4. Restaurants

Izakaya Sankyu Japanese Restaurant

1176 S Elmhurst Rd, Mount Prospect, IL, 60056
  • (847) 228-5539
  • Store is closed

Izakaya Sankyu Japanese Restaurant Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

  • Jason H.

    I've never been to Japan.. but I imagine the food there would be this good.. this authentic. This is what I imagine any good mom & pop place in Japan to taste like. You walk in this place, and 95% of the clientele look to be Japanese, so I take that to mean that this food must be on par with some of the great food you can find in Japan. Go to dishes for my wife and I are: - Tonkatsu Ramen - Best ramen we've ever had.. sooo much flavor! - Any sushi - The sushi i've had here is some of the best. The fish is tasteful and fresh, and the rice is cooked PERFECTLY! - Buta Kaku-Ni - If you don't know what this is, and you are a fan of tender, delicious meat.. then do yourself a big favor and give Buta Kaku-Ni a shot. It's the most tender, marinated, pull apart, steamy/juicy beef you've EVER had!!!!! I like to put some into my Tonkatsu Ramen... SOOOO GOOD!

    (5)

  • Laurice M.

    Thanks to Yelp, we found this hidden gem not far from where we live. We were not disappointed. We left with full bellies and stuffed faces lol! For 5 people, we ordered 4 diff rolls of sushi, beef teriyaki/tempura combo, shoyu ramen, tonkatsu ramen, and a small sashimi platter. Everything was delish!! The sashimi and sushi were good but didn't really wow me. They were fresh with simple flavors and huge servings and reasonably priced. My brother loved the crazy and rainbow rolls. My husband loved the shrimp tempura and philly rolls. The ramen's phenomenal! The broth was excellent - rich but not too salty, unlike Ramen Misoya. The pork's tender and tasty but I think I prefer Misoya's pork over Sankyu. The noodles are the right thickness and texture. I think the toppings are adequate as well. The ratio of broth to noodles to toppings is well balanced. I absolutely love it! I didn't care for the teriyaki or tempura. I've had better in Renga tei. As for desserts, we had the Japanese jelly mix with ice cream, coffee with red bean paste and ice cream, and plain green tea ice cream. My favorite was the coffee with red bean and ice cream. It was different and I haven't had anything like that before so I liked it. :) Overall a winner for me. We will definitely be back!!!

    (5)

  • Joe F.

    izakaya is something that is easy to define yet hard to execute. Some people really think they know what they are doing with this style and eventually they fall flat on their faces. Let me tell you something - nobody at Izakaya Sankyu falls flat on their face. When people ask me what this style of food is without fail I eventually wind up simplifying it to this "think of it as Japanese Tapas", which to some respects is correct in that you will find that smaller plates of deliciousness are delivered to your table, it's also an abomination, because Izakaya is so much better than tapas. (Sorry, Tapas.) All of the standards are here, and I won't go into the futile attempt to spell it. It tastes great and there will be little question left in your mind after you eat here about the superiority of Izakaya to satiate that urge for that unique combination of street style food, booze and great company. Amazing service, selection and quality of food. Honestly, I can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Vivian F.

    One of the best Japanese restaurant in the area and I must say compare to the others, the price is cheaper here. I ordered their bento box and the portion was huge. It included several side dishes and the sashimi that came with the bento were delicious. I ordered the chicken bento, the grilled chicken was pretty good and not dried up like other places I have had before. I would come back again to try their other dishes.

    (4)

  • Whan K.

    Great food but it takes too long for the food to bring up. Need more help from the kitchen.

    (3)

  • Edward R.

    I was looking for a place that went beyond SUSHI. Nice big menu with assortment of choices. I had Chawan Mushi for the 1st time! It was very good. Fun clean environment & tasteful. Will definitely be returning.

    (4)

  • Colin M.

    I am too old to sit on the floor. My feet were numb for days after the visit. Do yourself a favor and sit at a proper table. Food was good, if pricey. Good ramen, not great. Japanese pickles were good. Other items standard. Chicken wings standard. If you are in the area, an ok choice. Not a destination restaurant.

    (3)

  • Kassy K.

    The kimchi ramen is amazing!!! But everything else delicious so you'll be happy no matter what you go with.

    (5)

  • Luigi S.

    Just saying Hi

    (4)

  • Noomi J.

    I came here because Phil S. recommended this place to me, specifically their ramen, and ramen being one of my favorite foods, I made my way over here on a Sunday after some shopping in the Schaumburg area. tonkatsu ramen ($8.25) - 4.5 stars. Light & smooth broth, less salty than Santouka's with thicker noodles. The two pork slices were sliced thick and incredibly tender & flavorful. sashimi platter ($19.99) - 4.5 stars. Good variety, beautiful presentation. beef tataki ($9.95) - 4 stars. Good, but not a repeat buy for me because I'd want to try something else from their menu. Delicious food, friendly service, and the food came out fairly quickly (we came early for dinner ~5pm). I will return!

    (4)

  • John S.

    Was referred to this place by Yelp. Which I found ironic because i have lived down the street since it has opened and never heard of it until the email. My wife and I have been big fans ever since. They have some of the best Ramen i have had in the Chicagoland area. Their Soba is my wife's favorite she usually gets the tempura style. We have also had most of their sushi which is better then average. There is a great Saki selection and everything on the menu is very reasonably price for the quality & amount of food you get. Highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Carmen M.

    We have always treated well when we sat at the sushi bar, but when we sat in the restaurant side we were ignored. I guess being Caucasian is not a good thing when they are busy. All the Asians that were there, and came in after us, were treated kindly without wait. It was so bad that they had a hard time giving us multiple menus. 1 menu for 4 people and ten minutes later they brought a second one. It didn't matter how many we had they didn't take our order, even after trying to flag them down and get their attention multiple times.

    (1)

  • Jessica P.

    I ordered carry out from here on a Thursday during lunch time...I had to wait around 30 minutes for my sashimi platter and beef teriyaki to come out... I considered the wait to be long considering that I only ordered 2 dishes (one that involved no cooking time)...so if you have a 30 minute timed lunch, make sure you don't come here during lunchtime.. FOOD: Sashimi Platter: it was ok, good portion for 2 people to share Beef Teriyaki: it was ok, I've had better..the teriyaki sauce was not saucey, but rather watery like soy sauce was poured on it or something... Japanese Ramyun: ppl claim that the ramyun here is good, but I just thought it was ok when I tried it last time with my friends...maybe I'm just not a fan of Japanese ramyun.. CUSTOMER SERVICE: the waitresses were nice, but busy so they didn't help me right away when I stepped in.. I waited about 10 minutes before they saw me and helped me... COSTS: more on the expensive end and the lunch menus don't have lunch specials either....

    (3)

  • Natalie C.

    Cute little spot tucked away in a strip mall. When you walk in, the restaurant is split into two sections: a larger area with regular tables on the left, and a traditional Japanese seating on the right (i.e. shoes off, sitting at low tables on cushions on the ground). As I love sitting cross-legged while eating anyways, we moved to the right to be seated. We had the unagi roll, an order of tayoyaki, seaweed salad, and the tonkatsu ramen everyone is always raving about. Unagi roll - decent portion for the price, had a bit more rice than I normally prefer. Seaweed salad - delicious with cucumber, actual flat kelp, and a wonderful dressing. Tayoyaki - this is a common street food in Japan; essentially doughy balls filled with octopus. I really enjoyed the flavored, however my dining mate thought the doughy texture was a little odd (then again she doesn't like doughy-textured anything, so maybe there's a bias there). Tonkatsu ramen - wonderful, DELICIOUS broth. Creamy and rich and super flavorful. The ramen noodles themselves were thick and chewy and just the right texture. Came with a small amount of toppings (half an egg, a little bit of pork, some veggies), but it really was all about the broth and the noodles (which it rightly should be in a good bowl of ramen). Overall - I will definitely be back to Izakaya Sankyu for more ramen and to try some of their other goodies.

    (4)

  • Grace S.

    I'm a big fan! When you walk in, you see a section on the right with what looks like traditional Japanese style seating, which is kind of a fun experience; you take your shoes off and sit on pillows. There are regular tables and chairs though if you prefer to have more of a normal dining experience. The food is great. They have an extensive menu and there are also daily specials that they write on a whiteboard and bring to you. I recommend the pork cheeks, beef tongue, and pork belly. I know they all sound gross, but if you can allow yourself to be a little adventurous, I think it'll be worth it! They also have different drink choices. I had a Japanese wine that was pretty good.

    (5)

  • Amily T.

    I LOVE ramen. But only the authentic, traditional ramen. And this is great ramen, as far as in the Chicago area. Lunch combo is such a great deal, I'm glad I don't live next door or I may be there very day and spend all my money on ramen!!

    (5)

  • Rosanna L.

    Fresh. Delicious. Good price! I've been to Sankyu a few times now and really enjoy it. The sushi rolls are fresh and there's plenty of varieties. The spider is a huge roll at a great price! And the dragon is so yummy! I love noodle soup and this place has to have some of the best udon and ramen noodles! It's a must try! It's 9am and I want some sushi and ramen!

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    I gave this restaurant a 2 out of 5 stars. The food is amazing. I've always wanted to find a more authentic Japanese restaurant and this one is it. However, the service has gotten terrible over the years. Many times they have forgotten my order or they don't even bother to study their own menu to see what it includes. I swear there is one Japanese waitress and she is so clueless. My order includes shrimp and vegetable tempura and she told me it did not...but the menu says it...then when I tell her and show her the menu...she tells me oh I thought you meant something else...and my like wtf...lol!!! I showed you twice!!! There needs to be better management or a better way to organize the orders coming in and I feel it is kind of bad especially for a Japanese run restaurant. I hope they read these.

    (2)

  • Maeghan S.

    This place is the real deal if you want to try food other than sushi that people in Japan eat. So so so so good, they could use about 3 more waiteresses but other than that really good food.

    (5)

  • Gregory B.

    These are the flavors I remember from a week long stay at a Japanese-owned resort in Hawaii. I'd give it five stars if you are Japanese and want an traditional restaurant with the true flavors of Japan. Three stars if you are gaijin like me and prefer the sharper, less earthy flavors of Americanized Japanese food. The ramen noodles are even better than Santouka's, though I like the broth better there.

    (4)

  • Sherwin C.

    Good food at good prices and relatively quick service. The bento boxes and noodles were quite good but I wasn't a huge fan of the sushi.

    (4)

  • Yvonne B.

    We were greeted immediately by two separate servers in Japanese. I'm not sure what they said, but it was friendly and warm. We were given the option to sit at a table or seated on pillows on the floor. There were three televisions mounted high on the walls - two showed Japanese shows and the third was in English. The menus were written first in Japanese and second in English. The server brought out a large white board with 20-30 specials written on it. I wanted to try sooo many things! I got the ramen because Yelpers said it was the best. I got it and was not really a fan. Maybe it's the best, but yeah. I just think that ramen isn't for me. I also got spring rolls and some fried meat balls. The spring rolls were yummy but the meatballs were just okay. And I drank a whole bottle of saki by myself which usually makes everything even better. SO, I don't think those things suited my palette. I think that I should have had the sushi rolls instead. I know that I like sushi. I chose to be adventurous which turned out to hurt this review. I think that M liked her food okay, but her taste-buds were compromised (she was sick and things tasted differently to her). Given that our experience really wasn't that awesome, we made the mutual decision that we wouldn't make the trek to Sankyu for another try.

    (2)

  • Christine D.

    Very good authentic Izakaya small plates. I love the crab porridge and the chawanmushi. The tataki is also very good.

    (5)

  • Jenny O.

    I debated between giving this place 3 and giving it 4 stars. But, I decided to give 4 because the food was really solid here with reasonable prices. I considered 3 because of the service. My friend and I didn't get our menus until about 10 minutes after we got seated. Normally, customers get their menus as soon they get seated, right...? Also, ordering food took awhile, too. The waitresses were nice, though. Back to the food.. my friend and I ordered the: *Tonkatsu ramen- very good; better than nearby Japanese restaurants, such as Santouka (in Mitsuwa) and Sushi Cafe (in Tensuke). I'm not sure if the noodles were hand-made, but it tasted like it. Also, the broth was flavorful and not overwhelmingly salty like Misoya's ramen. *Ton-toro (grilled pork cheeks)- very good; it was perfectly chewy and had good flavor. I was a huge fan of pork belly until I tried pork cheek. *Okonomiyaki- good; the flavors were on point and stuffed with plenty of ingredients. I did think it could be on the crispier side, but I suppose this is a personal preference. *Saikoro steak (steak with teriyaki sauce)- ok; the meat could be more tender and the sauce tasted just the way it was supposed to. PS- There are two different types of seating: table/chairs and traditional Japanese, which involves you taking your shoes off and sitting on the floor. My friend and I did the latter because we have done this before, and Koreans dine like this too at very traditional restaurants. But, I warn you- it's not the most comfortable. Also, the tables in this section are placed closely next to each other. So... it's probably better to go with sitting on chairs ;)

    (4)

  • Jen W.

    I'm stuck. This place has good food but the service is SOOO slow. They forgot a few items and when you would try to flag someone down, they walk away. If the service was up to par with their food then I would've given this place a solid 4 stars. If you're an "adventurous" eater, the chicken gizzard appetizer was delicious.

    (3)

  • Matt S.

    Food here is legit. Come here for non Americanized, real deal Japanese cuisine. There is even floor seating if you want the full dining experience. If you aren't familiar with Japanese food, don't let the extensive menu scare you. There are lots of great items to choose from so ask questions if you aren't sure about anything. Sankyu has various entree and sushi platter selections, but a big draw for me are all of the small plate items. If you didn't want to commit to a single dish, you can get a few smaller choices instead. Such choices include typical appetizers like gyoza and fried tofu to meat skewers and chazuke. Entrees are stellar as well. Some of my favorites include tekka don and tonkatsu. Each comes with some sort of side like miso soup and pickled veggies. Sushi rolls are all good. Various beer and sake is also available. Different sake sizes can either serve one person or a group of people. There is truly so much to enjoy at Sankyu and I've never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kika W.

    Went here on a late Sunday afternoon with couple of friends. My friend made a reservation and (unintentionally) seated us on the floor (japanese style) We figured, why not?? It's not the most comfortable but it's fun :) Service: it was kindda slow at the beginning and then we realized they have a bell right on the wall next to us to get their attention HA! From there everything went smooth. A Japanese lady was serving us and give us insights on what we're having. A plus! Food: We order bunch of food ranging from their ramen-sushi-tapas like-apps. I'd skip their sushi, it's mediocre IMO. Prolly just a bad nite but we had the spider roll and it didn't impress us. Ramen was also same, it was miso ramen we had. Couple things stood up that night; Okonomi Yaki (my ol' time fave) & Ton Toro! Yup, don't miss these two. I won't elaborate this, consider this an adventure for those who don't know :) Didn't get to try their drinks and desserts, prolly next time. Hope this helps!

    (3)

  • Brandon K.

    Straight to the point, Japanese tourist books (in Japanese for Japanese people visiting Chicago) indicate this is the place in Chicago to get the best Japanese food. The decor is retro 70's, almost to the point it's funny but you ain't going to get any more authentic (good authentic that is).

    (5)

  • Nantida K.

    This restaurant was a random find for my boyfriend and I. The plaza that it sits in is very unassuming, and even the outside of the restaurant makes you wonder if they are open. When you enter, the front of the restaurant is decorated like the storefront of a Japanese eatery, which was very fun. The staff enthusiastically greeted us upon entering and promptly seated us. I wanted to sit at a Japanese style tea table (you have to remove your shoes to sit on the wooden platform, indian style on some cushions) which I absolutely loved. My boyfriend however is not as flexbile as me, so he became uncomfortable after some time. So if you are not able to sit comfortably for a while in this way, I would suggest sitting at a regular table. We ordered drinks and for appetizers got gyoza and the soft shell crab tempura. The gyoza was pretty standard, but the soft shell crab tempura was very tasty! For dinner we ordered the tonkatsu ramen as well as a dragon roll. The dragon roll again was standard. The tonkatsu ramen was delicious especially after adding my own flavorings (I like adding spicy sesame oil, pepper, and the red pepper flake mix available on the table.); my boyfriend likes to keep it plain. It was not the best ramen I've had because I do like when there is more oil and veggies in the soup, but it definitely hit the spot for me because I was craving ramen all day. For dessert we got the red bean with green tea ice cream and agar jelly cubes. It was a perfect sharing size, and very good if you have a little bit of everything on one spoonful. Throughout our experience, the service was amazing. It was never hard to find a server, and the manager or owner himself was always checking on us (probably because our server was new). They always made sure our table was clear when we finished a dish, and checked up on our waters and if we wanted to order anything else. This place was definitely a diamond in the rough, and I will definitely be returning.

    (5)

  • Juan A.

    I love this place .. it is what wasabi would look like in japan 10 years ago. lol Seriously good food, very authentic . at its best the tonkatsu ramen is on par with wasabi's. if you are in the northwest burbs or love japanese food & ramen this is a must. So good that many of the local japanese business men come here religiously. Over a gem in the land of japanese cuisine. really we should nominate this region (mt prospect ) japan town !! so many great authentic restaurants around. Even so this place still stands out !!

    (5)

  • Natta S.

    1. Initial greet - fail. We waited a solid 10 mins to b greeted & seated. 2. Average time for the wait staff to come take our order. 3. After ordering, our food came promptly. 4. We ordered tonkotsu ramen spider roll rock&roll roll & spicy tuna roll. The rolls were mediocre at best. With that being said I will not take points off for this because they are Americanized Japanese food. The ramen on the other hand I enjoyed very much. Dare I say better than the one at Mitsuwa. It wasn't too salty like the other. Broth was mellower noodles were the perfect chew the pork sluices we delicious. 4. Asked for more tea & never got it. Overall I agree with other yelpers, very authentic Japanese restaurant. Def will come back again and try other dishes on the menu.

    (3)

  • Dan B.

    This just might be the best Japanese food in the Chicago area. Forget all the fusion dumps, all the lounges, and whatever other trance-music blasting sushi joints you might have encountered in the city. This is tasty Japanese food without all the unnecessary pretense. They offer a nice selection of a variety of dishes ranging from ramen, udon, sushi to bento boxes. You can even request off-the-menu dishes such as onigiri/yaki onigiri which for me is a must-have add-on to any entree. And Sankyu has to be one of the few places where you can find a decent okonomiyaki, as well as other izakaya-like dishes such as takoyaki. Definitely a hidden treasure in Mount Prospect. I feel sorry for all the saps that head over to Sushi Station instead of this place, but glad that they don't know about it to be honest!

    (5)

  • Yu H.

    I stopped by this place today for lunch. Its kind of hard to find because the sign on the street says Sankyu Sushi instead of its real name. Knowing a little bit about Japanese food culture, this place is suppose to be an izakaya which is basically the Japanese equivalent of a tgi fridays: a casual place where people get together after work for a few drinks and some snacks. This specific place is pretty popular for tonkotsu ramen (noodles in a deep rich pork broth and toppings) so thats exactly what I got: Tonkotsu Ramen: It actually lives up to the hype! The best broth I've ever tasted in a bowl of Ramen. Deep, rich, simmered to the point where the calcium and marrow has leeched out of the bones into the soup making it almost milky. Absolutely wonderful. Compared to Santouka Ramen which makes the same dish, the noodles were a little chewier and thicker but Santouka's Toppings are better and more appealing to the eyes. This place tops its noodles with bamboo shoots, about 3 small slices of pork belly, some bean sprouts, pickled ginger, and half a hard boiled egg. (7.25) I would say if you love your Japanese ramen topped delicious high quality goodies and pork go to Santouka at the Mitsuwa Market, but if you believe that noodle quality and depth of flavor in the soup makes a good ramen then this is your place. The meal also came with a crappy looking shredded lettuce salad which I kind of ignored and ended with 3 tiny fruit jello shots which was nice. If you want something close to an authentic Japanese experience, check this place out! Just keep in mind it has weird hours (Closed on Wednesdays?) Try the Ramen!

    (4)

  • Kathy G.

    Probably the best ramen ever!! I usually have their Tonkotsu Ramen. Fresh ingredients, very filling and total comfort food. The sushi and rolls are amazing. The staff is extremely knowledgable and they get to know you by name. Great place and great food!!!

    (5)

  • Julie Y.

    My boyfriend and I dropped by here after a day out in the Northwest suburbs. I was craving ramen but wanted a nicer sit down place than Santouka or Misoya. We arrived at exactly 5:00 when they opened and were ushered into an empty restaurant. Here's what we ordered: 1. Buta kakuni: I am an unabashed fan of anything pork belly and the buta kakuni was delicate and fell apart beneath your chopsticks. The soy marinade was spot on and not overwhelmingly sweet. A winner! 2. Beef kalbi: The soy marinade was very similar to the one used in the buta kakuni, but for some reason I felt that there must have been some alcohol/sake mixed in that wasn't fully cooked off. It was tasty nontheless - but the fact that we got 4 small pieces of kalbi for $8 and the lingering alcohol taste made us slightly miffed. 3. Yakitori: The chicken was tender and juicy, and the char was a great touch. 4. Vegetable Tempura: The vegetables were fresh and the tempura light and crispy. We were both impressed by how light the batter was, which made it seem like we were actually eating vegetables. 5. Tonkotsu Ramen: The broth did not have very much depth or body to it. Nevertheless, the pork belly was great (not too fatty) and the noodles thick and springy! Overall, we were pleased with our experience. While none of the dishes were the best things that we had ever tasted, they were still strong dishes in themselves. That said, the only thing that was lacking in our experience was with the service. I was happy to see that they were fully packed on a Saturday night, but with only 3 servers it was definitely a scramble and there were points where we were forgotten. Even so, we will definitely be back for more when we are out in the burbs!

    (4)

  • Gonzo G.

    Rating: 4.8/5 Short description: Japanese pub food for dinner, normal Japanese food for lunch Similar to: Pub restaurants in Japan, very authentic Pluses: pork cheeks, authentic feel, lots of options Negatives: variable menu, lunch does not have all the pub food Recommendations: pork cheeks, katsu curry is pretty good, don't get fixated by one item because they may not have it that day

    (5)

  • Hans H.

    Came back after dining here many times since January 2012. Still excellent, reliably and consistently good service and food. Ramen remains the best in Chicago, at least until I try Wasabi (though I hear the broth there is quite greasy which will likely turn me off, but we'll see).

    (5)

  • Stuart G.

    We came over from an O'Hare hotel and had a fantastic time. Service was friendly, and all items were excellent. We tried the crab croquettes, bulgi beef appetizers, some nigiri sushi and a fancy roll. Everything was fresh, nicely presented, delicious. It's 'real' and a delightful change from the downtown fancy shmancy with mediocre food.

    (5)

  • Kyle P.

    We went here to eat after reading some reviews on Yelp. The place has a Japanese mom and pop feel to it. You take off your shoes before sitting on traditional tatami flooring. We ordered a couple of appettizers of chicken katsu (? chicken on a stick). I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki and the portion was about average for a Japanese place. It was less flavorful than what I was use to but at least they were quick to refill rice. You have to have rice.

    (3)

  • Martin M.

    As of 08NOV2014, a Saturday night 730pm: The food is still pretty damm tasty and reasonably priced. (please read all the previous accolades) The SERVICE was flooded by the packed place and overwhelmed and the place was totally understaffed for a weekend night. I counted two (2) waitresses and two (2) bus people. Only, one shy mousy waitress spoke Japanese and the Entire counter/kitchen chef crew of two (2) ONLY Spoke Japanese, the rest of the help only spoke Spanish. There was a HUGE communication gap and we waited for 2 hours for our food after 3 reminders to the waitress who in turn went to tell the chefs/cooks. We were a party of three sitting on the sushi bar and watched and overheard every fight and miscommunication during our 2 hour wait. Our waitress who spoke a few words had quite a few rows with the chefs, but it did nothing to get out food out any faster. I finally took my food home ala doggie bag when the main course finally came cause we just couldn't eat after waiting so long after a two hour long soup and appetizer course, we just lost our appetite to have the main course. We lodged a complaint IN JAPANESE to the chef, but not so much as an acknowledgment. much less any care for any apology for a meal and night out ruined. in short price- reasonable taste- exceptional service- somewhat below average (wait help) service, care and concern for your pleasant time Negative ZERO (chef/owner) so if you are into an eccentric zealot chef who s-l-o-w-l-y presents you food at his convenience, but tastes pretty decent for the price, this is the place for you. If you want just regular service and good japanese food and want to actually eat when you are hungry, go elsewhere. If you have all the time in the world and have a lot to talk about (or a fully charged smartphone or a long book to read, then bring a snack and come here to wait on your food, which at the end of the day, still does taste decent. It is also VERY HIGHLY recommended that you speak japanese or they will probably get the order wrong. We watched 3 orders go horribly wrong or not placed at all which created people walking out or making complaints.

    (2)

  • Laura A.

    My husband and I love this place! This is our go to place when we're craving genuine Japanese food. We come here at least once a week or every other week. We always have their tempura udon because their noodles and broth are unlike any other we've had in other restaurants. They have a very friendly wait staff and their fish is always fresh all year long. They have the traditional tables where you can sit down at a shallow table or you can sit in the standard tables. We will continue coming here as long as we are in the Chicagoland area!

    (5)

  • Mel M.

    Sushi is a little pricey. But very good! They have a variety of things. Ordered take out. Small place lots of tables not that much room to move around.

    (3)

  • Chet M.

    Has a nice down home feel here and prices are right. But to be honest, food doesn't blow you away and ramen looks great but is a little bland.

    (3)

  • Eduardo E.

    When we first walked into Sankyu, we were a little alarmed. I guess we've gotten so used to Japanese restaurants that serve a mostly non-Japanese clientele, that walking into Sankyu was frankly a bit of a culture shock. But it turns out, a really really good culture shock, which we enjoyed tremendously. When you first walk in, you'll notice right away the casual nature of the place, and that everything is primarily written in Japanese (with English as the second language). We thought that was very cool. Along with regular tables, there are also booths where you can kick off your shoes and sit on little pillows, in the traditional style. Also very cool, and will try that next time. While the service was prompt and fast, it was also casual. There wasn't any of the false obsequious stuff you sometimes get from servers. These gals were friendly but busy, moving about the tables in a cooperative fashion. We had three different people serving us throughout the meal. It was neat and efficient. Our Japan-immersion experience was also heightened by being seated next to a large and loud table of Japanese men (only speaking Japanese), who had apparently gathered for some sort of happy reunion. We thought it was a lot of fun to be in the middle of all that laughing and shouting. Anyone who says that Japanese people are restrained, hasn't seen them comfortable and in their own element. The food was good, filling and surprisingly inexpensive, compared to most restaurants, and especially other Japanese sushi places. I was frankly shocked when we received the bill, and it was sub-$40 for 3 people. The ramen was outstanding and flavorful, as was the crisp tempura and chicken katsu. No refills on soda, but a full range of cool Japanese beers and drinks. They also gave us a complementary fried fish cakes appetizer, mung bean salads and a miso soup to match another we'd ordered. Very welcoming! This really isn't a sushi place. Their maki rolls were fine, but not great. It felt more like the Japanese version of a neighborhood tavern. Casual, but with tasty basic vittles catering to Japanese tastes. And that's the beauty of this place. It's an authentic Japanese tavern, that isn't trying hard to be hip or something it's not. And last time I checked that, in itself, is pretty hip.

    (4)

  • Becca F.

    Somewhat against my wishes, I find myself traveling to the suburbs of Chicago quite often. I've humored sushi places with rolls featuring names like "crunchy muffy," Thai restaurants whose delivery services embody late-night work oppression, and chain pizza places with menu items that only provide a glimpse of what Chicago has to offer. Unsuspecting, I got lucky. Strangely enough, it was all because of Yelp. Four stars really means something in Austin, my hometown. But in Chicago's suburbs, its clout is slightly diluted. Tonight, the four-star rating redeemed itself with my visit to Izakaya Sankyu. My colleague and I boarded a cab from Rosemont and discovered a magical wonderland of fresh, authentic Japanese dishes that turned our day from :\ to :D. Extra props to the adorbz Japanese grandma type who waited upon us and procured a fantastic sake suggestion. I will be visiting this place again in the future. Thanks for interrupting the perpetuation of mediocrity. Or should I say, "sankyu."

    (4)

  • jay t.

    Authentic Japanese food in Mount Prospect! It's food I would imagine grandma cooking, if I were Japanese..

    (5)

  • Tina W.

    If you have ANY food issues, don't go here! I gave 3 stars because the sashimi was ok. Not awesome. Just ok. My husband liked his food. The tempura was also just ok but the garlic sprout app was highly recommended. Here's my issue with them accommodating food sensitivities: 1. NO substitutions are allowed. None. I was told the offending substance would be removed from the plate and the sushi chef was the one to blame for it. "They just don't do that here." Um, so I can't eat sashimi mackerel because it's pickled, and you can't even just sub another fish on there? Seriously? Nope. The chef doesn't allow it. You pay full price. So sorry. 2. I asked for plain fish. Nothing on it. No sesame seeds, no rice vinegar, nothing. Lemon aaaaaall over it. I'm sensitive to lemon but I decided that THIS would be the night I'd see how my system would do with lemon. ($21 for the sashimi dinner. I wasn't going to try and send it back, based on the reactions I was receiving, or waste the money.) Btw, I survived the lemon experiment. 3. The very first girl we talked to (2 out of 3 spoke excellent English), said she thought I could sub steamed rice for sushi rice in the rolls, but she wasn't entirely sure. I didn't pursue that because I wanted to see how fresh their fish was. This same girl came back at the end of the meal and asked how the meal was. I kept saying it was "ok." She asked what was wrong and I explained #1 above. "I can't eat here again." Her answer? "Oh, that's just her! That's not right." And, a comment possibly about the negative waitress being a manager? I have no idea what that was about but, hello (!), everyone at least be on the same page! She was disappointed. Weeeeeell, I hate to throw common sense into the equation..... My final note is about atmosphere. We sat very close to some sort of machine that looked like it might be a behemoth air filtering machine. Huge tube from the ceiling, 3' tall unit with 2 large tubes coming out of the top, one of which was aimed in our direction. I kept smelling cigarette smoke. I thought maybe the flow of air in the restaurant was dragging the smoker's air toward our table. (It was a stretch, but maybe.) I actually think it was this machine that was pumping the cigarette smoke in. After my issue with the food, cigarette smoke was a definite NO. Wth is with this place? In short, I was looking for a sushi place close to home and this was NOT it. Go to the restaurant in Arlington Heights on Algonquin. Their food is great, the staff is awesome, and in 3 visits, they've worked with me every time. Sankyu is not the place for me. Huge disappointment considering how highly rated they are.

    (3)

  • Jocelynne G.

    Sankyu is so charming and I love their mixed drinks. The calpico sour is delicious and everything we ordered tasted very fresh. Anything deep fried here is tasty, the tonkatsu, tempura, soft shell crab, they even have takoyaki and okonomiyaki! This restaurant is very authentic, the waitresses and the cooks were japanese, so were the other customers. I love the friendly atmosphere of this place. Ironically, the first time I dined here with my boyfriend was after Acen. We wanted some homestyle Japanese food and my friend recommended this place. I'm so glad we came! It was a nice break from the anime mayhem that is Acen ;) The interior decor is adorable, like other reviews have said you actually feel like you're in Japan! The entrance is like... a restaurant inside of a restaurant. You'll get it when you go. I can't wait to come back for more sours and the friendly faces.

    (5)

  • Paige M.

    In my quest for Okonomiyaki, I came across Sankyu. I got the okonomiyaki, of course, and my friends ordered sushi. The okonomikyaki was a little soggier than I would have liked, but it was still good. It has shrimp and I think squid in it, which I've never had in okonomiyaki before. The seafood was fine, but I did miss the pork belly on top. I tried some of the sushi, and it was nothing special. Some of the rolls had wasabi in them, which seems strange. I'm not a huge fan of wasabi, so I probably won't get sushi there again. The waitstaff was very friendly, and we were given little cheesecake squares as a complimentary dessert. I love Japanese food and there's a lot of things on the menu I'd like to try, so I'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Phil S.

    It is with a heavy heart that I submit my first review of Sankyu at only 2 stars. I have been to Sankyu several times in the past and have always enjoyed myself, despite the ridiculous bill that always results. I wanted to have a fresh visit before I submitted my review and was hoping to submit a five star review. Alas, it was not meant to be this time but maybe in the future. Below is my story. We arrived at dinner time on a Sunday evening, hungry for some tapas as well as the ramen that everyone raves about. There were three waitresses but the restaurant was already about half filled and busy. The menu is long so they either purposely gave us a lot of time to look it over or they were just too busy. No problem, I can understand a little wait. We ordered a pitcher of Sapporo to start and also submitted all four of our dinner choices as well. We ordered the tonkatsu ramen, eel tempura, pork cheeks, and a rather expensive yaki soba. The beer came out quickly followed by the pork cheeks and ramen about ten minutes later. We were told our other dishes would be out shortly so we started on the first two items. Being a little hungry, we finished both very quickly and then had to wait for the next round. The eel tempura was delivered about ten minutes later and we quickly devoured that as well in anticipation of our $16 yaki soba. We waited, sipped on some beer, waited some more then about fifteen minutes later were asked if everything was okay. My wife replied that we are still waiting on our yaki soba so our waitress said "oh" and quickly moved toward the kitchen. We assumed that she was checking on our order and would report back to us shortly. 15 minutes later, a different waitress came over and asked if we would like the check. Folks, it was at this point that I should've known something was wrong and just agreed to receive the check. I looked at her and asked what happened to our yaki soba. This waitress also quickly ran towards the kitchen without a single word of apology and must've put in the order for our yaki soba because another twenty minutes later (the restaurant was very busy at this point) we finally received our yaki soba from our original waitress with a quick apology and no explanation. We had been waiting almost an hour for this dish to arrive and had lost our appetite from waiting for so long. I didn't say a word back to her because I didn't want to be that guy that breaks off a piece of their mind on a waitress in front of a bunch of customers. It was obvious at this point that she had forgotten to put our order in not once, but TWICE. Yep, that's right folks. TWICE. We picked at the yaki soba then asked for our check and not only did we not receive another apology at the end of our meal but nobody tried to alleviate the situation by offering us dessert or not charging us for the dish we now didn't have the appetite to finish. Sick with dismay, I tipped accordingly based on our bill not including the yaki soba and walked out. We absolutely loved the food we ate that night. Every last bite of it. It was some of the best noodles I've ever had and I don't think I can ever bear to eat instant ramen noodles again after being spoiled by fresh, real ramen. Even the yaki soba was meaty and tasty. Everything was tasty!!! The service was absolute s@#$. I cannot clearly express my disdain for the absolutely horrible service we received that night and could only calm myself down by telling myself that this was a fluke and it would probably never happen again. The almost $70 bill for 2 people ordering 2 tapas dishes and 2 entrees with a $24 pitcher of beer completed the bitter taste in my mouth to accompany the rotten taste of sub-human service we received. Not even a proper apology. One day, when I have finally rid myself of this awful taste, I will return to once again sample the deliciously expensive treats this restaurant can produce. I can only hope that when I do go back that we do not receive the same horrible service we received. At that time, I will raise (or lower) my rating accordingly.

    (2)

  • Greg D.

    I am easily giving Sankyu 5 Stars as this is as close to being in Japan as you can get in the United States. To begin with Mount Prospect has a high concentration of Japanese residents. All we heard being spoken here was Japanese and the most excellent food is as Japanese as you can get as well. If we were to show our photos to friends or family in Japan and tell them that they were taken in Japan, they would believe it naturally. We tried about 10 different items from the menu and enjoy everything. This is one of the easiest 5 star reviews I've even put on Yelp.

    (5)

  • Anthony K.

    Fresh Fish, generous portions, authentic selection. Wish there was one at home like this.

    (5)

  • Wesley R.

    On the recommendation of a fellow Yelper, I made the trip out to Izakaya Sankyu to try their Tonkotsu Ramen. How'd they do? Ingredients-wise, they hit a number of my favorites: bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, boiled egg, and pork. Appearance-wise: it looked pretty similar to Tonkotsu I've tried elsewhere. Flavor-wise? The taste was fine, but I tend to prefer a slightly denser broth. Not thick like a stew, but with a little bit more volume and weight, where this particular broth came on the lighter side. The noodles were fine, but I was a bit disappointed with the the quality and preparation of the pork. It's certainly a delight when you get well seasoned, or very tender pork. Given it's nature as a quick-serve street food, I'm okay with not having that all the time. It's a different thing when the pork comes in particularly dry. I'm not too fond of that. It's definitely nice to know that there's another solid place to grab ramen from in the area, but it's likely not one I'll be making frequent or special trips for. I also tried their gyoza which was pretty tasty. The restaurant itself had a decent amount of space, and the staff was pretty friendly when I was there. If I get a chance, I would like to sample many of the items on their menu, and I suspect that my rating would be a 4-star rating in that case.

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    I finally found my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Chicago area! I moved to the Chicago burbs from Atlanta back in '08 and haven't been able to find a Japanese restaurant that rivaled my favorite in Atlanta until now. Most restaurants that I have found are primarily about sushi, while Japanese cuisine is an after thought. So much of Japanese cuisine is delicious that it's a unfortunate that it isn't better represented in restaurants. But that's neither here nor there, so I'll move on to the review! Isakaya Sankyu is a great balance of quality food and reasonable prices (with one exception that I'll get to later). My wife and I went for lunch on Saturday. The place was practically empty. With not many people to wait on, we got some great service. They started with some very good complimentary hot green tea. Our cups were never less than half full before they would come back and top them off. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen, which was very good. It was $7 and change, and I was told I could get the ramen set for only $1 more, which included a choice of crunchy gyoza or pork shumai. I went with the gyoza and they were delicious (not the frozen out of the bag variety). I also went with a Rock and Roll maki (hamachi and unagi). For only $5.50, I felt like I was stealing from them. I thought that they might make the roll smaller, since it was so inexpensive. Boy was I wrong! The maki was cut into 8 pieces with a good amount of fish and eel in there. That made up for the $4.50 single piece of unagi nigiri that my wife had ordered. The nigiri are the only part of the menu that seem expensive to me. Everything else is reasonable to cheap in price. That being said, she really enjoyed that piece of eel. It looked very good and was a decent sized piece of eel. She also ordered the katsu don (her favorite) and the shrimp tempura appetizer. I tried a little of both (I often eat off of her plate) and they were both very good. Every aspect of the meal was very good and for a little more than $30 we had quite the feast. With Mitsuwa just a mile away, we now have at our disposal a nice Japanese-themed outing in the suburbs.

    (5)

  • Roberto F.

    Good lunch prices, and I had no problem with the freshness of sushi. The rolls were great to and tampura udon was delicious. You also get complimentary oolong tea which is nice. Friendly staff with a cozy seating area. Overall I was please and I plan to come back here again.

    (3)

  • Leang E.

    It was a late lunch, and after the bloody traffic and lights being out from the storm - this place totally hit the spot. We were seated promptly, and my heart went out to our waitress. I believe she was the only one there holding the fort and was literally running from table to table while taking her shoes off once going towards the Japanese table areas. I was quite impressed. This place is truly authentic. I love the decor of the place, and I could imagine that this would be a spot that I could picture what it would be like in Japan or a Japanese person's home. The specials are written in Japanese, and I appreciated the waitress' explanation of what they were. I actually ordered the Ramen Special which was very good. It came with the fried gyozas and a side of rice. The broth was very flavorful and the noodles were filling. The price was just right. The spicy tuna seemed to be overly spicy for my friend, so I'd say be prepared for that. I like the ambiance here, and definiltey wouldn't mind coming back again.

    (4)

  • Aloysius T.

    Izakaya Sankyu aka Sankyu Sushi Japanese Restaurant I guess they changed the name to appeal to a more mainstream American demographic. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure their sushi is pretty good. But personally I don't like to mix Izakaya (tapas-style) food with sushi. I think there is a time for sushi and a time for tapas. Good rule of thumb: "is it good with beer?" Service: Good service, no complaints. Got lots of good suggestions for dishes Ambiance: I'm a sucker for simple, salarymen ambiance. This was exactly what I was hoping for Food: So I"m a bit of a ramen junkie, and I'm very fortunate to have befriended Jonathan T., the resident Chicagoland ramen guru. He recommended this place and said it's the best in Chicagoland. Well he's right. IT'S THE BEST RAMEN. Granted, this is no Ippudo; this is no Daikokuya, nor is this a Katana-ya. This is ramen in the Midwest. Had the tech bubble never burst, maybe we'd have more Japanese people in or near Chicago. But with their economy the way that it is, I think they couldn't care less about our ramen woes in Chicago. All in all we ordered: Buta kakuni, tontoro, teba, and grilled beef tongue. The buta kakuni (braised pork) was amazing. Fork tender, savory and sweet. We'd come back just for this dish. You should definitely order this. The tontoro was good, but the texture was a little tough; but that's normal for cheek. This dish was not mind blowingly good though. The teba was seasoned Buffalo style, but cooked in a Japanese manner. Very crisp and light, airy breading. But it tasted too familiar, my mistake for ordering it. It wasn't bad by any means; but I drove a ways to get out here so I wasn't in the mood for something American tasting. Value: 4 dishes and 1 large order of warm sake later the damage came out to less than 50 bucks. Me and my lovely dining companion were both really, really full and had some leftovers to take home to our stoner friend. Overall: If you like ramen, next time instead of eating at Mitsuwa's food court; try this place. I don't think you'll regret it. Plus there are so many other great dishes you can try and at a fantastic price. This and Kuruyama are my favorite two Japanese Izakayas in Chicagoland. Thank God, we have at least this y'know.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    This is a very traditional Japanese restaurant. Many of hte sushi restaurants we think of are very modern and "fusion" style. However, the food is quite authentic. It's a quiet, casual restaurant. The sushi is traditional as well without crazy ornaments. The sashimi is very fresh as well. You can find all sorts of food like ramen, teriyaki, yakisoba, and many other tradtional Japanese foods. The food is very comforting. I recommend the tonkotsu ramen. It's a very rich broth but not too salty either. There is a generous helping of noodles and is topped with assorted vegetables and slices of pork. The yakisoba is also delicious with many different vegetables and seasonings. The portion is HUGE for only around $13. If you're looking for a modern sushi restaurant, I wouldn't go here. But if you're looking for declicious traditional Japanese food, this is the best place to go.

    (4)

  • Penny L.

    Good for the locals. Tonkotsu ramen was a disappointment. No where close to Santouka.

    (3)

  • Erik H.

    This is the real deal, a Japanese salaryman post-work watering hole with Sapporo on tap, sweet & soy saucy bar food and signs advertising their karaoke box. It's all housed in a gloriously nostalgic adornment of carpets and wood, and all the while I expected some old woman to start bellowing out old-time enka music. The food itself was wonderful, and the portions were larger than I was expecting. The buta kimchi was a classic dish done well (even if you'll find better kimchi in a good Korean restaurant), the pork in sugary soy sauce was sweet and savory, the cheese tempura was weird but worth a try, the spider roll was enormous and the kake soba warmed my bones on a particularly cold day. If you have Japanese friends craving a taste of home, take them here. It'll remind them of stories their parents told them about izakayas in Showa-era Tokyo.

    (5)

  • Kelly Y.

    I love this place! The appetizers are good, and it really reminds me of a real izakaya in Tokyo. The pork is good, the vegetables are fresh, and I love that they have all the regular Japanese tapas. Okonomiyaki, tako yaki, yaki soba. Also, their ramen tastes authentic. The only thing is that the sashimi was not all that fresh, but I should have known better than to even expect that.

    (4)

  • Keiko S.

    A solid Japanese izakaya and a karaoke lounge for the local Japanese. FOOD: Very decent. The menu is extensive, but they were out of the three items I was hoping to try - buta/pork kakuni, grilled iwashi/sardines and gindara! But I was happy to find some authentic dishes on the today's special menu, like cream crab croquette, maguro/tuna tataki and tofu shira-ae. (Note: it's written on a chalkboard in Japanese.) They have the standard izakaya dishes/appetizers, noodles (udon, soba, chuka-soba, ramen), sushi and rice plates. For the ramen fans, their pork ramen (tonkotsu) is supposed to be a popular dish...and you will hear people loudly SLURP here! Oh, and they have "okonomiyaki" - something I'm sure Mindy W would appreciate. Out of the five items we ordered, we really enjoyed the "pork/buta kimchi." It was spicy, buttery and very tasty. The shira-ae and grilled kama were both decent, and so was the sushi. Not the best, but passable, and I liked the rice. I'm sure with more sake, we would've enjoyed our meal a lot more. AMBIANCE: Very Japanese. You can sit on the floor zashiki-style or at the table. You can watch the NHK broadcast on TV or read free magazines available at the entrance. There's also a big karaoke room (with the "on-demand" internet karaoke system) that can accommodate up to 30 guests. SERVICE: Not the friendliest, but careful and attentive. PRICES: You definitely get a good amount of food for what you pay. SUM: Would love to throw a karaoke party here!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth L.

    I love this restaurant. It is very authentic and has a wide array of choices. I often choose the sushi and wash it down with a giant sapporo. The staff are cordial, and although they don't always speak English, they are helpful. The place isn't campy like other Japanese restaurant chains, but more like a family run business. There are many Japanese people in the area and it is always a good sign that they choose to eat at Sankyu. We eat here often and will continue to come back.

    (5)

  • Nicole V.

    Wow, strip mall Asian dining with lots of options. The food was fairly good, not the best I've had and there were some very strange specials - spaghetti sushi roll??? The waitress recommended the meatballs, she said they were good drinking food...and they were! The maki rolls were pretty standard. What leads me to the four star rating is the vibe of this place. It has some over the top quirky character. First off, they offer floor seating in the main room, a cool way to dine if you are into that. Next, there are white boards all around with the specials listed on them and the waitress will bring them over to your table which I found hilarious. Last but now least...they have a private karaoke room! When we were there a private party was going on and although the glass is tinted, we could still see and hear a little of the party going on. It was fantastic entertainment! If you are looking for a fun and quirky night out, this is a great place to stop

    (4)

  • Hunter L.

    This restaurant has nice decor, staff are friendly. The food is delicious, however, the presentation can be improved. Also, since the waitress all work together, the order might be duplicate or forgotten depend in your luck...it's a restaurant worth visiting if you are near by, but you don't want made a trip for it.

    (3)

  • Tracy M.

    We tried Sankyu because of all the Chi-town Yelpers who recommeded their ramen. I adore a good bowl of ramen, in fact it was all I could do to get out of Mitsuwa without my spicy miso the other day (knowing we had lunch plans at Sankyu). While I probably prefer the spicy miso vs. tonkatsu, the ramen was indeed delicious-just the thing as I was feeling a bit under the weather after the trip from Phoenix. The waitress suggested a 'combo' where you could pick shumai or gyoza and both were good. The sushi also impressed me-the crazy roll was a bit large but the quality of the ingredients really shined.

    (4)

  • Tony K.

    Ive been to every sushi bar in Chicago I think. This place is the BEST! When you talk to your friends and tell them how damn good the RICE was.... youve found a great place. The rice is perfect! No one else makes such fantastic rice. It is very important for sushi and sashimi of course. I wish I knew their secret. Everything here is excellent. I havent been even close to dissapointed in any of their dishes. Best thing is I dont have to drive to the city to get here. Plenty of parking and no fighting traffic. :)

    (5)

  • Vicky C.

    I'm pregnant and craved Japanese ramen for a while. Did yelp research and wanted to give this place a try. I ordered everyone's favorite, tonkatsu ramen combo ( went combo since the waiter suggested it) and ordered a crazy roll from their sushi menu. Ramen was just okay...noodles are thicker than usual Japanese ramen, which was kinda not okay for me. Broth was kinda salty but blend at the same time. No specific flavor but salty. Crazy roll was huge not because of fish, but rice and lettuce (yes!! They put lettuce in a roll!! Maybe to make it look bigger) Everything was acceptable, if raw fish was fresh and okay which was apparently NOT!! I've tried tons of sushi and just know when it's not fresh and they have a strong fishy smell when it's out at room temperature for a while. Waiter knew we were heading out but no one said anything of course cuz we already paid. Not going back regardless of their cute interior design. Its not worth sitting at a cute cozy place with huge chunks of smelly old raw fish and thick blend noodles.

    (2)

  • AA L.

    Probably the best ramen place in the Chicago area! Authentic Japanese. Tonkotsu ramen is a must!

    (5)

  • mxwp d.

    Some of the best ramen I have ever had. Better than the ramen shops I went to in LA's Little Tokyo area. The delicious tonkatsu ramen is what you want to order. Flavorful broth, great ingredients, and the noodles have the correct amount of chewiness. The sushi is pretty good, but this is not a sushi specific restaurant. I did order some of the beef carpacio and it was amazing. Prices are reasonable and I always go here when I am itching to eat real ramen.

    (5)

  • Jean C.

    I have been looking for a Japanese restaurant that serves good ramen since Kitakata closed and this place is a good replacement. I had the day off of work and drove out to the burbs to have lunch with the hubs. He had come here previously with a co-worker and knew I would enjoy the food. We sat down and were greeted by an old Japanese woman. We ordered gyoza, tonkatsu ramen, spicy tuna rolls and chicken katsu. For lunch, this was a ton of food. The gyoza were fried with a crunchy outside but perfect. The tonkatsu ramen was huge! There was pork, bean sprouts, ginger and lots of delicious noodles. That came with rice and a salad. The hubs liked his spicy tuna rolls and the chicken katsu. There was so much food that we left some on our plate/bowl. The service was good though a little slow towards the end of the meal. I am ready to go back and try everything else on the menu. I will be back!

    (4)

  • Yaeko M.

    Once in a while, I like to go there to eat their Tonkotsu ramen. I love the Tonkotsu ramen! The rich tonkotsu soup, the texture of noodle (it's not so soft), and the price ($8). It's a good ramen. Most of the time, here in US, ramen is served in warm soup. The temperature of soup should hot, not warm. and we supposed to eat slurping. That's the way of ramen eating, making noise.

    (4)

  • Drew J.

    If there is a positive for working for a Japanese based company, it starts and ends with company dinners. After that, everything gets lost in translation. Anyways, a small group from our company hit this place up on a Thursday night and they handed my coworker ( blood red sun Japanese) a large menu. From this menu he ordered the entire meal for our group of 7. I was able to sample everything from sashimi to Udon to the standard Izakaya dishes. My coworker even ordered some rolls against his will as they apparently "don't have that crap" in the real Japan. Needless to say we had some awesome food that I never would have thought to try as I am only a sushi amateur. With that in mind, this place prepared all of our food with excellent quality. My only regret was trying the sea urchin not once, but twice. I never want something of that consistency in my mouth ever again. Our bill was up in the $400 range but we honestly had a 6+ course meal with tons of food to take home to la familias. All in all, this place is a small, delicious part of Mount Prospect that I would recommend to anyone without hesitation. The food is pretty good, but if your expecting its awesomeness to erase the memory of what happened at P. Harbor.....well, that just won't happen. p.s. The karaoke is interesting. Even more interesting if you get the staff involved. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Daniel L.

    I lived for 3 years in rural Japan and often go to Tokyo now for work, so my standards for Japanese food are high. I went there last week with a large group while visiting the NW suburbs. It was okay but could do better. 2.5 stars. On the food side, the dishes were meh. The menu seemed to be authentic izakaya food, but the dishes that came out were not always on point. In particular, I found the tsukune to be particularly disappointing (overcooked). I did not try the ramen, although other reviews seem to indicate that might be one of the best things on the menu. The service was also not the best. It seemed like they only had one person taking orders for the whole dining room, which was packed. So, dishes sometimes came a bit slow. I don't know if it fair for this to be a factor, but our waitress clearly did not speak Japanese. In terms of ambience, the main dining room seems a bit tired. On the flip side, this place presented no problems for bringing small kids. All in all, I imagine this is not bad for Chicagoland. But, I was hoping for better.

    (2)

  • Scot E.

    Visited for the first time a couple of weeks ago with a group from work. EXCELLENT sushi!!!! The service was very good and the sushi was great!! This was my first experience with sushi and it was incredible. We also had the sushimi ( I am sorry if I spelled that wrong) so fresh and the taste was incredible. Hope to go back soon with my family!!!

    (5)

  • Ania L.

    Love, love, love this place! It's pretty small, but the service is VERY good and pretty quick. The staff is very attentive. The sushi is delicious and fresh... and the prices are pretty low. Everything is very tasty. Did I mention that I love this place? ;) I will go back many times.

    (5)

  • Tak K.

    I went there with my sister and brother-in-law for lunch. The inside reminded me a lot of a traditional izakaya in Japan, which helped me relax after a busy Sunday in Indianapolis. As we sat on zashiki (higher floor), my brother-in-law had a trouble sitting down due to low table and resultant lack of space for his legs. They also had a small TV playing NHK from the ceiling, which again reminded me a lot of a traditional izakaya in Japan. The waitress that attended us was probably a Chinese or a Korean, but other waitresses kept eyes on us for service. The variety of the lunch menu was decent, and I ordered grilled pork with ginger sauce lunch set. My sister ordered chirashi zushi. The pork was good in flavor, although I usually prefer more ginger in taste. The portion was a little more than I expected, so for that department I was happy. Potato salad was mind and matched the pork. Sliced tomato were a little hard and had little taste though. Tea was alright. On the other hand, my sister complained that she had too much seasoned kanpyo and shiitake mushroom between fishes and rice. Since she could not finish all the rice for her (well, like most she finished her fishes though :P), I finished it off. As she said, the rice was a bit too sweet for my taste as well. My brother-in-law enjoyed his fried potstickers and rolled sushi. In the end, had I eaten chirashi like my sister did, I'd rate this place three-star. But because I ordered something better (and more reasonable), I would like to rate this place a little higher.

    (4)

  • M. D.

    They lied about getting a free side dish when you mention your Yelp thing. We mentioned it twice, once in Japanese, and she still ignored us. As a matter of fact, they overcharged for everything they serve! All of the specials are written in Japanese, and the waitress in the evening doesn't speak enough English to tell you what anything is. I read Japanese, but my guest did not. So my money is greener than his, apparently? Stupid problem to have, that's amazingly easy to fix. I adore Japanese culture, so take note: your Japanese guests know they aren't in Japan, and won't care that you are taking good care of your gaijin guests too. This is supposed to be a sake and beer place, with food to compliment it. The alcohol is so outrageously overpriced, I can't believe it. Go to Torishin instead, they have the same stuff for half the price. The food itself is mediocre at best. The takoyaki is not only a poor quality, purchased brand, but it's frozen. Then microwaved. They actually stuck to one another. Seriously, go to mitsuwa, buy some beer, and get the frozen takoyaki. If you microwave them, they'll still be of better quality than these. They also cost about a buck a ball, and they're about the size of a quarter. Don't get me started on the not-grilled chicken skin. I asked for it crispy, and she told me that it really can't get crispy. I was wondering why, until it came. The microwave in this dive gets a serious workout. It was kind of the anti-yakitori dish. Vile, avoid it. The service was friendly, but there was only one waitress who barely spoke English, and she was apparently at the mercy of the microwave. The food came slowly, but the $8 beers that were advertised to be $6 were pushed pretty hard. Torishin is close, and their best competition. Kurumaya isn't the same kind of restaurant, but it blows Sankyu's lunch away.

    (2)

  • Denise K.

    I lied - I went back. Service was better but food was not.

    (1)

  • Jon J.

    Super-authentic Japanese food and ambiance.... friendly staff, excellent food. Wish that this place was closer to work so we could go for lunch, or closer to home so we could go for dinner. As it is, it's cool enough to warrant a trip out to the burbs every once in a while specifically for it. I suppose heading west of the city is getting 10 miles closer to Japan... while this restaurant makes you feel 1500 miles closer to Japan. It's a great place to have here in the region!

    (5)

  • Christian M.

    Fantastic Sushi rolls! Very fresh fish. I also loved the skewered pork appetizer. Went with my girlfriend and we were both very pleased with the service and quality of food.

    (5)

  • Ken E.

    Initially they thought I wanted the tonkatsu don when I clearly said tonkatsu ramen. They gave me an extra salad and miso soup but only charged me for the ramen. 4 stars alone for the service and friendliness. I think I'll be back to try the sushi. The ramen was good but not a huge fan of Ginger

    (4)

  • mxwp d.

    Some of the best ramen I have ever had. Better than the ramen shops I went to in LA's Little Tokyo area. The delicious tonkatsu ramen is what you want to order. Flavorful broth, great ingredients, and the noodles have the correct amount of chewiness. The sushi is pretty good, but this is not a sushi specific restaurant. I did order some of the beef carpacio and it was amazing. Prices are reasonable and I always go here when I am itching to eat real ramen.

    (5)

  • Lori O.

    As soon as you walk into this place, you know it's the real deal. This is authentic! I've been here many times & my favorite is the combination dinner. You get a little of everything. it comes in 2 bento boxes with a huge assortment from teriyaki chicken & sashimi, to tempura & salads..you name it. All their sushi is excellent too. If you want a real Japanese restaurant experience, you'll find it at Sankyu.

    (5)

  • Jiyoun B.

    Izakaya= small tapas style dishes to accompany drinks, usually alcoholic variety. I'm not a big drinker but boy does this place have good eats. Their "small" dishes change everyday depending on what is available and their main staples are on point as well. If you haven't tried their marinated tempura eel, you are missing out. Their sashimi is also very fresh, I love love their abalone, which comes with marinated abalone "insides". We actually make the trip out to Mount Prospect for this place.

    (5)

  • Naoko M.

    So I don't ever give bad reviews.. But want to just leave a note. This one waitress (she's from japan) was rude to me and my friends for a few times we went (obviously stopped going there). As a Japanese American, I hate to leave bad reviews to the restaurant owned by a Japanese native because it's hard to find one in the Midwest. As others say the similar things, please remember the importance of good customer service is.

    (1)

  • Rosa J.

    Everyone has regrets in his or her life. Wanna know mine? I should have found another place for our dinner this evening instead dining at Izakaya Sankyu. Hubby's GPS kept on taking us to the opposite direction. Well, that was certainly a premonition. As a sensitive Virgo, I should have developed a plan B. Parking is extremely ample in the strip mall lot. Izakaya Sankyu isn't a large place, but it's definitely not cramped or tight like Ramen Misoya or most restaurants in the city. The service began with the young lady's spunky "Irasshaimase" and immediately followed by the hot towels. By the way, Sankyu has a massive selection of alcohol, beer, sake, and cocktails. Hubby and I aren't fond of drinking while enjoying our meal, yet I know many of my fellow Yelpers are alcoholic-beverage connoisseurs. We didn't order a feast and went with the basics: tan zaru udon and tonkotsu ramen. I had to say the tonkotsu ramen was mediocre at best. The broth tasted salty. I felt some of the instant ramen purchased from an Asian market would generate better broth than what I had at Sankyu. All the components and ingredients of tonkotsu ramen were there, but the entire dish turned to be unremarkable. I was genuinely disappointed! Hubby, on the other hand, didn't comment positively on his tan zaru udon, either. Thankfully, the NHK channel was a nice touch. At least I enjoyed their morning news and historical dorama even though my tastebuds suffered. Overall, Izakaya Sankyu seemingly has the potential. With food being lackluster, I will take my business elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Joe L.

    You're not going to find many authentic Japanese izakayas in Chicago except for this place. They have traditional tatami floor dining as well as western tables. The type of food you'll see here is tapa style small plates with plenty of variety. From tonkutsu ramen, sashimi, yakitori (including gizzards!), and shabu (when on special).

    (5)

  • Howard L.

    We indeed came back here for a family dinner. It was a delightful meal with top notch entrees and appetizers. I'll go with 4.5 stars but there was still a significant snafu. Our appetizers (delectable pork cheeks and yakitori chicken skewers) ended up coming out last, and due to tardiness, we actually cancelled one of them (the seafood pancakes). They were quite busy and popular for dinner (I'm not surprised given their quality and reasonable prices) and that probably contributed to the order confusion and our 2 hour dinner here (it was a nice 2 hours though). Their beef teriyaki bento box is very generous and probably the best valued bento box we have ever had for $25. Amongst our dishes on this evening were: - pork cheeks appetizer, $6 - yakitori chocken skewers (2 for $4) - chicken teriyaki bento box, $22 - beef teriyaki bento boxes, $25 each - chirashi, $21 - tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), $17 - lychee ice cream Server was very apologetic of the appetizers snafu and waived the otherwise mandatory group 18% gratuity, as well as offered lychee ice cream for the entire table. We shall return!

    (4)

  • Mary O.

    Perfect place to eat Japanese food! authentic Japanese food, kind waitresses, nice place.

    (5)

  • Vito R.

    The worst service we ever received from a restaurant! We went here Friday 7/24 at 7:00 and waited over two hours for our food, which was delivered to us piece meal. We finally walked out around 9:45. No discount on the bill. They did not try to rectify anything. The table next to us also walked out also. All the Japanese patrons around us were waited on hand and foot. Will never go back here again!

    (1)

  • Connie L.

    The boyfriend and I both got the tonkotsu ramen. The egg was overcooked along with the pork and there were only two itty bitty slices of pork. However, the noodles were good. Too bad I can't say the same about the service. Like the other yelp reviewers mentioned, the waitresses were few and hard to find.

    (3)

  • Sunshine H.

    Terrible terrible service. We waited over an hour for our food. They brought the entrees before the appetizers and then blamed us (falsely) for ordering apps after the entrees. They did not bring any water. We finally walked out after an hour and twenty minutes later. No discount on the bill. They did not try to rectify anything. The table next to us also walked out. Also they give customers hot towels to clean your hands and good service ...but only if you are Japanese. We found a much better Korean bbq place nearby.

    (1)

  • Kate H.

    Wow! What a cool place! Come here for a neat Japanese Izakaya experience! Their menu had a lot of variety of Japanese small plates and entrees. I had the Tonkotsu ramen and my husband had the miso ramen. We split an appetizer of Okonomiyaki. All three dishes were very tasty! The waitstaff were very friendly! Would love to come back here when we are in town again and try more things!! I highly recommend you check this place out!!

    (4)

  • Pack C.

    we went there for the first time friday evening. By the time i walked in and saw a lot of Japanese businessmen/ women hang out, I know that this place must be awesome! I was really impressed with a big selection/ varieties they have on their menu from the typical sushi, sashimi, to ramen, bbq skewers, rice/ udon entrees, shabu shabu, and all the bento boxes. Food have great favors. I wish they perfect their execution a little more. I'm not sure whether this was because the place was a little busy that night. from what we had: whole fish grill: bento box: I LOVE their bento box. The portion is generous and great varieties: sashimi (a lot of pieces), fried croquette (lots of varieties), cold appetizers e.g. fish ball and etc, tempura, and the main fish item. It was $25 coming with rice, soup, and ice cream. It was definitely our favorite tonkotsu ramen: it had good flavor but you can't compare it the specialized ramen shop like misoya. the weird part was the pork and the boiled egg was a little cold. They were almost pre-made and have the broth over once someone ordered it. You can really feel it with the egg skewer: chicken gizzard, tail, skin. we have never had any of this part before. we just want to try things we have never seen. It was not that good actually. Either they have bbq it longer or use the better quality meat.. takoyaki: good flavor but some pieces were a little cold in the middle. so, that was a bummer. again, i will definitely go back there again especially week nights when they are not too busy. i was so impressed with their selection. It reminded me so much of Japan!

    (3)

  • Sarah S.

    I've heard good things about Izakaya Sankyu and was happy when a date asked me to meet him up here for dinner. We sat at the bar, had a lovely time and I must say that we got excellent, fabulous service the entire time we dined there. Our drinks were well attended to and who I imagine is either the manager or owner was a very nice & attentive lady. They are known for having legit ramen though I still don't think it's quite as good as Ramen Misoya or the shop at Mitsuwa. The good thing about this hole in the wall restaurant is they have a wide variety of items with some more unique splendors to taste. It's kind of like getting Japanese tapas because of course you can get a big bowl of ramen or an array of sushi...but it's more fun to try a bunch of the smaller dish items. By recommendation of my Japanese best friend, we had their Okonomoyaki which is a mish mosh of various meats in a pancake format which made sound disgusto, but I promise you it's delicioso. I love that they cut it up in triangle slices pizza-style which made it much easier for us to share & eat. The beef tataki was to die for. Perfectly cooked with yummy sauce covering it. We had various meat skewers that were all good, a tofu dish, a few other items. Honestly it was all tasty and I was deeply enthralled in conversation so it's all blending together in my memory. We drank a bunch of Sapporos with all these yummy food and I was well impressed. It wasn't too badly priced either! Yep, I'll be back Izakaya Sankyu!

    (5)

  • Suzy D.

    This is more like a 3.5. Compared to izakayas in NYC, i'd give this place a 3, but for Chicago, this place is pretty good. We came at 5 on Saturday ,and there were only a few other diners, but by the time we left around 6, the place was pretty packed. Our waitress was sweet, but not very helpful when we asked her for favorites/suggestions. There were a few specials we wanted to try but they were not available so that was disappointing. We ordered the following: pork cheek - tasty, simple and served with a squeeze of lemon chicken gizzard/cartilage/skin/tail skewers- very good. especially liked the tail tuna collar- not sure if this was an off night, but this was almost deep fried. would not order this again takoyaki- not the best takoyaki but okay for chicago okinomoyaki- pretty good but could use more bonito flakes on top braised pork (on appetizer section...I think it was called ben kakuni)- this was delicous! so flavorful and tender. we could eat 3 more bowls of this Sapporo- they have this on draught and it's very good We will be back to try the ramen and have more of that delicious braised pork.

    (4)

  • Tom G.

    A great place to go if you're craving Japanese food! I see items here that I rarely ever see anywhere else (if at all). The best part about this place is it's perfect for meeting up with friends after work to relax over light drinks and food. An izakaya is kind of like Japan's answer to the sports bar (a place to go have drinks and enjoy food intentionally prepared to be enjoyed with drinks) - the menu is extensive and in addition to the standard sushi and bento fare, there are several other sections of appetizers and small plate options to choose from. You could easily come here to satisfy that sushi or ramen craving with their authentic dishes for such fare, but it's just as easy to be a little daring and try all of the authentic Japanese dishes (fried, steamed, battered, in broth, take your pick) that you probably won't find many places outside of Japan.

    (4)

  • Tina L.

    This place is an authentic Japanese restaurant...meaning it's owned by Japanese people and the workers are mostly all Japanese. So there's no complimentary miso soup or salad like at the Korean-owned ones that we usually go to, but at least the food is high quality and legit. Here's what we ordered: A large house hot sake for only $6. I don't know what it is, but hot sake with sushi is like "peas and carrots", Forest and Jenny, needle and thread. They just go together! Crazy Roll: you are getting what you pay for! This roll is BIG. Some places either put way too much rice, or mayo, or something that makes you full faster. I don't like those "filler" places...this roll had huge chunks of tuna, salmon, and I forgot what other fish was in there. I loved the way the crab meat was flavored. And then the creamy avocado pieces were the best complementary touch. Ton Toro: Wow, this was melt in your mouth yet with just the right amount of chewiness. I don't normally order pork cheek, but it just sounded good to me for some reason. I'm SO Glad we ordered it, because it was SO delicious! Smokey, salty, savory...Triple S! Spicy tuna roll: it's your basic spicy tuna roll, but you can tell that it's made with love. Just the right amount of sauce, and just the right amount of cucumber in each section.

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    As reviews have indicated, the Tonkatsu is incredibly creamy. And no there's no dairy cream, to get to that level takes many hours of skimming and boiling pork bones which I do not intend to do at home. (I recommend checking out the youtube video: Japanology, The Most Delicious Ramen Noodles (2011) to really appreciate ramen). Ramen, a simple dish, is not so simple. I can taste the richness of the broth. Noodles have a wonderful chewy texture, very good and similar to High Five in the West Loop. Broth is clean, mild and slightly sweet from the pork. The only thing I have to complain about is the egg is hardboiled, not softboiled, and temp is not as hot as I would like. The red ginger they put is a bit odd, but goes well with the bamboo shoots and pork slice. Other than that, it is a good traditional bowl and ranks in my top 3 ramen joints in the Chicagoland area. Since the broths are so different, it's hard to say, but the ramen noodles alone, #1. My server was very nice. She brought the whiteboard of specials so I can see what else to get. There was a cool selection of items I hope to try next time. Also, along the walls, you get to sit on the floor Japanese style for a more authentic experience.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Gotta trust these Japanese owned restaurants that have been standing for many years. We made reservations for 4: hubby, me and the boys on this Saturday night of Valentine's Day. There were lots of reserved tables already. It reminded me of Renga Tei (my other fav Japanese restaurant) but a bit roomier. There were quite a few flat screen TVs around the restaurant. It almost felt like a bar. Some playing japanese news and others had food network and sports I think all on mute. Food was great. We got 2 orders pork cheeks (bc all 4 of us liked it so much; haven't had this here in Chicago yet so this was a treat! last time we got it was at a Korean bbq place in LA), beef tataki (nice and tender, chicken skewers (skin, gizzards, and cartilage. I liked the skin the best), beef tongue (hubby really enjoyed this, it was tender and flavorful), takoyaki (are these always this big? very good though. Kids tried it for first time and my 2 year old liked it a lot.), spicy tuna roll (a bit fishy but I liked that it had lots of rice and lots of tuna bc usually spicy tuna roll is teeny) and we finished off with a bowl of tonkotsu ramen and a bowl of miso ramen. I think that was just the right amount of food for us whilst not getting overstuffed. Hubby liked the tonkotsu broth better. It was the first time ever I've seen him slurp down all the soup that was left. He said the tonkotsu ramen was the best he's had. I personally liked the miso broth better and that is 100% the case for all Japanese ramen I have tried. At this restaurant I did like the miso better but it was quite salty! This also had a bit of a kick so it was really spicy miso ramen. The noodles were perfectly chewy and soft at the same time. I loved the bamboo on top but was not a huge fan of the bean sprout topping (more a personal dislike) nor the slice of pork. It wasn't fatty enough ha! But overall I slurped it all up sans the broth mainly due to the saltiness. We will come back to try the other stuff and more ramen though!

    (4)

  • Lori O.

    As soon as you walk into this place, you know it's the real deal. This is authentic! I've been here many times & my favorite is the combination dinner. You get a little of everything. it comes in 2 bento boxes with a huge assortment from teriyaki chicken & sashimi, to tempura & salads..you name it. All their sushi is excellent too. If you want a real Japanese restaurant experience, you'll find it at Sankyu.

    (5)

  • Ben W.

    Nice cute place, very unique Japanese sitting area, authentic Japanese atmosphere. Food tastes very good. Sushi, Tenpura, Udon... It also has KaraOK rooms (sound proof), I believe 2. This is definitely one of a kind in NW Chicago. Great for friend gathering. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • P P.

    Great Karaoke but the room needs some ventilation. You don't realize it until you come back from the bathroom and you wonder, "We must be having a blast not to notice how bloody hot and sticky it is in here." It's an authentic Japanese Izakaya. Food is great, service is fine, and they are always getting better. kaizen

    (4)

  • Kimberly C.

    We've continued to visit Sankyu on a regular basis since my first review & each time have really enjoyed it. My husband, since he reads & speaks Japanese has been able to order far more off of the specials menu than I could (or would probably care to). The last time went, 3 people were ordering beer, so I suggested a pitcher ($18 for 3 glasses of beer or $24 for a pitcher). Unfortunately, the pitcher only served 3 glasses...after much discussion with the server, the manager did adjust our bill and we still love it here...but as a tip: order individual glasses and skip the pitcher :)

    (4)

  • George K.

    One of the best ramen I've had in Chicago so far! Definitely recommended. Great pricing too for lunch. Tea, 2 appetizers, and 2 bowels of ramen for about $20. Can't argue with that. As another person mentioned, the noodles were just the right consistency, and the broth was tasty.

    (5)

  • Phill C.

    I used to work at a Japanese company and would frequent this spot for lunch with my co-workers. Hidden in a small plaza, it's easy to miss. I've tried their nigri/maki and they're nothing special. But that's okay since I come here just for the ramen. A big bowl of any of their ramens and I'm a happy guy.

    (4)

  • PJ J.

    The Tonkotsu ramen is AWESOME. But, the place really kinda sucks service wise. There is no hiding behind the language barrier here, these people truly don't give a shit whether you're happy or not. The sushi chef is more than non-engaging, he is just downright anti social. Prepare for the waitress to pretend she doesn't know you exist even when she's literally staring right at you. The food is great, but if I want to have a meal and get totally shit on I will just stay home. Eat here a few times, because the grub is pretty tasty. Watch out for the elitist, sour, totally assy ass people who own and operate this joint...See for yourself if the taste is worth the disregard.

    (2)

  • Davie P.

    Awesome Japanese food the tonkatsu ramen is probably my favorite here along with all their specials I would have given it 5 stars but I noticed when they get busy they are understaffed and the service gets slow and sloppy but for the food definitely worth it.

    (4)

  • Max M.

    I wish this place were closer to me. Sankyu is an izakaya that specializes in small plates designed to complement the Japanese love affair with drinking sake and beer. Sankyu brings me back to my days in LA. It's located in a strip mall. It serves respectable sushi. I came with a co-worker on a week night after work. We ordered: Grilled Chicken Wings with lemon Deep Fried Buffalo Style Wings Hamachi Tuna Salmon Halibut Spicy Tuna All the fish was very fresh and the rice to fish ratio in every nigiri piece was perfect. Wings with sushi??? Don't hate. The wings should be illegal. They taste so yummy they should be classified as a controlled substance. If this spot was near me, then I would have their number on speed dial or demand an i-Phone take-out app. Very good. Will be back.

    (4)

  • Greg D.

    AUTHENTIC!! My favorite part upon walking into this place, that made me confident it was a good choice, was actually the lack of english speaking patrons- or gaijin; the clientele were all Japanese and the tv's were running Japanese television, The food was fantastic, and the server was, I believe the owner or owners mother. She treated me like I was one of her grandkids. I loved it. If you're not sure what to order she will go through the menu with you. the sashimi was delicious and FRESH! the dragon roll was awesome. Coming back for sure!!

    (4)

  • Sean Y.

    The miso was incredible but unfortunately the rest of the food was just okay and too rich. The Tonkatsu was very heavy and eggy. The chicken rice bowl had too many tendons! Prices were very reasonable for a Japanese restaurant.

    (2)

  • mei s.

    this is a place that again reaffirms my love of yelp and yelpers. i was really in the mood for ramen. surprise, surprise. saw this place and read the reviews and everyone was right. it does remind me of LA. and they do have authentic japanese food. the sushi was adequate, nothing stellar or unique. i would not come back just for sushi. their other selections are what will bring us back. we ordered the Tonkotsu ramen--OMG, awesome. so tasty and the pork in it was grilled to perfection. nice touch with the hard boiled egg. haven't had that in ages!! my husband ordered the Zo-Sui rice porridge with crabmeat veggies and egg. That was cool and unusual. you don't see that around much. That also was very tasty. For appetizers, we ordered the Mochi bacon (fine, next time, i'll have to try the croquettes), Tako yaki batter balls with octopus and veggie (famous japanese street food? who could resist?), Cheese tempura (so so. kind of like a crab rangoon but wrapped in strong flavored nori/seaweed instead of wonton wrapper) and one of the specials, pork cheeks. before you go eeek! the pork cheeks were not membraneous or vivisected to resemble as much. they were very tasty and went well with the ramen. we also ordered some assorted sushi rolls -- Dragon, rainbow, spicy spaghetti, Mexican, and spicy tuna. it was just three of us. the fact that they don't speak much english adds to the charm of the place. but we did understand that we had over ordered the sushi when she came back and asked us if we were ok that each roll had eight pieces. yes, yes, we are ok with that. wait. 8 x 5, that's 40 pieces!!! and we were just two adults and one small child. argh!! we never ever know how much sushi to order. luckily, my husband chased her down and reduced the order by two rolls. it would have been even smarter, had we said three rolls. but all tolled, we ate for $68 all the food that we ordered. and we were so stuffed. damn, it was good. while we were gorging, my husband thanked me for finding this place. and in my head, i was thanking my fellow yelpers. this is definitely going to be one of our favorite spots to go to. can't wait to try the other stuff. yum!!!

    (5)

  • Candice G.

    I'm VERY confused by all these good reviews. I went based on yelp reviews and left scratching my head. I ordered the ramen, it was a pork dish and it tasted like a dead fish/3 week old sweaty foot in a black sock. Totally gross. I took a bite with high hopes and the expression on my face was prolly priceless. Not good and I would question the survival rate of anyone who ate that whole bowl. I didn't eat it, she asked me why I didn't eat it and I explained as nicely as I could. She didn't comp the 7 dollar soup I couldn't choke down. My husband ordered a couple rolls and I've never seen so much rice surrounding a small amount of fish. Way to get fat fast. Very disappointed and will not be back because I do value my life, yikes.

    (1)

  • Brandon K.

    Straight to the point, Japanese tourist books (in Japanese for Japanese people visiting Chicago) indicate this is the place in Chicago to get the best Japanese food. The decor is retro 70's, almost to the point it's funny but you ain't going to get any more authentic (good authentic that is).

    (5)

  • Elizabeth L.

    I love this restaurant. It is very authentic and has a wide array of choices. I often choose the sushi and wash it down with a giant sapporo. The staff are cordial, and although they don't always speak English, they are helpful. The place isn't campy like other Japanese restaurant chains, but more like a family run business. There are many Japanese people in the area and it is always a good sign that they choose to eat at Sankyu. We eat here often and will continue to come back.

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    I finally found my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Chicago area! I moved to the Chicago burbs from Atlanta back in '08 and haven't been able to find a Japanese restaurant that rivaled my favorite in Atlanta until now. Most restaurants that I have found are primarily about sushi, while Japanese cuisine is an after thought. So much of Japanese cuisine is delicious that it's a unfortunate that it isn't better represented in restaurants. But that's neither here nor there, so I'll move on to the review! Isakaya Sankyu is a great balance of quality food and reasonable prices (with one exception that I'll get to later). My wife and I went for lunch on Saturday. The place was practically empty. With not many people to wait on, we got some great service. They started with some very good complimentary hot green tea. Our cups were never less than half full before they would come back and top them off. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen, which was very good. It was $7 and change, and I was told I could get the ramen set for only $1 more, which included a choice of crunchy gyoza or pork shumai. I went with the gyoza and they were delicious (not the frozen out of the bag variety). I also went with a Rock and Roll maki (hamachi and unagi). For only $5.50, I felt like I was stealing from them. I thought that they might make the roll smaller, since it was so inexpensive. Boy was I wrong! The maki was cut into 8 pieces with a good amount of fish and eel in there. That made up for the $4.50 single piece of unagi nigiri that my wife had ordered. The nigiri are the only part of the menu that seem expensive to me. Everything else is reasonable to cheap in price. That being said, she really enjoyed that piece of eel. It looked very good and was a decent sized piece of eel. She also ordered the katsu don (her favorite) and the shrimp tempura appetizer. I tried a little of both (I often eat off of her plate) and they were both very good. Every aspect of the meal was very good and for a little more than $30 we had quite the feast. With Mitsuwa just a mile away, we now have at our disposal a nice Japanese-themed outing in the suburbs.

    (5)

  • Aloysius T.

    Izakaya Sankyu aka Sankyu Sushi Japanese Restaurant I guess they changed the name to appeal to a more mainstream American demographic. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure their sushi is pretty good. But personally I don't like to mix Izakaya (tapas-style) food with sushi. I think there is a time for sushi and a time for tapas. Good rule of thumb: "is it good with beer?" Service: Good service, no complaints. Got lots of good suggestions for dishes Ambiance: I'm a sucker for simple, salarymen ambiance. This was exactly what I was hoping for Food: So I"m a bit of a ramen junkie, and I'm very fortunate to have befriended Jonathan T., the resident Chicagoland ramen guru. He recommended this place and said it's the best in Chicagoland. Well he's right. IT'S THE BEST RAMEN. Granted, this is no Ippudo; this is no Daikokuya, nor is this a Katana-ya. This is ramen in the Midwest. Had the tech bubble never burst, maybe we'd have more Japanese people in or near Chicago. But with their economy the way that it is, I think they couldn't care less about our ramen woes in Chicago. All in all we ordered: Buta kakuni, tontoro, teba, and grilled beef tongue. The buta kakuni (braised pork) was amazing. Fork tender, savory and sweet. We'd come back just for this dish. You should definitely order this. The tontoro was good, but the texture was a little tough; but that's normal for cheek. This dish was not mind blowingly good though. The teba was seasoned Buffalo style, but cooked in a Japanese manner. Very crisp and light, airy breading. But it tasted too familiar, my mistake for ordering it. It wasn't bad by any means; but I drove a ways to get out here so I wasn't in the mood for something American tasting. Value: 4 dishes and 1 large order of warm sake later the damage came out to less than 50 bucks. Me and my lovely dining companion were both really, really full and had some leftovers to take home to our stoner friend. Overall: If you like ramen, next time instead of eating at Mitsuwa's food court; try this place. I don't think you'll regret it. Plus there are so many other great dishes you can try and at a fantastic price. This and Kuruyama are my favorite two Japanese Izakayas in Chicagoland. Thank God, we have at least this y'know.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    This is a very traditional Japanese restaurant. Many of hte sushi restaurants we think of are very modern and "fusion" style. However, the food is quite authentic. It's a quiet, casual restaurant. The sushi is traditional as well without crazy ornaments. The sashimi is very fresh as well. You can find all sorts of food like ramen, teriyaki, yakisoba, and many other tradtional Japanese foods. The food is very comforting. I recommend the tonkotsu ramen. It's a very rich broth but not too salty either. There is a generous helping of noodles and is topped with assorted vegetables and slices of pork. The yakisoba is also delicious with many different vegetables and seasonings. The portion is HUGE for only around $13. If you're looking for a modern sushi restaurant, I wouldn't go here. But if you're looking for declicious traditional Japanese food, this is the best place to go.

    (4)

  • Penny L.

    Good for the locals. Tonkotsu ramen was a disappointment. No where close to Santouka.

    (3)

  • Erik H.

    This is the real deal, a Japanese salaryman post-work watering hole with Sapporo on tap, sweet & soy saucy bar food and signs advertising their karaoke box. It's all housed in a gloriously nostalgic adornment of carpets and wood, and all the while I expected some old woman to start bellowing out old-time enka music. The food itself was wonderful, and the portions were larger than I was expecting. The buta kimchi was a classic dish done well (even if you'll find better kimchi in a good Korean restaurant), the pork in sugary soy sauce was sweet and savory, the cheese tempura was weird but worth a try, the spider roll was enormous and the kake soba warmed my bones on a particularly cold day. If you have Japanese friends craving a taste of home, take them here. It'll remind them of stories their parents told them about izakayas in Showa-era Tokyo.

    (5)

  • Kelly Y.

    I love this place! The appetizers are good, and it really reminds me of a real izakaya in Tokyo. The pork is good, the vegetables are fresh, and I love that they have all the regular Japanese tapas. Okonomiyaki, tako yaki, yaki soba. Also, their ramen tastes authentic. The only thing is that the sashimi was not all that fresh, but I should have known better than to even expect that.

    (4)

  • Keiko S.

    A solid Japanese izakaya and a karaoke lounge for the local Japanese. FOOD: Very decent. The menu is extensive, but they were out of the three items I was hoping to try - buta/pork kakuni, grilled iwashi/sardines and gindara! But I was happy to find some authentic dishes on the today's special menu, like cream crab croquette, maguro/tuna tataki and tofu shira-ae. (Note: it's written on a chalkboard in Japanese.) They have the standard izakaya dishes/appetizers, noodles (udon, soba, chuka-soba, ramen), sushi and rice plates. For the ramen fans, their pork ramen (tonkotsu) is supposed to be a popular dish...and you will hear people loudly SLURP here! Oh, and they have "okonomiyaki" - something I'm sure Mindy W would appreciate. Out of the five items we ordered, we really enjoyed the "pork/buta kimchi." It was spicy, buttery and very tasty. The shira-ae and grilled kama were both decent, and so was the sushi. Not the best, but passable, and I liked the rice. I'm sure with more sake, we would've enjoyed our meal a lot more. AMBIANCE: Very Japanese. You can sit on the floor zashiki-style or at the table. You can watch the NHK broadcast on TV or read free magazines available at the entrance. There's also a big karaoke room (with the "on-demand" internet karaoke system) that can accommodate up to 30 guests. SERVICE: Not the friendliest, but careful and attentive. PRICES: You definitely get a good amount of food for what you pay. SUM: Would love to throw a karaoke party here!

    (4)

  • Nicole V.

    Wow, strip mall Asian dining with lots of options. The food was fairly good, not the best I've had and there were some very strange specials - spaghetti sushi roll??? The waitress recommended the meatballs, she said they were good drinking food...and they were! The maki rolls were pretty standard. What leads me to the four star rating is the vibe of this place. It has some over the top quirky character. First off, they offer floor seating in the main room, a cool way to dine if you are into that. Next, there are white boards all around with the specials listed on them and the waitress will bring them over to your table which I found hilarious. Last but now least...they have a private karaoke room! When we were there a private party was going on and although the glass is tinted, we could still see and hear a little of the party going on. It was fantastic entertainment! If you are looking for a fun and quirky night out, this is a great place to stop

    (4)

  • Hunter L.

    This restaurant has nice decor, staff are friendly. The food is delicious, however, the presentation can be improved. Also, since the waitress all work together, the order might be duplicate or forgotten depend in your luck...it's a restaurant worth visiting if you are near by, but you don't want made a trip for it.

    (3)

  • Tracy M.

    We tried Sankyu because of all the Chi-town Yelpers who recommeded their ramen. I adore a good bowl of ramen, in fact it was all I could do to get out of Mitsuwa without my spicy miso the other day (knowing we had lunch plans at Sankyu). While I probably prefer the spicy miso vs. tonkatsu, the ramen was indeed delicious-just the thing as I was feeling a bit under the weather after the trip from Phoenix. The waitress suggested a 'combo' where you could pick shumai or gyoza and both were good. The sushi also impressed me-the crazy roll was a bit large but the quality of the ingredients really shined.

    (4)

  • Tony K.

    Ive been to every sushi bar in Chicago I think. This place is the BEST! When you talk to your friends and tell them how damn good the RICE was.... youve found a great place. The rice is perfect! No one else makes such fantastic rice. It is very important for sushi and sashimi of course. I wish I knew their secret. Everything here is excellent. I havent been even close to dissapointed in any of their dishes. Best thing is I dont have to drive to the city to get here. Plenty of parking and no fighting traffic. :)

    (5)

  • Vicky C.

    I'm pregnant and craved Japanese ramen for a while. Did yelp research and wanted to give this place a try. I ordered everyone's favorite, tonkatsu ramen combo ( went combo since the waiter suggested it) and ordered a crazy roll from their sushi menu. Ramen was just okay...noodles are thicker than usual Japanese ramen, which was kinda not okay for me. Broth was kinda salty but blend at the same time. No specific flavor but salty. Crazy roll was huge not because of fish, but rice and lettuce (yes!! They put lettuce in a roll!! Maybe to make it look bigger) Everything was acceptable, if raw fish was fresh and okay which was apparently NOT!! I've tried tons of sushi and just know when it's not fresh and they have a strong fishy smell when it's out at room temperature for a while. Waiter knew we were heading out but no one said anything of course cuz we already paid. Not going back regardless of their cute interior design. Its not worth sitting at a cute cozy place with huge chunks of smelly old raw fish and thick blend noodles.

    (2)

  • AA L.

    Probably the best ramen place in the Chicago area! Authentic Japanese. Tonkotsu ramen is a must!

    (5)

  • Kimberly C.

    We've continued to visit Sankyu on a regular basis since my first review & each time have really enjoyed it. My husband, since he reads & speaks Japanese has been able to order far more off of the specials menu than I could (or would probably care to). The last time went, 3 people were ordering beer, so I suggested a pitcher ($18 for 3 glasses of beer or $24 for a pitcher). Unfortunately, the pitcher only served 3 glasses...after much discussion with the server, the manager did adjust our bill and we still love it here...but as a tip: order individual glasses and skip the pitcher :)

    (4)

  • George K.

    One of the best ramen I've had in Chicago so far! Definitely recommended. Great pricing too for lunch. Tea, 2 appetizers, and 2 bowels of ramen for about $20. Can't argue with that. As another person mentioned, the noodles were just the right consistency, and the broth was tasty.

    (5)

  • Phill C.

    I used to work at a Japanese company and would frequent this spot for lunch with my co-workers. Hidden in a small plaza, it's easy to miss. I've tried their nigri/maki and they're nothing special. But that's okay since I come here just for the ramen. A big bowl of any of their ramens and I'm a happy guy.

    (4)

  • PJ J.

    The Tonkotsu ramen is AWESOME. But, the place really kinda sucks service wise. There is no hiding behind the language barrier here, these people truly don't give a shit whether you're happy or not. The sushi chef is more than non-engaging, he is just downright anti social. Prepare for the waitress to pretend she doesn't know you exist even when she's literally staring right at you. The food is great, but if I want to have a meal and get totally shit on I will just stay home. Eat here a few times, because the grub is pretty tasty. Watch out for the elitist, sour, totally assy ass people who own and operate this joint...See for yourself if the taste is worth the disregard.

    (2)

  • Davie P.

    Awesome Japanese food the tonkatsu ramen is probably my favorite here along with all their specials I would have given it 5 stars but I noticed when they get busy they are understaffed and the service gets slow and sloppy but for the food definitely worth it.

    (4)

  • Max M.

    I wish this place were closer to me. Sankyu is an izakaya that specializes in small plates designed to complement the Japanese love affair with drinking sake and beer. Sankyu brings me back to my days in LA. It's located in a strip mall. It serves respectable sushi. I came with a co-worker on a week night after work. We ordered: Grilled Chicken Wings with lemon Deep Fried Buffalo Style Wings Hamachi Tuna Salmon Halibut Spicy Tuna All the fish was very fresh and the rice to fish ratio in every nigiri piece was perfect. Wings with sushi??? Don't hate. The wings should be illegal. They taste so yummy they should be classified as a controlled substance. If this spot was near me, then I would have their number on speed dial or demand an i-Phone take-out app. Very good. Will be back.

    (4)

  • Greg D.

    AUTHENTIC!! My favorite part upon walking into this place, that made me confident it was a good choice, was actually the lack of english speaking patrons- or gaijin; the clientele were all Japanese and the tv's were running Japanese television, The food was fantastic, and the server was, I believe the owner or owners mother. She treated me like I was one of her grandkids. I loved it. If you're not sure what to order she will go through the menu with you. the sashimi was delicious and FRESH! the dragon roll was awesome. Coming back for sure!!

    (4)

  • Sean Y.

    The miso was incredible but unfortunately the rest of the food was just okay and too rich. The Tonkatsu was very heavy and eggy. The chicken rice bowl had too many tendons! Prices were very reasonable for a Japanese restaurant.

    (2)

  • mei s.

    this is a place that again reaffirms my love of yelp and yelpers. i was really in the mood for ramen. surprise, surprise. saw this place and read the reviews and everyone was right. it does remind me of LA. and they do have authentic japanese food. the sushi was adequate, nothing stellar or unique. i would not come back just for sushi. their other selections are what will bring us back. we ordered the Tonkotsu ramen--OMG, awesome. so tasty and the pork in it was grilled to perfection. nice touch with the hard boiled egg. haven't had that in ages!! my husband ordered the Zo-Sui rice porridge with crabmeat veggies and egg. That was cool and unusual. you don't see that around much. That also was very tasty. For appetizers, we ordered the Mochi bacon (fine, next time, i'll have to try the croquettes), Tako yaki batter balls with octopus and veggie (famous japanese street food? who could resist?), Cheese tempura (so so. kind of like a crab rangoon but wrapped in strong flavored nori/seaweed instead of wonton wrapper) and one of the specials, pork cheeks. before you go eeek! the pork cheeks were not membraneous or vivisected to resemble as much. they were very tasty and went well with the ramen. we also ordered some assorted sushi rolls -- Dragon, rainbow, spicy spaghetti, Mexican, and spicy tuna. it was just three of us. the fact that they don't speak much english adds to the charm of the place. but we did understand that we had over ordered the sushi when she came back and asked us if we were ok that each roll had eight pieces. yes, yes, we are ok with that. wait. 8 x 5, that's 40 pieces!!! and we were just two adults and one small child. argh!! we never ever know how much sushi to order. luckily, my husband chased her down and reduced the order by two rolls. it would have been even smarter, had we said three rolls. but all tolled, we ate for $68 all the food that we ordered. and we were so stuffed. damn, it was good. while we were gorging, my husband thanked me for finding this place. and in my head, i was thanking my fellow yelpers. this is definitely going to be one of our favorite spots to go to. can't wait to try the other stuff. yum!!!

    (5)

  • Candice G.

    I'm VERY confused by all these good reviews. I went based on yelp reviews and left scratching my head. I ordered the ramen, it was a pork dish and it tasted like a dead fish/3 week old sweaty foot in a black sock. Totally gross. I took a bite with high hopes and the expression on my face was prolly priceless. Not good and I would question the survival rate of anyone who ate that whole bowl. I didn't eat it, she asked me why I didn't eat it and I explained as nicely as I could. She didn't comp the 7 dollar soup I couldn't choke down. My husband ordered a couple rolls and I've never seen so much rice surrounding a small amount of fish. Way to get fat fast. Very disappointed and will not be back because I do value my life, yikes.

    (1)

  • Ben W.

    Nice cute place, very unique Japanese sitting area, authentic Japanese atmosphere. Food tastes very good. Sushi, Tenpura, Udon... It also has KaraOK rooms (sound proof), I believe 2. This is definitely one of a kind in NW Chicago. Great for friend gathering. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Jean C.

    I have been looking for a Japanese restaurant that serves good ramen since Kitakata closed and this place is a good replacement. I had the day off of work and drove out to the burbs to have lunch with the hubs. He had come here previously with a co-worker and knew I would enjoy the food. We sat down and were greeted by an old Japanese woman. We ordered gyoza, tonkatsu ramen, spicy tuna rolls and chicken katsu. For lunch, this was a ton of food. The gyoza were fried with a crunchy outside but perfect. The tonkatsu ramen was huge! There was pork, bean sprouts, ginger and lots of delicious noodles. That came with rice and a salad. The hubs liked his spicy tuna rolls and the chicken katsu. There was so much food that we left some on our plate/bowl. The service was good though a little slow towards the end of the meal. I am ready to go back and try everything else on the menu. I will be back!

    (4)

  • Yaeko M.

    Once in a while, I like to go there to eat their Tonkotsu ramen. I love the Tonkotsu ramen! The rich tonkotsu soup, the texture of noodle (it's not so soft), and the price ($8). It's a good ramen. Most of the time, here in US, ramen is served in warm soup. The temperature of soup should hot, not warm. and we supposed to eat slurping. That's the way of ramen eating, making noise.

    (4)

  • Drew J.

    If there is a positive for working for a Japanese based company, it starts and ends with company dinners. After that, everything gets lost in translation. Anyways, a small group from our company hit this place up on a Thursday night and they handed my coworker ( blood red sun Japanese) a large menu. From this menu he ordered the entire meal for our group of 7. I was able to sample everything from sashimi to Udon to the standard Izakaya dishes. My coworker even ordered some rolls against his will as they apparently "don't have that crap" in the real Japan. Needless to say we had some awesome food that I never would have thought to try as I am only a sushi amateur. With that in mind, this place prepared all of our food with excellent quality. My only regret was trying the sea urchin not once, but twice. I never want something of that consistency in my mouth ever again. Our bill was up in the $400 range but we honestly had a 6+ course meal with tons of food to take home to la familias. All in all, this place is a small, delicious part of Mount Prospect that I would recommend to anyone without hesitation. The food is pretty good, but if your expecting its awesomeness to erase the memory of what happened at P. Harbor.....well, that just won't happen. p.s. The karaoke is interesting. Even more interesting if you get the staff involved. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • P P.

    Great Karaoke but the room needs some ventilation. You don't realize it until you come back from the bathroom and you wonder, "We must be having a blast not to notice how bloody hot and sticky it is in here." It's an authentic Japanese Izakaya. Food is great, service is fine, and they are always getting better. kaizen

    (4)

  • Daniel L.

    I lived for 3 years in rural Japan and often go to Tokyo now for work, so my standards for Japanese food are high. I went there last week with a large group while visiting the NW suburbs. It was okay but could do better. 2.5 stars. On the food side, the dishes were meh. The menu seemed to be authentic izakaya food, but the dishes that came out were not always on point. In particular, I found the tsukune to be particularly disappointing (overcooked). I did not try the ramen, although other reviews seem to indicate that might be one of the best things on the menu. The service was also not the best. It seemed like they only had one person taking orders for the whole dining room, which was packed. So, dishes sometimes came a bit slow. I don't know if it fair for this to be a factor, but our waitress clearly did not speak Japanese. In terms of ambience, the main dining room seems a bit tired. On the flip side, this place presented no problems for bringing small kids. All in all, I imagine this is not bad for Chicagoland. But, I was hoping for better.

    (2)

  • Scot E.

    Visited for the first time a couple of weeks ago with a group from work. EXCELLENT sushi!!!! The service was very good and the sushi was great!! This was my first experience with sushi and it was incredible. We also had the sushimi ( I am sorry if I spelled that wrong) so fresh and the taste was incredible. Hope to go back soon with my family!!!

    (5)

  • Ania L.

    Love, love, love this place! It's pretty small, but the service is VERY good and pretty quick. The staff is very attentive. The sushi is delicious and fresh... and the prices are pretty low. Everything is very tasty. Did I mention that I love this place? ;) I will go back many times.

    (5)

  • Tak K.

    I went there with my sister and brother-in-law for lunch. The inside reminded me a lot of a traditional izakaya in Japan, which helped me relax after a busy Sunday in Indianapolis. As we sat on zashiki (higher floor), my brother-in-law had a trouble sitting down due to low table and resultant lack of space for his legs. They also had a small TV playing NHK from the ceiling, which again reminded me a lot of a traditional izakaya in Japan. The waitress that attended us was probably a Chinese or a Korean, but other waitresses kept eyes on us for service. The variety of the lunch menu was decent, and I ordered grilled pork with ginger sauce lunch set. My sister ordered chirashi zushi. The pork was good in flavor, although I usually prefer more ginger in taste. The portion was a little more than I expected, so for that department I was happy. Potato salad was mind and matched the pork. Sliced tomato were a little hard and had little taste though. Tea was alright. On the other hand, my sister complained that she had too much seasoned kanpyo and shiitake mushroom between fishes and rice. Since she could not finish all the rice for her (well, like most she finished her fishes though :P), I finished it off. As she said, the rice was a bit too sweet for my taste as well. My brother-in-law enjoyed his fried potstickers and rolled sushi. In the end, had I eaten chirashi like my sister did, I'd rate this place three-star. But because I ordered something better (and more reasonable), I would like to rate this place a little higher.

    (4)

  • M. D.

    They lied about getting a free side dish when you mention your Yelp thing. We mentioned it twice, once in Japanese, and she still ignored us. As a matter of fact, they overcharged for everything they serve! All of the specials are written in Japanese, and the waitress in the evening doesn't speak enough English to tell you what anything is. I read Japanese, but my guest did not. So my money is greener than his, apparently? Stupid problem to have, that's amazingly easy to fix. I adore Japanese culture, so take note: your Japanese guests know they aren't in Japan, and won't care that you are taking good care of your gaijin guests too. This is supposed to be a sake and beer place, with food to compliment it. The alcohol is so outrageously overpriced, I can't believe it. Go to Torishin instead, they have the same stuff for half the price. The food itself is mediocre at best. The takoyaki is not only a poor quality, purchased brand, but it's frozen. Then microwaved. They actually stuck to one another. Seriously, go to mitsuwa, buy some beer, and get the frozen takoyaki. If you microwave them, they'll still be of better quality than these. They also cost about a buck a ball, and they're about the size of a quarter. Don't get me started on the not-grilled chicken skin. I asked for it crispy, and she told me that it really can't get crispy. I was wondering why, until it came. The microwave in this dive gets a serious workout. It was kind of the anti-yakitori dish. Vile, avoid it. The service was friendly, but there was only one waitress who barely spoke English, and she was apparently at the mercy of the microwave. The food came slowly, but the $8 beers that were advertised to be $6 were pushed pretty hard. Torishin is close, and their best competition. Kurumaya isn't the same kind of restaurant, but it blows Sankyu's lunch away.

    (2)

  • Denise K.

    I lied - I went back. Service was better but food was not.

    (1)

  • Jon J.

    Super-authentic Japanese food and ambiance.... friendly staff, excellent food. Wish that this place was closer to work so we could go for lunch, or closer to home so we could go for dinner. As it is, it's cool enough to warrant a trip out to the burbs every once in a while specifically for it. I suppose heading west of the city is getting 10 miles closer to Japan... while this restaurant makes you feel 1500 miles closer to Japan. It's a great place to have here in the region!

    (5)

  • Christian M.

    Fantastic Sushi rolls! Very fresh fish. I also loved the skewered pork appetizer. Went with my girlfriend and we were both very pleased with the service and quality of food.

    (5)

  • Ken E.

    Initially they thought I wanted the tonkatsu don when I clearly said tonkatsu ramen. They gave me an extra salad and miso soup but only charged me for the ramen. 4 stars alone for the service and friendliness. I think I'll be back to try the sushi. The ramen was good but not a huge fan of Ginger

    (4)

  • Connie L.

    The boyfriend and I both got the tonkotsu ramen. The egg was overcooked along with the pork and there were only two itty bitty slices of pork. However, the noodles were good. Too bad I can't say the same about the service. Like the other yelp reviewers mentioned, the waitresses were few and hard to find.

    (3)

  • Jiyoun B.

    Izakaya= small tapas style dishes to accompany drinks, usually alcoholic variety. I'm not a big drinker but boy does this place have good eats. Their "small" dishes change everyday depending on what is available and their main staples are on point as well. If you haven't tried their marinated tempura eel, you are missing out. Their sashimi is also very fresh, I love love their abalone, which comes with marinated abalone "insides". We actually make the trip out to Mount Prospect for this place.

    (5)

  • Naoko M.

    So I don't ever give bad reviews.. But want to just leave a note. This one waitress (she's from japan) was rude to me and my friends for a few times we went (obviously stopped going there). As a Japanese American, I hate to leave bad reviews to the restaurant owned by a Japanese native because it's hard to find one in the Midwest. As others say the similar things, please remember the importance of good customer service is.

    (1)

  • Rosa J.

    Everyone has regrets in his or her life. Wanna know mine? I should have found another place for our dinner this evening instead dining at Izakaya Sankyu. Hubby's GPS kept on taking us to the opposite direction. Well, that was certainly a premonition. As a sensitive Virgo, I should have developed a plan B. Parking is extremely ample in the strip mall lot. Izakaya Sankyu isn't a large place, but it's definitely not cramped or tight like Ramen Misoya or most restaurants in the city. The service began with the young lady's spunky "Irasshaimase" and immediately followed by the hot towels. By the way, Sankyu has a massive selection of alcohol, beer, sake, and cocktails. Hubby and I aren't fond of drinking while enjoying our meal, yet I know many of my fellow Yelpers are alcoholic-beverage connoisseurs. We didn't order a feast and went with the basics: tan zaru udon and tonkotsu ramen. I had to say the tonkotsu ramen was mediocre at best. The broth tasted salty. I felt some of the instant ramen purchased from an Asian market would generate better broth than what I had at Sankyu. All the components and ingredients of tonkotsu ramen were there, but the entire dish turned to be unremarkable. I was genuinely disappointed! Hubby, on the other hand, didn't comment positively on his tan zaru udon, either. Thankfully, the NHK channel was a nice touch. At least I enjoyed their morning news and historical dorama even though my tastebuds suffered. Overall, Izakaya Sankyu seemingly has the potential. With food being lackluster, I will take my business elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Howard L.

    We indeed came back here for a family dinner. It was a delightful meal with top notch entrees and appetizers. I'll go with 4.5 stars but there was still a significant snafu. Our appetizers (delectable pork cheeks and yakitori chicken skewers) ended up coming out last, and due to tardiness, we actually cancelled one of them (the seafood pancakes). They were quite busy and popular for dinner (I'm not surprised given their quality and reasonable prices) and that probably contributed to the order confusion and our 2 hour dinner here (it was a nice 2 hours though). Their beef teriyaki bento box is very generous and probably the best valued bento box we have ever had for $25. Amongst our dishes on this evening were: - pork cheeks appetizer, $6 - yakitori chocken skewers (2 for $4) - chicken teriyaki bento box, $22 - beef teriyaki bento boxes, $25 each - chirashi, $21 - tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), $17 - lychee ice cream Server was very apologetic of the appetizers snafu and waived the otherwise mandatory group 18% gratuity, as well as offered lychee ice cream for the entire table. We shall return!

    (4)

  • Mary O.

    Perfect place to eat Japanese food! authentic Japanese food, kind waitresses, nice place.

    (5)

  • Vito R.

    The worst service we ever received from a restaurant! We went here Friday 7/24 at 7:00 and waited over two hours for our food, which was delivered to us piece meal. We finally walked out around 9:45. No discount on the bill. They did not try to rectify anything. The table next to us also walked out also. All the Japanese patrons around us were waited on hand and foot. Will never go back here again!

    (1)

  • Pack C.

    we went there for the first time friday evening. By the time i walked in and saw a lot of Japanese businessmen/ women hang out, I know that this place must be awesome! I was really impressed with a big selection/ varieties they have on their menu from the typical sushi, sashimi, to ramen, bbq skewers, rice/ udon entrees, shabu shabu, and all the bento boxes. Food have great favors. I wish they perfect their execution a little more. I'm not sure whether this was because the place was a little busy that night. from what we had: whole fish grill: bento box: I LOVE their bento box. The portion is generous and great varieties: sashimi (a lot of pieces), fried croquette (lots of varieties), cold appetizers e.g. fish ball and etc, tempura, and the main fish item. It was $25 coming with rice, soup, and ice cream. It was definitely our favorite tonkotsu ramen: it had good flavor but you can't compare it the specialized ramen shop like misoya. the weird part was the pork and the boiled egg was a little cold. They were almost pre-made and have the broth over once someone ordered it. You can really feel it with the egg skewer: chicken gizzard, tail, skin. we have never had any of this part before. we just want to try things we have never seen. It was not that good actually. Either they have bbq it longer or use the better quality meat.. takoyaki: good flavor but some pieces were a little cold in the middle. so, that was a bummer. again, i will definitely go back there again especially week nights when they are not too busy. i was so impressed with their selection. It reminded me so much of Japan!

    (3)

  • Sarah S.

    I've heard good things about Izakaya Sankyu and was happy when a date asked me to meet him up here for dinner. We sat at the bar, had a lovely time and I must say that we got excellent, fabulous service the entire time we dined there. Our drinks were well attended to and who I imagine is either the manager or owner was a very nice & attentive lady. They are known for having legit ramen though I still don't think it's quite as good as Ramen Misoya or the shop at Mitsuwa. The good thing about this hole in the wall restaurant is they have a wide variety of items with some more unique splendors to taste. It's kind of like getting Japanese tapas because of course you can get a big bowl of ramen or an array of sushi...but it's more fun to try a bunch of the smaller dish items. By recommendation of my Japanese best friend, we had their Okonomoyaki which is a mish mosh of various meats in a pancake format which made sound disgusto, but I promise you it's delicioso. I love that they cut it up in triangle slices pizza-style which made it much easier for us to share & eat. The beef tataki was to die for. Perfectly cooked with yummy sauce covering it. We had various meat skewers that were all good, a tofu dish, a few other items. Honestly it was all tasty and I was deeply enthralled in conversation so it's all blending together in my memory. We drank a bunch of Sapporos with all these yummy food and I was well impressed. It wasn't too badly priced either! Yep, I'll be back Izakaya Sankyu!

    (5)

  • Suzy D.

    This is more like a 3.5. Compared to izakayas in NYC, i'd give this place a 3, but for Chicago, this place is pretty good. We came at 5 on Saturday ,and there were only a few other diners, but by the time we left around 6, the place was pretty packed. Our waitress was sweet, but not very helpful when we asked her for favorites/suggestions. There were a few specials we wanted to try but they were not available so that was disappointing. We ordered the following: pork cheek - tasty, simple and served with a squeeze of lemon chicken gizzard/cartilage/skin/tail skewers- very good. especially liked the tail tuna collar- not sure if this was an off night, but this was almost deep fried. would not order this again takoyaki- not the best takoyaki but okay for chicago okinomoyaki- pretty good but could use more bonito flakes on top braised pork (on appetizer section...I think it was called ben kakuni)- this was delicous! so flavorful and tender. we could eat 3 more bowls of this Sapporo- they have this on draught and it's very good We will be back to try the ramen and have more of that delicious braised pork.

    (4)

  • Tom G.

    A great place to go if you're craving Japanese food! I see items here that I rarely ever see anywhere else (if at all). The best part about this place is it's perfect for meeting up with friends after work to relax over light drinks and food. An izakaya is kind of like Japan's answer to the sports bar (a place to go have drinks and enjoy food intentionally prepared to be enjoyed with drinks) - the menu is extensive and in addition to the standard sushi and bento fare, there are several other sections of appetizers and small plate options to choose from. You could easily come here to satisfy that sushi or ramen craving with their authentic dishes for such fare, but it's just as easy to be a little daring and try all of the authentic Japanese dishes (fried, steamed, battered, in broth, take your pick) that you probably won't find many places outside of Japan.

    (4)

  • Tina L.

    This place is an authentic Japanese restaurant...meaning it's owned by Japanese people and the workers are mostly all Japanese. So there's no complimentary miso soup or salad like at the Korean-owned ones that we usually go to, but at least the food is high quality and legit. Here's what we ordered: A large house hot sake for only $6. I don't know what it is, but hot sake with sushi is like "peas and carrots", Forest and Jenny, needle and thread. They just go together! Crazy Roll: you are getting what you pay for! This roll is BIG. Some places either put way too much rice, or mayo, or something that makes you full faster. I don't like those "filler" places...this roll had huge chunks of tuna, salmon, and I forgot what other fish was in there. I loved the way the crab meat was flavored. And then the creamy avocado pieces were the best complementary touch. Ton Toro: Wow, this was melt in your mouth yet with just the right amount of chewiness. I don't normally order pork cheek, but it just sounded good to me for some reason. I'm SO Glad we ordered it, because it was SO delicious! Smokey, salty, savory...Triple S! Spicy tuna roll: it's your basic spicy tuna roll, but you can tell that it's made with love. Just the right amount of sauce, and just the right amount of cucumber in each section.

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    As reviews have indicated, the Tonkatsu is incredibly creamy. And no there's no dairy cream, to get to that level takes many hours of skimming and boiling pork bones which I do not intend to do at home. (I recommend checking out the youtube video: Japanology, The Most Delicious Ramen Noodles (2011) to really appreciate ramen). Ramen, a simple dish, is not so simple. I can taste the richness of the broth. Noodles have a wonderful chewy texture, very good and similar to High Five in the West Loop. Broth is clean, mild and slightly sweet from the pork. The only thing I have to complain about is the egg is hardboiled, not softboiled, and temp is not as hot as I would like. The red ginger they put is a bit odd, but goes well with the bamboo shoots and pork slice. Other than that, it is a good traditional bowl and ranks in my top 3 ramen joints in the Chicagoland area. Since the broths are so different, it's hard to say, but the ramen noodles alone, #1. My server was very nice. She brought the whiteboard of specials so I can see what else to get. There was a cool selection of items I hope to try next time. Also, along the walls, you get to sit on the floor Japanese style for a more authentic experience.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Gotta trust these Japanese owned restaurants that have been standing for many years. We made reservations for 4: hubby, me and the boys on this Saturday night of Valentine's Day. There were lots of reserved tables already. It reminded me of Renga Tei (my other fav Japanese restaurant) but a bit roomier. There were quite a few flat screen TVs around the restaurant. It almost felt like a bar. Some playing japanese news and others had food network and sports I think all on mute. Food was great. We got 2 orders pork cheeks (bc all 4 of us liked it so much; haven't had this here in Chicago yet so this was a treat! last time we got it was at a Korean bbq place in LA), beef tataki (nice and tender, chicken skewers (skin, gizzards, and cartilage. I liked the skin the best), beef tongue (hubby really enjoyed this, it was tender and flavorful), takoyaki (are these always this big? very good though. Kids tried it for first time and my 2 year old liked it a lot.), spicy tuna roll (a bit fishy but I liked that it had lots of rice and lots of tuna bc usually spicy tuna roll is teeny) and we finished off with a bowl of tonkotsu ramen and a bowl of miso ramen. I think that was just the right amount of food for us whilst not getting overstuffed. Hubby liked the tonkotsu broth better. It was the first time ever I've seen him slurp down all the soup that was left. He said the tonkotsu ramen was the best he's had. I personally liked the miso broth better and that is 100% the case for all Japanese ramen I have tried. At this restaurant I did like the miso better but it was quite salty! This also had a bit of a kick so it was really spicy miso ramen. The noodles were perfectly chewy and soft at the same time. I loved the bamboo on top but was not a huge fan of the bean sprout topping (more a personal dislike) nor the slice of pork. It wasn't fatty enough ha! But overall I slurped it all up sans the broth mainly due to the saltiness. We will come back to try the other stuff and more ramen though!

    (4)

  • Sunshine H.

    Terrible terrible service. We waited over an hour for our food. They brought the entrees before the appetizers and then blamed us (falsely) for ordering apps after the entrees. They did not bring any water. We finally walked out after an hour and twenty minutes later. No discount on the bill. They did not try to rectify anything. The table next to us also walked out. Also they give customers hot towels to clean your hands and good service ...but only if you are Japanese. We found a much better Korean bbq place nearby.

    (1)

  • Kate H.

    Wow! What a cool place! Come here for a neat Japanese Izakaya experience! Their menu had a lot of variety of Japanese small plates and entrees. I had the Tonkotsu ramen and my husband had the miso ramen. We split an appetizer of Okonomiyaki. All three dishes were very tasty! The waitstaff were very friendly! Would love to come back here when we are in town again and try more things!! I highly recommend you check this place out!!

    (4)

  • Joe L.

    You're not going to find many authentic Japanese izakayas in Chicago except for this place. They have traditional tatami floor dining as well as western tables. The type of food you'll see here is tapa style small plates with plenty of variety. From tonkutsu ramen, sashimi, yakitori (including gizzards!), and shabu (when on special).

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    I've never been to Japan.. but I imagine the food there would be this good.. this authentic. This is what I imagine any good mom & pop place in Japan to taste like. You walk in this place, and 95% of the clientele look to be Japanese, so I take that to mean that this food must be on par with some of the great food you can find in Japan. Go to dishes for my wife and I are: - Tonkatsu Ramen - Best ramen we've ever had.. sooo much flavor! - Any sushi - The sushi i've had here is some of the best. The fish is tasteful and fresh, and the rice is cooked PERFECTLY! - Buta Kaku-Ni - If you don't know what this is, and you are a fan of tender, delicious meat.. then do yourself a big favor and give Buta Kaku-Ni a shot. It's the most tender, marinated, pull apart, steamy/juicy beef you've EVER had!!!!! I like to put some into my Tonkatsu Ramen... SOOOO GOOD!

    (5)

  • Colin M.

    I am too old to sit on the floor. My feet were numb for days after the visit. Do yourself a favor and sit at a proper table. Food was good, if pricey. Good ramen, not great. Japanese pickles were good. Other items standard. Chicken wings standard. If you are in the area, an ok choice. Not a destination restaurant.

    (3)

  • Kassy K.

    The kimchi ramen is amazing!!! But everything else delicious so you'll be happy no matter what you go with.

    (5)

  • Luigi S.

    Just saying Hi

    (4)

  • Laurice M.

    Thanks to Yelp, we found this hidden gem not far from where we live. We were not disappointed. We left with full bellies and stuffed faces lol! For 5 people, we ordered 4 diff rolls of sushi, beef teriyaki/tempura combo, shoyu ramen, tonkatsu ramen, and a small sashimi platter. Everything was delish!! The sashimi and sushi were good but didn't really wow me. They were fresh with simple flavors and huge servings and reasonably priced. My brother loved the crazy and rainbow rolls. My husband loved the shrimp tempura and philly rolls. The ramen's phenomenal! The broth was excellent - rich but not too salty, unlike Ramen Misoya. The pork's tender and tasty but I think I prefer Misoya's pork over Sankyu. The noodles are the right thickness and texture. I think the toppings are adequate as well. The ratio of broth to noodles to toppings is well balanced. I absolutely love it! I didn't care for the teriyaki or tempura. I've had better in Renga tei. As for desserts, we had the Japanese jelly mix with ice cream, coffee with red bean paste and ice cream, and plain green tea ice cream. My favorite was the coffee with red bean and ice cream. It was different and I haven't had anything like that before so I liked it. :) Overall a winner for me. We will definitely be back!!!

    (5)

  • Joe F.

    izakaya is something that is easy to define yet hard to execute. Some people really think they know what they are doing with this style and eventually they fall flat on their faces. Let me tell you something - nobody at Izakaya Sankyu falls flat on their face. When people ask me what this style of food is without fail I eventually wind up simplifying it to this "think of it as Japanese Tapas", which to some respects is correct in that you will find that smaller plates of deliciousness are delivered to your table, it's also an abomination, because Izakaya is so much better than tapas. (Sorry, Tapas.) All of the standards are here, and I won't go into the futile attempt to spell it. It tastes great and there will be little question left in your mind after you eat here about the superiority of Izakaya to satiate that urge for that unique combination of street style food, booze and great company. Amazing service, selection and quality of food. Honestly, I can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Vivian F.

    One of the best Japanese restaurant in the area and I must say compare to the others, the price is cheaper here. I ordered their bento box and the portion was huge. It included several side dishes and the sashimi that came with the bento were delicious. I ordered the chicken bento, the grilled chicken was pretty good and not dried up like other places I have had before. I would come back again to try their other dishes.

    (4)

  • Whan K.

    Great food but it takes too long for the food to bring up. Need more help from the kitchen.

    (3)

  • Edward R.

    I was looking for a place that went beyond SUSHI. Nice big menu with assortment of choices. I had Chawan Mushi for the 1st time! It was very good. Fun clean environment & tasteful. Will definitely be returning.

    (4)

  • Noomi J.

    I came here because Phil S. recommended this place to me, specifically their ramen, and ramen being one of my favorite foods, I made my way over here on a Sunday after some shopping in the Schaumburg area. tonkatsu ramen ($8.25) - 4.5 stars. Light & smooth broth, less salty than Santouka's with thicker noodles. The two pork slices were sliced thick and incredibly tender & flavorful. sashimi platter ($19.99) - 4.5 stars. Good variety, beautiful presentation. beef tataki ($9.95) - 4 stars. Good, but not a repeat buy for me because I'd want to try something else from their menu. Delicious food, friendly service, and the food came out fairly quickly (we came early for dinner ~5pm). I will return!

    (4)

  • John S.

    Was referred to this place by Yelp. Which I found ironic because i have lived down the street since it has opened and never heard of it until the email. My wife and I have been big fans ever since. They have some of the best Ramen i have had in the Chicagoland area. Their Soba is my wife's favorite she usually gets the tempura style. We have also had most of their sushi which is better then average. There is a great Saki selection and everything on the menu is very reasonably price for the quality & amount of food you get. Highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Carmen M.

    We have always treated well when we sat at the sushi bar, but when we sat in the restaurant side we were ignored. I guess being Caucasian is not a good thing when they are busy. All the Asians that were there, and came in after us, were treated kindly without wait. It was so bad that they had a hard time giving us multiple menus. 1 menu for 4 people and ten minutes later they brought a second one. It didn't matter how many we had they didn't take our order, even after trying to flag them down and get their attention multiple times.

    (1)

  • Jessica P.

    I ordered carry out from here on a Thursday during lunch time...I had to wait around 30 minutes for my sashimi platter and beef teriyaki to come out... I considered the wait to be long considering that I only ordered 2 dishes (one that involved no cooking time)...so if you have a 30 minute timed lunch, make sure you don't come here during lunchtime.. FOOD: Sashimi Platter: it was ok, good portion for 2 people to share Beef Teriyaki: it was ok, I've had better..the teriyaki sauce was not saucey, but rather watery like soy sauce was poured on it or something... Japanese Ramyun: ppl claim that the ramyun here is good, but I just thought it was ok when I tried it last time with my friends...maybe I'm just not a fan of Japanese ramyun.. CUSTOMER SERVICE: the waitresses were nice, but busy so they didn't help me right away when I stepped in.. I waited about 10 minutes before they saw me and helped me... COSTS: more on the expensive end and the lunch menus don't have lunch specials either....

    (3)

  • Natalie C.

    Cute little spot tucked away in a strip mall. When you walk in, the restaurant is split into two sections: a larger area with regular tables on the left, and a traditional Japanese seating on the right (i.e. shoes off, sitting at low tables on cushions on the ground). As I love sitting cross-legged while eating anyways, we moved to the right to be seated. We had the unagi roll, an order of tayoyaki, seaweed salad, and the tonkatsu ramen everyone is always raving about. Unagi roll - decent portion for the price, had a bit more rice than I normally prefer. Seaweed salad - delicious with cucumber, actual flat kelp, and a wonderful dressing. Tayoyaki - this is a common street food in Japan; essentially doughy balls filled with octopus. I really enjoyed the flavored, however my dining mate thought the doughy texture was a little odd (then again she doesn't like doughy-textured anything, so maybe there's a bias there). Tonkatsu ramen - wonderful, DELICIOUS broth. Creamy and rich and super flavorful. The ramen noodles themselves were thick and chewy and just the right texture. Came with a small amount of toppings (half an egg, a little bit of pork, some veggies), but it really was all about the broth and the noodles (which it rightly should be in a good bowl of ramen). Overall - I will definitely be back to Izakaya Sankyu for more ramen and to try some of their other goodies.

    (4)

  • Grace S.

    I'm a big fan! When you walk in, you see a section on the right with what looks like traditional Japanese style seating, which is kind of a fun experience; you take your shoes off and sit on pillows. There are regular tables and chairs though if you prefer to have more of a normal dining experience. The food is great. They have an extensive menu and there are also daily specials that they write on a whiteboard and bring to you. I recommend the pork cheeks, beef tongue, and pork belly. I know they all sound gross, but if you can allow yourself to be a little adventurous, I think it'll be worth it! They also have different drink choices. I had a Japanese wine that was pretty good.

    (5)

  • Amily T.

    I LOVE ramen. But only the authentic, traditional ramen. And this is great ramen, as far as in the Chicago area. Lunch combo is such a great deal, I'm glad I don't live next door or I may be there very day and spend all my money on ramen!!

    (5)

  • Rosanna L.

    Fresh. Delicious. Good price! I've been to Sankyu a few times now and really enjoy it. The sushi rolls are fresh and there's plenty of varieties. The spider is a huge roll at a great price! And the dragon is so yummy! I love noodle soup and this place has to have some of the best udon and ramen noodles! It's a must try! It's 9am and I want some sushi and ramen!

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    I gave this restaurant a 2 out of 5 stars. The food is amazing. I've always wanted to find a more authentic Japanese restaurant and this one is it. However, the service has gotten terrible over the years. Many times they have forgotten my order or they don't even bother to study their own menu to see what it includes. I swear there is one Japanese waitress and she is so clueless. My order includes shrimp and vegetable tempura and she told me it did not...but the menu says it...then when I tell her and show her the menu...she tells me oh I thought you meant something else...and my like wtf...lol!!! I showed you twice!!! There needs to be better management or a better way to organize the orders coming in and I feel it is kind of bad especially for a Japanese run restaurant. I hope they read these.

    (2)

  • Maeghan S.

    This place is the real deal if you want to try food other than sushi that people in Japan eat. So so so so good, they could use about 3 more waiteresses but other than that really good food.

    (5)

  • Yvonne B.

    We were greeted immediately by two separate servers in Japanese. I'm not sure what they said, but it was friendly and warm. We were given the option to sit at a table or seated on pillows on the floor. There were three televisions mounted high on the walls - two showed Japanese shows and the third was in English. The menus were written first in Japanese and second in English. The server brought out a large white board with 20-30 specials written on it. I wanted to try sooo many things! I got the ramen because Yelpers said it was the best. I got it and was not really a fan. Maybe it's the best, but yeah. I just think that ramen isn't for me. I also got spring rolls and some fried meat balls. The spring rolls were yummy but the meatballs were just okay. And I drank a whole bottle of saki by myself which usually makes everything even better. SO, I don't think those things suited my palette. I think that I should have had the sushi rolls instead. I know that I like sushi. I chose to be adventurous which turned out to hurt this review. I think that M liked her food okay, but her taste-buds were compromised (she was sick and things tasted differently to her). Given that our experience really wasn't that awesome, we made the mutual decision that we wouldn't make the trek to Sankyu for another try.

    (2)

  • Christine D.

    Very good authentic Izakaya small plates. I love the crab porridge and the chawanmushi. The tataki is also very good.

    (5)

  • Jenny O.

    I debated between giving this place 3 and giving it 4 stars. But, I decided to give 4 because the food was really solid here with reasonable prices. I considered 3 because of the service. My friend and I didn't get our menus until about 10 minutes after we got seated. Normally, customers get their menus as soon they get seated, right...? Also, ordering food took awhile, too. The waitresses were nice, though. Back to the food.. my friend and I ordered the: *Tonkatsu ramen- very good; better than nearby Japanese restaurants, such as Santouka (in Mitsuwa) and Sushi Cafe (in Tensuke). I'm not sure if the noodles were hand-made, but it tasted like it. Also, the broth was flavorful and not overwhelmingly salty like Misoya's ramen. *Ton-toro (grilled pork cheeks)- very good; it was perfectly chewy and had good flavor. I was a huge fan of pork belly until I tried pork cheek. *Okonomiyaki- good; the flavors were on point and stuffed with plenty of ingredients. I did think it could be on the crispier side, but I suppose this is a personal preference. *Saikoro steak (steak with teriyaki sauce)- ok; the meat could be more tender and the sauce tasted just the way it was supposed to. PS- There are two different types of seating: table/chairs and traditional Japanese, which involves you taking your shoes off and sitting on the floor. My friend and I did the latter because we have done this before, and Koreans dine like this too at very traditional restaurants. But, I warn you- it's not the most comfortable. Also, the tables in this section are placed closely next to each other. So... it's probably better to go with sitting on chairs ;)

    (4)

  • Jen W.

    I'm stuck. This place has good food but the service is SOOO slow. They forgot a few items and when you would try to flag someone down, they walk away. If the service was up to par with their food then I would've given this place a solid 4 stars. If you're an "adventurous" eater, the chicken gizzard appetizer was delicious.

    (3)

  • Roberto F.

    Good lunch prices, and I had no problem with the freshness of sushi. The rolls were great to and tampura udon was delicious. You also get complimentary oolong tea which is nice. Friendly staff with a cozy seating area. Overall I was please and I plan to come back here again.

    (3)

  • Leang E.

    It was a late lunch, and after the bloody traffic and lights being out from the storm - this place totally hit the spot. We were seated promptly, and my heart went out to our waitress. I believe she was the only one there holding the fort and was literally running from table to table while taking her shoes off once going towards the Japanese table areas. I was quite impressed. This place is truly authentic. I love the decor of the place, and I could imagine that this would be a spot that I could picture what it would be like in Japan or a Japanese person's home. The specials are written in Japanese, and I appreciated the waitress' explanation of what they were. I actually ordered the Ramen Special which was very good. It came with the fried gyozas and a side of rice. The broth was very flavorful and the noodles were filling. The price was just right. The spicy tuna seemed to be overly spicy for my friend, so I'd say be prepared for that. I like the ambiance here, and definiltey wouldn't mind coming back again.

    (4)

  • Kathy G.

    Probably the best ramen ever!! I usually have their Tonkotsu Ramen. Fresh ingredients, very filling and total comfort food. The sushi and rolls are amazing. The staff is extremely knowledgable and they get to know you by name. Great place and great food!!!

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Food here is legit. Come here for non Americanized, real deal Japanese cuisine. There is even floor seating if you want the full dining experience. If you aren't familiar with Japanese food, don't let the extensive menu scare you. There are lots of great items to choose from so ask questions if you aren't sure about anything. Sankyu has various entree and sushi platter selections, but a big draw for me are all of the small plate items. If you didn't want to commit to a single dish, you can get a few smaller choices instead. Such choices include typical appetizers like gyoza and fried tofu to meat skewers and chazuke. Entrees are stellar as well. Some of my favorites include tekka don and tonkatsu. Each comes with some sort of side like miso soup and pickled veggies. Sushi rolls are all good. Various beer and sake is also available. Different sake sizes can either serve one person or a group of people. There is truly so much to enjoy at Sankyu and I've never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kika W.

    Went here on a late Sunday afternoon with couple of friends. My friend made a reservation and (unintentionally) seated us on the floor (japanese style) We figured, why not?? It's not the most comfortable but it's fun :) Service: it was kindda slow at the beginning and then we realized they have a bell right on the wall next to us to get their attention HA! From there everything went smooth. A Japanese lady was serving us and give us insights on what we're having. A plus! Food: We order bunch of food ranging from their ramen-sushi-tapas like-apps. I'd skip their sushi, it's mediocre IMO. Prolly just a bad nite but we had the spider roll and it didn't impress us. Ramen was also same, it was miso ramen we had. Couple things stood up that night; Okonomi Yaki (my ol' time fave) & Ton Toro! Yup, don't miss these two. I won't elaborate this, consider this an adventure for those who don't know :) Didn't get to try their drinks and desserts, prolly next time. Hope this helps!

    (3)

  • Nantida K.

    This restaurant was a random find for my boyfriend and I. The plaza that it sits in is very unassuming, and even the outside of the restaurant makes you wonder if they are open. When you enter, the front of the restaurant is decorated like the storefront of a Japanese eatery, which was very fun. The staff enthusiastically greeted us upon entering and promptly seated us. I wanted to sit at a Japanese style tea table (you have to remove your shoes to sit on the wooden platform, indian style on some cushions) which I absolutely loved. My boyfriend however is not as flexbile as me, so he became uncomfortable after some time. So if you are not able to sit comfortably for a while in this way, I would suggest sitting at a regular table. We ordered drinks and for appetizers got gyoza and the soft shell crab tempura. The gyoza was pretty standard, but the soft shell crab tempura was very tasty! For dinner we ordered the tonkatsu ramen as well as a dragon roll. The dragon roll again was standard. The tonkatsu ramen was delicious especially after adding my own flavorings (I like adding spicy sesame oil, pepper, and the red pepper flake mix available on the table.); my boyfriend likes to keep it plain. It was not the best ramen I've had because I do like when there is more oil and veggies in the soup, but it definitely hit the spot for me because I was craving ramen all day. For dessert we got the red bean with green tea ice cream and agar jelly cubes. It was a perfect sharing size, and very good if you have a little bit of everything on one spoonful. Throughout our experience, the service was amazing. It was never hard to find a server, and the manager or owner himself was always checking on us (probably because our server was new). They always made sure our table was clear when we finished a dish, and checked up on our waters and if we wanted to order anything else. This place was definitely a diamond in the rough, and I will definitely be returning.

    (5)

  • Juan A.

    I love this place .. it is what wasabi would look like in japan 10 years ago. lol Seriously good food, very authentic . at its best the tonkatsu ramen is on par with wasabi's. if you are in the northwest burbs or love japanese food & ramen this is a must. So good that many of the local japanese business men come here religiously. Over a gem in the land of japanese cuisine. really we should nominate this region (mt prospect ) japan town !! so many great authentic restaurants around. Even so this place still stands out !!

    (5)

  • Natta S.

    1. Initial greet - fail. We waited a solid 10 mins to b greeted & seated. 2. Average time for the wait staff to come take our order. 3. After ordering, our food came promptly. 4. We ordered tonkotsu ramen spider roll rock&roll roll & spicy tuna roll. The rolls were mediocre at best. With that being said I will not take points off for this because they are Americanized Japanese food. The ramen on the other hand I enjoyed very much. Dare I say better than the one at Mitsuwa. It wasn't too salty like the other. Broth was mellower noodles were the perfect chew the pork sluices we delicious. 4. Asked for more tea & never got it. Overall I agree with other yelpers, very authentic Japanese restaurant. Def will come back again and try other dishes on the menu.

    (3)

  • Dan B.

    This just might be the best Japanese food in the Chicago area. Forget all the fusion dumps, all the lounges, and whatever other trance-music blasting sushi joints you might have encountered in the city. This is tasty Japanese food without all the unnecessary pretense. They offer a nice selection of a variety of dishes ranging from ramen, udon, sushi to bento boxes. You can even request off-the-menu dishes such as onigiri/yaki onigiri which for me is a must-have add-on to any entree. And Sankyu has to be one of the few places where you can find a decent okonomiyaki, as well as other izakaya-like dishes such as takoyaki. Definitely a hidden treasure in Mount Prospect. I feel sorry for all the saps that head over to Sushi Station instead of this place, but glad that they don't know about it to be honest!

    (5)

  • Yu H.

    I stopped by this place today for lunch. Its kind of hard to find because the sign on the street says Sankyu Sushi instead of its real name. Knowing a little bit about Japanese food culture, this place is suppose to be an izakaya which is basically the Japanese equivalent of a tgi fridays: a casual place where people get together after work for a few drinks and some snacks. This specific place is pretty popular for tonkotsu ramen (noodles in a deep rich pork broth and toppings) so thats exactly what I got: Tonkotsu Ramen: It actually lives up to the hype! The best broth I've ever tasted in a bowl of Ramen. Deep, rich, simmered to the point where the calcium and marrow has leeched out of the bones into the soup making it almost milky. Absolutely wonderful. Compared to Santouka Ramen which makes the same dish, the noodles were a little chewier and thicker but Santouka's Toppings are better and more appealing to the eyes. This place tops its noodles with bamboo shoots, about 3 small slices of pork belly, some bean sprouts, pickled ginger, and half a hard boiled egg. (7.25) I would say if you love your Japanese ramen topped delicious high quality goodies and pork go to Santouka at the Mitsuwa Market, but if you believe that noodle quality and depth of flavor in the soup makes a good ramen then this is your place. The meal also came with a crappy looking shredded lettuce salad which I kind of ignored and ended with 3 tiny fruit jello shots which was nice. If you want something close to an authentic Japanese experience, check this place out! Just keep in mind it has weird hours (Closed on Wednesdays?) Try the Ramen!

    (4)

  • Stuart G.

    We came over from an O'Hare hotel and had a fantastic time. Service was friendly, and all items were excellent. We tried the crab croquettes, bulgi beef appetizers, some nigiri sushi and a fancy roll. Everything was fresh, nicely presented, delicious. It's 'real' and a delightful change from the downtown fancy shmancy with mediocre food.

    (5)

  • Kyle P.

    We went here to eat after reading some reviews on Yelp. The place has a Japanese mom and pop feel to it. You take off your shoes before sitting on traditional tatami flooring. We ordered a couple of appettizers of chicken katsu (? chicken on a stick). I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki and the portion was about average for a Japanese place. It was less flavorful than what I was use to but at least they were quick to refill rice. You have to have rice.

    (3)

  • Julie Y.

    My boyfriend and I dropped by here after a day out in the Northwest suburbs. I was craving ramen but wanted a nicer sit down place than Santouka or Misoya. We arrived at exactly 5:00 when they opened and were ushered into an empty restaurant. Here's what we ordered: 1. Buta kakuni: I am an unabashed fan of anything pork belly and the buta kakuni was delicate and fell apart beneath your chopsticks. The soy marinade was spot on and not overwhelmingly sweet. A winner! 2. Beef kalbi: The soy marinade was very similar to the one used in the buta kakuni, but for some reason I felt that there must have been some alcohol/sake mixed in that wasn't fully cooked off. It was tasty nontheless - but the fact that we got 4 small pieces of kalbi for $8 and the lingering alcohol taste made us slightly miffed. 3. Yakitori: The chicken was tender and juicy, and the char was a great touch. 4. Vegetable Tempura: The vegetables were fresh and the tempura light and crispy. We were both impressed by how light the batter was, which made it seem like we were actually eating vegetables. 5. Tonkotsu Ramen: The broth did not have very much depth or body to it. Nevertheless, the pork belly was great (not too fatty) and the noodles thick and springy! Overall, we were pleased with our experience. While none of the dishes were the best things that we had ever tasted, they were still strong dishes in themselves. That said, the only thing that was lacking in our experience was with the service. I was happy to see that they were fully packed on a Saturday night, but with only 3 servers it was definitely a scramble and there were points where we were forgotten. Even so, we will definitely be back for more when we are out in the burbs!

    (4)

  • Gonzo G.

    Rating: 4.8/5 Short description: Japanese pub food for dinner, normal Japanese food for lunch Similar to: Pub restaurants in Japan, very authentic Pluses: pork cheeks, authentic feel, lots of options Negatives: variable menu, lunch does not have all the pub food Recommendations: pork cheeks, katsu curry is pretty good, don't get fixated by one item because they may not have it that day

    (5)

  • Hans H.

    Came back after dining here many times since January 2012. Still excellent, reliably and consistently good service and food. Ramen remains the best in Chicago, at least until I try Wasabi (though I hear the broth there is quite greasy which will likely turn me off, but we'll see).

    (5)

  • Gregory B.

    These are the flavors I remember from a week long stay at a Japanese-owned resort in Hawaii. I'd give it five stars if you are Japanese and want an traditional restaurant with the true flavors of Japan. Three stars if you are gaijin like me and prefer the sharper, less earthy flavors of Americanized Japanese food. The ramen noodles are even better than Santouka's, though I like the broth better there.

    (4)

  • Sherwin C.

    Good food at good prices and relatively quick service. The bento boxes and noodles were quite good but I wasn't a huge fan of the sushi.

    (4)

  • Martin M.

    As of 08NOV2014, a Saturday night 730pm: The food is still pretty damm tasty and reasonably priced. (please read all the previous accolades) The SERVICE was flooded by the packed place and overwhelmed and the place was totally understaffed for a weekend night. I counted two (2) waitresses and two (2) bus people. Only, one shy mousy waitress spoke Japanese and the Entire counter/kitchen chef crew of two (2) ONLY Spoke Japanese, the rest of the help only spoke Spanish. There was a HUGE communication gap and we waited for 2 hours for our food after 3 reminders to the waitress who in turn went to tell the chefs/cooks. We were a party of three sitting on the sushi bar and watched and overheard every fight and miscommunication during our 2 hour wait. Our waitress who spoke a few words had quite a few rows with the chefs, but it did nothing to get out food out any faster. I finally took my food home ala doggie bag when the main course finally came cause we just couldn't eat after waiting so long after a two hour long soup and appetizer course, we just lost our appetite to have the main course. We lodged a complaint IN JAPANESE to the chef, but not so much as an acknowledgment. much less any care for any apology for a meal and night out ruined. in short price- reasonable taste- exceptional service- somewhat below average (wait help) service, care and concern for your pleasant time Negative ZERO (chef/owner) so if you are into an eccentric zealot chef who s-l-o-w-l-y presents you food at his convenience, but tastes pretty decent for the price, this is the place for you. If you want just regular service and good japanese food and want to actually eat when you are hungry, go elsewhere. If you have all the time in the world and have a lot to talk about (or a fully charged smartphone or a long book to read, then bring a snack and come here to wait on your food, which at the end of the day, still does taste decent. It is also VERY HIGHLY recommended that you speak japanese or they will probably get the order wrong. We watched 3 orders go horribly wrong or not placed at all which created people walking out or making complaints.

    (2)

  • Laura A.

    My husband and I love this place! This is our go to place when we're craving genuine Japanese food. We come here at least once a week or every other week. We always have their tempura udon because their noodles and broth are unlike any other we've had in other restaurants. They have a very friendly wait staff and their fish is always fresh all year long. They have the traditional tables where you can sit down at a shallow table or you can sit in the standard tables. We will continue coming here as long as we are in the Chicagoland area!

    (5)

  • Mel M.

    Sushi is a little pricey. But very good! They have a variety of things. Ordered take out. Small place lots of tables not that much room to move around.

    (3)

  • Chet M.

    Has a nice down home feel here and prices are right. But to be honest, food doesn't blow you away and ramen looks great but is a little bland.

    (3)

  • Eduardo E.

    When we first walked into Sankyu, we were a little alarmed. I guess we've gotten so used to Japanese restaurants that serve a mostly non-Japanese clientele, that walking into Sankyu was frankly a bit of a culture shock. But it turns out, a really really good culture shock, which we enjoyed tremendously. When you first walk in, you'll notice right away the casual nature of the place, and that everything is primarily written in Japanese (with English as the second language). We thought that was very cool. Along with regular tables, there are also booths where you can kick off your shoes and sit on little pillows, in the traditional style. Also very cool, and will try that next time. While the service was prompt and fast, it was also casual. There wasn't any of the false obsequious stuff you sometimes get from servers. These gals were friendly but busy, moving about the tables in a cooperative fashion. We had three different people serving us throughout the meal. It was neat and efficient. Our Japan-immersion experience was also heightened by being seated next to a large and loud table of Japanese men (only speaking Japanese), who had apparently gathered for some sort of happy reunion. We thought it was a lot of fun to be in the middle of all that laughing and shouting. Anyone who says that Japanese people are restrained, hasn't seen them comfortable and in their own element. The food was good, filling and surprisingly inexpensive, compared to most restaurants, and especially other Japanese sushi places. I was frankly shocked when we received the bill, and it was sub-$40 for 3 people. The ramen was outstanding and flavorful, as was the crisp tempura and chicken katsu. No refills on soda, but a full range of cool Japanese beers and drinks. They also gave us a complementary fried fish cakes appetizer, mung bean salads and a miso soup to match another we'd ordered. Very welcoming! This really isn't a sushi place. Their maki rolls were fine, but not great. It felt more like the Japanese version of a neighborhood tavern. Casual, but with tasty basic vittles catering to Japanese tastes. And that's the beauty of this place. It's an authentic Japanese tavern, that isn't trying hard to be hip or something it's not. And last time I checked that, in itself, is pretty hip.

    (4)

  • Becca F.

    Somewhat against my wishes, I find myself traveling to the suburbs of Chicago quite often. I've humored sushi places with rolls featuring names like "crunchy muffy," Thai restaurants whose delivery services embody late-night work oppression, and chain pizza places with menu items that only provide a glimpse of what Chicago has to offer. Unsuspecting, I got lucky. Strangely enough, it was all because of Yelp. Four stars really means something in Austin, my hometown. But in Chicago's suburbs, its clout is slightly diluted. Tonight, the four-star rating redeemed itself with my visit to Izakaya Sankyu. My colleague and I boarded a cab from Rosemont and discovered a magical wonderland of fresh, authentic Japanese dishes that turned our day from :\ to :D. Extra props to the adorbz Japanese grandma type who waited upon us and procured a fantastic sake suggestion. I will be visiting this place again in the future. Thanks for interrupting the perpetuation of mediocrity. Or should I say, "sankyu."

    (4)

  • jay t.

    Authentic Japanese food in Mount Prospect! It's food I would imagine grandma cooking, if I were Japanese..

    (5)

  • Tina W.

    If you have ANY food issues, don't go here! I gave 3 stars because the sashimi was ok. Not awesome. Just ok. My husband liked his food. The tempura was also just ok but the garlic sprout app was highly recommended. Here's my issue with them accommodating food sensitivities: 1. NO substitutions are allowed. None. I was told the offending substance would be removed from the plate and the sushi chef was the one to blame for it. "They just don't do that here." Um, so I can't eat sashimi mackerel because it's pickled, and you can't even just sub another fish on there? Seriously? Nope. The chef doesn't allow it. You pay full price. So sorry. 2. I asked for plain fish. Nothing on it. No sesame seeds, no rice vinegar, nothing. Lemon aaaaaall over it. I'm sensitive to lemon but I decided that THIS would be the night I'd see how my system would do with lemon. ($21 for the sashimi dinner. I wasn't going to try and send it back, based on the reactions I was receiving, or waste the money.) Btw, I survived the lemon experiment. 3. The very first girl we talked to (2 out of 3 spoke excellent English), said she thought I could sub steamed rice for sushi rice in the rolls, but she wasn't entirely sure. I didn't pursue that because I wanted to see how fresh their fish was. This same girl came back at the end of the meal and asked how the meal was. I kept saying it was "ok." She asked what was wrong and I explained #1 above. "I can't eat here again." Her answer? "Oh, that's just her! That's not right." And, a comment possibly about the negative waitress being a manager? I have no idea what that was about but, hello (!), everyone at least be on the same page! She was disappointed. Weeeeeell, I hate to throw common sense into the equation..... My final note is about atmosphere. We sat very close to some sort of machine that looked like it might be a behemoth air filtering machine. Huge tube from the ceiling, 3' tall unit with 2 large tubes coming out of the top, one of which was aimed in our direction. I kept smelling cigarette smoke. I thought maybe the flow of air in the restaurant was dragging the smoker's air toward our table. (It was a stretch, but maybe.) I actually think it was this machine that was pumping the cigarette smoke in. After my issue with the food, cigarette smoke was a definite NO. Wth is with this place? In short, I was looking for a sushi place close to home and this was NOT it. Go to the restaurant in Arlington Heights on Algonquin. Their food is great, the staff is awesome, and in 3 visits, they've worked with me every time. Sankyu is not the place for me. Huge disappointment considering how highly rated they are.

    (3)

  • Jocelynne G.

    Sankyu is so charming and I love their mixed drinks. The calpico sour is delicious and everything we ordered tasted very fresh. Anything deep fried here is tasty, the tonkatsu, tempura, soft shell crab, they even have takoyaki and okonomiyaki! This restaurant is very authentic, the waitresses and the cooks were japanese, so were the other customers. I love the friendly atmosphere of this place. Ironically, the first time I dined here with my boyfriend was after Acen. We wanted some homestyle Japanese food and my friend recommended this place. I'm so glad we came! It was a nice break from the anime mayhem that is Acen ;) The interior decor is adorable, like other reviews have said you actually feel like you're in Japan! The entrance is like... a restaurant inside of a restaurant. You'll get it when you go. I can't wait to come back for more sours and the friendly faces.

    (5)

  • Paige M.

    In my quest for Okonomiyaki, I came across Sankyu. I got the okonomiyaki, of course, and my friends ordered sushi. The okonomikyaki was a little soggier than I would have liked, but it was still good. It has shrimp and I think squid in it, which I've never had in okonomiyaki before. The seafood was fine, but I did miss the pork belly on top. I tried some of the sushi, and it was nothing special. Some of the rolls had wasabi in them, which seems strange. I'm not a huge fan of wasabi, so I probably won't get sushi there again. The waitstaff was very friendly, and we were given little cheesecake squares as a complimentary dessert. I love Japanese food and there's a lot of things on the menu I'd like to try, so I'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Phil S.

    It is with a heavy heart that I submit my first review of Sankyu at only 2 stars. I have been to Sankyu several times in the past and have always enjoyed myself, despite the ridiculous bill that always results. I wanted to have a fresh visit before I submitted my review and was hoping to submit a five star review. Alas, it was not meant to be this time but maybe in the future. Below is my story. We arrived at dinner time on a Sunday evening, hungry for some tapas as well as the ramen that everyone raves about. There were three waitresses but the restaurant was already about half filled and busy. The menu is long so they either purposely gave us a lot of time to look it over or they were just too busy. No problem, I can understand a little wait. We ordered a pitcher of Sapporo to start and also submitted all four of our dinner choices as well. We ordered the tonkatsu ramen, eel tempura, pork cheeks, and a rather expensive yaki soba. The beer came out quickly followed by the pork cheeks and ramen about ten minutes later. We were told our other dishes would be out shortly so we started on the first two items. Being a little hungry, we finished both very quickly and then had to wait for the next round. The eel tempura was delivered about ten minutes later and we quickly devoured that as well in anticipation of our $16 yaki soba. We waited, sipped on some beer, waited some more then about fifteen minutes later were asked if everything was okay. My wife replied that we are still waiting on our yaki soba so our waitress said "oh" and quickly moved toward the kitchen. We assumed that she was checking on our order and would report back to us shortly. 15 minutes later, a different waitress came over and asked if we would like the check. Folks, it was at this point that I should've known something was wrong and just agreed to receive the check. I looked at her and asked what happened to our yaki soba. This waitress also quickly ran towards the kitchen without a single word of apology and must've put in the order for our yaki soba because another twenty minutes later (the restaurant was very busy at this point) we finally received our yaki soba from our original waitress with a quick apology and no explanation. We had been waiting almost an hour for this dish to arrive and had lost our appetite from waiting for so long. I didn't say a word back to her because I didn't want to be that guy that breaks off a piece of their mind on a waitress in front of a bunch of customers. It was obvious at this point that she had forgotten to put our order in not once, but TWICE. Yep, that's right folks. TWICE. We picked at the yaki soba then asked for our check and not only did we not receive another apology at the end of our meal but nobody tried to alleviate the situation by offering us dessert or not charging us for the dish we now didn't have the appetite to finish. Sick with dismay, I tipped accordingly based on our bill not including the yaki soba and walked out. We absolutely loved the food we ate that night. Every last bite of it. It was some of the best noodles I've ever had and I don't think I can ever bear to eat instant ramen noodles again after being spoiled by fresh, real ramen. Even the yaki soba was meaty and tasty. Everything was tasty!!! The service was absolute s@#$. I cannot clearly express my disdain for the absolutely horrible service we received that night and could only calm myself down by telling myself that this was a fluke and it would probably never happen again. The almost $70 bill for 2 people ordering 2 tapas dishes and 2 entrees with a $24 pitcher of beer completed the bitter taste in my mouth to accompany the rotten taste of sub-human service we received. Not even a proper apology. One day, when I have finally rid myself of this awful taste, I will return to once again sample the deliciously expensive treats this restaurant can produce. I can only hope that when I do go back that we do not receive the same horrible service we received. At that time, I will raise (or lower) my rating accordingly.

    (2)

  • Greg D.

    I am easily giving Sankyu 5 Stars as this is as close to being in Japan as you can get in the United States. To begin with Mount Prospect has a high concentration of Japanese residents. All we heard being spoken here was Japanese and the most excellent food is as Japanese as you can get as well. If we were to show our photos to friends or family in Japan and tell them that they were taken in Japan, they would believe it naturally. We tried about 10 different items from the menu and enjoy everything. This is one of the easiest 5 star reviews I've even put on Yelp.

    (5)

  • Anthony K.

    Fresh Fish, generous portions, authentic selection. Wish there was one at home like this.

    (5)

  • Wesley R.

    On the recommendation of a fellow Yelper, I made the trip out to Izakaya Sankyu to try their Tonkotsu Ramen. How'd they do? Ingredients-wise, they hit a number of my favorites: bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, boiled egg, and pork. Appearance-wise: it looked pretty similar to Tonkotsu I've tried elsewhere. Flavor-wise? The taste was fine, but I tend to prefer a slightly denser broth. Not thick like a stew, but with a little bit more volume and weight, where this particular broth came on the lighter side. The noodles were fine, but I was a bit disappointed with the the quality and preparation of the pork. It's certainly a delight when you get well seasoned, or very tender pork. Given it's nature as a quick-serve street food, I'm okay with not having that all the time. It's a different thing when the pork comes in particularly dry. I'm not too fond of that. It's definitely nice to know that there's another solid place to grab ramen from in the area, but it's likely not one I'll be making frequent or special trips for. I also tried their gyoza which was pretty tasty. The restaurant itself had a decent amount of space, and the staff was pretty friendly when I was there. If I get a chance, I would like to sample many of the items on their menu, and I suspect that my rating would be a 4-star rating in that case.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 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 : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Izakaya Sankyu Japanese Restaurant

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