So this was my 4th tapanyaki visit in 3 weeks, at this point I am probably an expert. Not to mention many visits across the US and local joints. Its been years since we have eaten here, but stopped by for a friends birthday. I recalled this place was pretty good, not sure why we stopped coming here. Then after the meal, I think I know why: This place is just bad! The fried rice was dry. The garlic shrimp "topping" was dry. Veggies cooked on the top were not fresh. The only bright spot was the excellent service in getting refills and cleaning up plates. In reading other reviews, I agree with Bill W's review: "The place looks run down. You can do a lot better. "
(2)
Mark V.
I really Love this place! They have the grill top tables up front for Teppan cooking, and the rice and golden sauce is the best . Their sushi is very fresh and they have a good selection of rolls and fish. . I always get golden butterfly shrimp with the egg sauce. Steak and Scallops are also very good
(4)
Marie B.
The owner is so rude. I would never eat here. They hate you if you try to use a Groupon!
(1)
Tom T.
Great sushi bar. Delightful service, fresh sushi and warm sake. I will be back
(5)
Richard S.
Good Sushi, and decent service. Different experience weeknights; weekends are way better. Not the place for an overly complicated drink order. Often you can get a good Group on order.
(4)
Ann Y.
First of all, they really need to remodel this place. The 1980's decor just isn't cutting it. The food is quite good though. I loved the fried rice and the garlic golden shrimp. The steak and chicken are quite good too though the chefts always seem really bored.
(3)
Bobby E.
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY! I go to these types of restaurants all the time, and all over the country. This was probably one of the worst ones I have been to in a long time. The restaurant had the tables full, but wasn't crowded by any means. We sat down and it took 15-20 minutes before anyone came to even bring us water and give us a menu. When the waiter came back, another 10 minutes later, we finally ordered. We also asked for a sushi menu prior to ordering which we never received, so we walked to the sushi bar to get one. The waiter didn't take the sushi order from us, so we just gave it to the sushi bar and told the manager. When the chef came to the table he did the ordinary tricks you see everywhere. He kept claiming that his food would knock our socks off. I ordered a filet, and so did 2 others I was with. It was adequate at best. One other person in my group ordered chicken, and said it was way over cooked and extremely dry. Our waiter was nowhere to be found and I asked the chef for more water, which to his credit, he found somebody to get it immediately for us. The chef was personable, but the food didn't live up to the expectations he set. We didn't even realize until we were done with the food, that we didn't get a shrimp appetizer, which is standard at every other place like this I have been to. I asked for some of the egg yolk sauce to go on top of my steak, they charged me $2 for a portion big enough for not even 2 bites of steak. When I asked for more, the chef said charge double. I said forget it. I complained to manager/owner and he said that's the size. Out of nowhere, out waiter appeared again and we asked him about our sushi, which he had no clue about. He asked the owner/manager and they told him. He stood at the cash register for another 10 minutes before getting us our sushi. (The entire wait staff and the manager spent most of the night at the cash register and away from the full tables. Everywhere I looked, I saw empty glasses and people looking to get the waiters attention, but had no luck) At that point we were basically done eating and didn't necessarily want it. But when it came it looked delicious. However, again, it was adequate at best. The restaurant looks exactly the same as it did when it opened 15 or so years ago, and desperately needs a make over. The staff is horrible, the food is adequate at best, and the only reason I went in there is because somebody had a coupon. I would absolutely never eat here again. Rokbonki is 10-15 minutes west on Dundee and blows this place away 1,000 times over.
(1)
Kasey R.
I really like this place! They have the grill top tables up front for Teppan cooking, but I like to sit in the sushi bar in the back. Their sushi is very fresh and they have a good selection of rolls and fish. In the sushi bar you can also order food that you typically order at the Teppan tables. I always get golden butterfly shrimp with the egg sauce AND I get a few different types of sushi. It's like the best of both worlds!! The only thing is it's like going back in time. The decor isn't as nice as a lot of other places - I think it was last update in the late 80s/early 90s. I'm really pushing for this place though because the food is fantastic and the staff is so much friendlier than the staff at Ron's. Support Kegon!
(5)
Shara B.
Always good... Hands down my favorite hibachi restaurant! Definitely get the golden shrimp with extra egg sauce on your fried rice! :)
(5)
Barry F.
Went here last night with a $40 Groupon. Service was terrific. Very attentive and always on the spot to take dishes, refill drinks, etc. My wife is also not eating any carbs and the staff was very quick to accomidate her. We had the hibachi and the food was standard. I had the sirloin and garlic shrimp. Wife had the filet and scallops. Garlic shrimp were VERY garliccy. If you are not into garlic, you probably won't like them. Otherwise, like I said, food is really standard hibachi style. The chef was very friendly and really chatted up the kids at the table with us. The cooking tricks were very cool as well. Hibachi dinners are kind pricey and the menus had written in prices that were obviously written in to raise the prices.
(4)
Jessie L.
This place definitely teaches you not to judge a book by it's cover! My husband and I were looking for a good sushi place one afternoon and decided to check these guys out based on their ratings. They are very similar to places like Benihana in that they cook on a teppanyaki table right in front of you. Our chef was great, and gave us quite a fun show! We will not hesitate to return! I also recommend their Avocado Roll if your looking for sushi!
(4)
Sarah M.
I've eaten from here twice now and was a little torn about what to rate it. The first time I did a carry out sushi order on a weeknight. I had to wait a little past when they said it would be ready, even though the restaurant was empty. I really didn't have to wait too long though and I thought the rolls were pretty good for the price! The French Kiss was my favorite. The second time however, I decided to eat with a friend in restaurant for sushi on a Friday night. BIG MISTAKE. While the hibachi part of the restaurant was packed, we went to the sushi section and there were only two other people there. My friend and I each ordered 2 rolls. AN HOUR AND A HALF later, we finally got our meal. I don't know what the heck happened! At first, the chef tried to bring us a sashimi platter. Clearly not what we ordered. So he took it back. No one said ANYTHING to us. They did bring us complimentary miso soup, which was nice. But I was expecting to get our rolls then shortly after the soup. Nope. Half an hour later we finally got our meal. When we were almost done, they brought us a complimentary appetizer, but at that point we were getting really full and it was definitely not something we would have wanted to order anyways. While I appreciate the "extras" they gave us, it is completely UNACCEPTABLE for it to take an hour and a half for 4 sushi rolls to come out of the kitchen when no one there was eating sushi. Also, a bowl of miso soup and an appetizer as we're finishing our meal doesn't really seem to make up for the ridiculous wait we had to endure. It also took us about 15 minutes to get our check after flagging down and asking two different waiters. So with that said, the sushi is actually pretty decent for the price, and just because it is close to my house and less expensive than other places, I may order a carry out sometime in the future. But I will NEVER eat in the restaurant again, and I would not even go back for the hibachi after this experience.
(2)
Alliee A.
Hubby and I go here about twice a month (some times more) and we love the sushi. The sushi bar is pretty good, and the service is awesome. We have never had an issue when going in.
(4)
Deena R.
Been here several times for sushi - never habachi. The service is slow, but that's because they don't have many sushi chefs working at once. But if you know that going in, just relax. Check the specials board by the sushi chef, too. I tend to come here with a coupon. Recommend: - Green Ebi Turtle Roll - Crazy California Roll: tasty with some heat; great take on the CA roll, and I don't really like those - Red diamond (no rice): scallop wrapped in tuna, chili oil gives heat w/o being too strong, pieces were differing sizes, very tasty - Kegon tempura (no rice): nice warm option, crab/avocado/cucumber/salmon deep fried - Wild White Tuna Roll: ranch dressing/citrus taste to the sauce; not very spicy but tasty; definitely - Kegon Special: spicy salmon, tuna, avocado, topped w/tuna, salmon & garlic sauce: tasted fine, garlic is the source of the "ranch dressing" taste; would order again if pressed for a roll selection, otherwise skip - Tuna/Avocado Roll: standard roll, neither good nor bad Not for me, thanks... - Fire tuna: tasty but it had an unknown "umami" on top - Kani su: small portion, sauce all drained through to the plate, - Small edamame portion - Salmon nigiri was slimy - Lobster Dragon: lots of ingredients masked the lobster; very mayonnaise laden; not worth the price
(4)
randy e.
The best Teppanyaki in all Chicagoland. Why this place isn't busy every night is beyond me. Everything from soup, salad, vegetables, and entrees are perfectly prepared and seasoned. Service can be a bit slow, but not annoying. Sushi excellent too. Great egg yoke sauce along with the ginger and mustard sauces. My kids love their teriyaki sauce which is home made.
(5)
Valerie W.
We came to Kegon on a whim a few weeks back while trying to find something in the area for dinner. I was surprised to find it tucked away in a strip mall I've been to a zillion times and didn't even know it was there. Ambiance was typical, dark, kinda dank, and very outdated. We were greeted by a woman (who may have been the owner) who scowled half the time and smiled the other. I was very confused by her facial expressions, I couldn't tell if she was pissed that we were there or overjoyed. I also couldn't understand her wardrobe. She was wearing a child-size Abercrombie t-shirt with black pants and flip-flops. If I was running a restaurant, my staff would be much better dressed to represent my brand. Our chef was just so-so, but that might have been because we were the only two at the table. The food was delicious and the portions were rather large. I ended up taking a massive amount of food home as leftovers. The steak and scallops were cooked perfectly, everything was seasoned well, not over salted like some other teppanyaki places in the area. Overall, I'm not running back to Kegon, but it's good to have on the radar.
(4)
Dave V.
Had 8pm reservations made in advance. Waited for about 45 min which was ridiculous. Worse yet is that we sat at the bar, not once in that time did anyone ask if we wanted drinks. So service (not including the chefs) was a horrible ZERO in my book. The food was cooked perfect and tasted great. In reality the price wasnt horribly over-priced but be prepared to spend some cash.
(2)
Allison M.
Don't try to make a reservation. It doesn't help. And it's not a reservation. It's a tentative glimmer of hope that they might seat you within a half hour of the time you ask for. And a note on what I said before about being "accommodating to vegetarians:" they charge as much for their tofu and vegetable entree as they do for their fish or shrimp entrees. It doesn't make any sense. It's a pretty good entree, but there's got to be something morally wrong about charging such a different amount per calorie. Our chef last time was great! Still didn't excuse the astonishing amount of waiting we did to get a table... Even with a reservation. We've resolved to try Ron of Japan for the first time next time we want hibachi, after 11 years of being loyal to Kegon.
(2)
Alan B.
Hey folks...haven't written a review is some time but needed to write one up on Kegon. It's been a few years since we visited the restaurant last, and I remember 10-15 years ago this place was jammed up with a line out the door. Times have sure changed for worst and I understand why. We stopped in there this past Friday evening we noticed only two other occupied tables in the whole restaurant on a Friday night. My kids ordered fried rice that was pretty good, I had the lobster roll that I enjoyed however my wife ordered the Sashimi platter that came out slimy and just way off. The white tuna was fine but the others weren't what so ever. She had one piece of the red tuna and spit it out into a napkin. We called over the waiter to complain that the sushi wasn't fresh and that we didn't want it. He told us that all sales are final and he can't take food back once it's been handed over from the kitchen. I was just amazed that was his answer, never has this happened to us the past. We paid our bill in full, and ended up leaving the whole platter of the sashimi (only eating 2 out of about 20 pieces) on the table. I left my name and phone number on the table in case a manger / owner wanted to contact me to discuss our dining experience...no one has called me yet. My theory is that this place doesn't have that many visitors so the Sushi isn't turned over as frequently as before causing for it to be displayed a few days or weeks past its time. Our bill was $150 so the next day leaving me with a feeling of getting ripped off...oh well, we will never go back. I really hate writing up a negative review but it was well deserved in this case
(1)
Gunner W.
I love this place! I went here for the first time a few months ago and have since been there 3 additional times. Although I'm a sushi lover, I've yet to dine at the sushi bar because I can't get enough of the golden shrimp! The egg sauce is by far the best in the area. The chefs always put on a great show and are very friendly. The servers are very attentive, but they could be a little more aware of empty water glasses in need of a refill. I highly recommend this place, it's my new favorite. They even have a picture of Jokim from the bulls dining there.
(5)
Elaine M.
We have been dining here with our children for years. They are adult now but even as children they enjoyed the cuisine, entertainment and ambiance of the place. We have had both great nights here and completely frustrating ones as well. Their reservation policy does seem to need improvement. If you happen to go on a busy night your reservation means practically nothing but if it's not so busy then no problem they will get you seated promptly. They get overwhelmed easily. The food and the "show" are so dependent on on the luck of which chef you get that night. Some are good, some not so good and some great. I do agree with other reviewers that the prices are a bit high and I also believe that they have reduced the portion size over the years (but Americans are too fat anyway!). Our two favorite dishes are the Habachi sirloin and the salmon teriyaki. Also, get the fried rice, it's worth the little extra you pay for it. In fact, on our most recent visit, our son, had TWO orders of the fried rice.
(3)
Jenifer W.
I have been a LONG time diner at this restaurant. My family and I found it tucked away about 8 years ago, and fell in LOVE with the fresh ingredients and dazzling tableside chef service. The chefs who cooked at the tables were energetic and had really unique "tricks" they did while cooking the food, which because of its freshness was second to none. Fast forward to 2011, and this restaurant has quickly gone downhill. We've watched with great sadness over the last year or so as the shrimp got smaller and smaller, and the prices rose higher and higher (side note - they didn't even bother to re-print the menus when the prices rose - they just TAPED new prices over the old... this would be FUNNY if it wasn't sad). The portions are small enough now to be silly, and the ingredients that were once fresh daily are now either frozen product or wilted so badly we're scared to eat them. The food is questionable at best - as a testament to this, the last 2 times we went here, one of us has gotten sick shortly after. The food is bad enough, but the atmosphere and chef staff have also slid way downhill. The decor hasn't changed in the entire time we've gone here (think dank and dirty now), and the once constant buzz of the crowd has been replaced by almost pure silence. The chefs have gone from dazzling displays to straight cooking, with little to no show for the diners (our last experience, the cook didn't even speak to us, or look at us directly!) Breaks my heart, because I was a huge fan... my advice is to follow the other patrons and take your business elsewhere.
(2)
Daniel K.
Overall good sushi, service, but a bit pricey. Probably the best sushi I've had though since moving from city to the burbs. I would recommend it.
(3)
Oscar L.
Kegon has become our go to for sushi, either for dine-in or carry-out. A caveat...there are better sushi places on the north shore. That said, the sushi here is not only underrated, it's very good. It's also well priced. Even with some recent modest price increases, you can go in with someone else, order a few rolls, and be pleasantly surprised when the bill comes. You'll also be very satisfied with the quality of the food. I've had the the teppan food once here and it was what you'd expect. I'm not a big fan of the flat top cooking, so I stay away. Two reasons that this place isn't getting a five star... Other reviews are correct about the service and decor. At times, it just does not seem like a well run restaurant. The front end seems disorganized when carrying out. We've had a few waitresses that just seem confused. The restaurant also seems like its stuck in the 1980's. it's dark, too. Bottom line...the food is really good. The sushi is excellent and overall this place is a much better deal than its peers.
(4)
Penelope S.
Great food, good sushi, they make the best fied rice I ever had But this restaurant needs updating, remodeling realy bad.
(3)
Vince V.
I haven't tried their sushi. Seeing how run down looking the interiors were when my party of 6 walked in at lunch time, I was a little apprehensive about ordering anything raw. It took a long time from when orders were placed and when the teppanyaki chef came out. I have to say that the chef was pretty good. Since a little juggling is part of the teppanyaki experience, our guy had some skills. The food itself wasn't bad. The fried rice was decent and the shrimp with golden egg sauce was too. I couldn't understand why service was slow otherwise, we were the only people there. Most restaurants in this category tend to charge a premium for the show and the food and they are no exception. This qualifies as my first experience with the teppanyaki grill version of a dive and maybe I haven't figured out how to deal with that yet.
(2)
Michael A.
I am a long time customer of this restaurant but everything about it is in a decline. The service is terrible. On our last visit, it took 10 minutes for a waitress to take our order and another 15 for her to bring our drinks. It took 40 minutes for a chef to show up at our table to start cooking. It appeared that they only had one chef on duty that night and every table was full. We also ran into issues with the Groupon that they offered. They limit it to one per table but unless you are eating sushi in the sushi bar, you don't have any control over who else is sitting at your table. We happened to be seated with another couple who also had a Groupon and the restaurant wouldn't accept both coupons. The owner was no help in resolving the situation. The food is average and the prices are high. The sushi is good and always very fresh. This is fast becoming a good restaurant to avoid.
(1)
Wilemina N.
I will never go again and IF YOU VALUE YOUR HEALTH NEITHER WILL YOU! Went for lunch here today with a friend and our children. We all were food poisoned (same symptoms, same timing, we come from different households and only had this meal in common) and I called the restaurant immediately to let them know so that they could protect other patrons from the suspect dish. The manager said he "believed me" but I needed to go to an ER to prove that I got food poisoned there, that he had never had a complaint of food poisoning in 16 years, etc. He never bothered to ask what we ate or seem remotely apologetic. I can get past a food poisoning incident, but I can't get past bad management.
(1)
Alicia S.
I have been here a few times in the past, but will never go again. Ate teppanyaki lunch here today with a friend and our children. We all were food poisoned (same symptoms, same timing, we come from different households and only had this meal in common) and I called the restaurant immediately to let them know so that they could protect other patrons from the suspect dish. The manager never asked what made me sick -doesn't seem to care about his other customers health. Just wanted to argue with me about being sick. Booo!
(1)
Krisha d.
Great food, Great prices. I've taken my son, my mother, my sister, my husband, daughter, lol you name em,' I've taken them. It's in the same plaza as Nickel City and Tuesday Morning. Can't go wrong! Their lunch and dinner menu is way more reasonable than any other Tepanyaki place I have been to. I will definitely recommend the Spicy Garlic Shrimp, the tuna. Really, everyone I have brought here does not complain. I do agree that the staff, (NOT including chefs) are a bit scatter-minded and absent at times. I also do not like to be rushed out of my seat after a meal. Last time I was there, I went to the bathroom and my Sake was not finished, and they had already seated another table. If you guys weren't in the same plaza as Nickel City and Tuesday Morning, honestly I would probably go elsewhere for better service.
(3)
Bill W.
We've been here many times over the years as we live pretty close. Our kids like going as a special treat for their Birthdays. This however is the last time we'll ever go. The outdated decor and run down condition makes it feel gross to eat there now. The "show" the chef put on was so poor that my 9 year old said we got ripped off. For the area and the money, you can do a lot better than Kegon.
(1)
R P.
Food was ok but the owner/ host/hostess are always rude. Not sure why. They should find another occupation.
(2)
Libby M.
Used to be our sushi in the suburbs place, years ago. About 5-6 years back, they changed ownership, and the place went downhill since. Over the years, we came back consistentlly, and , sometimes the food is good, but really it's hit or miss.
(2)
Dawn A.
A group of co-workers and I decided to have lunch here today to spend the Living Social deal that I purchased several months ago. There were 4 of us and we were seated quickly at one of the hibachi tables. A waitress came and took our drink orders and she gave us plenty of time to browse the menu. I did have to ask specifically for a sushi menu. The edamame arrived fast and co-workers #1 & #2 ordered the golden shrimp with a california roll combo lunch. Co-worker #3 ordered the teriyaki chicken lunch meal. I ordered 1 california roll, a caterpillar roll, 1 ebi, and 2 unagi. The chef began his show quickly and #1 & #2 california rolls arrived quickly as well. I did taste the fried rice and, while it was pretty tasty, it is not as good as other hibachi cooked fried rice that I have had at other places. The chef completed all his cooking and my co-workers were eating before my sushi even arrived. Regardless, they are slow eaters and I am a fast eater so we all pretty much finished on time anyway. The sushi was quite fresh and the caterpillar roll was delicious. I even got co-worker #2 to try a piece for the first time and she liked it, too. Our glasses were kept full, however we did have to ask for chop sticks as they were not part of the table setting. When it came time for the check, there was an additional charge on there that we didn't expect. I'm not sure what it was...nor were they...but it was removed without question. It did take a while for the waitress to come pick up the credit card. All in all it was a good experience and we were in and out in just over an hour. Perfect timing for lunch. We'll go again.
(3)
Jessica - Angela N.
Been here a few times and each time it seems as though the food gets worse. The sauces are full of fat and the texture of the meat is like rubber. I've been to many Japanese steakhouses and kegon would prolly rate one of the worse :(
(2)
Amy A.
I used to go to Kegon religiously for lunch for the past 6 years. But then my friends/coworkers moved around a bit and are no longer in the area, so my frequency has dropped quite significantly. The ambiance is decorated straight out of the 80's. However, the qualify is consistently good. I always get the filet mignon and golden shrimp combo. I love, love, love their golden shrimp. It's the best preparation I've had in the area. Their ginger dressing on the salad is also very light and refreshing. I always try to make an excuse to go whenever I can. And now they have delivery for orders over $25.00 minimum and delivery fee. Woo!
(5)
Max P.
My favorite restaurant. The Golden Shrimp and Scallops are especially fantastic. Sushi is fresh, everything is always delicious. High recommendations here.
(5)
Marisa P.
I cannot speak to the hibachi, but for take-out sushi this place is a win. The sushi/sashimi dinner had a little bit of everything. The fish was like butter. It came with a miso soup and salad that I also had no problem downing in about 5 minutes. The man who delivered the food was so sweet and everything arrived at the hotel quickly and perfectly packaged. When I have to come back to Chicago this place is definitely on the revisit list.
(4)
Louna L.
I still long for this place even if I ate here 8 years ago :)! Those golden shrimp w/ egg yolk sauce.
(5)
Krizia C.
From the people to their food, everything about Kegon is pretty much amazing. Highly recommend testing it out for yourself because you will not regret ever coming here. Taste and service: 10/10
(5)
Alex O.
Not the biggest fan of hibachi places but the prices here are reasonable during lunch time. Love the fried rice and the filet/chicken meal. They do a good job and the presentation is fun as well. Def enjoy this place
(4)
Gary F.
Had variety of sushi, teppan steak . All were very good, good service, although a bit pricey.
(4)
Brian F.
Weirdest darn place. They just remodeled the inside, but the door has some kind of weird, thick cloth that you have to pass through, that looks old and dirty, to get to the restaurant. I just wanted sushi so the waitress took me back to the sushi bar to find the owner/manager hanging out at one of 3 places set up for customers. The rest of the sushi bar was empty like no-one ever used it. No chairs or setups. Then the sushi-chef pops out of the kitchen wearing jeans, a white undershirt, and apron. Very classy. The place just has a feel that noone cares and the management is pathetic. Then comes the sushi. Absolutely fresh and the biggest pieces of fish per rice that I've ever come across. The flavors, tastes, and textures were perfect. Hugh!?? If it wasn't for the poor impression I had of this restaurant it would have definitely scored higher due to the sushi.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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 : Yes
Mike A.
So this was my 4th tapanyaki visit in 3 weeks, at this point I am probably an expert. Not to mention many visits across the US and local joints. Its been years since we have eaten here, but stopped by for a friends birthday. I recalled this place was pretty good, not sure why we stopped coming here. Then after the meal, I think I know why: This place is just bad! The fried rice was dry. The garlic shrimp "topping" was dry. Veggies cooked on the top were not fresh. The only bright spot was the excellent service in getting refills and cleaning up plates. In reading other reviews, I agree with Bill W's review: "The place looks run down. You can do a lot better. "
(2)Mark V.
I really Love this place! They have the grill top tables up front for Teppan cooking, and the rice and golden sauce is the best . Their sushi is very fresh and they have a good selection of rolls and fish. . I always get golden butterfly shrimp with the egg sauce. Steak and Scallops are also very good
(4)Marie B.
The owner is so rude. I would never eat here. They hate you if you try to use a Groupon!
(1)Tom T.
Great sushi bar. Delightful service, fresh sushi and warm sake. I will be back
(5)Richard S.
Good Sushi, and decent service. Different experience weeknights; weekends are way better. Not the place for an overly complicated drink order. Often you can get a good Group on order.
(4)Ann Y.
First of all, they really need to remodel this place. The 1980's decor just isn't cutting it. The food is quite good though. I loved the fried rice and the garlic golden shrimp. The steak and chicken are quite good too though the chefts always seem really bored.
(3)Bobby E.
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY! I go to these types of restaurants all the time, and all over the country. This was probably one of the worst ones I have been to in a long time. The restaurant had the tables full, but wasn't crowded by any means. We sat down and it took 15-20 minutes before anyone came to even bring us water and give us a menu. When the waiter came back, another 10 minutes later, we finally ordered. We also asked for a sushi menu prior to ordering which we never received, so we walked to the sushi bar to get one. The waiter didn't take the sushi order from us, so we just gave it to the sushi bar and told the manager. When the chef came to the table he did the ordinary tricks you see everywhere. He kept claiming that his food would knock our socks off. I ordered a filet, and so did 2 others I was with. It was adequate at best. One other person in my group ordered chicken, and said it was way over cooked and extremely dry. Our waiter was nowhere to be found and I asked the chef for more water, which to his credit, he found somebody to get it immediately for us. The chef was personable, but the food didn't live up to the expectations he set. We didn't even realize until we were done with the food, that we didn't get a shrimp appetizer, which is standard at every other place like this I have been to. I asked for some of the egg yolk sauce to go on top of my steak, they charged me $2 for a portion big enough for not even 2 bites of steak. When I asked for more, the chef said charge double. I said forget it. I complained to manager/owner and he said that's the size. Out of nowhere, out waiter appeared again and we asked him about our sushi, which he had no clue about. He asked the owner/manager and they told him. He stood at the cash register for another 10 minutes before getting us our sushi. (The entire wait staff and the manager spent most of the night at the cash register and away from the full tables. Everywhere I looked, I saw empty glasses and people looking to get the waiters attention, but had no luck) At that point we were basically done eating and didn't necessarily want it. But when it came it looked delicious. However, again, it was adequate at best. The restaurant looks exactly the same as it did when it opened 15 or so years ago, and desperately needs a make over. The staff is horrible, the food is adequate at best, and the only reason I went in there is because somebody had a coupon. I would absolutely never eat here again. Rokbonki is 10-15 minutes west on Dundee and blows this place away 1,000 times over.
(1)Kasey R.
I really like this place! They have the grill top tables up front for Teppan cooking, but I like to sit in the sushi bar in the back. Their sushi is very fresh and they have a good selection of rolls and fish. In the sushi bar you can also order food that you typically order at the Teppan tables. I always get golden butterfly shrimp with the egg sauce AND I get a few different types of sushi. It's like the best of both worlds!! The only thing is it's like going back in time. The decor isn't as nice as a lot of other places - I think it was last update in the late 80s/early 90s. I'm really pushing for this place though because the food is fantastic and the staff is so much friendlier than the staff at Ron's. Support Kegon!
(5)Shara B.
Always good... Hands down my favorite hibachi restaurant! Definitely get the golden shrimp with extra egg sauce on your fried rice! :)
(5)Barry F.
Went here last night with a $40 Groupon. Service was terrific. Very attentive and always on the spot to take dishes, refill drinks, etc. My wife is also not eating any carbs and the staff was very quick to accomidate her. We had the hibachi and the food was standard. I had the sirloin and garlic shrimp. Wife had the filet and scallops. Garlic shrimp were VERY garliccy. If you are not into garlic, you probably won't like them. Otherwise, like I said, food is really standard hibachi style. The chef was very friendly and really chatted up the kids at the table with us. The cooking tricks were very cool as well. Hibachi dinners are kind pricey and the menus had written in prices that were obviously written in to raise the prices.
(4)Jessie L.
This place definitely teaches you not to judge a book by it's cover! My husband and I were looking for a good sushi place one afternoon and decided to check these guys out based on their ratings. They are very similar to places like Benihana in that they cook on a teppanyaki table right in front of you. Our chef was great, and gave us quite a fun show! We will not hesitate to return! I also recommend their Avocado Roll if your looking for sushi!
(4)Sarah M.
I've eaten from here twice now and was a little torn about what to rate it. The first time I did a carry out sushi order on a weeknight. I had to wait a little past when they said it would be ready, even though the restaurant was empty. I really didn't have to wait too long though and I thought the rolls were pretty good for the price! The French Kiss was my favorite. The second time however, I decided to eat with a friend in restaurant for sushi on a Friday night. BIG MISTAKE. While the hibachi part of the restaurant was packed, we went to the sushi section and there were only two other people there. My friend and I each ordered 2 rolls. AN HOUR AND A HALF later, we finally got our meal. I don't know what the heck happened! At first, the chef tried to bring us a sashimi platter. Clearly not what we ordered. So he took it back. No one said ANYTHING to us. They did bring us complimentary miso soup, which was nice. But I was expecting to get our rolls then shortly after the soup. Nope. Half an hour later we finally got our meal. When we were almost done, they brought us a complimentary appetizer, but at that point we were getting really full and it was definitely not something we would have wanted to order anyways. While I appreciate the "extras" they gave us, it is completely UNACCEPTABLE for it to take an hour and a half for 4 sushi rolls to come out of the kitchen when no one there was eating sushi. Also, a bowl of miso soup and an appetizer as we're finishing our meal doesn't really seem to make up for the ridiculous wait we had to endure. It also took us about 15 minutes to get our check after flagging down and asking two different waiters. So with that said, the sushi is actually pretty decent for the price, and just because it is close to my house and less expensive than other places, I may order a carry out sometime in the future. But I will NEVER eat in the restaurant again, and I would not even go back for the hibachi after this experience.
(2)Alliee A.
Hubby and I go here about twice a month (some times more) and we love the sushi. The sushi bar is pretty good, and the service is awesome. We have never had an issue when going in.
(4)Deena R.
Been here several times for sushi - never habachi. The service is slow, but that's because they don't have many sushi chefs working at once. But if you know that going in, just relax. Check the specials board by the sushi chef, too. I tend to come here with a coupon. Recommend: - Green Ebi Turtle Roll - Crazy California Roll: tasty with some heat; great take on the CA roll, and I don't really like those - Red diamond (no rice): scallop wrapped in tuna, chili oil gives heat w/o being too strong, pieces were differing sizes, very tasty - Kegon tempura (no rice): nice warm option, crab/avocado/cucumber/salmon deep fried - Wild White Tuna Roll: ranch dressing/citrus taste to the sauce; not very spicy but tasty; definitely - Kegon Special: spicy salmon, tuna, avocado, topped w/tuna, salmon & garlic sauce: tasted fine, garlic is the source of the "ranch dressing" taste; would order again if pressed for a roll selection, otherwise skip - Tuna/Avocado Roll: standard roll, neither good nor bad Not for me, thanks... - Fire tuna: tasty but it had an unknown "umami" on top - Kani su: small portion, sauce all drained through to the plate, - Small edamame portion - Salmon nigiri was slimy - Lobster Dragon: lots of ingredients masked the lobster; very mayonnaise laden; not worth the price
(4)randy e.
The best Teppanyaki in all Chicagoland. Why this place isn't busy every night is beyond me. Everything from soup, salad, vegetables, and entrees are perfectly prepared and seasoned. Service can be a bit slow, but not annoying. Sushi excellent too. Great egg yoke sauce along with the ginger and mustard sauces. My kids love their teriyaki sauce which is home made.
(5)Valerie W.
We came to Kegon on a whim a few weeks back while trying to find something in the area for dinner. I was surprised to find it tucked away in a strip mall I've been to a zillion times and didn't even know it was there. Ambiance was typical, dark, kinda dank, and very outdated. We were greeted by a woman (who may have been the owner) who scowled half the time and smiled the other. I was very confused by her facial expressions, I couldn't tell if she was pissed that we were there or overjoyed. I also couldn't understand her wardrobe. She was wearing a child-size Abercrombie t-shirt with black pants and flip-flops. If I was running a restaurant, my staff would be much better dressed to represent my brand. Our chef was just so-so, but that might have been because we were the only two at the table. The food was delicious and the portions were rather large. I ended up taking a massive amount of food home as leftovers. The steak and scallops were cooked perfectly, everything was seasoned well, not over salted like some other teppanyaki places in the area. Overall, I'm not running back to Kegon, but it's good to have on the radar.
(4)Dave V.
Had 8pm reservations made in advance. Waited for about 45 min which was ridiculous. Worse yet is that we sat at the bar, not once in that time did anyone ask if we wanted drinks. So service (not including the chefs) was a horrible ZERO in my book. The food was cooked perfect and tasted great. In reality the price wasnt horribly over-priced but be prepared to spend some cash.
(2)Allison M.
Don't try to make a reservation. It doesn't help. And it's not a reservation. It's a tentative glimmer of hope that they might seat you within a half hour of the time you ask for. And a note on what I said before about being "accommodating to vegetarians:" they charge as much for their tofu and vegetable entree as they do for their fish or shrimp entrees. It doesn't make any sense. It's a pretty good entree, but there's got to be something morally wrong about charging such a different amount per calorie. Our chef last time was great! Still didn't excuse the astonishing amount of waiting we did to get a table... Even with a reservation. We've resolved to try Ron of Japan for the first time next time we want hibachi, after 11 years of being loyal to Kegon.
(2)Alan B.
Hey folks...haven't written a review is some time but needed to write one up on Kegon. It's been a few years since we visited the restaurant last, and I remember 10-15 years ago this place was jammed up with a line out the door. Times have sure changed for worst and I understand why. We stopped in there this past Friday evening we noticed only two other occupied tables in the whole restaurant on a Friday night. My kids ordered fried rice that was pretty good, I had the lobster roll that I enjoyed however my wife ordered the Sashimi platter that came out slimy and just way off. The white tuna was fine but the others weren't what so ever. She had one piece of the red tuna and spit it out into a napkin. We called over the waiter to complain that the sushi wasn't fresh and that we didn't want it. He told us that all sales are final and he can't take food back once it's been handed over from the kitchen. I was just amazed that was his answer, never has this happened to us the past. We paid our bill in full, and ended up leaving the whole platter of the sashimi (only eating 2 out of about 20 pieces) on the table. I left my name and phone number on the table in case a manger / owner wanted to contact me to discuss our dining experience...no one has called me yet. My theory is that this place doesn't have that many visitors so the Sushi isn't turned over as frequently as before causing for it to be displayed a few days or weeks past its time. Our bill was $150 so the next day leaving me with a feeling of getting ripped off...oh well, we will never go back. I really hate writing up a negative review but it was well deserved in this case
(1)Gunner W.
I love this place! I went here for the first time a few months ago and have since been there 3 additional times. Although I'm a sushi lover, I've yet to dine at the sushi bar because I can't get enough of the golden shrimp! The egg sauce is by far the best in the area. The chefs always put on a great show and are very friendly. The servers are very attentive, but they could be a little more aware of empty water glasses in need of a refill. I highly recommend this place, it's my new favorite. They even have a picture of Jokim from the bulls dining there.
(5)Elaine M.
We have been dining here with our children for years. They are adult now but even as children they enjoyed the cuisine, entertainment and ambiance of the place. We have had both great nights here and completely frustrating ones as well. Their reservation policy does seem to need improvement. If you happen to go on a busy night your reservation means practically nothing but if it's not so busy then no problem they will get you seated promptly. They get overwhelmed easily. The food and the "show" are so dependent on on the luck of which chef you get that night. Some are good, some not so good and some great. I do agree with other reviewers that the prices are a bit high and I also believe that they have reduced the portion size over the years (but Americans are too fat anyway!). Our two favorite dishes are the Habachi sirloin and the salmon teriyaki. Also, get the fried rice, it's worth the little extra you pay for it. In fact, on our most recent visit, our son, had TWO orders of the fried rice.
(3)Jenifer W.
I have been a LONG time diner at this restaurant. My family and I found it tucked away about 8 years ago, and fell in LOVE with the fresh ingredients and dazzling tableside chef service. The chefs who cooked at the tables were energetic and had really unique "tricks" they did while cooking the food, which because of its freshness was second to none. Fast forward to 2011, and this restaurant has quickly gone downhill. We've watched with great sadness over the last year or so as the shrimp got smaller and smaller, and the prices rose higher and higher (side note - they didn't even bother to re-print the menus when the prices rose - they just TAPED new prices over the old... this would be FUNNY if it wasn't sad). The portions are small enough now to be silly, and the ingredients that were once fresh daily are now either frozen product or wilted so badly we're scared to eat them. The food is questionable at best - as a testament to this, the last 2 times we went here, one of us has gotten sick shortly after. The food is bad enough, but the atmosphere and chef staff have also slid way downhill. The decor hasn't changed in the entire time we've gone here (think dank and dirty now), and the once constant buzz of the crowd has been replaced by almost pure silence. The chefs have gone from dazzling displays to straight cooking, with little to no show for the diners (our last experience, the cook didn't even speak to us, or look at us directly!) Breaks my heart, because I was a huge fan... my advice is to follow the other patrons and take your business elsewhere.
(2)Daniel K.
Overall good sushi, service, but a bit pricey. Probably the best sushi I've had though since moving from city to the burbs. I would recommend it.
(3)Oscar L.
Kegon has become our go to for sushi, either for dine-in or carry-out. A caveat...there are better sushi places on the north shore. That said, the sushi here is not only underrated, it's very good. It's also well priced. Even with some recent modest price increases, you can go in with someone else, order a few rolls, and be pleasantly surprised when the bill comes. You'll also be very satisfied with the quality of the food. I've had the the teppan food once here and it was what you'd expect. I'm not a big fan of the flat top cooking, so I stay away. Two reasons that this place isn't getting a five star... Other reviews are correct about the service and decor. At times, it just does not seem like a well run restaurant. The front end seems disorganized when carrying out. We've had a few waitresses that just seem confused. The restaurant also seems like its stuck in the 1980's. it's dark, too. Bottom line...the food is really good. The sushi is excellent and overall this place is a much better deal than its peers.
(4)Penelope S.
Great food, good sushi, they make the best fied rice I ever had But this restaurant needs updating, remodeling realy bad.
(3)Vince V.
I haven't tried their sushi. Seeing how run down looking the interiors were when my party of 6 walked in at lunch time, I was a little apprehensive about ordering anything raw. It took a long time from when orders were placed and when the teppanyaki chef came out. I have to say that the chef was pretty good. Since a little juggling is part of the teppanyaki experience, our guy had some skills. The food itself wasn't bad. The fried rice was decent and the shrimp with golden egg sauce was too. I couldn't understand why service was slow otherwise, we were the only people there. Most restaurants in this category tend to charge a premium for the show and the food and they are no exception. This qualifies as my first experience with the teppanyaki grill version of a dive and maybe I haven't figured out how to deal with that yet.
(2)Michael A.
I am a long time customer of this restaurant but everything about it is in a decline. The service is terrible. On our last visit, it took 10 minutes for a waitress to take our order and another 15 for her to bring our drinks. It took 40 minutes for a chef to show up at our table to start cooking. It appeared that they only had one chef on duty that night and every table was full. We also ran into issues with the Groupon that they offered. They limit it to one per table but unless you are eating sushi in the sushi bar, you don't have any control over who else is sitting at your table. We happened to be seated with another couple who also had a Groupon and the restaurant wouldn't accept both coupons. The owner was no help in resolving the situation. The food is average and the prices are high. The sushi is good and always very fresh. This is fast becoming a good restaurant to avoid.
(1)Wilemina N.
I will never go again and IF YOU VALUE YOUR HEALTH NEITHER WILL YOU! Went for lunch here today with a friend and our children. We all were food poisoned (same symptoms, same timing, we come from different households and only had this meal in common) and I called the restaurant immediately to let them know so that they could protect other patrons from the suspect dish. The manager said he "believed me" but I needed to go to an ER to prove that I got food poisoned there, that he had never had a complaint of food poisoning in 16 years, etc. He never bothered to ask what we ate or seem remotely apologetic. I can get past a food poisoning incident, but I can't get past bad management.
(1)Alicia S.
I have been here a few times in the past, but will never go again. Ate teppanyaki lunch here today with a friend and our children. We all were food poisoned (same symptoms, same timing, we come from different households and only had this meal in common) and I called the restaurant immediately to let them know so that they could protect other patrons from the suspect dish. The manager never asked what made me sick -doesn't seem to care about his other customers health. Just wanted to argue with me about being sick. Booo!
(1)Krisha d.
Great food, Great prices. I've taken my son, my mother, my sister, my husband, daughter, lol you name em,' I've taken them. It's in the same plaza as Nickel City and Tuesday Morning. Can't go wrong! Their lunch and dinner menu is way more reasonable than any other Tepanyaki place I have been to. I will definitely recommend the Spicy Garlic Shrimp, the tuna. Really, everyone I have brought here does not complain. I do agree that the staff, (NOT including chefs) are a bit scatter-minded and absent at times. I also do not like to be rushed out of my seat after a meal. Last time I was there, I went to the bathroom and my Sake was not finished, and they had already seated another table. If you guys weren't in the same plaza as Nickel City and Tuesday Morning, honestly I would probably go elsewhere for better service.
(3)Bill W.
We've been here many times over the years as we live pretty close. Our kids like going as a special treat for their Birthdays. This however is the last time we'll ever go. The outdated decor and run down condition makes it feel gross to eat there now. The "show" the chef put on was so poor that my 9 year old said we got ripped off. For the area and the money, you can do a lot better than Kegon.
(1)R P.
Food was ok but the owner/ host/hostess are always rude. Not sure why. They should find another occupation.
(2)Libby M.
Used to be our sushi in the suburbs place, years ago. About 5-6 years back, they changed ownership, and the place went downhill since. Over the years, we came back consistentlly, and , sometimes the food is good, but really it's hit or miss.
(2)Dawn A.
A group of co-workers and I decided to have lunch here today to spend the Living Social deal that I purchased several months ago. There were 4 of us and we were seated quickly at one of the hibachi tables. A waitress came and took our drink orders and she gave us plenty of time to browse the menu. I did have to ask specifically for a sushi menu. The edamame arrived fast and co-workers #1 & #2 ordered the golden shrimp with a california roll combo lunch. Co-worker #3 ordered the teriyaki chicken lunch meal. I ordered 1 california roll, a caterpillar roll, 1 ebi, and 2 unagi. The chef began his show quickly and #1 & #2 california rolls arrived quickly as well. I did taste the fried rice and, while it was pretty tasty, it is not as good as other hibachi cooked fried rice that I have had at other places. The chef completed all his cooking and my co-workers were eating before my sushi even arrived. Regardless, they are slow eaters and I am a fast eater so we all pretty much finished on time anyway. The sushi was quite fresh and the caterpillar roll was delicious. I even got co-worker #2 to try a piece for the first time and she liked it, too. Our glasses were kept full, however we did have to ask for chop sticks as they were not part of the table setting. When it came time for the check, there was an additional charge on there that we didn't expect. I'm not sure what it was...nor were they...but it was removed without question. It did take a while for the waitress to come pick up the credit card. All in all it was a good experience and we were in and out in just over an hour. Perfect timing for lunch. We'll go again.
(3)Jessica - Angela N.
Been here a few times and each time it seems as though the food gets worse. The sauces are full of fat and the texture of the meat is like rubber. I've been to many Japanese steakhouses and kegon would prolly rate one of the worse :(
(2)Amy A.
I used to go to Kegon religiously for lunch for the past 6 years. But then my friends/coworkers moved around a bit and are no longer in the area, so my frequency has dropped quite significantly. The ambiance is decorated straight out of the 80's. However, the qualify is consistently good. I always get the filet mignon and golden shrimp combo. I love, love, love their golden shrimp. It's the best preparation I've had in the area. Their ginger dressing on the salad is also very light and refreshing. I always try to make an excuse to go whenever I can. And now they have delivery for orders over $25.00 minimum and delivery fee. Woo!
(5)Max P.
My favorite restaurant. The Golden Shrimp and Scallops are especially fantastic. Sushi is fresh, everything is always delicious. High recommendations here.
(5)Marisa P.
I cannot speak to the hibachi, but for take-out sushi this place is a win. The sushi/sashimi dinner had a little bit of everything. The fish was like butter. It came with a miso soup and salad that I also had no problem downing in about 5 minutes. The man who delivered the food was so sweet and everything arrived at the hotel quickly and perfectly packaged. When I have to come back to Chicago this place is definitely on the revisit list.
(4)Louna L.
I still long for this place even if I ate here 8 years ago :)! Those golden shrimp w/ egg yolk sauce.
(5)Krizia C.
From the people to their food, everything about Kegon is pretty much amazing. Highly recommend testing it out for yourself because you will not regret ever coming here. Taste and service: 10/10
(5)Alex O.
Not the biggest fan of hibachi places but the prices here are reasonable during lunch time. Love the fried rice and the filet/chicken meal. They do a good job and the presentation is fun as well. Def enjoy this place
(4)Gary F.
Had variety of sushi, teppan steak . All were very good, good service, although a bit pricey.
(4)Brian F.
Weirdest darn place. They just remodeled the inside, but the door has some kind of weird, thick cloth that you have to pass through, that looks old and dirty, to get to the restaurant. I just wanted sushi so the waitress took me back to the sushi bar to find the owner/manager hanging out at one of 3 places set up for customers. The rest of the sushi bar was empty like no-one ever used it. No chairs or setups. Then the sushi-chef pops out of the kitchen wearing jeans, a white undershirt, and apron. Very classy. The place just has a feel that noone cares and the management is pathetic. Then comes the sushi. Absolutely fresh and the biggest pieces of fish per rice that I've ever come across. The flavors, tastes, and textures were perfect. Hugh!?? If it wasn't for the poor impression I had of this restaurant it would have definitely scored higher due to the sushi.
(3)