Aha Sushi Bistro
5101 Washington St, Gurnee, IL, 60031
Aha Sushi Bistro Menu
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Sushi Bar Appetizers
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Sushi Entree
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Signature Maki
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Specialty Maki
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Ice Cream
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Signature Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for Aha Sushi Bistro
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Sushi Bar Appetizers
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Sushi Entree
-
Signature Maki
-
Specialty Maki
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Ice Cream
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Signature Desserts
Visit below restaurant in Gurnee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gurnee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5101 Washington St
Gurnee, IL, 60031 - Phone (847) 263-2222
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Britt J.
Such a happy little find! This place is a gem! Clean... Great service AND great food!!! My new addiction is the King Kong (cooked) roll. It's big enough to be a meal on its own, but is so delicious you will want two. Oh yeah. The Rock roll, their eel, tuna and salmon are pretty darn good too. Definitely give this place a try. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Juhui S.
Really nice atmosphere. Good quality fish. Personality I loved the black widow roll... eel, caviar, cucumber, scallops with spicy mayo. Yummmmm. They only have all you can eat all throughout the week. It is only on mondays, but I think it's worth the good quality sushi. The presentation of the food is also really nice--i would def recommend for a date!
(4)Maribel A.
It's a little small but perfect for a date of two and the sushi is wonderful!! Highly recommend to try it out
(4)Laura T.
My husband and I really enjoyed this place. We had a wide variety of rolls and like them all. Is it the best sushi ever? Probably not, but for Gurnee, IL it is fantastic. The prices are average for this area really. Considering that it costs us just as much for sushi at a Mariano's and this is much better obviously.
(4)Kelsey L.
I first visited this restaurant before living in Japan, and now returned to be mostly pleased with Aha Sushi. The ambiance and overall food presentation does Japan justice, everything is beautifully crafted. I tried the miso soup, which is usually a pretty good gauge to the restaurants authenticity. It had good flavor but was a little diluted compared to the real stuff- but was was great with seaweed and tofu inside. The gyoza tasted great and was perfectly cooked, just wasn't authentic. But again, you have to know what to expect in an American Japanese restaurant. I had the Cy Sake Maki, it was great! Very filling, and lots of good flavors and sauces. (Of course, maki is rarely served at all in Japan and certainly not with all the toppings, but nevertheless it was great:) I will definitely be returning and trying some more authentic-looking food they had on the menu. Was very pleased, probably the closest I can get to Japan in the greater Chicago area.
(5)Sarita M.
I really like this place. Its nice and quiet and while there wasnt an intense japanese feel it was definitely a great atmosphere. We walked in 20 mins before they closed and the host smiled and began to set our places with no complaints. We decided to do takeout so that we didn't keep them. They prepared the food quickly and was very pleasant the whole time. Offering us drinks and desserts while we waited. I tried the moshi balls and they were delicious but they were out of the mango and strawberry. we tried the dragon rolls, california rolls, crunchy shrimp rolls and the big mamma roll, all were delicious! I will admit that some of them fell apart while eating but i attribute that to him being reading to go home and ending what I'm sure was a long day. The sushi chef came out and personally explained the rolls to us. I was impressed with this place and would return again.
(4)Bob M.
Small place but very cozy and intimate decor. We got a sushi roll with tempura shrimp that our waiter recommended. Was very good. Also got the tempura shrimp pieces as well as fried rice. The shrimp was good, pretty large pieces. Fried rice was awesome, very different than what I've had at other places. Must add that when it gets busy you won't be waited on immediately based on my most recent visit. They desperately need to hire at least one more server. They had one guy serving every table on a Friday evening. I'll return when that happens.
(3)Annie C.
Hey.. This place was good! My friend who frequents this establishment. Their menu is quite overwhelming since they offer so many different kinds of sushi. I absolutely love Spider Rolls wherever I go, and their version was pretty delicious! The king kong roll was quite tasty as well. The prices are very reasonable and their staff is super nice!
(4)Juhui S.
Seriously underrated, I think. I am always welcomed and leave satisfied. There is only "all you can eat" on Mondays, but that's what you have to sacrifice when you're getting quality fish--and I can taste the difference. Love it here!
(4)Jessica M.
*FOOD POISONED HERE* tuna tasted like it had sat out to long unrefrigerated, Was the only one in the restaurant for lunch. Should have realized something was wrong with this place by that! Sure enough, couple hours later...Tuna made me sick and I mean SICK!!!...food poison city! Unless you like peeing out your butt and puking with a trash can in between you knees all night, avoid this place!!!!! I will never go back again! Worst experience EVER!!!! Still recovering 5 days later...that's how bad these people poisoned me!
(1)Alisa S.
I would have given this place 5 stars if the food didn't take so long. But, the sushi is probably one of the top contenders in the area. I am from southern California and we have sushi just around every block and I'd have to say this is close to it! Hubby and I enjoyed our sushi rolls and would definitely go back, but maybe during lunch instead of dinner next time.
(4)Melissa B.
came here for lunch. It was wonderful. Cannonballs were a direct hit. Also had steak Bento, Tokyo drift, California and Alaska. Even normal maki were generous portion!
(4)T H.
Good food, the sushi was fresh and delicious. The service was slow...clueless waitress needs training. Waited 20 minutes for the check while there was a line of people waiting for an open table. Decor needs updating, especially ugly window art. Would recommend on a slow night if you're looking for good sushi, but don't expect to get in and out quickly.
(3)Lyliana A.
I have been to aha a couple of times before , tonight we had the King Kong as well as the California crunch maki . The King Kong unfortunately was a bit too fishy tasting. To drink I had the green tea which was a bit bland. Nothing special. I also ordered the hypnotic Long Island which I did enjoy a lot! It was a great drink, I enjoyed that it wasn't overly sweet. The service was good, they were there when we needed them. Over all this is a cute and casual place! Good sushi, good drinks and close to home.
(4)Daniel H.
The place is small and you seat yourself. The service was excellent and the sushi was beyond amazing. I live in Grayslake and sadly there is no good sushi in Grayslake. Kawa is not as good as people say. Aha though is GREAT. I was impressed by their very large and vast sushi menu. My only complaint is the prices and the online site. The website needs to be updated and the online prices didn't match the prices in person. Loved the sushi and am willing to pay the steep prices, but I wish it was cheaper and I could afford to eat here all the time! You definitely pay for what you get. This place is a hidden gem for sure.
(4)Sofiya C.
The two stars are for the food... its not horrible, but I've experienced better. The sushi is pretty over priced... anything over $12/roll in the suburbs at a small little place like this is over priced. Sushi was pretty bland, out of the 5 rolls we got the only two that we were ok with were the Sunset and the Ocean Drive (two of the more expensive ones at about $17/roll) If I could rate the service it would get 0 stars. Not only did our order get totally screwed up, she didn't write it down and did not repeat back to clarify, but I sat there for about 25 minutes with an empty water glass. Finally I pointed out to the waitress that what we ordered is not what we got, and she did offer to either bring out what we wanted or to take the price off. The place only had 1 other table there while we were there but the waitress kept disappearing for half and hour. When I looked at the other table, they too had empty water glasses. It would be nice if the menu included some pictures of the rolls. Anyhow, my husband and I will not be coming back, ever. Total rip off, not worth it dinner.
(2)T C.
Went here for lunch and they weren't open. it was within their hours, but no sign of anyone.
(1)Michael A.
My friend and I travel the country and have sushi everywhere we go. We agree this was as good or better than anyplace we have been. The wine list is skinny but we had a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The crazy roll was really fresh tasting and quite different from the usual fair. The dragon toll was good with a nice spice. The guys next to us we're regulars and got the Chef Special which is not on the menu. It consists of unique rolls that are also not on the menu. All we could so is point at one of them and say please one for us too. They don't even have names. We got comped a nice little chef creation to match what was served to the guys next to us. It had some crab in it and a slight sweet taste, again no name but really nice to finish with. The place doesn't look like much, but if the same chef is there I'd recommend letting him prepare your meal and not order from the menu though that crazy roll was crazy good.
(5)Jill B.
Went here for lunch with my dad. We got a variety of things. We both really love sushi, so we got a few simple rolls like the avocado roll. It was mediocre. The shrimp tempura was a bit on the soft and greasy side. The worst part, the fried rice was burnt in parts, I could only tolerate a few bites. I will not be going back. For sushi in this area I would recommend Toshi, it's quite nice, off of Dillys rd, Hiyashi on Grand ave, is decent, and my all time favorite is Kawa in Grayslake. I have never had a less than great experience at Kawa.
(2)Mark S.
Decent sushi.
(5)Heather L.
Loved this place. A fried and I went here one afternoon to spoil ourselves with a good meal. Everything we ordered was fantastic. It was also well priced for what we got. We both had the lunch special, shared a roll, and had a couple pieces ala carte. After our meal we were treated to a free dessert from the chief. He gave us a tempura banana split. It was a party on your mouth. So good!! Definitely going back again. Bringing everyone I can!!
(5)Crayola B.
Eh. Not terrible, but if this is the best this area has to offer, I'm not looking forward to living here for the next few years. I got a pretty basic order for take-out tonight--and when I got there, I was a bit concerned that there were no diners inside. I know it's a Thursday but just after 7pm and the place is empty? Not a great sign...the service inside was very basic, not unpleasant, but not friendly either. Fast, at least, they did have my order ready within the promised 20 minutes (and probably sooner than that), but that's no surprise with no other orders to juggle. So, I got my food and brought it home to eat. The sweet potato tempura roll I got was underwhelming at best--it was falling apart because the rice didn't actually wrap around the filling the whole way! Plus, too much of some unidentifable sauce (not the eel sauce typical with sweet potato rolls) so I could barely taste the sweet potato. It was also covered by a pile of crunchy stuff which was a pretty good addition, just perhaps not in the quantity given. I felt for a $7 veggie roll, it was kind of small, too. I should have gotten pictures but I was starving and ate it first. I also got some vegetable udon. The udon noodles and broth were fantastic (and saved Aha from a 2-star review) but the vegetables seemed to be mostly onions and cabbage with a few slivers of carrot and the occasional chunk of mushroom. And on top, in addition to the regular onions, were sliced green onions. It was too much onion. I was disappointed there weren't more hearty vegetables in it, either, like bigger chunks of carrot. Overall, decent, and they probably do other menu items better than what I got--but I won't be returning until I'm sure other local options aren't any better. Sweet potato rolls are what I crave when I crave sushi, and I'd rather go through the hassle of making my own than be disappointed in Aha again.
(3)Meredith B.
Wonderful service, great atmosphere, delicious food. Had the Jalapeño Bomb and Edamame for appetizers. Blackhawks roll, Playboy roll, Alaskan roll, and Tokyo Drift roll... All were fresh and tasty. Prices were higher but I think worth it!
(4)Bill S.
A nice surprise for Gurnee! Reminds me of the kind of restaurant you'd find in Evanston. Quaint, clean, and contemporary. The service was excellent. Ryan was top notch. Genuinely friendly and helpful. The Sushi was OK, not really outstanding. The Soft Shell crab was old, or at least the oil it was cooked in. The sauce was a bit too much -- a bit overpowering, covering the taste of the seafood (Spicy Tuna, Octopus, and Scallops). I'd likely visit again because it's convenient. I look forward to trying Aha again sometime later, tho.
(2)Danelle F.
AHA Sushi Bistro is a great place for sushi. After growing up in SoCal and having amazing sushi... it's been hard to find a place that is more about the food than the fancy decor. This place offers both creative and traditional rolls. The wild shrimp is very dessert-like with an amazing blackberry sauce. The seaweed salad is very good. The specialty rolls are always very, very tasty. The seafood is very fresh. I have never had a fishy roll - and I've been at least 10 times. Chefs are willing to customize a roll for you (additions and/or subtractions are not a major issue like some places). Service is decent, but usually new. Good specials sometimes listed on Facebook. Food price comparable to other sushi places. It's nice to have a local sushi place for a relaxing night out, or a quick take-out.
(4)Gregory P.
I agree with the other reviewers...a very pleasant surprise. Innovative rolls, great quality sushi, nice selection. The server was new and not real knowledgeable but that was the only downside. Really enjoyed it and will be back soon.
(4)Tasha W.
Aha is wonderful! Nothing but great compliments here! Service could not be any better; they are so quick and friendly. The Wild Shrimp is my absolute favorite but there hasn't been one sushi roll that I have come across there that I haven't loved! Everyone should defiantly go experience Aha!
(5)Josh K.
I am in the navy and I love sushi! I've been looking for decent sushi places since I arrived here! The service is great here and the sushi is amazing! Me and my friends love it. We will definitely be going back to this place. It's one of the best!
(5)Sean E.
Amazing house specialty maki rolls that tickle the palate. Not your typical, average sushi restaurant. Service was fast, professional, and conscientious. Ambiance is small but you melt away into the closeness. Definitely try the red Ferrari roll if they still have it!
(5)Deborah P.
Aha has now changed to new management as well as a name change, but I can't recall the name. Since changing management twice in less than 8 months, I can say it's better than it was 3 months ago. One of the waitresses was the under old chef and mgmt, and she can easily tell you what rolls are called vs their old names, and she always has great suggestions. One of my new favorites is the Snow White- super white tuna on top of a roll filled with crab. Smooth as butter! I definitely would ask for the spicy mayo to give it more flavor, but the texture is wonderful. One of their best items is the side salad with Ginger dressing. I now look forward to our weekly luncheons at (former) Aha!
(4)Itoji K.
The least satisfying and the worst spending on food of my life. Don't go. If I could, I'd give minus stars. I don't even know where to start. The floor is sticky. One of the serving trays I had was dirty as I felt food's residue from previous meal. I ordered shrimp and vegetable tempura udon. If it is listed so on a menu, usually tempura comes on the noodle but it was served on a separate tray with a separate sauce. I would understand if this was a dinner set (i.e. bento box), but wasn't. My husband ordered chicken and vegetable tempura. First of all, I have never heard chicken tempura in my life!!!! Second, unless it was an appetizer which we were not asked if it was or was not okay for having it as an appetizer, it didn't come with a bowl of rice or soup. Simply green tea, which is generally complementary at Japanese restaurants, were not free. We had to order water for us too which is unheard of in Illinois. Beef udon that my child ordered came with very questionable tiny pieces of beef and I had to wonder if those pieces should have gone to a garbage can. The drinks my children ordered were out, not to mention that was their second choices as the first choice was out. The most decent part of the dinner was the beer my husband ordered. All of what I am pointing out here are something can be corrected and improved easily. This makes me wonder if their chef knows or cares what she or he is doing. If this restaurant was in any big cities, it will not last a month. If anyone likes this place, I have to say she or he hadn't had Japanese food yet. Really waste of money and disappointing.
(1)Meg K.
This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. The ambiance is so nice. The staff is wonderful and friendly and the food is delicious. I have loved every sushi roll I have ordered and my favorite appetizer is the ginger chicken. I would go to Aha every day could I afford it.
(5)Marta R.
Quick service, clean small...ish and quite inviting. I didn't have here sashimi or nigiri or gunkan pieces so it's hard to judge how fresh and yummy they can make those... I had tuna roll, salmon/avocado roll and miso soup - everything quite fresh, sushi rice could have been better made, my partner had combo (salad, three pieces of nigiri, california roll and tuna roll). I guess combo is a bit better value for money if you don't mind eating california rolls, which I do. If I am in the area again I will definitely come back for lunch.
(3)Dem P.
Very good food but the service can be better and i dont blame the server at all i blame managers for only having one server working tonight. What kind of manager does that to their employee???? Smh!!!
(3)Matt B.
My family has regularly been coming to this restaurant for a little over a year. The staff are very friendly. They also know who we are, and what we like. They frequently toss in a chef special or a desert treat for us to try. It's obvious that they appreciate our business and want to keep us coming back. The food: I have yet to be disappointed with anything I have tried here. Everything seems quite fresh and made to order on the spot. I typically get a sashimi plate and it has always be excellent. We have been to many of the local Sushi restaurants, and this is our favorite by far. We bring our children with us (a 9 and 12 year old) without issue. Bottom line, this is a great place to bring friends and family for good Sushi. I highly recommend it.
(5)Jessica J.
My husband and I are kid free this week and were in the mood to eat sushi - as much as we can before it's back to burgers and fries when the kid gets home from grandmas! One of our friends recommended AHA Sushi after we had an awful experience at Shakou in Libertyville (see Yelp review and BOYCOTT Shakou!!!). AHA is small - not a lot of tables, but they do accept reservations. We did not have a reservation, but the gentleman who served as our host and waiter quickly cleared a table and had us seated in only a couple of minutes. When you see that level of business on a Monday night, it is usually a really good sign! We asked for the All You Can Eat menu which is only $19.95 per person. The only stipulations are you don't share with someone who doesn't order the all you can eat option and any uneaten pieces will tack on another $1.00 per piece to your bill. Definitely fair! Our first round was Miso soup, The Crazy Boy roll, mini Godzilla, and a Philadelphia roll. It was all delicious! The Crazy Boy instantly became my favorite of any roll I've ever had. Our next round was a chicken teriyaki crunch roll and a sweet potato roll - also both delicious. Our waiter was prompt and friendly. He was pleasant and brought refills without prompting. He truly made us feel welcomed and made our experience just that much more amazing. Bottom line - we walked out of here with money left in our pockets and over-full stomachs. They know what they're doing here at AHA sushi - the environment was lovely and the food was dynamite - and that all you can eat pricing?! The choices are remarkable for that option - I highly recommend you give it a shot. Thank you to the gentlemen who gave us a lovely night out - we will absolutely return and recommend you to everyone.
(5)Patrick S.
Great place, we can in right around closing and they took great car of us. The Chicago Bull roll will change your life if you like a good spicy roll. I ordered their 50 dollar sashimi combo and got the Chicago Bull roll instead of the Chicago Cub roll. The Crazy Boy roll was also open. Some of the best Sushi I have had in a couple years.
(5)Deena R.
First, know that you can usually buy a discount on restaurant.com Not the best place fro kids to go. I would suggest.... - Firecracker Roll: crunch and sauce were very good; sweet sauce wasn't overly sweet - Sunset Roll: good lemony flavor; asparagus is a nice crunch addition - Caterpillar Roll: wasabi mayo was a pleasant surprise; all of the ingredients tasted fresh - Spicy Tuna w/Avocado: acceptable version of the standard but other options may be more satisfying Wouldn't suggest... - Honey Fire Roll: honey flavor in the sauce was noticeable but not overpowering; the contents (egg/mushroom) aren't worth the price since they are veggies.
(4)Sofia J.
Great lunch choice! It's hard to go anywhere besides Tina's Bake Shop in this plaza, but when Tina was on vacation, we ended up at Aha, a great find! Inventive rolls at typical prices for "creative" rolls. Unfortunately the lunch special only includes the more basic rolls, but I guess that's pretty typical.
(5)Mad I.
Lunch special, had to try before committing to the 18 dollar roll dinner... Not sure, pretty average. And after eating some pretty bad sushi not long after this, maybe it's not so bad ;) I just can't justify the price tag unless I'm getting a big roll, 8 pieces style packed with fresh fish....
(3)Kristin C.
I love this place! My boyfriend and I stopped here on whim after a day at 6 flags. ( It is in a plaza super close). We were wearing more casual clothes and we didn't feel too out of place. I would say on a future date, or any date, I would wear a little more dressier clothes. The atmosphere is very cozy and modern in my opinion. We came around lunch time so the place so it was about half full. Everyone was talking in rather quiet voices. I can see at night this place having a wait and/or being a bit hard to talk if it is at max capacity or everyone is drinking. On the food and service!! Our server was really patient and knowledgeable about the menu. We asked her a ton of questions being it be the first time there. The server recommended the Maki Mono and the tempura ice cream and it was the best decisions ever. Between the both of us we got the vegetable udon, these jalapeno poppers, Maki Mono, and the tempura ice cream. The udon comes in this beautiful earthen wear. It is not overcooked soggy or salty which is hard to find. I don't like spicy foods, so my boyfriend ate all the poppers. He wouldn't even share if i wanted him too though.... The spicy tuna was spicy but not burning spicy. And the Unaq wasn't soggy or too bony which was great. Only the Californina was kind of average.The tempura icecream is so bad but so good. It is hot hot hot on the outside and cool and creamy on the inside. I recommend sucking it up and eating it quickly before it melts/sogs to a puddle. Me and my boyfriend kind of lingered past their lunch 'closing time' and din't even notice until we left. Kudos to the server. Living in Hoffman Estates I don't think I can drive there too often but it is definitely on my go-back list.
(5)Kim P.
Creative sushi options. 4 Rolls will run you about $50. - Pricey... but you get what you pay for.
(4)Jon A.
For the price of sushi in the Lake County, this sushi spot is actually better than other sushi places. I would like to see more custom sushi inspired by customers. Appetizers should be a little bigger in size. The wait staff are fabulous; always there to service any of your needs. Other Japanese appetizers/entrees, i.e., soft shell crab, donburi dishes, hibachi dishes, curry dishes, and teriyaki dishes would round out the menu for all ages - especially for the lunch crowd. There should be special nights where shabu-shabu should be served for people want a "family style" meal. Other than that ... I LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)Carole B.
You had one job. Disappointed. Won't be back. Walked in on a Monday evening 7pm. One other table had 2 customers, so it was not busy at all. I ordered miso soup, fried calamari and shrimp fried rice. The fried calamari came: it was ok, a few rubbery pieces, good portion, good dipping sauce. The fried rice came: it was good but a little heavy on the black pepper and when i asked for a small side of teryiaki they brought me a house-made blend (meh, it was ok, i was trying to mask the heavy black pepper). Then they brought me my check and I said politely "No soup tonight?". They offered no solution except to take it off the receipt... oh really? how kind. No 'oh my gosh we're so sorry we forgot. can we get you a dessert instead, or a coupon for next time.. etc". I'm so disappointed because there were only 2 other people sitting down and eating. It was empty. There were 3 servers and a cook. They got it wrong. I wanted to find a really good sushi place in the north suburbs close to home. Just disappointed. The flavors were ok but I'm hurt and won't be back. I'll go to Grayslake or the place further west on Grand. They had an opportunity and blew it. I just wonder where customer service has gone or if people care anymore.
(2)Katlyn G.
Great sushi, pretty cheap rolls for the more traditional ones and the specialty rolls ranged from 10-18. I'm from CA so fish so far inland makes me nervous, but I was impressed. We had a group of 6 with an infant. The waiter brought us complementary avocado and cucumbers to keep the kid happy. On top of that the chef prepared his special for us, also on the house. My friends say they will definitely be returning.
(5)Sahil B.
This review is for customer service only, didn't get a chance to try out their food. Bought a restaurant.com coupon and headed here to check out the place for dinner. The restaurant closes at 9:30pm and I was there at 9:02.pm. The guy working there ( Shon, I believe) said that I needed to take out since the kitchen closes at 9pm. Not sure how that works, since I guess that the kitchen makes the to-go food as well? Anyway, I agreed for to-go and ordered two of their rolls. He brought the check immediately after I placed the order and then said that the coupon could not be used for takeouts. I showed him the coupon, and there was no mention of dine-in only. He said that he had called restaurant.com for 2 weeks to ask them to add the dine-in criteria but they never responded,( used the f bomb in between for them). He told me to return the coupon to restaurant.com . I told him that I needed to talk to the owner and at first he said that the owner wouldn't agree and then said that he was the owner...well. I finally gave up and said that I hope that he had a better day.....terrible customer service.
(1)Allison T.
I've grown up in Gurnee and after living in NYC and Chicago, I never could find a good sushi spot that was comparable to my favorite sushi spots in the City. After coming to Aha Sushi, I'm sold and so happy that there is a place that serves amazing, fresh, and tasty sushi at a great price. Everyone please try the Wild Shrimp roll. The blackberry sauce that it comes with is out of this world. Plus both times I have gone, I have had wonderful servers - a tall brunette guy and then a petite blonde girl - they were friendly, knowledgeable, and super polite. If you want to have a great night out at a beautiful/modern restaurant, come to Aha Sushi!
(5)Tiffany L.
For the Gurnee area, this is a welcome addition. I'm not going to say it's my favorite sushi place ever, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's meant to be more "upscale" therefore they prices reflect this -- i.e. one piece of salmon sashimi on rice is $3. We ordered a Sake Don, a Chicago Roll, and the King Kong Roll. My fave was the King Kong -- I liked the deep friedness and the sauces and the other crispy deep fried strings on top. I'm doing a terrible job of explaning it, so just go and order it yourself. The sashimi was still slightly frozen, which was a little weird to me, but at least it wasn't fishy, and it was cut in nice big chunks. The Chicago Roll was fine, but nothing to write home about. The interior's kinda fancy, but my table and booth area were both kinda sticky, like it hadn't been cleaned for a while. Oh and they have some fun choices of drinks, like Asian Pear juice, and an Oatmeal Raisin Martini.
(4)Amelia I.
Went here with my boyfriend about three or four weeks ago on a sunday. Was craving sushi and this was one of the few places around that was still open. Its nice when you walk in, but it probably wasn't a good sign when all the staff is just standing around talking. We were seated near the thing that holds up all the saki even though all the tables were open...okay? To start we got the cannonballs. Not lets me explain how this was annoying to me. The one picture someone posted of them under the images makes it look like they are a decent size. No they are freaking TINY for the amount of money they charge. Think...the size of a grape! Way over priced for something so small!!! That really got me thinking about this place. But I digress. Moving onto the rolls. I got the Crunchy Melt which was...meh? It was all one consistency. Everything...was more mushy. Crunchy must have stayed home that day and sent his twin Mushy in. The sauce that they drizzled over it was good however. But 16 bucks for a crappy roll! Come on this isn't Chicago we're talking about! It was all around crappy and the boyfriend got a dragon roll. Also...meh? Nothing to write home about in the least. Should we have just gotten Mexican next door to them? Probably. Pass on this one. Especially for the over priced food. I think our totally with just WATERS was like 50 bucks after tip? I'll stick to Sushi Ya in the burbs!
(2)Keith H.
Excellent and local!
(4)Steve S.
I've been here a couple times now and both were very pleasant. Quick service and quick preparation of food. Delicious, too! Some the the specialty menu items are exquisite in appearance but a tad pricey. Of course, there are much more affordable items that are available. See some of the posted photos.
(4)Jason M.
They have a fantastic new chef! Gorgeous presentation and wonderful taste! I go there at least once a week. If you enjoy sushi you will not be disappointed!
(5)Jackie M.
I've been here a number of times now, and for a non-sushi eater, they have a number of good options. I love the Canon Balls, which are basically crab rangoon without the wonton. Its lighly breaded and fried up, so its lighter and is delicios with the blackberrty puree its served with. I recently went there, and the very polite wait staff, let us know they are under new ownership. They let us know there are 20 or so new rolls coming on the menu, and they offered us 2 free entire rolls to sample. I tried them both, one was called Crazy Boy and had avocado, crab, cream cheese, and was tempura fried (YUM), and the other was called spring mountain which had some salmon, crab, and some other stuff. Also good, but I was stuffed as I had my entire dish of chicken and vegetable fried rice. They do have a pretty large menu and the prices are a little on the high side, but that won't deter me, as I've seen such different rolls here than anywhere else, so it's a good option if you want to try something different (or if you want something normal too). The waitress also said they could make anything off the old menu too! Now, lets talk drinks. They have a decent wine selection, but the martinis are wonderful. I've trie 3 or 4 of them. My ultimate favorites are the Asian Pear martini (crisp and refreshing) and the Oatmeal Cookie martini (heavy but so good!). And yes, it tastes just like an oatmeal cookie. I will certainly come back and try the new menu (and hopefully they keep the Canon Balls!).
(5)Squire S.
I get my wife sushi from here at least once a month. Its her favorite place to eat. The service is always top notch and everyone is very polite. if only I liked sushi.
(4)Chad M.
I don't know where some of the bad reviews come from. I was here on a Sunday evening. I walked in, and saw 2 Japanese couples (I guess on a double date), and an older Japanese couple eating there. I immeidately thought that I was going to have some GREAT sushi. I sat at the sushi bar (I love watching the chefs work) and got served QUICKLY. The sushi was incredibly fresh, and delicious. The servings were good size, and they had the white ginger. The girl who served me, AND the chefs kept checking on me, and asking how everything was. I am TOTALLY looking forward to going back, this is my NEW sushi place. THANK YOU AHA Sushi!!
(5)Phoebe W.
I'm not sure if Aha has switched sushi chefs since my last visit, but the quality of the rolls has gone down a bit. They also seem to change the menu for the specialty rolls a lot, which sucks since I have some favorites memorized (ie: Pikachu roll) My friend ordered rolls that had were supposed to have "crunch" on it, but it didn't have anything crunchy to it. My rolls were also loosely constructed, a major no-no for me when it comes to sushi. Step your game up, Aha!
(3)Adam F.
Not a bad sushi place! The sushi is decent, the staff is decent, but there just isn't anything too special... I don't have much to say about this place, besides Hayashi (near the Gurnee Mills) is a better sushi place, at least in my opinion.
(4)Alyssa W.
Oh.My.Sweet Sushi Goodness! This place is impeccable. As soon as you walk in the door you'll know it was a good choice to eat here. The inside is very clean and polished, and the ambience is perfect for either lunch with a friend or a romantic dinner date. I've been here with sushi eaters and non sushi eaters alike and all have been satisfied. As far as appetizers go, the stuffed mushrooms are succulent and juicy and the cannon balls are crisp little explosions of tangy flavor. As far as basic rolls go, Aha's Philadelphia and spicy tuna are the best in the Gurnee area. If you want unique rolls definitely order the White Dragon. With the bite of the jalapeño and the crunchy almonds, this white tuna based roll is over the top. The playboy and the mercy maki also get 2 thumbs up. As for you non sushi eaters, the yaki soba is cooked al dente, and the teriyaki is the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The ONLY thing to cause hesitation is the prices, but c'mon people sushi ain't cheap and this place is so worth it! And they do offer meals for lunch and dinner for those that want to enjoy the delicious food while still being conscious of their wallets. Go here and you will not be disappointed.
(5)miss a.
it's small on the inside but the decor is great. i love the stylish chairs. i just didn't like that the couple next to us, which were a table away could hear everything we were talking about. the servers are very polite. they close after lunch hours which stinks. we arrived there before they closed at 2 & couldn't eat there. =( their bento lunch boxes have a somewhat large portion of food. well, it was large for me, for some it may be the right amount of food. the display of the food was great too.
(4)K G.
My mother and I came to Aha on a Friday night at 6pm. I ordered the Rainbow roll and immediately found two short black hairs-- one on my plate and one between two rolls. I told the waiter who seemed very apologetic and assured me that he would take it off the bill and bring me a new Rainbow plate. A brand new plate was brought to the table within 3 minutes and much to my dismay and absolute horror-- there were black hairs in between two of the rolls. It was absolutely disgusting and completely unacceptable. The staff was very apologetic and did not charge us for the meal. We will not be returning to this restaurant ever again and would suggest you do the same.
(1)Renelle P.
My husband and I have gone here quite a few times and the sushi rolls are ok. Their specialty rolls are ones we usually order and are tasty. The last time we were there the owner said that they will soon be re-vamping the menu with Korean food. We were so excited! For the past few weeks we have been ordering their chop chae noodles and bi bim bop. They were to die for! Then each week we would crave it and order the same dishes, unfortunately they started to not have the same ingredients, the chop chae noodles were hard one time and they forgot to place the red sauce for the bi bim bop! We still support the restaurant and appreciate the service. We won't be there for awhile and hopefully things will change.
(3)Jenn H.
A lot of people have recommended this place to us, so we finally decided to check it out for my birthday. They were right! Right from the time we walked in we were impressed. The chefs said hi to us when we walked in (and everyone, not just us). The decor was very modern and trendy like a sushi place should be. Our waitress was so nice and the food came out so fast which was great because we were starving! She took the time to help my mom, she was so personable, she really made the night great for our guests! Now to the food...excellent. We even took my mom and her friend who hate sushi and they loved what they got, and even were adventurous enough to try one of the King Kong rolls and loved it. We can't wait to go back and try more! We ordered the Gyoza and Cannon Ball appetizers. The dumplings were the best I have had, and the Cannon Ball was great, we couldn't stop eating them! Then we ordered the AHA signature roll, which was amazing. Oh- almost forgot about the seaweed salad, yum!! Since it was my b-day I got the Ecstasy martini and loved it, I usually hate Martinis but this was so good! Then they brought me the Tempura Ice cream for dessert with a candle, very much like fried ice cream, the tempura made it awesome. They also gave me a $10 gift certificate for my B-day!! That was the icing on the ice cream! They did put cherries on top too lol.
(5)Mary M.
Really nice atmosphere. Lots of vegetarian options, which meant I could have more than just Miso soup. The yakisoba was delicious. No room for dessert, but we'll get some net time.
(4)Brit W.
They let us order 15 minutes befrore they closed and were still so polite and nice about it :) The ponzu was so tender and seasoned perfectly. We also got the spider roll and the dragon roll. The eel on the dragon roll was seared with a torch and tasted very sweet. Presentation was wonderful as well. Would return again for another impromtu sushi date!
(4)Ev D.
This is a great sushi spot in the lake county area. I love the wide variety of sushi offerings. I had my birthday dinner there last night and everyone was super accommodating and attentive. We tried a few different rolls and all of my friends raved about their food. The martinis were also good and they gave me a tempura ice cream dessert that was to die for! It's a great location for a ladies night, or intimate dinner close to home. I will definitely be back!
(5)Jaime B.
I use to love going to Aha, but that feeling is now gone. Is a Cucumber roll really worth $5??? I don't know where to start, but the atmosphere at Aha Sushi has changed drastically in the last few months. I use to enjoy coming in for lunch or dinner often, but with the recent changes I won't be coming as often. I use to rave about Aha to all my friends and even strangers I would meet! I now don't feel that excited about telling people about Aha. They just recently made drastic changes to features of the restaurant I greatly enjoyed. Their happy hour has gone from Buy One Get One to Buy One Get Half Off. I understand their are other sushi places in the area with that ongoing promotion, but making this change takes away from Aha's uniquiness. This change also doesn't make it as affordable to go as often as one might want to go during these economic times! With living in the area Aha was a decent sushi place to go with good quality food, but I've now decided to find another place to frequent. Another negative change was to their lunch specials! You use to be able to go in and get either a 2 or 3 roll and soup combo for a reasonable price. THAT HAS NOW VANISHED, and probably the customers who enjoyed that special are GONE. I understand that times are tough for all businesses, but if you take away things that are affordable for people and don't replace them with something comparable then that business is lost. The staff now has a different demeanor from when I started going. They aren't as fun and relaxed as it once was! It seems that everyone who walks in the door is now viewed as dollar signs. Everyone now seems very uptight and nervous. The staff never use to "push" meal ideas on customers! Suggestions of new things to try were welcomed, but once I say no, please respect it and don't continue to push it on me. No one will talk to you or make pleasant conversation; they just take your order, bring your order and refill your drinks. This even happens when you are the only party in the place, the mellow atmosphere that once was is gone.
(1)Parker ..
The sushi is decent but I remember it being better. Apparently there's new management which I assume means 'needed help making money'. I get that, but I used to not be able to finish 2 rolls and now 2 rolls isn't even enough. I don't remember paying as much either. Every other place I've been to, even in the city, would have been a lot better at the current prices. With quality and quantity going down and price going up, I doubt I'll be going back. As far as I know it's the only sushi in the Gurnee area but neighboring towns have better choices.
(3)Kimberly A.
Great sushi in Gurnee! Staff is friendly and helpful. Drink specials are awesome!
(4)Sam C.
I must agree with the other reviewers that Aha was a very nice surprise. After disappointing experiences with other sushi restaurants nearby, we were ready to give up, but decided to try Aha since it took over from one of our favorite Indian eatery...glad we did! The sushi was fresh and the pieces were large, some were imaginative without being too far off course from traditional sushi styles, and their Yakisoba was flavorful and on target. Bottom line, Aha is on-par with many of the local Sushi places we frequented on the Gold Coast, Lakeview and Lincoln Park. We plan on going back again soon.
(4)Iris L.
We visited this restaurant for the first time this past Saturday evening. Our initial impression of the restaurant was that the staff was friendly and it was nicely decorated--very modern and chic. However, we and other customers around us waited for our food more approximately an HOUR AND A HALF. Once our food arrived, they realized that they forgot about one of our orders, which would have taken an additional half hour to make. Therefore, one of our friends ended up not eating at all after waiting almost 2 hours! Also, the sushi was good but not good enough to wait 2 hours for. Unfortunately, we've decided to never come here again and will also spread the word about the unacceptable wait time for this restaurant.
(1)Jeremy B.
First off, let me say that this one-star review has nothing to do with the food at Aha Sushi. This establishment gets one star for the following experience: My wife and I met at Aha Sushi on a Friday afternoon during our respective lunch breaks. We arrived at noon to a nearly empty restaurant. We were one of a total of maybe 3-4 couples occupying tables. We were greeted nicely, however the waitress took our orders, brought our drinks, then waited 5-10 minutes to tell us, "Oh, by the way...I forgot to tell you that sushi is taking a minimum of 45 minutes to prepare." By the way? 1) It's lunchtime on a weekday, 2) It is a sushi restaurant, 3) The place is nearly empty. Unacceptable. My wife and I had to leave, and we did not get to have lunch together because too much time had already been wasted. As we got up to leave, the sushi chef waived and said "Thanks for coming!" What a joke!
(1)Rob L.
This was our first time there, with two in our party. This means that we were not in a position to try too many things on the menu. First we started out with a cup of tea. They did not have anything like Jasmine tea, but the green tea was good and came in a monster size mug which we both thought was really cool. We had 2 Maki, a mini-Godzilla and King-Kong. They were excellent but small considering the price. We also had order of veggie fried rice which we both thought could have been better. The veggies were essentially like the birdseye mix you get from the frozen section (peas, corn, carrots). We mulled over the saki, and got a nice unfiltered that the waitress recommended that was not on the menu. The total tab came to about $60, which is too high considering. The ambience is good with a cool, eclectic music selection, decor is very modern. The service was good without being overbearing. We will go back sometime and see if the sushi is a better route to take.
(3)Sharon R.
What a delightful experience in G-Town! Few exceptional dining experiences exist in Gurnee - I believe this is one of them! We ordered the following: Beef Asparagus - tender, marinated beef wrapped around perfect, pencil thin asparagus. Cannonballs - Aha's take on the crab rangoon with a yuuum blackberry sauce. This is so amazing. Imagine biting into a crunchy layer only to have creamy, crab goodness explode in your mouth. The sweetness of the blackberry sauce is a nice contrast to slight saltiness of the crab. Get one order for yourself. Vegetable Udon - shared this dish. If you like noodles - this dish is great. Very filing. Can't imagine having a whole dish to myself. Tuna Avocado Maki - tuna was fresh. Would like to explore more sushi next time! Dessert - tried the fried ice cream. They have a good version. Too much for two people. We were given a sample of the dessert of the week - Kahlua coconut bread pudding. This is a keeper! If you like bread pudding (I am a convert after tonight), you will like the balance of textures and flavors. Service - Ryan was our server. Very attentive and playful with Mom. He remembered her from a previous visit - she loved it! Ryan is knowledgeable about the menu and is very happy to explain the dishes to you. The restaurant is pleasant, clean and welcoming. I am looking forward to trying more offerings on the menu!! If you find yourself in Gurnee, take the time to explore Aha Sushi. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Ale E.
Awesome place and great prices!!! The service was awesome and the food came in an average of 10 minutes. Its very cozzy. Loved it!
(5)Juhui S.
Really nice atmosphere. Good quality fish. Personality I loved the black widow roll... eel, caviar, cucumber, scallops with spicy mayo. Yummmmm. They only have all you can eat all throughout the week. It is only on mondays, but I think it's worth the good quality sushi. The presentation of the food is also really nice--i would def recommend for a date!
(4)Jessica M.
*FOOD POISONED HERE* tuna tasted like it had sat out to long unrefrigerated, Was the only one in the restaurant for lunch. Should have realized something was wrong with this place by that! Sure enough, couple hours later...Tuna made me sick and I mean SICK!!!...food poison city! Unless you like peeing out your butt and puking with a trash can in between you knees all night, avoid this place!!!!! I will never go back again! Worst experience EVER!!!! Still recovering 5 days later...that's how bad these people poisoned me!
(1)Alisa S.
I would have given this place 5 stars if the food didn't take so long. But, the sushi is probably one of the top contenders in the area. I am from southern California and we have sushi just around every block and I'd have to say this is close to it! Hubby and I enjoyed our sushi rolls and would definitely go back, but maybe during lunch instead of dinner next time.
(4)Melissa B.
came here for lunch. It was wonderful. Cannonballs were a direct hit. Also had steak Bento, Tokyo drift, California and Alaska. Even normal maki were generous portion!
(4)Britt J.
Such a happy little find! This place is a gem! Clean... Great service AND great food!!! My new addiction is the King Kong (cooked) roll. It's big enough to be a meal on its own, but is so delicious you will want two. Oh yeah. The Rock roll, their eel, tuna and salmon are pretty darn good too. Definitely give this place a try. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Juhui S.
Seriously underrated, I think. I am always welcomed and leave satisfied. There is only "all you can eat" on Mondays, but that's what you have to sacrifice when you're getting quality fish--and I can taste the difference. Love it here!
(4)T H.
Good food, the sushi was fresh and delicious. The service was slow...clueless waitress needs training. Waited 20 minutes for the check while there was a line of people waiting for an open table. Decor needs updating, especially ugly window art. Would recommend on a slow night if you're looking for good sushi, but don't expect to get in and out quickly.
(3)Lyliana A.
I have been to aha a couple of times before , tonight we had the King Kong as well as the California crunch maki . The King Kong unfortunately was a bit too fishy tasting. To drink I had the green tea which was a bit bland. Nothing special. I also ordered the hypnotic Long Island which I did enjoy a lot! It was a great drink, I enjoyed that it wasn't overly sweet. The service was good, they were there when we needed them. Over all this is a cute and casual place! Good sushi, good drinks and close to home.
(4)Michael A.
My friend and I travel the country and have sushi everywhere we go. We agree this was as good or better than anyplace we have been. The wine list is skinny but we had a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The crazy roll was really fresh tasting and quite different from the usual fair. The dragon toll was good with a nice spice. The guys next to us we're regulars and got the Chef Special which is not on the menu. It consists of unique rolls that are also not on the menu. All we could so is point at one of them and say please one for us too. They don't even have names. We got comped a nice little chef creation to match what was served to the guys next to us. It had some crab in it and a slight sweet taste, again no name but really nice to finish with. The place doesn't look like much, but if the same chef is there I'd recommend letting him prepare your meal and not order from the menu though that crazy roll was crazy good.
(5)Marta R.
Quick service, clean small...ish and quite inviting. I didn't have here sashimi or nigiri or gunkan pieces so it's hard to judge how fresh and yummy they can make those... I had tuna roll, salmon/avocado roll and miso soup - everything quite fresh, sushi rice could have been better made, my partner had combo (salad, three pieces of nigiri, california roll and tuna roll). I guess combo is a bit better value for money if you don't mind eating california rolls, which I do. If I am in the area again I will definitely come back for lunch.
(3)Mad I.
Lunch special, had to try before committing to the 18 dollar roll dinner... Not sure, pretty average. And after eating some pretty bad sushi not long after this, maybe it's not so bad ;) I just can't justify the price tag unless I'm getting a big roll, 8 pieces style packed with fresh fish....
(3)Dem P.
Very good food but the service can be better and i dont blame the server at all i blame managers for only having one server working tonight. What kind of manager does that to their employee???? Smh!!!
(3)Crayola B.
Eh. Not terrible, but if this is the best this area has to offer, I'm not looking forward to living here for the next few years. I got a pretty basic order for take-out tonight--and when I got there, I was a bit concerned that there were no diners inside. I know it's a Thursday but just after 7pm and the place is empty? Not a great sign...the service inside was very basic, not unpleasant, but not friendly either. Fast, at least, they did have my order ready within the promised 20 minutes (and probably sooner than that), but that's no surprise with no other orders to juggle. So, I got my food and brought it home to eat. The sweet potato tempura roll I got was underwhelming at best--it was falling apart because the rice didn't actually wrap around the filling the whole way! Plus, too much of some unidentifable sauce (not the eel sauce typical with sweet potato rolls) so I could barely taste the sweet potato. It was also covered by a pile of crunchy stuff which was a pretty good addition, just perhaps not in the quantity given. I felt for a $7 veggie roll, it was kind of small, too. I should have gotten pictures but I was starving and ate it first. I also got some vegetable udon. The udon noodles and broth were fantastic (and saved Aha from a 2-star review) but the vegetables seemed to be mostly onions and cabbage with a few slivers of carrot and the occasional chunk of mushroom. And on top, in addition to the regular onions, were sliced green onions. It was too much onion. I was disappointed there weren't more hearty vegetables in it, either, like bigger chunks of carrot. Overall, decent, and they probably do other menu items better than what I got--but I won't be returning until I'm sure other local options aren't any better. Sweet potato rolls are what I crave when I crave sushi, and I'd rather go through the hassle of making my own than be disappointed in Aha again.
(3)Sofiya C.
The two stars are for the food... its not horrible, but I've experienced better. The sushi is pretty over priced... anything over $12/roll in the suburbs at a small little place like this is over priced. Sushi was pretty bland, out of the 5 rolls we got the only two that we were ok with were the Sunset and the Ocean Drive (two of the more expensive ones at about $17/roll) If I could rate the service it would get 0 stars. Not only did our order get totally screwed up, she didn't write it down and did not repeat back to clarify, but I sat there for about 25 minutes with an empty water glass. Finally I pointed out to the waitress that what we ordered is not what we got, and she did offer to either bring out what we wanted or to take the price off. The place only had 1 other table there while we were there but the waitress kept disappearing for half and hour. When I looked at the other table, they too had empty water glasses. It would be nice if the menu included some pictures of the rolls. Anyhow, my husband and I will not be coming back, ever. Total rip off, not worth it dinner.
(2)Meredith B.
Wonderful service, great atmosphere, delicious food. Had the Jalapeño Bomb and Edamame for appetizers. Blackhawks roll, Playboy roll, Alaskan roll, and Tokyo Drift roll... All were fresh and tasty. Prices were higher but I think worth it!
(4)Itoji K.
The least satisfying and the worst spending on food of my life. Don't go. If I could, I'd give minus stars. I don't even know where to start. The floor is sticky. One of the serving trays I had was dirty as I felt food's residue from previous meal. I ordered shrimp and vegetable tempura udon. If it is listed so on a menu, usually tempura comes on the noodle but it was served on a separate tray with a separate sauce. I would understand if this was a dinner set (i.e. bento box), but wasn't. My husband ordered chicken and vegetable tempura. First of all, I have never heard chicken tempura in my life!!!! Second, unless it was an appetizer which we were not asked if it was or was not okay for having it as an appetizer, it didn't come with a bowl of rice or soup. Simply green tea, which is generally complementary at Japanese restaurants, were not free. We had to order water for us too which is unheard of in Illinois. Beef udon that my child ordered came with very questionable tiny pieces of beef and I had to wonder if those pieces should have gone to a garbage can. The drinks my children ordered were out, not to mention that was their second choices as the first choice was out. The most decent part of the dinner was the beer my husband ordered. All of what I am pointing out here are something can be corrected and improved easily. This makes me wonder if their chef knows or cares what she or he is doing. If this restaurant was in any big cities, it will not last a month. If anyone likes this place, I have to say she or he hadn't had Japanese food yet. Really waste of money and disappointing.
(1)Meg K.
This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. The ambiance is so nice. The staff is wonderful and friendly and the food is delicious. I have loved every sushi roll I have ordered and my favorite appetizer is the ginger chicken. I would go to Aha every day could I afford it.
(5)Deena R.
First, know that you can usually buy a discount on restaurant.com Not the best place fro kids to go. I would suggest.... - Firecracker Roll: crunch and sauce were very good; sweet sauce wasn't overly sweet - Sunset Roll: good lemony flavor; asparagus is a nice crunch addition - Caterpillar Roll: wasabi mayo was a pleasant surprise; all of the ingredients tasted fresh - Spicy Tuna w/Avocado: acceptable version of the standard but other options may be more satisfying Wouldn't suggest... - Honey Fire Roll: honey flavor in the sauce was noticeable but not overpowering; the contents (egg/mushroom) aren't worth the price since they are veggies.
(4)Sofia J.
Great lunch choice! It's hard to go anywhere besides Tina's Bake Shop in this plaza, but when Tina was on vacation, we ended up at Aha, a great find! Inventive rolls at typical prices for "creative" rolls. Unfortunately the lunch special only includes the more basic rolls, but I guess that's pretty typical.
(5)Jessica J.
My husband and I are kid free this week and were in the mood to eat sushi - as much as we can before it's back to burgers and fries when the kid gets home from grandmas! One of our friends recommended AHA Sushi after we had an awful experience at Shakou in Libertyville (see Yelp review and BOYCOTT Shakou!!!). AHA is small - not a lot of tables, but they do accept reservations. We did not have a reservation, but the gentleman who served as our host and waiter quickly cleared a table and had us seated in only a couple of minutes. When you see that level of business on a Monday night, it is usually a really good sign! We asked for the All You Can Eat menu which is only $19.95 per person. The only stipulations are you don't share with someone who doesn't order the all you can eat option and any uneaten pieces will tack on another $1.00 per piece to your bill. Definitely fair! Our first round was Miso soup, The Crazy Boy roll, mini Godzilla, and a Philadelphia roll. It was all delicious! The Crazy Boy instantly became my favorite of any roll I've ever had. Our next round was a chicken teriyaki crunch roll and a sweet potato roll - also both delicious. Our waiter was prompt and friendly. He was pleasant and brought refills without prompting. He truly made us feel welcomed and made our experience just that much more amazing. Bottom line - we walked out of here with money left in our pockets and over-full stomachs. They know what they're doing here at AHA sushi - the environment was lovely and the food was dynamite - and that all you can eat pricing?! The choices are remarkable for that option - I highly recommend you give it a shot. Thank you to the gentlemen who gave us a lovely night out - we will absolutely return and recommend you to everyone.
(5)Jill B.
Went here for lunch with my dad. We got a variety of things. We both really love sushi, so we got a few simple rolls like the avocado roll. It was mediocre. The shrimp tempura was a bit on the soft and greasy side. The worst part, the fried rice was burnt in parts, I could only tolerate a few bites. I will not be going back. For sushi in this area I would recommend Toshi, it's quite nice, off of Dillys rd, Hiyashi on Grand ave, is decent, and my all time favorite is Kawa in Grayslake. I have never had a less than great experience at Kawa.
(2)Mark S.
Decent sushi.
(5)Patrick S.
Great place, we can in right around closing and they took great car of us. The Chicago Bull roll will change your life if you like a good spicy roll. I ordered their 50 dollar sashimi combo and got the Chicago Bull roll instead of the Chicago Cub roll. The Crazy Boy roll was also open. Some of the best Sushi I have had in a couple years.
(5)Heather L.
Loved this place. A fried and I went here one afternoon to spoil ourselves with a good meal. Everything we ordered was fantastic. It was also well priced for what we got. We both had the lunch special, shared a roll, and had a couple pieces ala carte. After our meal we were treated to a free dessert from the chief. He gave us a tempura banana split. It was a party on your mouth. So good!! Definitely going back again. Bringing everyone I can!!
(5)Matt B.
My family has regularly been coming to this restaurant for a little over a year. The staff are very friendly. They also know who we are, and what we like. They frequently toss in a chef special or a desert treat for us to try. It's obvious that they appreciate our business and want to keep us coming back. The food: I have yet to be disappointed with anything I have tried here. Everything seems quite fresh and made to order on the spot. I typically get a sashimi plate and it has always be excellent. We have been to many of the local Sushi restaurants, and this is our favorite by far. We bring our children with us (a 9 and 12 year old) without issue. Bottom line, this is a great place to bring friends and family for good Sushi. I highly recommend it.
(5)Kristin C.
I love this place! My boyfriend and I stopped here on whim after a day at 6 flags. ( It is in a plaza super close). We were wearing more casual clothes and we didn't feel too out of place. I would say on a future date, or any date, I would wear a little more dressier clothes. The atmosphere is very cozy and modern in my opinion. We came around lunch time so the place so it was about half full. Everyone was talking in rather quiet voices. I can see at night this place having a wait and/or being a bit hard to talk if it is at max capacity or everyone is drinking. On the food and service!! Our server was really patient and knowledgeable about the menu. We asked her a ton of questions being it be the first time there. The server recommended the Maki Mono and the tempura ice cream and it was the best decisions ever. Between the both of us we got the vegetable udon, these jalapeno poppers, Maki Mono, and the tempura ice cream. The udon comes in this beautiful earthen wear. It is not overcooked soggy or salty which is hard to find. I don't like spicy foods, so my boyfriend ate all the poppers. He wouldn't even share if i wanted him too though.... The spicy tuna was spicy but not burning spicy. And the Unaq wasn't soggy or too bony which was great. Only the Californina was kind of average.The tempura icecream is so bad but so good. It is hot hot hot on the outside and cool and creamy on the inside. I recommend sucking it up and eating it quickly before it melts/sogs to a puddle. Me and my boyfriend kind of lingered past their lunch 'closing time' and din't even notice until we left. Kudos to the server. Living in Hoffman Estates I don't think I can drive there too often but it is definitely on my go-back list.
(5)Kim P.
Creative sushi options. 4 Rolls will run you about $50. - Pricey... but you get what you pay for.
(4)Jon A.
For the price of sushi in the Lake County, this sushi spot is actually better than other sushi places. I would like to see more custom sushi inspired by customers. Appetizers should be a little bigger in size. The wait staff are fabulous; always there to service any of your needs. Other Japanese appetizers/entrees, i.e., soft shell crab, donburi dishes, hibachi dishes, curry dishes, and teriyaki dishes would round out the menu for all ages - especially for the lunch crowd. There should be special nights where shabu-shabu should be served for people want a "family style" meal. Other than that ... I LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)Sharon R.
What a delightful experience in G-Town! Few exceptional dining experiences exist in Gurnee - I believe this is one of them! We ordered the following: Beef Asparagus - tender, marinated beef wrapped around perfect, pencil thin asparagus. Cannonballs - Aha's take on the crab rangoon with a yuuum blackberry sauce. This is so amazing. Imagine biting into a crunchy layer only to have creamy, crab goodness explode in your mouth. The sweetness of the blackberry sauce is a nice contrast to slight saltiness of the crab. Get one order for yourself. Vegetable Udon - shared this dish. If you like noodles - this dish is great. Very filing. Can't imagine having a whole dish to myself. Tuna Avocado Maki - tuna was fresh. Would like to explore more sushi next time! Dessert - tried the fried ice cream. They have a good version. Too much for two people. We were given a sample of the dessert of the week - Kahlua coconut bread pudding. This is a keeper! If you like bread pudding (I am a convert after tonight), you will like the balance of textures and flavors. Service - Ryan was our server. Very attentive and playful with Mom. He remembered her from a previous visit - she loved it! Ryan is knowledgeable about the menu and is very happy to explain the dishes to you. The restaurant is pleasant, clean and welcoming. I am looking forward to trying more offerings on the menu!! If you find yourself in Gurnee, take the time to explore Aha Sushi. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Maribel A.
It's a little small but perfect for a date of two and the sushi is wonderful!! Highly recommend to try it out
(4)Kelsey L.
I first visited this restaurant before living in Japan, and now returned to be mostly pleased with Aha Sushi. The ambiance and overall food presentation does Japan justice, everything is beautifully crafted. I tried the miso soup, which is usually a pretty good gauge to the restaurants authenticity. It had good flavor but was a little diluted compared to the real stuff- but was was great with seaweed and tofu inside. The gyoza tasted great and was perfectly cooked, just wasn't authentic. But again, you have to know what to expect in an American Japanese restaurant. I had the Cy Sake Maki, it was great! Very filling, and lots of good flavors and sauces. (Of course, maki is rarely served at all in Japan and certainly not with all the toppings, but nevertheless it was great:) I will definitely be returning and trying some more authentic-looking food they had on the menu. Was very pleased, probably the closest I can get to Japan in the greater Chicago area.
(5)Sarita M.
I really like this place. Its nice and quiet and while there wasnt an intense japanese feel it was definitely a great atmosphere. We walked in 20 mins before they closed and the host smiled and began to set our places with no complaints. We decided to do takeout so that we didn't keep them. They prepared the food quickly and was very pleasant the whole time. Offering us drinks and desserts while we waited. I tried the moshi balls and they were delicious but they were out of the mango and strawberry. we tried the dragon rolls, california rolls, crunchy shrimp rolls and the big mamma roll, all were delicious! I will admit that some of them fell apart while eating but i attribute that to him being reading to go home and ending what I'm sure was a long day. The sushi chef came out and personally explained the rolls to us. I was impressed with this place and would return again.
(4)Bob M.
Small place but very cozy and intimate decor. We got a sushi roll with tempura shrimp that our waiter recommended. Was very good. Also got the tempura shrimp pieces as well as fried rice. The shrimp was good, pretty large pieces. Fried rice was awesome, very different than what I've had at other places. Must add that when it gets busy you won't be waited on immediately based on my most recent visit. They desperately need to hire at least one more server. They had one guy serving every table on a Friday evening. I'll return when that happens.
(3)Annie C.
Hey.. This place was good! My friend who frequents this establishment. Their menu is quite overwhelming since they offer so many different kinds of sushi. I absolutely love Spider Rolls wherever I go, and their version was pretty delicious! The king kong roll was quite tasty as well. The prices are very reasonable and their staff is super nice!
(4)Laura T.
My husband and I really enjoyed this place. We had a wide variety of rolls and like them all. Is it the best sushi ever? Probably not, but for Gurnee, IL it is fantastic. The prices are average for this area really. Considering that it costs us just as much for sushi at a Mariano's and this is much better obviously.
(4)Ale E.
Awesome place and great prices!!! The service was awesome and the food came in an average of 10 minutes. Its very cozzy. Loved it!
(5)Daniel H.
The place is small and you seat yourself. The service was excellent and the sushi was beyond amazing. I live in Grayslake and sadly there is no good sushi in Grayslake. Kawa is not as good as people say. Aha though is GREAT. I was impressed by their very large and vast sushi menu. My only complaint is the prices and the online site. The website needs to be updated and the online prices didn't match the prices in person. Loved the sushi and am willing to pay the steep prices, but I wish it was cheaper and I could afford to eat here all the time! You definitely pay for what you get. This place is a hidden gem for sure.
(4)Carole B.
You had one job. Disappointed. Won't be back. Walked in on a Monday evening 7pm. One other table had 2 customers, so it was not busy at all. I ordered miso soup, fried calamari and shrimp fried rice. The fried calamari came: it was ok, a few rubbery pieces, good portion, good dipping sauce. The fried rice came: it was good but a little heavy on the black pepper and when i asked for a small side of teryiaki they brought me a house-made blend (meh, it was ok, i was trying to mask the heavy black pepper). Then they brought me my check and I said politely "No soup tonight?". They offered no solution except to take it off the receipt... oh really? how kind. No 'oh my gosh we're so sorry we forgot. can we get you a dessert instead, or a coupon for next time.. etc". I'm so disappointed because there were only 2 other people sitting down and eating. It was empty. There were 3 servers and a cook. They got it wrong. I wanted to find a really good sushi place in the north suburbs close to home. Just disappointed. The flavors were ok but I'm hurt and won't be back. I'll go to Grayslake or the place further west on Grand. They had an opportunity and blew it. I just wonder where customer service has gone or if people care anymore.
(2)Katlyn G.
Great sushi, pretty cheap rolls for the more traditional ones and the specialty rolls ranged from 10-18. I'm from CA so fish so far inland makes me nervous, but I was impressed. We had a group of 6 with an infant. The waiter brought us complementary avocado and cucumbers to keep the kid happy. On top of that the chef prepared his special for us, also on the house. My friends say they will definitely be returning.
(5)Sahil B.
This review is for customer service only, didn't get a chance to try out their food. Bought a restaurant.com coupon and headed here to check out the place for dinner. The restaurant closes at 9:30pm and I was there at 9:02.pm. The guy working there ( Shon, I believe) said that I needed to take out since the kitchen closes at 9pm. Not sure how that works, since I guess that the kitchen makes the to-go food as well? Anyway, I agreed for to-go and ordered two of their rolls. He brought the check immediately after I placed the order and then said that the coupon could not be used for takeouts. I showed him the coupon, and there was no mention of dine-in only. He said that he had called restaurant.com for 2 weeks to ask them to add the dine-in criteria but they never responded,( used the f bomb in between for them). He told me to return the coupon to restaurant.com . I told him that I needed to talk to the owner and at first he said that the owner wouldn't agree and then said that he was the owner...well. I finally gave up and said that I hope that he had a better day.....terrible customer service.
(1)Allison T.
I've grown up in Gurnee and after living in NYC and Chicago, I never could find a good sushi spot that was comparable to my favorite sushi spots in the City. After coming to Aha Sushi, I'm sold and so happy that there is a place that serves amazing, fresh, and tasty sushi at a great price. Everyone please try the Wild Shrimp roll. The blackberry sauce that it comes with is out of this world. Plus both times I have gone, I have had wonderful servers - a tall brunette guy and then a petite blonde girl - they were friendly, knowledgeable, and super polite. If you want to have a great night out at a beautiful/modern restaurant, come to Aha Sushi!
(5)Tiffany L.
For the Gurnee area, this is a welcome addition. I'm not going to say it's my favorite sushi place ever, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's meant to be more "upscale" therefore they prices reflect this -- i.e. one piece of salmon sashimi on rice is $3. We ordered a Sake Don, a Chicago Roll, and the King Kong Roll. My fave was the King Kong -- I liked the deep friedness and the sauces and the other crispy deep fried strings on top. I'm doing a terrible job of explaning it, so just go and order it yourself. The sashimi was still slightly frozen, which was a little weird to me, but at least it wasn't fishy, and it was cut in nice big chunks. The Chicago Roll was fine, but nothing to write home about. The interior's kinda fancy, but my table and booth area were both kinda sticky, like it hadn't been cleaned for a while. Oh and they have some fun choices of drinks, like Asian Pear juice, and an Oatmeal Raisin Martini.
(4)Amelia I.
Went here with my boyfriend about three or four weeks ago on a sunday. Was craving sushi and this was one of the few places around that was still open. Its nice when you walk in, but it probably wasn't a good sign when all the staff is just standing around talking. We were seated near the thing that holds up all the saki even though all the tables were open...okay? To start we got the cannonballs. Not lets me explain how this was annoying to me. The one picture someone posted of them under the images makes it look like they are a decent size. No they are freaking TINY for the amount of money they charge. Think...the size of a grape! Way over priced for something so small!!! That really got me thinking about this place. But I digress. Moving onto the rolls. I got the Crunchy Melt which was...meh? It was all one consistency. Everything...was more mushy. Crunchy must have stayed home that day and sent his twin Mushy in. The sauce that they drizzled over it was good however. But 16 bucks for a crappy roll! Come on this isn't Chicago we're talking about! It was all around crappy and the boyfriend got a dragon roll. Also...meh? Nothing to write home about in the least. Should we have just gotten Mexican next door to them? Probably. Pass on this one. Especially for the over priced food. I think our totally with just WATERS was like 50 bucks after tip? I'll stick to Sushi Ya in the burbs!
(2)Keith H.
Excellent and local!
(4)T C.
Went here for lunch and they weren't open. it was within their hours, but no sign of anyone.
(1)Steve S.
I've been here a couple times now and both were very pleasant. Quick service and quick preparation of food. Delicious, too! Some the the specialty menu items are exquisite in appearance but a tad pricey. Of course, there are much more affordable items that are available. See some of the posted photos.
(4)Jason M.
They have a fantastic new chef! Gorgeous presentation and wonderful taste! I go there at least once a week. If you enjoy sushi you will not be disappointed!
(5)Jackie M.
I've been here a number of times now, and for a non-sushi eater, they have a number of good options. I love the Canon Balls, which are basically crab rangoon without the wonton. Its lighly breaded and fried up, so its lighter and is delicios with the blackberrty puree its served with. I recently went there, and the very polite wait staff, let us know they are under new ownership. They let us know there are 20 or so new rolls coming on the menu, and they offered us 2 free entire rolls to sample. I tried them both, one was called Crazy Boy and had avocado, crab, cream cheese, and was tempura fried (YUM), and the other was called spring mountain which had some salmon, crab, and some other stuff. Also good, but I was stuffed as I had my entire dish of chicken and vegetable fried rice. They do have a pretty large menu and the prices are a little on the high side, but that won't deter me, as I've seen such different rolls here than anywhere else, so it's a good option if you want to try something different (or if you want something normal too). The waitress also said they could make anything off the old menu too! Now, lets talk drinks. They have a decent wine selection, but the martinis are wonderful. I've trie 3 or 4 of them. My ultimate favorites are the Asian Pear martini (crisp and refreshing) and the Oatmeal Cookie martini (heavy but so good!). And yes, it tastes just like an oatmeal cookie. I will certainly come back and try the new menu (and hopefully they keep the Canon Balls!).
(5)Squire S.
I get my wife sushi from here at least once a month. Its her favorite place to eat. The service is always top notch and everyone is very polite. if only I liked sushi.
(4)Chad M.
I don't know where some of the bad reviews come from. I was here on a Sunday evening. I walked in, and saw 2 Japanese couples (I guess on a double date), and an older Japanese couple eating there. I immeidately thought that I was going to have some GREAT sushi. I sat at the sushi bar (I love watching the chefs work) and got served QUICKLY. The sushi was incredibly fresh, and delicious. The servings were good size, and they had the white ginger. The girl who served me, AND the chefs kept checking on me, and asking how everything was. I am TOTALLY looking forward to going back, this is my NEW sushi place. THANK YOU AHA Sushi!!
(5)Phoebe W.
I'm not sure if Aha has switched sushi chefs since my last visit, but the quality of the rolls has gone down a bit. They also seem to change the menu for the specialty rolls a lot, which sucks since I have some favorites memorized (ie: Pikachu roll) My friend ordered rolls that had were supposed to have "crunch" on it, but it didn't have anything crunchy to it. My rolls were also loosely constructed, a major no-no for me when it comes to sushi. Step your game up, Aha!
(3)Adam F.
Not a bad sushi place! The sushi is decent, the staff is decent, but there just isn't anything too special... I don't have much to say about this place, besides Hayashi (near the Gurnee Mills) is a better sushi place, at least in my opinion.
(4)Alyssa W.
Oh.My.Sweet Sushi Goodness! This place is impeccable. As soon as you walk in the door you'll know it was a good choice to eat here. The inside is very clean and polished, and the ambience is perfect for either lunch with a friend or a romantic dinner date. I've been here with sushi eaters and non sushi eaters alike and all have been satisfied. As far as appetizers go, the stuffed mushrooms are succulent and juicy and the cannon balls are crisp little explosions of tangy flavor. As far as basic rolls go, Aha's Philadelphia and spicy tuna are the best in the Gurnee area. If you want unique rolls definitely order the White Dragon. With the bite of the jalapeño and the crunchy almonds, this white tuna based roll is over the top. The playboy and the mercy maki also get 2 thumbs up. As for you non sushi eaters, the yaki soba is cooked al dente, and the teriyaki is the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The ONLY thing to cause hesitation is the prices, but c'mon people sushi ain't cheap and this place is so worth it! And they do offer meals for lunch and dinner for those that want to enjoy the delicious food while still being conscious of their wallets. Go here and you will not be disappointed.
(5)miss a.
it's small on the inside but the decor is great. i love the stylish chairs. i just didn't like that the couple next to us, which were a table away could hear everything we were talking about. the servers are very polite. they close after lunch hours which stinks. we arrived there before they closed at 2 & couldn't eat there. =( their bento lunch boxes have a somewhat large portion of food. well, it was large for me, for some it may be the right amount of food. the display of the food was great too.
(4)K G.
My mother and I came to Aha on a Friday night at 6pm. I ordered the Rainbow roll and immediately found two short black hairs-- one on my plate and one between two rolls. I told the waiter who seemed very apologetic and assured me that he would take it off the bill and bring me a new Rainbow plate. A brand new plate was brought to the table within 3 minutes and much to my dismay and absolute horror-- there were black hairs in between two of the rolls. It was absolutely disgusting and completely unacceptable. The staff was very apologetic and did not charge us for the meal. We will not be returning to this restaurant ever again and would suggest you do the same.
(1)Renelle P.
My husband and I have gone here quite a few times and the sushi rolls are ok. Their specialty rolls are ones we usually order and are tasty. The last time we were there the owner said that they will soon be re-vamping the menu with Korean food. We were so excited! For the past few weeks we have been ordering their chop chae noodles and bi bim bop. They were to die for! Then each week we would crave it and order the same dishes, unfortunately they started to not have the same ingredients, the chop chae noodles were hard one time and they forgot to place the red sauce for the bi bim bop! We still support the restaurant and appreciate the service. We won't be there for awhile and hopefully things will change.
(3)Jenn H.
A lot of people have recommended this place to us, so we finally decided to check it out for my birthday. They were right! Right from the time we walked in we were impressed. The chefs said hi to us when we walked in (and everyone, not just us). The decor was very modern and trendy like a sushi place should be. Our waitress was so nice and the food came out so fast which was great because we were starving! She took the time to help my mom, she was so personable, she really made the night great for our guests! Now to the food...excellent. We even took my mom and her friend who hate sushi and they loved what they got, and even were adventurous enough to try one of the King Kong rolls and loved it. We can't wait to go back and try more! We ordered the Gyoza and Cannon Ball appetizers. The dumplings were the best I have had, and the Cannon Ball was great, we couldn't stop eating them! Then we ordered the AHA signature roll, which was amazing. Oh- almost forgot about the seaweed salad, yum!! Since it was my b-day I got the Ecstasy martini and loved it, I usually hate Martinis but this was so good! Then they brought me the Tempura Ice cream for dessert with a candle, very much like fried ice cream, the tempura made it awesome. They also gave me a $10 gift certificate for my B-day!! That was the icing on the ice cream! They did put cherries on top too lol.
(5)Mary M.
Really nice atmosphere. Lots of vegetarian options, which meant I could have more than just Miso soup. The yakisoba was delicious. No room for dessert, but we'll get some net time.
(4)Brit W.
They let us order 15 minutes befrore they closed and were still so polite and nice about it :) The ponzu was so tender and seasoned perfectly. We also got the spider roll and the dragon roll. The eel on the dragon roll was seared with a torch and tasted very sweet. Presentation was wonderful as well. Would return again for another impromtu sushi date!
(4)Ev D.
This is a great sushi spot in the lake county area. I love the wide variety of sushi offerings. I had my birthday dinner there last night and everyone was super accommodating and attentive. We tried a few different rolls and all of my friends raved about their food. The martinis were also good and they gave me a tempura ice cream dessert that was to die for! It's a great location for a ladies night, or intimate dinner close to home. I will definitely be back!
(5)Sam C.
I must agree with the other reviewers that Aha was a very nice surprise. After disappointing experiences with other sushi restaurants nearby, we were ready to give up, but decided to try Aha since it took over from one of our favorite Indian eatery...glad we did! The sushi was fresh and the pieces were large, some were imaginative without being too far off course from traditional sushi styles, and their Yakisoba was flavorful and on target. Bottom line, Aha is on-par with many of the local Sushi places we frequented on the Gold Coast, Lakeview and Lincoln Park. We plan on going back again soon.
(4)Jaime B.
I use to love going to Aha, but that feeling is now gone. Is a Cucumber roll really worth $5??? I don't know where to start, but the atmosphere at Aha Sushi has changed drastically in the last few months. I use to enjoy coming in for lunch or dinner often, but with the recent changes I won't be coming as often. I use to rave about Aha to all my friends and even strangers I would meet! I now don't feel that excited about telling people about Aha. They just recently made drastic changes to features of the restaurant I greatly enjoyed. Their happy hour has gone from Buy One Get One to Buy One Get Half Off. I understand their are other sushi places in the area with that ongoing promotion, but making this change takes away from Aha's uniquiness. This change also doesn't make it as affordable to go as often as one might want to go during these economic times! With living in the area Aha was a decent sushi place to go with good quality food, but I've now decided to find another place to frequent. Another negative change was to their lunch specials! You use to be able to go in and get either a 2 or 3 roll and soup combo for a reasonable price. THAT HAS NOW VANISHED, and probably the customers who enjoyed that special are GONE. I understand that times are tough for all businesses, but if you take away things that are affordable for people and don't replace them with something comparable then that business is lost. The staff now has a different demeanor from when I started going. They aren't as fun and relaxed as it once was! It seems that everyone who walks in the door is now viewed as dollar signs. Everyone now seems very uptight and nervous. The staff never use to "push" meal ideas on customers! Suggestions of new things to try were welcomed, but once I say no, please respect it and don't continue to push it on me. No one will talk to you or make pleasant conversation; they just take your order, bring your order and refill your drinks. This even happens when you are the only party in the place, the mellow atmosphere that once was is gone.
(1)Kimberly A.
Great sushi in Gurnee! Staff is friendly and helpful. Drink specials are awesome!
(4)Parker ..
The sushi is decent but I remember it being better. Apparently there's new management which I assume means 'needed help making money'. I get that, but I used to not be able to finish 2 rolls and now 2 rolls isn't even enough. I don't remember paying as much either. Every other place I've been to, even in the city, would have been a lot better at the current prices. With quality and quantity going down and price going up, I doubt I'll be going back. As far as I know it's the only sushi in the Gurnee area but neighboring towns have better choices.
(3)Bill S.
A nice surprise for Gurnee! Reminds me of the kind of restaurant you'd find in Evanston. Quaint, clean, and contemporary. The service was excellent. Ryan was top notch. Genuinely friendly and helpful. The Sushi was OK, not really outstanding. The Soft Shell crab was old, or at least the oil it was cooked in. The sauce was a bit too much -- a bit overpowering, covering the taste of the seafood (Spicy Tuna, Octopus, and Scallops). I'd likely visit again because it's convenient. I look forward to trying Aha again sometime later, tho.
(2)Danelle F.
AHA Sushi Bistro is a great place for sushi. After growing up in SoCal and having amazing sushi... it's been hard to find a place that is more about the food than the fancy decor. This place offers both creative and traditional rolls. The wild shrimp is very dessert-like with an amazing blackberry sauce. The seaweed salad is very good. The specialty rolls are always very, very tasty. The seafood is very fresh. I have never had a fishy roll - and I've been at least 10 times. Chefs are willing to customize a roll for you (additions and/or subtractions are not a major issue like some places). Service is decent, but usually new. Good specials sometimes listed on Facebook. Food price comparable to other sushi places. It's nice to have a local sushi place for a relaxing night out, or a quick take-out.
(4)Gregory P.
I agree with the other reviewers...a very pleasant surprise. Innovative rolls, great quality sushi, nice selection. The server was new and not real knowledgeable but that was the only downside. Really enjoyed it and will be back soon.
(4)Tasha W.
Aha is wonderful! Nothing but great compliments here! Service could not be any better; they are so quick and friendly. The Wild Shrimp is my absolute favorite but there hasn't been one sushi roll that I have come across there that I haven't loved! Everyone should defiantly go experience Aha!
(5)Josh K.
I am in the navy and I love sushi! I've been looking for decent sushi places since I arrived here! The service is great here and the sushi is amazing! Me and my friends love it. We will definitely be going back to this place. It's one of the best!
(5)Sean E.
Amazing house specialty maki rolls that tickle the palate. Not your typical, average sushi restaurant. Service was fast, professional, and conscientious. Ambiance is small but you melt away into the closeness. Definitely try the red Ferrari roll if they still have it!
(5)Deborah P.
Aha has now changed to new management as well as a name change, but I can't recall the name. Since changing management twice in less than 8 months, I can say it's better than it was 3 months ago. One of the waitresses was the under old chef and mgmt, and she can easily tell you what rolls are called vs their old names, and she always has great suggestions. One of my new favorites is the Snow White- super white tuna on top of a roll filled with crab. Smooth as butter! I definitely would ask for the spicy mayo to give it more flavor, but the texture is wonderful. One of their best items is the side salad with Ginger dressing. I now look forward to our weekly luncheons at (former) Aha!
(4)Iris L.
We visited this restaurant for the first time this past Saturday evening. Our initial impression of the restaurant was that the staff was friendly and it was nicely decorated--very modern and chic. However, we and other customers around us waited for our food more approximately an HOUR AND A HALF. Once our food arrived, they realized that they forgot about one of our orders, which would have taken an additional half hour to make. Therefore, one of our friends ended up not eating at all after waiting almost 2 hours! Also, the sushi was good but not good enough to wait 2 hours for. Unfortunately, we've decided to never come here again and will also spread the word about the unacceptable wait time for this restaurant.
(1)Jeremy B.
First off, let me say that this one-star review has nothing to do with the food at Aha Sushi. This establishment gets one star for the following experience: My wife and I met at Aha Sushi on a Friday afternoon during our respective lunch breaks. We arrived at noon to a nearly empty restaurant. We were one of a total of maybe 3-4 couples occupying tables. We were greeted nicely, however the waitress took our orders, brought our drinks, then waited 5-10 minutes to tell us, "Oh, by the way...I forgot to tell you that sushi is taking a minimum of 45 minutes to prepare." By the way? 1) It's lunchtime on a weekday, 2) It is a sushi restaurant, 3) The place is nearly empty. Unacceptable. My wife and I had to leave, and we did not get to have lunch together because too much time had already been wasted. As we got up to leave, the sushi chef waived and said "Thanks for coming!" What a joke!
(1)Rob L.
This was our first time there, with two in our party. This means that we were not in a position to try too many things on the menu. First we started out with a cup of tea. They did not have anything like Jasmine tea, but the green tea was good and came in a monster size mug which we both thought was really cool. We had 2 Maki, a mini-Godzilla and King-Kong. They were excellent but small considering the price. We also had order of veggie fried rice which we both thought could have been better. The veggies were essentially like the birdseye mix you get from the frozen section (peas, corn, carrots). We mulled over the saki, and got a nice unfiltered that the waitress recommended that was not on the menu. The total tab came to about $60, which is too high considering. The ambience is good with a cool, eclectic music selection, decor is very modern. The service was good without being overbearing. We will go back sometime and see if the sushi is a better route to take.
(3)