Sakura Japanese Restaurant
2302 N Richmond Rd, Mchenry, IL, 60051
Sakura Japanese Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Mchenry for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2302 N Richmond Rd
Mchenry, IL, 60051 - Phone (815) 344-3030
- Website https://sakuramchenry.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kimberly H.
I was excited to see a sushi place come into McHenry, but am always a little nervous to try new sushi places. I didn't know anyone personally who had been here but I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. Nice decor and very clean (especially the bathroom, which always makes a big difference to me). My boyfriend and I went during lunch and both had one of the lunch specials. We both picked out a few different rolls and everything was to our liking. Prices were ok (I think you could find something in a price range you're comfortable with). I'll definitely be going back. Plus, they have a wide selection of non-sushi related items if someone in your party isn't totally into sushi.
(4)Scott S.
Food was great and service was very friendly. The rolls were fresh and very tasty! My wife and I will definitely be back!
(5)Kim B.
Finally a Sushi Place nearby! I have not eatten in the restaurant, but have had take out MANY(too many to count...lol) times already. So far my favorite is the lobster roll, I agree with many of the previous posts, the menu is huge, and if it was slimmed down a little more to focus on japanese food, I think that would be a big plus. Their website to order from is flawless, and I have had no problem with the order times from when you place the order, and your pickup times. Its a great place for the quick sushi-fix.. :)
(3)Mr. sushi G.
First off, I am not making any accusations, but I can't help but notice that most of the 5 star reviewers are new members....I will leave that alone for now... My experience at Sakura was a MAJOR letdown! I will start with the only positive part of my meal...the crab rangoon was very good. (Sakura has both Chinese and Japanese cuisine) My seared tuna appetizer was not very good, and very small. Sushi: This is where it gets ugly...Sakura has some pretty crappy sushi. The spicy tuna/spicy salmon had no taste. My yellow tail nigiri smelled fishy and tasted like something out of a sewer, and everything else was mediocre at best. NONE OF THE FISH TASTED FRESH! Throughout the meal they must have tried to refill our water at least 10 times (when it was not necessary). This got very annoying since they had us pass the glasses to them and then back to the person it belonged to. I know all you Mchenry people are dying for a local sushi restaurant, but this is not it! You would be better off going to the adjacent Petsmart in search of fresher fish. I absolutely recommend you drive a little further for a better meal.
(1)Jonathan G.
I've been here multiple times and I absolutely love it! The price and quality are great. Atmosphere is top notch and very peaceful and relaxing if you don't mind the J-pop music in the background. (Quick Tip: Being a Final Fantasy player helps. But seriously it's not bad music.) I give this place the most stars I believe I've ever given. Delicious high quality food, great service and atmosphere. A++
(5)Jenn H.
Love. Best Sushi in our area. It is so close AND they deliver. No one delivers to us out here. We love their daily special rolls but the ones we've ordered off the menu are great too. We still haven't tried them all and we've gone over 10 times, they have a large selection. We've eaten here on different days and the quality is consistently good. I would say the Yum Yum roll is my favorite, and the King Kong but we've enjoyed everything we've ordered so far. All of our friends we've taken love it too. Sakura, please stay here for a long time!!
(5)Taylor M.
Pretty decent sushi bar for McHenry! I tried both raw and cooked sushi here and both tasted great! The fish was really really fresh and everything was pretty good. If im in the area i will return for sure!
(3)Al J.
Best place in McHenry for sushi! The sushi is yummy, the price is reasonable and the staff is super friendly! The atmosphere is casual and clean and if you can't leave your house, they deliver! Sushi delivery!! Their prices are super reasonable and their lunch deals (between 11 and 2:30) are great! Try them out!
(5)Max M.
As one can gather from the other reviews as well, Sakura is about as good as it gets around here when it comes to sushi. The service is always wonderful, and the sushi is top quality. The atmosphere in the restaurant is outstanding. It has all sorts of cool lighting and different pieces on the walls. The design is well-thought out. Pricing is great, hell sometimes I feel like the prices are lower than they should be. Especially for the sushi we are getting. Wonderful place. If looking for great price AND great quality, Sakura is well worth your time and money.
(5)Henry T.
Sakura is THE BEST sushi place in the McHenry area. The hot food is always hot, the sushi is always fresh, and the service is always great. Definitely my go-to sushi place. It's as close as you can get to good sushi, without traveling all the way to the city.
(5)Stephy M.
Love, love, love. We're regulars here! The monthly rolls are always interesting and the special rolls are always filling and delicious. The staff is one of my favorite things about Sakura, though: they are some of the friendliest that I know of and make us feel completely at home. I've brought friends and family and all have been impressed. Check Facebook or sign up for their email newsletter for monthly coupons. Great deal for lunch specials, too!
(5)Greg W.
A sushi place in McHenry!?! No way! My initial visit here was decent. The problem is, I just wasn't that impressed. It has been a few years since my first visit, so I figured why not give them another shot? I wish I would have stayed away because again, I just wasn't that impressed. Quality and freshness are at the top of my list when selecting a good sushi joint. The quality just isn't there at Sakura. Believe it or not, there is a noticeable difference in taste between fresh fish and fish coming out of a freezer bag. This is apparent at Sakura. What the chefs here seem to forget is that sushi making is, in sense, an art form. Some of the rolls are so big and disheveled that it takes away from one of my favorite things about eating sushi, enjoying the taste! Would I eat here again? Probably. The price is good, the food is okay, and the service is friendly. Sakura is everything you'd expect from a sushi restaurant in McHenry. Unfortunately, Sakura is just that... a sushi restaurant in McHenry.
(2)Leona H.
I visited this place for the first time and loved it! The workers are very helpful and friendly. The food was so tasty. The portions were a good size. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box. Everything from the miso soup to the final entree was beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. I will certainly be back!
(5)Rose H.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this place. The service was perfect, completely unintrusive while always monitoring that I had what I needed, some of the best service I've had anywhere. The fish was very fresh, not at all what you would expect in a place like McHenry. The rice was cooked and seasoned perfectly and the ratio of fish to rice was generous, which really makes or breaks the experience. The ambiance is great, given that it's in a mini mall, the umbrellas on the ceiling are cute and the music was the right volume and not distracting. The standout of everything was the food though. I ate at the bar as a solo diner, the other bar diners at the other end were obvious regulars and were given a spicy crab and cucumber salad and as I gazed over wishing I was a regular, I was presented with one too - I assume a perk you get for dining at the sushi bar, such a nice touch. I ordered the sushi appetizer which came with the five standard pieces (ebi, maguro, sake, hamachi, and tai); sushi was draped elegantly over the sides and ends of the rice. I also had a seaweed salad, standard preparation and served over cucumbers and daikon. (They are generous with the daikon). Lastly I had the seasonal special roll, the autumn. Hamachi and cilantro inside, just a touch of rice, topped with Sake, jalapeno, and a drop of srirachi. So fresh, so luxurious, so unexpected. I will be back. I will not be back to that other sushi place nearby.
(5)J K.
Great rolls!! The rolls, tepanaki, and Bento boxes are wonderful. The service has always been outstanding. Also they have great drink and food spexial throughout each month.
(5)Rosa C.
I was not impressed whatsoever with this place, as I suspected. WHY I thought sushi would be decent in Mchenry was beyond me. I should have gone with my instincts. I forgot what I ordered, but they used imitation crab and wanted to charge an extra 7$ for fresh. I paid the extra 7$, but was extremely disappointed by the "fresh" crab. It had a really fishy odor and did not taste pleasant. It was far from fresh and I felt like I paid inner city prices for it! I would never come back here to eat. Also, I do have to say the service was impeccable. Too bad that doesn't match their food quality.
(1)Sandy G.
Awesome food! Staff is great & sushi is fresh & delicious. Best sushi I've ever had. Highly recommend!
(5)Ivan H.
Our family loves this place. Always fresh food and clean tables. They do get very busy, just look through the pictures the food tastes as good as it looks.
(5)Becky S.
For a strip mall Japanese restaurant in the middle of the burbs this place will do. The food is decent and ther servers are very nice and check on you often. This place moved at a slow pace so don't come here if you are in a hurry. Great if you are looking for a place to relax and have a drink.
(4)Kathy D.
I love this place. I'm a vegetarian, so I can't really say that I know anything about sushi, but I love the tempura rolls and the avocado rolls. I, quite literally, find myself thinking about the next time I can come back while I'm still there eating. The service is excellent. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful. It's not fancy, but it is quite a delight nonetheless.
(5)Michele G.
I love this place!! The food is amazing, the staff is so friendly and the service is great! I've been an avid customer for a year now and will continue to be for a long time! Normally I get the salmon teriyaki bento box and it's enough food for two meals! The sushi is also amazing! Very fresh and so delicious!!
(5)Goshia K.
The best sushi around friendly service and reasonable prices:) much better than golden rolls and cheaper by almost $2 a roll!! Would recommend to anyone!
(5)Holly S.
Been here several times. Always a pleasure. Great and friendly service. I am "new" to sushi. I think it pretty darn great here! Tea is piping hot. Soda is constantly refilled without being asked. Generous portions. Rice is fantastic. I have had many 'rolls" here and never been disappointed. I love the option of cooked meats also. If you want to eat them with a fork, ask for it. Otherwise, you only get chopsticks. I enjoy the ginger salad dressing. Beautiful presentation of food. They have an extensive alcoholic selection, yet I have yet to try anything. I must go back for dinner, to try them out. Such a break from the ordinary restaurants in McHenry. Atmosphere is pretty and spacious. Will definitely go back here on a frequent basis.
(4)Danny H.
My wife and I went there for lunch twice this week, our first experiences with Sakura. We both ordered off the lunch special menu, 3 rolls and Miso soup for $12.00. The lunch special menu is a limited selection, but provides incredible value! The service was great both times, very nice and attentive. My wife commented that there seemed to be a lot of people working, which means everyone is taken care of promptly. The employees are all very nice and welcoming. We have had the spicy tuna, spicy crab, McHenry, Shrimp Tempura (wife's favorite), Alaska, and Philly. 6 rolls; 36 pcs and 2 bowls of soup with 2 ice teas for $30.67 before tip. The sushi was fresh, presented nicely, and damn tasty! It is our new favorite dining establishment in McHenry. Great service, food, and location. 5 stars for McHenry.
(5)Tiffany L.
Sushi Fridays at work has officially become a thing, and this is where we frequent. For an area where I have seen a sheep farm, wild turkeys, and I'm pretty sure one of the uncles from Duck Dynasty eating at the counter -- the sushi is acceptable. I recommend the lunch special, 2 rolls + miso soup for $9.95. Get the tempura sweet potato roll and the spicy tuna roll.
(3)Josh V.
Here is the problem with Sakura - It's a sushi restaurant that seems to know nothing about sushi. While it isn't the worst sushi, (and while I won't say it's disgusting) there is a major lack of quality. First off, anyone who knows anything about sushi knows that any sushi restaurant can be judged on overall quality by one thing; the fish. While most people think they know about sushi, or love sushi rolls, or sushi-infused yummy salads, they're not realizing that sushi is an art and the main ingredient and most important part is the fish. As a huge fan of sushi, especially high quality, fresh sushi, the first I did at Sakura was went straight for the Sashimi. For those of you who don't know, Sashimi is sliced fish all by itself. No rice or anything, just nice little cuts of raw fish and nothing else. I figured it'd give me an idea of the quality, and I was right. So I sat up at the bar and I think I ordered 3 Tuna and 3 Salmon sashimi.. The woman asked me if I wanted rolls, which I replied "no, just the fish".. Then she asked me if I wanted them on rice.. Again, "no, just the fish - sashimi. I want 3 tuna, 3 salmon, nothing else." Okay, my order was in.. While waiting I admired the cleanliness and general good vibe of the restaurant, it was actually really nice and relaxing in there.. Finally, out comes my sashimi.. WOW!! The pieces were HUGE, and while impressed by the size, I instantly knew two things - Either this fish is crap quality or they know nothing about real sushi.... or both.. It was both. Sushi is not supposed to be the size of a cut of fillet mignon, as the whole point of sushi, especially sashimi, is to be able to taste the flavor of the fish. Even though one might use wasabi and/or soy sauce, the goal is of sashimi is to enjoy the incredible freshness of the fish alone.. This cannot be done with a piece of sashimi that's the size of a pack of cigarettes. While they might impress a sushi rookie with the size factor, it is incorrect and not proper. The quality of the sashimi was not impressive at all. It was a bit slimy and while I don't mean it was literally covered in slime, it was far from being super-fresh. Don't take the word "slimy" as me saying it's not safe to eat, that's not the case. The fish was not bad or spoiled, it just wasn't nearly as fresh as it could be. It was still somewhat tasty, especially when drenched with soy and a chunk of wasabi.. Sakura had some impressive little dishes that I saw come out while I was there, and they gave me a small salad with my sashimi that was pretty unique and tasty as well. The place has a great ambience, helpful and attentive service and it's fairly priced and clean. But for anyone to say that this sushi is super-fresh, the best around, or amazing, it just ridiculous. If you think that's true, you've never had sushi from a coastal area or more likely, anywhere outside McHenry County. Not the best, not the worst, and I might try it again with the request that they cut my sashimi into proper sized pieces.. But only because there's no other choice right in town.. They're getting 3 stars for the effort, but that's all.. You cannot get a 5 star rating when the chef seems to know nothing about proper sashimi preparation. The bottom line is the place is so-so, and ONLY because the service makes it better.. If they had crappy service and if it wasn't so comfy inside, I'd be giving this a 1 star.. Don't think you're going impress anyone who has had good sushi before by taking them to Sakura. On the other hand, it's not a bad place to hit when you absolutely must have sushi..
(3)Jack L.
First, full disclosure - I know the owner from a prior professional engagement and unfortunately, I am not allowed to say more. But I am also a very discriminating Asian food critic and have had the best of the best Japanese cuisine in the heart of Tokyo itself. But taking out the experience from Japan, this place is indeed one of the best, as measured by a combination of the food, presentation of the dishes, the friendly service (of course, I receive personal attention from the owner every time I dine there), and relaxing ambiance. We have tried almost all the appetizers and half of the entrees. They are each so unique in term of taste and the presentation of the food is just so fun and exciting as it arrives. I'd like to take time out to look and smell, before I dive into the food itself. Like most of the other reviews, this place is worth coming back.
(5)Jason N.
Had the lunch special carry out. One of the rolls tasted off, either the spicy crab or salmon. Really bad texture, smell and taste. Ended up tossing most of the roll. When we called there was no sympathy from the store, just a promise to look into it. Diner be ware.
(2)Pam M.
I'm not too sure about those other reviews, but I am coming from the view point of someone who has been there more than 10 times. I have come with many different people including a group of four. The decor is very nice and super calming, my only complaint is that it gets a little dark in the back despite how sunny it is outside. The food is awesome, I have come with people who consider themselves Sushi aficionados and with people who are trying it for the first time, as well as people in the middle; every single one of them has said that they love it there and would come again anytime. The service is really nice, having been their many many times, they now recognize me and welcome me very enthusiastically, as well as being able to answer any questions asked they also recommend items if you are unsure. There is only one waiter who kind of creeped everyone out... But everything else just kind of trumps his creepiness. All in all I really love this place. Recommended: -McHenry roll (jazzed out california roll, california rolls with wasabi mayo, and tempura crunch) -Shrimp Tempura Roll (name says it all) -Salad instead of soup, it comes with a creamy ginger garlic dressing that is to die for. - They have really good hot tea.
(5)Beth G.
I have really come to enjoy Sakura. I feel like much improvement has been made since their opening. Decor has been updated, rice texture is better. I still haven't diversified my orders into the Chinese or Thai options, but really enjoy their lunch specials. 9.xx for two rolls and miso, 12.xx for three rolls and miso. Sakura has become a staple for us. Delivery for those inconvenient nights and great lunches midday. My little ones also love the kids chicken teppenaki box.
(4)Maggie D.
Oh my God. Why did I wait 8 months to try this sushi?? I just had two Boston rolls and a dragon roll and OMFG - they were delicious. Then I get home and check their reviews and see there is a lunch special where I can get 3 Boston rolls for $12! I am in love. We were there on a Monday night at about 8 pm - dead. Great service. I unfortunately live in Round Lake so I'll only be able to get delicious delicious sushi when I have to go somewhere else near Sakura. Who am I kidding... I'll be back at least weekly. Sorry Kawa :( Oh - bf had the beef lo mein, made extra spicy to his specifications, and thought it too was delicious. I've heard never to get sushi somewhere that also has a Chinese menu, but that's not the case here.
(5)Marissa L.
Excellent service, excellent decor, and excellent food. The waitress was so sweet. Definitely coming back!!
(5)AJ O.
Love this place. Check out their Facebook... I'm the big guy in the blue in the Halloween pics. They always take care us. Servers are great, food is delicious. I have eaten here over 20 times... It's always fun and I always leave full and satisfied.
(5)Erin D.
Another fine addition to McHenry!!! Who knew you could get amazing sushi in McHenry! Ate here for lunch last week and it was fantastic. I had the salad with the ginger dressing -- the dressing, outstanding. We had the McHenry roll and the chicken teriyaki, not a complaint on anything. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Dustin H.
Let me start by saying that I very much enjoy Sakura. I have been here a couple of times now and will probably return in the future. They have a good variety of sushi rolls, which I like, and that is mainly the attraction for me. The flavor of the rolls is fine, but nothing to write home about, but the deluxe rolls like the Crazy Monkey or the Pink Lady are pretty tasty. The ambiance of the actual restaurant isn't anything special and could probably use some improvement. the staff is has always been fine and I have never waited long for anything. The prices were about average for what you would pay for sushi. All in all, not a bad place to grab some sushi. Don't expect it to wow you, but won't disappoint either.
(3)Molly K.
Affordable and close. The sushi is pretty good. Never got anything I hated. But it's not the best in the area. I'm hoping as time goes on they improve a few things. The spicy crabmeat/Kani roll had no mayo in it all three times I ordered it. Just fake crap strips. Don't know what that is all about! But everything else has been tasty. I love the order online option. We do that then pick it up as takeout. They always package everything very well and are generous with the soy sauce, ginger, and
(3)Lindsay D.
My family LOVES this place! We moved to the McHenry area about 1.5 years ago and we have been here 10+ times. The wait staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and the food comes out quickly. We are big sushi eaters and I never thought we would find our go-to place in McHenry! Yum Yum roll is AWESOME! General Tsao's chicken and gyoza are delicious! Highly recommend!
(5)Monica L.
I realize my bad experience is vastly different from most people's, so I can only guess they were having an off day. However that one off day is all I can base my own opinion on, so them's the breaks. Tried this place on a weekend, late afternoon. They were not busy, yet we were kept waiting longer than acceptable considering there were several servers standing around and only a third of the tables (if that) were occupied. Finally placed an order of hot tea and the server asked us what we would like. I asked for an appetizer and chose to use the English term for it, not wanting to butcher the Japanese pronunciation. She did not know what I was talking about. I've been to my fair share of sushi places and never had this problem. We asked for a sushi menu and again she did not know what we were talking about. Then we learned that one order of sushi only came with one piece. By that time, it had all added up to a bad taste in our mouths that made the prices just not worth it. We decided to just cancel our order. Left a couple of bucks on the table for the tea and made our exit. We will be sticking to Kyoto in Crystal Lake. We have been there on crazy busy nights and never had anything to complain about with the service.
(1)Coren M.
My boyfriend and I decided to try this place out on 10/10/2013. We were welcomed with open arms right when we got in. I loved the décor and the staff was super friendly. My boyfriend and I wanted some drinks. The waitress came out and asked for our ID's. She noticed my birthday was in about 2 weeks so they offered me the birthday special. Already, I was in love. If I remember correctly, the birthday special got a person a roll, a meal with chicken or beer and a dessert. I let the staff know that I do not meat so they told me I could order some veggie rolls. The best part of the meal was when the staff sang "happy birthday" to me. The lights in the dinning room was flashing and a really cute song was playing. I was super happy with everything. the sushi was very fresh and the Halloween Martini was great. I will be going back....
(4)Mike M.
My wife and I have been to Sakura 3 times now, and we've been generally pleased. We have had a variety of sushi, and a few of the non-sushi dishes as well, with generally great results. The edamame wasn't cooked enough- still a bit rubbery and hard to shell, and when we mentioned this we were not charged for it. Great service so far. This is a restaurant along the lines of Kyoto in Crystal Lake or Kaminari in Algonquin, so I'll compare the three. I haven't been tot he new Kyoto location, so I have to compare the older one. The ambience at Kyoto beats Sakura by a mile, but then I only have to drive a mile to get to Sakura. Food quality is similar, although Kyoto doesn't offer some of the dishes Sakura does, and Sakura doesn't do the Benihana-style table-tainment chop-fest that Kyoto does. (Like my new terms? Faaannntastic!) Kaminari beats Sakura hands down, but again, it's quite a bit farther for us to go to. Suggestions for Sakura- change the music. I can't stand canned formulaic pop music. Kaminari for example plays Enigma and other electronic ambient music, and is a bit darker, for a great atmosphere. Another reviewer mentioned window treatments...great idea. And yes, sitting by the front door in winter is a bit chilly. Another suggestion- either narrow down the menu or expand it. They have Pad Thai for example, but no other thai dishes. Difficult, as The Green Peapod in McHenry is a great place for thai food. So get rid of it...expand the Chinese entrees. Overall, great job!
(4)Dave P.
Great food, great service, and a good price. Make sure to check what the special sushi rolls are, they're quite a treat. We've even taken it out twice now, and it's just as good as eating it in! We're hooked on your sushi and we're happy about it!
(5)Ryan H.
Very disappointed ! I tho it will better then sushi king but it end up the same! Thing were not fresh,I order the love boat n sashimi deluxe and only the salmon were ok and other fish is not FRESH!!!! and my total bill came up to $112 and when i ask for spicy mayo the girl charge me for it.... When did sauce became so expensive at Japanese food???? Never again !
(2)Katherine A.
I ordered my normal philly roll, and ginger salad, I also added a new roll I had a while back and talked to the chef myself to see if they could make it. Well they could and he completely butchered everything. I know I should blame myself for asking a new place to make something I had somewhere else but other sushi restaurants have never had a problem. Plus they charged me twice the philly roll for it. I guess that is what I get for assuming the price would be the same. From now one I will ask so I guess that is my learned lesson.
(2)Heather B.
If all places to think of sushi McHenry/Johnsburg (border) is probably not the first place to come to mind. In fact I was a bit if a snob and didn't come here at first. How could there be good sushi out here. Boy was I wrong. This place is good. Amazing hand rolls. Always intriguing specials rolls that change monthly/ seas only. Classy casual, intimate sushi bar, good amount of seating but small, good for couples but can handle groups too. Went for my dad's birthday and just stuffed ourselves. Just eye rolling give me more. Just as they cleared the platter the lights dimmed, the music cranked and ... A really fun birthday surprise occurred. Not going to spoil it, but we are still laughing and joking about it. The wait staff are friendly and attentive. They know their product and are great at explaining things to the sushi virgin. My diet coke is always full!
(5)Skyler W.
Absolutely delicious sushi for the family and it is cheap I would recommend the rock and roll it is very good. They also have very good service and is kid friendly
(5)Virg H.
Great service and food. Also friendly staff. Food comes wonderfully prepared and displayed.
(5)Allie T.
I have been going to this place for years and have always enjoyed the food and the service! I go there so often many of them know me on a first name basis. I highly recommend the crazy boy roll! Yum!
(5)Dominik S.
If you live in McHenry, this the first establishment that caters to the sushi lovers out here. Sakura opened up earlier this year, and it was overrun by patrons - probably by excitement. When I first walked in, I was thinking, "how the heck do you squeeze all these tables into this small area." My first dining experience, early on, was inside the restaurant. The service was slow but the food was descent. It took 15 minutes to get our first round of drinks about 30 minutes from seating to get our order in. What do you expect on "first day" of operation? They have a menu that includes sushi, which is good (7/10 scale), and offer other options such as thai and fried rice. I have to suggest the fried rice as it is pretty darn good with flavor- it's addictive. The staff was always friendly but seemed over-worked, which is a good thing on opening days. Perhaps they will hire more personnel in the future. One of the things I've noticed is the chef was coming out and servicing the tables. I get it; it was sparse staffed. The house salad is a good starter. It features a simple and small salad in house ginger sauce (pretty common amongst Japanese restaurants). I suggest starting with that. Fried soft shell crab was really well prepared as this is a good appetizer on the menu. Heck, my girlfriend, who is not a seafood fan, loved this stuff. It wasn't the greatest thing to look at, but it did the job in terms of taste, texture, and flavor. Complete your meal by ordering some sushi. Particularly, order a couple of Spicy tuna hand-rolls for two. Then, try the Salmon skin roll, Twin Roll (mmmm...cilantro), Alaskon roll, and Spider roll. I haven't tried any of the dessert platters because I usually do not. Pro tip: Order online because they offer a 15% discount for first time orders. Food is delivered within 45 minutes. I didn't give this place 5 stars because of some service issues and taste. Mind you, I have dined at fine Sushi establishments where quality trumps prices; expect to pay $15-$25 per sushi platter there. However, it has a good balance between the selection, taste, and service. I recommend this place. Personally, I prefer delivery or take-out to subtract the service, at the time, out of the equation. Side notes: It's not the best sushi, but it's the best and only sushi in town. The food is fresh, but some of the seasonings may not satisfy all taste buds. Order online and take it home. Try the special rolls on the menu. My Ratings: Sushi Taste: ****** (7/10) Sushi Presentation: ******* (6/10) In-Dining Service: ***** (4/10) Delivery Service: ******** (10/10) Appetizers Taste: ******* (8/10) Cost: ******* (7/10) Convenience: ******** (9/10) ============================= Overall: 7.3 *My ratings are based on my personal experiences and are subjective.
(4)Frank N.
Horrible service. I had to ask for water, I had to ask for a menu, I had to get up and make them take our order, I had to train the employees how to take an order, and the waitress had absolutely no idea what was on the menu. It was like I was in a Gordon Ramsey nightmare. Moreover, some of the staff were standing at the front of the restaurant greeting people, some of the staff were just standing around looking at the ceiling, and the rest were loitering behind a curtain. McDonalds has better service.
(1)Brian B.
So I go here again just cause I was in the area, it was getting well into supper time and hey I was hankering for some sushi. I was here a few weeks ago and it was nice but not thrilling. But this time I concentrate on the special chef rolls they offer. I get seated at the bar which is cool cause I can see these Japanese guys doing their thing building and rolling sushi and I am here to tell you, these dudes are like frikkin surgeons or artists. Or both. They are whipping these things up and laughing and smiling all the while they are doing it so they must really love their job. I had the maguro tuna appetizer with sliced avocado, caviar and some tempura veggies to eat it with and it rocked. Then I had this sunset roll with tuna and finished with the crazy monkey which is spicy and creamy with philly cream cheese at the same time. Super good. Service was very good also. I will certainly go back here often if possible.
(5)Claudia A.
First visit at Sakura was last night....a busy Saturday night on their second week of being open...so, I took all of that into consideration. The food was actually quite good...the only "complaint" would be that the Edamame was not hot enough. So, here's what I would suggest to bring my rating up to 5 stars. 1.) Improve the ambiance....this was a space that was originally an orthodontist's office and the many windows look out onto a parking lot...put some window dressings on the windows to "warm" up the feel and put dimmers on the light switches so at night, it doesn't feel like a Denny's. 2.) When the customer orders a $7.50 glass of wine, make sure that you give them $7.50 worth of wine in the glass....the glass of wine that I ordered was barely half full. I didn't say anything about it because, as I said, it was busy and they are still working out the wrinkles 3.) Consider getting a make-up air unit installed so that when the front door is open on very cold nights (like last night) the cold air doesn't get sucked into the space and cause the customers to be uncomfortably cold. I definitely will be back because, as I said, the food that we had was actually quite good...I just think it would really improve their business if they considered these few changes.
(3)Cathie S.
We went as a family here tonight because Saturday there was a 45 minute wait. Unfortunately we were very disappointed in both the food and service. The food was awful and the waiter got our order wrong several times. It was really a shame because I was so excited to try this place. I will never be back. And to the guy who said I know nothing about the food buisness- you are wrong- and I have the right to my opinion especially since I spent over $62.00 that night.
(1)Scott W.
Absolutely love this place. Great food. Great service. Haven't left the place unsatisfied. Only thing I'd say is the seating could be more secluded. But that's just me :P
(4)Jane H.
Hubby and I stopped for lunch. Service was fine. Food was fresh and wonderful! Considering we drank tea and ice water the bill of $80 with tip was a pretty pricey lunch! Still, it was a very positive experience.
(4)Jeff W.
Stopped for lunch today. I had their garden salad, a Crazy Monkey Roll and a Philly Roll, The Philly roll was very good, but the Crazy Monkey roll was absolutely outstanding. I'll definitely be ordering that again. Not cheap eats, but the quality is very good and very tasty. Will definitely be back. Great to have a sushi place in McHenry.
(5)E S.
Love this place went for lunch. Very good big portion size. the melon ball drink was GREAT!! Ill go back. It was pricey though
(4)K K.
I've been there about 5 times already and I have to say that every time I've walked out of there I've had a smile on my face. The customer service I have experienced has been wonderful! They are always asking how everything is, if there is anything else needed etc., and the great thing is that they don't over do it to the point you are completely annoyed. Everything I have ordered, from the sushi to the teriyaki, I do not have any complaints. The presentation is always different with and quite artistic. The miso soup is some of the best I have ever had! My favorite rolls I want to order over and over are spicy salmon, spicy crab, mchenry roll, and the California roll...mix the wasabi with some soy sauce for dipping mmmmm. The seaweed is not overpowering, just right! My favorite place to sit is right at the sushi bar...it is just the best seat in the house! As far as the ambiance, well they are lacking....but hey...they just opened and it is a work in progress. Once they get a good following, I am sure it will improve. I would like to see the tv nixed....but that's just me- sushi bar and tv just do not make sense for me. The seats by the windows are so cold to sit by...especially at this time of year. I do hope they change that some how. The natural light is great, but not when you start to shiver as you are eating. All in all... I am quite content with this place..
(5)Brian F.
Sakura is new and getting settled so I will give 2.5-3 stars given that the price was high enough that my expectations were set more to Bistro Wasabi, but it was closer to Kyoto. We are glad to see a good sushi place come to McHenry but if they want to stick around they have more to give to earn those prices. Give them a try with that knowledge.
(3)Erin L.
Love! Great food and Great service!!!!! Can't wait to go back!!!!
(5)Karen M.
Love it! I sat at the sushi bar and had 3 rolls: spicy tuna, spicy salmon and a rainbow roll AWESOME! The miso is top notch along with the great service. I love how they serve green tea in a beautiful pot, it's those little touches that make a place so nice. I am a sushi snob from New York this place meets my expectations for sure. The ambiance is beautiful too (something I love) and I'll definitely go back!
(4)Andrew D.
Good stuff and the wait staff in very good. I like the Orange Chicken myself, and the sushi is excellent too. Nice and clean like to have more often if I could afford it .
(5)SamKat P.
Awesome sushi, great employees, great prices. The best part about this restaurant is, they don't skimp on ingredients! Never disappointed.
(5)Bob V.
This is a top notch sushi Resturant. Everything was fresh and the server was quick, attentive and personable. We will be back!
(5)Walter J.
Excellent food and very friendly wait staff. It's kind of hard to find good restaurants in Mchenry but Sakura proved to be a welcome change of pace. It's not the fanciest place but the food is excellent. I recommend the Mchenry rolls and the Crazy Monkey rolls, both were excellent and fresh. The first time I ate at Sakura, we ate there. One weekday, we were looking for chinese food that delivered... Sakura has Chinese food as well as sushi and Maki rolls.... and the best part- THEY DELIVER!!! Anyways, the Chinese food was really good too. We had the General Tao's Chicken and some beef dish, both were excellent. We also had crab ragoon and egg rolls... the crab raggoon is awesome. The real kicker was.... they deliver maki rolls too!! And they were total fresh. Sakura is a definite visit if you are in the Mchenry area. Eat in or Order out.
(5)Max R.
First off, the people writing good reviews for this place must have absolutely no sushi experience. They have probably never stepped outside of Johnsburg or Mchenry. People must just go here for a place to drink or something.. Because all of the food is horrible. Especially the sushi. Just like the terrible place down the road (sushi king). These places should not serve sushi. It's all old and not fresh. Also not very unique at all. They have the same junk as the place down the road. Servers are all rude. If you don't like the food, and complain, they make you feel stupid and tell you you're wrong. Typical owners daughter type... This place needs a health inspector!!! It's so bad!! Just drive a little further to Crystal Lake and have your sushi.. I cannot stress enough how disappointed you will be when dining at this establishment. Can't believe they charge money for their food. I'd rather have my 3 year old cousin cook me a meal.
(1)Michele S.
Very good service. I didn't care for the tempura here but would come again for the maki and bentos.
(3)Julie M.
So glad we stumbled upon this fantastic find! Newly built or remodled inside, everything looks clean and fresh. Our party of 3 had miso soup, house salad (awesome ginger dressing), dragon roll, crazy roll, crazy monkey, winter roll, and shrimp kung pow. Loved absolutely everything. Service was attentive and very friendly. We will definitely be back.
(5)Mary A.
The food is better than you think it would be, they have some creative local rolls (yes, McHenry Roll is on the menu), as well as the basics (California, Tuna, etc.). The ambiance is just ok - it is in a strip mall, after all. The staff is friendly, nice and fast. Make sure you sign up for their monthly email. They only send one a month..keep it on your phone and you'll always get at least 10% off.
(5)