)Kayle S.
The bountiful chirashi startled me. Not only did they indulge my special request for sake harasu (salmon belly) sashimi, but they had an excellent selection of beautiful fish in the bowl (but chirashi is the chef's selection, so it will be different every time). The chef introduced us to hamachi suna-zuri, the belly cut from the yellowtail tuna. Exquisite! I guess freezer technology has gotten so good that a Midwest sushi place can be just as good as New York or San Francisco. The chef and waiter were clear, discreet, helpful and friendly. The place only had three other groups while we were there, and one customer was exceptionally rude, making the chef redo the dish and then walking out with a nasty comment when they still weren't satisfied with the newly remade meals. Throughout the ordeal, the Fuji Grill staff were calm and respectful, minimizing the impact quite well. Their ability to deftly deal with a situation like that speaks to the high quality of service they provide.
(5)K J.
I had an issue with my order tonight, but Fuji Grill definitely made it right, so I thought I'd let the world know that these are upstanding people running the restaurant. The sushi was good. Nice size pieces - more than what you get in the city. The restaurant's decor is very nice and the waitstaff is tops. Thanks for an enjoyable dinner.
(4)Susie C.
From the last time I reviewed this was few years ago. My husband and I came back to this place for dinner. The sushi we had were much better than the last time I wrote this review. Appreciate the free jalapeno appetizers along with the salmon pieces from the chef. This time around we ordered the Alaskan roll which was decent. We ordered two other rolls but they didn't have it, so we looked for substitution. I don't recall the other rolls we had but they were not bad. Service was good. My husband also ordered the udon..it was $12 for a small portion and he felt the broth was too salty so he only ate the noodles and drained the water out. Overall decent experience this time around. Definitely not a 1 star. Will return again!
(3)Beatriz R.
Hands down the best sushi I've had ever!! I went over a month ago and I can't remember all the rolls i tried but I will admit that they were all extremely fresh and delicious! The wait can be a bit long since they are made to order and super super fresh but while we waited they sent over these amazing little jalapeños little things that just blew me away!! Sweet baby Jesus I know I'm not one for spicy but these little suckers were just too good to pass up! I can't wait to come back the server was friendly and I loved the decor and atmosphere really cute and quaint.
(5)Andrea R.
Fellow yelper Candice G* seems to know all the best sushi spots in the suburban strip malls. I'm usually skeptical about eating raw fish in a suburban strip mall, but I have complete trust in Candice & all you yelpers who raved about Fuji Grill. The majority of my party of 5 went the bento box route for lunch. So much food! It's been weeks since I indulged here and I'm full just thinking about it. I ordered an unagi and sweet potato maki bento box. This isn't actually an option, but our waiter aimed to please. Everything was delicious, including the complimentary pre and post bento box surprises they treated us to. The benefits of being the only table in the restaurant; the chef has time on his hands. My only complaint was that my salad was drowning in ginger dressing. I love ginger dressing, but not quite that much. The price was right and I didn't have to eat another meal for 3 days, although of course was chowing again when dinner came around. * yelp.com/user_details?us…
(4)Danny W.
If you're brave enough to ride the Black and Blue line to the other end this is a pretty awesome little sushi spot to hit up. It's in a location that looks like it'd be serving Slurpees and taquitos, but they've actually got some pretty fresh delicious stuff...and for cheap. Lunched with some coworkers and for about 10 bones everyone was complaining about barely being able to finish. The unagi was awesome and the Jalapeno Pepper Tuna is tough to pass up as an appetizer. Eat all to the smooth jams they play in the background and you'll be singing Fuji's praises.
(4)Kristin S.
Nothing fancy about the actual location of this strip-mall restaurant, but the sashimi, nigiri sushi & maki were all really good, expertly prepared, tasty and fresh. We typically order quite a smorgasbord when out for sushi, and we may have gone a bit overboard- but the rolls were beautiful and tasty, sashimi was fresh and the nigiri was very nice. I was also thrilled to see over a DOZEN vegetarian items on the menu, included about 10 vegetarian rolls- SWEET POTATO and ASPARAGUS TEMPURA rolls were AMAZING! Crispy and satisfying we didn't even miss the animal protein- great flavor and awesome presentation. All the staff were absolutely delightful, and Chef Stefano was wonderful- you can tell he gets great joy from his work and feeding people. Overall it's a clean joint, casual, and nothing too fancy, but, as for the bathroom- oh please please update this soon!
(4)Christina B.
Okay, so the food is still generally a five star rating, BUT I am really starting to get peeved by the lack of servers on a crowded night. Last two or three times I've been in, the place has been surprisingly busy. It's nice to see, I want them to stay in business of course. The frustering part is they'll still only have one server for the whole place. So, we'll sit and wait for 30 minutes to get a refill of water for example, or won't get a refill at all. Or, we will be able to see our food on the sushi counter and it'll sit there for 10 minutes before we can eat it. I mean, this place isn't big, but still...two servers on busier nights. PS, word to the wise, don't go on Thursday night. That's the day they're super busy with only one server. Otherwise, food is still excellent. No complaints there.
(5)Yolanda C.
by far the best sushi I've had. really, really good. we tried the stuffed jalapeños & OMG soooooo delicious spicy & sweet combination. Godzilla roll with the smoked salmon yum. Real Crunch Roll delicious as it sounds...good ambiance. GREAT service. I will be back.
(5)Bo Y.
I really don't get how this place is rated as 4.5 stars overall. Nothing here is fresh and it's rundown. Even the outside signage is out....seriously I don't get what people see in this place.
(2)Dejan B.
Went for my birthday after researching for sushi options other than those in Oak Park (NOT impressed with the good reviews for one restaurant there) or downtown...Somewhere easier for us to get to and park...This fit the bill overall though still off very busy part of Harlem Ave (not many parts aren't) and strip mall parking was kind of small and badly designed but still much better then driving downtown. The food...Good! Not as good as my still remembered favorite Sushi Ya in Schaumburg or sushi in Galena, IL (of all places) but still very good! Service was good. Atmosphere quiet and overall comfortable (some families with small kids which kind of broke the quiet but still ok) though tables and place overall was a little more close quarters then I would prefer. They have a sushi bar if you are into that thing and "kitchen" (non-sushi) food here as well that was good. I was happily stuffed at the end and I would recommend this place to anyone in Mont Clare/Galewood neighborhoods of Chicago as well as Oak Park, River Forest, and Elmwood Park... Sushi is a luxury for me, maybe once a year if that, not just because of the price and small amount of places but most importantly for me that is the diametric opposite of sustainable (not this place exclusively and not only sushi but all aquatic animals/agriculture/catching overall) but again that being said this fit the bill for my moments of vice...
(4)Martha C.
I love this place. Customer service is excellent the waitress is really friendly ,but the most important is the food is fresh and delicious. I will keep coming .
(5)Nicole W.
I think I'm still full from Fuji Grill. And I ate lunch there yesterday. So, think about that for a moment. This unassuming strip mall gem sure does pack a punch - to the gut. In a great way. While both the interior and menu are pretty basic, the freshness and portion sizes won me over time and time again. For $9-$12 you too can stuff yourselves silly with a lunch special that includes... -Miso soup: Flavorful and fresh -Bento box: Two sushi rolls (sweet potato roll is rich and awesome), heavily dressed salad (ginger dressing), sizable portion of tempura vegetables (in our case the kind folks at Fuji gave us soft shell crab). Everything was nicely prepared and tasty. Plus, the cool staff was playing slow jams (Sarah McLachlan FTW) in the background. Pretty smooth lunch, if you ask me!
(4)Angelina R.
Came with my friends because we saw the great reviews and it was good but we expected more still vary yummy and we will be back..
(4)