I have been to Sushi Kushi more the five times and have to say that i was never disappointed! There is a very good veariaty of Sushi and everything is always super fresh and very taste. The Eel is always my favorite and very good here, also i recommend caterpillar, dragon and highlander rolls. Combination of Eel tuna and avacado is super good ! There are many Sushi bars in Vernon Hills... Personally this is my favorite one.
(5)
Shawn G.
Pleasantly surprised! The menu didn't help the ordering process, but the waiter was able to recommend some REALLY delicious items. Very attentive staff and great ambience. Going back sooooon.
(4)
Alice A.
Friendly environment, great service, and yummy food. I went there during lunch hours and ordered the special of the day bento box (soup included). Like the previous user stated, their california roll has real crab meat in them! Oh, they also give you hot green tea! My group also ordered Ika Maru Yaki (grilled squid) from their kitchen appetizer menu and is pretty good as well. I would stay away from the fried calamari and agedashi dofu.
(4)
Ed M.
Excellent, Very fresh the best Sushi I ever had try The Bears roll
(5)
J. G.
Incredible menu, so many items to choose from. Lots of unusual combination rolls, and pretty reasonably priced. We sat at the sushi bar, and wasn't too keen on the wait staff constantly reaching over us to pick up food. The restaurant had the whole corner of the sushi bar blocked off displaying daily specials - why didn't use that area instead? Customer service was just ok. None of our used soup, or appetizer dishes were taken away until the very end, leaving us working around piles of dishes. The sushi bar chefs were very friendly and skilled. I would eat here again, but probably wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(4)
Chelsie L.
This is the best sushi place that I have ever been to. I like to try different sushi restaurants and so far no restaurant has been able to top this one! My favorite roll is the central roll. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Victoria W.
I dont understand where the 4 star of this place comes from. Must all be from lunch diners who are going after their bento box. Ordered the veggie yakisoba here and it is not palatable at all. very sour, never had such terrible yakisoba. I thought the yakisoba at tokyo bowl was weird but this place made tokyo bowl look like heaven. i asked the person working at the register how many pieces are in different rolls and all she said was, they are all different and looked away. thanks for answering my question, you just lost a customer wanting to order sushi. their wait was also long, 25 minute for a take out??!! i ended up going to the cold stone next store to wait it out. the only reason why this place is not 1 star is because the decor is nice. also this place is owned by koreans, yes koreans eat sushi too but if you want real japanese sushi, you know what you get here will lack authenticity.
(2)
Tonya H.
Awesome....awesome...awesome meal. Visited while on a work trip.for a quick dinner and it was wonderful. Cute location and options to sit outside. Great place to end a long work day!
(4)
Cole D.
Great selection on the menu. Our dish (although I can't remember which it was) was superb and quite flavorful. The sushi bar is a great addition with imported alcoholic beverage options as well.
(4)
Dustin H.
This is a very good, straightforward sushi place. Decent frices flavorful fish, and a neatly decorated interior make for a nice dining experience. The basic rolls were slightly on the smaller side, but this was good, because it meant less rice, not less fish, which made the flavor that much more noticeable. I stopped by for a late lunch and it was farly empty, but I could imagine it getting very crowded. All in all, a good place that I will probably stop at again.
(4)
cindy k.
I've been coming here for several years and I'm dropping this down a star because you just don't feel welcomed anymore like you once used to. The service is decent but you can tell they want you quickly in and out.
(3)
Elina S.
Okay so I've been to the sushi Kushi in lake forest once and thought it was pretty good but that was a long time ago. I've been to the sushi Kushi in Highland Park many times since I used to work right by there and thought it was always so fresh and on point. So, I figured I needed to try out this place and hoped that I would like it as much as the others. Came in around 8:15 on a Saturday night with a friend and it was jam packed, there were only like 2 tables available and a few open seats at the bar so I grabbed the last booth seat I could find. The service throughout was eh. Our server wasn't super nice nor was she super mean, she just kinda wanted us in and out. I didn't know which were the specialty rolls to order so I felt kind of lost in that regard and she didn't offer any suggestions. Thanks to yelp, I saw the yummy crab appetizer roll and it looked pretty freaking yummy so I ordered it. It was delicious and I definitely recommend it. The other rolls I got were a few spicy salmon rolls, some unagi rolls and they were all pretty average and nothing out of the ordinary. There was a good fish to rice ratio which I liked. We did get a few specialty rolls like the Nixon which has smoked salmon instead of regular salmon and I didn't seem to like that. The dragon roll was good but less pieces than i am usually accustomed to. So overall the sushi was decent, definitely liked that yummy crab appetizer but the rest of the meal was blah. I don't think I'll be dying to go back unless one of my friends who lives in the area thinks it's a must for some reason but I am sure I'll be back to the other locations which I enjoyed more. But like all, I love the name Sushi Kushi, that's just cute in itself.
(3)
Justin L.
Great staff and service. Yummy crab app is just that. Real crab, tempura and eel sauce. Red Dragon roll is another winner.
(5)
Robert J.
The place is really busy and pretty .I have been here 3 times .This San3 has three locations also have a good choice from the kids menu .This place is awesome!!!!
(5)
Jef K.
Sushi Kushi has been our "go to" sushi place for quite awhile, for the food quality and the good staff. The brittle tuna appetizer is delicious, and I'd highly recommend it.
(4)
Lauren G.
This is my favorite sushi place in the vernon hills area. Try to sit at the sushi bar sometime, the chefs are really great and will engage in conversation with you while you are eating. The fish is really fresh and delicious. The rolls are very different and taste great! Try the appetizer fried meatballs, they are DELICIOUS!!
(5)
Kelly J.
Pretty good food. Sucks that they open at 11:30 as my lunch break is 11-12. I would eat there much more often!
(4)
Luna M.
My husband & I were trying out sushi places & about one month ago, we checked out Sushi Kushi in Vernon Hills. First, the decor is modern & bright. Contemporary-style lighting fixtures are complimented with cedar & bamboo wood decor. You can dine inside or outside (when the weather is warm). Their booths are vey roomy and are perfect for larger groups. And for those customers who want to watch sports, they have a few TVs with different sport games playing. The staff is friendly & offer suggestions. You can even watch the Sushi Chefs making the sushi. They have a lot of sushi rolls to choose from with creative names (like Sushi Thai does). We really like the Submarine Roll but I did not care for the sauce on the Cubbie Roll. I even tried their Bento Box during lunch. It comes with fried rice, shrimp tempura & vegetables tempura. Then you have a choice of rolls (I chose spicy tuna -- which was amazing!!) as well of a choice of beef, chicken or salmon teriyaki (my steak was so tender & delicious). They offer the standard drink list but they also have assorted smoothies. Their Coconut smoothie tasted like a virgin Piña Colada --- delicious. Be careful bec the smoothie is soooo good that you may get a brain freeze. My one advice is that they close for about 3 hours so the staff can eat. Ask me how I know that--- we once got there at 1:58pm & they were about to close at 2pm. But they still took our order & checked on our drinks. Then I saw some of them start chowing down on a family style meal. So remember they close from 2pm to 5pm. You have to try Sushi Kushi. Good news is they have two other locations in addition to Vernon Hills.
(4)
Shaun D.
I tried this place and was not disappointed, I had the spider roll, came with 4 pcs and for good reason, It was pretty big and scrumptious. I had them make a roll I call the Tokyo roll it's Smoked salmon, shrimp, cream with the entire roll deep fried. I havnt had this roll since I left KC and they actually made it better than the Kanki in KC so I would def recommend this place!! And can't forget, great friendly service, I say at the sushi bar and the Chef gave me the crab mix (on the house) with some other stuff on top of it and it was pretty good if you decide to get anything with the crab mix inside the roll.
(5)
Gaurav B.
They have really good bento box during lunch hours. Excellent shrimp and veggie tempura Huge portions for rice and noodle dishes. Good Miso soup. Good Smoothie options. Prices are a little high but then the portions make up for them. Overall I like this place and definitely would visit again.
(4)
Dax R.
This is good sushi. Our favorite noodle soup is the Taiwan Ramen. The Chain Saw and Black Hawk Rolls are our favorite rolls.
(4)
Kevin R.
This place has some of the best food not to mention a good list of saki and a great chef. All reasonably priced with a great vibe
(5)
Robert K.
Went for lunch yesterday with some colleagues and was beyond impressed. Might have been the best rolls I've ever eaten. Really creative and fantastic presentation.
(5)
Jessica P.
I came here on a Saturday evening with a couple of friends.. I made reservations 30 minute prior to coming to the restaurant so we were seated almost immediately upon arrival.. Regular Sashimi 10 pieces ($14.99) - fresh fish & tasted good, it also came with your choice of miso soup or ginger salad...definitely not filling if you're hungry hungry...but good for an appetizer or for a small eater...light and healthy! Salmon Carpaccio (appetizer) - delicious salmon topped with delicious soy sauce based sauce.. yum!!! I would definitely recommend this appetizer!! MUST TRY! Customer Service: the waitress was nice.. Costs: on the higher end because it is Sushi.. sushi is normally on the higher end..:) Parking: plenty of FREE parking, but you may have to walk a little more from the parking spot to your car during evening busy hours...it's located in a strip mall... I would come here again if i were in the area to try some of their other dishes..
(4)
Steve M.
We decided to come to Sushi Kushi San3 after reading several reviews on yelp. It was a Saturday evening and as I pulled into the parking lot a space opened up right in front near the door. Since it was a cold night, I felt this was a good sign. As we walked into the place, the first thing we noticed is that it was packed. It felt as though we were family or at least regulars because everyone from the restaurant greeted us and welcomed us as if they knew who we were (maybe they did). I also noticed that there were a few families and I never realized how many little kids like sushi. We were seated at our table right away and handed our menus to decide what we wanted. They have a huge selection of rolls and other dishes to choose from so it took us a little while to decide on what we wanted. We ended up going with the usual submarine roll (awesome), Philly roll (delicious) and a spicy tuna roll (fresh and awesome). We were very pleased with our choices and before we even finished we flagged down our server Steve to place an order one more roll (Highland Park roll). I would have to say that this place seats close to 80 people. They also have seats right at the counter where the chefs are making the food. I would like to sit there one time to watch them. It would be like watching the Food channel live. How awesome would that be? The bottom line is that the food is fresh and delicious. The staff is very attentive and friendly. We will be back.
(4)
Rob S.
Hands down the best sushi place in the area and its a testament to how busy they are. Their rolls are absolutely awesome. They aren't skimpy with their fish and use big pieces in each of their rolls. The fish is very fresh as well. The Bears roll is incredible! I rarely take out from sushi places but their rolls are large and we always have leftovers for a midnight snack. Prices can be on the higher end but you definitely get what you pay for!
(5)
Deb H.
I just love love love this place! Wish I had some right now :) We actually do take out 95% of the time. It is always ready by the time I get there and (I know I'm jinxing myself) the order is always right. Our favorites: Salmon/Tuna Carpaccio - the citrus dressing is so tasty! Lake Forest roll Philly roll (we substitute fresh salmon for the smoked) They have a nice atmosphere for dining in too.
(5)
Nataliya A.
Just about as good as it gets! The bf raved about this place and we finally went here. The sushi is definitely to notch. Each bite had great flavor. We ordered the dragon roll, the caterpillar, the highlander, eel sushi pieces and tuna and salmon sushimi. yum yum yum. The eel was grilled to perfection, all of the fish was very fresh and flavorful, there was not to much rice...oh I can go on and on. The service was great. Our waitress took down our order very quickly with no mistakes, even with us talking very fast. She was very attentive. We liked her. The atmosphere was very chill and casual, very good for a tasty weeknight dinner...but I actually wouldn't mind coming back on the weekend too. Come and try it, you won't be disappointed....at least if you love good eel like we do :)
(5)
Mad I.
Yum! This place is even better than the one in Lake Forest we checked out! Check out my yelp food pic for this place.... As I said in my review for the other sushi kushi, this place gets it right, as long as you know what you are doing....by that I mean, do not go in here and order all specialty rolls. With over half the list being $15 and up, it comes off as too pricey. Even the meals are over priced. HOWEVER if you get some 'small' rolls, you will not find a better $5 spicy tuna or $8 'dressed' up roll like the cubbie or submarine. And while the Angry Shrimp is like $16 bucks, its really yummie and very aesthetically appealing. Black rice is pretty cool, and the sauce on the rim is tasty and pretty. Crab salad on top is good but, WHEW, that mayo....ease up on that for sure. We went on Saturday night around eight thirty, and as usual for the burbs...we were just about the only people in there.... :(
(5)
Joel O.
This place is OK. The sushi was decent, though not the best I have had by far. The fried rice was great though. There seems to be an over abundance of staff, which I suppose is good. I had to fight a little to get the Blackhawks game on the TV though. The overall feel of the place is kind of like a chain/semi fast food place. Kind of reminds me of the same vibe a Noodles N Company gives me. There are some neat lighting fixtures and stuff, but the layout makes me want to eat and leave. I don't know if I would go here again. Perhaps if I cannot find a better place in the area.
(3)
Lori S.
I went to this restaurant last night and had a very great meal! From apps to maki rolls to regular dinner entrees, the food was very delicious. We tried the fried tofu, chicken wings (I would never think to order these from a Japanese restaurant but they were amazing), a specialty roll (I think it was the Vernon Hills roll), and the sea bass. No complaints about any of the food and the service was very attentive. Will definitely be back.
(5)
annie m.
Best sushi ever. I love this restaurant and go there every time we are visiting the in laws.
(5)
Tori B.
This is my all time favorite Sushi spot in the suburbs. The Blackhawk roll was my favorite for a long time but they always have new rolls and the freshest food. They are pricey for dinner, but the lunch Bento Box is amazing and affordable. Service is very respectful and I really enjoy everything I've ever had. I've been going to Sushi Kushi for about 12 years now....a loyal customer!
(5)
Rowena M.
We have been big fans of Sushi Kushi both in HP and Lake Forest. Aside from the really fresh fish, service has always been attentive and customer-oriented. I wonder if this Vernon Hills location is run by a different management because it is the entire opposite from the reasons I love the other locations. We were not greeted by the usual friendliness, the service was cold and impersonal and even the food was of lower quality. I ordered my usual bento box and asked if I could get all veggies instead of the potato pancake. The response was: "Sorry - we can't change it. That's the way it comes." Well...I don't think the potato pancake is plastered inside the box and I'm pretty sure it's just as easy to put extra veggies. I didn't think it was an unreasonable request but the waitress refused to accommodate. For my kids, I ordered the usual tempura udon noodle and my daughter (age 6), who absolutely loves tempura shrimp even recognized that the quality of the shrimp was different in that instead of the usual panko bread crumb that makes tempura shrimp so delicate and yummy was replaced with a cheaper batter that left the shrimp as hard as a rock! So moral of the story is: not all Sushi Kushis are created equal. I'll stick to either HP or Lake Forest where they love their customers and it shows with the quality of service and the quality of food.
(2)
Sandy S.
THE best green tea ice cream!! And they have this coconut drink that will blow your mind!! And if you even wanna be a little weird try some of their cotton candy (yeah thats right. I said 'Cotton. Candy'!) for dessert instead of the same old-same old. It's kind of a drive for me to go there but their sushi rolls and desserts are TOTALLY worth it!
(5)
Nektaria R.
When one is starving and can't make it back to Lincoln Square without getting a bite to eat. this place works. For appetizers I asked for the grilled chicken liver kabob. I love chicken livers but this was too tough and over cooked. We had a couple of strange rolls and wished that I had stuck with something typical like spicy tuna or spider. We had the tempura dinner and the regular sushi as entrees. The miso soup was decent and warmed us right up. The sushi was fresh and sliced very thin. The wasabi though wasn't so hot, pun intended. It fell flat for me. The tempura was pretty good. My sister seemed to enjoy it. Funny thing, the server made a comment like, oh you guys were really hungry cause you ate it all. Yea, we ate it all. Why else would we order if we weren't planning on eating it all. It's not like we ordered huge rolls along with our entrees? duh? Plus we stated that we're starving. It was more than 8 hours since the last time we ate. Yea, sorry we ate it all. Oh well, glad I live in the city. I like having more choices.
(3)
Glen M.
I've only had two sushi places in or around the Vernon hills area so this may or may not change. Usually I'm a Phili guy and sometimes the spicy tuna along with an eel roll. They have a great eel sauce. If your looking for some kick they have a jalapeño mayo that's killer. The fried rice Is actually pretty good as well but it's a sticky rice unlike I've ever had. Price wise is the only problem but like I said I only have a few places to compare to. I will say that you do get your money's worth and they have a huge selection.
(4)
Jennifer P.
The +1 and I came here during the tail end of today's lunch rush. Wow, what a popular place (and gaggles of Asian diners to boot). Good sign, right? We were seated right away. The decor is cute (although did I spy a framed picture of Twilight actor Peter Facinelli ["Carlisle"] behind the front desk?? Weird.) and we noticed everything was pretty clean. Our waitress wasn't exactly friendly nor attentive - more curt. I ordered a Kirin Ichiban which came out with a frosty glass. We ordered and shortly thereafter were served miso soup. My +1 was happy that "It wasn't as salty as some other places." There was very little tofu, but there was a good deal of broth, it was HOT, and it was pretty good. The lunch menu had a pretty impressive selection, so it was hard to decide. I ordered the Bento Box (beef) with spicy tuna sushi, and my +1 opted for the Chicken Katsudon bowl. His bowl was pretty huge, but he said it was bland (even with the spices in the shaker they give you). My Bento Box? The beef, though swimming in teriyaki sauce, was delicious. The tempura was plentiful - 2 huge shrimp, 2 green beans, 1 carrot, and 1 sweet potato. The rice was bland, and the spicy tuna sushi was AWFUL. AWFUL, as in it was the mushiest spicy tuna I've ever eaten. It was so mushy that you could tell it didn't hold its shape in the roll when the chef rolled it out, which resulted in triangular-shaped sushi. When I picked each piece up, there was spicy tuna glob seeping out of the bottom. Taste-wise, it was NOT spicy. I'm not quite sure what was going on there.. I almost had to ask: We ARE at a sushi place...right?? C'mon now. A sushi joint should have a decent spicy tuna - it should have spice and a decent texture even though it's really a conglomeration of different ingredients. In the least, it should be able to hold shape in the roll. I dunno. Maybe they had some n00bs working behind the sushi bar. Would we go back? My +1 doesn't want to, that's for sure. Aside from the awful Spicy Tuna, the Bento Box was a good value and filling. I'd make a return trip to see if they'd redeem themselves.
(3)
Kelly P.
It's okay.. I had better sushi. I still think Kinta sushi up in Carol Stream is better.
(3)
Chet M.
Go there for lunch because their Bento Box specials are a great bang for your buck. But beware of ala carte rip offs. I ordered 1 piece of Mirugai or giant geoduck clam. It said $4.50 on the menu. When they bought it out, it was the smallest piece of sushi I ever saw in my life. And to top it off, they charged me $5.50 for that piece. More than Toro or fatty tuna! Just left a bad taste in my mouth.
(3)
Kim B.
I recently moved to the area from San Diego and am on a mission to find good restaurants. This is definitely not one of them. Why does this place have such good reviews? I came here with the boyfriend for dinner and we ordered an array of dishes so we could try everything. We had the avocado salad, agedashi tofu, cold zaru soba noodles and Roses are Red roll. My boyfriend also tried some assorted sushi and a pineapple coconut smoothie. Out of all we tried, we both enjoyed the avocado salad the most. Everything else was flavorless and unimpressive. I realize that I'm new to the area but I have done some research and am convinced there are much better Japanese and sushi restaurants than Sushi Kushi San3.
(2)
Jennifer L.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in the area. I used to go to the one in Lake Forest a lot and then, they opened this location literally like 2 minutes away from my house so that is also a huge plus as well. The sushi is authentic, fresh and prepared well. The balance of rice to fish in the maki rolls is good as well - they don't skimp out on the best parts like some other sushi places. I love the Volcano roll, Spicy Tuna roll and the Dynamite Roll (spicy scallops). The staff is friendly and efficient and I love the bright, inviting decor of the restaurant. It can get pretty crowded especially on weekend evenings, so perhaps make reservations if you're trying to dine in at that time. Try it if you're looking for GREAT sushi in the area - you won't regret it!
(5)
Nicole T.
I go there all the time! My favorite sushi everytime I go there is "Da Bears Roll." The waiters do remember me and I love how the place is more of a Japanese Modern look alike place.
(5)
Rebecca N.
This is hands down my favorite sushi place!!! Not too over the top and not too boring JUST RIGHT!!! The service is great and it not too expensive (it is significantly less expensive than sushi kushi in Lake Forest). It is much larger than the Lake Forest location also. I grew up eating at the Lake Forest location, but I lived in Buffalo Grove (before moving downtown) so I made this my go-to spot since it is significantly closer to home. My favorite is the brittle tuna. The Lake forest and moon rivers are staples also. The pieces of sushi I usually stick to are tuna, super white tuna, yellowtail, salmon and eel and they never disappoint. ALSO--the ginger salad dressing is outstanding. I have seen people drink it-- I swear! spread the word--this place is awesome!!
(5)
Stephanie K.
Their food was good but nothing special. But family all got their food at different times which was not to much of a problem until I had to wait until my family was halfway done with their food for mine to even be mentioned. The service sucks but their food is decent. So for that I give them 2 stars. Will I go back? Maybe if I need something decent but other than that it's a one and done.
(2)
Ron B.
Large variety of sushi and special rolls, very fast service, very polite employees, I strongly recommend this sushi restaurant. Enjoy! Stay classy Sushi Kushi.
(5)
Steven M.
While this isn't a beautiful place, the food more than makes up for that. Every single thing we've ever had here was delicious. The service is very quick, so if you're looking for a place to run in a grab a super quick dinner, this is the place. Everything is super fresh and full of flavor. Even the rice is soft and fresh, unlike other places. The prices are great for couples or groups. Our absolute favorite rolls here are the Volcano Roll, the Moon River Roll, and the Lake Forest Roll.
(5)
Julie J.
This place is awesome. There is one server (I don't know his name, sorry) who is awesome. Sometimes I pick up carry-out, and he knows I love their green tea, so he brings me a glass every time. I take everyone I know that likes sushi there. I go back all the time!
(5)
Boon K.
Wow, if you looking for the craziest rolls this is the place. My friends have been wanted me to try their favorite sushi place in their new neighbor and I have to say I was overwhelmed with their menu selection. All the rolls were so interesting and what made it much easier was that they have a display for you to look to make it easier. All the rolls have such fun names too and all were really good too. I like that they use different types of the rice for their rolls so I ended up getting alot with black rice. Some the rolls we got were call the angry lobster, sleeping turtle, etc. What I really like was the salmon carpaccio that was my favorite, it was light was a little citron soy and a nice salad on the side, a must get if you are here.
(4)
J J.
the food is great here, I just wish it wasn't so cramped and small inside. when it's busy, you have to sit on top of people here. no complaints about the food though :-)
(4)
Todd V.
My whole family loves Sushi Kushi. Great menu with unique rolls - raw to heated to those literally "on fire". We always get great service in a very cool ambiance. You cannot beat the Raging Bull Roll.
(5)
Karl W.
This is one of the best Sushi places in Vernon Hills !!!!!
(5)
Dan P.
I absolutely love this sushi bar. This is the sushi place that basically introduced me to sushi and other sushi places around the city that I go to taste almost bland in comparison. My wife and my favorites include Blackhawk, Vernon Hills, Purple Dragon, and Angry Shrimp. This place is great - especially for takeout.
(5)
Naomi N.
Went with a friend before going out on a Friday night. The sushi was good and I would return, however the sushi took a bit long for the restaurant not being so busy. It was also very bright in there for a sushi restaurant. It's a great place for families but I felt out of place with my bright lipstick and gold earrings getting ready for a night on the town. This wouldn't have been so if the lighting was dimmed. Sushi was fresh and I will return with my family but probably not when I'm heading out for a night of fun.
(3)
PJ J.
Solid stuff here...I am a fan of Toyo-san's mini restaurant empire in general. Service was GREAT, prices were very fair, and the menu is vast and pretty well prepared. You know it's like this though...I think in order to rate 5 stars in sushi, the bar would need to display some uncut (as opposed to precut and plastic wrapped) fish, and also have a large variety... No doubt the fish here IS fresh as can be....but think about it, wouldn't it be funny to order cold cuts from the deli that weren't sliced for you right at the time you order? This says to me that portion control and/or skill set is being controlled. I think it's fine to add the efficiency of having pre-cut and portioned fish, but it takes away from the subtle nuances in flavor and texture that can be achieved by making sushi or sashimi and cutting flesh from a larger piece in real time.
(4)
Adele S.
I'm not a huge sushi fan, I prefer my food cooked but their non-sushi options were good too. My husband had the cubbie roll, actually had two of them cuz he liked it that much. My daughter had the Highland Park roll(tuna & big chunks of eel on top) One friend had a combination plate-don't ask me what was there, I only could identify salmon and white tuna. He said it was good. Our other friends had teriyaki steak and chicken (juicy, not overcooked) I had beef fried rice which I loved. Maybe would like a few vegetables in there but the beef was tender and flavorful, short grain rice had good chew to it and portion was so big, I shared it with my husband and daughter. I liked that my water glass was NEVER empty and I didn't have to flag anyone down. The decor is soothing in neutrals and greens, fake bamboo disappears into the black acoustic tile ceiling. Specials looked good but kind of dizzying to look at 50 little signs slapped on the side of the sushi bar. We'll be back another time, definitely.
(4)
Joann K.
I would drive by Sushi Kushi many times but never bothered to try it. I'm so glad my boyfriend works around this area and we were able to try this place. Now it's a regular lunch spot for my boyfriend and me. Probably because they have great lunch specials and the food is good. We usually order the Ramen (w/pork there's two different kinds) which comes with a deep fried spicy tuna roll. All this for under $9!! I think their ramen is better than Mitsuwa's. So I'm going to say its the best ramen in the suburbs. The deep fried spicy tuna is delicious. It's a nice twist from the regular spicy tuna roll. This lunch special will leave you full and happy. It's well worth its money. I wish the ramen was available everyday but for now its only on Wednesdays. We also tried the beef and chicken Bento Box. Both meats are seasoned and cooked well. It comes with a ton of food and it's around $9. Service is usually a hit or miss. During the summer time, its a bunch of high school/college kids serving you so kind of understand the lack of service but not really. Enjoy!
(4)
Scott B.
Now that I've dined at all of the Sushi Kushi locations (Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Vernon HIlls), I have no choice but to up these guys to 5 stars. Whether it's one of their signature rolls, such as: Angry Shrimp, or a Moon River, the quality is always second to none. In addition to the great sushi, they have an impressive list of Sake, which I generally partake in. (Rehab is inevitable) The best sushi in this area and good service, will continue to bring me back...usually, once a week.
(5)
Brian B.
Seemed good to me. Maybe not the best sushi I have had but it was decent. I had the chain saw roll which loaded with tuna and was good. Maybe a little heavy on the rice though. The miso soup was typical you get anywhere but it was hot and loaded with tofu. I stopped with about 25 minutes left before they were to close for lunch and the women seating me seemed quite intent on making sure I knew they closed at 2 o'clock. Yes I said, no problem I eat fast. They have a gigantic menu with all sorts of grilled kabobs, rolls and noodle/rice dishes. Almost too many things to look at. I suppose I would go here again when in this area.
(4)
Mike A.
Summary of 3 visits to this location: Pricey - Unlike local long time favorite Osaka, you have to pay extra for miso and salad here. Rolls also tend to be about $2-$3 higher than Osaka. Bento - SKIP THEM! My wife had one on our first visit and my daughter on our 3rd. Not much more to add here, get something else. Fried Rice - We had the shrimp FR and it was great! Sushi - Had pretty much all the "special" rolls and outside of the lobster roll on special that day, the rest were good, but nothing great. Service/Ambiance - Great Location and plenty of room. If you have a larger party (8 or so) they have a table in the back that is somewhat secluded and works great for a small group. Service is spotty, but they tend to be busy and not much room to work in between tables for the staff Had to ask for refills, a big no-no. Summary: We would most likely come back at some point, but the kids prefer Osaka and to be honest, so do we...
(4)
Courtney P.
You don't get much better than sushi from this place. Their service is impeccable and their sushi is fantastic. Best of all, their prices are fair and they have variety! This place and Tsukasa are really the only two japanese restaurants worth considering in Vernon Hills. As someone who has eaten at both extensively, I can say that Sushi Kushi is overall a better choice for sushi.
(5)
sandra w.
I'm sitting in Sushi Kushi as I write this (I heart technology) and while my date and I enjoyed our meal the service left a lot to be desired. We waited only 10 minutes to be seated and nearly 20 for our waiter to notice us even though we're seated between his other tables. Very disappointed. We should have gone to our usual sushi place, but we wanted to try something different. Eh.
(2)
Brittany C.
One of the best places in the suburbs for sushi. It was very fresh and everything we ordered was delicious. Will definitely be returning soon!
(5)
David G.
If you appreciate the ocean and you're looking for fresh sashimi/sushi this is the place to do so. Probably the freshest you can get around Vernon Hills. They also have a wide selection of sakes and Japanese beers. The sushi bar apps are fresh, simple, delicate and flavorful. The carpaccio dishes are great as well as the avocado salad. Rolls on the other hand are nothing special. First of all they use way too much sauce on most of the rolls so all you taste is the sauce. The spicy tuna roll's texture like peanut butter it sticks to the top of your mouth. If you want the chunky spicy tuna roll, the one most people are used to, you have to ask for it, and get extra charged. The california roll is decent though, they use real crab meat, which is always a plus. Entree dishes are nothing special either but they give you a boatload of food. Lunch specials are a great, affordable and filling. The daily specials Tuesday: chirashi, Wednesday: ramen, Thursday: katsu curry, Friday: salmon neck. All for under $10. Comes with soup. As you can probably tell I like it clean! Fresh and simple ingredients, is all I need. So if you're like me, join in the fun and grab some of the best sushi and sashimi out here!
(4)
Justine L.
Yum for your money! My favs are the Lake Forest roll and the dragon roll. Always get good chunks of meat and perfect amounts of sauce. These two large rolls are the perfect amount of food for dinner (for a girl :)). However, I do not like their spicy tuna/salmon rolls because they are obviously the scraps from other rolls. Also, the original Sushi Kushi in Lake Forest is def the best Sushi Kushi place.
(4)
Natasha B.
This place is one of our top 2 favorite sushi places. It's ALWAYS fresh - we get carry out a lot but dining in too! We have never had a bad roll here. We normally get the shrimp lovers, volcano, Dynamite Roll, and friend rice. Everything is always delicious. I would say it's a little over prices compared to other sushi places, but well worth it for the sushi.
(5)
Craig H.
This place was excellent the staff was great the food was outstanding and the price was right. The red Dragon roll was great. We also got one of the specials the Angry Shrimp and it was wonderful great choice.
(4)
Stacy K.
Yum! I am addicted to Sushi - and this is my favorite local Sushi restaurant! We drive here, out of our way, and skip over other Sushi establishments for many reasons. First, the restaurant is clean and bright with a fun vibe. All of the appetizers/sushi/kitchen entrees are well sized and extremely well priced. The sushi is incredible - fresh and tasty! And to round out the experience, the staff is so friendly and helpful. We've been seated at the sushi bar, and throughout the restaurant - service is wonderful either place. We also order takeout frequently, and it is always ready at the time promised. My all-time favorites are the Rainbow roll, Seaweed salad & a Mochi ball for desert. Bottom line: We've never been disappointed. We are always astounded at how affordable Sushi Kushi is compared to our other local joint. We would recommend this to everyone - Sushi Newbie to Sushi Graduate.
(5)
Dana M.
I had lunch here with a friend one weekday and we both ordered the Bento Box for $9.95. You get a few choices on the type of meat or sushi roll. It came with 2 pieces of shrimp tempura plus vegetable tempura, and chicken terriyaki, 3 pieces of California roll, and a miso soup. I was very impressed with the California roll because it had real crab meat! It was amazing! In addition to our Bento Boxes, we also shared a Dragon Roll which at first I thought was cheap at just $8 until it came out and there were only 4 pieces! It was good but not impressed with the quantity. The place is very new and clean- I'm not sure when they opened but the decor is very contemporary with outdoor seating. It is actually owned by Japanese people with many authentic dishes.
(4)
Sherwin C.
Great atmosphere with a wide menu but the food isn't good enough for 5 stars. Nice place to stop by when you're in the area or want to go out with your friends though.
(4)
Laura G.
I dream about their brittle tuna at least once a week. Fresh raw tuna, cucumber slices, creamy avocado, tempura crunch, and spicy sauce all mixed together in a large bowl-it is heavenly!!! very reasonably priced---a lot of tuna for $9.50. a MUST try... my favorite sushi dish hands down!
(5)
Sue K.
The menu is kind of overwhelming, and everything tastes meh. Maybe we didn't get the right thing. Ambiance is nice, though.
(2)
Tiffany L.
i've always been a fan of sushi kushi in lake forest, so i think it was smart of them to open one up in vernon hills, a much more central location for the north burbs. this is a good local sushi joint to eat at. it's my go to place when im in the burbs. and the sushi has always been fresh when i've visited. some of the bento boxes are served with things i usually don't see which is a nice touch -- a flower shaped potato pancake and some deep-fried chicken (at least i think it was chicken). both were serviceable, but nothing to drool over. while i usually order sashimi a la carte or a sake don, this past time one of the things i ordered was the shrimp tempura roll. loving shrimp tempura rolls at a japanese restaurant is like loving egg foo young at a chinese restaurant. but i LOVE shrimp tempura rolls! there i said it. (p.s. if you're at a chinese restaurant, and they have egg foo young on the menu, leave that establishment, as quickly as you can. don't say i didn't warn you.) anyway where was i. so the roll was only 4 pieces but the pieces are HUGE -- BUT mostly because they are stuffed with veggies. at first i was like, WHAT! RIP-OFF!!! but after i ate it, i was pleasantly surprised with the clean taste of it. sometimes i order shrimp tempura rolls, and they make me feel greasy, this one did not. i enjoyed the overabundance of veggies. all in all, recommended if you're looking to eat sushi in the suburbs.
(4)
Tony L.
I would give the service here 4 stars. Everyone here is very warm, quick to help, and cheerful. The actual food, 2.5. Of the sushi I've had in the Vernon Hills area, this is one of the best. However, in comparison to what's available on the West Coast, it falls very short in terms of freshness, taste, and texture. The rolls served were inventive, but always drenched in some sort of sauce, or mayo. While usually tasty, about half the amount of sauce would really help balance the taste. Also, the hamachi collar I ordered wasn't scaled, so the first bite of the delicious skin turned out to be a disgusting mess in my napkin.
(2)
Dima Z.
Consistent quality sushi. Never failed and prompt service. Time after time they exceed my expectations. Highly recommend for their American Japanese delivery. If you want pure Japanese food experience, you may need a different place, but many dishes are genuine Japanese.
(5)
James K.
Decent price, delicious food, and nice atmosphere for family dinner.
(4)
Jackie C.
This place was TERRIBLE. By far the worst sushi I've ever had. Everything tasted just a bit fishy - and the service wasn't that great either. I worked as a waiter for a sushi restaurant for a full year, so I know what good sushi is - this is DEFINITELY not it.
(1)
Dave L.
Came here for my V-Day dinner with fiance. We ordered Chirasi, Phoenix Roll, Udon and Avocado Salad. It was way too much for a party of two and so whatever we couldn't finish we took home. We both loved the Chirasi and the Udon. The rest were good, but not great. The service was good although a bit overwhelmed due to V-Day. Otherwise, good atmosphere, good food, and overall, very enjoyable.
(4)
Jeff M.
Always a great place for sushi. However when it's busy, plan your orders with the wait in mind so you don't starve. Not a huge fan of their fried rice. Booths are a better seating option unless you like sharing your conversations with strangers and vice versa.
(4)
Steven M.
This is about as good as sushi gets in the Midwest. They have a very good selection of rolls with a couple that are pretty unique. The fish has been fresh every time I've been there. Prices are reasonable, but not cheap. One thing stands out, their staff is very attentive and very friendly! Very recommended.
(4)
JC O.
Love the crab box. Perfect blend of crab, spiciness, and sweetness. Clean restaurant, and kid friendly too. Highly recommend it
(5)
Scott D.
Fantastic food! Love the way the place looks and the service was great!
(5)
Thomas L.
Service was very good and the sushi was delicious. We had the Rosemary Tuna (one of our favorites) and the Tuna Tataki Salad for starters. For makimono we had Alaskan, California, Lake Forest, and Kani Q.
(4)
Bret S.
Here's a place where being "fast food" isn't a bad thing. My sushi was prepared to order very quickly, and the flavors were very good. I had the Alaska and Rainbow rolls. The ingredients were fresh, the rolls larger than I'd expected and combined were more than a meal. I also liked the cleanliness and brightness of the restaurant... inviting from the curb and inside. If I lived in the area I'd go there again.
(4)
Eric J.
I appreciate good sushi and I noticed Sushi Kushiro San3 in passing and wanted to give it a pre-movie try. They did an excellent job at my classic California roll and I was pleasantly pleased with a spicy tuna roll. My main course was chicken and beef teriyaki and it was delicious. The presentation and taste of all (4) our dishes was excellent! Each dish was generous and delicious. Our server was great and had super recommendations for us. Add this one to your list, you'll not be dissappointed!
(4)
Anthony P.
The setting is a bit like an open diner kind of vibe, bright lights and people hustling about. Not a very good ambience. The food is a bit expensive for the setting, IMO. For the price, I would rather have a nicer ambiance. However, the quality of the food is good, so if you can handle the vibe, have ad it! ;)
(3)
Kristina K.
The service was not that great but the sushi was delicious.
(4)
Ellie S.
After my second trip here there are so many great things to say about this restaurant. First, decor and menu are Contemporary Japanese which I love. The restaurant is reasonably priced and portions were good size keeping in mind sushi bars are not cheap and typically do not have large portions. Our bill for 4 was $69. We found that very reasonable for a sushi bar and not much more than a visit to Fridays. The chicken gyoza is made fresh not frozen. Steak teriyaki is good. Asparagus beef itame appetizer was very good. Beef yakitori and chicken with scallions are both very good. I like the chicken with scallions better (more flavorful). My husband, who grew up in Japan, really enjoys the sushi here. For sushi eaters who want to try something very authentic, ask for Natto roll. It is on the menu. My family has been to many Japanese restaurants in Illinois and it is the first restaurant we found with Natto on the menu. Usually you have to ask for it, the sushi chef double checks to make sure you are really asking for Natto and that you really want it and then some places don't have it or have to find it in the freezer somewhere. It is fermented bean curd that is an acquired taste even in Japan. My children are picky eaters but, do eat here. We get a bowl of rice for one of my kids and bring some furikake to sprinkle on top and my other son eats a bowl of cold tofu with soy sauce. This probably sounds a bit strange since they are picky eaters but, it is because they grew up on Japanese food. I don't think I saw a kids menu here but, if your child is a picky eater and is willing to eat rice, they also sell fresh fruit, fruit smoothies and fruit ice cream and mochi flavors that might fill them up enough for a meal. The restaurant is very clean and we found host, servers and bus staff very good. I must give a special shout out to the wonderful older Korean woman who works the entrance of the restaurant. I don't know her name but, she used to work at Osaka Sushi in Vernon Hills 12 years ago and is the nicest woman. We used to go to Osaka at 5pm and she used to hold our baby, who is now 11, so we could eat dinner. She even introduced my son to tofu at 9 months old and despite his picky eating, has loved tofu ever since.
(4)
Erin P.
The tuna brittle appetizer is AMAZING!! Also tried the lake forest roll and the raging bull which were delicious. I can't wait to go back and try more. The only problem with this place is that the menu is huge and everything sounds good, if you can even call that a problem! The staff is very friendly and makes you feel right at home.
(5)
Bridget D.
Three days later and I'm still dreaming of the tuna and avocado salad. Everything I had here was delicious.
(5)
Joe B.
Meh... I've had better, but I've also had worse. We order three rolls; one was awful, one was average, and one was above average. Thus, three stars is the perfect rating. The restaurant itself was pretty nice, as was our waiter, but I doubt I'll be back any time soon.
(3)
Mary M.
Tried Sushi Kushi San3 for the first time after reading rave reviews. Got in with no wait at 7 on a Saturday. Atmosphere was lovely, although the TV over my husband's head was distracting. I never understand why they have TVs on in restaurants, unless it's a sports bar and watching the game is the event you are there to see. Overall, it was fine, but we probably won't go back. The food was good. I had the pan fried noodles with tofu and some vegetable tempura. My husband had sushi. The waitress got a little confused - for some reason, she brought me my noodle entree first and the tempura app second. And she wasn't as attentive as I would have liked; we spent a lot of time waiting. Overall, not bed. Fine. Nothing to write home about, though.
(3)
Jon T.
Ome of the best places for sushi i have been to, the cut of fish for sashimi is huge! The nigiri is amazing in the way the at fish tto rice ratio is 2:1... Even when its crowded the seating is very fast Will definately go back here, but the atmosphere could use a lil' work. not to mention the waitresses are a little annoying checking up on you every 3 minutes saying "everything ok? thank you!" definitely try if you got a fat wallet and an appetite for sushi!
(4)
Mike J.
Good but a bit pricey.
(4)
Jen H.
Hubby loved the fried rice and spicy tuna hand rolls. I had a tempura roll which was good. My complaint was that I had one of their special rolls, I can't remember exactly what it was because I must want to forget it. It was HUMONGOUS. Not in a good way either. This roll was literally the size of one of those football sized burritos, so there was obviously no way I was going to get one piece into my mouth. I had to pick it apart and eat it that way. It was probably a $10-12 roll so I was really disappointed. I don't know what the guy was thinking who made it, because it just made no sense to make a roll that big. Other than that, it was just ok. A fine place to go to when you have a sushi craving and want some solid, decent sushi. I guess next time I'll stick to some basic rolls.
(3)
Renato P.
My first visit here and I have to say it was a positive one. As far as decor goes, it's nice enough for a casual date, yet comfortable enough to eat there in shorts and a t-shirt. The servers were very attentive, and hey, free refills on soda is never a bad thing. First, I wasn't really crazy about the calamari. It was a really thick cut of squid, no tentacles (my favorite part), and the breading was a little thick. All that being said, they were still pretty good, especially the dipping sauce, it was very good. The roll selection was a bit out of the ordinary, most of the rolls included a less common combo if ingredients, from asparagus to Jalapeno mayo. The menu also had a huge selection of appetizers and a nice variety of cooked foods to go with the very big sushi menu. The California rolls were among the best I've had,simply great, benefiting from real crab meat. The salmon avocado roll and Dragon rolls , both very good. The real stars of the evening were the Highland Park roll and the Central roll, among the best rolls I've had. I have to say I will definitely be back here and probably sooner rather than later.
(4)
Aman A.
The sushi was very good as was the service. A bit pricey, but I loved their Chicago rolls so i would come back again.
(4)
Dima L.
I have eaten here once and enjoyed it a lot. Their food is carefully made by a master sushi chef and when I went the chef even gave us an appetizer for free. This made me feel welcome and I left a nice tip. It is expensive but you can't get quality sushi for cheap anyway. You can get it for a cheaper only if you make it yourself but you won't do a good job without many many tries. I highly suggest going here.
(4)
Doug L.
Adventurous sushi in this joint! Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain would approve. Easily, my favorite local sushi place.
(4)
Geoffrey S.
One of the better Japanese restaurants in the area.
(4)
Mike M.
I am an occasional sushi eater and always wanted to go to the original but never found my way to those parts. This place looked brand new, nice and bright clean. These are all important in sushi joints. Mexican food is best in the run down shacks, but sushi needs to be clean and neat. We went through the gambit here. Two big guys with beards came ready to plow through some sushi. We got some yakitori chicken meatballs and chicken skin. The skin was a little on the burnt side but pretty tasty. We got some giant Japanese beers and tried about 10 of their rolls. They were all pretty good, but I liked the ones with the sauces on them the best. I know that is not traditional sushi, but it was a party in my tummy. (so yummy) We were just two boys on the town manimal style so we got a little crazy and tried the sea urchin. Whoa. I have never had anything like that in my mouth before. (stop you) It was salty mushy, and tasted of the ocean. Odd but different in a good way. When I eat sushi I like to try new things, and SKS3 really made me feel comfortable doing so. I had no question that the fish was very fresh and the staff well trained. All were Asian and looked to be Japanese, but I did not check resident IDs. I think that is in poor taste these days. If you are looking for a nice modern environment to eat some raw and cooked sushi this is my favorite place.
(4)
Deborah P.
This is by far my absolute favorite sushi place in the Chicago area. We went at the recommendation of my chiropractor. He suggested the Raging Bull (which is NOT on the menu), but it is the best roll I've ever had. Our waiter turned out to be the manager/owner, and he was so great. We had our girls with us, and although they eat sushi on occasion, they tend to get finicky now and then. He suggested one of the bento boxes, and modified it some to suit them. They LOVE the place. Decor is very light and airy (most sushi places are so dark), and each booth feels private b/c of the glass wall between each one. Service, speed of the food arrival, food temp, freshness, originality and customization of the order was all A+ in my book! We've been back three times in a matter of 3 weeks, and they definitely welcome us with open arms now!
(5)
Chris B.
This place just opened and is the 3rd opening in a family of restaurants that include locations in Lake Forest and Highland Park. I went with a group of seven coworkers and even though the restaurant is crowded at lunchtime, we were able to be seated right away. The dining area is beautifully decorated in a modern Asian theme. As far as the food goes, you will be hard pressed to find more delicious sushi anywhere in the Northern burbs. All lunch specials are $10 or less and include soup and large portions of tasty sushi, sashimi, or Japanese entrees. The menu is very large. I opted for the Sushi lunch special and I was pleasantly full after I was finished eating. Highly recommended!
(4)
Sue C.
Sushi kushi is just one of those place where you keep on going. It really great. Only downside... I don't speak japenese.
(4)
Nick S.
Sushi Kushi is relatively new and one of a few other in the chain. Its decor is great! Very modern and warm inside, honestly its best feature. Service was a bit slow and the food was good, nothing spectacular but good. I would go there again and give it another shot.
(3)
Mike S.
I only ordered basic sushi and sashimi here, and it was done right. They do not put avocado in the futomaki. And, they make an ume-shiso roll which is rare in this area. This is a bright, clean restaurant with efficient and friendly staff.
(4)
Dmitriy O.
i came here with a family friend and we ordered +$100 worth of sushi for 5 people. it was all absolutely phenomenal. my favorite was the vernon hills roll. the eel nigri was the biggest piece of eel i've ever seen. the house hot saki is also very good. will definitely visit this restaurant again.
(5)
Mike O.
Excellent place. Sushi is consistent fresh and delicious
(4)
kg a.
Yummy! Lovely, bright, casual, family friendly. Tasty food, fresh, nice service. Have had soba, sushi, chicken katsu, teriyaki, gomae. Everything is good. Have been to Sushi Kushi 2 in Highland Park, and the VH location is much better, nicer.
(5)
Eddie K.
Nope. This place was terrible. I waited 45 mins to get my food and the service was terrible also. I do NOT recommend it. There are lots of better sushi places in the area.
(1)
Amy I.
This may be the best sushi place in the suburbs. Service is awesome, prices are reasonable. I've been there twice on Sat nights (a little early) and both times we got a complimentary "taste" of something that we didn't order along with some really amazing food. I had a different combo each time, so I've tried a good assortment and everything was amazing. I'm looking forward to going back!
(5)
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Address :281 W Townline Rd,Unit 150
Vernon Hills, IL, 60061
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch 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 : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Vlad V.
I have been to Sushi Kushi more the five times and have to say that i was never disappointed! There is a very good veariaty of Sushi and everything is always super fresh and very taste. The Eel is always my favorite and very good here, also i recommend caterpillar, dragon and highlander rolls. Combination of Eel tuna and avacado is super good ! There are many Sushi bars in Vernon Hills... Personally this is my favorite one.
(5)Shawn G.
Pleasantly surprised! The menu didn't help the ordering process, but the waiter was able to recommend some REALLY delicious items. Very attentive staff and great ambience. Going back sooooon.
(4)Alice A.
Friendly environment, great service, and yummy food. I went there during lunch hours and ordered the special of the day bento box (soup included). Like the previous user stated, their california roll has real crab meat in them! Oh, they also give you hot green tea! My group also ordered Ika Maru Yaki (grilled squid) from their kitchen appetizer menu and is pretty good as well. I would stay away from the fried calamari and agedashi dofu.
(4)Ed M.
Excellent, Very fresh the best Sushi I ever had try The Bears roll
(5)J. G.
Incredible menu, so many items to choose from. Lots of unusual combination rolls, and pretty reasonably priced. We sat at the sushi bar, and wasn't too keen on the wait staff constantly reaching over us to pick up food. The restaurant had the whole corner of the sushi bar blocked off displaying daily specials - why didn't use that area instead? Customer service was just ok. None of our used soup, or appetizer dishes were taken away until the very end, leaving us working around piles of dishes. The sushi bar chefs were very friendly and skilled. I would eat here again, but probably wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(4)Chelsie L.
This is the best sushi place that I have ever been to. I like to try different sushi restaurants and so far no restaurant has been able to top this one! My favorite roll is the central roll. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Victoria W.
I dont understand where the 4 star of this place comes from. Must all be from lunch diners who are going after their bento box. Ordered the veggie yakisoba here and it is not palatable at all. very sour, never had such terrible yakisoba. I thought the yakisoba at tokyo bowl was weird but this place made tokyo bowl look like heaven. i asked the person working at the register how many pieces are in different rolls and all she said was, they are all different and looked away. thanks for answering my question, you just lost a customer wanting to order sushi. their wait was also long, 25 minute for a take out??!! i ended up going to the cold stone next store to wait it out. the only reason why this place is not 1 star is because the decor is nice. also this place is owned by koreans, yes koreans eat sushi too but if you want real japanese sushi, you know what you get here will lack authenticity.
(2)Tonya H.
Awesome....awesome...awesome meal. Visited while on a work trip.for a quick dinner and it was wonderful. Cute location and options to sit outside. Great place to end a long work day!
(4)Cole D.
Great selection on the menu. Our dish (although I can't remember which it was) was superb and quite flavorful. The sushi bar is a great addition with imported alcoholic beverage options as well.
(4)Dustin H.
This is a very good, straightforward sushi place. Decent frices flavorful fish, and a neatly decorated interior make for a nice dining experience. The basic rolls were slightly on the smaller side, but this was good, because it meant less rice, not less fish, which made the flavor that much more noticeable. I stopped by for a late lunch and it was farly empty, but I could imagine it getting very crowded. All in all, a good place that I will probably stop at again.
(4)cindy k.
I've been coming here for several years and I'm dropping this down a star because you just don't feel welcomed anymore like you once used to. The service is decent but you can tell they want you quickly in and out.
(3)Elina S.
Okay so I've been to the sushi Kushi in lake forest once and thought it was pretty good but that was a long time ago. I've been to the sushi Kushi in Highland Park many times since I used to work right by there and thought it was always so fresh and on point. So, I figured I needed to try out this place and hoped that I would like it as much as the others. Came in around 8:15 on a Saturday night with a friend and it was jam packed, there were only like 2 tables available and a few open seats at the bar so I grabbed the last booth seat I could find. The service throughout was eh. Our server wasn't super nice nor was she super mean, she just kinda wanted us in and out. I didn't know which were the specialty rolls to order so I felt kind of lost in that regard and she didn't offer any suggestions. Thanks to yelp, I saw the yummy crab appetizer roll and it looked pretty freaking yummy so I ordered it. It was delicious and I definitely recommend it. The other rolls I got were a few spicy salmon rolls, some unagi rolls and they were all pretty average and nothing out of the ordinary. There was a good fish to rice ratio which I liked. We did get a few specialty rolls like the Nixon which has smoked salmon instead of regular salmon and I didn't seem to like that. The dragon roll was good but less pieces than i am usually accustomed to. So overall the sushi was decent, definitely liked that yummy crab appetizer but the rest of the meal was blah. I don't think I'll be dying to go back unless one of my friends who lives in the area thinks it's a must for some reason but I am sure I'll be back to the other locations which I enjoyed more. But like all, I love the name Sushi Kushi, that's just cute in itself.
(3)Justin L.
Great staff and service. Yummy crab app is just that. Real crab, tempura and eel sauce. Red Dragon roll is another winner.
(5)Robert J.
The place is really busy and pretty .I have been here 3 times .This San3 has three locations also have a good choice from the kids menu .This place is awesome!!!!
(5)Jef K.
Sushi Kushi has been our "go to" sushi place for quite awhile, for the food quality and the good staff. The brittle tuna appetizer is delicious, and I'd highly recommend it.
(4)Lauren G.
This is my favorite sushi place in the vernon hills area. Try to sit at the sushi bar sometime, the chefs are really great and will engage in conversation with you while you are eating. The fish is really fresh and delicious. The rolls are very different and taste great! Try the appetizer fried meatballs, they are DELICIOUS!!
(5)Kelly J.
Pretty good food. Sucks that they open at 11:30 as my lunch break is 11-12. I would eat there much more often!
(4)Luna M.
My husband & I were trying out sushi places & about one month ago, we checked out Sushi Kushi in Vernon Hills. First, the decor is modern & bright. Contemporary-style lighting fixtures are complimented with cedar & bamboo wood decor. You can dine inside or outside (when the weather is warm). Their booths are vey roomy and are perfect for larger groups. And for those customers who want to watch sports, they have a few TVs with different sport games playing. The staff is friendly & offer suggestions. You can even watch the Sushi Chefs making the sushi. They have a lot of sushi rolls to choose from with creative names (like Sushi Thai does). We really like the Submarine Roll but I did not care for the sauce on the Cubbie Roll. I even tried their Bento Box during lunch. It comes with fried rice, shrimp tempura & vegetables tempura. Then you have a choice of rolls (I chose spicy tuna -- which was amazing!!) as well of a choice of beef, chicken or salmon teriyaki (my steak was so tender & delicious). They offer the standard drink list but they also have assorted smoothies. Their Coconut smoothie tasted like a virgin Piña Colada --- delicious. Be careful bec the smoothie is soooo good that you may get a brain freeze. My one advice is that they close for about 3 hours so the staff can eat. Ask me how I know that--- we once got there at 1:58pm & they were about to close at 2pm. But they still took our order & checked on our drinks. Then I saw some of them start chowing down on a family style meal. So remember they close from 2pm to 5pm. You have to try Sushi Kushi. Good news is they have two other locations in addition to Vernon Hills.
(4)Shaun D.
I tried this place and was not disappointed, I had the spider roll, came with 4 pcs and for good reason, It was pretty big and scrumptious. I had them make a roll I call the Tokyo roll it's Smoked salmon, shrimp, cream with the entire roll deep fried. I havnt had this roll since I left KC and they actually made it better than the Kanki in KC so I would def recommend this place!! And can't forget, great friendly service, I say at the sushi bar and the Chef gave me the crab mix (on the house) with some other stuff on top of it and it was pretty good if you decide to get anything with the crab mix inside the roll.
(5)Gaurav B.
They have really good bento box during lunch hours. Excellent shrimp and veggie tempura Huge portions for rice and noodle dishes. Good Miso soup. Good Smoothie options. Prices are a little high but then the portions make up for them. Overall I like this place and definitely would visit again.
(4)Dax R.
This is good sushi. Our favorite noodle soup is the Taiwan Ramen. The Chain Saw and Black Hawk Rolls are our favorite rolls.
(4)Kevin R.
This place has some of the best food not to mention a good list of saki and a great chef. All reasonably priced with a great vibe
(5)Robert K.
Went for lunch yesterday with some colleagues and was beyond impressed. Might have been the best rolls I've ever eaten. Really creative and fantastic presentation.
(5)Jessica P.
I came here on a Saturday evening with a couple of friends.. I made reservations 30 minute prior to coming to the restaurant so we were seated almost immediately upon arrival.. Regular Sashimi 10 pieces ($14.99) - fresh fish & tasted good, it also came with your choice of miso soup or ginger salad...definitely not filling if you're hungry hungry...but good for an appetizer or for a small eater...light and healthy! Salmon Carpaccio (appetizer) - delicious salmon topped with delicious soy sauce based sauce.. yum!!! I would definitely recommend this appetizer!! MUST TRY! Customer Service: the waitress was nice.. Costs: on the higher end because it is Sushi.. sushi is normally on the higher end..:) Parking: plenty of FREE parking, but you may have to walk a little more from the parking spot to your car during evening busy hours...it's located in a strip mall... I would come here again if i were in the area to try some of their other dishes..
(4)Steve M.
We decided to come to Sushi Kushi San3 after reading several reviews on yelp. It was a Saturday evening and as I pulled into the parking lot a space opened up right in front near the door. Since it was a cold night, I felt this was a good sign. As we walked into the place, the first thing we noticed is that it was packed. It felt as though we were family or at least regulars because everyone from the restaurant greeted us and welcomed us as if they knew who we were (maybe they did). I also noticed that there were a few families and I never realized how many little kids like sushi. We were seated at our table right away and handed our menus to decide what we wanted. They have a huge selection of rolls and other dishes to choose from so it took us a little while to decide on what we wanted. We ended up going with the usual submarine roll (awesome), Philly roll (delicious) and a spicy tuna roll (fresh and awesome). We were very pleased with our choices and before we even finished we flagged down our server Steve to place an order one more roll (Highland Park roll). I would have to say that this place seats close to 80 people. They also have seats right at the counter where the chefs are making the food. I would like to sit there one time to watch them. It would be like watching the Food channel live. How awesome would that be? The bottom line is that the food is fresh and delicious. The staff is very attentive and friendly. We will be back.
(4)Rob S.
Hands down the best sushi place in the area and its a testament to how busy they are. Their rolls are absolutely awesome. They aren't skimpy with their fish and use big pieces in each of their rolls. The fish is very fresh as well. The Bears roll is incredible! I rarely take out from sushi places but their rolls are large and we always have leftovers for a midnight snack. Prices can be on the higher end but you definitely get what you pay for!
(5)Deb H.
I just love love love this place! Wish I had some right now :) We actually do take out 95% of the time. It is always ready by the time I get there and (I know I'm jinxing myself) the order is always right. Our favorites: Salmon/Tuna Carpaccio - the citrus dressing is so tasty! Lake Forest roll Philly roll (we substitute fresh salmon for the smoked) They have a nice atmosphere for dining in too.
(5)Nataliya A.
Just about as good as it gets! The bf raved about this place and we finally went here. The sushi is definitely to notch. Each bite had great flavor. We ordered the dragon roll, the caterpillar, the highlander, eel sushi pieces and tuna and salmon sushimi. yum yum yum. The eel was grilled to perfection, all of the fish was very fresh and flavorful, there was not to much rice...oh I can go on and on. The service was great. Our waitress took down our order very quickly with no mistakes, even with us talking very fast. She was very attentive. We liked her. The atmosphere was very chill and casual, very good for a tasty weeknight dinner...but I actually wouldn't mind coming back on the weekend too. Come and try it, you won't be disappointed....at least if you love good eel like we do :)
(5)Mad I.
Yum! This place is even better than the one in Lake Forest we checked out! Check out my yelp food pic for this place.... As I said in my review for the other sushi kushi, this place gets it right, as long as you know what you are doing....by that I mean, do not go in here and order all specialty rolls. With over half the list being $15 and up, it comes off as too pricey. Even the meals are over priced. HOWEVER if you get some 'small' rolls, you will not find a better $5 spicy tuna or $8 'dressed' up roll like the cubbie or submarine. And while the Angry Shrimp is like $16 bucks, its really yummie and very aesthetically appealing. Black rice is pretty cool, and the sauce on the rim is tasty and pretty. Crab salad on top is good but, WHEW, that mayo....ease up on that for sure. We went on Saturday night around eight thirty, and as usual for the burbs...we were just about the only people in there.... :(
(5)Joel O.
This place is OK. The sushi was decent, though not the best I have had by far. The fried rice was great though. There seems to be an over abundance of staff, which I suppose is good. I had to fight a little to get the Blackhawks game on the TV though. The overall feel of the place is kind of like a chain/semi fast food place. Kind of reminds me of the same vibe a Noodles N Company gives me. There are some neat lighting fixtures and stuff, but the layout makes me want to eat and leave. I don't know if I would go here again. Perhaps if I cannot find a better place in the area.
(3)Lori S.
I went to this restaurant last night and had a very great meal! From apps to maki rolls to regular dinner entrees, the food was very delicious. We tried the fried tofu, chicken wings (I would never think to order these from a Japanese restaurant but they were amazing), a specialty roll (I think it was the Vernon Hills roll), and the sea bass. No complaints about any of the food and the service was very attentive. Will definitely be back.
(5)annie m.
Best sushi ever. I love this restaurant and go there every time we are visiting the in laws.
(5)Tori B.
This is my all time favorite Sushi spot in the suburbs. The Blackhawk roll was my favorite for a long time but they always have new rolls and the freshest food. They are pricey for dinner, but the lunch Bento Box is amazing and affordable. Service is very respectful and I really enjoy everything I've ever had. I've been going to Sushi Kushi for about 12 years now....a loyal customer!
(5)Rowena M.
We have been big fans of Sushi Kushi both in HP and Lake Forest. Aside from the really fresh fish, service has always been attentive and customer-oriented. I wonder if this Vernon Hills location is run by a different management because it is the entire opposite from the reasons I love the other locations. We were not greeted by the usual friendliness, the service was cold and impersonal and even the food was of lower quality. I ordered my usual bento box and asked if I could get all veggies instead of the potato pancake. The response was: "Sorry - we can't change it. That's the way it comes." Well...I don't think the potato pancake is plastered inside the box and I'm pretty sure it's just as easy to put extra veggies. I didn't think it was an unreasonable request but the waitress refused to accommodate. For my kids, I ordered the usual tempura udon noodle and my daughter (age 6), who absolutely loves tempura shrimp even recognized that the quality of the shrimp was different in that instead of the usual panko bread crumb that makes tempura shrimp so delicate and yummy was replaced with a cheaper batter that left the shrimp as hard as a rock! So moral of the story is: not all Sushi Kushis are created equal. I'll stick to either HP or Lake Forest where they love their customers and it shows with the quality of service and the quality of food.
(2)Sandy S.
THE best green tea ice cream!! And they have this coconut drink that will blow your mind!! And if you even wanna be a little weird try some of their cotton candy (yeah thats right. I said 'Cotton. Candy'!) for dessert instead of the same old-same old. It's kind of a drive for me to go there but their sushi rolls and desserts are TOTALLY worth it!
(5)Nektaria R.
When one is starving and can't make it back to Lincoln Square without getting a bite to eat. this place works. For appetizers I asked for the grilled chicken liver kabob. I love chicken livers but this was too tough and over cooked. We had a couple of strange rolls and wished that I had stuck with something typical like spicy tuna or spider. We had the tempura dinner and the regular sushi as entrees. The miso soup was decent and warmed us right up. The sushi was fresh and sliced very thin. The wasabi though wasn't so hot, pun intended. It fell flat for me. The tempura was pretty good. My sister seemed to enjoy it. Funny thing, the server made a comment like, oh you guys were really hungry cause you ate it all. Yea, we ate it all. Why else would we order if we weren't planning on eating it all. It's not like we ordered huge rolls along with our entrees? duh? Plus we stated that we're starving. It was more than 8 hours since the last time we ate. Yea, sorry we ate it all. Oh well, glad I live in the city. I like having more choices.
(3)Glen M.
I've only had two sushi places in or around the Vernon hills area so this may or may not change. Usually I'm a Phili guy and sometimes the spicy tuna along with an eel roll. They have a great eel sauce. If your looking for some kick they have a jalapeño mayo that's killer. The fried rice Is actually pretty good as well but it's a sticky rice unlike I've ever had. Price wise is the only problem but like I said I only have a few places to compare to. I will say that you do get your money's worth and they have a huge selection.
(4)Jennifer P.
The +1 and I came here during the tail end of today's lunch rush. Wow, what a popular place (and gaggles of Asian diners to boot). Good sign, right? We were seated right away. The decor is cute (although did I spy a framed picture of Twilight actor Peter Facinelli ["Carlisle"] behind the front desk?? Weird.) and we noticed everything was pretty clean. Our waitress wasn't exactly friendly nor attentive - more curt. I ordered a Kirin Ichiban which came out with a frosty glass. We ordered and shortly thereafter were served miso soup. My +1 was happy that "It wasn't as salty as some other places." There was very little tofu, but there was a good deal of broth, it was HOT, and it was pretty good. The lunch menu had a pretty impressive selection, so it was hard to decide. I ordered the Bento Box (beef) with spicy tuna sushi, and my +1 opted for the Chicken Katsudon bowl. His bowl was pretty huge, but he said it was bland (even with the spices in the shaker they give you). My Bento Box? The beef, though swimming in teriyaki sauce, was delicious. The tempura was plentiful - 2 huge shrimp, 2 green beans, 1 carrot, and 1 sweet potato. The rice was bland, and the spicy tuna sushi was AWFUL. AWFUL, as in it was the mushiest spicy tuna I've ever eaten. It was so mushy that you could tell it didn't hold its shape in the roll when the chef rolled it out, which resulted in triangular-shaped sushi. When I picked each piece up, there was spicy tuna glob seeping out of the bottom. Taste-wise, it was NOT spicy. I'm not quite sure what was going on there.. I almost had to ask: We ARE at a sushi place...right?? C'mon now. A sushi joint should have a decent spicy tuna - it should have spice and a decent texture even though it's really a conglomeration of different ingredients. In the least, it should be able to hold shape in the roll. I dunno. Maybe they had some n00bs working behind the sushi bar. Would we go back? My +1 doesn't want to, that's for sure. Aside from the awful Spicy Tuna, the Bento Box was a good value and filling. I'd make a return trip to see if they'd redeem themselves.
(3)Kelly P.
It's okay.. I had better sushi. I still think Kinta sushi up in Carol Stream is better.
(3)Chet M.
Go there for lunch because their Bento Box specials are a great bang for your buck. But beware of ala carte rip offs. I ordered 1 piece of Mirugai or giant geoduck clam. It said $4.50 on the menu. When they bought it out, it was the smallest piece of sushi I ever saw in my life. And to top it off, they charged me $5.50 for that piece. More than Toro or fatty tuna! Just left a bad taste in my mouth.
(3)Kim B.
I recently moved to the area from San Diego and am on a mission to find good restaurants. This is definitely not one of them. Why does this place have such good reviews? I came here with the boyfriend for dinner and we ordered an array of dishes so we could try everything. We had the avocado salad, agedashi tofu, cold zaru soba noodles and Roses are Red roll. My boyfriend also tried some assorted sushi and a pineapple coconut smoothie. Out of all we tried, we both enjoyed the avocado salad the most. Everything else was flavorless and unimpressive. I realize that I'm new to the area but I have done some research and am convinced there are much better Japanese and sushi restaurants than Sushi Kushi San3.
(2)Jennifer L.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in the area. I used to go to the one in Lake Forest a lot and then, they opened this location literally like 2 minutes away from my house so that is also a huge plus as well. The sushi is authentic, fresh and prepared well. The balance of rice to fish in the maki rolls is good as well - they don't skimp out on the best parts like some other sushi places. I love the Volcano roll, Spicy Tuna roll and the Dynamite Roll (spicy scallops). The staff is friendly and efficient and I love the bright, inviting decor of the restaurant. It can get pretty crowded especially on weekend evenings, so perhaps make reservations if you're trying to dine in at that time. Try it if you're looking for GREAT sushi in the area - you won't regret it!
(5)Nicole T.
I go there all the time! My favorite sushi everytime I go there is "Da Bears Roll." The waiters do remember me and I love how the place is more of a Japanese Modern look alike place.
(5)Rebecca N.
This is hands down my favorite sushi place!!! Not too over the top and not too boring JUST RIGHT!!! The service is great and it not too expensive (it is significantly less expensive than sushi kushi in Lake Forest). It is much larger than the Lake Forest location also. I grew up eating at the Lake Forest location, but I lived in Buffalo Grove (before moving downtown) so I made this my go-to spot since it is significantly closer to home. My favorite is the brittle tuna. The Lake forest and moon rivers are staples also. The pieces of sushi I usually stick to are tuna, super white tuna, yellowtail, salmon and eel and they never disappoint. ALSO--the ginger salad dressing is outstanding. I have seen people drink it-- I swear! spread the word--this place is awesome!!
(5)Stephanie K.
Their food was good but nothing special. But family all got their food at different times which was not to much of a problem until I had to wait until my family was halfway done with their food for mine to even be mentioned. The service sucks but their food is decent. So for that I give them 2 stars. Will I go back? Maybe if I need something decent but other than that it's a one and done.
(2)Ron B.
Large variety of sushi and special rolls, very fast service, very polite employees, I strongly recommend this sushi restaurant. Enjoy! Stay classy Sushi Kushi.
(5)Steven M.
While this isn't a beautiful place, the food more than makes up for that. Every single thing we've ever had here was delicious. The service is very quick, so if you're looking for a place to run in a grab a super quick dinner, this is the place. Everything is super fresh and full of flavor. Even the rice is soft and fresh, unlike other places. The prices are great for couples or groups. Our absolute favorite rolls here are the Volcano Roll, the Moon River Roll, and the Lake Forest Roll.
(5)Julie J.
This place is awesome. There is one server (I don't know his name, sorry) who is awesome. Sometimes I pick up carry-out, and he knows I love their green tea, so he brings me a glass every time. I take everyone I know that likes sushi there. I go back all the time!
(5)Boon K.
Wow, if you looking for the craziest rolls this is the place. My friends have been wanted me to try their favorite sushi place in their new neighbor and I have to say I was overwhelmed with their menu selection. All the rolls were so interesting and what made it much easier was that they have a display for you to look to make it easier. All the rolls have such fun names too and all were really good too. I like that they use different types of the rice for their rolls so I ended up getting alot with black rice. Some the rolls we got were call the angry lobster, sleeping turtle, etc. What I really like was the salmon carpaccio that was my favorite, it was light was a little citron soy and a nice salad on the side, a must get if you are here.
(4)J J.
the food is great here, I just wish it wasn't so cramped and small inside. when it's busy, you have to sit on top of people here. no complaints about the food though :-)
(4)Todd V.
My whole family loves Sushi Kushi. Great menu with unique rolls - raw to heated to those literally "on fire". We always get great service in a very cool ambiance. You cannot beat the Raging Bull Roll.
(5)Karl W.
This is one of the best Sushi places in Vernon Hills !!!!!
(5)Dan P.
I absolutely love this sushi bar. This is the sushi place that basically introduced me to sushi and other sushi places around the city that I go to taste almost bland in comparison. My wife and my favorites include Blackhawk, Vernon Hills, Purple Dragon, and Angry Shrimp. This place is great - especially for takeout.
(5)Naomi N.
Went with a friend before going out on a Friday night. The sushi was good and I would return, however the sushi took a bit long for the restaurant not being so busy. It was also very bright in there for a sushi restaurant. It's a great place for families but I felt out of place with my bright lipstick and gold earrings getting ready for a night on the town. This wouldn't have been so if the lighting was dimmed. Sushi was fresh and I will return with my family but probably not when I'm heading out for a night of fun.
(3)PJ J.
Solid stuff here...I am a fan of Toyo-san's mini restaurant empire in general. Service was GREAT, prices were very fair, and the menu is vast and pretty well prepared. You know it's like this though...I think in order to rate 5 stars in sushi, the bar would need to display some uncut (as opposed to precut and plastic wrapped) fish, and also have a large variety... No doubt the fish here IS fresh as can be....but think about it, wouldn't it be funny to order cold cuts from the deli that weren't sliced for you right at the time you order? This says to me that portion control and/or skill set is being controlled. I think it's fine to add the efficiency of having pre-cut and portioned fish, but it takes away from the subtle nuances in flavor and texture that can be achieved by making sushi or sashimi and cutting flesh from a larger piece in real time.
(4)Adele S.
I'm not a huge sushi fan, I prefer my food cooked but their non-sushi options were good too. My husband had the cubbie roll, actually had two of them cuz he liked it that much. My daughter had the Highland Park roll(tuna & big chunks of eel on top) One friend had a combination plate-don't ask me what was there, I only could identify salmon and white tuna. He said it was good. Our other friends had teriyaki steak and chicken (juicy, not overcooked) I had beef fried rice which I loved. Maybe would like a few vegetables in there but the beef was tender and flavorful, short grain rice had good chew to it and portion was so big, I shared it with my husband and daughter. I liked that my water glass was NEVER empty and I didn't have to flag anyone down. The decor is soothing in neutrals and greens, fake bamboo disappears into the black acoustic tile ceiling. Specials looked good but kind of dizzying to look at 50 little signs slapped on the side of the sushi bar. We'll be back another time, definitely.
(4)Joann K.
I would drive by Sushi Kushi many times but never bothered to try it. I'm so glad my boyfriend works around this area and we were able to try this place. Now it's a regular lunch spot for my boyfriend and me. Probably because they have great lunch specials and the food is good. We usually order the Ramen (w/pork there's two different kinds) which comes with a deep fried spicy tuna roll. All this for under $9!! I think their ramen is better than Mitsuwa's. So I'm going to say its the best ramen in the suburbs. The deep fried spicy tuna is delicious. It's a nice twist from the regular spicy tuna roll. This lunch special will leave you full and happy. It's well worth its money. I wish the ramen was available everyday but for now its only on Wednesdays. We also tried the beef and chicken Bento Box. Both meats are seasoned and cooked well. It comes with a ton of food and it's around $9. Service is usually a hit or miss. During the summer time, its a bunch of high school/college kids serving you so kind of understand the lack of service but not really. Enjoy!
(4)Scott B.
Now that I've dined at all of the Sushi Kushi locations (Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Vernon HIlls), I have no choice but to up these guys to 5 stars. Whether it's one of their signature rolls, such as: Angry Shrimp, or a Moon River, the quality is always second to none. In addition to the great sushi, they have an impressive list of Sake, which I generally partake in. (Rehab is inevitable) The best sushi in this area and good service, will continue to bring me back...usually, once a week.
(5)Brian B.
Seemed good to me. Maybe not the best sushi I have had but it was decent. I had the chain saw roll which loaded with tuna and was good. Maybe a little heavy on the rice though. The miso soup was typical you get anywhere but it was hot and loaded with tofu. I stopped with about 25 minutes left before they were to close for lunch and the women seating me seemed quite intent on making sure I knew they closed at 2 o'clock. Yes I said, no problem I eat fast. They have a gigantic menu with all sorts of grilled kabobs, rolls and noodle/rice dishes. Almost too many things to look at. I suppose I would go here again when in this area.
(4)Mike A.
Summary of 3 visits to this location: Pricey - Unlike local long time favorite Osaka, you have to pay extra for miso and salad here. Rolls also tend to be about $2-$3 higher than Osaka. Bento - SKIP THEM! My wife had one on our first visit and my daughter on our 3rd. Not much more to add here, get something else. Fried Rice - We had the shrimp FR and it was great! Sushi - Had pretty much all the "special" rolls and outside of the lobster roll on special that day, the rest were good, but nothing great. Service/Ambiance - Great Location and plenty of room. If you have a larger party (8 or so) they have a table in the back that is somewhat secluded and works great for a small group. Service is spotty, but they tend to be busy and not much room to work in between tables for the staff Had to ask for refills, a big no-no. Summary: We would most likely come back at some point, but the kids prefer Osaka and to be honest, so do we...
(4)Courtney P.
You don't get much better than sushi from this place. Their service is impeccable and their sushi is fantastic. Best of all, their prices are fair and they have variety! This place and Tsukasa are really the only two japanese restaurants worth considering in Vernon Hills. As someone who has eaten at both extensively, I can say that Sushi Kushi is overall a better choice for sushi.
(5)sandra w.
I'm sitting in Sushi Kushi as I write this (I heart technology) and while my date and I enjoyed our meal the service left a lot to be desired. We waited only 10 minutes to be seated and nearly 20 for our waiter to notice us even though we're seated between his other tables. Very disappointed. We should have gone to our usual sushi place, but we wanted to try something different. Eh.
(2)Brittany C.
One of the best places in the suburbs for sushi. It was very fresh and everything we ordered was delicious. Will definitely be returning soon!
(5)David G.
If you appreciate the ocean and you're looking for fresh sashimi/sushi this is the place to do so. Probably the freshest you can get around Vernon Hills. They also have a wide selection of sakes and Japanese beers. The sushi bar apps are fresh, simple, delicate and flavorful. The carpaccio dishes are great as well as the avocado salad. Rolls on the other hand are nothing special. First of all they use way too much sauce on most of the rolls so all you taste is the sauce. The spicy tuna roll's texture like peanut butter it sticks to the top of your mouth. If you want the chunky spicy tuna roll, the one most people are used to, you have to ask for it, and get extra charged. The california roll is decent though, they use real crab meat, which is always a plus. Entree dishes are nothing special either but they give you a boatload of food. Lunch specials are a great, affordable and filling. The daily specials Tuesday: chirashi, Wednesday: ramen, Thursday: katsu curry, Friday: salmon neck. All for under $10. Comes with soup. As you can probably tell I like it clean! Fresh and simple ingredients, is all I need. So if you're like me, join in the fun and grab some of the best sushi and sashimi out here!
(4)Justine L.
Yum for your money! My favs are the Lake Forest roll and the dragon roll. Always get good chunks of meat and perfect amounts of sauce. These two large rolls are the perfect amount of food for dinner (for a girl :)). However, I do not like their spicy tuna/salmon rolls because they are obviously the scraps from other rolls. Also, the original Sushi Kushi in Lake Forest is def the best Sushi Kushi place.
(4)Natasha B.
This place is one of our top 2 favorite sushi places. It's ALWAYS fresh - we get carry out a lot but dining in too! We have never had a bad roll here. We normally get the shrimp lovers, volcano, Dynamite Roll, and friend rice. Everything is always delicious. I would say it's a little over prices compared to other sushi places, but well worth it for the sushi.
(5)Craig H.
This place was excellent the staff was great the food was outstanding and the price was right. The red Dragon roll was great. We also got one of the specials the Angry Shrimp and it was wonderful great choice.
(4)Stacy K.
Yum! I am addicted to Sushi - and this is my favorite local Sushi restaurant! We drive here, out of our way, and skip over other Sushi establishments for many reasons. First, the restaurant is clean and bright with a fun vibe. All of the appetizers/sushi/kitchen entrees are well sized and extremely well priced. The sushi is incredible - fresh and tasty! And to round out the experience, the staff is so friendly and helpful. We've been seated at the sushi bar, and throughout the restaurant - service is wonderful either place. We also order takeout frequently, and it is always ready at the time promised. My all-time favorites are the Rainbow roll, Seaweed salad & a Mochi ball for desert. Bottom line: We've never been disappointed. We are always astounded at how affordable Sushi Kushi is compared to our other local joint. We would recommend this to everyone - Sushi Newbie to Sushi Graduate.
(5)Dana M.
I had lunch here with a friend one weekday and we both ordered the Bento Box for $9.95. You get a few choices on the type of meat or sushi roll. It came with 2 pieces of shrimp tempura plus vegetable tempura, and chicken terriyaki, 3 pieces of California roll, and a miso soup. I was very impressed with the California roll because it had real crab meat! It was amazing! In addition to our Bento Boxes, we also shared a Dragon Roll which at first I thought was cheap at just $8 until it came out and there were only 4 pieces! It was good but not impressed with the quantity. The place is very new and clean- I'm not sure when they opened but the decor is very contemporary with outdoor seating. It is actually owned by Japanese people with many authentic dishes.
(4)Sherwin C.
Great atmosphere with a wide menu but the food isn't good enough for 5 stars. Nice place to stop by when you're in the area or want to go out with your friends though.
(4)Laura G.
I dream about their brittle tuna at least once a week. Fresh raw tuna, cucumber slices, creamy avocado, tempura crunch, and spicy sauce all mixed together in a large bowl-it is heavenly!!! very reasonably priced---a lot of tuna for $9.50. a MUST try... my favorite sushi dish hands down!
(5)Sue K.
The menu is kind of overwhelming, and everything tastes meh. Maybe we didn't get the right thing. Ambiance is nice, though.
(2)Tiffany L.
i've always been a fan of sushi kushi in lake forest, so i think it was smart of them to open one up in vernon hills, a much more central location for the north burbs. this is a good local sushi joint to eat at. it's my go to place when im in the burbs. and the sushi has always been fresh when i've visited. some of the bento boxes are served with things i usually don't see which is a nice touch -- a flower shaped potato pancake and some deep-fried chicken (at least i think it was chicken). both were serviceable, but nothing to drool over. while i usually order sashimi a la carte or a sake don, this past time one of the things i ordered was the shrimp tempura roll. loving shrimp tempura rolls at a japanese restaurant is like loving egg foo young at a chinese restaurant. but i LOVE shrimp tempura rolls! there i said it. (p.s. if you're at a chinese restaurant, and they have egg foo young on the menu, leave that establishment, as quickly as you can. don't say i didn't warn you.) anyway where was i. so the roll was only 4 pieces but the pieces are HUGE -- BUT mostly because they are stuffed with veggies. at first i was like, WHAT! RIP-OFF!!! but after i ate it, i was pleasantly surprised with the clean taste of it. sometimes i order shrimp tempura rolls, and they make me feel greasy, this one did not. i enjoyed the overabundance of veggies. all in all, recommended if you're looking to eat sushi in the suburbs.
(4)Tony L.
I would give the service here 4 stars. Everyone here is very warm, quick to help, and cheerful. The actual food, 2.5. Of the sushi I've had in the Vernon Hills area, this is one of the best. However, in comparison to what's available on the West Coast, it falls very short in terms of freshness, taste, and texture. The rolls served were inventive, but always drenched in some sort of sauce, or mayo. While usually tasty, about half the amount of sauce would really help balance the taste. Also, the hamachi collar I ordered wasn't scaled, so the first bite of the delicious skin turned out to be a disgusting mess in my napkin.
(2)Dima Z.
Consistent quality sushi. Never failed and prompt service. Time after time they exceed my expectations. Highly recommend for their American Japanese delivery. If you want pure Japanese food experience, you may need a different place, but many dishes are genuine Japanese.
(5)James K.
Decent price, delicious food, and nice atmosphere for family dinner.
(4)Jackie C.
This place was TERRIBLE. By far the worst sushi I've ever had. Everything tasted just a bit fishy - and the service wasn't that great either. I worked as a waiter for a sushi restaurant for a full year, so I know what good sushi is - this is DEFINITELY not it.
(1)Dave L.
Came here for my V-Day dinner with fiance. We ordered Chirasi, Phoenix Roll, Udon and Avocado Salad. It was way too much for a party of two and so whatever we couldn't finish we took home. We both loved the Chirasi and the Udon. The rest were good, but not great. The service was good although a bit overwhelmed due to V-Day. Otherwise, good atmosphere, good food, and overall, very enjoyable.
(4)Jeff M.
Always a great place for sushi. However when it's busy, plan your orders with the wait in mind so you don't starve. Not a huge fan of their fried rice. Booths are a better seating option unless you like sharing your conversations with strangers and vice versa.
(4)Steven M.
This is about as good as sushi gets in the Midwest. They have a very good selection of rolls with a couple that are pretty unique. The fish has been fresh every time I've been there. Prices are reasonable, but not cheap. One thing stands out, their staff is very attentive and very friendly! Very recommended.
(4)JC O.
Love the crab box. Perfect blend of crab, spiciness, and sweetness. Clean restaurant, and kid friendly too. Highly recommend it
(5)Scott D.
Fantastic food! Love the way the place looks and the service was great!
(5)Thomas L.
Service was very good and the sushi was delicious. We had the Rosemary Tuna (one of our favorites) and the Tuna Tataki Salad for starters. For makimono we had Alaskan, California, Lake Forest, and Kani Q.
(4)Bret S.
Here's a place where being "fast food" isn't a bad thing. My sushi was prepared to order very quickly, and the flavors were very good. I had the Alaska and Rainbow rolls. The ingredients were fresh, the rolls larger than I'd expected and combined were more than a meal. I also liked the cleanliness and brightness of the restaurant... inviting from the curb and inside. If I lived in the area I'd go there again.
(4)Eric J.
I appreciate good sushi and I noticed Sushi Kushiro San3 in passing and wanted to give it a pre-movie try. They did an excellent job at my classic California roll and I was pleasantly pleased with a spicy tuna roll. My main course was chicken and beef teriyaki and it was delicious. The presentation and taste of all (4) our dishes was excellent! Each dish was generous and delicious. Our server was great and had super recommendations for us. Add this one to your list, you'll not be dissappointed!
(4)Anthony P.
The setting is a bit like an open diner kind of vibe, bright lights and people hustling about. Not a very good ambience. The food is a bit expensive for the setting, IMO. For the price, I would rather have a nicer ambiance. However, the quality of the food is good, so if you can handle the vibe, have ad it! ;)
(3)Kristina K.
The service was not that great but the sushi was delicious.
(4)Ellie S.
After my second trip here there are so many great things to say about this restaurant. First, decor and menu are Contemporary Japanese which I love. The restaurant is reasonably priced and portions were good size keeping in mind sushi bars are not cheap and typically do not have large portions. Our bill for 4 was $69. We found that very reasonable for a sushi bar and not much more than a visit to Fridays. The chicken gyoza is made fresh not frozen. Steak teriyaki is good. Asparagus beef itame appetizer was very good. Beef yakitori and chicken with scallions are both very good. I like the chicken with scallions better (more flavorful). My husband, who grew up in Japan, really enjoys the sushi here. For sushi eaters who want to try something very authentic, ask for Natto roll. It is on the menu. My family has been to many Japanese restaurants in Illinois and it is the first restaurant we found with Natto on the menu. Usually you have to ask for it, the sushi chef double checks to make sure you are really asking for Natto and that you really want it and then some places don't have it or have to find it in the freezer somewhere. It is fermented bean curd that is an acquired taste even in Japan. My children are picky eaters but, do eat here. We get a bowl of rice for one of my kids and bring some furikake to sprinkle on top and my other son eats a bowl of cold tofu with soy sauce. This probably sounds a bit strange since they are picky eaters but, it is because they grew up on Japanese food. I don't think I saw a kids menu here but, if your child is a picky eater and is willing to eat rice, they also sell fresh fruit, fruit smoothies and fruit ice cream and mochi flavors that might fill them up enough for a meal. The restaurant is very clean and we found host, servers and bus staff very good. I must give a special shout out to the wonderful older Korean woman who works the entrance of the restaurant. I don't know her name but, she used to work at Osaka Sushi in Vernon Hills 12 years ago and is the nicest woman. We used to go to Osaka at 5pm and she used to hold our baby, who is now 11, so we could eat dinner. She even introduced my son to tofu at 9 months old and despite his picky eating, has loved tofu ever since.
(4)Erin P.
The tuna brittle appetizer is AMAZING!! Also tried the lake forest roll and the raging bull which were delicious. I can't wait to go back and try more. The only problem with this place is that the menu is huge and everything sounds good, if you can even call that a problem! The staff is very friendly and makes you feel right at home.
(5)Bridget D.
Three days later and I'm still dreaming of the tuna and avocado salad. Everything I had here was delicious.
(5)Joe B.
Meh... I've had better, but I've also had worse. We order three rolls; one was awful, one was average, and one was above average. Thus, three stars is the perfect rating. The restaurant itself was pretty nice, as was our waiter, but I doubt I'll be back any time soon.
(3)Mary M.
Tried Sushi Kushi San3 for the first time after reading rave reviews. Got in with no wait at 7 on a Saturday. Atmosphere was lovely, although the TV over my husband's head was distracting. I never understand why they have TVs on in restaurants, unless it's a sports bar and watching the game is the event you are there to see. Overall, it was fine, but we probably won't go back. The food was good. I had the pan fried noodles with tofu and some vegetable tempura. My husband had sushi. The waitress got a little confused - for some reason, she brought me my noodle entree first and the tempura app second. And she wasn't as attentive as I would have liked; we spent a lot of time waiting. Overall, not bed. Fine. Nothing to write home about, though.
(3)Jon T.
Ome of the best places for sushi i have been to, the cut of fish for sashimi is huge! The nigiri is amazing in the way the at fish tto rice ratio is 2:1... Even when its crowded the seating is very fast Will definately go back here, but the atmosphere could use a lil' work. not to mention the waitresses are a little annoying checking up on you every 3 minutes saying "everything ok? thank you!" definitely try if you got a fat wallet and an appetite for sushi!
(4)Mike J.
Good but a bit pricey.
(4)Jen H.
Hubby loved the fried rice and spicy tuna hand rolls. I had a tempura roll which was good. My complaint was that I had one of their special rolls, I can't remember exactly what it was because I must want to forget it. It was HUMONGOUS. Not in a good way either. This roll was literally the size of one of those football sized burritos, so there was obviously no way I was going to get one piece into my mouth. I had to pick it apart and eat it that way. It was probably a $10-12 roll so I was really disappointed. I don't know what the guy was thinking who made it, because it just made no sense to make a roll that big. Other than that, it was just ok. A fine place to go to when you have a sushi craving and want some solid, decent sushi. I guess next time I'll stick to some basic rolls.
(3)Renato P.
My first visit here and I have to say it was a positive one. As far as decor goes, it's nice enough for a casual date, yet comfortable enough to eat there in shorts and a t-shirt. The servers were very attentive, and hey, free refills on soda is never a bad thing. First, I wasn't really crazy about the calamari. It was a really thick cut of squid, no tentacles (my favorite part), and the breading was a little thick. All that being said, they were still pretty good, especially the dipping sauce, it was very good. The roll selection was a bit out of the ordinary, most of the rolls included a less common combo if ingredients, from asparagus to Jalapeno mayo. The menu also had a huge selection of appetizers and a nice variety of cooked foods to go with the very big sushi menu. The California rolls were among the best I've had,simply great, benefiting from real crab meat. The salmon avocado roll and Dragon rolls , both very good. The real stars of the evening were the Highland Park roll and the Central roll, among the best rolls I've had. I have to say I will definitely be back here and probably sooner rather than later.
(4)Aman A.
The sushi was very good as was the service. A bit pricey, but I loved their Chicago rolls so i would come back again.
(4)Dima L.
I have eaten here once and enjoyed it a lot. Their food is carefully made by a master sushi chef and when I went the chef even gave us an appetizer for free. This made me feel welcome and I left a nice tip. It is expensive but you can't get quality sushi for cheap anyway. You can get it for a cheaper only if you make it yourself but you won't do a good job without many many tries. I highly suggest going here.
(4)Doug L.
Adventurous sushi in this joint! Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain would approve. Easily, my favorite local sushi place.
(4)Geoffrey S.
One of the better Japanese restaurants in the area.
(4)Mike M.
I am an occasional sushi eater and always wanted to go to the original but never found my way to those parts. This place looked brand new, nice and bright clean. These are all important in sushi joints. Mexican food is best in the run down shacks, but sushi needs to be clean and neat. We went through the gambit here. Two big guys with beards came ready to plow through some sushi. We got some yakitori chicken meatballs and chicken skin. The skin was a little on the burnt side but pretty tasty. We got some giant Japanese beers and tried about 10 of their rolls. They were all pretty good, but I liked the ones with the sauces on them the best. I know that is not traditional sushi, but it was a party in my tummy. (so yummy) We were just two boys on the town manimal style so we got a little crazy and tried the sea urchin. Whoa. I have never had anything like that in my mouth before. (stop you) It was salty mushy, and tasted of the ocean. Odd but different in a good way. When I eat sushi I like to try new things, and SKS3 really made me feel comfortable doing so. I had no question that the fish was very fresh and the staff well trained. All were Asian and looked to be Japanese, but I did not check resident IDs. I think that is in poor taste these days. If you are looking for a nice modern environment to eat some raw and cooked sushi this is my favorite place.
(4)Deborah P.
This is by far my absolute favorite sushi place in the Chicago area. We went at the recommendation of my chiropractor. He suggested the Raging Bull (which is NOT on the menu), but it is the best roll I've ever had. Our waiter turned out to be the manager/owner, and he was so great. We had our girls with us, and although they eat sushi on occasion, they tend to get finicky now and then. He suggested one of the bento boxes, and modified it some to suit them. They LOVE the place. Decor is very light and airy (most sushi places are so dark), and each booth feels private b/c of the glass wall between each one. Service, speed of the food arrival, food temp, freshness, originality and customization of the order was all A+ in my book! We've been back three times in a matter of 3 weeks, and they definitely welcome us with open arms now!
(5)Chris B.
This place just opened and is the 3rd opening in a family of restaurants that include locations in Lake Forest and Highland Park. I went with a group of seven coworkers and even though the restaurant is crowded at lunchtime, we were able to be seated right away. The dining area is beautifully decorated in a modern Asian theme. As far as the food goes, you will be hard pressed to find more delicious sushi anywhere in the Northern burbs. All lunch specials are $10 or less and include soup and large portions of tasty sushi, sashimi, or Japanese entrees. The menu is very large. I opted for the Sushi lunch special and I was pleasantly full after I was finished eating. Highly recommended!
(4)Sue C.
Sushi kushi is just one of those place where you keep on going. It really great. Only downside... I don't speak japenese.
(4)Nick S.
Sushi Kushi is relatively new and one of a few other in the chain. Its decor is great! Very modern and warm inside, honestly its best feature. Service was a bit slow and the food was good, nothing spectacular but good. I would go there again and give it another shot.
(3)Mike S.
I only ordered basic sushi and sashimi here, and it was done right. They do not put avocado in the futomaki. And, they make an ume-shiso roll which is rare in this area. This is a bright, clean restaurant with efficient and friendly staff.
(4)Dmitriy O.
i came here with a family friend and we ordered +$100 worth of sushi for 5 people. it was all absolutely phenomenal. my favorite was the vernon hills roll. the eel nigri was the biggest piece of eel i've ever seen. the house hot saki is also very good. will definitely visit this restaurant again.
(5)Mike O.
Excellent place. Sushi is consistent fresh and delicious
(4)kg a.
Yummy! Lovely, bright, casual, family friendly. Tasty food, fresh, nice service. Have had soba, sushi, chicken katsu, teriyaki, gomae. Everything is good. Have been to Sushi Kushi 2 in Highland Park, and the VH location is much better, nicer.
(5)Eddie K.
Nope. This place was terrible. I waited 45 mins to get my food and the service was terrible also. I do NOT recommend it. There are lots of better sushi places in the area.
(1)Amy I.
This may be the best sushi place in the suburbs. Service is awesome, prices are reasonable. I've been there twice on Sat nights (a little early) and both times we got a complimentary "taste" of something that we didn't order along with some really amazing food. I had a different combo each time, so I've tried a good assortment and everything was amazing. I'm looking forward to going back!
(5)