Not only is their hibachi the best around, but their sushi is fantastic! Moving from Florida to Chicago area I am very picky about my sushi and Tsukasa does it right...super fresh! Love the yellow Ferrari and Urlacher rolls. My husband and I enjoy this place as our date night!
(5)
Alice A.
Compared to other teppanyaki places around the area, I would definitely recommend going to Tsukasa. From their outdoor decor to their spacious restaurant, this place is perfect for business dinners, date nights or just for good food. I would highly recommend making a reservation, especially for weekends. They are almost always packed and walking in on a weekend for teppanyaki during dinner time will have a wait time at least 1.5 hrs. I decided to try their sushi rolls this time around after going there numerous times for their teppanyaki. I got the shrimp tempura, California roll and one tamago. Every thing was delicious! Fresh, rice was not too sticky and the rolls were intact. I don't eat raw fish so I can't say much about their sushi but people who I with that got sushi said it was very fresh. I think chicken teriyaki is a very common and popular choice for when it comes to teppanyaki. I never had a bad experience before. If you like calamari and scallops, those are pretty fresh as well! If you order shrimp, and get it "golden," be careful because they literally put a glob of butter on top of the shrimp. The butter is very overwhelming... Can't imagine anyone eating a spoonful of butter on a tiny shrimp... For someone who likes fresh salmon and appreciates their original flavor, their salmon teriyaki overpowers the fish and personally, I don't like it at all. Just feel like that salmon taste and teriyaki sauce doesn't really mix as well as chicken. Don't forget to add $2 for their fried rice! Will not disappoint! And if you don't want piles of oil and grease on your food, you can always ask them for less oil and or salt. Oh! And as for appetizers, I really like their age dashi tofu! The tofu is deep fried to perfection and the sauce goes well with it. A dish you should try if you like tofu! If you go there for your birthday, they will sing to you, give you a pineapple float thingie and they take a picture of you and your party for you to take home. ($6) A nice touch to end a birthday celebration :)
(4)
Kate W.
Every time I go here, my stomach hurts for weeks. I think we went there 3-4 weeks ago and my digestive track is still not back to normal. Probably won't ever go back.
(2)
Sara T.
Yesterday was my 4th time dining at Tsukasa. As much as I love Benihana, Tsukasa is better. I like Benihana's fried rice more than Tsukasa's, but I like Tsukasa's everything else more than Benihana. The steak in my order of steak teriyaki dinner was cooked perfectly medium rare. I customized my fried rice, asking them to hold the teriyaki sauce (can't believe I've become one of THOSE people who customize this and that). There's a reason traditional fried rice doesn't include teriyaki sauce -- it tastes better that way! Our table of 8 also ordered a bunch of rolls and appetizers. The seaweed salad and goma ae were good starters to wet our appetites. The group also seemed to enjoy the squid appetizers but I can't comment any further on that since I don't eat squid. We finished off with desserts. I got the tempura ice cream for around $7. It's a huge portion cut into 4 fat slices, definitely enough for 4 people... Yet... I ate it all up myself. The crispy outside with the yummy creamy crunchy strawberry bits-filled inside was a perfect conclusion to my meal.
(4)
Mina H.
This is a standard hibachi place that is very popular in the area... probably due to the lack of competition... I like the food but its not spectacular in my honest opinion, just decent and a little overpriced for the value. There is a place in DT Libertyville that is on par with this, just a tiny place though... so this has that beat in size for sure. One thing about hibachi places, I don't like getting different portions of my food at various times, as the cooking process goes...rice first, and it's soon cold or gone by the time the protein and vegetables get placed on the plate.... and sometimes you don't want to watch the show but just chat... Sushi appetizer shared was GOOD... for the meal got the sesame scallops entree ($23?) and it was decent, but I prefer mine a little more seared and crisp. I guess I could have asked, but hadn't had them before so... I would like it if they had a brown rice option too. And this was a free team dinner paid for personally by the manager (thanks Mike G.), so I guess I shouldn't complain... Free == GOOD right? ;-)
(3)
Jacqueline R.
Yummmmmmm!!!!! This is probably one of my favorite places to eat!!!! Me and my boyfriend go here at least once a month!!!! The lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I'm obsessed with the sushi roll "the yellow Ferrari!" Seating at the hibachi table is come first serve but it's totally worth the wait. The only downside is if you sit at a regular table versus the hibachi table the fried rice isn't the same, it's good just not as good as the guy making it I front of you at the table. Service is fast and very friendly. The restaurant is very clean as well. Would recommend to anyone looking to eat hibachi or sushi, 10 times better than Kyoto.
(5)
Sara K.
One of my favorite date night places! The soup salad and rice is to die for! I literally crave it all the time! The main food is pretty good too! The hibachi chefs are really hit or miss though.. sometimes the guy is entertaining and talks to you.. other times we have gone there and gotten complete DUDS! Great restaurant but they need to work on some personalities not only within the chefs but in general they don't seem very friendly.
(4)
Christine G.
We came here to celebrate my sisters 18th birthday and had an amazing time! The food was amazing and I'm actually writing this review because our chef Andy was AMAZING! I've been here about 10 times and always have a good experience, but Andy is the best!! We will ask for him every time!!
(5)
Troy R.
We really enjoy going there as a big family fun event, kids love it, but service was slow and unfriendly, overpriced and attached a mandatory tip counting kids as adults without telling us ahead of time. Unfortunate because often it is great.
(1)
Karolina S.
Such a great atmosphere! The resaturant is beautiful and the food is incredible. It's pricey but definitely worth it for special occasions. I love their octopus with fried rice. By the way, they have the best fried rice I've ever tasted. Great dine-in experiance!
(5)
Tony A.
This restaurant is always the talk of the neighborhood. Foregoing any special occasion, my girlfriend and I just went for dinner on a Sunday. The hostess gave us the choice of being seated right away in the general area or wait 10 minutes for a seat at a grill table. We came for the habachi grill experience so we decided to wait. It was a little longer than 10 minutes but it was definitely worth it. After receiving drinks we were served with a small portion of soup and salad, both of which were very good. Next the chef came and started to prepare rice, veggies, and finally our entrees. The chef was very friendly and charming. Really made the food preparation quite a show. It's such a delight to see your food get made in a really fun way. Much better than just sitting at a booth waiting for your food to come out. Everything tasted delicious. Chicken, steak, shrimp were all cooked perfectly. Please be aware that the large portions will definitely satisfy your appetite. Almost everyone at our table went home with leftovers. Not too many negative aspects to this place. Getting a waiter to stop by is quite difficult though. They don't do the usual walk-by to refill your drink or check if you need anything. If you'd want service you'll actually have to stand up and flag someone down or ask the chef to stop and do it. This is a great and beautiful habachi grill place. Will definitely come here again. Might be a good idea to make reservations if you plan on sitting at the grill tables.
(4)
Kelly B.
My favorite restaurant...ever. I love everything about this place. I usually end up sitting in the booths or by the sushi bar, you end up getting like double the amount of fried rice with your meal :) Service is always great.
(5)
Tony M.
Great service! We brought our friends from out of town and they took care of us like no other. They brought out a special menu after one of our friends didnt see anything appetizing on the dinner menu and spoke perfect spanish to our guests who had a hard time ordering in english. The chef also made sure he had a smile on his face and was very friendly. The kids also loved it! 5 stars!!
(5)
Christina L.
We have been here on previous occasions and normally sit at the hibachi grill. Today we chose to sit at the bar. The service was good and my boyfriend and I decided to share the Tatsuta age. We both agreed that it reminded us of chick fil a chicken nuggets...but hey that's not a bad thing. For my main course I got teriyaki salmon with fried rice with golden sauce (YUM). My boyfriend ordered the golden shrimp with the same rice. Of course we had to get the food wrapped. They give you SO much food. Overall it was a great dinner! I shall be back with the bf.
(4)
Yanja B.
Conflicted with how many star to rate Tsukasa. I have been dined here on countless occasions. Time after time it has been amazing but recently I feel like the sushi quality fell off. Last night was a huge disappointment. My boyfriend and I came here for sushi. We literally got nothing but rice. We could not taste any of the fish or the stuffing inside- it was nothing but rice. BTW we ordered Ebi-Shrimp My boyfriend also ordered a side of fried rice, it was also not up to par with how it usually is. Usually its amazing and thats the main hook that keeps us coming back. After last night's experience I don't see myself coming back in the foreseeable future. There are plenty of other quality sushi options- very disappointed.
(2)
Forrest R.
Absolutely the best sushi that I have had coast to coast. Everything that I have ordered here is top notch, very fresh and extremely tasty. You have to try the spicy octopus appetizer and the Yellow Ferrari roll. Although the food is amazing, I cannot always say the same about the service. I have been coming here for close to 10 years and on 2 different occasions my order was forgotten all together. On one occasion I was with a large party of about 20 people. On another occasion I was with a small group of 3 other friends. It is not uncommon for them to forget a roll or an order so keep tabs on what you ordered, what you actually received and what you are charged for! I have never had this problem sitting at the bar, the bartenders are always great. I must say, I continue to come here knowing the service is worthy of maybe only a 6 or 7 rating although the food is always a 10.
(5)
Jen H.
I went for sushi. I did not like the sushi. This pink dragon roll everyone seems to like...sucked! Too much sauce on it and it's topped with too much fake crab. The spider roll was just ok, but larger and more rice than I like. Too much. I did like the age dashi tofu and the fried rice. Service was good! I asked the waitress for chicken katsu for my daughter and she had never heard of it in her life!! So don't look for katsu here unless you want to be looked at like you're crazy. I would return to try different sushi rolls. Do yourself a favor and don't get the pink dragon. I don't know why people think this is actually a good sushi roll. Disgusting.
(3)
Rick G.
Awesome Teppan Yaki style Japanese restaurant. It seems like it must always be busy there. We had to wait at the bar and have appetizers which were excellent. This is not a complaint that we had to wait, the fast service at the bar made the wait enjoyable. Spinning knives and food are tossed around, the chef even tosses shrimp to one person at a time and seems to never miss landing the shrimp in the person's mouth.
(5)
Alyssa P.
I have had Tsukasa twice now, once a pickup order and another dining in. It seems to be a popular place and my friend really likes it but I've had better. Pickup order was good, I was starving, the fried rice and vegetables were good and I really enjoyed the rolls (even though I am not a big sushi person which is saying something). Could care less for the "golden" option, too fatty for me. Dining in was nice although seated more towards the front, went with the same friend (we were both full) but ordered salmon, rice and rolls. Enjoyed the rolls and I am a big salmon person so I really enjoyed the salmon (though again, I've had better). Would repeat again if I was craving sushi and perhaps see a bit more of the interior of the restaurant but not an immediate go-to choice. Prices were decent for a sushi place, many people seem to enjoy, and staff was busy but friendly.
(3)
Vasi D.
Sat down with my family for dinner. When the cook came out, he constantly was rubbing his nose which j found to be very disgusting. Didn't care for any extras in my food from his nose and particles that came falling out. Ordered the hibachi tuna. BEWARE!!!!! It is butterfish not even tuna and I was sick like a dog for 15 hours. Now the thought of fish makes me sick. Just google and look butterfish. This is what they are serving as tuna??? When j called to complain the lady said she fed 700 people and no one else called in to complain. ( they open at 2:00 I called in at 2:05. How many people could have called in within those 15 min ) she told me she hopes I feel better and that was it. Really? Horrible cooks with disgusting habits and rotten disgusting imitation food. Who knows if chicken is even chicken or a dead crow in a cage out back. Stay away!!!!! Will never return !!!! Also had my husband called in the evening because no one ever called me back and he also complained of being sick and the women Connie went to say that no one called in complaining of being sick from the food. What I lie. Stay away !!!
(1)
Connor B.
Tsukasa is your typical hibachi grill experience, and it does a great job at being a hibachi grill. Location and Ambiance: Its kind of plopped down near a home depot, tiger direct, and other stores. This being said, the ambiance inside is great! Tsukasa does a great job setting the mood. Food: All the foods I have tried are great! Steak, chicken, and shrimp are all done right! This paired with the hibachi grill experience all make for a great time if you decide to go to Tsukasa for a meal. Staff: The staff is very generic, and there isn't any personal feel to the people who have served our tables. With this in mind, I have no complaints. As we all know a lot of your experience will depend on the chef you have. Overall, Tsukasa does a great job doing what it does. Its a hibachi grill with no unique twists along the way, which isn' t a bad thing it just means its not the BEST place I have been. With all of this in mind I think it deserves a solid 4 of 5 stars! :) Thanks, Connor Brady
(4)
Alex G.
Love this place and even though it gets a little busy for dinner it's still worth the trip and the wait. Hibachi food is very good but what sets it apart is its sushi bar. the fish is always incredibly fresh menu selection is excellent and services very good. My wife and I love this place so much we sometimes even buy several gift certificates at 20% off ahead of time so when we come back it's a little cheaper. Definitely a place to go if you love Japanese food.
(5)
Laura C.
Hibachi restaurants are like the Disneyland of restaurants. Cheesy, but still fun, especially with kids in tow. If you've ever eaten out with a toddler, it can be hard to keep him or her entertained enough so you can enjoy your own meal. At Tsukasa, the chefs take care of that for you, with quick knife skills, flying vegetables, and some highly volatile compounds. The meals start off with a bland, iceberg salad with an unappetizing ginger dressing. Followed by a bowl of lukewarm water and soggy, floating rice puffs, the "soup" was a disappointing beginning. Our chef carted in our veggies, proteins and white or fried rice and promptly began the show. When you surrender to the sights, smells and the sake or lychee martini kicks in, the idea that you're at a suburban hibachi restaurant disappears, and you start to soak up the atmosphere and just go with it. My scallops were cooked well, and the veggies were somewhat raw, but you're there more for the experience than the food. We left with full bellies, a smiling toddler, and a slight sake buzz. Not too shabby for a suburb dinner.
(2)
Steve M.
This place is on fire..... I have been to this restaurant a few times including when they were located across the street in a strip mall. The new building is very nice with a well laid out plan of tables with their cooking surfaces. There is plenty of parking as they share the lot with other bug stores in the area. The Atmosphere: We came here to celebrate my birthday which is kind of funny because you wouldn't believe how many people come here for their birthday. There was one point where they were singing this birthday song which I didn't recognize but I'm sure that's what it was. Tim who was our chef asked the question and of course my family told him that it was my birthday. Tim being the creative chef that he is while making our fried rice spelled my name out with the rice and my made up age of 28. He then asked me what my favorite number was which I said 24. He had a frustrated but funny face as he was going to flip an egg on his flipper 24 times. He stared flipping the egg counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 times 3 = 24. The Food: We all decided to go with a combination plate. I went with the lobster and filet with fried rice. They first served us soup and then a salad. After we finished our soup and salad he pulled out the lobster tail. As Chef Tim pulled the lobster out of it's shell and seasoned it he started cutting up the vegies where he started flipping pieces of broccoli into my sons mouth until it was overflowing. Once the veggies were complete and on our plates he pulled out the filets. I ordered mine medium rare and I have to say that the steak melted in my mouth. I am going to have to add them to my list of steak joints, that's how good the filet was. The Experience: From the moment that we arrived, the experience for me and my family was amazing. We had a terrific time and really enjoyed ourselves. We will need to come back of course but next time we will try them for lunch.
(5)
Luna M.
We went to Tsukasa in Vernon Hills last night to celebrate my husband's Birthday. My last time at Tsukasa's was probably a few years ago. I have been to the former location (located across the street) & I'm glad they have this new spacious area. Helpful to make reservations because they do get B-U-S-Y! They also have lunch and dinner hours so its always good to check on when they are open. They have a nice pond & rocks set up in the front. It becomes a nice photo-op moment. Now, to the real reasons why we come to Tsukasa -- for the entertainment & great food. I feel some table chefs are better than others so I was hoping for a really good chef for our table. I even joked with my family if the color of the hats indicated their expertise. Just like the black belt signifies high level of advanced skills with Karate, I wondered if the black hats were the higher leveled chefs. I think I got my family convinced, so we were a little doubtful when our chef came by with a red hat. Within a few minutes we found out that our Table Chef "Tim" was awesome. He was funny, engaged us in conversation & made sure our food orders were up to our standards. I became the source of a couple of his jokes. When he asked who wanted ginger and teriyaki sauce, I was the only one who did not want any. At the end, he insisted on giving me some teriyaki & when he attempted to squeeze some in my face -- I found out it was a trick squeeze bottle. It was funny & got the whole table laughing. So I covered "entertainment," now, to rate the food. Whenever I go to a Hibachi Grill type of restaurant, I always get hibachi filet & shrimp. I have to say that my filet at Tsukasa was so tender that it melted in my mouth. Also, their fried rice is sooooo good. Oh & their shrimp was delicious. Boy, I can't stop thinking of that great meal. I want to back real soon. In reference to pricing, I agree that Tsukasa is pricey but its worth it. Other Yelpers have mentioned that Hanakawa offers the same quality but less expensive. I will have to disagree on the quality of food. But I would rather spend a little bit more & have better quality food & entertainment. One more final note--They have another location in the Lake Zurich/Deer Park area. We will have to check out that place also.
(4)
Susan S.
Really great sushi. Rice is seasoned well huge pieces of sashimi. Really fresh . If you like tepanyaki go during lunch, It's more reasonably priced.I love scallops n golden or garlic shrimp. The soup is soso. I love the ginger salad dressing on everything . I think the fried rice is to sweet.
(4)
Aaron G.
Tsukasa is definitely one of the better Japanese tepanyaki grills I have been to. The chefs are humorous and clever in their cooking show. The wait staff is on top of things and the food tastes great. Tonight we had a large group and sampled quite a bit. Shrimp with garlic sauce (always great and keeps the vampires away), shrimp with egg yolk sauce (another favorite but so rich it is not for timid stomachs). Filet and other steaks cooked to order, and of course starters of sushi and tempura. Tsukasa soup is a nice alternative to the regular Miso soup (they have both). Throwing broccoli in the kids' mouths is always a fun game they play. The place is very large for tepan and has a separate area for sushi or plain table dining. If one likes this kind of meal you won't go wrong here.
(4)
Melissa F.
Growing up in the North Shore, I'd heard so much about Tsukasa, nearly uniformly good. I finally tried it a few weeks ago with a friend. The space had been moved and updated, so it felt very sleek and classy. Ron of Japan is great and all, but it is outdated and long in the tooth, so to speak. We were early, so we had to wait a bit, but it was pretty efficient in terms of seating us at a good time. We sat down at our communal tables and waited. It was a Saturday night, and I know hibachi places are slammed at this time usually. The chicken soup and the salad were a bit "meh." The chicken soup was oily and oniony in terms of taste, so it didn't do much for me. My friend and I both got the California rolls as our "sides," and they were decent. The main event was very cool - setting stuff on fire in the name of quasi-fine dining never gets old, really. The veggies were good but a bit bland. My filet mignon was really well seasoned, though. The shrimp was above-average, but I've had better shrimp at other teppanyaki places. It was a bit dry. Overall, I found Tsukasa to be pleasant and not bad by any means - but really not worth it in terms of price or centering your whole night around a long "dining experience" here.
(3)
Faith O.
NEVER AGAIN. This place is unprofessional and racist. Service was bad and let me tell you why. Our cook was Japanese and he clearly didn't know how to cook and kept on having chit-chat conversations with us (e.g Where are you from?, blah, blah, blah). Please, don't. Just concentrate on cooking our food instead of throwing my fried rice everywhere (they even flew to the table), and stop favoring the two Caucasians next to us by giving them more meat. Also, please don't serve food to someone and then take it from their plate to give it to someone else even though we're all related. Just because we're Asian too, it doesn't give you the right to give us bad treatment. Also we told him we want the meat to be medium rare, but it was really done. Overall: Food was oily, place was smoky (yes, I know we're near a grill but the suction was not good) and the service for getting refill on tea was really poor. Never will I set foot at this establishment! I wish this place bad luck.
(1)
Lakshmi N.
I went with my family on her birthday. We had a toddler with us, so we got the regular table, not the hibachi table coz of the fire and the heat that might frighten the baby. The staff was rude. We asked to change the table twice coz we weren't happy with the table we were given. The waitress started making faces when we asked her to change the table. The food was very bland, no taste at all. It was my first time with japanese food and I did not enjoy it. I'm hoping the hibachi experience would be good but I'm skeptical about trying it out after my first experience. If you wanna go, try hibachi, donot get the regular table. Food is not tasty, and is very pricey.
(1)
Ritika K.
I have been here several times for lunch with my colleagues. The service is always very fast. It gets really crowded during lunch hour so sometimes it is difficult to find a table with hibachi style cooking. Their restaurant and patio always has tables available. Both hibachi and sushi are really good. I love the hibachi sauce they serve with their house salad.
(4)
Naomi Z.
I love going here for lunch (great deal) and for special dinners. (A little expensive- but always awesome). Since moving to their newer location (probably 10 years now) they have kept the staff, the atmosphere and the food consistently great. This is hard to do in an ever changing environment. I have also gone here just for sushi which was equally as good. If you are willing to have a heart attack on the spot definitely try anything with the "golden sauce". There is nothing better. Period. The calamari tppenyaki is as good as the tenderloin. I have never been disappointed. The chefs do the "usual" things- but are personable and funny. Great place to take the kids for a fancy night out.
(5)
Daniel N.
Went here for lunch one day during work... sushi was good, nothing spectacular. My only advice is do not get the King Louis roll.. The waitress kept selling us on it so we were like why not, but it's a rip off. The roll is MASSIVE, but it's just a scam to get your money since its $21 and uses more ingredients. Sushi rolls that size are not good at all.
(3)
Karolina L.
To start with, the service of this place was very bad. Our host was quite unprofessional and our server looked clearly uninterested in providing us with a good service. Food itself was good. I would recommend dressing up in a business suit next time you visit in order to be treated seriously.
(3)
Michelle W.
One of my favorite places for sushi and special occasions.
(5)
Yuri S.
Great food. Our waiter was Korean and super funny . Great place for a nice group outing . Saki was bomb!
(5)
Mimi A.
I have been looking all over the midwest for a decent sushi place. In the west coast, we always have fresh fish and a vast amount of sushi bars to choose from, especially in Seattle. I was trying many different sushi restaurants here in the Chicagoland area and none could ever satisfy my cravings. That is until a coworker of mine told me about the Yellow Ferrari Sushi at Tsukasa. It looked so delicious in the pictures on her phone that I just had to check this place out. I was absolutely skeptical due to the fact that almost all sushi restaurants here were a huge disappointment. I heard so much about the culinary experience in Chicago, I figured that they must have at least one good sushi place. I found that place in Tsukasa of Tokyo. Hibachi is the entertainment but the sushi is the star of this place.
(4)
Daniel M.
My girlfriend chose to come here for our anniversary, great choice. I could tell our chef max was a nice man that works hard. All in all I am satisfied amazing steak PS DONT BE THOSE SNOBBY RICH PPL WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT FLAWLESS SERVICE. ENJOY:)
(5)
Mike R.
A little birthday celebration for the wife tonight. I was skeptical of coming to another "hibachi" grill. Never been a huge fan but she insisted. I'm glad we did. Fried rice was to die for. I'm beyond stuffed and staff very friendly.
(5)
Britt J.
Yep, 5 Stars! We love there Sushi and their service! Highly recommend the Pink Dragon, the JJ Roll and the Bear. The rolls are all a great size and price, but the bear is especially huge... you've been warned. Their sushi is consistently fresh and, when necessary, cooked to perfection! Oh yes, and the "show" at their grill is always a good one ~ even better with a couple of Sapporo's down. Oishii!
(5)
Jessica K.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was 16. Every special holiday, birthday of anniversary - this is where I have always gone.
(5)
Nikki T.
Tsukasa is hit or miss. Never go for lunch. It's not all that fun and they rush you out the door. Dinner and your experience will depend on your chef. I've had great and horrible. You can complain all you want, management won't listen. The best experience I've had was at my sons 6th birthday dinner there. The chef made it all about him, spelling his name in the rice, and even allowing my son to walk over behind the grill with him where he out his hat on my son and let him hold his spatula so he could pose for a picture . These chefs are supposed to talk to you, engage you, and yes you will have a little smoke, and a grain of rice may fly. I've yet to see any chef behave in a racist manner as I read in another review.... For the most part they're great. I like their garlic shrimp, I don't eat a lot of red meat so I can't comment on their steak. all in all because management is worthless and lunch service is usually dull and rushed, I'll give just 3 stars.
(3)
Madeline L.
Food is good, but nothing special. Prices are quite high for some items that don't taste spectacular. I wouldn't recommend the spicy tuna rolls - Sushi Kushi has amazing spicy tuna rolls for about the same price or even cheaper (not too sure)
(4)
Jennifer B.
I've been coming to Tsukasa for years for the sushi. I've tried almost every sushi restaurant in Chicago and the northwest suburbs and nothing comes close to Tsukasa. The Yellow Ferrari and Caterpillar rolls are amazing!
(5)
Jason S.
Took the wife and kids , ages 10 & 12 and they all enjoyed the food as well as the cooks skills & jokes. Everything tastes good to me. For me the rice is too sweet. We were on time for the reservations and we had to wait 15 minutes which isn't to bad. I don't mind spending good money on good food. I would say this is slightly high although I did get a big kick watching my kids enjoy it all. I'd return.
(4)
Andrea C.
The cook was so funny. It hurt to laugh so much. The food was a little overpriced for the amount we got. It was pretty tasty though. I am pretty sure I paid for the entertainment because that made my whole experience better. If it wasn't for the chef I wouldn't come back. I got the teriyaki chicken with fried rice and it was okay... the fried ice cream was delicious though. It's meant for 2 people I'm,pretty sure but I ate it by myself.
(3)
Andrew T.
I have yet to eat sushi here, but their Teppanyaki is pretty good. I wouldn't say it knocks my socks off, but it's definitely edible, and it kind of hits the spot once in a while. My clients like this place, and even though every time they say "Tsukasa" I hear "su casa" (as in "mi casa"). They have a steak and shrimp combo that's a favorite. If you hate your heart, you can get your shrimp "golden" - topped with what I think is some kind of almost an egg custard. It's tasty, but it's rich. And it can't possibly be good for you. Also of note, their fried rice has a little sweet/salty sauce on it, making it a lot more interesting that most places. Sometimes it's a little stickier than other times, but it's usually pretty tasty. So all in all, not bad, and worth a visit if you're looking for this kind of meal. I would like to try the sushi, but unfortunately, my clients aren't sushi people, and this isn't close enough to home to visit with more sushi-friendly diners. Oh well.
(3)
Yuriy S.
Definitely my favorite sushi place. I have never tried their cooking table but dining room has great selection. My favorites are sushi salad, yellow Ferrari But honestly I have never had anything I don't like. The only problem - the place is always crowded and they don't accept reservation for dining room, only for cooking tables. Be prepared to wait a long time to be seated should you come Friday or Saturday night.
(5)
Mike H.
Last night i had the opportunity to eat here and had a decent time. The food is great and the atmosphere is good but some of the employees seemed stand-off-ish or cold. All in all i had a great meal and would recommend for sure
(3)
Marta R.
Delicious fried rice (they make it in front of you, if you watching your waistline please don't look how much butter they put into it :)! When they add egg to fried rice they split it and make little picture on a grill before mixing it together with rice, fun to watch. We went here over NY season and cook painted egg Xmas tree scene! I normally have lobster tail and steak with my fried rice. It's ok, lobster is a touch rubbery and I normally ask for rare steak and it is always medium at best... I never tried sushi here, it is on my to do list, so I can not comment on that. I think stuff could be more friendly and attentive overall, but in big group of people you will have fun here.
(4)
Alisa S.
BEWARE THE TUNA STEAK IS BUTTERFISH/ESCOLAR!! My daughter discover this the hard way with the aftereffects for escolar ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es… ). They should warn people that it's not Albacore. We have eaten here many times as a family and have enjoyed it. This was our first time ordering the tuna steak hibachi meal. The fish was fresh and tasty, but it was not tuna as she unfortunately discovered the next day as she was running for the bathroom with the exact symptoms of Keriorrhea. (It's really hard to misdiagnose this one...) I called the restaurant to let them know that their tuna steak is not tuna and the woman was very defensive and refused to acknowledge that it was their food. I told her that it wasn't that the fish wasn't fresh, it just wasn't tuna and that maybe they needed to talk to their supplier. Not sure we will eat here again after the way they handled this incident....but if we do we definitely won't order the tuna....
(1)
Deena R.
Never had the hibachi, but I understand it's really the thing most people associate with the place. I'm a sushi whore - yeah I said it -- and this is THE BEST, hands down, sushi for many many miles. It's incredibly consistent, so I can get the same things over and over as I tend to do, and it will be exactly as I expect. First - don't be put off by the menu. It's not easy to know the descriptions (look on the back of the ordering sheet). And yes, it can be expensive, but if you follow my advice, you can get out of there at a reasonable sushi price. First, if you like scallops, you MUST have the Yellow Ferrari. It's large, it's fresh, and it's tough to pick up with chop sticks -- trick: make sure one stick is on rice, not both on avocado. Yes, it's expensive, but hold on, I'm about to create balance in your world.. The Mexi-Maki - fresh, light, and inexpensive. Now, when you look at the Ferrari price, you can justify it. The nigiri/sashimi is top notch every time. I love their Kani-Su, it's got king crab, but that's not something I get often because of the price. Hey, if I'm gonna be frugal somewhere to justify the Ferrari, I'll just get a salad or miso as filler appetizer. The Stuffed Tomatoes (not tomatoes at all) are priced per piece and are spicy. One per diner is enough to get the experience of it without going broke. The only thing I'd advise against is the 911 roll. It was painfully hot and I didn't get the flavor of the fish - just mouth pain. Enjoy!
(5)
Jennifer H.
We came here for my birthday with a large group. What made the experience fun was just being with my friends. The food was decent but part of what you pay for is the entertainment. I've been to other hibachi restaurants where the chefs went all out. Not here. The chef was friendly but not over the top.
(3)
Estee G.
I came for dinner w my friend middle of the week. We ordered wine and tuna tartar. It was amazing. The waitress barely paid attn to us, but we were so busy with our conversation that it didn't matter.
(5)
Ashley S.
Eh....I love sushi, this is a well known fact. The service here was horrible, we had a total of three servers at our table, which caused our order to be delayed because no one was putting it in... The sushi was good, but the service kind of ruined the experience.
(2)
Malish B.
This place has the best Sushi in all of Chicago and we have tried many places. The quality and freshens of the fish is hard to beat. We still come back every time we are in the suburbs. The actual teppanyaki grill is also very good the garlic shrimp is great and by far the best fried rice
(5)
Taylor M.
Tsukasa is a fun restaurant to go to every once in a while. It is fun to have a show while you eat your dinner, but I feel like the food is not that great. The chefs are fantastic when it comes to entertainment. I am allergic to mushrooms and everything on the menu comes with a ton of mushrooms. When I ask for no mushrooms, I am giving just the same amount of meat, which is not very filling. I was super disappointed in the calamari tempura. It was tasteless fried mush... The vegetable tempura was yummy though. The sushi was just okay... did not seem like anything special, but I just got traditional rolls. For the meal, I got the tuna and steak combination. I had my tuna cooked rare which was good, but it was already cold when it hit my plate. I ordered the steak medium rare and got it medium well... it was dry and tasteless. My favorite parts of the meal where the soup (yummy) and the pineapple birthday dessert. I also truly enjoyed the drinks here. I tried a couple different mixed drinks and Juan did a fantastic job with all of them. Also, I kept having to ask for a glass of water and I did not receive it until after dinner!
(3)
Valerie W.
We've been coming to Tsukasa for years for various special occasions, and for me, this last trip included some things that were great, some things that fell short, and some things that were downright no bueno. The good: I tried the calamari for the first time. I'd seen it before but usually stick to my steak and shrimp combination. Since I'm *trying* to eat healthier, I went with shrimp and calamari instead. The calamari was tender and perfectly cooked, with a dash of teriyaki for extra flavor. Our chef was great for entertainment. We had three birthdays at our table, and he made sure they all felt special. The stuff that fell short: The flavors on practically everything else fell a bit flat. Everything was just sort of, bland. The soup, the veggie tempura, the fried rice, the veggies... all just a little flat tasting. I do have to say, it's better than eating what tastes like a salt lick, but... something just wan't jiving. I gave my sister my leftovers. Outright. I NEVER give up teppanyaki leftovers. EVER. The downright no bueno: we had two different servers who just couldn't seem to keep things organized. The result? A bottle of wine we did not order, added to our bill. My dad tends to inspect these things with a fine toothed comb, so, he caught it, but think of how many other's don't? I notice that I'm not the first person that is mentioning to inspect the bill. I feel as though this location has declined a bit since moving to their new SUPER MEGA HUGE location. I liked it better when it was in the strip mall. Luckily, they have the Kildeer location now (closed on Monday's), but I still think I prefer Hanakawa.
(3)
Boon K.
My friends love this place and maybe it was too hyped up for me. We came here for my birthday and my best friend's birthday and over several sushi rolls and hibachi. I must say I really love the sushi rolls and their names were crazy that I can't remember most of them but they were huge. I had the combination which was the filet, golden shrimp and golden shrimps with fried rice. Wow did they use a lot oil. The teriyaki sauce a so thicken with sugar that it was too sweet for my taste. The fried rice was also sweet as they use the teriyaki sauce to season with. I did like the golden shrimp and the golden sauce was light and fluffy. I really wish the soup and salad that it came with was better season as it was generic too me. It was lot of food even without the sushi rolls.
(3)
Carl F.
I usually don't like giving 3 stars to places because it really does not make a clear stand on my view of the place... it's somewhat in limbo. Where as a 2 indicates I don't like it and a 4 or more clearly states I like it. After mulling over the rating for this place, I decided I was in limbo... I've been to better and I've been to worse. What Tsukasa has going for it is the entertainment factor, especially for events like birthdays & anniversaries. It's a nice place to come perhaps 2 times a year but more than that would probably be overkill, considering all the other choices in the area. If your not familiar with these type of places I'll give a quick run down. Albeit the decor and name are Japanese and they market themselves as Japanese, it's somewhat a tad off the mark and it is really a place where they serve steak, chicken or seafood right in front of you. It is cooked to order, using Asian spices/sauces, and as the guy cooks it, he perform a little show tossing about the fork, spatula, doing a few tricks with an egg or veggie, some roaring flame and a neat thing with an onion... which is neat when you see it the first time, but after that it's old hat. Wait Time: We had reservations, with a party of 8 and we were seated right away with no issues. Wait Staff: They were friendly, but to the point and not much help in addressing your questions on the menu. If your looking for suggestions, it doesn't seem they are very open to providing suggestions. You clearly get the feel this is a get them in, feed them, and clear them away from the table so we can get another set of people in and make more money. Cook: This is a luck of the draw type of thing... however he is pivotal in either making this a fun evening or just plain ol' bla. There are the cooks who simply have that entertainment factor and captivate the audience. They put on a good show, crack jokes, make things lively and get everyone at the table in a jovial mood. So if your lucky, you get one of these guys and you walk out of the place content and glad you came. But... if your not luckily, you get the lack, luster cook who is not engaging and simply goes thru the repetition of tossing the egg about, makes the onion choo-choo, and goes about his cooking stone faced with probably about as much zeal as the person in the back scrubbing the dishes. With this cook you generally leave unfulfilled and grudging the price of the bill. Food Quality: From the looks of it, the food appears to be of a good quality, yet how it ends up once it hits your plate is all dependent upon how tentative your cook is. I know this is an obvious factor, but considering the cook is right there in front of you prepping the meal, it's that much more obvious. I've seen really nice cuts of steak make it to the plate tasting really good... but on he other hand I've seen these same nice cuts get overly abused and too well done to be any good. Cost: Pricy... easily $35 + for each person coming to the table... kids included! In summary... this place is somewhat like a factory. They have a fixed menu, they don't like to waver too far from the menu, they get you in, to their thing, then get you out as quickly as possible. The entire success of the event is highly dependent upon the cook. Now, I've not kept track, but at this place it seems around 1 in 4 are good cooks/entertainers. If your looking for something different to do for an anniversary or birthday or take someone who has never experienced something liked this (which is becoming rare these days) this will do the trick, but it's also a gamble as well. So, choose wisely.
(3)
Anthony C.
One of the best japanese kitchen restaurants in the area, highly recommended!
(4)
Mad I.
ALL TIME favorite sushi....and I live in Chicago! Everything is soo good, I will just mention my favs Yellow Ferrari-omg!! Worth every penny. Whole scallops a top each of the 8 pieces Tarantula: spider roll with a yummie soft shell crab mixture on top, amazing JJ: really good eel with sauce deliciousness! Chicken fried rice, who knew! Soo sweet and yummie Pink dragon: my first roll here, sooo amazing...what is that crab combo on top with that sweet sauce? Top notch!!!!
(5)
Anastasia D.
Wherever I go - I could always ask to substitute meat or shrimp with tofu when I order noodles or rice. I couldn't believe when our waiter told me it's not feasible - I asked the owner the same question. The Japanese owner refused to satisfy my request out of principle. He was very rude and arrogant. I couldn't believe that they don't respect their customers. Very unpleasant experience, we left right away
(1)
Justine S.
Been here so many times. Food is always good i'll give them that. But the service is just terrible. Everyone is in a hurry, no genuine gestures.. every employee's personality is so DRY! you come here for a special occasion, but they have the same tricks every time.. I wish they learned new table tricks so it's not boring whenever you come back. They NEED to work on customer service. BIG TIME
(2)
Marie C.
Obviously love it here and is always fun for birthdays even though we are getting older every year! Really great drinks esp their martinis or sake bombs and I always end up ordering scallops. The chefs are always entertaining and funny :)
(5)
Marissa L.
Worst ever. So many other things I would have rather spent over $100 on. If I wanted to watch a shakey old man drop things all night, I'd watch a michael j fox movie. Make the drive to kampaii, its way better.
(1)
Alice L.
I miss Chicago! Can't wait to move out there this April. I'm from LA and we have a plethora of sushi restaurants out here. Glad to find a sushi joint in the Midwest that's just as yummy if not better. Excited to go back here with my hubby :)
(4)
Lisa F.
The first time I visited it was for a birthday at a hibachi table. The entertainment was fun and the shrimp was delicious. Since my office is close I decided to try Tsukasa for lunch. This is a wonderful place for lunch! Love, love, love their sushi. Always fresh, made well, and sitting at the bar can be an extra treat (the staff is really nice). I enjoy the chicken teriyaki with fried rice and the portion is large enough for two meals. Even though the meal is large they do not skimp on the quality. Go and try teriyaki, yakiudon, sushi, and hibachi!! Im sure everything else on the menu is good too!!
(5)
Jim M.
We had the best time! I'd never been to this location, but my mom took me, my older sister and her kids out here last week during my visit home. Huge place, very clean and we must have arrived RIGHT on time, because it was pretty chill when we got there, but completely paked [with a wait] by the time we finished up. Our chef was very cool and even went easy on the "big oil flames" after noticing that my 3 y/o nephew was hiding under the table to escape certain death. We tried the chicken, fish and steak, along with some fried rice and vegetables. Everything was perfectly cooked before our eyes... just a really cool experience. FYI that I think if you come here with just 2-3 people then you get stuck sitting with other people at the table. That wouldn't be my favorite thing personally, so if you go, consider reservations and bring a group of 5-6 so you have a solo show all to yourselves!
(4)
Dr S.
terribly overpriced sushi and mediocre taste, tasted bland actually, not very good....
(1)
Michael R.
I don't know if it was the cook that I had, but this was hands down the most disappointing Japanese Steakhouse experience I have had in recent memory. I was taken here by a vendor for a luncheon, and we all opted for a variety of the combination plates, many of which included their Teriyiki sauce, and some were the Golden Shrimp. Given that it was lunch, we weren't expecting a full dinner show, and being with vendors it was less of a concern, but the attitude of our chef was sub par. It was almost like he was only there to be a short-order cook; cooking and serving the food without interacting with any of the folks' at his table or any pieces of flair. It was like he was just going through the motions before his shift was over. The rice and sides weren't bad, but anything with the teriyiki sauce left a greasy, oily taste in my mouth and was not at all appetizing. I'm not sure if they make their sauce on-site or use a vendor provided sauce, but the taste and feel were all off for what I would consider good or even homemade sauce to taste like, and that unfortunately set the mood for the lunch. Additionally, my boss had the unfortunate pleasure to order the Golden Shrimp, which were custard covered shrimp, and when they were served, the custard was not even cooked all of the way through. We were both experiencing some gastrointestinal discomfort later that afternoon. This was unfortunate because based on the expectation set by our vendor, we were excited to be visiting the restaurant. I'm willing to give Tsukasa a second chance, but I would be skeptical if I saw the same chef at my table again.
(2)
Erica T.
I have been to this place so many times for so many different occasions and not even close to being sick of it! I could eat their sushi salad for every meal of the day! If you love raw fish, a little crunch and the perfect kick of spicy-ness then I highly recommend. I haven't met anyone who doesn't love it. Also, the pink dragon maki roll and yellow Ferrari maki roll are super creative, beautiful and always delicious!!Every time I bring someone here for the first time they love it and always come back. Great for family occasions, work parties or just a dinner with a friend or significant other. You can never go wrong with tsukasa!
(5)
Jenny Z.
It's mediocre. Overrated and pricey. Nothing I've had here from the fried rice to the scallops to steak were really that impressive.
(3)
Mike V.
First if all the fried rice is the best I've ever had! The chef was amazing and really nice to my 3 yr old who was amazed at his culinary skills. The wait staff kept drinks full and dishes cleared. You also get a lot of food so no worry of leaving hungry. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five was due to the young lady who sat us. The tables fit 2 on two sides and 4 on one side. I was there with my wife and child. 1 lady was sitting on a 2 person side by herself. My family attempted to sit on the 4 person side. She told us that this was for a larger sitting of people so that they could fill up the table. We ended up squeezing 3 chairs on a two person side. While the next group of "3" was seated five minutes later. I almost left but this was a birthday dinner for me from my family. I please ask that they should worry about your current guest first. Overall it was a great time after the seating issue.
(4)
Sarah d.
Bad service,the sushi is so good it almost makes up for it though ... the guy I talked to on the phone to make a reservation with was not friendly at all(his name was Armando), love the pink dragon and the Ferrari roll is my favorite ... It's really a shame... I've been here quite a few times with my girl friends... Bartenders are friendly but the waitstaff not at all
(3)
Brad G.
If you've ever been to Benihana you are aware of the type of place Tsukasa of Tokyo is, a Japanese hibachi and sushi joint. I went for lunch with some co-workers as part of a going away party. Eight of us went during a typical week day and sat at the grill, and were out of there in about an hour. The restaurant itself is very spacious and tidy inside, with a sushi/bar area and grill area. Our chef who was Mongolian was fantastic, and prepared all of our meals well. I had the Steak and Golden Shrimp, the shrimp are very rich but tasty. The onion soup is bold and flavorful, while the ginger dressing salad is crisp and delicious. The only thing keeping this from a five star review is the fact that they put teriyaki sauce in their chicken fried rice, which is just strange to me. I've been to many hibachi places in my time, and I've never seen that before. In my opinion, this was a huge let down as one of my favorite things at Benihana, is their simple chicken fried rice. Either way, I'll be back to this place for sure.
(4)
Kat A.
My fiance and I love this place. Beats Benihana hands down. The chefs are all Asian as opposed to Benihana's Latino chefs. Their teppanyaki show is entertaining. I love the fried rice. My favorite sushi rolls are the yellow ferrari and J.J. They also have another item I like but that is not on the menu- the green tomato. I ask for spicy salmon or spicy tuna to be filled inside slices of avocado, so it's shaped like a tomato.
(4)
Christina S.
In anticipation of a double birthday celebration tomorrow night, visions of hibachi shrimp dance in my head. I find it appalling that I have not yet reviewed Tsukasa! I cannot compare this to another Japanese steakhouse, as I've never been to one. Having said that it has the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have in your life, and that's no exaggeration. The combinations are a great way to try out a variety of items on the menu. I recommend the filet mignon combination with hibachi shrimp. Golden batter shrimp is good but that is very rich it is not for everybody. It's not what you think; it is not fried shrimp in a batter. It is grilled shrimp with eggy, golden, buttery thick batter that sits on top of the shrimp as it cooks on the grill. If you get an appetizer my favorite is the shumai with wasabi (steamed pork dumplings). Your first bite will zing right through your nose! I also really enjoy the soup that comes with the combination meals. It's a chicken broth with little wonton pieces in it with a few noodles. The broth itself I think has such wonderful flavor. For you vegetarians, the grilled vegetables they serve are plentiful so you won't feel like you're skimping, and they have a lot of vegetarian options in addition to that as well. If you have the option, try going at lunch (weekdays only) instead of dinner and it will save you a few coins. The show is fun at lunch and dinner, and kids really enjoy the flaming grill and how they flare up, with the exception of the occasional scared out of your mind kid- but they usually bounce back. ;) If it's just you, and you have a hankering for Tsukasa, getting take out vegetable fried rice and soup will save you significantly. The rice is only $3.50 or so and they really give you a huge amount whether you're there or whether it's takeout. The rice seriously last 3 to 4 meals unless you're a pig like me. Again it's the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have, I kid you not. Tsukasa is one of my favorite restaurants, and on the pricey side ($30+ a person, easy) so usually for special occasion for us, but not to be missed! (Crap, it's after 2 a.m. and now I'm drooling for Tsukasa! I blame my Yelp addiction for this!!!)
(5)
Joel P.
This last visit was pretty horrible which is why I'm dropping my rating down. We ordered the lunch special which comes with soup or salad. Soup bowl came out half-full. I asked to switch out golden shrimp for garlic shrimp and the waitress said that was fine. She didn't tell me there would be an up charge which I found on my bill. When I asked her about it she made it seem that it was my fault. She didn't take care of it and spent about 15min prior to bringing out the non - revised check. On top of that the cook left egg shell in the fried rice. I was coming here about once a week for lunch but will likely not return for some time.
(2)
Zara S.
Number one place to go for sushi. It gets very busy on weekends so plan accordingly.
(5)
Daniel M.
I have always been a fan of chinese food. It is fantastic and would pay anything to get a high quality meal. Tsukasa is definitely the restaurant to go to. It's great, the food is awesome, the cooks are fun and the atmosphere is relaxing, for the most part. Sure, they could improve on their servers as they always seem miserable as can be but it isn't bad. The service is OK, and I feel that's what draws me away from this restaurant. And, it can get really noisy. It's definitely family-friendly but it can get noisy, especially since everyone is seating so close together.. It's pricey so be careful how many people you bring here but if you are out for a nice birthday or anniversary dinner, Tsukasa is a great place to go and enjoy yourselves. I recommend you eat here. I'm not entirely crazy for this place but it is nice and it provides you great food and definitely a great time. You can even choose whether you want to sit at a public table where the cooks cook in front of you or a private table like any other ordinary restaurant serving style. Stop in and try it, it's worth a shot!
(3)
Philip D.
A group of 14 went here for a birthday party dinner. The reservation was at 5:30 pm, the entire party was there but 2 they would not seat any of the group till all of the party was there. They made they ENTIRE party wait for 20 min for the last two (jt was myself and my spouse) to arrive, I understand if it was half the party not to be there to make wait, but 2, that is just bad customer service, they could have seated the group and started with drinks. HELLO make more money! So we arrive and they seat us. I go up with the birthday girl and the manager has the nerve to say "Well we need to hurry up since you are late we are behind, lets get you seated!" I told the manager I think it is bad service to make a whole party wait for 2 people when 12 are here. She looks at me like HOW dare you, shakes her head and pretty much waves me away. As we are all seated the server was very off, we had two hibachi tables and we were not on the same schedule. The soup, the salad, the drinks, we all got it at different times, thank god the chefs knew what they were doing and put us back on the same schedule. When we were done with the main course, again the chefs were awesome, the server again screwed up and was giving dessert to 2 people while 12 people were still eating dinner. He had no concept of time, so I had to tell him take it back and wait till we are all ready. So we get it all in sync AGAIN and it goes OK. The night wraps up and its ok. I did my friend a favor and said NOTHING till it was all over. I spoke to the owners daughter, the same story I typed above, she was shocked and very sorry. She tried to find her sister. In the process she felt the best person to handle the situation was the manager (the lady in the start who said to hurry we are late and need to be seated, the look of death lady) She came and talked to us. I said I would rather not talk to you since you are part of the problem. She said she is the one to handle all the issues. Ok, so we explain it all and she goes, "Well, I did you a favor by holding the table longer than 15 min, we should have given your table away. We also let you stay longer than 8:30 pm because we dont let people stay that long." I was floored. I said thats enough. I walked over to the owners daughter I told her what she said and she goes "Sorry but there is nothing I can do. I am sorry you feel that way." Moral of the story, don't be late, don't have big parties, don't expect them to understand. Never going back again.
(1)
H K.
The service: Host had his back to the door talking to coworkers when we walked in, waitress was rude and seemed like she didn't really know English. Hibachi chef was nice and entertaining. I dropped my fork and he blew me off, then when I asked again he said we have to wait until the waitress comes back instead of calling her over. My friend had told the waitress that there was a hair in his salad and she took it away and did not bring another. Since we were a party of 2, we were sat with another party who had also found hair on one of their plates! The food: Hair in 2 separate dishes at our table alone.... They start you off with soup & salad. The soup was yummy! Salad I don't care for and asked not to be given. Then you have a choice of meat (or meats if you get a combination) and either fried rice or white rice and they give everyone vegetables. They don't have noodles! That alone will keep me away for good. The environment: LOUD. There was a table 2 over celebrating a new marriage with lots of drinks. I had to yell when ordering my food. All in all, I will not return again. The Hibachi place in my hometown in PA is much better and less expensive. Expect to spend anywhere from $30-50 on each person.
(1)
John C.
Ate here while traveling for work. Best fried rice I have tasted in a long time. Food at cook were great. The server acted like they didn't want us there. Otherwise great experience. Better service would make this a solid 4 star.
(3)
Julia P.
I crave the Yellow Ferrari, each piece has an entire scallop on top of it! It is delicious...
(4)
Brian H.
Absolutely great!! I haven't been here in 3 years due to changing business but I'm back and it's as good as I remember. You HAVE to sit at the sushi bar and ask for Ricky - he's unrea. Ask him to make a special and he'll make what he's feeling and he'll never disappoint you.. Phenomenal.
(5)
Maddy K.
This place is so cool! The chef threw broccoli in our mouths! Having the food made in front of us was awesome. It was quite a show. The food was delicious, too. I had the tofu which was a little too soft for my liking but everything else was excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to a friend, and I would love to return someday.
(4)
Lauren M.
Best place to eat EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Great atmosphere, great chefs and they just know the recipe to do it right. Do a sakebomb for me!
(5)
Jenna C.
Went there for the first time. It was delicious and the best sushi I'ver ever had, but a bit expensive and it took a while to sit even with my reservation.
(4)
Eric S.
Great fun for the kids and delicious food as well.
(5)
Nina G.
Good food. Fun presentation. Should work on service - our waitress barely speaks English.
(3)
Hanna R.
This place has been a lifetime favorite of mine. I have been going to this place since I was about 11 years old with my parents. That was way back when this restaurant was just a little place in a strip mall next to Chuckie Cheese. So nice to see that they dragged that Pacman machine over to their new location, brings back memories. :) The food has never disappointed me here. Steak is always PERFECTO; you can tell they always use prime ingredients for their food. I remember taking my BF here for the first time when we started dating and he was just blown away. This has become one of his favorite spots as well; he is obsessed with the Golden Shrimp and the fried rice! The sushi is also decent, but you know that people are more here for the Hibachi! The chefs in themselves are pretty much always friendly and ready to entertain, and make awesome food to boot. Love the chefs that like to strike up a conversation and joke around with you; makes you feel so much more welcome than the rare chef that just cooks and you feel like you're awkwardly watching him. Let me repeat though, that running into the latter sort of chef has been very rare for me! Only thing that gets to me every time are the servers. When they were in their smaller location years ago, they were so much more attentive. Now, it's like I have to flag down someone, ANYONE, just to get something that I would like! And if you order steamed rice instead of the usual request for fried rice, you better pay attention to make sure you get it. Most times, I have to flag someone down because they almost always forget to give me my steamed rice!! Quite frustrating. But despite that, this place is definitely worth trying; best Hibachi in the area in my opinion!
(4)
Wendy W.
I'm so disappointed I could write a novel but to keep it short, they try to pass low quality beef as filet mignon. I'm seriously wondering if they use "meat glue" google it. Also if you order 3 "filets" they make 2 and add mushrooms for filler chop it up and divide it into 3... I have been eating here since my 18 year old was about 6 and I have noticed these changes in the last year or so. Sometimes I go with a group for a birthday party or whatever and since they are not frequent diners they think its incredible however, I can tell the difference and I am disgusted and will not be back they lost a loyal customer because they are cheap and greedy. We usually eat at a regular table and the service is terrible. Thats another novel in itself.. Pay attention next time you eat here.
(1)
Alex M.
Best sushi in the far north suburbs of Chicago. Large pieces of freshest fish and creative rolls. Teppanyaki (grilled ) food is pretty good too. No lunch Saturday or Sunday.
(5)
Liz S.
Absolutely delicious and fresh tasting sushi. They have many original rolls they are famous for, like pink dragon. If you are going for habachi, they are cleaner and better than benihana, and for sure their sushi is much, much better. They get incredibly busy and getting into the habachi part of the restaurant calls for reservations.
(5)
Joel A.
We started going to Tsukasa again after realizing their bar menu is awesome. Tasty chicken and a great sushi menu has us going here on a regular basis.
(5)
Katie K.
I was following a thread and was recommended this place over Benihanas (which I love) . I looked through their menu online and found a nice variety with all prices straight forward. We arrived at 5:30ish on 8/12/2012 and they said just about a 10min wait (probably for more to arrive so we wouldn't be at the grill forever). We sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The bartender was very nice and helped me choose a good house drink. I tried the Tsukasa Blue Tea. It has enough sweetness for my liking with a nice sour kick to cut through that. We get seated and start looking through the menu. The waitress for our table was currently getting drinks orders for other guests which was great because I really wanted a water. She kind took off without even acknowledging us. I just shrugged it off because I would just ask her when she came back. I feel bad but no acknowledgement to guests even though they may have drinks, not good service. Anyways we order, I got the Steak and Chicken combo with a upgrade to fried rice. I love the fact they clearly state in their menu upgrade charges. My husband got the Filet and Calamari combo also with fried rice upgrade. (Filet upgrade is only $2!!) All combos come with soup, salad, your choice of side, rice (as stated we upgraded from white to fried) veggie medley, and ice cream. The soup was nice and hot and quite delicious. We both devoured the salad, dressing is incredible! When the chef arrived he did something i really liked, he asked if you would like a side of teriyaki, ginger sauce, and mustard. This is huge because I love teriyaki and other places never give you extra. And they didn't waste pouring a bunch out when you dont like it, waste not what not! Our chef was awesome, very polite and even though there was a young girl (maybe 8) at our table he didn't try to favor her with tricks. He had some new tricks I haven't seen yet so I was impressed with his trick style. The fried rice was incredible! So good. Difference between T and B, B does chicken fried rice, T just fried rice. So all i would have to do is save some of my chicken and tada I have that. The veggie medley consisted of onions, zucchini, carrots and brocoli. Now I am not a fan of brocoli, chef noticed and gave me some of the extra onions. B honestly I feel is better with the medley. They use more soy sauce and grill them a bit longer so they have more bite. T though it was very good, they were mushy after a few min and very little flavor. Now onto my steak and chicken, just wow. Everyone else who orded steak go filet and I got the normal steak. I am not complaining because the cut i got was so tender and delicious. My chicken was so flavorful and moist! I tried a bit of my husbands filet and yes it was very good as filet is, but my steak was just as good. My husband has no words for how good his Filet and Calamari were. This was simply much better quality meat then B ever had and we have eaten there over 20 times easily. Now I am singing praises so why a 4 star, the service, I said thank you and smiled and tried so hard to get something out of my server, she wouldn't even look up, she never acknowledged us until she took our order for dinner after being back and forth with drinks for the rest of the guests 3 times. And honestly the veggie medley, it just wasnt that good. But everything else was amazing and I will totally be back!
(4)
Natalie F.
Sushi, sake, pretty girls!!!
(4)
Vince V.
Chef Daniel starts the show with a controlled grease fire, the kind that makes you inventory your eyebrows. He does the bit with the onion choo-choo train, which starts off as an onion facsimile of a fiery volcano. There's the bit where he flips bits of broccoli at your waiting mouth. It's all a game, and damn it, I'm enjoying it. I come here, like so many other customers for the golden shrimp. It can't be good for me or any other human being but I can't help it. Their version also happens to be the best when comparing them against Teppan Kegon, Ron of Japan and Kampai. Benihana doesn't offer the dish. Steaks are always done right, in my case a lovely medium-rare. Their fried rice is a tad sweet with the addition of a little teriyaki sauce but again, it all works because it's just a tad bit different. Kitschy cookery? It's easy to dismiss the whole teppanyaki experience when you look at it that way. I on the other hand do not. You see when it comes to food pyromania and overall silliness, it's hard to beat it. And what Tsukasa does better than their contemporaries is they have more fun with it and that is what makes it special. A bit less formal, a lot more sincere.
(5)
J J.
I only gave this place 2 stars, because the place is nice, big and bright inside. however, I do not judge the food I eat, on the ambiance. this place is over-priced and foo-foo Americanized food. poor quality, poor portions and totally inauthentic. absolutely no thought or care went into my food. there are way too many other places I'd rather give my business to.
(2)
Becky P.
YUMMY! I think that the food here all depends on the chef you get. We had a great chef who actually had a conversation with us and made excellent food. As always, their ginger dressing is out of this world. I pour it all over my steamed rice.... mmmmm!!!! We did try an appetizer, the pork dumplings. They were OK. When they said spice, I thought they meant chili pepper spice, not a tablespoon of wasabi spice. Whoops! Always great for groups (as long as you fit at 1 table!) and great for a nice night out!
(5)
Chet M.
This is the place to get your "Golden Sauce" fix. No need to sit at the show grill, you can get it on your Hibachi shrimp entree. You get 8 shrimp covered with this delicious concoction and a helping of fried rice that will last you for 3 meals. Also, by sitting at a regular table, you can order shushi ala carte. Get the blue fin tuna (vs the yellow fin tuna) if they got it. It's much tastier than yellow fin and not a rip like toro or fatty tuna. Server was a young dude and could have been friendlier.
(4)
Wa W.
I've been to many teppanyaki places coast to coast and this is easily my favorite given the right demo chief. The food is good, but I never come for the food. The showmanship is the true value for this dinning experience. Few things in life are more pleasant than spending a evening with the people you love while entertained by a humorous and skilled entertainer around a sizzling dinner table. The joy it brings to one's love ones can be felt in the depth of one's soul. In brief don't come alone, don't order sushi but open your eyes for a soul-stampeding time :)
(5)
Frank N.
This place is awesome! The "show" during the dinner is funny and amazing. The chefs are gifted and they make the dinner experience complete! The fried rice has such a distinct flavor and is too addicting! I have tried to copy that recipe many times even after watching them make it, but to no avail! The lobster and meat choice is the way to go and the sushi is killer!
(5)
Bernardo S.
Obviously a lot of people love this place but I don't quite get it. The food is ok but nothing great and the service typically is slow. I only go here when a friend picks but overall not bad just not great.
(3)
A K.
We went there for sushi couple of times with our suburban friends. Sashimi, rolls, and sushi salad portions are huge, comparatively fresh and tasty, but elegance and personality are missing both from the food and from the place itself, which is but a huge barn. Bottom line is, what's good for suburbans is not good enough for city dwellers, so I am not switching from my favorite little gem of a sushi place yet. And no, I am not naming it here either - it's too small for all of you!
(3)
Jen S.
This place is great! I have experienced the Sushi bar and the steakhouse side. The sushi bar is delicious. I don't get very adventurous with my sushi rolls but my favorite here is the spicy tuna. YUM! Also, you have to have the edemame as an app. The steakhouse side is super entertaining. The chefs entertain you while cooking and can be quite funny! They will throw broccoli or something at you to catch in your mouth, all part of the experience! The fried rice at this restaurant is my favorite fried rice in the world! (You can order it from the Sushi side of the restaurant as well.) I have had the chicken teriyaki every time I have gone but next time I might try the salmon because it looked dang good! Brian Urlacher is known to come here a lot and even has a sushi roll named after him. They love him! GO BEARS! PS You will smell the food on your clothes later. You are sitting basically on top of the food being cooked so it makes sense.
(4)
Marina K.
Unfortunately, after moving away more than a decade ago and remembering about this restaurant, on the recent visit we had the WORST experience. This isn't about the food, nor the atmosphere. The manager, or whoever is the gentleman behind the reservation counter was an amazingly rude, obnoxious and cantankerous. It is unfortunate how he forgot the fact that his salary is paid by the customers he treats like dirt. I have NEVER had a worst experience in a restaurant, nor have I ever been treated lower by an establishment whose survival depends on customers. I will NEVER come here again, and if you don't like being treated like dirt, you shouldn't either!!!!!
(1)
Marlo P.
So I was searching for a new place to eat tonight and was craving sushi and my husband told me he's done a fire alarm inspection at this place and told me the place was very nice. I guess it's also important to say that he's seen the kitchen in the back and that it is pretty clean back there, which is a good thing because you wouldn't want to eat somewhere with a dirty kitchen. I can't speak for the teppanyaki but I did sit at the sushi area. I have to say that it's pretty loud here. Maybe because it was a Friday night and there were a lot of people at the bar that was right next to the sushi area but I felt like I was yelling at my husband while I was sitting there. I ordered myself 2 Kirin light beers and it's one of the cheapest prices I've seen on Kirin at a restaurant thus far. I ordered a few things. Asparagus beef roll (pictures above!) 911 tuna roll (pictures above!) J.J. maki roll (pictures above!) Dragon roll and spicy tako tempura The 911 tuna roll was my favorite maki roll of the night. I like my food spicy and when I saw this roll on their menu I had to try it. You eat it at first and you feel like you're eating a regular spicy tuna roll and then it hits you.. hard. The J.J. roll was really good too. It had everything I wanted in the roll including eel, shrimp tempura, avocado, masago, and a couple more awesomeness things. The dragon roll and the spicy tako tempura were just okay. Nothing to brag about. But what really made my night was my appetizer. I didn't think I was going to be ordering something so delicious! That asparagus wrapped in beef smothered in a sweet sesame soy sauce was just so good. I never had it before, but I was feelin' for some asparagus and glad that I had gone with it. I actually ordered it before my sushi meal and AGAIN after eating sushi. The sushi prices were pretty good and the ambiance just made me feel so hip and cool on a Friday night. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone! You will for sure catch me here again.
(5)
Paul E.
I absolutely love this place! My family and I have gone back there every time we have a good group to go with. It's an absolute blast when you have a very interactive chef, but the food always tastes great. The place is clean and the staff is a little on the snobby side, but they are accommodating and get the job done. Reserve your table because it gets really busy there.
(4)
Justin S.
I don't like to give 3 stars to a business on yelp, but for me this place gives off mixed reviews. When I was little, I would go to Tsukasa every year for family events and birthday dinners. The food, while sometimes overpriced, tastes great and is some of the best Japanese Steakhouse food I have ever had (the rice really is to die for). Now, after not going for a few years, this place has lost a little bit of its once special quality in my mind. The food is still the great sushi/habachi it was when it first opened, but the chefs and their acts have not changed in 6 years, leaving this place feeling repetitive after you go more than once. The prices of the food are what you would expect from a higher class area, around $20-40 a person. For me, I would not go here repetitively, leaving it to special events once a year or so. Now keep in mind I have been here 15+ times. If you have never been here are are looking for a fun dinner with family or friends, this place does the trick, as long as the gimmicks don't wear off.
(3)
Angela D.
Was suprised how good this Japanese steakhouse was, guess I need to stop underestimating the burbs! Really enjoyed the food, everything was fresh, delicious and affordable. I had a bento box that included miso soup, tempura, several pieces of sashimi, pot stickers and rice. It was far less than I spend, even at some so-so chains, and I was stuffed. Looking forward to "getting stuck" out in the Northwest burbs again so I can do dinner there sometime :) There was a nice looking seating area outside, but it was a bit hot so we opted to stay indoors. I was also skeptical of how enjoyable it would be since it was pretty much next to a Home Depot parking lot. I also noticed a nice bar area, and a separate section for Japanese grilling (think Benihana). Hoping to get back a few more times to try that as well. Lastly, the PacMan table in the lobby cracked me the heck up. I didn't know you could even still find those anymore!
(4)
Katie R.
I went to Tsukasa on a Friday night with a friend and they were quite busy. We were told we could be seated right away in the enclosed heated porch, and since we were hungry, we agreed. What we weren't told was that there was a limited menu there and no cooking table. The menu seemed abbreviated with only sushi options. Since I had been there a few years ago, I was perplexed and asked what happened to all the food options. Then I was told they did not have the same options in this seating location and "didn't the host tell us this?" We almost left at that point. Then we were told we could have the dinner options, but it would take longer. We agreed to this as we were very hungry by that time. We ordered garlic shrimp. It was supposed to be garlic butterfly shrimp. Instead it was teeny tiny pieces of shrimp hidden under mounds of breading. Considering the price, I would have been appalled at the actual amount of shrimp, and immediately returned the dish if the breading hadn't hidden that fact. When we figured out the ruse, ("Hey! Where's the shrimp?"), we were too far into the meal. The sushi we tried was only so-so, and I wouldn't come here just for that. Overall our experience was VERY DISAPPOINTING and certainly not worth the price. One other thing we noticed in the fine print of the menu: There was a $6 DOLLAR SHARING FEE!! Really?? The waiter was very apologetic and did the best he could to make us happy, but in the end we left saying "We're never coming here again!!" One last thing, if you look at the reviews, you'll notice that most of the good reviews were written a few years ago, but the more recent reviews are not favorable. And that rude (and deceptive) host that is mentioned so frequently, needs to go.
(1)
Akanksha V.
This is by far my favorite place to go, not only for dinner but amazing drinks. The bartenders really get to know you and personalize the conversation by getting to know you. Besides the staff, I have ordered my own mix of sushi not on the menu. Of course their filet and teriyaki chicken wit fried rice is to die for! Great environment, service and food!
(5)
Jennifer L.
FORGET Benihana's.. That place blows in comparison. Tsukasa's food and overall experience is always wonderful. They are always busy, so call a few days (maybe even a week) in advance and make reservations! This place is a tradition hibachi style (food cooked right in front of you at your table) restaurant, and they also have a sushi bar. I can't speak to the sushi bar cuz I don't do seafood. I always get the filet mignon and fried rice, with a side of edamame. The filet is always tender and delicious. The fried rice - oh my god, I could eat it every day of the week. I've been known to even order an extra fried rice "to go". LOL. They also have the best ginger sauce around. I don't think I've ever been disappointed in the food. The quality is excellent!! The reason I only give it 4 stars is because their wait-service sucks. Always. Seems like most of the waitresses have a hard time with English, and they don't come around very often. There have been several occasions where I've sat with an empty glass for a bit too long. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of people to flag down, so that's normally what I end up doing. And to make up for it, the Chef's are great!! And that's what you're there for, right?! This is always one of my first choices for restaurants!!
(4)
Michele B.
Another year later and I am sticking to my rating. this place is always packed and for the second year in a row--lost the reservations!! No I am sorry, no have a drink while we get a table--nothing. When we were seated, it took 12 minutes to get our drink order and when the food was served, the gentlemen at the table were given larger portions than the ladies !?!?!?! How many times can you see the same antics, of a smoking onion train. The golden shrimp were overcooked and tough and the soup cold. If this was not the halfway point for my friends and I to go for something different I would pass. You know, next year I think I will!
(2)
DeWitt K.
I have been to Tsukasa a number of times and although the teppanyaki is great some of their other menu items are subpar... First and foremost, I am a ginger dressing freak. Seriously. When I am done with my salad, I typically drink what is left in the bowl. My friends find this disgusting but they can go pack sand. However, I just finished up a to-go large salad and I must say that there were not dressing shots for me. I also got a spicy tuna and the nori seemed a bit too... nori? Anywho... I would say if you are going for the teppanyaki experience go for it. If you are going for sushi keep heading west on 60 to Sushi Kushi San3 there you will find the drinkable dressing.
(3)
Tiffany K.
Every time I come here with girls, we get AWESOME SERVICE! Well, I guess anywhere attractive girls are, we get pampered to the tee. ;) I've been here a couple times for a birthday dinner with the girls, some employees (no names) ended up having a few drinks with us and we all had such a blast. Service is always consistent. I came here for my boyfriend's father's birthday and we had a blast too. The food is always cooked to perfection and drinks are always good. I just hate that this restaurant is so far away because someone has to stay sober to drive 30-45+ minutes back home. :(
(5)
david s.
Went and ordered a fried rice lunch special to take home. I waited 40 minutes. The guy said there was some problem, blah blah, but it had to be that my order didn't go thru the first time. It's just fried rice plus a small salad, guys. As far as the food, those who read all of the wow reviews here about the fried rice should understand that it's very sweet. Lots of people like that, of course. I like it in a dessert but not in a main course. And the dressing for the salad wasn't tasty. The fried rice and salad dressing at Ron of Japan are hugely better.
(2)
Angie M.
Benihana can suck it! Tsukasa is where it's at! * The fried rice is heaven. The chefs put approximately a pound of butter and a pound of oil in it, which is why it's so friggin' good. I would roll around in that fried rice I love it so much. * I'm a fan of the shrimp/chicken combo for lunch. Hibachi style. That way I can douse my shrimp and chicken in the ridiculously good ginger sauce. Once, the chef referred to it as "Japanese Ketchup." Sounds about right. * Really, really reasonable prices. For about 11 bucks at lunch, you get a massive portion of orgasm-worthy fried rice, chicken, shrimp and even your choice of soup or salad. * Oh, and that salad? It's served with THE BEST ginger salad dressing on the face of the planet. Again, I want to roll around in it. Last, but certainly not least, Tsukasa has a very old-school Ms. Pacman video game in the lobby. My sales rep and I sat there and played it for about 30 minutes after our lunch yesterday. I'm fairly certain the nice hostess thinks we're nuts. WARNING: You will smell like Tsukasa for the rest of the day. I suggest leaving your coat in the car.
(5)
Dominik S.
THE BEST DAMN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE PLACE IN TOWN! Disclaimer: I don't work for them, nor are they cheap by any means. I've been going for about 8 years now, and it has been an awesome experience. Don't read the other reviews, just go and have a good time. Make sure to get a table with a chef. This is the only review where I do not go into detail. Trust me, it's a good bet.
(5)
Jaime J.
I love this restaurant... for a teppanyaki restaurant.. their sushi is alwasy fresh and better than most sushi restaurants i've been to all over chicago. The drinks at the bar are always yummie and just enough alcohol to make you have a great time at the table.. The cooks always provide a fun and entertaining teppanyaki show.. the food is amazing as well. everytime i go to tsukasa i have a great time. tsukasa is a place to go for a special treat.. since the prices are a bit high. but totally worth it.
(4)
Gerald M.
Best sushi in Chicagoland area. Their take out is a mess but dinner in is the greatest you'll have. Go and be sure to add a spice scallop app to start the night - wow it's good.
(4)
Dawn M.
We have been here several times over the past few years. It's one of my daughter's favorite places and we usually end up here for her birthday celebration dinner as we did a few weeks ago. I don't know if we just got a new cook or what the deal was, but it was the worst experience we have had here. First, the cook served us our protien before anything else. Normally, you recieve the rice and veggies first and then the protien. This just seemed odd, but we were hungry..so we ate what was put in front of us. The next thing was that my son's meet was burnt. He asked for med. well and it was like charcoal. It was inedible. We mentioned it to our hostess and she informed the manager. They came over several times, looked at the burnt dish of food, walked away, chatted then came back and offered us a few dollars off our bill. I said "no"..none of the meat is edible. We don't want it. They did offer to cook another one in the back but by that time, my son wasn't hungry as he had eaten all his veggies and rice. Just not a good experience. Not sure if we will spend the money or travel the distance to go back.
(2)
Doug W.
We have reservations on a Saturday night for 630 pm and we waited 45 minutes to be seated because we were a party of two....WITH RESERVATIONS! As a tip for people trying to make reservations, smaller parties are always placed secondary to the bigger parties. If you don't mind missing the show, be proactive and ask to sit in the bar. As we continued to check-in and find out the status of our reservation, we were constantly told to wait 5 minutes. In fact, the manager on staff offered us free drinks for the wait and then didn't take it off the bill. Now once we got to the meal, the food was wonderful as always (4.5 stars), but unfortunately even the best food doesn't taste as good after about an hour of disappointment and waiting (and waiting). Because I choose not to round up, I am dropping my 2.5 (4.5 food, .5 in service) to a 2 due to a complete disregard of service.
(2)
Cody S.
Despite the positive reviews for this place, I was very dissatisfied. I think that if you like: snappy waiters with zero personality , fresh fish that is as old as the salsa in your refrigerator, water that tastes like pesticides, and roll ingredient combinations that abstract all of the amazing things about Japanese food.... then you will love this place. It is just for you. However, it is not for me and even my stomach (and the stomachs of my 3 colleagues) agrees. Being served old fish is never that fun. If you want sushi that is tasty and does not make you try and purge yourself every 5 minutes then please look elsewhere. You will have a better night. Just point your car toward the city and drive. :)
(1)
Derek V.
Took our kids to celebrate our son's 8th birthday. Fantastic experience at the Teppanyaki table. The food was very tasty, generous portions and entertaining! The staff are very attentive. The sushi was good too. Highly recommend. We'll be going back for sure!
(5)
Tommy L.
This place is great! Worth your money. Been around town for sushi nowhere come even close to Tsukasa.
(5)
Luke S.
It pains me to a place with such wonderful food one star, but we had the most atrocious service imaginable on a meal that was well over $200. We made a reservation early in the day for 7pm and they asked which section we preferred. We told them that it didn't matter as long as we had full menu access. Upon our arrival (Sunday night) we were seated in the sushi bar area. We were handed a sushi menu and a basic Hibachi menu. My friend who was with us had been raving about their combo meals, but we were told by the waiter that we couldn't have the full Hibachi menu. After asking for the manager we were allowed to "order" from the Hibachi menu. Our server was not happy about taking our orders from the other menu, but he did repeat everything that we ordered. There was no way anything could go wrong right? WRONG! Most of us ordered off the more elaborate menu. Our sushi appetizers came out first and they were outstanding! It was some of the freshest, most loaded rolls that I've ever had. After that everything was down hill. Our entrees came out piece by piece and I kid you not everyone at the table was missing something. My poor brother ordered the golden shrimp, but guess what after asking for more than 20 minutes the golden sauce never came. He was forced to eat Ice Cold shrimp. The veggies that were to come with my order never came, our family friend was missing her rice for the first 15 minutes of our meal. It was a horrific train wreck. Did the manager come over to apologize? Nope. We were simply told by our server than much of our order was accidentally sent to another table. I have to say our server was kind, but did NOTHING to resolve our problems. He offered us free ice cream, but it was supposed to come with many of our meals anyways. Once he listed off all of the flavors we ordered. What happens next you ask? Of course they are out of every flavor of ice cream with the exception of Green Tea flavor. You would think that after such a horrific showing of service they would knock off a menu item from the bill? No way! Not only that, but they were a few extra add ons that we never got. Instead of losing it we paid for everything, tipped 15%, and have vowed to never come back.
(1)
David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 3 I came here with a party of 15 for a company lunch after making reservations. 1. TENDERLOIN AND CHICKEN $14.75 Not bad. Tenderloin and chicken were both pretty good, although the fried rice was mostly just white rice. 3.5 stars, rounding down. Service was mediocre, and I would have liked more of a show.
(3)
Monalisa M.
Delishhhh. Hibachi grills for fun group dinners, & bar area for sushi time. Quick service, and good gooood sangrias ;) Mexi-Maki The Bear Inspired by the Chicago Bears The Pink Dragon Tarantula Always have a good time here.
(4)
Bernice L.
Love everything about teppenyaki and Tsukasa definitely does it best!! LOVE IT! The food is the best quality especially their delicious combo meal of filet and golden shrimp. The tuna steak is also white tuna and super fresh. Food is a definite 5 stars. Service 4 stars only because they forgot my sweetie's scallops at the end and didn't even apologize for it :T Otherwise..delicious and everything you would want :)
(4)
J C.
This is really not anything like Japanese food. Its Japanese ingredients with a lot of corn syrup on them, with the exception of the sushi, which is pretty standard. That being said, it is entertaining and the food tastes good. Steak, chicken, rice, vegetables, shrimp - all drizzled in delicious corn syrup based sauces. Many of the tables are shared with other parties, and a chef prepares the food for you with a modicum of entertaining banter.
(2)
Rachel H.
The fact that I haven't reviewed this place is mind-boggling considering my sister's propensity to come here to celebrate anything from a birthday to a good haircut to getting a good deal at Jewel. We used to go to Ron of Japan, but lately it just hasn't been as good. Enter Tsukasa. The chefs are much livelier here than at Ron of Japan and even though I'm shy (sometimes) I have no problem catching a piece of broccoli in my mouth like a trained seal pup. I usually go with the filet mignon and golden shrimp combo which also comes with a salad, soup, a drink, a side item, and dessert. No wonder I always have a grumpy depressed food coma in the car on the way home and want to pull over and cry/fall asleep/hold my tummy. Actually I think my leftovers are putting me to sleep right now... oh Tsukasa, more sleep inducing than Thanksgiving and the show is always less drama filled.
(5)
Cosima B.
Best steak I have had in years! I had the steak and shrimo combo, the steak was amazing, but the shrimp burned. The Calamari were mouthwatering as well and I can only recommend them as a side! The place is not the cheapest, but it was a great experience. When I am back in the area, I will definitely go back!
(4)
Nick L.
It's a nice teppanyaki place (food wise) albeit a pricey one. The place also needs a severe update to the decor inside as it's terrible! There are better teppanyaki's in the area like Hanakawa if you head further north on Milwaukee.
(3)
David W.
Wow. I greatly underseatimaed the size of the portions. I ordered a lobster and steak combo, and could barely finish the lobster. The food was delicious, the hibachi chef was entertaining, and I only got partially singed by the flames. All in all, it was a good night. Oh yeah, I challenge anyone to beat my record - I caught like 8 pieces of broccoli in my mouth. I'm kind of a big deal.
(4)
Justin S.
Like teppenyaki restaurants? This is the spot! Wait wait wait...I have to disclose that I have never paid for a meal here before. It's always outings w/ vendors or company celebrations so I can't really complain to begin with... The service at this place is awesome. They're walking around constantly and making sure everyone is good and drinks are filled. The chefs are great too. Some are sarcastically funny, some are really entertaining with their cooking skills, others are just plain boring. But the end result, food, is always amazing! And that's what counts right? You can't really go wrong with any of the lunch specials. If you're looking to shorten your life, get that Golden Shrimp. ;) I strongly recommend the Sushi Salad or Spicy Octopus for starters and even the Beef Asparagus rolls. Make sure you have febreeze on hand afterwards! Your clothes WILL smell of food.
(4)
Mr. sushi G.
Absolutely delicious sushi! Good value. Service was ok. When we walked in and asked to be seated at a regular table since my party was all ordering sushi, the hostess kept asking us in disbelief if we were sure we didn't want hibachi. Yes...I'm quite sure I know why I came the the restaurant... Then they said they didn't have any more tables, and asked if I would like to sit on the heated patio...As I walked to the heated patio, I must have passed several open tables...The problem with the heated patio, is the heat lamps basically have two modes..Hot and Off. So you either eat in a sauna, or an igloo. My sushi was fresh, and delicious. The spicy tuna was just okay, but everything else was great. I did have 2 bones in my salmon nigiri however. I don't like bones in my sushi... The servers were very nice, and provided me with very good service. Fish (9/10) Overall (9/10) Value (8/10) Overall, I love it! I will be back!
(4)
Evan L.
I like it if you get the right cook, better than Benihana. It also depends who you sit with because you're sitting with strangers unless you have a party of 7 or more. The fried rice is more entertaining to watch cooking than to eat. 5 stars if you bring kids and your cook has taken his Prozac.
(4)
Eric H.
No beating around the bush: I went there on Wed. 4/14/10, for lunch with work. The bill was 150.82 6 of us split the same bill, since the lady did not want to do separate checks. 3 paid cash. 3 paid in credit card. How should a server handle this problem? Well, apparently they handled it by charging us 3 credit card payees 150.82 each, yes, the price for the entire bill---3 times... Now I am currently on hold with my bank trying to fix this. We saw the server and manager in their pay cubby looking confused and two of us actually approached them and asked if everything was ok. They said it was. That idiocy doesn't deserve 1 star, but the food was only alright compared to Benihana's, and the Habachi grill guy didn't say but two words the entire time! I thought they were supposed to be entertaining! Unbelievable. Oh, you get a ton of fried rice, which is white rice with sat fats and sugars added to it. I got the steak and chicken, so did 2 other people at my table, the grill guy split 2 chicken breasts 3 ways and used what looked like stew meat (low quality). They seem to think that they can charge so much for the entertainment factor, but there was no entertainment! The food is not of great quality, unless you get the filet mignon and lobster tail combo, but who can afford that? Many other great restaurants in Vernon Hills, so stay away from this one---just a friendly word of advice!
(1)
Natalie V.
Absolutely the best teppanyaki I've had outside of Asia. And easily the best fried rice I've ever had. Admittedly, it's been a few years since I've eaten there, but I had to come back and post a review now that I live in Torrance, CA, which is a hotbed of authentic Japanese cuisine. I have learned a TON about Japanese cuisine in the last two years and while we have incredible Japanese food out here, we don't have anything that compares to Tsukasa. This place is way way better than Benihana's or Ron of Japan. The chefs put on a good show (although I remember a few relatively lifeless ones) and the fried rice changed my life. I never bothered with the sushi, just the chicken and beef. It was all good. Oh, did I mention the fried rice is clearly laced with crack?
(5)
Jeanette K.
Choo Choo goes the onion train over the hibachi grill... Tsukasa has some of the best teppanyaki food I've ever had. Benihana's? Sub-par. Ron of Japan? Nasty. Tsukasa? Mmmm. I always order the terriyaki chicken with a double order of fried rice (leftovers for lunch the next day FTW) The terriyaki sauce is out of this world. Its super sweet and thick, almost like maple syrup. The chefs put the terriyaki in the rice, which makes it sweet and salty and oh so delicious. All dinners come with soup and salad. The soup is a little bath watery, and lacking in flavor. The salad has a ginger dressing which is excellent. If you order a combination dinner, you also get an appetizer choice which is mostly tempura options. The BF and I usually order a single dinner each, and then share an appetizer of Age Dashi Dofu. The tofu is hit or miss- sometimes I think they make it on the fly so it doesn't have enough time to marinate and absorb all of the flavor. The main reason I give Tsukasa 4 stars instead of 5 is that the meat is often a little overcooked. If you have the opportunity, ask for Max as your chef. We've had him twice and he seems to be the only chef that can get the chicken right. Also, I wish the veggies that came with the meals were a little less onion-focused. I always seem to end up with 90% onion and a few pieces of zucchini or broccoli. Like most teppanyaki restaurants, Tsukasa is not cheap. You're paying for a meal + entertainment. And by entertainment, I mean the chefs and the random other people at your table. (Sidebar: Why do I always get stuck at the table with the crazies?) However, if for nothing else, go for the fried rice.
(4)
Jeremiah H.
I never go anywhere else for sushi unless I want to be disappointed! Staff is friendly and food is amazing.
(5)
Terese C.
Outstanding food, but the service is disgusting! We had a reservation, arrived early, and sat in the bar area. Not ONE employee asked us if we wanted drinks. We went to the bar, FINALLY, someone paid attention and we ordered drinks. Our table was ready as we received our drinks. The waitress was in a rush and not very friendly. The ONLY thing I liked about the evening was spending it with my family, and the food. I will NEVER go to this restaurant and spend another penny there. There are too many great Japanese restaurants in Chicago!
(1)
Elina S.
LOVE this place! Where do I begin?! The food is consistently delicious, they have some of the best fried rice ever! I mean I've been to Thailand and even there, the fried rice isn't as good as Tsukasa, okay maybe I'm a tad over exagerating, but everything I've ever had from the steak to the seafood, everything is always fresh and delicious. Plus, if you request John as your cook, he's awesome, always entertaining the entire party and making the entire experience THAT much more enjoyable. We love going here for special events because we always leave with a smile on our faces. For great quality food, and entertainment, oh and they serve sushi, what else could you ask for.
(5)
Junior D.
I am a fan of Tsukasa.. its not the best service but the food is great... I must say there reservations are almost always screwed up.. we never get seated on time...but I never waited more than 20 minutes... I always order from the hibachi menu and because I have a big appetite I always order the Sumo which consist of a bigger portion filet mignon and bigger Lobster... but I hate the fact that it gets cooked together and mixed with everyone elses food that I end of getting the same portion as everyone but paid more cash to cough up more steak and lobster.. So DON"T order the sumo,, go for the regular steak and lobster entree.. The Fried rice is out of this world and its the best I ever had!! For apps try the beef asparagus rolls or shrimp tempura.. I love the golden sauce on my lobster... the salad is meh and they always cook the vegetables last when no one wants to eat anymore... the sake and Japanese beers are tasty and calls for a good time.. The chefs are funny, the bus boy are good but the waitresses need to smile more often.. They look mean... But anyways... the place has its pro's and con's but the food is great!
(3)
Dilara M.
This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants because the food is so good! The sushi is great, the hibachi grill is tasty and it is totally worth the extra money to get the fried rice rather than steamed because it is the best fried rice I've ever had! Yes it is pricy but it the food is good, the ambiance of the place is upscale and the service (including the chefs) is wonderful.
(5)
Dustin H.
Well, I just had to finally stop in here and try out the sushi. My wife and I sat on the bar side (not by the group tables) and it was nice and quiet. We both got sushi (obviously) and were very pleased. I got a spicy tuna maki roll, a red dragon maki roll, and an Urlacher maki roll. All 3 were very good, and the spicy tuna was the best I have ever had (so far). It was excellent and that alone will make me come back. Also, they have hand rolls, which I will also try next time (if you don't know what those are, they are the small sno cone shaped rolls). As far as the interior, it was nice and large, and it was nice that the hibachi area is well separated from the people who aren't doing that. The ONLY complaint I have is the prices, and it wasn't across the board. The basic rolls were on par with everything else I have had, as were MOST of the more deluxe rolls, but be careful. I didn't pay attention and when I got the bill, I found that the Urlacher roll was about $17. I probably still would have gotten it, as it was worth it, but things like that can catch you off guard if you don't pay attention. Anyway, thumbs up, 5 stars and all that. I look forward to my next visit and many after.
(5)
Mark M.
My favorite Japanese restaurant period. You must get fried rice......Pricy thought! Be ready to open your wallet.
(5)
Tony M.
Went here with a group of friends, our chef put on an awesome show! I had the garlic shrimp which was excellent. Great place to sit back and enjoy your night out. Only complaint was the host seemed a wee bit rude.
(5)
Rebecca M.
SO delicious!! Tsukasa has the best Japanese food and the atmosphere is so much fun. The ONLY bad thing about going here is having to wash everything you're wearing immediately - since they cook right in front of you. But that's why I don't wear anything dry-clean only here! On to the food... I've never had their sushi, but everything else is amazing. Whether you like seafood or simply chicken or steak, they cook it perfectly. My personal favorite is the golden shrimp. They use this buttery/garlicy egg dip with the shrimp that makes it tastes devine. The chefs also cook rice and vegetables for you, but go easy on the rice or else you won't be able to finish your meal! It's not that great as leftovers.
(5)
Scott C.
Tsukasa is an Americanized version of Japanese tepenayaki. I went with some colleagues from Japan who commented that the only Japanese menu items were the beer... Needless to say, the food is typically very well done here and I've never left disappointed or hungry. The lunch items are a good value instead of paying full price for the dinner menu - same stuff but less expensive. The chef's do a good job of putting on a "show" while they cook and seem to be good at understanding if they are the center of attention or if your conversation is and they will back off on the "show" a little bit. An under appreciated part of menu is the sushi selections. Their sushi is typically very good - served with fresh cuts of fish and some creative rolls. One roll that I had was the "Urlacher" which was a crab roll topped with tuna and spicy mayo. It was pretty outstanding. One word of caution is that their xxxExtra Spicy Tuna roll lives up to its name. The only complaint I ever have about the restaurant is the service. They can be very pushy to move you through your meal - like "Hey wait - I was still using that soy sauce!" as they take it away... The food, fortunately, makes that a footnote rather than a headline.
(4)
Rebecca Huicha K.
Sushi bar review and not for the teppanyaki portion of the restaurant. their sushi bar space is a bit limited considering the size of this place but it seems like most people are there for the teppan yaki anyways. the restaurant itself looks fairly new and is pretty big. i'm sure they totally bank it on the weekends since it's packed. Their sushi menu isn't that different from any other sushi restaurant. They do have a decent amount of specialty rolls but i was mainly there for their nigiri. Our table did other a couple rolls to share and they were all very good. The fish itself was pretty fresh and the pieces were decent sizes. The salmon, scallop, unagi, and toro were the best. I was really impressed with the unagi, very fresh and melts in your mouth :) Also, had the pomegranate martini which was pretty strong yet tasty. My fiancee really wanted to try the fried rice since it seemed so popular. I took one bit and in my opinion its way too sweet but he loved it. Next time I definitely want to try the teppan even though i'm not a fan of it.
(4)
Andrew D.
Food is great and the atmosphere always comfortable there as long as some fool doesn't bring a ton of kids there.This is a adult type restaurant , neat and classy. People should keep small children and babies at home however as the cooking surface is part of the table. If you are stupid enough to bring them, THEY WILL GET BURNED McDonald's is a better place to take them. People go there to have a peaceful meal not to hear your kids screaming .....sorry you had them ~ you deal with them.............
(4)
Amber G.
Best food you will ever have. There's nothing to change about this place. Yum.
(5)
Marina F.
Excellent choice of rolls and sushi, delicious kids' selections, great drinks. Our go-to Sarurday night destination...
(5)
Jeff F.
Ok, suburban people. Enough is enough. I don't care how good you think the food may be out here in the burbs - if they treat you bad, stop supporting them! I've been to places like this dozens of times. Each and every time, the service has been fun and impeccable. So the other day when the wife suggested we go to Tsukasa (she hasn't been since they changed locations), I was happy to indulge her craving. When we got there, she said she wanted to see what the wait was - if it was more than half an hour, we'd just go somewhere else. It was 6:35 on Sunday (yesterday). She came back out and told me that the hostess said it would be 10-15 minutes, so I parked and went in to wait. And we waited. And waited. People who walked in after us without reservations were sat. And we kept waiting. 25 minutes after walking in, we approached the hostess to find out what was going on. It was now 7 pm. The hostess told us that they were waiting for a 6:30 reservation when she asked, was going to seat them if they didn't show up, and that they showed up at 6:50, so we had to wait until 7. When my wife asked why she said 10-15 minutes, then didn't tell us what her incredibly stupid plan had been, she said that now we were waiting to see if a 7 pm reservation would show up or not and would be sat within 20-25 minutes. So we walked out. On the way to the car, I decided that I needed to talk to management about it because telling people there is a 10-15 minute wait when you have no intention of seating customers for 30-45 minutes isn't acceptable. After 10 years in the biz, I know that I'd want to know something like that, so I walked back in and asked for a manager. The hostess said she was the manager. So I explained that she told us it would be 10-15 minutes and after 20-25 minutes, we were still waiting. She said that she was waiting on a reservation. Now, here's the deal folks - if your reservation is for 6:30 and you haven't showed up by 6:45, you lose your reservation. End of story. Don't like it? Buy a watch. So I ask her why she didn't tell us that because then we'd have had reasonable expectations and she said that we would be sat after 7. I told her that she clearly had no intention of seating us in 10-15 minutes and that I don't like being lied to just so I'll stay. She admitted that she said 10-15 minutes, but explained that she really meant 25-30. I said that lying to customers isn't good business and she said that she hadn't lied. I said "you said 10-15 minutes, but knew it would be at least 20-25 minutes. Is 10-15 minutes the same as 20-25 minutes? We would have waited 20-25 if you had just told us that." Her response is the best argument I have for all of us to stop giving them our hard earned money - "If you are going to argue like that, then I don't want your business." I said "Argue like what, with facts and accuracy? Tell you what, you'll never see my money and I'm going to make sure everyone I know is aware that you don't care about service or your customers." Then we left and went up the road to Benihana, where we didn't wait, had a lovely meal, and were treated the way customers should be treated - like the restaurant wants you to enjoy your experience. Until you all stop forgiving terrible service, rude management, and disgraceful behavior simply because you like their food (by the way, you DO know that it's literally ALL THE SAME, right?), you will simply encourage them to not care about the most important part of a dining experience besides the food - good service. Stop giving these amateurs your hard earned dollars. You deserve to be treated well and considering the fact that you can get exactly the same food elsewhere for the same money, but with excellent and friendly service, stop wasting your time. You deserve better. You really do. Stop compromising. Stop pretending the food is worth being treated like you don't matter. Without you, there is no restaurant industry. It's high time we reminded restaurants like this of that fact. Let them go bankrupt - they deserve it.
(1)
Herman S.
Consistantly good quality food served in an entertaining environment. Make reservations on the weekend as it can get quite busy! Great for parties.
(4)
Mike S.
Sushi bar only review: The sushi bar served up some excellent sushi last night, however it seemed that they were light on waitstaff. A little more attention would have added a star to this review. We will definitely return to the sushi bar.
(3)
Ryan G.
For my birthday, I was looking for something nice but out of the ordinary for my parents and I. After searching around Yelp, I came across Tsukasa and their stellar reviews. They did not disappoint. We called in our reservation around 3:30-4pm for 7pm that evening and only had a short wait upon arrival. We were initially concerned that we would not get a chef's table since the place was so full but that was what we got (we have since assumed that the regular tables are for walk-ins or request. We were seated at one of the furthest-back teppanyaki tables with a group of 5-6 joining us for the evening. The chef was friendly, entertaining and skilled; putting on a show that was not only fun but delicious and the wait staff was quick and precise on drink orders. While sushi was available, the food we ordered was mostly from the cooks. The Miso and Shrimp Tempura were above average but it was everything else that made the meal: a combination of sirloin and Golden Shrimp with roasted vegetables and fresh fried rice were all excellent. A good selection of deserts were also available including Rainbow and Mango sherbert and Green Tea ice cream. Given the quality of the food and the quickness and warmth of the staff all around made my first visit an instant favorite and one worth repeating.
(5)
Eugenia O.
I love tsukasa so much that I make the drive from Evanston to go there. The food, in my opinion, is much better than that of Ron of Japan and Behihana and while it is a little pricy, it is cheaper than Ron of Japan and totally worth the price. The restaurant used to be open for lunch and had a much more reasonably priced lunch menu but due to the economy is no longer serving lunch. Tsukasa's menu is great because it has lots of teppanyaki grill entrees but the restaurant also has an extensive sushi menu. The bar serves a wide variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and is always good for sake bombs. I usually stick to the teppanyaki entrees since that is the restaurant's specialty. For dinner, most entrees come with soup, salad, choice of appetizer, rice, veggies, and a dessert. The entrees come with white rice and you have to pay a little extra to get the fried rice, but for the extra dollar or so, you definately will not regret it. The fried rice is simply amazing. I've been to tsukasa tons of times and have tried every type of teppanyaki entree: chicken, steak, salmon, scallops, etc. and they are all amazing. The only downfalls I could think of are the fact that the food is slightly on the expensive side, the teppanyaki tables are designed for six people so if you have a party of less than six, hope to be sitting next to some friendly and not too awkward of people, and that, for girls, you're hair kinda smells of food afterwards. But I must say for how amazing the food is, it is totally worth it! Oh, and don't forget to make a reservation!!! The place often has a very long wait for the teppanyaki tables.
(5)
LaWanna O.
OMG, what's not to say about this place! I love it, love it, love it! The food is awesome, fresh & great prices! The Chef's are very entertaining. The fried rice is the best, I've ever had, seriously. You can choose from the Habachi Grill or the sushi bar. This place Rocks, their better than Ron of Japan, for those of you that have been there! I would even suggest this restaurant to my worst enemy, that is how great they are!
(5)
Beth P.
Simply stated - the best of the best! And while the prices are high, it is so worth it! The food is of the highest quality. The portion sizes are amazing. You just cannot walk away hungry or unsatisfied. The owner is kind, his staff is well trained, service is amazing. The golden shrimp is so good my mouth is watering just typing about it. I eat here whenever I can!
(5)
Nicole B.
No place has ever compared. Highly suggest the fried rice! Whether you are enjoying the sushi bar, dinning in, or sitting around the grill your bound to have an enjoyable meal.
(5)
Valerie R.
The three things that make Tsukasa great are the teriyaki sauce, the fried rice and the delicious tempura batter. Typically I am not a fan of fried rice, but the fried rice here is to die for (not to mention completely unhealthy). The teriyaki sauce is what is really special about Tsukasa. It is thick and sweet and is particularly delicious on the steak. I have also had a hard time finding any place that has as good of tempura batter. It is light and has a great flavor. It is a busy place and is often quite loud. The chefs are corny, but that is to be expected and typically makes for a fun time.
(4)
Y V.
OMG, why am I thinking about Golden Shrimp at 2 a.m.? Tsukasa has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants for that dish alone. That is some serious s&#%! (more on that soon). This teppanyaki place is indeed special for many people in Vernon Hills and the surrounding suburbs. They've had a loyal following for 16 years, which is quite a feat for a non-chain restaurant. We went here on a Wednesday night expecting few customers, but the dining room was packed. Always a good sign. The menu is simple and straightforward - hibachi-style chicken, steak, and seafood and various combinations of those options. I ordered the hibachi steak with fried rice and golden shrimp. He had the filet mignon. All dinners come with soup, salad, and rice. Fried rice is extra, but it's worth it. Shhh... don't tell anyone but the secret ingredient is a little butter. The chef had a huge block of butter at his station and he went to town on the rice, vegetables, shrimp, beef, you name it. Not too much, but just enough to make everything really tasty. Now on to the Golden Shrimp. This crazy concoction is basically a thick egg yolk/butter/who knows what else.. sauce that's spread over butterflied shrimp and steamed. It turns into this amazingly rich custard that is perfect with the sweet shrimp. The custard itself reminds me of a vegetarian version of roasted bone marrow (hot daaaamn). I'm kicking myself for just getting the appetizer, because they also have it as a dinner option. Our chef was awesome. He did the ever-so-popular "flaming onion volcano", all kinds of tricks with food and fire, cracked jokes, and even threw broccoli florets in our mouths (except the teenage girl sitting next to me didn't want to participate.... LAME!). We met a nice older woman who grew up in Rogers Park, which pleased my Rogers Park-raised bf. Good food, good company, and strong drinks. I love this place.
(5)
Helena D.
If you're up in the northern suburbs of Lake County and need a sushi fix, head on over to Tsukasa. Located a stone's throw from Hawthorn Mall in a newer outdoor strip mall, Tsukasa features a large cavernous bar, an cozy outdoor patio area, an expansive open dining room with multiple cooking stations, as well as a smaller party room with shoji screens that can slide close if privacy is needed. We came here for a private party with approximately 30 people and had an overall great time. The drinks are on the stronger side while sushi rolls are large and fresh. The chefs were a bit grumpy and did their 'tricks' in a mechanical yet fun style - it was nice to see them prepare the cooked dishes in front of us on the habachi grill. However, be prepared to have the smokiness waft back to you and grease splatter every so often (i.e don't wear your nicest duds here). One star is removed b/c if you want a bit of privacy, they will fill up the open spots at your habachi table with other patrons - even though we were suppose to be in a private room for our special event. Service can be on the slower side and prices are high, perhaps even a bit higher than the ritziest restaurants in Chicago. Overall, if you have a lot of clients, friends and/or family to entertain and are in the area, go here.
(4)
Alvin L.
The wife and i tried this place on the back of the high yelp rating and a small ad in a local japanese publication. we had a bad feeling the moment we walked in; no asian customers, chefs resorting to tons of cheap tricks for laughs (lobbing brocolli into mouths of customers) and a loud noisy atmosphere. The food ultimately was as bad and corny as the first impressions. everything served on the teppanyaki was coated with a heart-attack inducing dosage of oil AND butter, and to be completely honest, nothing was authentic AT ALL. i can see how with the cheap tricks the chefs perform for the table and the generous amounts of sausces provided that a more caucasian clientele can be impressed but authentic teppanyaki
(1)
Laura C.
I went to Tsukasa for the first time tonight as a party of four to celebrate my dad's birthday (it was his choice of restaurant). Being a "special occasion" (quotes added for sarcasm, see below :) ), we called a few days in advance for reservations and asked the staff to make a note it was for a birthday. Today, the day of, we called to verify and make sure they would bring something out with a candle (regardless of whether we were charged). The meal itself was excellent: I have a shellfish allergy and both the waitress and chef were accommodating. The chef was entertaining without being over the top. Our host, waitress, and chef were all aware of my dad's birthday: when the check was dropped I was irked. My boyfriend tried to discretely alert the staff, then eventually sought out a manager, who happened to be glued to the playoff game being broadcast at the bar. As my family was leaving, I took the manager aside and explained to him what happened. He first tried to accuse us of leaving too soon. Perhaps realizing how silly this sounded, Jeff retracted and admitted it was him who made the mistake and did not convey the information. My favorite part, though, was when explaining it was disappointing (considering how great everything else was and that we chose Tsukasa for a "special occasion"), Jeff casually responded that most of the reservations were for "special occasions". His tone strongly implied our business was of no consequence to him (mind you, we had already paid the bill and were simply on our way out). I pointedly asked him if this was the case, and he meekly trailed off, "no, no, I will hook you up your next time here or something..." Or something...moral of the story: food was great, steer clear if you are trying to organize any type of event.
(3)
Eric L.
Living in the suburbs doesn't lend itself to too many dining choices so it's nice when a restaurant is just as good the fifth time as it is the first. I've been here a number of times in the past for the teppanyaki and it was always a fun and tasty (but unhealthy) experience and the lunch prices are a great deal. The golden shrimp is especially good (but especially unhealthy). But what I've been coming for recently has been the sushi. Sharing a couple rolls with friends makes for the perfect lunch. Among my favorite rolls are the Pink Dragon (good for those who aren't quite ready for raw fish), the Green Dragon, White Dragon, and salmon skin. The sushi combos are also reasonably priced (around $15) with good portion sizes. Tsukasa is great whether you want your meal to be a celebration or a nice casual event.
(4)
I B.
To be fair, this is based on one visit, where I only had one of the combinations, which they prepare at the table. I think people come here for the show. I guess that's obvious, because the food is like the Applebee's of Japanese food. Or the PF Changs of Japanese food. Watching the chef scoop goose-egg sized globs of butter onto your food is pretty gross, and then they squirt on oil and more oil with ketchup bottles. I thought Japanese food was generally light, mild, and bright tasting, but this stuff was heavy, muddy, and...well, it tasted like the ugly fat American cousin of Japanese food. It'd be funny if it wasn't $35-$50 a person. I had the chicken and tuna combo. The food is so heavily sauced with teriyaki/soy/some ginger thing that they were identical tasting, and barely distinguishable even in texture. My companions (who love this place) raved about the fried rice -- which tasted like heavily salted teriyaki sauce. I will say I had the california rolls as an appetizer and they were pretty good. And, coming from the city (where good East Asian isn't as hard to come by as it is in Vernon Hills), I did love the fact the restaurant is huge and you're not bumped up against other diners. But really, this is Japanese food the way the Olive Garden is Italian.
(2)
Ellie S.
This is a great teppenyaki restaurant. The location and service are great. I have gone twice with my husband on a Friday or Saturday night and had a 5-15 minute wait without a reservation. Likely because they can easily put 2 people at most tables. The food is very good although I don't think I have ever had bad teppenyaki. Chef is always dramatic which makes it so fun. If you have to wait, stop by the bar and have a White Horse martini. It is a delightful chocolate martini. Bartender is also very nice. Definitely a great place to go. This is a very large teppenyaki restaurant so it is always crowded and loud. More so than the average teppenyaki place so if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place.
(4)
Steven M.
Wow, that was a huge disappointment. I had a fairly low bar going in, we were just hoping for some decent food for the adults and something entertaining for a 7 year old that was with us. The experience was honestly a complete whiff. First the chef that was at our table was very low energy. He just went through the motions and barely cracked a smile the whole time. Meanwhile there were chefs all around cutting up, acting silly and making sure each table had a great time. The kid with us was pretty bored by the whole thing and spent most of her time watching what was going on at the OTHER tables. I know it's luck of the draw, but you would think they would have a minimum standard.... In terms of the food, it was extremely bland. Trust me, I wasn't expecting much despite the lofty reviews, but this is the most disappointing of any Teppan Yaki place I've ever been to. Overcooked rubbery lobster, steak with little to no seasoning, bland veggies, etc. They earn one star for the refried rice which was at least up to par. I will not return.
(1)
matt g.
If Tsukasa were a woman, I'd marry that woman. If it were a dude, I'd gaymarry that dude. I live in the city, so I only make it up here a few times a year, but it's well worth it. Unfortunately, this means I order the same thing every single time, so I haven't gotten to experience the full range of what Tsukasa has to offer, like the amazing-looking sushi. Basically, my night at Tsukasa consists of: Asparagus beef rolls (+ sake bombs) salad with an amazing sesame ginger dressing (+sake bombs) the best fried rice I've ever had (+sake bombs) grilled veggies (+ sake bombs) hibachi shrimp and filet (but my friends swear by the lobster and shrimp in golden sauce... +sake bombs) Sake bombs, sake bombs... "Why are we the only ones here?" The bus boys vacuuming the carpet all around our table. The waitress dropping the check. "Did we ask for the check? Oh, it's closing? Could we maybe get one more round of sake bombs? Ok, cool." Passing by the gift shop, "Oh hey let me get a bottle of that plum wine for the road. Who was the DD again? I think I'm going to throw up... in the best way possible."
(5)
Ray A.
I've only been here once and had a VERY great meal. I was invited here as a congrats/going away affair for work. The hibachi chef/cook was VERY entertaining and had us all laughing the entire time. I had the shrimp fried rice and a dragon roll. VERY GOOD!!!!! I've also been to Benihana's and a couple other hibachi places. This one is #2, sorry, but Benihana's got the #1 spot in this category!!! To Eric H. we were about to have billing problems because some had cards and some had cash, but we figured it out on our own; gave the cash to the carders and the carders paid for the combined amount. I highly recommend if you don't feel like driving all the way to Benihana's....
(4)
Michael N.
Tsukasa is my favorite sushi bar. Their fish is the most fresh I have had in Lake/Cook County. Inside out, super white tuna with oshinko...doesn't get any better than that. I could also eat the salmon teriyaki with fried rice for every meal, every day of the week too!
(5)
Lina K.
I loved my eating experience at Tsukusa! All of the rolls that I ordered were delicious and one of my dining companions knew the sushi chefs. She ordered something completely off the menu ... she asked them to whip up something special. It was AMAZING! The fish is very definitely fresh and the sauces sublime. A very surprising and delightful meal as this was also a hibachi house as well (and I generally avoid them due to over-tourism).
(4)
Lisa E.
Great food and a show!!! Cook at the tables in front of you . Food can be $$$ but it is worth it for special events.
(4)
Erin J.
My mom has suggested Tsukasa a few times in the last few years and it is always a good time. I love the decor. I wish I could ever be early for anything so I could spend time at the cool bar. The chefs are funny! Here is my latest favorite story from Tsukasa: My daughter does not eat meat, vegetables, or fruit. The chef was tossing little broccoli florets at everyone at the table. My daughter didn't want one, but the game intrigued her and she got excited. So we told her she had to close her eyes and I put the piece of broccoli in her mouth. She got so excited that she caught it. Now she tells people that she only likes broccoli when it's thrown at her face! Ha! Ha! Ha!
(4)
Chris W.
When I walked in I was expecting to eat with my family at some normal little restaurant in a normal little booth and be drowsy and drink diet coke. INSTEAD! I drank diet coke while I nearly got my eyebrows burned off while giggling at the cutest japanese man in the universe (or in IL maybe) do food flipping tricks and all sorts of things while preparing my food. It's like Ron of Japan/Bennihana but not lame. They actually have an all Japanesey staff, they have a sushi bar but screw that its all about their dishes. I've had the teriyaki chicken there which is AMAZING but since I'm a fan of dishes a wee bit less sweet I liked the hibachi chicken a little better (personal preference) which is PERFECT when you dip it with their mustard sauce. Fried rice? YEAH. Get it. Worth the 2 bucks. Go begging on the street for the extra 2 bucks. You need to get the fried rice. Veggies? VERY TASTY. You want to eat them, you WILL eat them. You will have broccoli flipped into your mouth and you WILL catch it. HOW? Japanese chefs are magical. Dessert: Try it, it's pretty basic, pretty tasty. Drinks: there's a selection of them, they're a bit pricey but hey if you're there why not? Excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know how this became a list but I assure you there is much excitement in your dinner. This isn't just a normal dinner it's a real experience, and it's a really great one. You get soup, salad, dinner, and have a lot of fun. Please check it out. I implore you!
(5)
Geoff F.
Pricey but the sushi is some of the best I've had. The fish melts in your mouth. The Kirin beer is good, you get a big bottle. If you're at a cooking station table, the chef does some cool stuff with the food like the onion w/ fire coming out (typical cooking fun, still cool though). Service is real good. Your clothes will smell like food if you sit at a cooking station table but that's expected. Overall, I highly recommend here.
(5)
Cari K.
Hands down freshest best sushi in town! Very interesting rolls! We go once a week! My top fav!
(5)
Lara C.
Went here for lunch - wow prices are so good for hibachi!! Golden shrimp was my husbands favorite :)
(4)
Luba K.
Tsukasa only got 3 stars from me due to the following reasons. Good: you must try King Louie Roll. It is hands down the best roll I have ever tried in my life. I have been to many sushi places and this one is the top of the game. Bad: customer service is not existent at this place. I have prob been there 10 times and every time I get a ride waitress, hibachi cook who just sucks and the food is very regular. If it wasn't for King Louie I would not be coming back. For as many people as they have coming in, you would think their service would be a lot higher. Also check your bill every time. Idk if it is non English speaking servers or they try to make more money on the side, but they are known for charging extras on your bill!!!
(3)
Sarah L.
Last night was wonderful! We are a great fan of Kyoto teppan in Crystal Lake, so we never made our way out here...but so much closer...and had very good reviews...hence our last minute teppan fix! So, since it was a bit slower night, we walked in and were able to be seated at a hibachi table right away. The soup & the salad. Nothing new, but very flavorful. My hubby ordered filet & shrimp combo, and I ordered a filet & scallops combo with golden shrimp. Now the hard part :fried rice. We judge the entire teppan restaurant based on how they make the fried rice. The chef was amazing!!!! I think he was a mongolian gentleman (not korean...and didn't recognize the language spoken ) and his fried rice was absolutely delectable. Not salty, not sweet, not bland....but perfect combo of sweetly flavored fried goodness! My hubby and I were both pleased~ Then he did the entertainment. Now, being a patron of many hibachi restaurant nation-wide, it is hard to get excited about the "show" when we know the drill. Right?? Wrong! He was funny & quirky....and he struck up good conversations, made wisecracks that were actually funny, and did his whole bit with smooth flare that made everyone at the table comfortable & enjoyable. The food. Succulent. Flavorful. Delicious. Just right. It was just good- The combo came with one side order and one dessert. The golden shrimp was great. Not too heavy. The rainbow sherbet....a bit of disappointment but no fault of the restaurant. It just wasn't too good~~~ Overall, Tsukasa was friendly, fun atmosphere with food I would rate at 9/10. We will definitely be back soon!!
(5)
Abhijit C.
I have been to many Hibachi places around US and the world and can rate this place at best average. The service is average and so is the food!
(3)
Delia S.
I gave it three stars cause the food was good but not the service. The two hostesses were busy talking to one another. After we did get sat the cook was very nice. We told him no need for the show. Our server seemed rude or maybe that is just the norm. Will be back to see if this place has good service.
(3)
Steve P.
I know that sushi is only a part of the menu here, but I can't bring myself to get anything else. The pieces of nigiri and sashimi are much larger than one can get elsewhere and they taste great. I now get 90% of my sushi here because it is so consistently excellent. Also, the long menu list of rolls is terrific; I've never had a bad one here. I keep telling myself I will try the other parts of the menu but I just can't drag myself away from the sushi. I usually end up paying the same as or less than I would pay in other restaurants, but I get more and better quality food here than those other spots.
(5)
Ruth O.
I've gone here twice for lunch, with people from work. Chicken and steak were very good. Tons of fried rice. Enjoyed the salad (ginger). I have not tried the sushi. The service has been polite and prompt. We've always made reservations and shown up on time. I get the feeling walking in to the restaurant, the host and people at the front are a little gun-shy. Like they kinda eye you warily. Hard to describe. Like not friendly, but yet not unfriendly? It makes me a little uneasy. But, after I'm in and seated, good time. Check the hours before you head over. On Saturdays they are not open for lunch, they open at 5 PM. Plenty of parking. Cute fountain in front. Looked clean from what I could see.
(4)
Melissa W.
I went on 02/13/2010 with my fiance and his family. It was for his dad's birthday. Since we haven't been to teppan yaki place in a few years, we decided to try out this restaurant, recommended by some family friends. Overall, it was an okay meal. The amount of food you get for the money is great. I had the Filet Mignon with Golden Shrimp ($35). It came with soup, salad, a combination side order (I had Shrimp Tempera), grilled vegetables, and an ice cream dessert (I had Green Tea Ice Cream). Soup and salad were okay, nothing special from other Japanese restaurants. Tempera came out a bit after the soup and salad. Tempera was really good, perfectly crispy, and my shrimp tempera, also, had green beans, zucchini, and a yam. The cooking order was: fried rice, grilled vegetables, and then the steak/shrimp/fish/chicken. I didn't order the fried rice, but everyone else did, so the chef gave me a little to taste. It was pretty good, but I'm not a big fan of fried rice with sticky rice. Grilled vegetables were nothing special. My steak was alright. I could have used a little more salt/seasoning to it. I didn't like any of the sauces provided. The mustard sauce wasn't thick, like I would have preferred a sauce to be, but a bit watery. The ginger sauce was a bit bitter, and the teriyaki sauce was alright. The Golden Shrimp was very yummy. I didn't really like the high amount of oil/butter with the egg (since I know how to make the soft egg, you really don't need to use that much oil/butter, but I guess to make it the way they do, it's justified). I, also, ordered Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. As if I didn't have enough food already, but it's something I do when eating at a new Japanese restaurant. I'm searching for the best Agedashi Tofu. I love the silky tofu with a crispy outside from the tempera - NOT to be confused with a crispy fried tofu, there's a difference! And Tsukasa hits it pretty close. The tofu was soft in the inside and had this crispy tempera that was on the outside. The sauce was very good and came with daikon to be mixed in to the sauce. Overall, it was very good agedashi tofu in my book. Service was good. I couldn't really understand what the waitress was mumbling sometimes. Overall, I would go back again if I were craving some golden shrimp and agedashi tofu. I would probably not try teppan yaki again. The restaurant had some hits and some misses. But from their agedashi tofu, shrimp tempera, and golden shrimp, I can tell that they know how to cook Japanese food pretty well.
(4)
Luiza R.
Perfect for big groups on birthdays or for any occasion, but also their sushi bar is perfect for a date! They have a myriad selection of sushi, and the fish is always really fresh. I've been here many times, and I've never left disappointed. The prices are fair and it's not too expensive, but the atmosphere is cozy and romantic.
(5)
Russ C.
Excellent sushi every maki roll was very tasty with great presentation. Service was quick and attentive. My wife and I found our new place when we want sushi. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Leonor S.
My new number 1 spot for sushi and tepan! Ron of Japan and Benihana can kiss my behind! This is THE place to go for show-cooking! Delicious, fresh, and SO worth the drive! I also love their rolls! My favorites: 911, yellow ferarri, spicy scallops, and the pink dragon. I'll be back.... especially now that I know it's frequented by the chicago bears team :)
(5)
Brenda P.
What to say about Tsukasa? The food - it was good. Cooked fresh right in front of you with entertainment. They offer you dipping sauces for your food.. which given that I had never been there before, I opted for the chef's recommendation. Teriyaki is the big flavor there. Teriyaki was my dipping sauce. Teriyaki flavored the chicken fried rice. So if you are a big Teriyaki fan, you will definately enjoy this place. Give it a try if you like Japanese steakhouses.
(4)
Amy L.
I love this place. I almost always go here when I want to eat at a teppanyaki restaurant. I'd say it is the best out of all the so-called top teppanyaki restaurants (Benihana, Ron of Japan) in Chicagoland. They have stayed consistent in quality service and good food throughout the years that they've been open too. I originally used to go to their first location but I guess it got too small and moved. I recently went to their new location and wow is it so much bigger and still just as busy. The chefs are funny and I think they added some new ideas to their show because it seemed a little different than the usual one. The new place is a lot nicer too not that their old place wasn't. I always order Golden Shrimp at teppanyaki and boy was it delicious. Tsukasa is also known for their awesome fried rice. It was definitely still good. Their veggies are so simply sauteed and sauced yet tastes so good. There is plenty of parking too. We couldn't find the restaurant at first since it was my first time going to the new one. It is next to the old Circuit City that closed down in that plaza next to Rivertree theaters. Oh and make sure to make reservations!! It gets packed! We made reservations and were going to be seated right on time but our whole party wasn't there on time so we moved to the waiting list. We waited another 15-30 minutes I think even after our whole party of 4 showed up. Worth the wait though cuz good food. Quite pricey but that's expected for these type of restaurants. MMmm, my mouth is watering just thinking of it.
(4)
Frank L.
Call it, "Beni-hana on steroids". And as always with hibachi grill - prepare to wait for a table. Tsukasa has a nice decor, but aside from that, it's not all that different than Beni-hana. The prices are maybe a dollar or two more than the other hibachi grill down the street (Tsukasa is Milwaukee and Townline roads, while Beni Hana is Milwaukee and dundee. about 7 miles). Chef's vary by table. some pull of some cool tricks while they cook, but others just light the grill on fire - make an onion volcano, and toss you some raw brocolli like you're a seal. The STRANGEST thing we saw on the grill were the GOLDEN SHRIMP. we just couldn't figure out how they made these things. It looked like the chef put a slab of butter on top of the shrimp, and then just covered them until they were ready, and there was a mound of yellow sponginess covering the shrimp. Who goes to Tsukasa? Those looking for an entertaining, "Watch your food get cooked" evening. You might even meet some strangers who are sitting next to you at the grill. Who doesn't go to Tsukasa? People looking for something special/unique, when they can just get it at benihana. Those who want trendy sushi. (this place has sushi, but it is not like your downtown sushi parlors with their "art-like" sushi rolls)
(2)
Angela U.
We went here with friends, and I was very impressed. We have been to two other restaurants that are similar, but I think this was by far the best. Plenty of food. I found it a little unusual that they didn't have plum wine or japanese wines on the menu, only the standard like Pinot Noir, and other common wines. Next time I'll just have to ask for the plum wine...
(4)
Victor V.
Have you ever been in Japan? Me neither. And I hardly think that visiting Tsukasa would help. The vast majority of patrons are either oversexed teenagers (no complaints here), or loud-mouthed Russian upper middle class who are dressed to kill and speak to contuse (loudly that is). And as a fellow Russian born, I have a misfortune of understanding what they say: calling it vulgar platitudes would be an insult to platitude). The waitstaff is not Japanese either. And as much as I love Mongolian and Korean people (and I do), a little more English proficiency (at least food-related) and a little less attitude would go a long way. But the food is good, and I mean really good. My advice: go for Chef's special and DON"T make any additional requests-just let them do what they do best: create great Sushi that wil make your NITI (I know just enough Japanese to weed out the impostors). P.S.: When your waitress tells you she is only half Japanese, ask her which half: upper or lower - I bet you they will understand this as little as they do Japanese language.
(3)
Wonseop I.
Great lunch menu. Their teppanyaki is awesome during dinner even though it's on the pricy end it was well worth it. They have great scallops. Our cooks name was Andy and he was hilarious.
(5)
Ronald C.
There are many Japanese steak houses to go to. This has to be the best one. If you're ever in the northern suburbs, I'd suggest eating here. It's definitely a taste that you won't forget that will leave you wanting to come back again and again. The fried rice is some of the best I've ever tasted ANYWHERE! The steak is excellent along with the Salmon or Tuna if you're up for it. I love the way they prepare it. You always get a good show and will no doubt be full after your meal. The salad is good with the ginger dressing that never tasted better anywhere else! The price may be up there for lunch and dinner, but it's a taste that hasn't been rivaled by any other place that I've been to. It's worth it to take a trip out to Vernon Hills if you're a food enthusiast looking for something GREAT!
(5)
Matthew L.
I keep going - they keep kicking food a$s! Love it!
(5)
Diana T.
This place is like Benihana's but wayyy better. I had the filet mignon with salmon combo for 34 bucks. It's pricey but comes with soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, a side order (I ordered the golden shrimp: a definite must try! It has this buttery topping steamed egg yolk topping as it's sauce.....SO GOOD), plain rice or fried for 2 more dollars (get the FRIED RICE, SO GOOD), and 3 different sauces (teriyaki, hot mustard, and ginger). The chefs were all so animated and fun. Reservations are highly recommended because your wait will be really long if you don't, especially on a weekend.
(5)
Kevin S.
Tsukasa is one my favorite places to eat. If you like sushi, I recommend ordering one (or more) of their Big Rolls especially the Tarantula. It is one of the best sushi rolls you will have this side of the Mississippi. The Teriyaki Hibachi Sirloin Steak with Teriyaki Chicken is excellent. And yes, get fried rice, you will not be disappointed. The chef's here are all good and none of them will reject you if you ask them to have a sake bomb with you. "Sakeeeee" They do take reservations and I advise that you do so or else you will wait 1 to 2 hours before you can get seated in the restaurant. The reason for this is not because it is a small restaurant (they have expanded to a much larger location) but because it is that good. Yeah, that's right! If you don't want to wait, sitting at the bar is okay too. That is usually where I like to enjoy my Tarantula roll. If you have a large party, you can call ahead (way ahead) and they will seat you in their private room. The service quality depends on how busy they are. I have been there on a slow afternoon and have had excellent service but I have also gone on a Friday night and let's just say you better ask for what you need all at once or else it will be a while before you get everything you need. The quality of the food and sushi definitely makes me want to come back for more.
(4)
Scott H.
Definitely one of the best teppanyaki places I've been to anywhere. The food is always fresh, the portions are formidable and the service ranges from good to fantastic (the 'fantastic' experiences tend to be in the evening when everyone loosens up). I've been here for numerous work lunches where the experience is appropriately more hurried to get you in and out in about an hour. The evenings are more relaxed as the booze flows freely and the chefs kick their antics up a few notches. Some coworkers and I enjoyed a hilarious and very memorable birthday celebration here a year ago that we still talk about. Make reservations, don't hesitate to enjoy a cocktail and a maki roll out in the lounge while you wait, enjoy the atmosphere. This is a great place that reminds me of what other teppanyaki places used to be.
(4)
Lauren H.
I love love this hibachi place. My family and I always come here for birthdays and the food is always amazing! Our chefs area always entertaining and our table is always full of laughter.. I always get the golden shrimp and filet mignon and it always cooked yo my perfection!
(5)
Ann Y.
I have been here twice and have never been dissapointed. Great interior (the best I have found for a restaraunt of this kind), wonderful food- especially the golden shrimp (ask them to add some garlic and they happily will comply), and steak. The portions are huge and the service is wonderful (my glass was never empty). By far my favorite Japoneese steak house.
(5)
Lauren L.
I love it. I don't know why, because I'm not sure the entertainment is all that great. In fact, it hasn't changed since I was 8 years old and went there for birthdays parties. however, the food is still really good, the atmosphere is fun, and I never leave disappointed. When I left for college this was the place I missed the most!
(4)
Ruthie B.
Maybe it's that I'm from Chicago and have higher expectations when it comes to food and service, but my disagreement with everyone who had a positive review about this sh!@t-hole borders on insulting so I'll get to it. Food: The eel tasted fishy. Eel is not fishy. The spicy tuna roll was so hot it made me wonder what they were covering up considering the inedible eel roll. The Cubbie Comfort tasted good, but made me sick afterward. Mind you, I did not eat the eel or spicy tuna roll and had them take it off the outrageous bill for the poor quality food we were served. My mom had the Salmon Teriyaki which for 16.50 she got salmon sticks (literally) and white rice. Veggies are $3.00/side. I've never heard of an entree that only includes protein and heaping pile of dry, overcooked starch. My father got the Hibachi Scallops, which came out looking like sliced bananas. Also for 16.50 with a heaping pile of dry, overcook white rice. Not to mention that even an amateur cook knows you serve salmon filets (fish sticks), and whole scallops not slice razor thin. If the food was halfway decent and didn't make everyone in my party nauseous I could forgive the service. Service: We had 2 waiters and 4 bus boys, none of which knew who ordered what or brought the right food at our table. I ordered Shrimp Tempura, and they never brought it out. Not that I would have eaten it at that point. They bring scallops and salmon to the table and never even think to bring lemon slices (duh). Only 1 of our waiters spoke english, he took our order and we didn't see him until my sister got up to find the manager because when we told the other waiter we wanted to see him he just brought the check. No one asked us how our dinner was, the waiter snuck up behind me to peer at our table and skulked away, and at the end of the meal a bus boy asked how everything was...to which I replied, "Do you want the truth?" I asked to see the manager, I got the skulking waiter, asked him to see the manager, I got the check, went and got the manager (who was rude, arrogant, and talked to me like I've never eaten Sushi when clearly I knew more about it than he did), and finally, waiter #1 who I thought disappeared along with my order of shrimp tempura shows up to chit-chit. Afterward, I talked to some of my friends (a few from the city, a few from the burbs), and the consensus was "I wish you would've told me you were going there beforehand, I would've told you not too." Well, I'm telling you, don't waste your money. There's a cute little Mongolian BBQ in Grayslake for all you suburbanites who crave sushi, and the chef is Japanese!
(1)
Robert N.
For lunch during the week this is a great place to eat... I've eaten at several habatachi style restaurants and this is one of the best...I also think I am addicted to their fried rice, it's pure happiness to eat.
(4)
Robin C.
The customer service is TERRIBLE! My nephew who was sick, has an outside beverage as that was all he could have (he's little) and the manager practically jumped on my sister telling her that it's ABSOLUTELY not allowed and unaccepptable, he was really unprofessional and didn't care if we ever came back. We told him that we ate there quite often and explained that the child was sick and perhaps they could make an acception - but they were not willing to bend one bit - not even to offer to pour his juice into a regular glass - so we left vowing NEVER to spend another dollar there. Bottom line, if you have little kids, don't try to bring in any outside food or beverage - no juice cups, snacks etc. - it's not allowed and they are extremely RUDE about it.
(1)
Peter S.
This has become a favorite place to celebrate, among my pals. Our local teppanyaki restaurant's quality has dipped a bit, but Tsukasa has more than made up for it. Their staff and chefs are all very friendly, and accommodating. Their prices are good, considering the depth of their selection and nature of the restaurant. The chefs put on a great performance, and interact well with guests. Best of all, the food is phenomenal. We enjoyed the age dashi tofu and gyoza. The veggies always come out well. The golden shrimp is a mouth-watering favorite of many of my friends, and I loved the teriyaki calamari steak. I highly recommend Tsukasa of Tokyo for entertaining and tasty teppanyaki in Vernon Hills!
(5)
Ben W.
I've only been there once, the only I remembered is I was so hungry that I had to go to another restaurant right after this place. THE PORTION IS SO TINY! Make sure you eat before you go there. The tricks the chefs fo is like Bebihana's. It is usually packed on Friday night and the weekends.
(2)
Phil K.
I was impressed with Tsukasa of Tokyo on my first visit last night. I've never really been to one of these cooked-at-your-table places before, but Tsukasa seems to have a good mix of quality preparation and showmanship. Our chef did a few tricks while he was cooking our fried rice and entrees, but he certainly wasn't annoying. He gave us tips on what sauces we should try for our steak, salmon, chicken, and shrimp, but didn't spend the whole time trying to talk with us. All in all it was a great experience. Highly recommend the salmon teriaki and especially the friend rice. You'd be crazy to have white rice at this place, their fried rice is that good. Friends also enjoyed the chicken (hibachi and teriaki) and the steak. I didn't think the prices were too high, but I'm probably used to prices in the SF Bay Area. The tab for the 5 of us was about $150, not bad for dinner and a little bit of a show.
(4)
Jane K.
Best sushi around and I have tried a lot of other places. The pink dragon and stuffed tomato are my favorite. Love this place
(5)
Justin W.
Benihana eat your heart out. I love Tsukasa. They have a new location and it looks absolutely beautiful. The chefs put on a show, like Benihana, but it didn't scream chain restaurant. The dishes we had were delicious and I can't wait to go again. Comparing Tsukasa's sushi to Benihana's and I'll take Tsukasa's any day of the week. Usually I don't get fried rice, especially Japanese fried rice (it always seems more bland to me than the Chinese version), however our chef put the nectar of the gods into this and it instantly became my favorite! It had a semi-sweet flavor to it! YUM!
(5)
JC M.
This restaurant has become our "place to celebrate" anything memorable in our family. Grand decor, family friendly, good sushi and killer Golden Shrimp.
(5)
Dkrejser S.
This was my first time but my husbands second. My husband absolutely hates the place, not that he hates hibachi or sushi (in fact when in Tokyo he will get up at 3 am to get fresh sushi at the market). It is the poor quality food that appeals to the masses. The what must be the rudest service on the NorthShore and the laughable miniature hibachi shows. We have often gone hibachi on the East coast, and yes admitted it is difficult to find a place here in US where one both gets a good show and good food. Usually one or the other is compromised. Here we have to say both were compromised and just chopping wildly or making a big fire has nothing to do with hibachi. They really cram people close together to get fit as many people into the hibachi room, so tight that there is only enough space for one chef to stand at the time between two tables. So our table ended up having to wait for the other table to finish as they were delayed. The fried rice was already premixed to shorten the show and they used so much teriyaki sauce on it that it was sweet as a desert. Nothing to do with japanese fried rice. The soups were cold/lukewarm. The salad was ok, but very very basic. The meats were ok and cooked right. The veggies was a little overcooked. The shrimp were smelling foul and old The sushi was average but nothing bad to say. Not gourmet sushi for sure. The show was a blend of sounds and a big fire. Some fast chopping with food flying everywhere and of course the usual catching a bite with your mouth. Nothing extradinary and very disappointing for our children who are used to more spectacular shows with knifes, pallats, eggs and food flying around - and some meaning to the fires not just a big fire to start the show. The waitress still has to learn to smile (as do the rest of the staff) and she was slow and at best indifferent. We had booked the table and ordered birthday treat for a birthday. We had specifically beforehand ordered icecream instead of pineapple boats as the birthday child is allergic to pineapple. Repeated it twice before we sat down. Still when the birthday show came then of course they lined up with pineapple..... They did correct it and then our waitress charged us for 2 birthday shows. Had to argue with her that we only had one. One star for the on time seating. We had made a reservation and we arrived a little early. It was crowded and extremely busy but still the hostess/manager did seat us right on time! Also, one star for the smile and friendliness of the Chef, and the chef at the table behind us, which is nice when the wait staff and manager all seem so grumpy. Cleanliness is better than many hibachis here in US but still there was a piece of dirty paper from the uncooked meats lying around on the floor next to our table and the waitresses couldn't be bothered to pick it up but rather stepped on it. Wondering how it looks in the back...... Next time we do hibachi it will not be here....
(2)
Leocris L.
ugh, so good i'm salivating as i'm typing this- best hibachi i've had. the fried rice is soo addicting. the staff is so fun, and interactive. it's funny watching people try to catch broccoli thru their mouths. i still remember their old location..
(5)
Liz M.
My fiancee and I have been to many Japanese steakhouses (almost all of them in the area) and I have to say this is the best. It is the quality of food that really stands out among the other places I have been. The soup and salad were good, I actually ate the salad although I don't normally because I actually liked the sauce. It was a great balance of sweet and bitter. Although I did not order the fried rice our chef gave me a taste and boy was it good! Wish I had ordered it! I then got the Hibachi Steak with a side of Golden Shrimp. The shrimp was melty good! Like I was tempted to order another round because it was so good, the shrimp was cooked perfect and had just the right amount of egg sauce without being overwhelming as it can be. The steak was cooked perfectly and was a very good cut (you can tell because you see the cut while it's being cooked!) Our chef, Brian, was hilarious and very good at what he did! He was careful to pay attention to everyone at the table (us, one other couple and a family of 4). He was funny, charming and very good! Others at our table had lobster and chicken and there were many orders of steak, plus I've heard the sushi is very good! Everything looked very good, guess I'll have to go back and try more!
(4)
Joe H.
Love the food here. Steak and chicken teriyaki are always the favorites. Usually I get the fried rice instead of the steamed. The fried soft shell crab appetizer is melt-in-your-mouth good. Sushi is decently priced and always good. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Missy L.
Went here with a group of 8 people. I am not a huge sushi fan but I do like to go out for it every once in a while and order the basics... So I took the advice of fellow yelpers....I ordered the chicken with fried rice (even though I am a bigger fan of white rice) and California roll-pretty basic for sushi and everyone was right!!!!! It was so good I wish I could have finished the plate. My boyfriend and friend ordered a pink dragon and green dragon. I sampled from his plate and both rolls were very tasty. I would definitely go back for dinner again.
(4)
Randy H.
I have plans to go here tonight AND Sunday!! Fricken' LOVE this place!!
(5)
Elyse C.
I went here last night for my birthday dinner because my favorite sushi spot was closed booo Mondays. Anyway I was pleasntly suprised by everything. It is really nice inside and even has an outdoor patio! Awesome except it was raining. We started off with the shrimp tempura app which was pretty good. Crispy and such. Then the Wasabi pork dumplings which were awesome. Yummy wasabi flavord pork. For our sushi we had the Yellow Ferrari which was pretty good.
(4)
sandy L.
As a lunch (M - F only before 2) this place cannot be beat! Standard Menu for a Japanese teppanyaki place - as a family owned restaurant, I highly admire their quality and attention to detail!! The sauce for their fried rice and Terriyaki is homemade and delicious - it takes 24 according to the server I talked to - and they sell it - so you can try and make your own fried rice at home!! It is an amazing teppanyaki restaurant, and a true "mom and pop" establishment - if I'm going to spend $10 - $12 at lunch I'd rather have this huge portion - (take half to go!) than a sandwich from Panera!
(5)
Gen T.
A lot of people don't know Tsukasa has sushi, but a little known secret as that it's the BEST sushi in the area. We ordered the Cubby Comfort at our visit on Saturday night and adored the mix or sweet and crunch... so tastey! We went with a group of 10 and found that we were seated promptly. They were super busy that night because of Homecoming dances so it was understandable that the service was slightly slower than normal. However, our chef (who prepares the dinner in front of you) was incredibly funny and entertaining. For our entrees, I got the teriyaki chicken and my husband got the teriyaki salmon (their teriyaki sauce is the best I've ever had). Both entrees were exceptional. Tsukasa is a little pricey so not an everyday restaurant but well worth making it here as often as possible... and great for big groups.
(5)
Renato P.
Ok, here's the dirt. I've officially been to enough Japanese Places like this to be a bit jaded. Nothing this place did knocked me out, nor did it in any way disappoint me. It was crazy busy, having been completely booked up for Valentines Day. I can't say it would stand out in my head as a particularly great place for a date either being that it's rather loud and busy. In any case, I have to say the food was really good, so on to the positives. The seared tuna was in a word delicious, the only misstep being a bit too much mayo sauce and not enough terriyaki sauce, still very good. The tempura calamari was very unique , featuring rather large octopus tentacles as opposed to the smaller and more preferred by me squid tentacles. Still, it was the most tender octopus I've ever had, with an almost fish like texture, so I'll say it was great. The teppenyaki steak was pretty standard, yet very good. The scallops seared to perfection and seasoned perfectly, great. The Fried rice had terriyaki sauce added to it, a decision I don't really agree with, it was good, not great. The golden shrimp , again almost identical to every place I've had it , was very good. You get the usual schtick with the chef with the flipping eggs and flinging veggies, our chef was quite fun. So for a fun night out, you will probably be happy going here. Really the only down side I can think of for this place is that it is on the more expensive end of places like it. Still, I didn't leave feeling ripped off.
(4)
gard c.
Love the sushi here! Spicy Tako Tempura is to die for; and the Green Ferrari Roll is amazing. Oh and taste the Rainbow Roll wow! Good show. I think I'm in love.
(4)
Phillip D.
This is the place to go for sushi. I always eat here and the atmosphere is great. Ask for Juan at the bar. He is a great guy.
(5)
Kate M.
I've been here many, many times and it's a great restaurant. Food is excellent. I've never had better teriyaki sauce anywhere. It's expensive, but if you're ordering a teppan dinner, you get a lot of food. Sushi is good, but not amazing. I probably wouldn't come here and just eat sushi. The teppan chefs are pretty accommodating, but the service from the waitresses is usually not that great. They don't have free refills on drinks, which is insane. They have Chimay beer though, which is a huge plus. Their new location is pretty nice. It's always crowded though and the main dining room is pretty loud.
(4)
Stephen D.
Always great food, but the service is totally hit or miss; I often wait a while to be served, and even then, the waitresses are often grumpy (I think I've seen maybe one of them ever smile). Bottom line: if you're going for the food and the show, you probably won't be disappointed. But do consider Hanakawa in Libertyville -- about the same quality of food, but with lower prices and better service (and it's more quaint). UPDATE (12/20): I ate here again last night, just to give it one more shot. Can't say I'll ever go back. The service just plain SUCKS. For the money you spend here -- with a (small) tip, our meal for five was $170 -- you don't get your water or tea refilled; nobody asks if you're content or need anything else; and the servers are downright apathetic, exhibiting no personality and almost snapping at even the smallest request. It used to be more quaint and personal, but now that they're in this huge warehouse of a building, their M.O. is to get you in and spend a lot of money, and get you out. Go to Hanakawa in Libertyville where they treat you like a guest and even remember your name!
(2)
Philip P.
This place deserves 5 stars....me and my wife came here and decided to splurge and it was worth every penny! We ordered appetizers, entrees, sushi, AND dessert and couldn't get enough. Everything was exceptional and the service was great. My only complaint would be just how busy it is all the time. If you can't get a table here, I'd HIGHLY recommend Hanakawa just north about a mile on Milwaukee Ave. It's easy to pass up since it looks like a house but the prices are very reasonable and the quality is on par with Tsukasa.
(5)
Rachel C.
Comparing this place to Benihana is like comparing apples to oranges. The only thing they have in common is the fact they cook on your table in front of you. Otherwise, Benihana has NOTHING on Tsukasa. The food here far surpasses any fancy restuarant I've ever been to. It's an entertaining show, great chefs and the food is freaking delicious. The fried rice and golden shrimp is the best EVER. The new location that they opened is huge and they even have a lounge area with a bar now. And on the same note, reservations are highly recommended because this place books up quick.
(5)
Ron S.
This place is awesome, Rokbonki used to be my favorite teppenyaki style place but this place takes the cake now. It is packed every time I'm there whether its lunch or dinner but they do a good job with flipping tables and service wise.
(4)
charkhian c.
great sushi moderetly priced waiter could be a bit less bitchy all and all very good experience.
(4)
Scott S.
The best sushi in the area. The pieces are good size, fresh, and look great. The rolls are also fresh and have a great flavor. I have tried most sushi in the area and have found this one to be the best so far. The service is not always the best, but they are busy, and the food is good, so that is not a big deal. The prices are on par with others in the area, except you do get bigger pieces. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for good food and good atmosphere.
(5)
David N.
Some of the best Sushi in the Chicago area. The Sushi chefs are very good, the rolls are unique and the service is great. I have been to many Sushi houses over the years and Tzukasa is still tops. And they pour a mean martini!
(5)
Timothy B.
Great Fried rice, expensive but great good food, will not be disappointed
(5)
Leah C.
entertaining for this vegi and her 17 mo old niece... i guess there's only so much "fun" a vegetarian can have at a japanese steakhouse. i do need to commend the "more than just pepper and onions" grilled vegetable dish - packed with zucchini and broccoli as well. the usual accompaniments: the soup was unfortunately not miso but instead a beef/chicken broth... this vegi had to pass that up. the iceberg lettuce with miso dressing tasted freezer-burnt... not sure how that's possible. the fried rice was on the sweet side...different, not in a good way. the hot mustard condiment was surprisingly good and added the only flavor to my vegis. service was borderline ok. by my questions and my final food order, it was more than obvious that i was vegetarian. when ordering an asparagus maki roll, out came a beef asparagus roll instead. also, the server misunderstood my sister's calamari order - out came scallops instead. our chef was very interactive. overall though, i'd say one of my better experiences at a teppan restaurant - portions are bigger and the restaurant is much more spacious than average.
(3)
William T.
I go to Tsukasa for Hibachi, but have also had their sushi a number of times. Their hibachi is the standard by which I judge others, and IMO none have met that bar.
(5)
Alan M.
Big fan of Tsukasa, especially their steak and golden shrimp, with extra golden sauce. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Jonathan C.
I love this place. Even if its terribly pricey for me. It is in fact a star better than Benihana, based purely on food quality. It does feel similar to all of the "Japanese-style" steakhouses out there. The show you get is largely dependant on the skill of your chefs, Tsukasas are almost universally excellent and Japanese, even if young. The "golden shrimp" cannot be healthy, but it is a standout for me. Poney up for the fried rice, its really worth it. I personally think that the sirloin is tastes better cooked in this style than the filet, so save your money! The new restaurant (it moved from its original location) is very nicely done, and staff and service is excellent. Parking is no problem in this location, although it is somewhat hidden by a Circuit City. Don't let the location put you off though, the food is great.
(5)
John K.
This place has the best fried rice in the world. It is like eating candy, but it's food. They are busy at times, but it is definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Diane Z.
We went here on a date night dinner. It was awesome. We have been hearing about this place for years. We ended up eating in the bar because the bigger table we had been seated with was full of kids. We had great sushi and would recommend this place anytime.
(4)
Vinny The Vacuum S.
Ate here last night, 10 years after my first visit. They are in a new building that is very modern and spacious compared to the old site. The food is still good and the show was the same as it was a decade ago but the chef wasn't as enthusiastic as other chefs in the room. Maybe we just got a low key chef but he put on a decent show. Also he oversalted everything he cooked - not good. I recommend a the teriaki steak or chicken (about $20/person) with a tempura shrimp or calamari appetizer. Everyone gets miso soup and a salad b4 the show starts and everyone gets vegetables with their dinner. Fried rice, however, will cost $2 extra (white rice is free). Overall a good meal that I recommend even though the prices are in the $20-$40 range w/o drinks or tip factored in. Finally, make reservations - you need it!
(4)
Jessica S.
By all basic criteria, yes, this is your typical Japanese steakhouse. Shared tables? Check. Entertaining chefs who cook your meal in front of you? Check. Sushi, green tea martinis, and Happy Birthday sang in Japanese? Check check and check. But don't be fooled, this place is in a league of its own. We (my friends, family, and everyone else in my close network) have been dining here for 13 years now. The food has never changed and I always expect and get the best quality and taste at Tsukasa. The new location is bigger and much more appealing to the eye. It's not often that a restaurant needs to expand as much as they did but they just couldn't handle the overflow of people wanting to eat there. A reservation is ALWAYS recommended by this Yelper because it is just that popular. We used to spend EVERY birthday, homecoming, and special occasion here and we finally had to find other options. Not because we didn't like it or got sick of it because I'm pretty sure that's impossible, but it was just becoming too cliche to eat there all the time. The highlight of Tsukasa is the fried rice and if you don't order it you're lacking something upstairs. The thick heavy teriyaki sauce they pour on it is sensational. I often get the fried rice meal instead of a meat entree. As far as meat goes however, I generally stick with the hibachi shrimp, teriyaki steak, or my favorite, sesame scallops. But you can't go wrong with anything at this place. My sister insists that their Pink Dragon is simply the best maki roll she's ever had. I personally enjoy the Tarantula. I get spicy tuna wherever I go but the 911 (XXX Spicy Tuna) is unbearable here. It's delicious, but too hot for me. Service is always fantastic but do make sure you have a reservation or you'll be crabby from waiting and that can taint any dining experience. Most of all, have fun and embrace your dinner show!
(5)
Inna T.
The food is very comparable to Benihana, but I like Benihana. Great fruity cocktail menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The service is very good. The food is very good, especially the Golden Shrimp (best I've had). Very entertaining for kids. The chefs are nice and friendly. They give you a ton of food (we rolled out of there). The prices are high but we were satisfied anyway.
(4)
miss a.
food is good. no complaints. it's a tad bit too loud sometimes
(4)
Tiffany P.
Best fried rice and ginger salad dressing, love this place!
(5)
Jonathan K.
i remember loving benihana as a kid, but now im aware of what the cooks are doing...ive never actually seen so much butter used in one instance at a time, its nuts. the food is pretty good, but its sooo heavy w all that butter, oil, and teryaki sauce. looking around, the place was filled w company groups for lunch...and a birthday group. thats what this place is for, a group outing of some sort. still curious, is tsukasa a play on words? i dont know im not nippon-ese, but it sounds too spanish haha
(3)
Kristen H.
I recently went here for lunch for the first time for someone at work's birthday. This place was awesome! The "show" of them preparing the food in front of you was pretty cool. The cook was very entertaining. The food was great. I got a combo (beef and chicken) that also came with a shrimp appetizer. It was cheap (can't remember the exact price but it was about $10). The fried rice was tasty. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the food is pretty greasy.
(4)
Jason M.
this restaurant is amazing, prices are decent for people who are looking for outstanding food, the yellow Ferrari was amazing, the atmosphere is amazing, this place looks great and the food is even better.
(4)
Jenna H.
I'm not a huge Japanese steakhouse fan--this one is pretty good though, maybe a 3.5 The chefs are fun but not eye-rollingly over-the-top. The food was good and, with the exception of my tough calamari (which was probably a stretch to order), well-cooked. The sushi was fresh & tasty--not amazing, but I would've been happy to have it as an entree. And the fried rice, which I normally pass on, somehow disappeared from my plate! Heavy, but delicious! All in all, a good dinner, & if you're in the 'burbs it's definitely worth a try!
(3)
chuck f.
Golden Shrimp! Ooh LaLa.... great suchi
(5)
penny h.
This is a nice place to go for a celebration. The food is prepared in front of you and the chef tries to get everyone at the table involved and to enjoy the experience. The preperation of the food is the best part of the experience.
(4)
Scotty I.
All I gotta say is that it's just like Benihana. Everything down to the menu is almost the same. I went there thinking it would be different. Don't get me wrong, it's a good restaurant.
(4)
Matthew k.
I'm suprised that lunch hasn't been mentioned more in this thread. A lot of people have noted the price point of this restaurant but not a lot of discussion about their lunch combo specials. For $11-15(cept lobster), you get soup or salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer(four little pieces), combo meat/fish, and fried rice. If you get a willing waitress, the way to go is Golden Shrimp / Hibachi Shrimp Combo(off menu) with a side of golden sauce. I take the side of golden sauce and mix it into the fried rice. I would bathe in their golden sauce, if it were socially acceptable. How do they make it so gosh darned delectable? A thorough google recipe search found nothing but attempts at golden perfection. And what type of crack are they putting in their ginger dressing for the salad? A quick lunch? No. Healthy? No(Golden Sauce has probably taken 2 years off my life). Best value for your Teppanyaki Dollars? Yes. Only reason for the loss of a star is that service can be indifferent at times.
(4)
Nicholle H.
This is a great place to eat. It features Asian cuisine prepared in front of you. The fried rice is the best I've ever eaten! The teriaki is tender and succulent. The people are great and know how to make you feel special on your birthday! Great show and great food!
(5)
Lara C.
Went here for lunch - wow prices are so good for hibachi!! Golden shrimp was my husbands favorite :)
(4)
Luba K.
Tsukasa only got 3 stars from me due to the following reasons. Good: you must try King Louie Roll. It is hands down the best roll I have ever tried in my life. I have been to many sushi places and this one is the top of the game. Bad: customer service is not existent at this place. I have prob been there 10 times and every time I get a ride waitress, hibachi cook who just sucks and the food is very regular. If it wasn't for King Louie I would not be coming back. For as many people as they have coming in, you would think their service would be a lot higher. Also check your bill every time. Idk if it is non English speaking servers or they try to make more money on the side, but they are known for charging extras on your bill!!!
(3)
Geoff F.
Pricey but the sushi is some of the best I've had. The fish melts in your mouth. The Kirin beer is good, you get a big bottle. If you're at a cooking station table, the chef does some cool stuff with the food like the onion w/ fire coming out (typical cooking fun, still cool though). Service is real good. Your clothes will smell like food if you sit at a cooking station table but that's expected. Overall, I highly recommend here.
(5)
Cari K.
Hands down freshest best sushi in town! Very interesting rolls! We go once a week! My top fav!
(5)
Britt J.
Yep, 5 Stars! We love there Sushi and their service! Highly recommend the Pink Dragon, the JJ Roll and the Bear. The rolls are all a great size and price, but the bear is especially huge... you've been warned. Their sushi is consistently fresh and, when necessary, cooked to perfection! Oh yes, and the "show" at their grill is always a good one ~ even better with a couple of Sapporo's down. Oishii!
(5)
Jessica K.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was 16. Every special holiday, birthday of anniversary - this is where I have always gone.
(5)
Sarah L.
Last night was wonderful! We are a great fan of Kyoto teppan in Crystal Lake, so we never made our way out here...but so much closer...and had very good reviews...hence our last minute teppan fix! So, since it was a bit slower night, we walked in and were able to be seated at a hibachi table right away. The soup & the salad. Nothing new, but very flavorful. My hubby ordered filet & shrimp combo, and I ordered a filet & scallops combo with golden shrimp. Now the hard part :fried rice. We judge the entire teppan restaurant based on how they make the fried rice. The chef was amazing!!!! I think he was a mongolian gentleman (not korean...and didn't recognize the language spoken ) and his fried rice was absolutely delectable. Not salty, not sweet, not bland....but perfect combo of sweetly flavored fried goodness! My hubby and I were both pleased~ Then he did the entertainment. Now, being a patron of many hibachi restaurant nation-wide, it is hard to get excited about the "show" when we know the drill. Right?? Wrong! He was funny & quirky....and he struck up good conversations, made wisecracks that were actually funny, and did his whole bit with smooth flare that made everyone at the table comfortable & enjoyable. The food. Succulent. Flavorful. Delicious. Just right. It was just good- The combo came with one side order and one dessert. The golden shrimp was great. Not too heavy. The rainbow sherbet....a bit of disappointment but no fault of the restaurant. It just wasn't too good~~~ Overall, Tsukasa was friendly, fun atmosphere with food I would rate at 9/10. We will definitely be back soon!!
(5)
Abhijit C.
I have been to many Hibachi places around US and the world and can rate this place at best average. The service is average and so is the food!
(3)
Delia S.
I gave it three stars cause the food was good but not the service. The two hostesses were busy talking to one another. After we did get sat the cook was very nice. We told him no need for the show. Our server seemed rude or maybe that is just the norm. Will be back to see if this place has good service.
(3)
Tracie P.
Not only is their hibachi the best around, but their sushi is fantastic! Moving from Florida to Chicago area I am very picky about my sushi and Tsukasa does it right...super fresh! Love the yellow Ferrari and Urlacher rolls. My husband and I enjoy this place as our date night!
(5)
Anastasia D.
Wherever I go - I could always ask to substitute meat or shrimp with tofu when I order noodles or rice. I couldn't believe when our waiter told me it's not feasible - I asked the owner the same question. The Japanese owner refused to satisfy my request out of principle. He was very rude and arrogant. I couldn't believe that they don't respect their customers. Very unpleasant experience, we left right away
(1)
Justine S.
Been here so many times. Food is always good i'll give them that. But the service is just terrible. Everyone is in a hurry, no genuine gestures.. every employee's personality is so DRY! you come here for a special occasion, but they have the same tricks every time.. I wish they learned new table tricks so it's not boring whenever you come back. They NEED to work on customer service. BIG TIME
(2)
Alice A.
Compared to other teppanyaki places around the area, I would definitely recommend going to Tsukasa. From their outdoor decor to their spacious restaurant, this place is perfect for business dinners, date nights or just for good food. I would highly recommend making a reservation, especially for weekends. They are almost always packed and walking in on a weekend for teppanyaki during dinner time will have a wait time at least 1.5 hrs. I decided to try their sushi rolls this time around after going there numerous times for their teppanyaki. I got the shrimp tempura, California roll and one tamago. Every thing was delicious! Fresh, rice was not too sticky and the rolls were intact. I don't eat raw fish so I can't say much about their sushi but people who I with that got sushi said it was very fresh. I think chicken teriyaki is a very common and popular choice for when it comes to teppanyaki. I never had a bad experience before. If you like calamari and scallops, those are pretty fresh as well! If you order shrimp, and get it "golden," be careful because they literally put a glob of butter on top of the shrimp. The butter is very overwhelming... Can't imagine anyone eating a spoonful of butter on a tiny shrimp... For someone who likes fresh salmon and appreciates their original flavor, their salmon teriyaki overpowers the fish and personally, I don't like it at all. Just feel like that salmon taste and teriyaki sauce doesn't really mix as well as chicken. Don't forget to add $2 for their fried rice! Will not disappoint! And if you don't want piles of oil and grease on your food, you can always ask them for less oil and or salt. Oh! And as for appetizers, I really like their age dashi tofu! The tofu is deep fried to perfection and the sauce goes well with it. A dish you should try if you like tofu! If you go there for your birthday, they will sing to you, give you a pineapple float thingie and they take a picture of you and your party for you to take home. ($6) A nice touch to end a birthday celebration :)
(4)
Kate W.
Every time I go here, my stomach hurts for weeks. I think we went there 3-4 weeks ago and my digestive track is still not back to normal. Probably won't ever go back.
(2)
Sara T.
Yesterday was my 4th time dining at Tsukasa. As much as I love Benihana, Tsukasa is better. I like Benihana's fried rice more than Tsukasa's, but I like Tsukasa's everything else more than Benihana. The steak in my order of steak teriyaki dinner was cooked perfectly medium rare. I customized my fried rice, asking them to hold the teriyaki sauce (can't believe I've become one of THOSE people who customize this and that). There's a reason traditional fried rice doesn't include teriyaki sauce -- it tastes better that way! Our table of 8 also ordered a bunch of rolls and appetizers. The seaweed salad and goma ae were good starters to wet our appetites. The group also seemed to enjoy the squid appetizers but I can't comment any further on that since I don't eat squid. We finished off with desserts. I got the tempura ice cream for around $7. It's a huge portion cut into 4 fat slices, definitely enough for 4 people... Yet... I ate it all up myself. The crispy outside with the yummy creamy crunchy strawberry bits-filled inside was a perfect conclusion to my meal.
(4)
Mina H.
This is a standard hibachi place that is very popular in the area... probably due to the lack of competition... I like the food but its not spectacular in my honest opinion, just decent and a little overpriced for the value. There is a place in DT Libertyville that is on par with this, just a tiny place though... so this has that beat in size for sure. One thing about hibachi places, I don't like getting different portions of my food at various times, as the cooking process goes...rice first, and it's soon cold or gone by the time the protein and vegetables get placed on the plate.... and sometimes you don't want to watch the show but just chat... Sushi appetizer shared was GOOD... for the meal got the sesame scallops entree ($23?) and it was decent, but I prefer mine a little more seared and crisp. I guess I could have asked, but hadn't had them before so... I would like it if they had a brown rice option too. And this was a free team dinner paid for personally by the manager (thanks Mike G.), so I guess I shouldn't complain... Free == GOOD right? ;-)
(3)
Jacqueline R.
Yummmmmmm!!!!! This is probably one of my favorite places to eat!!!! Me and my boyfriend go here at least once a month!!!! The lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I'm obsessed with the sushi roll "the yellow Ferrari!" Seating at the hibachi table is come first serve but it's totally worth the wait. The only downside is if you sit at a regular table versus the hibachi table the fried rice isn't the same, it's good just not as good as the guy making it I front of you at the table. Service is fast and very friendly. The restaurant is very clean as well. Would recommend to anyone looking to eat hibachi or sushi, 10 times better than Kyoto.
(5)
Sara K.
One of my favorite date night places! The soup salad and rice is to die for! I literally crave it all the time! The main food is pretty good too! The hibachi chefs are really hit or miss though.. sometimes the guy is entertaining and talks to you.. other times we have gone there and gotten complete DUDS! Great restaurant but they need to work on some personalities not only within the chefs but in general they don't seem very friendly.
(4)
Christine G.
We came here to celebrate my sisters 18th birthday and had an amazing time! The food was amazing and I'm actually writing this review because our chef Andy was AMAZING! I've been here about 10 times and always have a good experience, but Andy is the best!! We will ask for him every time!!
(5)
Troy R.
We really enjoy going there as a big family fun event, kids love it, but service was slow and unfriendly, overpriced and attached a mandatory tip counting kids as adults without telling us ahead of time. Unfortunate because often it is great.
(1)
Karolina S.
Such a great atmosphere! The resaturant is beautiful and the food is incredible. It's pricey but definitely worth it for special occasions. I love their octopus with fried rice. By the way, they have the best fried rice I've ever tasted. Great dine-in experiance!
(5)
Tony A.
This restaurant is always the talk of the neighborhood. Foregoing any special occasion, my girlfriend and I just went for dinner on a Sunday. The hostess gave us the choice of being seated right away in the general area or wait 10 minutes for a seat at a grill table. We came for the habachi grill experience so we decided to wait. It was a little longer than 10 minutes but it was definitely worth it. After receiving drinks we were served with a small portion of soup and salad, both of which were very good. Next the chef came and started to prepare rice, veggies, and finally our entrees. The chef was very friendly and charming. Really made the food preparation quite a show. It's such a delight to see your food get made in a really fun way. Much better than just sitting at a booth waiting for your food to come out. Everything tasted delicious. Chicken, steak, shrimp were all cooked perfectly. Please be aware that the large portions will definitely satisfy your appetite. Almost everyone at our table went home with leftovers. Not too many negative aspects to this place. Getting a waiter to stop by is quite difficult though. They don't do the usual walk-by to refill your drink or check if you need anything. If you'd want service you'll actually have to stand up and flag someone down or ask the chef to stop and do it. This is a great and beautiful habachi grill place. Will definitely come here again. Might be a good idea to make reservations if you plan on sitting at the grill tables.
(4)
Kelly B.
My favorite restaurant...ever. I love everything about this place. I usually end up sitting in the booths or by the sushi bar, you end up getting like double the amount of fried rice with your meal :) Service is always great.
(5)
Tony M.
Great service! We brought our friends from out of town and they took care of us like no other. They brought out a special menu after one of our friends didnt see anything appetizing on the dinner menu and spoke perfect spanish to our guests who had a hard time ordering in english. The chef also made sure he had a smile on his face and was very friendly. The kids also loved it! 5 stars!!
(5)
Christina L.
We have been here on previous occasions and normally sit at the hibachi grill. Today we chose to sit at the bar. The service was good and my boyfriend and I decided to share the Tatsuta age. We both agreed that it reminded us of chick fil a chicken nuggets...but hey that's not a bad thing. For my main course I got teriyaki salmon with fried rice with golden sauce (YUM). My boyfriend ordered the golden shrimp with the same rice. Of course we had to get the food wrapped. They give you SO much food. Overall it was a great dinner! I shall be back with the bf.
(4)
Yanja B.
Conflicted with how many star to rate Tsukasa. I have been dined here on countless occasions. Time after time it has been amazing but recently I feel like the sushi quality fell off. Last night was a huge disappointment. My boyfriend and I came here for sushi. We literally got nothing but rice. We could not taste any of the fish or the stuffing inside- it was nothing but rice. BTW we ordered Ebi-Shrimp My boyfriend also ordered a side of fried rice, it was also not up to par with how it usually is. Usually its amazing and thats the main hook that keeps us coming back. After last night's experience I don't see myself coming back in the foreseeable future. There are plenty of other quality sushi options- very disappointed.
(2)
Forrest R.
Absolutely the best sushi that I have had coast to coast. Everything that I have ordered here is top notch, very fresh and extremely tasty. You have to try the spicy octopus appetizer and the Yellow Ferrari roll. Although the food is amazing, I cannot always say the same about the service. I have been coming here for close to 10 years and on 2 different occasions my order was forgotten all together. On one occasion I was with a large party of about 20 people. On another occasion I was with a small group of 3 other friends. It is not uncommon for them to forget a roll or an order so keep tabs on what you ordered, what you actually received and what you are charged for! I have never had this problem sitting at the bar, the bartenders are always great. I must say, I continue to come here knowing the service is worthy of maybe only a 6 or 7 rating although the food is always a 10.
(5)
Jen H.
I went for sushi. I did not like the sushi. This pink dragon roll everyone seems to like...sucked! Too much sauce on it and it's topped with too much fake crab. The spider roll was just ok, but larger and more rice than I like. Too much. I did like the age dashi tofu and the fried rice. Service was good! I asked the waitress for chicken katsu for my daughter and she had never heard of it in her life!! So don't look for katsu here unless you want to be looked at like you're crazy. I would return to try different sushi rolls. Do yourself a favor and don't get the pink dragon. I don't know why people think this is actually a good sushi roll. Disgusting.
(3)
Rick G.
Awesome Teppan Yaki style Japanese restaurant. It seems like it must always be busy there. We had to wait at the bar and have appetizers which were excellent. This is not a complaint that we had to wait, the fast service at the bar made the wait enjoyable. Spinning knives and food are tossed around, the chef even tosses shrimp to one person at a time and seems to never miss landing the shrimp in the person's mouth.
(5)
Alyssa P.
I have had Tsukasa twice now, once a pickup order and another dining in. It seems to be a popular place and my friend really likes it but I've had better. Pickup order was good, I was starving, the fried rice and vegetables were good and I really enjoyed the rolls (even though I am not a big sushi person which is saying something). Could care less for the "golden" option, too fatty for me. Dining in was nice although seated more towards the front, went with the same friend (we were both full) but ordered salmon, rice and rolls. Enjoyed the rolls and I am a big salmon person so I really enjoyed the salmon (though again, I've had better). Would repeat again if I was craving sushi and perhaps see a bit more of the interior of the restaurant but not an immediate go-to choice. Prices were decent for a sushi place, many people seem to enjoy, and staff was busy but friendly.
(3)
Vasi D.
Sat down with my family for dinner. When the cook came out, he constantly was rubbing his nose which j found to be very disgusting. Didn't care for any extras in my food from his nose and particles that came falling out. Ordered the hibachi tuna. BEWARE!!!!! It is butterfish not even tuna and I was sick like a dog for 15 hours. Now the thought of fish makes me sick. Just google and look butterfish. This is what they are serving as tuna??? When j called to complain the lady said she fed 700 people and no one else called in to complain. ( they open at 2:00 I called in at 2:05. How many people could have called in within those 15 min ) she told me she hopes I feel better and that was it. Really? Horrible cooks with disgusting habits and rotten disgusting imitation food. Who knows if chicken is even chicken or a dead crow in a cage out back. Stay away!!!!! Will never return !!!! Also had my husband called in the evening because no one ever called me back and he also complained of being sick and the women Connie went to say that no one called in complaining of being sick from the food. What I lie. Stay away !!!
(1)
Connor B.
Tsukasa is your typical hibachi grill experience, and it does a great job at being a hibachi grill. Location and Ambiance: Its kind of plopped down near a home depot, tiger direct, and other stores. This being said, the ambiance inside is great! Tsukasa does a great job setting the mood. Food: All the foods I have tried are great! Steak, chicken, and shrimp are all done right! This paired with the hibachi grill experience all make for a great time if you decide to go to Tsukasa for a meal. Staff: The staff is very generic, and there isn't any personal feel to the people who have served our tables. With this in mind, I have no complaints. As we all know a lot of your experience will depend on the chef you have. Overall, Tsukasa does a great job doing what it does. Its a hibachi grill with no unique twists along the way, which isn' t a bad thing it just means its not the BEST place I have been. With all of this in mind I think it deserves a solid 4 of 5 stars! :) Thanks, Connor Brady
(4)
Alex G.
Love this place and even though it gets a little busy for dinner it's still worth the trip and the wait. Hibachi food is very good but what sets it apart is its sushi bar. the fish is always incredibly fresh menu selection is excellent and services very good. My wife and I love this place so much we sometimes even buy several gift certificates at 20% off ahead of time so when we come back it's a little cheaper. Definitely a place to go if you love Japanese food.
(5)
Laura C.
Hibachi restaurants are like the Disneyland of restaurants. Cheesy, but still fun, especially with kids in tow. If you've ever eaten out with a toddler, it can be hard to keep him or her entertained enough so you can enjoy your own meal. At Tsukasa, the chefs take care of that for you, with quick knife skills, flying vegetables, and some highly volatile compounds. The meals start off with a bland, iceberg salad with an unappetizing ginger dressing. Followed by a bowl of lukewarm water and soggy, floating rice puffs, the "soup" was a disappointing beginning. Our chef carted in our veggies, proteins and white or fried rice and promptly began the show. When you surrender to the sights, smells and the sake or lychee martini kicks in, the idea that you're at a suburban hibachi restaurant disappears, and you start to soak up the atmosphere and just go with it. My scallops were cooked well, and the veggies were somewhat raw, but you're there more for the experience than the food. We left with full bellies, a smiling toddler, and a slight sake buzz. Not too shabby for a suburb dinner.
(2)
Steve M.
This place is on fire..... I have been to this restaurant a few times including when they were located across the street in a strip mall. The new building is very nice with a well laid out plan of tables with their cooking surfaces. There is plenty of parking as they share the lot with other bug stores in the area. The Atmosphere: We came here to celebrate my birthday which is kind of funny because you wouldn't believe how many people come here for their birthday. There was one point where they were singing this birthday song which I didn't recognize but I'm sure that's what it was. Tim who was our chef asked the question and of course my family told him that it was my birthday. Tim being the creative chef that he is while making our fried rice spelled my name out with the rice and my made up age of 28. He then asked me what my favorite number was which I said 24. He had a frustrated but funny face as he was going to flip an egg on his flipper 24 times. He stared flipping the egg counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 times 3 = 24. The Food: We all decided to go with a combination plate. I went with the lobster and filet with fried rice. They first served us soup and then a salad. After we finished our soup and salad he pulled out the lobster tail. As Chef Tim pulled the lobster out of it's shell and seasoned it he started cutting up the vegies where he started flipping pieces of broccoli into my sons mouth until it was overflowing. Once the veggies were complete and on our plates he pulled out the filets. I ordered mine medium rare and I have to say that the steak melted in my mouth. I am going to have to add them to my list of steak joints, that's how good the filet was. The Experience: From the moment that we arrived, the experience for me and my family was amazing. We had a terrific time and really enjoyed ourselves. We will need to come back of course but next time we will try them for lunch.
(5)
Luna M.
We went to Tsukasa in Vernon Hills last night to celebrate my husband's Birthday. My last time at Tsukasa's was probably a few years ago. I have been to the former location (located across the street) & I'm glad they have this new spacious area. Helpful to make reservations because they do get B-U-S-Y! They also have lunch and dinner hours so its always good to check on when they are open. They have a nice pond & rocks set up in the front. It becomes a nice photo-op moment. Now, to the real reasons why we come to Tsukasa -- for the entertainment & great food. I feel some table chefs are better than others so I was hoping for a really good chef for our table. I even joked with my family if the color of the hats indicated their expertise. Just like the black belt signifies high level of advanced skills with Karate, I wondered if the black hats were the higher leveled chefs. I think I got my family convinced, so we were a little doubtful when our chef came by with a red hat. Within a few minutes we found out that our Table Chef "Tim" was awesome. He was funny, engaged us in conversation & made sure our food orders were up to our standards. I became the source of a couple of his jokes. When he asked who wanted ginger and teriyaki sauce, I was the only one who did not want any. At the end, he insisted on giving me some teriyaki & when he attempted to squeeze some in my face -- I found out it was a trick squeeze bottle. It was funny & got the whole table laughing. So I covered "entertainment," now, to rate the food. Whenever I go to a Hibachi Grill type of restaurant, I always get hibachi filet & shrimp. I have to say that my filet at Tsukasa was so tender that it melted in my mouth. Also, their fried rice is sooooo good. Oh & their shrimp was delicious. Boy, I can't stop thinking of that great meal. I want to back real soon. In reference to pricing, I agree that Tsukasa is pricey but its worth it. Other Yelpers have mentioned that Hanakawa offers the same quality but less expensive. I will have to disagree on the quality of food. But I would rather spend a little bit more & have better quality food & entertainment. One more final note--They have another location in the Lake Zurich/Deer Park area. We will have to check out that place also.
(4)
Susan S.
Really great sushi. Rice is seasoned well huge pieces of sashimi. Really fresh . If you like tepanyaki go during lunch, It's more reasonably priced.I love scallops n golden or garlic shrimp. The soup is soso. I love the ginger salad dressing on everything . I think the fried rice is to sweet.
(4)
Aaron G.
Tsukasa is definitely one of the better Japanese tepanyaki grills I have been to. The chefs are humorous and clever in their cooking show. The wait staff is on top of things and the food tastes great. Tonight we had a large group and sampled quite a bit. Shrimp with garlic sauce (always great and keeps the vampires away), shrimp with egg yolk sauce (another favorite but so rich it is not for timid stomachs). Filet and other steaks cooked to order, and of course starters of sushi and tempura. Tsukasa soup is a nice alternative to the regular Miso soup (they have both). Throwing broccoli in the kids' mouths is always a fun game they play. The place is very large for tepan and has a separate area for sushi or plain table dining. If one likes this kind of meal you won't go wrong here.
(4)
Melissa F.
Growing up in the North Shore, I'd heard so much about Tsukasa, nearly uniformly good. I finally tried it a few weeks ago with a friend. The space had been moved and updated, so it felt very sleek and classy. Ron of Japan is great and all, but it is outdated and long in the tooth, so to speak. We were early, so we had to wait a bit, but it was pretty efficient in terms of seating us at a good time. We sat down at our communal tables and waited. It was a Saturday night, and I know hibachi places are slammed at this time usually. The chicken soup and the salad were a bit "meh." The chicken soup was oily and oniony in terms of taste, so it didn't do much for me. My friend and I both got the California rolls as our "sides," and they were decent. The main event was very cool - setting stuff on fire in the name of quasi-fine dining never gets old, really. The veggies were good but a bit bland. My filet mignon was really well seasoned, though. The shrimp was above-average, but I've had better shrimp at other teppanyaki places. It was a bit dry. Overall, I found Tsukasa to be pleasant and not bad by any means - but really not worth it in terms of price or centering your whole night around a long "dining experience" here.
(3)
Faith O.
NEVER AGAIN. This place is unprofessional and racist. Service was bad and let me tell you why. Our cook was Japanese and he clearly didn't know how to cook and kept on having chit-chat conversations with us (e.g Where are you from?, blah, blah, blah). Please, don't. Just concentrate on cooking our food instead of throwing my fried rice everywhere (they even flew to the table), and stop favoring the two Caucasians next to us by giving them more meat. Also, please don't serve food to someone and then take it from their plate to give it to someone else even though we're all related. Just because we're Asian too, it doesn't give you the right to give us bad treatment. Also we told him we want the meat to be medium rare, but it was really done. Overall: Food was oily, place was smoky (yes, I know we're near a grill but the suction was not good) and the service for getting refill on tea was really poor. Never will I set foot at this establishment! I wish this place bad luck.
(1)
Lakshmi N.
I went with my family on her birthday. We had a toddler with us, so we got the regular table, not the hibachi table coz of the fire and the heat that might frighten the baby. The staff was rude. We asked to change the table twice coz we weren't happy with the table we were given. The waitress started making faces when we asked her to change the table. The food was very bland, no taste at all. It was my first time with japanese food and I did not enjoy it. I'm hoping the hibachi experience would be good but I'm skeptical about trying it out after my first experience. If you wanna go, try hibachi, donot get the regular table. Food is not tasty, and is very pricey.
(1)
Ritika K.
I have been here several times for lunch with my colleagues. The service is always very fast. It gets really crowded during lunch hour so sometimes it is difficult to find a table with hibachi style cooking. Their restaurant and patio always has tables available. Both hibachi and sushi are really good. I love the hibachi sauce they serve with their house salad.
(4)
Naomi Z.
I love going here for lunch (great deal) and for special dinners. (A little expensive- but always awesome). Since moving to their newer location (probably 10 years now) they have kept the staff, the atmosphere and the food consistently great. This is hard to do in an ever changing environment. I have also gone here just for sushi which was equally as good. If you are willing to have a heart attack on the spot definitely try anything with the "golden sauce". There is nothing better. Period. The calamari tppenyaki is as good as the tenderloin. I have never been disappointed. The chefs do the "usual" things- but are personable and funny. Great place to take the kids for a fancy night out.
(5)
Daniel N.
Went here for lunch one day during work... sushi was good, nothing spectacular. My only advice is do not get the King Louis roll.. The waitress kept selling us on it so we were like why not, but it's a rip off. The roll is MASSIVE, but it's just a scam to get your money since its $21 and uses more ingredients. Sushi rolls that size are not good at all.
(3)
Karolina L.
To start with, the service of this place was very bad. Our host was quite unprofessional and our server looked clearly uninterested in providing us with a good service. Food itself was good. I would recommend dressing up in a business suit next time you visit in order to be treated seriously.
(3)
Michelle W.
One of my favorite places for sushi and special occasions.
(5)
Yuri S.
Great food. Our waiter was Korean and super funny . Great place for a nice group outing . Saki was bomb!
(5)
Mimi A.
I have been looking all over the midwest for a decent sushi place. In the west coast, we always have fresh fish and a vast amount of sushi bars to choose from, especially in Seattle. I was trying many different sushi restaurants here in the Chicagoland area and none could ever satisfy my cravings. That is until a coworker of mine told me about the Yellow Ferrari Sushi at Tsukasa. It looked so delicious in the pictures on her phone that I just had to check this place out. I was absolutely skeptical due to the fact that almost all sushi restaurants here were a huge disappointment. I heard so much about the culinary experience in Chicago, I figured that they must have at least one good sushi place. I found that place in Tsukasa of Tokyo. Hibachi is the entertainment but the sushi is the star of this place.
(4)
Daniel M.
My girlfriend chose to come here for our anniversary, great choice. I could tell our chef max was a nice man that works hard. All in all I am satisfied amazing steak PS DONT BE THOSE SNOBBY RICH PPL WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT FLAWLESS SERVICE. ENJOY:)
(5)
Mike R.
A little birthday celebration for the wife tonight. I was skeptical of coming to another "hibachi" grill. Never been a huge fan but she insisted. I'm glad we did. Fried rice was to die for. I'm beyond stuffed and staff very friendly.
(5)
Nikki T.
Tsukasa is hit or miss. Never go for lunch. It's not all that fun and they rush you out the door. Dinner and your experience will depend on your chef. I've had great and horrible. You can complain all you want, management won't listen. The best experience I've had was at my sons 6th birthday dinner there. The chef made it all about him, spelling his name in the rice, and even allowing my son to walk over behind the grill with him where he out his hat on my son and let him hold his spatula so he could pose for a picture . These chefs are supposed to talk to you, engage you, and yes you will have a little smoke, and a grain of rice may fly. I've yet to see any chef behave in a racist manner as I read in another review.... For the most part they're great. I like their garlic shrimp, I don't eat a lot of red meat so I can't comment on their steak. all in all because management is worthless and lunch service is usually dull and rushed, I'll give just 3 stars.
(3)
Madeline L.
Food is good, but nothing special. Prices are quite high for some items that don't taste spectacular. I wouldn't recommend the spicy tuna rolls - Sushi Kushi has amazing spicy tuna rolls for about the same price or even cheaper (not too sure)
(4)
Jennifer B.
I've been coming to Tsukasa for years for the sushi. I've tried almost every sushi restaurant in Chicago and the northwest suburbs and nothing comes close to Tsukasa. The Yellow Ferrari and Caterpillar rolls are amazing!
(5)
Jason S.
Took the wife and kids , ages 10 & 12 and they all enjoyed the food as well as the cooks skills & jokes. Everything tastes good to me. For me the rice is too sweet. We were on time for the reservations and we had to wait 15 minutes which isn't to bad. I don't mind spending good money on good food. I would say this is slightly high although I did get a big kick watching my kids enjoy it all. I'd return.
(4)
Andrea C.
The cook was so funny. It hurt to laugh so much. The food was a little overpriced for the amount we got. It was pretty tasty though. I am pretty sure I paid for the entertainment because that made my whole experience better. If it wasn't for the chef I wouldn't come back. I got the teriyaki chicken with fried rice and it was okay... the fried ice cream was delicious though. It's meant for 2 people I'm,pretty sure but I ate it by myself.
(3)
Mad I.
ALL TIME favorite sushi....and I live in Chicago! Everything is soo good, I will just mention my favs Yellow Ferrari-omg!! Worth every penny. Whole scallops a top each of the 8 pieces Tarantula: spider roll with a yummie soft shell crab mixture on top, amazing JJ: really good eel with sauce deliciousness! Chicken fried rice, who knew! Soo sweet and yummie Pink dragon: my first roll here, sooo amazing...what is that crab combo on top with that sweet sauce? Top notch!!!!
(5)
Andrew T.
I have yet to eat sushi here, but their Teppanyaki is pretty good. I wouldn't say it knocks my socks off, but it's definitely edible, and it kind of hits the spot once in a while. My clients like this place, and even though every time they say "Tsukasa" I hear "su casa" (as in "mi casa"). They have a steak and shrimp combo that's a favorite. If you hate your heart, you can get your shrimp "golden" - topped with what I think is some kind of almost an egg custard. It's tasty, but it's rich. And it can't possibly be good for you. Also of note, their fried rice has a little sweet/salty sauce on it, making it a lot more interesting that most places. Sometimes it's a little stickier than other times, but it's usually pretty tasty. So all in all, not bad, and worth a visit if you're looking for this kind of meal. I would like to try the sushi, but unfortunately, my clients aren't sushi people, and this isn't close enough to home to visit with more sushi-friendly diners. Oh well.
(3)
Yuriy S.
Definitely my favorite sushi place. I have never tried their cooking table but dining room has great selection. My favorites are sushi salad, yellow Ferrari But honestly I have never had anything I don't like. The only problem - the place is always crowded and they don't accept reservation for dining room, only for cooking tables. Be prepared to wait a long time to be seated should you come Friday or Saturday night.
(5)
Mike H.
Last night i had the opportunity to eat here and had a decent time. The food is great and the atmosphere is good but some of the employees seemed stand-off-ish or cold. All in all i had a great meal and would recommend for sure
(3)
Marta R.
Delicious fried rice (they make it in front of you, if you watching your waistline please don't look how much butter they put into it :)! When they add egg to fried rice they split it and make little picture on a grill before mixing it together with rice, fun to watch. We went here over NY season and cook painted egg Xmas tree scene! I normally have lobster tail and steak with my fried rice. It's ok, lobster is a touch rubbery and I normally ask for rare steak and it is always medium at best... I never tried sushi here, it is on my to do list, so I can not comment on that. I think stuff could be more friendly and attentive overall, but in big group of people you will have fun here.
(4)
Alisa S.
BEWARE THE TUNA STEAK IS BUTTERFISH/ESCOLAR!! My daughter discover this the hard way with the aftereffects for escolar ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es… ). They should warn people that it's not Albacore. We have eaten here many times as a family and have enjoyed it. This was our first time ordering the tuna steak hibachi meal. The fish was fresh and tasty, but it was not tuna as she unfortunately discovered the next day as she was running for the bathroom with the exact symptoms of Keriorrhea. (It's really hard to misdiagnose this one...) I called the restaurant to let them know that their tuna steak is not tuna and the woman was very defensive and refused to acknowledge that it was their food. I told her that it wasn't that the fish wasn't fresh, it just wasn't tuna and that maybe they needed to talk to their supplier. Not sure we will eat here again after the way they handled this incident....but if we do we definitely won't order the tuna....
(1)
Deena R.
Never had the hibachi, but I understand it's really the thing most people associate with the place. I'm a sushi whore - yeah I said it -- and this is THE BEST, hands down, sushi for many many miles. It's incredibly consistent, so I can get the same things over and over as I tend to do, and it will be exactly as I expect. First - don't be put off by the menu. It's not easy to know the descriptions (look on the back of the ordering sheet). And yes, it can be expensive, but if you follow my advice, you can get out of there at a reasonable sushi price. First, if you like scallops, you MUST have the Yellow Ferrari. It's large, it's fresh, and it's tough to pick up with chop sticks -- trick: make sure one stick is on rice, not both on avocado. Yes, it's expensive, but hold on, I'm about to create balance in your world.. The Mexi-Maki - fresh, light, and inexpensive. Now, when you look at the Ferrari price, you can justify it. The nigiri/sashimi is top notch every time. I love their Kani-Su, it's got king crab, but that's not something I get often because of the price. Hey, if I'm gonna be frugal somewhere to justify the Ferrari, I'll just get a salad or miso as filler appetizer. The Stuffed Tomatoes (not tomatoes at all) are priced per piece and are spicy. One per diner is enough to get the experience of it without going broke. The only thing I'd advise against is the 911 roll. It was painfully hot and I didn't get the flavor of the fish - just mouth pain. Enjoy!
(5)
Jennifer H.
We came here for my birthday with a large group. What made the experience fun was just being with my friends. The food was decent but part of what you pay for is the entertainment. I've been to other hibachi restaurants where the chefs went all out. Not here. The chef was friendly but not over the top.
(3)
Estee G.
I came for dinner w my friend middle of the week. We ordered wine and tuna tartar. It was amazing. The waitress barely paid attn to us, but we were so busy with our conversation that it didn't matter.
(5)
Ashley S.
Eh....I love sushi, this is a well known fact. The service here was horrible, we had a total of three servers at our table, which caused our order to be delayed because no one was putting it in... The sushi was good, but the service kind of ruined the experience.
(2)
Malish B.
This place has the best Sushi in all of Chicago and we have tried many places. The quality and freshens of the fish is hard to beat. We still come back every time we are in the suburbs. The actual teppanyaki grill is also very good the garlic shrimp is great and by far the best fried rice
(5)
Taylor M.
Tsukasa is a fun restaurant to go to every once in a while. It is fun to have a show while you eat your dinner, but I feel like the food is not that great. The chefs are fantastic when it comes to entertainment. I am allergic to mushrooms and everything on the menu comes with a ton of mushrooms. When I ask for no mushrooms, I am giving just the same amount of meat, which is not very filling. I was super disappointed in the calamari tempura. It was tasteless fried mush... The vegetable tempura was yummy though. The sushi was just okay... did not seem like anything special, but I just got traditional rolls. For the meal, I got the tuna and steak combination. I had my tuna cooked rare which was good, but it was already cold when it hit my plate. I ordered the steak medium rare and got it medium well... it was dry and tasteless. My favorite parts of the meal where the soup (yummy) and the pineapple birthday dessert. I also truly enjoyed the drinks here. I tried a couple different mixed drinks and Juan did a fantastic job with all of them. Also, I kept having to ask for a glass of water and I did not receive it until after dinner!
(3)
Valerie W.
We've been coming to Tsukasa for years for various special occasions, and for me, this last trip included some things that were great, some things that fell short, and some things that were downright no bueno. The good: I tried the calamari for the first time. I'd seen it before but usually stick to my steak and shrimp combination. Since I'm *trying* to eat healthier, I went with shrimp and calamari instead. The calamari was tender and perfectly cooked, with a dash of teriyaki for extra flavor. Our chef was great for entertainment. We had three birthdays at our table, and he made sure they all felt special. The stuff that fell short: The flavors on practically everything else fell a bit flat. Everything was just sort of, bland. The soup, the veggie tempura, the fried rice, the veggies... all just a little flat tasting. I do have to say, it's better than eating what tastes like a salt lick, but... something just wan't jiving. I gave my sister my leftovers. Outright. I NEVER give up teppanyaki leftovers. EVER. The downright no bueno: we had two different servers who just couldn't seem to keep things organized. The result? A bottle of wine we did not order, added to our bill. My dad tends to inspect these things with a fine toothed comb, so, he caught it, but think of how many other's don't? I notice that I'm not the first person that is mentioning to inspect the bill. I feel as though this location has declined a bit since moving to their new SUPER MEGA HUGE location. I liked it better when it was in the strip mall. Luckily, they have the Kildeer location now (closed on Monday's), but I still think I prefer Hanakawa.
(3)
Boon K.
My friends love this place and maybe it was too hyped up for me. We came here for my birthday and my best friend's birthday and over several sushi rolls and hibachi. I must say I really love the sushi rolls and their names were crazy that I can't remember most of them but they were huge. I had the combination which was the filet, golden shrimp and golden shrimps with fried rice. Wow did they use a lot oil. The teriyaki sauce a so thicken with sugar that it was too sweet for my taste. The fried rice was also sweet as they use the teriyaki sauce to season with. I did like the golden shrimp and the golden sauce was light and fluffy. I really wish the soup and salad that it came with was better season as it was generic too me. It was lot of food even without the sushi rolls.
(3)
Carl F.
I usually don't like giving 3 stars to places because it really does not make a clear stand on my view of the place... it's somewhat in limbo. Where as a 2 indicates I don't like it and a 4 or more clearly states I like it. After mulling over the rating for this place, I decided I was in limbo... I've been to better and I've been to worse. What Tsukasa has going for it is the entertainment factor, especially for events like birthdays & anniversaries. It's a nice place to come perhaps 2 times a year but more than that would probably be overkill, considering all the other choices in the area. If your not familiar with these type of places I'll give a quick run down. Albeit the decor and name are Japanese and they market themselves as Japanese, it's somewhat a tad off the mark and it is really a place where they serve steak, chicken or seafood right in front of you. It is cooked to order, using Asian spices/sauces, and as the guy cooks it, he perform a little show tossing about the fork, spatula, doing a few tricks with an egg or veggie, some roaring flame and a neat thing with an onion... which is neat when you see it the first time, but after that it's old hat. Wait Time: We had reservations, with a party of 8 and we were seated right away with no issues. Wait Staff: They were friendly, but to the point and not much help in addressing your questions on the menu. If your looking for suggestions, it doesn't seem they are very open to providing suggestions. You clearly get the feel this is a get them in, feed them, and clear them away from the table so we can get another set of people in and make more money. Cook: This is a luck of the draw type of thing... however he is pivotal in either making this a fun evening or just plain ol' bla. There are the cooks who simply have that entertainment factor and captivate the audience. They put on a good show, crack jokes, make things lively and get everyone at the table in a jovial mood. So if your lucky, you get one of these guys and you walk out of the place content and glad you came. But... if your not luckily, you get the lack, luster cook who is not engaging and simply goes thru the repetition of tossing the egg about, makes the onion choo-choo, and goes about his cooking stone faced with probably about as much zeal as the person in the back scrubbing the dishes. With this cook you generally leave unfulfilled and grudging the price of the bill. Food Quality: From the looks of it, the food appears to be of a good quality, yet how it ends up once it hits your plate is all dependent upon how tentative your cook is. I know this is an obvious factor, but considering the cook is right there in front of you prepping the meal, it's that much more obvious. I've seen really nice cuts of steak make it to the plate tasting really good... but on he other hand I've seen these same nice cuts get overly abused and too well done to be any good. Cost: Pricy... easily $35 + for each person coming to the table... kids included! In summary... this place is somewhat like a factory. They have a fixed menu, they don't like to waver too far from the menu, they get you in, to their thing, then get you out as quickly as possible. The entire success of the event is highly dependent upon the cook. Now, I've not kept track, but at this place it seems around 1 in 4 are good cooks/entertainers. If your looking for something different to do for an anniversary or birthday or take someone who has never experienced something liked this (which is becoming rare these days) this will do the trick, but it's also a gamble as well. So, choose wisely.
(3)
Anthony C.
One of the best japanese kitchen restaurants in the area, highly recommended!
(4)
Marie C.
Obviously love it here and is always fun for birthdays even though we are getting older every year! Really great drinks esp their martinis or sake bombs and I always end up ordering scallops. The chefs are always entertaining and funny :)
(5)
Marissa L.
Worst ever. So many other things I would have rather spent over $100 on. If I wanted to watch a shakey old man drop things all night, I'd watch a michael j fox movie. Make the drive to kampaii, its way better.
(1)
Alice L.
I miss Chicago! Can't wait to move out there this April. I'm from LA and we have a plethora of sushi restaurants out here. Glad to find a sushi joint in the Midwest that's just as yummy if not better. Excited to go back here with my hubby :)
(4)
Lisa F.
The first time I visited it was for a birthday at a hibachi table. The entertainment was fun and the shrimp was delicious. Since my office is close I decided to try Tsukasa for lunch. This is a wonderful place for lunch! Love, love, love their sushi. Always fresh, made well, and sitting at the bar can be an extra treat (the staff is really nice). I enjoy the chicken teriyaki with fried rice and the portion is large enough for two meals. Even though the meal is large they do not skimp on the quality. Go and try teriyaki, yakiudon, sushi, and hibachi!! Im sure everything else on the menu is good too!!
(5)
Jim M.
We had the best time! I'd never been to this location, but my mom took me, my older sister and her kids out here last week during my visit home. Huge place, very clean and we must have arrived RIGHT on time, because it was pretty chill when we got there, but completely paked [with a wait] by the time we finished up. Our chef was very cool and even went easy on the "big oil flames" after noticing that my 3 y/o nephew was hiding under the table to escape certain death. We tried the chicken, fish and steak, along with some fried rice and vegetables. Everything was perfectly cooked before our eyes... just a really cool experience. FYI that I think if you come here with just 2-3 people then you get stuck sitting with other people at the table. That wouldn't be my favorite thing personally, so if you go, consider reservations and bring a group of 5-6 so you have a solo show all to yourselves!
(4)
Dr S.
terribly overpriced sushi and mediocre taste, tasted bland actually, not very good....
(1)
Sarah d.
Bad service,the sushi is so good it almost makes up for it though ... the guy I talked to on the phone to make a reservation with was not friendly at all(his name was Armando), love the pink dragon and the Ferrari roll is my favorite ... It's really a shame... I've been here quite a few times with my girl friends... Bartenders are friendly but the waitstaff not at all
(3)
Michael R.
I don't know if it was the cook that I had, but this was hands down the most disappointing Japanese Steakhouse experience I have had in recent memory. I was taken here by a vendor for a luncheon, and we all opted for a variety of the combination plates, many of which included their Teriyiki sauce, and some were the Golden Shrimp. Given that it was lunch, we weren't expecting a full dinner show, and being with vendors it was less of a concern, but the attitude of our chef was sub par. It was almost like he was only there to be a short-order cook; cooking and serving the food without interacting with any of the folks' at his table or any pieces of flair. It was like he was just going through the motions before his shift was over. The rice and sides weren't bad, but anything with the teriyiki sauce left a greasy, oily taste in my mouth and was not at all appetizing. I'm not sure if they make their sauce on-site or use a vendor provided sauce, but the taste and feel were all off for what I would consider good or even homemade sauce to taste like, and that unfortunately set the mood for the lunch. Additionally, my boss had the unfortunate pleasure to order the Golden Shrimp, which were custard covered shrimp, and when they were served, the custard was not even cooked all of the way through. We were both experiencing some gastrointestinal discomfort later that afternoon. This was unfortunate because based on the expectation set by our vendor, we were excited to be visiting the restaurant. I'm willing to give Tsukasa a second chance, but I would be skeptical if I saw the same chef at my table again.
(2)
Erica T.
I have been to this place so many times for so many different occasions and not even close to being sick of it! I could eat their sushi salad for every meal of the day! If you love raw fish, a little crunch and the perfect kick of spicy-ness then I highly recommend. I haven't met anyone who doesn't love it. Also, the pink dragon maki roll and yellow Ferrari maki roll are super creative, beautiful and always delicious!!Every time I bring someone here for the first time they love it and always come back. Great for family occasions, work parties or just a dinner with a friend or significant other. You can never go wrong with tsukasa!
(5)
Jenny Z.
It's mediocre. Overrated and pricey. Nothing I've had here from the fried rice to the scallops to steak were really that impressive.
(3)
Mike V.
First if all the fried rice is the best I've ever had! The chef was amazing and really nice to my 3 yr old who was amazed at his culinary skills. The wait staff kept drinks full and dishes cleared. You also get a lot of food so no worry of leaving hungry. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five was due to the young lady who sat us. The tables fit 2 on two sides and 4 on one side. I was there with my wife and child. 1 lady was sitting on a 2 person side by herself. My family attempted to sit on the 4 person side. She told us that this was for a larger sitting of people so that they could fill up the table. We ended up squeezing 3 chairs on a two person side. While the next group of "3" was seated five minutes later. I almost left but this was a birthday dinner for me from my family. I please ask that they should worry about your current guest first. Overall it was a great time after the seating issue.
(4)
Brad G.
If you've ever been to Benihana you are aware of the type of place Tsukasa of Tokyo is, a Japanese hibachi and sushi joint. I went for lunch with some co-workers as part of a going away party. Eight of us went during a typical week day and sat at the grill, and were out of there in about an hour. The restaurant itself is very spacious and tidy inside, with a sushi/bar area and grill area. Our chef who was Mongolian was fantastic, and prepared all of our meals well. I had the Steak and Golden Shrimp, the shrimp are very rich but tasty. The onion soup is bold and flavorful, while the ginger dressing salad is crisp and delicious. The only thing keeping this from a five star review is the fact that they put teriyaki sauce in their chicken fried rice, which is just strange to me. I've been to many hibachi places in my time, and I've never seen that before. In my opinion, this was a huge let down as one of my favorite things at Benihana, is their simple chicken fried rice. Either way, I'll be back to this place for sure.
(4)
Kat A.
My fiance and I love this place. Beats Benihana hands down. The chefs are all Asian as opposed to Benihana's Latino chefs. Their teppanyaki show is entertaining. I love the fried rice. My favorite sushi rolls are the yellow ferrari and J.J. They also have another item I like but that is not on the menu- the green tomato. I ask for spicy salmon or spicy tuna to be filled inside slices of avocado, so it's shaped like a tomato.
(4)
Daniel M.
I have always been a fan of chinese food. It is fantastic and would pay anything to get a high quality meal. Tsukasa is definitely the restaurant to go to. It's great, the food is awesome, the cooks are fun and the atmosphere is relaxing, for the most part. Sure, they could improve on their servers as they always seem miserable as can be but it isn't bad. The service is OK, and I feel that's what draws me away from this restaurant. And, it can get really noisy. It's definitely family-friendly but it can get noisy, especially since everyone is seating so close together.. It's pricey so be careful how many people you bring here but if you are out for a nice birthday or anniversary dinner, Tsukasa is a great place to go and enjoy yourselves. I recommend you eat here. I'm not entirely crazy for this place but it is nice and it provides you great food and definitely a great time. You can even choose whether you want to sit at a public table where the cooks cook in front of you or a private table like any other ordinary restaurant serving style. Stop in and try it, it's worth a shot!
(3)
John C.
Ate here while traveling for work. Best fried rice I have tasted in a long time. Food at cook were great. The server acted like they didn't want us there. Otherwise great experience. Better service would make this a solid 4 star.
(3)
Julia P.
I crave the Yellow Ferrari, each piece has an entire scallop on top of it! It is delicious...
(4)
Brian H.
Absolutely great!! I haven't been here in 3 years due to changing business but I'm back and it's as good as I remember. You HAVE to sit at the sushi bar and ask for Ricky - he's unrea. Ask him to make a special and he'll make what he's feeling and he'll never disappoint you.. Phenomenal.
(5)
Christina S.
In anticipation of a double birthday celebration tomorrow night, visions of hibachi shrimp dance in my head. I find it appalling that I have not yet reviewed Tsukasa! I cannot compare this to another Japanese steakhouse, as I've never been to one. Having said that it has the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have in your life, and that's no exaggeration. The combinations are a great way to try out a variety of items on the menu. I recommend the filet mignon combination with hibachi shrimp. Golden batter shrimp is good but that is very rich it is not for everybody. It's not what you think; it is not fried shrimp in a batter. It is grilled shrimp with eggy, golden, buttery thick batter that sits on top of the shrimp as it cooks on the grill. If you get an appetizer my favorite is the shumai with wasabi (steamed pork dumplings). Your first bite will zing right through your nose! I also really enjoy the soup that comes with the combination meals. It's a chicken broth with little wonton pieces in it with a few noodles. The broth itself I think has such wonderful flavor. For you vegetarians, the grilled vegetables they serve are plentiful so you won't feel like you're skimping, and they have a lot of vegetarian options in addition to that as well. If you have the option, try going at lunch (weekdays only) instead of dinner and it will save you a few coins. The show is fun at lunch and dinner, and kids really enjoy the flaming grill and how they flare up, with the exception of the occasional scared out of your mind kid- but they usually bounce back. ;) If it's just you, and you have a hankering for Tsukasa, getting take out vegetable fried rice and soup will save you significantly. The rice is only $3.50 or so and they really give you a huge amount whether you're there or whether it's takeout. The rice seriously last 3 to 4 meals unless you're a pig like me. Again it's the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have, I kid you not. Tsukasa is one of my favorite restaurants, and on the pricey side ($30+ a person, easy) so usually for special occasion for us, but not to be missed! (Crap, it's after 2 a.m. and now I'm drooling for Tsukasa! I blame my Yelp addiction for this!!!)
(5)
Joel P.
This last visit was pretty horrible which is why I'm dropping my rating down. We ordered the lunch special which comes with soup or salad. Soup bowl came out half-full. I asked to switch out golden shrimp for garlic shrimp and the waitress said that was fine. She didn't tell me there would be an up charge which I found on my bill. When I asked her about it she made it seem that it was my fault. She didn't take care of it and spent about 15min prior to bringing out the non - revised check. On top of that the cook left egg shell in the fried rice. I was coming here about once a week for lunch but will likely not return for some time.
(2)
Zara S.
Number one place to go for sushi. It gets very busy on weekends so plan accordingly.
(5)
Philip D.
A group of 14 went here for a birthday party dinner. The reservation was at 5:30 pm, the entire party was there but 2 they would not seat any of the group till all of the party was there. They made they ENTIRE party wait for 20 min for the last two (jt was myself and my spouse) to arrive, I understand if it was half the party not to be there to make wait, but 2, that is just bad customer service, they could have seated the group and started with drinks. HELLO make more money! So we arrive and they seat us. I go up with the birthday girl and the manager has the nerve to say "Well we need to hurry up since you are late we are behind, lets get you seated!" I told the manager I think it is bad service to make a whole party wait for 2 people when 12 are here. She looks at me like HOW dare you, shakes her head and pretty much waves me away. As we are all seated the server was very off, we had two hibachi tables and we were not on the same schedule. The soup, the salad, the drinks, we all got it at different times, thank god the chefs knew what they were doing and put us back on the same schedule. When we were done with the main course, again the chefs were awesome, the server again screwed up and was giving dessert to 2 people while 12 people were still eating dinner. He had no concept of time, so I had to tell him take it back and wait till we are all ready. So we get it all in sync AGAIN and it goes OK. The night wraps up and its ok. I did my friend a favor and said NOTHING till it was all over. I spoke to the owners daughter, the same story I typed above, she was shocked and very sorry. She tried to find her sister. In the process she felt the best person to handle the situation was the manager (the lady in the start who said to hurry we are late and need to be seated, the look of death lady) She came and talked to us. I said I would rather not talk to you since you are part of the problem. She said she is the one to handle all the issues. Ok, so we explain it all and she goes, "Well, I did you a favor by holding the table longer than 15 min, we should have given your table away. We also let you stay longer than 8:30 pm because we dont let people stay that long." I was floored. I said thats enough. I walked over to the owners daughter I told her what she said and she goes "Sorry but there is nothing I can do. I am sorry you feel that way." Moral of the story, don't be late, don't have big parties, don't expect them to understand. Never going back again.
(1)
H K.
The service: Host had his back to the door talking to coworkers when we walked in, waitress was rude and seemed like she didn't really know English. Hibachi chef was nice and entertaining. I dropped my fork and he blew me off, then when I asked again he said we have to wait until the waitress comes back instead of calling her over. My friend had told the waitress that there was a hair in his salad and she took it away and did not bring another. Since we were a party of 2, we were sat with another party who had also found hair on one of their plates! The food: Hair in 2 separate dishes at our table alone.... They start you off with soup & salad. The soup was yummy! Salad I don't care for and asked not to be given. Then you have a choice of meat (or meats if you get a combination) and either fried rice or white rice and they give everyone vegetables. They don't have noodles! That alone will keep me away for good. The environment: LOUD. There was a table 2 over celebrating a new marriage with lots of drinks. I had to yell when ordering my food. All in all, I will not return again. The Hibachi place in my hometown in PA is much better and less expensive. Expect to spend anywhere from $30-50 on each person.
(1)
Maddy K.
This place is so cool! The chef threw broccoli in our mouths! Having the food made in front of us was awesome. It was quite a show. The food was delicious, too. I had the tofu which was a little too soft for my liking but everything else was excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to a friend, and I would love to return someday.
(4)
Hanna R.
This place has been a lifetime favorite of mine. I have been going to this place since I was about 11 years old with my parents. That was way back when this restaurant was just a little place in a strip mall next to Chuckie Cheese. So nice to see that they dragged that Pacman machine over to their new location, brings back memories. :) The food has never disappointed me here. Steak is always PERFECTO; you can tell they always use prime ingredients for their food. I remember taking my BF here for the first time when we started dating and he was just blown away. This has become one of his favorite spots as well; he is obsessed with the Golden Shrimp and the fried rice! The sushi is also decent, but you know that people are more here for the Hibachi! The chefs in themselves are pretty much always friendly and ready to entertain, and make awesome food to boot. Love the chefs that like to strike up a conversation and joke around with you; makes you feel so much more welcome than the rare chef that just cooks and you feel like you're awkwardly watching him. Let me repeat though, that running into the latter sort of chef has been very rare for me! Only thing that gets to me every time are the servers. When they were in their smaller location years ago, they were so much more attentive. Now, it's like I have to flag down someone, ANYONE, just to get something that I would like! And if you order steamed rice instead of the usual request for fried rice, you better pay attention to make sure you get it. Most times, I have to flag someone down because they almost always forget to give me my steamed rice!! Quite frustrating. But despite that, this place is definitely worth trying; best Hibachi in the area in my opinion!
(4)
Becky P.
YUMMY! I think that the food here all depends on the chef you get. We had a great chef who actually had a conversation with us and made excellent food. As always, their ginger dressing is out of this world. I pour it all over my steamed rice.... mmmmm!!!! We did try an appetizer, the pork dumplings. They were OK. When they said spice, I thought they meant chili pepper spice, not a tablespoon of wasabi spice. Whoops! Always great for groups (as long as you fit at 1 table!) and great for a nice night out!
(5)
Chet M.
This is the place to get your "Golden Sauce" fix. No need to sit at the show grill, you can get it on your Hibachi shrimp entree. You get 8 shrimp covered with this delicious concoction and a helping of fried rice that will last you for 3 meals. Also, by sitting at a regular table, you can order shushi ala carte. Get the blue fin tuna (vs the yellow fin tuna) if they got it. It's much tastier than yellow fin and not a rip like toro or fatty tuna. Server was a young dude and could have been friendlier.
(4)
Katie K.
I was following a thread and was recommended this place over Benihanas (which I love) . I looked through their menu online and found a nice variety with all prices straight forward. We arrived at 5:30ish on 8/12/2012 and they said just about a 10min wait (probably for more to arrive so we wouldn't be at the grill forever). We sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The bartender was very nice and helped me choose a good house drink. I tried the Tsukasa Blue Tea. It has enough sweetness for my liking with a nice sour kick to cut through that. We get seated and start looking through the menu. The waitress for our table was currently getting drinks orders for other guests which was great because I really wanted a water. She kind took off without even acknowledging us. I just shrugged it off because I would just ask her when she came back. I feel bad but no acknowledgement to guests even though they may have drinks, not good service. Anyways we order, I got the Steak and Chicken combo with a upgrade to fried rice. I love the fact they clearly state in their menu upgrade charges. My husband got the Filet and Calamari combo also with fried rice upgrade. (Filet upgrade is only $2!!) All combos come with soup, salad, your choice of side, rice (as stated we upgraded from white to fried) veggie medley, and ice cream. The soup was nice and hot and quite delicious. We both devoured the salad, dressing is incredible! When the chef arrived he did something i really liked, he asked if you would like a side of teriyaki, ginger sauce, and mustard. This is huge because I love teriyaki and other places never give you extra. And they didn't waste pouring a bunch out when you dont like it, waste not what not! Our chef was awesome, very polite and even though there was a young girl (maybe 8) at our table he didn't try to favor her with tricks. He had some new tricks I haven't seen yet so I was impressed with his trick style. The fried rice was incredible! So good. Difference between T and B, B does chicken fried rice, T just fried rice. So all i would have to do is save some of my chicken and tada I have that. The veggie medley consisted of onions, zucchini, carrots and brocoli. Now I am not a fan of brocoli, chef noticed and gave me some of the extra onions. B honestly I feel is better with the medley. They use more soy sauce and grill them a bit longer so they have more bite. T though it was very good, they were mushy after a few min and very little flavor. Now onto my steak and chicken, just wow. Everyone else who orded steak go filet and I got the normal steak. I am not complaining because the cut i got was so tender and delicious. My chicken was so flavorful and moist! I tried a bit of my husbands filet and yes it was very good as filet is, but my steak was just as good. My husband has no words for how good his Filet and Calamari were. This was simply much better quality meat then B ever had and we have eaten there over 20 times easily. Now I am singing praises so why a 4 star, the service, I said thank you and smiled and tried so hard to get something out of my server, she wouldn't even look up, she never acknowledged us until she took our order for dinner after being back and forth with drinks for the rest of the guests 3 times. And honestly the veggie medley, it just wasnt that good. But everything else was amazing and I will totally be back!
(4)
Natalie F.
Sushi, sake, pretty girls!!!
(4)
Wendy W.
I'm so disappointed I could write a novel but to keep it short, they try to pass low quality beef as filet mignon. I'm seriously wondering if they use "meat glue" google it. Also if you order 3 "filets" they make 2 and add mushrooms for filler chop it up and divide it into 3... I have been eating here since my 18 year old was about 6 and I have noticed these changes in the last year or so. Sometimes I go with a group for a birthday party or whatever and since they are not frequent diners they think its incredible however, I can tell the difference and I am disgusted and will not be back they lost a loyal customer because they are cheap and greedy. We usually eat at a regular table and the service is terrible. Thats another novel in itself.. Pay attention next time you eat here.
(1)
Alex M.
Best sushi in the far north suburbs of Chicago. Large pieces of freshest fish and creative rolls. Teppanyaki (grilled ) food is pretty good too. No lunch Saturday or Sunday.
(5)
Liz S.
Absolutely delicious and fresh tasting sushi. They have many original rolls they are famous for, like pink dragon. If you are going for habachi, they are cleaner and better than benihana, and for sure their sushi is much, much better. They get incredibly busy and getting into the habachi part of the restaurant calls for reservations.
(5)
Joel A.
We started going to Tsukasa again after realizing their bar menu is awesome. Tasty chicken and a great sushi menu has us going here on a regular basis.
(5)
Vince V.
Chef Daniel starts the show with a controlled grease fire, the kind that makes you inventory your eyebrows. He does the bit with the onion choo-choo train, which starts off as an onion facsimile of a fiery volcano. There's the bit where he flips bits of broccoli at your waiting mouth. It's all a game, and damn it, I'm enjoying it. I come here, like so many other customers for the golden shrimp. It can't be good for me or any other human being but I can't help it. Their version also happens to be the best when comparing them against Teppan Kegon, Ron of Japan and Kampai. Benihana doesn't offer the dish. Steaks are always done right, in my case a lovely medium-rare. Their fried rice is a tad sweet with the addition of a little teriyaki sauce but again, it all works because it's just a tad bit different. Kitschy cookery? It's easy to dismiss the whole teppanyaki experience when you look at it that way. I on the other hand do not. You see when it comes to food pyromania and overall silliness, it's hard to beat it. And what Tsukasa does better than their contemporaries is they have more fun with it and that is what makes it special. A bit less formal, a lot more sincere.
(5)
J J.
I only gave this place 2 stars, because the place is nice, big and bright inside. however, I do not judge the food I eat, on the ambiance. this place is over-priced and foo-foo Americanized food. poor quality, poor portions and totally inauthentic. absolutely no thought or care went into my food. there are way too many other places I'd rather give my business to.
(2)
Wa W.
I've been to many teppanyaki places coast to coast and this is easily my favorite given the right demo chief. The food is good, but I never come for the food. The showmanship is the true value for this dinning experience. Few things in life are more pleasant than spending a evening with the people you love while entertained by a humorous and skilled entertainer around a sizzling dinner table. The joy it brings to one's love ones can be felt in the depth of one's soul. In brief don't come alone, don't order sushi but open your eyes for a soul-stampeding time :)
(5)
Lauren M.
Best place to eat EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Great atmosphere, great chefs and they just know the recipe to do it right. Do a sakebomb for me!
(5)
Jenna C.
Went there for the first time. It was delicious and the best sushi I'ver ever had, but a bit expensive and it took a while to sit even with my reservation.
(4)
Eric S.
Great fun for the kids and delicious food as well.
(5)
Nina G.
Good food. Fun presentation. Should work on service - our waitress barely speaks English.
(3)
Frank N.
This place is awesome! The "show" during the dinner is funny and amazing. The chefs are gifted and they make the dinner experience complete! The fried rice has such a distinct flavor and is too addicting! I have tried to copy that recipe many times even after watching them make it, but to no avail! The lobster and meat choice is the way to go and the sushi is killer!
(5)
Bernardo S.
Obviously a lot of people love this place but I don't quite get it. The food is ok but nothing great and the service typically is slow. I only go here when a friend picks but overall not bad just not great.
(3)
A K.
We went there for sushi couple of times with our suburban friends. Sashimi, rolls, and sushi salad portions are huge, comparatively fresh and tasty, but elegance and personality are missing both from the food and from the place itself, which is but a huge barn. Bottom line is, what's good for suburbans is not good enough for city dwellers, so I am not switching from my favorite little gem of a sushi place yet. And no, I am not naming it here either - it's too small for all of you!
(3)
Paul E.
I absolutely love this place! My family and I have gone back there every time we have a good group to go with. It's an absolute blast when you have a very interactive chef, but the food always tastes great. The place is clean and the staff is a little on the snobby side, but they are accommodating and get the job done. Reserve your table because it gets really busy there.
(4)
Jen S.
This place is great! I have experienced the Sushi bar and the steakhouse side. The sushi bar is delicious. I don't get very adventurous with my sushi rolls but my favorite here is the spicy tuna. YUM! Also, you have to have the edemame as an app. The steakhouse side is super entertaining. The chefs entertain you while cooking and can be quite funny! They will throw broccoli or something at you to catch in your mouth, all part of the experience! The fried rice at this restaurant is my favorite fried rice in the world! (You can order it from the Sushi side of the restaurant as well.) I have had the chicken teriyaki every time I have gone but next time I might try the salmon because it looked dang good! Brian Urlacher is known to come here a lot and even has a sushi roll named after him. They love him! GO BEARS! PS You will smell the food on your clothes later. You are sitting basically on top of the food being cooked so it makes sense.
(4)
Marina K.
Unfortunately, after moving away more than a decade ago and remembering about this restaurant, on the recent visit we had the WORST experience. This isn't about the food, nor the atmosphere. The manager, or whoever is the gentleman behind the reservation counter was an amazingly rude, obnoxious and cantankerous. It is unfortunate how he forgot the fact that his salary is paid by the customers he treats like dirt. I have NEVER had a worst experience in a restaurant, nor have I ever been treated lower by an establishment whose survival depends on customers. I will NEVER come here again, and if you don't like being treated like dirt, you shouldn't either!!!!!
(1)
Marlo P.
So I was searching for a new place to eat tonight and was craving sushi and my husband told me he's done a fire alarm inspection at this place and told me the place was very nice. I guess it's also important to say that he's seen the kitchen in the back and that it is pretty clean back there, which is a good thing because you wouldn't want to eat somewhere with a dirty kitchen. I can't speak for the teppanyaki but I did sit at the sushi area. I have to say that it's pretty loud here. Maybe because it was a Friday night and there were a lot of people at the bar that was right next to the sushi area but I felt like I was yelling at my husband while I was sitting there. I ordered myself 2 Kirin light beers and it's one of the cheapest prices I've seen on Kirin at a restaurant thus far. I ordered a few things. Asparagus beef roll (pictures above!) 911 tuna roll (pictures above!) J.J. maki roll (pictures above!) Dragon roll and spicy tako tempura The 911 tuna roll was my favorite maki roll of the night. I like my food spicy and when I saw this roll on their menu I had to try it. You eat it at first and you feel like you're eating a regular spicy tuna roll and then it hits you.. hard. The J.J. roll was really good too. It had everything I wanted in the roll including eel, shrimp tempura, avocado, masago, and a couple more awesomeness things. The dragon roll and the spicy tako tempura were just okay. Nothing to brag about. But what really made my night was my appetizer. I didn't think I was going to be ordering something so delicious! That asparagus wrapped in beef smothered in a sweet sesame soy sauce was just so good. I never had it before, but I was feelin' for some asparagus and glad that I had gone with it. I actually ordered it before my sushi meal and AGAIN after eating sushi. The sushi prices were pretty good and the ambiance just made me feel so hip and cool on a Friday night. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone! You will for sure catch me here again.
(5)
Justin S.
I don't like to give 3 stars to a business on yelp, but for me this place gives off mixed reviews. When I was little, I would go to Tsukasa every year for family events and birthday dinners. The food, while sometimes overpriced, tastes great and is some of the best Japanese Steakhouse food I have ever had (the rice really is to die for). Now, after not going for a few years, this place has lost a little bit of its once special quality in my mind. The food is still the great sushi/habachi it was when it first opened, but the chefs and their acts have not changed in 6 years, leaving this place feeling repetitive after you go more than once. The prices of the food are what you would expect from a higher class area, around $20-40 a person. For me, I would not go here repetitively, leaving it to special events once a year or so. Now keep in mind I have been here 15+ times. If you have never been here are are looking for a fun dinner with family or friends, this place does the trick, as long as the gimmicks don't wear off.
(3)
Angela D.
Was suprised how good this Japanese steakhouse was, guess I need to stop underestimating the burbs! Really enjoyed the food, everything was fresh, delicious and affordable. I had a bento box that included miso soup, tempura, several pieces of sashimi, pot stickers and rice. It was far less than I spend, even at some so-so chains, and I was stuffed. Looking forward to "getting stuck" out in the Northwest burbs again so I can do dinner there sometime :) There was a nice looking seating area outside, but it was a bit hot so we opted to stay indoors. I was also skeptical of how enjoyable it would be since it was pretty much next to a Home Depot parking lot. I also noticed a nice bar area, and a separate section for Japanese grilling (think Benihana). Hoping to get back a few more times to try that as well. Lastly, the PacMan table in the lobby cracked me the heck up. I didn't know you could even still find those anymore!
(4)
Michele B.
Another year later and I am sticking to my rating. this place is always packed and for the second year in a row--lost the reservations!! No I am sorry, no have a drink while we get a table--nothing. When we were seated, it took 12 minutes to get our drink order and when the food was served, the gentlemen at the table were given larger portions than the ladies !?!?!?! How many times can you see the same antics, of a smoking onion train. The golden shrimp were overcooked and tough and the soup cold. If this was not the halfway point for my friends and I to go for something different I would pass. You know, next year I think I will!
(2)
DeWitt K.
I have been to Tsukasa a number of times and although the teppanyaki is great some of their other menu items are subpar... First and foremost, I am a ginger dressing freak. Seriously. When I am done with my salad, I typically drink what is left in the bowl. My friends find this disgusting but they can go pack sand. However, I just finished up a to-go large salad and I must say that there were not dressing shots for me. I also got a spicy tuna and the nori seemed a bit too... nori? Anywho... I would say if you are going for the teppanyaki experience go for it. If you are going for sushi keep heading west on 60 to Sushi Kushi San3 there you will find the drinkable dressing.
(3)
Katie R.
I went to Tsukasa on a Friday night with a friend and they were quite busy. We were told we could be seated right away in the enclosed heated porch, and since we were hungry, we agreed. What we weren't told was that there was a limited menu there and no cooking table. The menu seemed abbreviated with only sushi options. Since I had been there a few years ago, I was perplexed and asked what happened to all the food options. Then I was told they did not have the same options in this seating location and "didn't the host tell us this?" We almost left at that point. Then we were told we could have the dinner options, but it would take longer. We agreed to this as we were very hungry by that time. We ordered garlic shrimp. It was supposed to be garlic butterfly shrimp. Instead it was teeny tiny pieces of shrimp hidden under mounds of breading. Considering the price, I would have been appalled at the actual amount of shrimp, and immediately returned the dish if the breading hadn't hidden that fact. When we figured out the ruse, ("Hey! Where's the shrimp?"), we were too far into the meal. The sushi we tried was only so-so, and I wouldn't come here just for that. Overall our experience was VERY DISAPPOINTING and certainly not worth the price. One other thing we noticed in the fine print of the menu: There was a $6 DOLLAR SHARING FEE!! Really?? The waiter was very apologetic and did the best he could to make us happy, but in the end we left saying "We're never coming here again!!" One last thing, if you look at the reviews, you'll notice that most of the good reviews were written a few years ago, but the more recent reviews are not favorable. And that rude (and deceptive) host that is mentioned so frequently, needs to go.
(1)
Akanksha V.
This is by far my favorite place to go, not only for dinner but amazing drinks. The bartenders really get to know you and personalize the conversation by getting to know you. Besides the staff, I have ordered my own mix of sushi not on the menu. Of course their filet and teriyaki chicken wit fried rice is to die for! Great environment, service and food!
(5)
Jennifer L.
FORGET Benihana's.. That place blows in comparison. Tsukasa's food and overall experience is always wonderful. They are always busy, so call a few days (maybe even a week) in advance and make reservations! This place is a tradition hibachi style (food cooked right in front of you at your table) restaurant, and they also have a sushi bar. I can't speak to the sushi bar cuz I don't do seafood. I always get the filet mignon and fried rice, with a side of edamame. The filet is always tender and delicious. The fried rice - oh my god, I could eat it every day of the week. I've been known to even order an extra fried rice "to go". LOL. They also have the best ginger sauce around. I don't think I've ever been disappointed in the food. The quality is excellent!! The reason I only give it 4 stars is because their wait-service sucks. Always. Seems like most of the waitresses have a hard time with English, and they don't come around very often. There have been several occasions where I've sat with an empty glass for a bit too long. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of people to flag down, so that's normally what I end up doing. And to make up for it, the Chef's are great!! And that's what you're there for, right?! This is always one of my first choices for restaurants!!
(4)
Tiffany K.
Every time I come here with girls, we get AWESOME SERVICE! Well, I guess anywhere attractive girls are, we get pampered to the tee. ;) I've been here a couple times for a birthday dinner with the girls, some employees (no names) ended up having a few drinks with us and we all had such a blast. Service is always consistent. I came here for my boyfriend's father's birthday and we had a blast too. The food is always cooked to perfection and drinks are always good. I just hate that this restaurant is so far away because someone has to stay sober to drive 30-45+ minutes back home. :(
(5)
david s.
Went and ordered a fried rice lunch special to take home. I waited 40 minutes. The guy said there was some problem, blah blah, but it had to be that my order didn't go thru the first time. It's just fried rice plus a small salad, guys. As far as the food, those who read all of the wow reviews here about the fried rice should understand that it's very sweet. Lots of people like that, of course. I like it in a dessert but not in a main course. And the dressing for the salad wasn't tasty. The fried rice and salad dressing at Ron of Japan are hugely better.
(2)
Angie M.
Benihana can suck it! Tsukasa is where it's at! * The fried rice is heaven. The chefs put approximately a pound of butter and a pound of oil in it, which is why it's so friggin' good. I would roll around in that fried rice I love it so much. * I'm a fan of the shrimp/chicken combo for lunch. Hibachi style. That way I can douse my shrimp and chicken in the ridiculously good ginger sauce. Once, the chef referred to it as "Japanese Ketchup." Sounds about right. * Really, really reasonable prices. For about 11 bucks at lunch, you get a massive portion of orgasm-worthy fried rice, chicken, shrimp and even your choice of soup or salad. * Oh, and that salad? It's served with THE BEST ginger salad dressing on the face of the planet. Again, I want to roll around in it. Last, but certainly not least, Tsukasa has a very old-school Ms. Pacman video game in the lobby. My sales rep and I sat there and played it for about 30 minutes after our lunch yesterday. I'm fairly certain the nice hostess thinks we're nuts. WARNING: You will smell like Tsukasa for the rest of the day. I suggest leaving your coat in the car.
(5)
Dominik S.
THE BEST DAMN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE PLACE IN TOWN! Disclaimer: I don't work for them, nor are they cheap by any means. I've been going for about 8 years now, and it has been an awesome experience. Don't read the other reviews, just go and have a good time. Make sure to get a table with a chef. This is the only review where I do not go into detail. Trust me, it's a good bet.
(5)
Jaime J.
I love this restaurant... for a teppanyaki restaurant.. their sushi is alwasy fresh and better than most sushi restaurants i've been to all over chicago. The drinks at the bar are always yummie and just enough alcohol to make you have a great time at the table.. The cooks always provide a fun and entertaining teppanyaki show.. the food is amazing as well. everytime i go to tsukasa i have a great time. tsukasa is a place to go for a special treat.. since the prices are a bit high. but totally worth it.
(4)
Gerald M.
Best sushi in Chicagoland area. Their take out is a mess but dinner in is the greatest you'll have. Go and be sure to add a spice scallop app to start the night - wow it's good.
(4)
Dawn M.
We have been here several times over the past few years. It's one of my daughter's favorite places and we usually end up here for her birthday celebration dinner as we did a few weeks ago. I don't know if we just got a new cook or what the deal was, but it was the worst experience we have had here. First, the cook served us our protien before anything else. Normally, you recieve the rice and veggies first and then the protien. This just seemed odd, but we were hungry..so we ate what was put in front of us. The next thing was that my son's meet was burnt. He asked for med. well and it was like charcoal. It was inedible. We mentioned it to our hostess and she informed the manager. They came over several times, looked at the burnt dish of food, walked away, chatted then came back and offered us a few dollars off our bill. I said "no"..none of the meat is edible. We don't want it. They did offer to cook another one in the back but by that time, my son wasn't hungry as he had eaten all his veggies and rice. Just not a good experience. Not sure if we will spend the money or travel the distance to go back.
(2)
Doug W.
We have reservations on a Saturday night for 630 pm and we waited 45 minutes to be seated because we were a party of two....WITH RESERVATIONS! As a tip for people trying to make reservations, smaller parties are always placed secondary to the bigger parties. If you don't mind missing the show, be proactive and ask to sit in the bar. As we continued to check-in and find out the status of our reservation, we were constantly told to wait 5 minutes. In fact, the manager on staff offered us free drinks for the wait and then didn't take it off the bill. Now once we got to the meal, the food was wonderful as always (4.5 stars), but unfortunately even the best food doesn't taste as good after about an hour of disappointment and waiting (and waiting). Because I choose not to round up, I am dropping my 2.5 (4.5 food, .5 in service) to a 2 due to a complete disregard of service.
(2)
Cody S.
Despite the positive reviews for this place, I was very dissatisfied. I think that if you like: snappy waiters with zero personality , fresh fish that is as old as the salsa in your refrigerator, water that tastes like pesticides, and roll ingredient combinations that abstract all of the amazing things about Japanese food.... then you will love this place. It is just for you. However, it is not for me and even my stomach (and the stomachs of my 3 colleagues) agrees. Being served old fish is never that fun. If you want sushi that is tasty and does not make you try and purge yourself every 5 minutes then please look elsewhere. You will have a better night. Just point your car toward the city and drive. :)
(1)
Luke S.
It pains me to a place with such wonderful food one star, but we had the most atrocious service imaginable on a meal that was well over $200. We made a reservation early in the day for 7pm and they asked which section we preferred. We told them that it didn't matter as long as we had full menu access. Upon our arrival (Sunday night) we were seated in the sushi bar area. We were handed a sushi menu and a basic Hibachi menu. My friend who was with us had been raving about their combo meals, but we were told by the waiter that we couldn't have the full Hibachi menu. After asking for the manager we were allowed to "order" from the Hibachi menu. Our server was not happy about taking our orders from the other menu, but he did repeat everything that we ordered. There was no way anything could go wrong right? WRONG! Most of us ordered off the more elaborate menu. Our sushi appetizers came out first and they were outstanding! It was some of the freshest, most loaded rolls that I've ever had. After that everything was down hill. Our entrees came out piece by piece and I kid you not everyone at the table was missing something. My poor brother ordered the golden shrimp, but guess what after asking for more than 20 minutes the golden sauce never came. He was forced to eat Ice Cold shrimp. The veggies that were to come with my order never came, our family friend was missing her rice for the first 15 minutes of our meal. It was a horrific train wreck. Did the manager come over to apologize? Nope. We were simply told by our server than much of our order was accidentally sent to another table. I have to say our server was kind, but did NOTHING to resolve our problems. He offered us free ice cream, but it was supposed to come with many of our meals anyways. Once he listed off all of the flavors we ordered. What happens next you ask? Of course they are out of every flavor of ice cream with the exception of Green Tea flavor. You would think that after such a horrific showing of service they would knock off a menu item from the bill? No way! Not only that, but they were a few extra add ons that we never got. Instead of losing it we paid for everything, tipped 15%, and have vowed to never come back.
(1)
David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 3 I came here with a party of 15 for a company lunch after making reservations. 1. TENDERLOIN AND CHICKEN $14.75 Not bad. Tenderloin and chicken were both pretty good, although the fried rice was mostly just white rice. 3.5 stars, rounding down. Service was mediocre, and I would have liked more of a show.
(3)
Monalisa M.
Delishhhh. Hibachi grills for fun group dinners, & bar area for sushi time. Quick service, and good gooood sangrias ;) Mexi-Maki The Bear Inspired by the Chicago Bears The Pink Dragon Tarantula Always have a good time here.
(4)
Bernice L.
Love everything about teppenyaki and Tsukasa definitely does it best!! LOVE IT! The food is the best quality especially their delicious combo meal of filet and golden shrimp. The tuna steak is also white tuna and super fresh. Food is a definite 5 stars. Service 4 stars only because they forgot my sweetie's scallops at the end and didn't even apologize for it :T Otherwise..delicious and everything you would want :)
(4)
Derek V.
Took our kids to celebrate our son's 8th birthday. Fantastic experience at the Teppanyaki table. The food was very tasty, generous portions and entertaining! The staff are very attentive. The sushi was good too. Highly recommend. We'll be going back for sure!
(5)
Tommy L.
This place is great! Worth your money. Been around town for sushi nowhere come even close to Tsukasa.
(5)
J C.
This is really not anything like Japanese food. Its Japanese ingredients with a lot of corn syrup on them, with the exception of the sushi, which is pretty standard. That being said, it is entertaining and the food tastes good. Steak, chicken, rice, vegetables, shrimp - all drizzled in delicious corn syrup based sauces. Many of the tables are shared with other parties, and a chef prepares the food for you with a modicum of entertaining banter.
(2)
Rachel H.
The fact that I haven't reviewed this place is mind-boggling considering my sister's propensity to come here to celebrate anything from a birthday to a good haircut to getting a good deal at Jewel. We used to go to Ron of Japan, but lately it just hasn't been as good. Enter Tsukasa. The chefs are much livelier here than at Ron of Japan and even though I'm shy (sometimes) I have no problem catching a piece of broccoli in my mouth like a trained seal pup. I usually go with the filet mignon and golden shrimp combo which also comes with a salad, soup, a drink, a side item, and dessert. No wonder I always have a grumpy depressed food coma in the car on the way home and want to pull over and cry/fall asleep/hold my tummy. Actually I think my leftovers are putting me to sleep right now... oh Tsukasa, more sleep inducing than Thanksgiving and the show is always less drama filled.
(5)
Cosima B.
Best steak I have had in years! I had the steak and shrimo combo, the steak was amazing, but the shrimp burned. The Calamari were mouthwatering as well and I can only recommend them as a side! The place is not the cheapest, but it was a great experience. When I am back in the area, I will definitely go back!
(4)
Nick L.
It's a nice teppanyaki place (food wise) albeit a pricey one. The place also needs a severe update to the decor inside as it's terrible! There are better teppanyaki's in the area like Hanakawa if you head further north on Milwaukee.
(3)
David W.
Wow. I greatly underseatimaed the size of the portions. I ordered a lobster and steak combo, and could barely finish the lobster. The food was delicious, the hibachi chef was entertaining, and I only got partially singed by the flames. All in all, it was a good night. Oh yeah, I challenge anyone to beat my record - I caught like 8 pieces of broccoli in my mouth. I'm kind of a big deal.
(4)
Justin S.
Like teppenyaki restaurants? This is the spot! Wait wait wait...I have to disclose that I have never paid for a meal here before. It's always outings w/ vendors or company celebrations so I can't really complain to begin with... The service at this place is awesome. They're walking around constantly and making sure everyone is good and drinks are filled. The chefs are great too. Some are sarcastically funny, some are really entertaining with their cooking skills, others are just plain boring. But the end result, food, is always amazing! And that's what counts right? You can't really go wrong with any of the lunch specials. If you're looking to shorten your life, get that Golden Shrimp. ;) I strongly recommend the Sushi Salad or Spicy Octopus for starters and even the Beef Asparagus rolls. Make sure you have febreeze on hand afterwards! Your clothes WILL smell of food.
(4)
Mr. sushi G.
Absolutely delicious sushi! Good value. Service was ok. When we walked in and asked to be seated at a regular table since my party was all ordering sushi, the hostess kept asking us in disbelief if we were sure we didn't want hibachi. Yes...I'm quite sure I know why I came the the restaurant... Then they said they didn't have any more tables, and asked if I would like to sit on the heated patio...As I walked to the heated patio, I must have passed several open tables...The problem with the heated patio, is the heat lamps basically have two modes..Hot and Off. So you either eat in a sauna, or an igloo. My sushi was fresh, and delicious. The spicy tuna was just okay, but everything else was great. I did have 2 bones in my salmon nigiri however. I don't like bones in my sushi... The servers were very nice, and provided me with very good service. Fish (9/10) Overall (9/10) Value (8/10) Overall, I love it! I will be back!
(4)
Evan L.
I like it if you get the right cook, better than Benihana. It also depends who you sit with because you're sitting with strangers unless you have a party of 7 or more. The fried rice is more entertaining to watch cooking than to eat. 5 stars if you bring kids and your cook has taken his Prozac.
(4)
Andrew D.
Food is great and the atmosphere always comfortable there as long as some fool doesn't bring a ton of kids there.This is a adult type restaurant , neat and classy. People should keep small children and babies at home however as the cooking surface is part of the table. If you are stupid enough to bring them, THEY WILL GET BURNED McDonald's is a better place to take them. People go there to have a peaceful meal not to hear your kids screaming .....sorry you had them ~ you deal with them.............
(4)
Amber G.
Best food you will ever have. There's nothing to change about this place. Yum.
(5)
Marina F.
Excellent choice of rolls and sushi, delicious kids' selections, great drinks. Our go-to Sarurday night destination...
(5)
Jeff F.
Ok, suburban people. Enough is enough. I don't care how good you think the food may be out here in the burbs - if they treat you bad, stop supporting them! I've been to places like this dozens of times. Each and every time, the service has been fun and impeccable. So the other day when the wife suggested we go to Tsukasa (she hasn't been since they changed locations), I was happy to indulge her craving. When we got there, she said she wanted to see what the wait was - if it was more than half an hour, we'd just go somewhere else. It was 6:35 on Sunday (yesterday). She came back out and told me that the hostess said it would be 10-15 minutes, so I parked and went in to wait. And we waited. And waited. People who walked in after us without reservations were sat. And we kept waiting. 25 minutes after walking in, we approached the hostess to find out what was going on. It was now 7 pm. The hostess told us that they were waiting for a 6:30 reservation when she asked, was going to seat them if they didn't show up, and that they showed up at 6:50, so we had to wait until 7. When my wife asked why she said 10-15 minutes, then didn't tell us what her incredibly stupid plan had been, she said that now we were waiting to see if a 7 pm reservation would show up or not and would be sat within 20-25 minutes. So we walked out. On the way to the car, I decided that I needed to talk to management about it because telling people there is a 10-15 minute wait when you have no intention of seating customers for 30-45 minutes isn't acceptable. After 10 years in the biz, I know that I'd want to know something like that, so I walked back in and asked for a manager. The hostess said she was the manager. So I explained that she told us it would be 10-15 minutes and after 20-25 minutes, we were still waiting. She said that she was waiting on a reservation. Now, here's the deal folks - if your reservation is for 6:30 and you haven't showed up by 6:45, you lose your reservation. End of story. Don't like it? Buy a watch. So I ask her why she didn't tell us that because then we'd have had reasonable expectations and she said that we would be sat after 7. I told her that she clearly had no intention of seating us in 10-15 minutes and that I don't like being lied to just so I'll stay. She admitted that she said 10-15 minutes, but explained that she really meant 25-30. I said that lying to customers isn't good business and she said that she hadn't lied. I said "you said 10-15 minutes, but knew it would be at least 20-25 minutes. Is 10-15 minutes the same as 20-25 minutes? We would have waited 20-25 if you had just told us that." Her response is the best argument I have for all of us to stop giving them our hard earned money - "If you are going to argue like that, then I don't want your business." I said "Argue like what, with facts and accuracy? Tell you what, you'll never see my money and I'm going to make sure everyone I know is aware that you don't care about service or your customers." Then we left and went up the road to Benihana, where we didn't wait, had a lovely meal, and were treated the way customers should be treated - like the restaurant wants you to enjoy your experience. Until you all stop forgiving terrible service, rude management, and disgraceful behavior simply because you like their food (by the way, you DO know that it's literally ALL THE SAME, right?), you will simply encourage them to not care about the most important part of a dining experience besides the food - good service. Stop giving these amateurs your hard earned dollars. You deserve to be treated well and considering the fact that you can get exactly the same food elsewhere for the same money, but with excellent and friendly service, stop wasting your time. You deserve better. You really do. Stop compromising. Stop pretending the food is worth being treated like you don't matter. Without you, there is no restaurant industry. It's high time we reminded restaurants like this of that fact. Let them go bankrupt - they deserve it.
(1)
Eric H.
No beating around the bush: I went there on Wed. 4/14/10, for lunch with work. The bill was 150.82 6 of us split the same bill, since the lady did not want to do separate checks. 3 paid cash. 3 paid in credit card. How should a server handle this problem? Well, apparently they handled it by charging us 3 credit card payees 150.82 each, yes, the price for the entire bill---3 times... Now I am currently on hold with my bank trying to fix this. We saw the server and manager in their pay cubby looking confused and two of us actually approached them and asked if everything was ok. They said it was. That idiocy doesn't deserve 1 star, but the food was only alright compared to Benihana's, and the Habachi grill guy didn't say but two words the entire time! I thought they were supposed to be entertaining! Unbelievable. Oh, you get a ton of fried rice, which is white rice with sat fats and sugars added to it. I got the steak and chicken, so did 2 other people at my table, the grill guy split 2 chicken breasts 3 ways and used what looked like stew meat (low quality). They seem to think that they can charge so much for the entertainment factor, but there was no entertainment! The food is not of great quality, unless you get the filet mignon and lobster tail combo, but who can afford that? Many other great restaurants in Vernon Hills, so stay away from this one---just a friendly word of advice!
(1)
Natalie V.
Absolutely the best teppanyaki I've had outside of Asia. And easily the best fried rice I've ever had. Admittedly, it's been a few years since I've eaten there, but I had to come back and post a review now that I live in Torrance, CA, which is a hotbed of authentic Japanese cuisine. I have learned a TON about Japanese cuisine in the last two years and while we have incredible Japanese food out here, we don't have anything that compares to Tsukasa. This place is way way better than Benihana's or Ron of Japan. The chefs put on a good show (although I remember a few relatively lifeless ones) and the fried rice changed my life. I never bothered with the sushi, just the chicken and beef. It was all good. Oh, did I mention the fried rice is clearly laced with crack?
(5)
Herman S.
Consistantly good quality food served in an entertaining environment. Make reservations on the weekend as it can get quite busy! Great for parties.
(4)
Mike S.
Sushi bar only review: The sushi bar served up some excellent sushi last night, however it seemed that they were light on waitstaff. A little more attention would have added a star to this review. We will definitely return to the sushi bar.
(3)
Beth P.
Simply stated - the best of the best! And while the prices are high, it is so worth it! The food is of the highest quality. The portion sizes are amazing. You just cannot walk away hungry or unsatisfied. The owner is kind, his staff is well trained, service is amazing. The golden shrimp is so good my mouth is watering just typing about it. I eat here whenever I can!
(5)
Jeanette K.
Choo Choo goes the onion train over the hibachi grill... Tsukasa has some of the best teppanyaki food I've ever had. Benihana's? Sub-par. Ron of Japan? Nasty. Tsukasa? Mmmm. I always order the terriyaki chicken with a double order of fried rice (leftovers for lunch the next day FTW) The terriyaki sauce is out of this world. Its super sweet and thick, almost like maple syrup. The chefs put the terriyaki in the rice, which makes it sweet and salty and oh so delicious. All dinners come with soup and salad. The soup is a little bath watery, and lacking in flavor. The salad has a ginger dressing which is excellent. If you order a combination dinner, you also get an appetizer choice which is mostly tempura options. The BF and I usually order a single dinner each, and then share an appetizer of Age Dashi Dofu. The tofu is hit or miss- sometimes I think they make it on the fly so it doesn't have enough time to marinate and absorb all of the flavor. The main reason I give Tsukasa 4 stars instead of 5 is that the meat is often a little overcooked. If you have the opportunity, ask for Max as your chef. We've had him twice and he seems to be the only chef that can get the chicken right. Also, I wish the veggies that came with the meals were a little less onion-focused. I always seem to end up with 90% onion and a few pieces of zucchini or broccoli. Like most teppanyaki restaurants, Tsukasa is not cheap. You're paying for a meal + entertainment. And by entertainment, I mean the chefs and the random other people at your table. (Sidebar: Why do I always get stuck at the table with the crazies?) However, if for nothing else, go for the fried rice.
(4)
Jeremiah H.
I never go anywhere else for sushi unless I want to be disappointed! Staff is friendly and food is amazing.
(5)
Terese C.
Outstanding food, but the service is disgusting! We had a reservation, arrived early, and sat in the bar area. Not ONE employee asked us if we wanted drinks. We went to the bar, FINALLY, someone paid attention and we ordered drinks. Our table was ready as we received our drinks. The waitress was in a rush and not very friendly. The ONLY thing I liked about the evening was spending it with my family, and the food. I will NEVER go to this restaurant and spend another penny there. There are too many great Japanese restaurants in Chicago!
(1)
Elina S.
LOVE this place! Where do I begin?! The food is consistently delicious, they have some of the best fried rice ever! I mean I've been to Thailand and even there, the fried rice isn't as good as Tsukasa, okay maybe I'm a tad over exagerating, but everything I've ever had from the steak to the seafood, everything is always fresh and delicious. Plus, if you request John as your cook, he's awesome, always entertaining the entire party and making the entire experience THAT much more enjoyable. We love going here for special events because we always leave with a smile on our faces. For great quality food, and entertainment, oh and they serve sushi, what else could you ask for.
(5)
Junior D.
I am a fan of Tsukasa.. its not the best service but the food is great... I must say there reservations are almost always screwed up.. we never get seated on time...but I never waited more than 20 minutes... I always order from the hibachi menu and because I have a big appetite I always order the Sumo which consist of a bigger portion filet mignon and bigger Lobster... but I hate the fact that it gets cooked together and mixed with everyone elses food that I end of getting the same portion as everyone but paid more cash to cough up more steak and lobster.. So DON"T order the sumo,, go for the regular steak and lobster entree.. The Fried rice is out of this world and its the best I ever had!! For apps try the beef asparagus rolls or shrimp tempura.. I love the golden sauce on my lobster... the salad is meh and they always cook the vegetables last when no one wants to eat anymore... the sake and Japanese beers are tasty and calls for a good time.. The chefs are funny, the bus boy are good but the waitresses need to smile more often.. They look mean... But anyways... the place has its pro's and con's but the food is great!
(3)
Dilara M.
This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants because the food is so good! The sushi is great, the hibachi grill is tasty and it is totally worth the extra money to get the fried rice rather than steamed because it is the best fried rice I've ever had! Yes it is pricy but it the food is good, the ambiance of the place is upscale and the service (including the chefs) is wonderful.
(5)
Dustin H.
Well, I just had to finally stop in here and try out the sushi. My wife and I sat on the bar side (not by the group tables) and it was nice and quiet. We both got sushi (obviously) and were very pleased. I got a spicy tuna maki roll, a red dragon maki roll, and an Urlacher maki roll. All 3 were very good, and the spicy tuna was the best I have ever had (so far). It was excellent and that alone will make me come back. Also, they have hand rolls, which I will also try next time (if you don't know what those are, they are the small sno cone shaped rolls). As far as the interior, it was nice and large, and it was nice that the hibachi area is well separated from the people who aren't doing that. The ONLY complaint I have is the prices, and it wasn't across the board. The basic rolls were on par with everything else I have had, as were MOST of the more deluxe rolls, but be careful. I didn't pay attention and when I got the bill, I found that the Urlacher roll was about $17. I probably still would have gotten it, as it was worth it, but things like that can catch you off guard if you don't pay attention. Anyway, thumbs up, 5 stars and all that. I look forward to my next visit and many after.
(5)
Mark M.
My favorite Japanese restaurant period. You must get fried rice......Pricy thought! Be ready to open your wallet.
(5)
Tony M.
Went here with a group of friends, our chef put on an awesome show! I had the garlic shrimp which was excellent. Great place to sit back and enjoy your night out. Only complaint was the host seemed a wee bit rude.
(5)
Rebecca M.
SO delicious!! Tsukasa has the best Japanese food and the atmosphere is so much fun. The ONLY bad thing about going here is having to wash everything you're wearing immediately - since they cook right in front of you. But that's why I don't wear anything dry-clean only here! On to the food... I've never had their sushi, but everything else is amazing. Whether you like seafood or simply chicken or steak, they cook it perfectly. My personal favorite is the golden shrimp. They use this buttery/garlicy egg dip with the shrimp that makes it tastes devine. The chefs also cook rice and vegetables for you, but go easy on the rice or else you won't be able to finish your meal! It's not that great as leftovers.
(5)
Scott C.
Tsukasa is an Americanized version of Japanese tepenayaki. I went with some colleagues from Japan who commented that the only Japanese menu items were the beer... Needless to say, the food is typically very well done here and I've never left disappointed or hungry. The lunch items are a good value instead of paying full price for the dinner menu - same stuff but less expensive. The chef's do a good job of putting on a "show" while they cook and seem to be good at understanding if they are the center of attention or if your conversation is and they will back off on the "show" a little bit. An under appreciated part of menu is the sushi selections. Their sushi is typically very good - served with fresh cuts of fish and some creative rolls. One roll that I had was the "Urlacher" which was a crab roll topped with tuna and spicy mayo. It was pretty outstanding. One word of caution is that their xxxExtra Spicy Tuna roll lives up to its name. The only complaint I ever have about the restaurant is the service. They can be very pushy to move you through your meal - like "Hey wait - I was still using that soy sauce!" as they take it away... The food, fortunately, makes that a footnote rather than a headline.
(4)
Rebecca Huicha K.
Sushi bar review and not for the teppanyaki portion of the restaurant. their sushi bar space is a bit limited considering the size of this place but it seems like most people are there for the teppan yaki anyways. the restaurant itself looks fairly new and is pretty big. i'm sure they totally bank it on the weekends since it's packed. Their sushi menu isn't that different from any other sushi restaurant. They do have a decent amount of specialty rolls but i was mainly there for their nigiri. Our table did other a couple rolls to share and they were all very good. The fish itself was pretty fresh and the pieces were decent sizes. The salmon, scallop, unagi, and toro were the best. I was really impressed with the unagi, very fresh and melts in your mouth :) Also, had the pomegranate martini which was pretty strong yet tasty. My fiancee really wanted to try the fried rice since it seemed so popular. I took one bit and in my opinion its way too sweet but he loved it. Next time I definitely want to try the teppan even though i'm not a fan of it.
(4)
Ryan G.
For my birthday, I was looking for something nice but out of the ordinary for my parents and I. After searching around Yelp, I came across Tsukasa and their stellar reviews. They did not disappoint. We called in our reservation around 3:30-4pm for 7pm that evening and only had a short wait upon arrival. We were initially concerned that we would not get a chef's table since the place was so full but that was what we got (we have since assumed that the regular tables are for walk-ins or request. We were seated at one of the furthest-back teppanyaki tables with a group of 5-6 joining us for the evening. The chef was friendly, entertaining and skilled; putting on a show that was not only fun but delicious and the wait staff was quick and precise on drink orders. While sushi was available, the food we ordered was mostly from the cooks. The Miso and Shrimp Tempura were above average but it was everything else that made the meal: a combination of sirloin and Golden Shrimp with roasted vegetables and fresh fried rice were all excellent. A good selection of deserts were also available including Rainbow and Mango sherbert and Green Tea ice cream. Given the quality of the food and the quickness and warmth of the staff all around made my first visit an instant favorite and one worth repeating.
(5)
Eugenia O.
I love tsukasa so much that I make the drive from Evanston to go there. The food, in my opinion, is much better than that of Ron of Japan and Behihana and while it is a little pricy, it is cheaper than Ron of Japan and totally worth the price. The restaurant used to be open for lunch and had a much more reasonably priced lunch menu but due to the economy is no longer serving lunch. Tsukasa's menu is great because it has lots of teppanyaki grill entrees but the restaurant also has an extensive sushi menu. The bar serves a wide variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and is always good for sake bombs. I usually stick to the teppanyaki entrees since that is the restaurant's specialty. For dinner, most entrees come with soup, salad, choice of appetizer, rice, veggies, and a dessert. The entrees come with white rice and you have to pay a little extra to get the fried rice, but for the extra dollar or so, you definately will not regret it. The fried rice is simply amazing. I've been to tsukasa tons of times and have tried every type of teppanyaki entree: chicken, steak, salmon, scallops, etc. and they are all amazing. The only downfalls I could think of are the fact that the food is slightly on the expensive side, the teppanyaki tables are designed for six people so if you have a party of less than six, hope to be sitting next to some friendly and not too awkward of people, and that, for girls, you're hair kinda smells of food afterwards. But I must say for how amazing the food is, it is totally worth it! Oh, and don't forget to make a reservation!!! The place often has a very long wait for the teppanyaki tables.
(5)
LaWanna O.
OMG, what's not to say about this place! I love it, love it, love it! The food is awesome, fresh & great prices! The Chef's are very entertaining. The fried rice is the best, I've ever had, seriously. You can choose from the Habachi Grill or the sushi bar. This place Rocks, their better than Ron of Japan, for those of you that have been there! I would even suggest this restaurant to my worst enemy, that is how great they are!
(5)
Y V.
OMG, why am I thinking about Golden Shrimp at 2 a.m.? Tsukasa has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants for that dish alone. That is some serious s&#%! (more on that soon). This teppanyaki place is indeed special for many people in Vernon Hills and the surrounding suburbs. They've had a loyal following for 16 years, which is quite a feat for a non-chain restaurant. We went here on a Wednesday night expecting few customers, but the dining room was packed. Always a good sign. The menu is simple and straightforward - hibachi-style chicken, steak, and seafood and various combinations of those options. I ordered the hibachi steak with fried rice and golden shrimp. He had the filet mignon. All dinners come with soup, salad, and rice. Fried rice is extra, but it's worth it. Shhh... don't tell anyone but the secret ingredient is a little butter. The chef had a huge block of butter at his station and he went to town on the rice, vegetables, shrimp, beef, you name it. Not too much, but just enough to make everything really tasty. Now on to the Golden Shrimp. This crazy concoction is basically a thick egg yolk/butter/who knows what else.. sauce that's spread over butterflied shrimp and steamed. It turns into this amazingly rich custard that is perfect with the sweet shrimp. The custard itself reminds me of a vegetarian version of roasted bone marrow (hot daaaamn). I'm kicking myself for just getting the appetizer, because they also have it as a dinner option. Our chef was awesome. He did the ever-so-popular "flaming onion volcano", all kinds of tricks with food and fire, cracked jokes, and even threw broccoli florets in our mouths (except the teenage girl sitting next to me didn't want to participate.... LAME!). We met a nice older woman who grew up in Rogers Park, which pleased my Rogers Park-raised bf. Good food, good company, and strong drinks. I love this place.
(5)
Helena D.
If you're up in the northern suburbs of Lake County and need a sushi fix, head on over to Tsukasa. Located a stone's throw from Hawthorn Mall in a newer outdoor strip mall, Tsukasa features a large cavernous bar, an cozy outdoor patio area, an expansive open dining room with multiple cooking stations, as well as a smaller party room with shoji screens that can slide close if privacy is needed. We came here for a private party with approximately 30 people and had an overall great time. The drinks are on the stronger side while sushi rolls are large and fresh. The chefs were a bit grumpy and did their 'tricks' in a mechanical yet fun style - it was nice to see them prepare the cooked dishes in front of us on the habachi grill. However, be prepared to have the smokiness waft back to you and grease splatter every so often (i.e don't wear your nicest duds here). One star is removed b/c if you want a bit of privacy, they will fill up the open spots at your habachi table with other patrons - even though we were suppose to be in a private room for our special event. Service can be on the slower side and prices are high, perhaps even a bit higher than the ritziest restaurants in Chicago. Overall, if you have a lot of clients, friends and/or family to entertain and are in the area, go here.
(4)
Alvin L.
The wife and i tried this place on the back of the high yelp rating and a small ad in a local japanese publication. we had a bad feeling the moment we walked in; no asian customers, chefs resorting to tons of cheap tricks for laughs (lobbing brocolli into mouths of customers) and a loud noisy atmosphere. The food ultimately was as bad and corny as the first impressions. everything served on the teppanyaki was coated with a heart-attack inducing dosage of oil AND butter, and to be completely honest, nothing was authentic AT ALL. i can see how with the cheap tricks the chefs perform for the table and the generous amounts of sausces provided that a more caucasian clientele can be impressed but authentic teppanyaki
(1)
Laura C.
I went to Tsukasa for the first time tonight as a party of four to celebrate my dad's birthday (it was his choice of restaurant). Being a "special occasion" (quotes added for sarcasm, see below :) ), we called a few days in advance for reservations and asked the staff to make a note it was for a birthday. Today, the day of, we called to verify and make sure they would bring something out with a candle (regardless of whether we were charged). The meal itself was excellent: I have a shellfish allergy and both the waitress and chef were accommodating. The chef was entertaining without being over the top. Our host, waitress, and chef were all aware of my dad's birthday: when the check was dropped I was irked. My boyfriend tried to discretely alert the staff, then eventually sought out a manager, who happened to be glued to the playoff game being broadcast at the bar. As my family was leaving, I took the manager aside and explained to him what happened. He first tried to accuse us of leaving too soon. Perhaps realizing how silly this sounded, Jeff retracted and admitted it was him who made the mistake and did not convey the information. My favorite part, though, was when explaining it was disappointing (considering how great everything else was and that we chose Tsukasa for a "special occasion"), Jeff casually responded that most of the reservations were for "special occasions". His tone strongly implied our business was of no consequence to him (mind you, we had already paid the bill and were simply on our way out). I pointedly asked him if this was the case, and he meekly trailed off, "no, no, I will hook you up your next time here or something..." Or something...moral of the story: food was great, steer clear if you are trying to organize any type of event.
(3)
Eric L.
Living in the suburbs doesn't lend itself to too many dining choices so it's nice when a restaurant is just as good the fifth time as it is the first. I've been here a number of times in the past for the teppanyaki and it was always a fun and tasty (but unhealthy) experience and the lunch prices are a great deal. The golden shrimp is especially good (but especially unhealthy). But what I've been coming for recently has been the sushi. Sharing a couple rolls with friends makes for the perfect lunch. Among my favorite rolls are the Pink Dragon (good for those who aren't quite ready for raw fish), the Green Dragon, White Dragon, and salmon skin. The sushi combos are also reasonably priced (around $15) with good portion sizes. Tsukasa is great whether you want your meal to be a celebration or a nice casual event.
(4)
I B.
To be fair, this is based on one visit, where I only had one of the combinations, which they prepare at the table. I think people come here for the show. I guess that's obvious, because the food is like the Applebee's of Japanese food. Or the PF Changs of Japanese food. Watching the chef scoop goose-egg sized globs of butter onto your food is pretty gross, and then they squirt on oil and more oil with ketchup bottles. I thought Japanese food was generally light, mild, and bright tasting, but this stuff was heavy, muddy, and...well, it tasted like the ugly fat American cousin of Japanese food. It'd be funny if it wasn't $35-$50 a person. I had the chicken and tuna combo. The food is so heavily sauced with teriyaki/soy/some ginger thing that they were identical tasting, and barely distinguishable even in texture. My companions (who love this place) raved about the fried rice -- which tasted like heavily salted teriyaki sauce. I will say I had the california rolls as an appetizer and they were pretty good. And, coming from the city (where good East Asian isn't as hard to come by as it is in Vernon Hills), I did love the fact the restaurant is huge and you're not bumped up against other diners. But really, this is Japanese food the way the Olive Garden is Italian.
(2)
Ellie S.
This is a great teppenyaki restaurant. The location and service are great. I have gone twice with my husband on a Friday or Saturday night and had a 5-15 minute wait without a reservation. Likely because they can easily put 2 people at most tables. The food is very good although I don't think I have ever had bad teppenyaki. Chef is always dramatic which makes it so fun. If you have to wait, stop by the bar and have a White Horse martini. It is a delightful chocolate martini. Bartender is also very nice. Definitely a great place to go. This is a very large teppenyaki restaurant so it is always crowded and loud. More so than the average teppenyaki place so if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place.
(4)
Steven M.
Wow, that was a huge disappointment. I had a fairly low bar going in, we were just hoping for some decent food for the adults and something entertaining for a 7 year old that was with us. The experience was honestly a complete whiff. First the chef that was at our table was very low energy. He just went through the motions and barely cracked a smile the whole time. Meanwhile there were chefs all around cutting up, acting silly and making sure each table had a great time. The kid with us was pretty bored by the whole thing and spent most of her time watching what was going on at the OTHER tables. I know it's luck of the draw, but you would think they would have a minimum standard.... In terms of the food, it was extremely bland. Trust me, I wasn't expecting much despite the lofty reviews, but this is the most disappointing of any Teppan Yaki place I've ever been to. Overcooked rubbery lobster, steak with little to no seasoning, bland veggies, etc. They earn one star for the refried rice which was at least up to par. I will not return.
(1)
matt g.
If Tsukasa were a woman, I'd marry that woman. If it were a dude, I'd gaymarry that dude. I live in the city, so I only make it up here a few times a year, but it's well worth it. Unfortunately, this means I order the same thing every single time, so I haven't gotten to experience the full range of what Tsukasa has to offer, like the amazing-looking sushi. Basically, my night at Tsukasa consists of: Asparagus beef rolls (+ sake bombs) salad with an amazing sesame ginger dressing (+sake bombs) the best fried rice I've ever had (+sake bombs) grilled veggies (+ sake bombs) hibachi shrimp and filet (but my friends swear by the lobster and shrimp in golden sauce... +sake bombs) Sake bombs, sake bombs... "Why are we the only ones here?" The bus boys vacuuming the carpet all around our table. The waitress dropping the check. "Did we ask for the check? Oh, it's closing? Could we maybe get one more round of sake bombs? Ok, cool." Passing by the gift shop, "Oh hey let me get a bottle of that plum wine for the road. Who was the DD again? I think I'm going to throw up... in the best way possible."
(5)
Ray A.
I've only been here once and had a VERY great meal. I was invited here as a congrats/going away affair for work. The hibachi chef/cook was VERY entertaining and had us all laughing the entire time. I had the shrimp fried rice and a dragon roll. VERY GOOD!!!!! I've also been to Benihana's and a couple other hibachi places. This one is #2, sorry, but Benihana's got the #1 spot in this category!!! To Eric H. we were about to have billing problems because some had cards and some had cash, but we figured it out on our own; gave the cash to the carders and the carders paid for the combined amount. I highly recommend if you don't feel like driving all the way to Benihana's....
(4)
Michael N.
Tsukasa is my favorite sushi bar. Their fish is the most fresh I have had in Lake/Cook County. Inside out, super white tuna with oshinko...doesn't get any better than that. I could also eat the salmon teriyaki with fried rice for every meal, every day of the week too!
(5)
Lina K.
I loved my eating experience at Tsukusa! All of the rolls that I ordered were delicious and one of my dining companions knew the sushi chefs. She ordered something completely off the menu ... she asked them to whip up something special. It was AMAZING! The fish is very definitely fresh and the sauces sublime. A very surprising and delightful meal as this was also a hibachi house as well (and I generally avoid them due to over-tourism).
(4)
Lisa E.
Great food and a show!!! Cook at the tables in front of you . Food can be $$$ but it is worth it for special events.
(4)
Erin J.
My mom has suggested Tsukasa a few times in the last few years and it is always a good time. I love the decor. I wish I could ever be early for anything so I could spend time at the cool bar. The chefs are funny! Here is my latest favorite story from Tsukasa: My daughter does not eat meat, vegetables, or fruit. The chef was tossing little broccoli florets at everyone at the table. My daughter didn't want one, but the game intrigued her and she got excited. So we told her she had to close her eyes and I put the piece of broccoli in her mouth. She got so excited that she caught it. Now she tells people that she only likes broccoli when it's thrown at her face! Ha! Ha! Ha!
(4)
Chris W.
When I walked in I was expecting to eat with my family at some normal little restaurant in a normal little booth and be drowsy and drink diet coke. INSTEAD! I drank diet coke while I nearly got my eyebrows burned off while giggling at the cutest japanese man in the universe (or in IL maybe) do food flipping tricks and all sorts of things while preparing my food. It's like Ron of Japan/Bennihana but not lame. They actually have an all Japanesey staff, they have a sushi bar but screw that its all about their dishes. I've had the teriyaki chicken there which is AMAZING but since I'm a fan of dishes a wee bit less sweet I liked the hibachi chicken a little better (personal preference) which is PERFECT when you dip it with their mustard sauce. Fried rice? YEAH. Get it. Worth the 2 bucks. Go begging on the street for the extra 2 bucks. You need to get the fried rice. Veggies? VERY TASTY. You want to eat them, you WILL eat them. You will have broccoli flipped into your mouth and you WILL catch it. HOW? Japanese chefs are magical. Dessert: Try it, it's pretty basic, pretty tasty. Drinks: there's a selection of them, they're a bit pricey but hey if you're there why not? Excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know how this became a list but I assure you there is much excitement in your dinner. This isn't just a normal dinner it's a real experience, and it's a really great one. You get soup, salad, dinner, and have a lot of fun. Please check it out. I implore you!
(5)
Steve P.
I know that sushi is only a part of the menu here, but I can't bring myself to get anything else. The pieces of nigiri and sashimi are much larger than one can get elsewhere and they taste great. I now get 90% of my sushi here because it is so consistently excellent. Also, the long menu list of rolls is terrific; I've never had a bad one here. I keep telling myself I will try the other parts of the menu but I just can't drag myself away from the sushi. I usually end up paying the same as or less than I would pay in other restaurants, but I get more and better quality food here than those other spots.
(5)
Ruth O.
I've gone here twice for lunch, with people from work. Chicken and steak were very good. Tons of fried rice. Enjoyed the salad (ginger). I have not tried the sushi. The service has been polite and prompt. We've always made reservations and shown up on time. I get the feeling walking in to the restaurant, the host and people at the front are a little gun-shy. Like they kinda eye you warily. Hard to describe. Like not friendly, but yet not unfriendly? It makes me a little uneasy. But, after I'm in and seated, good time. Check the hours before you head over. On Saturdays they are not open for lunch, they open at 5 PM. Plenty of parking. Cute fountain in front. Looked clean from what I could see.
(4)
Melissa W.
I went on 02/13/2010 with my fiance and his family. It was for his dad's birthday. Since we haven't been to teppan yaki place in a few years, we decided to try out this restaurant, recommended by some family friends. Overall, it was an okay meal. The amount of food you get for the money is great. I had the Filet Mignon with Golden Shrimp ($35). It came with soup, salad, a combination side order (I had Shrimp Tempera), grilled vegetables, and an ice cream dessert (I had Green Tea Ice Cream). Soup and salad were okay, nothing special from other Japanese restaurants. Tempera came out a bit after the soup and salad. Tempera was really good, perfectly crispy, and my shrimp tempera, also, had green beans, zucchini, and a yam. The cooking order was: fried rice, grilled vegetables, and then the steak/shrimp/fish/chicken. I didn't order the fried rice, but everyone else did, so the chef gave me a little to taste. It was pretty good, but I'm not a big fan of fried rice with sticky rice. Grilled vegetables were nothing special. My steak was alright. I could have used a little more salt/seasoning to it. I didn't like any of the sauces provided. The mustard sauce wasn't thick, like I would have preferred a sauce to be, but a bit watery. The ginger sauce was a bit bitter, and the teriyaki sauce was alright. The Golden Shrimp was very yummy. I didn't really like the high amount of oil/butter with the egg (since I know how to make the soft egg, you really don't need to use that much oil/butter, but I guess to make it the way they do, it's justified). I, also, ordered Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. As if I didn't have enough food already, but it's something I do when eating at a new Japanese restaurant. I'm searching for the best Agedashi Tofu. I love the silky tofu with a crispy outside from the tempera - NOT to be confused with a crispy fried tofu, there's a difference! And Tsukasa hits it pretty close. The tofu was soft in the inside and had this crispy tempera that was on the outside. The sauce was very good and came with daikon to be mixed in to the sauce. Overall, it was very good agedashi tofu in my book. Service was good. I couldn't really understand what the waitress was mumbling sometimes. Overall, I would go back again if I were craving some golden shrimp and agedashi tofu. I would probably not try teppan yaki again. The restaurant had some hits and some misses. But from their agedashi tofu, shrimp tempera, and golden shrimp, I can tell that they know how to cook Japanese food pretty well.
(4)
Luiza R.
Perfect for big groups on birthdays or for any occasion, but also their sushi bar is perfect for a date! They have a myriad selection of sushi, and the fish is always really fresh. I've been here many times, and I've never left disappointed. The prices are fair and it's not too expensive, but the atmosphere is cozy and romantic.
(5)
Russ C.
Excellent sushi every maki roll was very tasty with great presentation. Service was quick and attentive. My wife and I found our new place when we want sushi. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Leonor S.
My new number 1 spot for sushi and tepan! Ron of Japan and Benihana can kiss my behind! This is THE place to go for show-cooking! Delicious, fresh, and SO worth the drive! I also love their rolls! My favorites: 911, yellow ferarri, spicy scallops, and the pink dragon. I'll be back.... especially now that I know it's frequented by the chicago bears team :)
(5)
Nicole B.
No place has ever compared. Highly suggest the fried rice! Whether you are enjoying the sushi bar, dinning in, or sitting around the grill your bound to have an enjoyable meal.
(5)
Valerie R.
The three things that make Tsukasa great are the teriyaki sauce, the fried rice and the delicious tempura batter. Typically I am not a fan of fried rice, but the fried rice here is to die for (not to mention completely unhealthy). The teriyaki sauce is what is really special about Tsukasa. It is thick and sweet and is particularly delicious on the steak. I have also had a hard time finding any place that has as good of tempura batter. It is light and has a great flavor. It is a busy place and is often quite loud. The chefs are corny, but that is to be expected and typically makes for a fun time.
(4)
Brenda P.
What to say about Tsukasa? The food - it was good. Cooked fresh right in front of you with entertainment. They offer you dipping sauces for your food.. which given that I had never been there before, I opted for the chef's recommendation. Teriyaki is the big flavor there. Teriyaki was my dipping sauce. Teriyaki flavored the chicken fried rice. So if you are a big Teriyaki fan, you will definately enjoy this place. Give it a try if you like Japanese steakhouses.
(4)
Amy L.
I love this place. I almost always go here when I want to eat at a teppanyaki restaurant. I'd say it is the best out of all the so-called top teppanyaki restaurants (Benihana, Ron of Japan) in Chicagoland. They have stayed consistent in quality service and good food throughout the years that they've been open too. I originally used to go to their first location but I guess it got too small and moved. I recently went to their new location and wow is it so much bigger and still just as busy. The chefs are funny and I think they added some new ideas to their show because it seemed a little different than the usual one. The new place is a lot nicer too not that their old place wasn't. I always order Golden Shrimp at teppanyaki and boy was it delicious. Tsukasa is also known for their awesome fried rice. It was definitely still good. Their veggies are so simply sauteed and sauced yet tastes so good. There is plenty of parking too. We couldn't find the restaurant at first since it was my first time going to the new one. It is next to the old Circuit City that closed down in that plaza next to Rivertree theaters. Oh and make sure to make reservations!! It gets packed! We made reservations and were going to be seated right on time but our whole party wasn't there on time so we moved to the waiting list. We waited another 15-30 minutes I think even after our whole party of 4 showed up. Worth the wait though cuz good food. Quite pricey but that's expected for these type of restaurants. MMmm, my mouth is watering just thinking of it.
(4)
Frank L.
Call it, "Beni-hana on steroids". And as always with hibachi grill - prepare to wait for a table. Tsukasa has a nice decor, but aside from that, it's not all that different than Beni-hana. The prices are maybe a dollar or two more than the other hibachi grill down the street (Tsukasa is Milwaukee and Townline roads, while Beni Hana is Milwaukee and dundee. about 7 miles). Chef's vary by table. some pull of some cool tricks while they cook, but others just light the grill on fire - make an onion volcano, and toss you some raw brocolli like you're a seal. The STRANGEST thing we saw on the grill were the GOLDEN SHRIMP. we just couldn't figure out how they made these things. It looked like the chef put a slab of butter on top of the shrimp, and then just covered them until they were ready, and there was a mound of yellow sponginess covering the shrimp. Who goes to Tsukasa? Those looking for an entertaining, "Watch your food get cooked" evening. You might even meet some strangers who are sitting next to you at the grill. Who doesn't go to Tsukasa? People looking for something special/unique, when they can just get it at benihana. Those who want trendy sushi. (this place has sushi, but it is not like your downtown sushi parlors with their "art-like" sushi rolls)
(2)
Angela U.
We went here with friends, and I was very impressed. We have been to two other restaurants that are similar, but I think this was by far the best. Plenty of food. I found it a little unusual that they didn't have plum wine or japanese wines on the menu, only the standard like Pinot Noir, and other common wines. Next time I'll just have to ask for the plum wine...
(4)
Victor V.
Have you ever been in Japan? Me neither. And I hardly think that visiting Tsukasa would help. The vast majority of patrons are either oversexed teenagers (no complaints here), or loud-mouthed Russian upper middle class who are dressed to kill and speak to contuse (loudly that is). And as a fellow Russian born, I have a misfortune of understanding what they say: calling it vulgar platitudes would be an insult to platitude). The waitstaff is not Japanese either. And as much as I love Mongolian and Korean people (and I do), a little more English proficiency (at least food-related) and a little less attitude would go a long way. But the food is good, and I mean really good. My advice: go for Chef's special and DON"T make any additional requests-just let them do what they do best: create great Sushi that wil make your NITI (I know just enough Japanese to weed out the impostors). P.S.: When your waitress tells you she is only half Japanese, ask her which half: upper or lower - I bet you they will understand this as little as they do Japanese language.
(3)
Wonseop I.
Great lunch menu. Their teppanyaki is awesome during dinner even though it's on the pricy end it was well worth it. They have great scallops. Our cooks name was Andy and he was hilarious.
(5)
Ronald C.
There are many Japanese steak houses to go to. This has to be the best one. If you're ever in the northern suburbs, I'd suggest eating here. It's definitely a taste that you won't forget that will leave you wanting to come back again and again. The fried rice is some of the best I've ever tasted ANYWHERE! The steak is excellent along with the Salmon or Tuna if you're up for it. I love the way they prepare it. You always get a good show and will no doubt be full after your meal. The salad is good with the ginger dressing that never tasted better anywhere else! The price may be up there for lunch and dinner, but it's a taste that hasn't been rivaled by any other place that I've been to. It's worth it to take a trip out to Vernon Hills if you're a food enthusiast looking for something GREAT!
(5)
Matthew L.
I keep going - they keep kicking food a$s! Love it!
(5)
Kevin S.
Tsukasa is one my favorite places to eat. If you like sushi, I recommend ordering one (or more) of their Big Rolls especially the Tarantula. It is one of the best sushi rolls you will have this side of the Mississippi. The Teriyaki Hibachi Sirloin Steak with Teriyaki Chicken is excellent. And yes, get fried rice, you will not be disappointed. The chef's here are all good and none of them will reject you if you ask them to have a sake bomb with you. "Sakeeeee" They do take reservations and I advise that you do so or else you will wait 1 to 2 hours before you can get seated in the restaurant. The reason for this is not because it is a small restaurant (they have expanded to a much larger location) but because it is that good. Yeah, that's right! If you don't want to wait, sitting at the bar is okay too. That is usually where I like to enjoy my Tarantula roll. If you have a large party, you can call ahead (way ahead) and they will seat you in their private room. The service quality depends on how busy they are. I have been there on a slow afternoon and have had excellent service but I have also gone on a Friday night and let's just say you better ask for what you need all at once or else it will be a while before you get everything you need. The quality of the food and sushi definitely makes me want to come back for more.
(4)
Scott H.
Definitely one of the best teppanyaki places I've been to anywhere. The food is always fresh, the portions are formidable and the service ranges from good to fantastic (the 'fantastic' experiences tend to be in the evening when everyone loosens up). I've been here for numerous work lunches where the experience is appropriately more hurried to get you in and out in about an hour. The evenings are more relaxed as the booze flows freely and the chefs kick their antics up a few notches. Some coworkers and I enjoyed a hilarious and very memorable birthday celebration here a year ago that we still talk about. Make reservations, don't hesitate to enjoy a cocktail and a maki roll out in the lounge while you wait, enjoy the atmosphere. This is a great place that reminds me of what other teppanyaki places used to be.
(4)
Lauren H.
I love love this hibachi place. My family and I always come here for birthdays and the food is always amazing! Our chefs area always entertaining and our table is always full of laughter.. I always get the golden shrimp and filet mignon and it always cooked yo my perfection!
(5)
Ruthie B.
Maybe it's that I'm from Chicago and have higher expectations when it comes to food and service, but my disagreement with everyone who had a positive review about this sh!@t-hole borders on insulting so I'll get to it. Food: The eel tasted fishy. Eel is not fishy. The spicy tuna roll was so hot it made me wonder what they were covering up considering the inedible eel roll. The Cubbie Comfort tasted good, but made me sick afterward. Mind you, I did not eat the eel or spicy tuna roll and had them take it off the outrageous bill for the poor quality food we were served. My mom had the Salmon Teriyaki which for 16.50 she got salmon sticks (literally) and white rice. Veggies are $3.00/side. I've never heard of an entree that only includes protein and heaping pile of dry, overcooked starch. My father got the Hibachi Scallops, which came out looking like sliced bananas. Also for 16.50 with a heaping pile of dry, overcook white rice. Not to mention that even an amateur cook knows you serve salmon filets (fish sticks), and whole scallops not slice razor thin. If the food was halfway decent and didn't make everyone in my party nauseous I could forgive the service. Service: We had 2 waiters and 4 bus boys, none of which knew who ordered what or brought the right food at our table. I ordered Shrimp Tempura, and they never brought it out. Not that I would have eaten it at that point. They bring scallops and salmon to the table and never even think to bring lemon slices (duh). Only 1 of our waiters spoke english, he took our order and we didn't see him until my sister got up to find the manager because when we told the other waiter we wanted to see him he just brought the check. No one asked us how our dinner was, the waiter snuck up behind me to peer at our table and skulked away, and at the end of the meal a bus boy asked how everything was...to which I replied, "Do you want the truth?" I asked to see the manager, I got the skulking waiter, asked him to see the manager, I got the check, went and got the manager (who was rude, arrogant, and talked to me like I've never eaten Sushi when clearly I knew more about it than he did), and finally, waiter #1 who I thought disappeared along with my order of shrimp tempura shows up to chit-chit. Afterward, I talked to some of my friends (a few from the city, a few from the burbs), and the consensus was "I wish you would've told me you were going there beforehand, I would've told you not too." Well, I'm telling you, don't waste your money. There's a cute little Mongolian BBQ in Grayslake for all you suburbanites who crave sushi, and the chef is Japanese!
(1)
Robert N.
For lunch during the week this is a great place to eat... I've eaten at several habatachi style restaurants and this is one of the best...I also think I am addicted to their fried rice, it's pure happiness to eat.
(4)
Robin C.
The customer service is TERRIBLE! My nephew who was sick, has an outside beverage as that was all he could have (he's little) and the manager practically jumped on my sister telling her that it's ABSOLUTELY not allowed and unaccepptable, he was really unprofessional and didn't care if we ever came back. We told him that we ate there quite often and explained that the child was sick and perhaps they could make an acception - but they were not willing to bend one bit - not even to offer to pour his juice into a regular glass - so we left vowing NEVER to spend another dollar there. Bottom line, if you have little kids, don't try to bring in any outside food or beverage - no juice cups, snacks etc. - it's not allowed and they are extremely RUDE about it.
(1)
Peter S.
This has become a favorite place to celebrate, among my pals. Our local teppanyaki restaurant's quality has dipped a bit, but Tsukasa has more than made up for it. Their staff and chefs are all very friendly, and accommodating. Their prices are good, considering the depth of their selection and nature of the restaurant. The chefs put on a great performance, and interact well with guests. Best of all, the food is phenomenal. We enjoyed the age dashi tofu and gyoza. The veggies always come out well. The golden shrimp is a mouth-watering favorite of many of my friends, and I loved the teriyaki calamari steak. I highly recommend Tsukasa of Tokyo for entertaining and tasty teppanyaki in Vernon Hills!
(5)
Ben W.
I've only been there once, the only I remembered is I was so hungry that I had to go to another restaurant right after this place. THE PORTION IS SO TINY! Make sure you eat before you go there. The tricks the chefs fo is like Bebihana's. It is usually packed on Friday night and the weekends.
(2)
Phil K.
I was impressed with Tsukasa of Tokyo on my first visit last night. I've never really been to one of these cooked-at-your-table places before, but Tsukasa seems to have a good mix of quality preparation and showmanship. Our chef did a few tricks while he was cooking our fried rice and entrees, but he certainly wasn't annoying. He gave us tips on what sauces we should try for our steak, salmon, chicken, and shrimp, but didn't spend the whole time trying to talk with us. All in all it was a great experience. Highly recommend the salmon teriaki and especially the friend rice. You'd be crazy to have white rice at this place, their fried rice is that good. Friends also enjoyed the chicken (hibachi and teriaki) and the steak. I didn't think the prices were too high, but I'm probably used to prices in the SF Bay Area. The tab for the 5 of us was about $150, not bad for dinner and a little bit of a show.
(4)
Jane K.
Best sushi around and I have tried a lot of other places. The pink dragon and stuffed tomato are my favorite. Love this place
(5)
Justin W.
Benihana eat your heart out. I love Tsukasa. They have a new location and it looks absolutely beautiful. The chefs put on a show, like Benihana, but it didn't scream chain restaurant. The dishes we had were delicious and I can't wait to go again. Comparing Tsukasa's sushi to Benihana's and I'll take Tsukasa's any day of the week. Usually I don't get fried rice, especially Japanese fried rice (it always seems more bland to me than the Chinese version), however our chef put the nectar of the gods into this and it instantly became my favorite! It had a semi-sweet flavor to it! YUM!
(5)
JC M.
This restaurant has become our "place to celebrate" anything memorable in our family. Grand decor, family friendly, good sushi and killer Golden Shrimp.
(5)
Dkrejser S.
This was my first time but my husbands second. My husband absolutely hates the place, not that he hates hibachi or sushi (in fact when in Tokyo he will get up at 3 am to get fresh sushi at the market). It is the poor quality food that appeals to the masses. The what must be the rudest service on the NorthShore and the laughable miniature hibachi shows. We have often gone hibachi on the East coast, and yes admitted it is difficult to find a place here in US where one both gets a good show and good food. Usually one or the other is compromised. Here we have to say both were compromised and just chopping wildly or making a big fire has nothing to do with hibachi. They really cram people close together to get fit as many people into the hibachi room, so tight that there is only enough space for one chef to stand at the time between two tables. So our table ended up having to wait for the other table to finish as they were delayed. The fried rice was already premixed to shorten the show and they used so much teriyaki sauce on it that it was sweet as a desert. Nothing to do with japanese fried rice. The soups were cold/lukewarm. The salad was ok, but very very basic. The meats were ok and cooked right. The veggies was a little overcooked. The shrimp were smelling foul and old The sushi was average but nothing bad to say. Not gourmet sushi for sure. The show was a blend of sounds and a big fire. Some fast chopping with food flying everywhere and of course the usual catching a bite with your mouth. Nothing extradinary and very disappointing for our children who are used to more spectacular shows with knifes, pallats, eggs and food flying around - and some meaning to the fires not just a big fire to start the show. The waitress still has to learn to smile (as do the rest of the staff) and she was slow and at best indifferent. We had booked the table and ordered birthday treat for a birthday. We had specifically beforehand ordered icecream instead of pineapple boats as the birthday child is allergic to pineapple. Repeated it twice before we sat down. Still when the birthday show came then of course they lined up with pineapple..... They did correct it and then our waitress charged us for 2 birthday shows. Had to argue with her that we only had one. One star for the on time seating. We had made a reservation and we arrived a little early. It was crowded and extremely busy but still the hostess/manager did seat us right on time! Also, one star for the smile and friendliness of the Chef, and the chef at the table behind us, which is nice when the wait staff and manager all seem so grumpy. Cleanliness is better than many hibachis here in US but still there was a piece of dirty paper from the uncooked meats lying around on the floor next to our table and the waitresses couldn't be bothered to pick it up but rather stepped on it. Wondering how it looks in the back...... Next time we do hibachi it will not be here....
(2)
Leocris L.
ugh, so good i'm salivating as i'm typing this- best hibachi i've had. the fried rice is soo addicting. the staff is so fun, and interactive. it's funny watching people try to catch broccoli thru their mouths. i still remember their old location..
(5)
Liz M.
My fiancee and I have been to many Japanese steakhouses (almost all of them in the area) and I have to say this is the best. It is the quality of food that really stands out among the other places I have been. The soup and salad were good, I actually ate the salad although I don't normally because I actually liked the sauce. It was a great balance of sweet and bitter. Although I did not order the fried rice our chef gave me a taste and boy was it good! Wish I had ordered it! I then got the Hibachi Steak with a side of Golden Shrimp. The shrimp was melty good! Like I was tempted to order another round because it was so good, the shrimp was cooked perfect and had just the right amount of egg sauce without being overwhelming as it can be. The steak was cooked perfectly and was a very good cut (you can tell because you see the cut while it's being cooked!) Our chef, Brian, was hilarious and very good at what he did! He was careful to pay attention to everyone at the table (us, one other couple and a family of 4). He was funny, charming and very good! Others at our table had lobster and chicken and there were many orders of steak, plus I've heard the sushi is very good! Everything looked very good, guess I'll have to go back and try more!
(4)
Joe H.
Love the food here. Steak and chicken teriyaki are always the favorites. Usually I get the fried rice instead of the steamed. The fried soft shell crab appetizer is melt-in-your-mouth good. Sushi is decently priced and always good. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Missy L.
Went here with a group of 8 people. I am not a huge sushi fan but I do like to go out for it every once in a while and order the basics... So I took the advice of fellow yelpers....I ordered the chicken with fried rice (even though I am a bigger fan of white rice) and California roll-pretty basic for sushi and everyone was right!!!!! It was so good I wish I could have finished the plate. My boyfriend and friend ordered a pink dragon and green dragon. I sampled from his plate and both rolls were very tasty. I would definitely go back for dinner again.
(4)
Randy H.
I have plans to go here tonight AND Sunday!! Fricken' LOVE this place!!
(5)
Elyse C.
I went here last night for my birthday dinner because my favorite sushi spot was closed booo Mondays. Anyway I was pleasntly suprised by everything. It is really nice inside and even has an outdoor patio! Awesome except it was raining. We started off with the shrimp tempura app which was pretty good. Crispy and such. Then the Wasabi pork dumplings which were awesome. Yummy wasabi flavord pork. For our sushi we had the Yellow Ferrari which was pretty good.
(4)
sandy L.
As a lunch (M - F only before 2) this place cannot be beat! Standard Menu for a Japanese teppanyaki place - as a family owned restaurant, I highly admire their quality and attention to detail!! The sauce for their fried rice and Terriyaki is homemade and delicious - it takes 24 according to the server I talked to - and they sell it - so you can try and make your own fried rice at home!! It is an amazing teppanyaki restaurant, and a true "mom and pop" establishment - if I'm going to spend $10 - $12 at lunch I'd rather have this huge portion - (take half to go!) than a sandwich from Panera!
(5)
Gen T.
A lot of people don't know Tsukasa has sushi, but a little known secret as that it's the BEST sushi in the area. We ordered the Cubby Comfort at our visit on Saturday night and adored the mix or sweet and crunch... so tastey! We went with a group of 10 and found that we were seated promptly. They were super busy that night because of Homecoming dances so it was understandable that the service was slightly slower than normal. However, our chef (who prepares the dinner in front of you) was incredibly funny and entertaining. For our entrees, I got the teriyaki chicken and my husband got the teriyaki salmon (their teriyaki sauce is the best I've ever had). Both entrees were exceptional. Tsukasa is a little pricey so not an everyday restaurant but well worth making it here as often as possible... and great for big groups.
(5)
Renato P.
Ok, here's the dirt. I've officially been to enough Japanese Places like this to be a bit jaded. Nothing this place did knocked me out, nor did it in any way disappoint me. It was crazy busy, having been completely booked up for Valentines Day. I can't say it would stand out in my head as a particularly great place for a date either being that it's rather loud and busy. In any case, I have to say the food was really good, so on to the positives. The seared tuna was in a word delicious, the only misstep being a bit too much mayo sauce and not enough terriyaki sauce, still very good. The tempura calamari was very unique , featuring rather large octopus tentacles as opposed to the smaller and more preferred by me squid tentacles. Still, it was the most tender octopus I've ever had, with an almost fish like texture, so I'll say it was great. The teppenyaki steak was pretty standard, yet very good. The scallops seared to perfection and seasoned perfectly, great. The Fried rice had terriyaki sauce added to it, a decision I don't really agree with, it was good, not great. The golden shrimp , again almost identical to every place I've had it , was very good. You get the usual schtick with the chef with the flipping eggs and flinging veggies, our chef was quite fun. So for a fun night out, you will probably be happy going here. Really the only down side I can think of for this place is that it is on the more expensive end of places like it. Still, I didn't leave feeling ripped off.
(4)
gard c.
Love the sushi here! Spicy Tako Tempura is to die for; and the Green Ferrari Roll is amazing. Oh and taste the Rainbow Roll wow! Good show. I think I'm in love.
(4)
Phillip D.
This is the place to go for sushi. I always eat here and the atmosphere is great. Ask for Juan at the bar. He is a great guy.
(5)
Kate M.
I've been here many, many times and it's a great restaurant. Food is excellent. I've never had better teriyaki sauce anywhere. It's expensive, but if you're ordering a teppan dinner, you get a lot of food. Sushi is good, but not amazing. I probably wouldn't come here and just eat sushi. The teppan chefs are pretty accommodating, but the service from the waitresses is usually not that great. They don't have free refills on drinks, which is insane. They have Chimay beer though, which is a huge plus. Their new location is pretty nice. It's always crowded though and the main dining room is pretty loud.
(4)
Ann Y.
I have been here twice and have never been dissapointed. Great interior (the best I have found for a restaraunt of this kind), wonderful food- especially the golden shrimp (ask them to add some garlic and they happily will comply), and steak. The portions are huge and the service is wonderful (my glass was never empty). By far my favorite Japoneese steak house.
(5)
Lauren L.
I love it. I don't know why, because I'm not sure the entertainment is all that great. In fact, it hasn't changed since I was 8 years old and went there for birthdays parties. however, the food is still really good, the atmosphere is fun, and I never leave disappointed. When I left for college this was the place I missed the most!
(4)
Stephen D.
Always great food, but the service is totally hit or miss; I often wait a while to be served, and even then, the waitresses are often grumpy (I think I've seen maybe one of them ever smile). Bottom line: if you're going for the food and the show, you probably won't be disappointed. But do consider Hanakawa in Libertyville -- about the same quality of food, but with lower prices and better service (and it's more quaint). UPDATE (12/20): I ate here again last night, just to give it one more shot. Can't say I'll ever go back. The service just plain SUCKS. For the money you spend here -- with a (small) tip, our meal for five was $170 -- you don't get your water or tea refilled; nobody asks if you're content or need anything else; and the servers are downright apathetic, exhibiting no personality and almost snapping at even the smallest request. It used to be more quaint and personal, but now that they're in this huge warehouse of a building, their M.O. is to get you in and spend a lot of money, and get you out. Go to Hanakawa in Libertyville where they treat you like a guest and even remember your name!
(2)
Philip P.
This place deserves 5 stars....me and my wife came here and decided to splurge and it was worth every penny! We ordered appetizers, entrees, sushi, AND dessert and couldn't get enough. Everything was exceptional and the service was great. My only complaint would be just how busy it is all the time. If you can't get a table here, I'd HIGHLY recommend Hanakawa just north about a mile on Milwaukee Ave. It's easy to pass up since it looks like a house but the prices are very reasonable and the quality is on par with Tsukasa.
(5)
Rachel C.
Comparing this place to Benihana is like comparing apples to oranges. The only thing they have in common is the fact they cook on your table in front of you. Otherwise, Benihana has NOTHING on Tsukasa. The food here far surpasses any fancy restuarant I've ever been to. It's an entertaining show, great chefs and the food is freaking delicious. The fried rice and golden shrimp is the best EVER. The new location that they opened is huge and they even have a lounge area with a bar now. And on the same note, reservations are highly recommended because this place books up quick.
(5)
Ron S.
This place is awesome, Rokbonki used to be my favorite teppenyaki style place but this place takes the cake now. It is packed every time I'm there whether its lunch or dinner but they do a good job with flipping tables and service wise.
(4)
charkhian c.
great sushi moderetly priced waiter could be a bit less bitchy all and all very good experience.
(4)
Scott S.
The best sushi in the area. The pieces are good size, fresh, and look great. The rolls are also fresh and have a great flavor. I have tried most sushi in the area and have found this one to be the best so far. The service is not always the best, but they are busy, and the food is good, so that is not a big deal. The prices are on par with others in the area, except you do get bigger pieces. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for good food and good atmosphere.
(5)
Diana T.
This place is like Benihana's but wayyy better. I had the filet mignon with salmon combo for 34 bucks. It's pricey but comes with soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, a side order (I ordered the golden shrimp: a definite must try! It has this buttery topping steamed egg yolk topping as it's sauce.....SO GOOD), plain rice or fried for 2 more dollars (get the FRIED RICE, SO GOOD), and 3 different sauces (teriyaki, hot mustard, and ginger). The chefs were all so animated and fun. Reservations are highly recommended because your wait will be really long if you don't, especially on a weekend.
(5)
David N.
Some of the best Sushi in the Chicago area. The Sushi chefs are very good, the rolls are unique and the service is great. I have been to many Sushi houses over the years and Tzukasa is still tops. And they pour a mean martini!
(5)
Timothy B.
Great Fried rice, expensive but great good food, will not be disappointed
(5)
Leah C.
entertaining for this vegi and her 17 mo old niece... i guess there's only so much "fun" a vegetarian can have at a japanese steakhouse. i do need to commend the "more than just pepper and onions" grilled vegetable dish - packed with zucchini and broccoli as well. the usual accompaniments: the soup was unfortunately not miso but instead a beef/chicken broth... this vegi had to pass that up. the iceberg lettuce with miso dressing tasted freezer-burnt... not sure how that's possible. the fried rice was on the sweet side...different, not in a good way. the hot mustard condiment was surprisingly good and added the only flavor to my vegis. service was borderline ok. by my questions and my final food order, it was more than obvious that i was vegetarian. when ordering an asparagus maki roll, out came a beef asparagus roll instead. also, the server misunderstood my sister's calamari order - out came scallops instead. our chef was very interactive. overall though, i'd say one of my better experiences at a teppan restaurant - portions are bigger and the restaurant is much more spacious than average.
(3)
William T.
I go to Tsukasa for Hibachi, but have also had their sushi a number of times. Their hibachi is the standard by which I judge others, and IMO none have met that bar.
(5)
Alan M.
Big fan of Tsukasa, especially their steak and golden shrimp, with extra golden sauce. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Jonathan C.
I love this place. Even if its terribly pricey for me. It is in fact a star better than Benihana, based purely on food quality. It does feel similar to all of the "Japanese-style" steakhouses out there. The show you get is largely dependant on the skill of your chefs, Tsukasas are almost universally excellent and Japanese, even if young. The "golden shrimp" cannot be healthy, but it is a standout for me. Poney up for the fried rice, its really worth it. I personally think that the sirloin is tastes better cooked in this style than the filet, so save your money! The new restaurant (it moved from its original location) is very nicely done, and staff and service is excellent. Parking is no problem in this location, although it is somewhat hidden by a Circuit City. Don't let the location put you off though, the food is great.
(5)
John K.
This place has the best fried rice in the world. It is like eating candy, but it's food. They are busy at times, but it is definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Diane Z.
We went here on a date night dinner. It was awesome. We have been hearing about this place for years. We ended up eating in the bar because the bigger table we had been seated with was full of kids. We had great sushi and would recommend this place anytime.
(4)
Vinny The Vacuum S.
Ate here last night, 10 years after my first visit. They are in a new building that is very modern and spacious compared to the old site. The food is still good and the show was the same as it was a decade ago but the chef wasn't as enthusiastic as other chefs in the room. Maybe we just got a low key chef but he put on a decent show. Also he oversalted everything he cooked - not good. I recommend a the teriaki steak or chicken (about $20/person) with a tempura shrimp or calamari appetizer. Everyone gets miso soup and a salad b4 the show starts and everyone gets vegetables with their dinner. Fried rice, however, will cost $2 extra (white rice is free). Overall a good meal that I recommend even though the prices are in the $20-$40 range w/o drinks or tip factored in. Finally, make reservations - you need it!
(4)
Kristen H.
I recently went here for lunch for the first time for someone at work's birthday. This place was awesome! The "show" of them preparing the food in front of you was pretty cool. The cook was very entertaining. The food was great. I got a combo (beef and chicken) that also came with a shrimp appetizer. It was cheap (can't remember the exact price but it was about $10). The fried rice was tasty. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the food is pretty greasy.
(4)
Jason M.
this restaurant is amazing, prices are decent for people who are looking for outstanding food, the yellow Ferrari was amazing, the atmosphere is amazing, this place looks great and the food is even better.
(4)
Jessica S.
By all basic criteria, yes, this is your typical Japanese steakhouse. Shared tables? Check. Entertaining chefs who cook your meal in front of you? Check. Sushi, green tea martinis, and Happy Birthday sang in Japanese? Check check and check. But don't be fooled, this place is in a league of its own. We (my friends, family, and everyone else in my close network) have been dining here for 13 years now. The food has never changed and I always expect and get the best quality and taste at Tsukasa. The new location is bigger and much more appealing to the eye. It's not often that a restaurant needs to expand as much as they did but they just couldn't handle the overflow of people wanting to eat there. A reservation is ALWAYS recommended by this Yelper because it is just that popular. We used to spend EVERY birthday, homecoming, and special occasion here and we finally had to find other options. Not because we didn't like it or got sick of it because I'm pretty sure that's impossible, but it was just becoming too cliche to eat there all the time. The highlight of Tsukasa is the fried rice and if you don't order it you're lacking something upstairs. The thick heavy teriyaki sauce they pour on it is sensational. I often get the fried rice meal instead of a meat entree. As far as meat goes however, I generally stick with the hibachi shrimp, teriyaki steak, or my favorite, sesame scallops. But you can't go wrong with anything at this place. My sister insists that their Pink Dragon is simply the best maki roll she's ever had. I personally enjoy the Tarantula. I get spicy tuna wherever I go but the 911 (XXX Spicy Tuna) is unbearable here. It's delicious, but too hot for me. Service is always fantastic but do make sure you have a reservation or you'll be crabby from waiting and that can taint any dining experience. Most of all, have fun and embrace your dinner show!
(5)
Inna T.
The food is very comparable to Benihana, but I like Benihana. Great fruity cocktail menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The service is very good. The food is very good, especially the Golden Shrimp (best I've had). Very entertaining for kids. The chefs are nice and friendly. They give you a ton of food (we rolled out of there). The prices are high but we were satisfied anyway.
(4)
miss a.
food is good. no complaints. it's a tad bit too loud sometimes
(4)
Tiffany P.
Best fried rice and ginger salad dressing, love this place!
(5)
Jonathan K.
i remember loving benihana as a kid, but now im aware of what the cooks are doing...ive never actually seen so much butter used in one instance at a time, its nuts. the food is pretty good, but its sooo heavy w all that butter, oil, and teryaki sauce. looking around, the place was filled w company groups for lunch...and a birthday group. thats what this place is for, a group outing of some sort. still curious, is tsukasa a play on words? i dont know im not nippon-ese, but it sounds too spanish haha
(3)
Jenna H.
I'm not a huge Japanese steakhouse fan--this one is pretty good though, maybe a 3.5 The chefs are fun but not eye-rollingly over-the-top. The food was good and, with the exception of my tough calamari (which was probably a stretch to order), well-cooked. The sushi was fresh & tasty--not amazing, but I would've been happy to have it as an entree. And the fried rice, which I normally pass on, somehow disappeared from my plate! Heavy, but delicious! All in all, a good dinner, & if you're in the 'burbs it's definitely worth a try!
(3)
chuck f.
Golden Shrimp! Ooh LaLa.... great suchi
(5)
penny h.
This is a nice place to go for a celebration. The food is prepared in front of you and the chef tries to get everyone at the table involved and to enjoy the experience. The preperation of the food is the best part of the experience.
(4)
Scotty I.
All I gotta say is that it's just like Benihana. Everything down to the menu is almost the same. I went there thinking it would be different. Don't get me wrong, it's a good restaurant.
(4)
Matthew k.
I'm suprised that lunch hasn't been mentioned more in this thread. A lot of people have noted the price point of this restaurant but not a lot of discussion about their lunch combo specials. For $11-15(cept lobster), you get soup or salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer(four little pieces), combo meat/fish, and fried rice. If you get a willing waitress, the way to go is Golden Shrimp / Hibachi Shrimp Combo(off menu) with a side of golden sauce. I take the side of golden sauce and mix it into the fried rice. I would bathe in their golden sauce, if it were socially acceptable. How do they make it so gosh darned delectable? A thorough google recipe search found nothing but attempts at golden perfection. And what type of crack are they putting in their ginger dressing for the salad? A quick lunch? No. Healthy? No(Golden Sauce has probably taken 2 years off my life). Best value for your Teppanyaki Dollars? Yes. Only reason for the loss of a star is that service can be indifferent at times.
(4)
Nicholle H.
This is a great place to eat. It features Asian cuisine prepared in front of you. The fried rice is the best I've ever eaten! The teriaki is tender and succulent. The people are great and know how to make you feel special on your birthday! Great show and great food!
(5)
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Address :561 N Milwaukee Ave
Vernon Hills, IL, 60061
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Tracie P.
Not only is their hibachi the best around, but their sushi is fantastic! Moving from Florida to Chicago area I am very picky about my sushi and Tsukasa does it right...super fresh! Love the yellow Ferrari and Urlacher rolls. My husband and I enjoy this place as our date night!
(5)Alice A.
Compared to other teppanyaki places around the area, I would definitely recommend going to Tsukasa. From their outdoor decor to their spacious restaurant, this place is perfect for business dinners, date nights or just for good food. I would highly recommend making a reservation, especially for weekends. They are almost always packed and walking in on a weekend for teppanyaki during dinner time will have a wait time at least 1.5 hrs. I decided to try their sushi rolls this time around after going there numerous times for their teppanyaki. I got the shrimp tempura, California roll and one tamago. Every thing was delicious! Fresh, rice was not too sticky and the rolls were intact. I don't eat raw fish so I can't say much about their sushi but people who I with that got sushi said it was very fresh. I think chicken teriyaki is a very common and popular choice for when it comes to teppanyaki. I never had a bad experience before. If you like calamari and scallops, those are pretty fresh as well! If you order shrimp, and get it "golden," be careful because they literally put a glob of butter on top of the shrimp. The butter is very overwhelming... Can't imagine anyone eating a spoonful of butter on a tiny shrimp... For someone who likes fresh salmon and appreciates their original flavor, their salmon teriyaki overpowers the fish and personally, I don't like it at all. Just feel like that salmon taste and teriyaki sauce doesn't really mix as well as chicken. Don't forget to add $2 for their fried rice! Will not disappoint! And if you don't want piles of oil and grease on your food, you can always ask them for less oil and or salt. Oh! And as for appetizers, I really like their age dashi tofu! The tofu is deep fried to perfection and the sauce goes well with it. A dish you should try if you like tofu! If you go there for your birthday, they will sing to you, give you a pineapple float thingie and they take a picture of you and your party for you to take home. ($6) A nice touch to end a birthday celebration :)
(4)Kate W.
Every time I go here, my stomach hurts for weeks. I think we went there 3-4 weeks ago and my digestive track is still not back to normal. Probably won't ever go back.
(2)Sara T.
Yesterday was my 4th time dining at Tsukasa. As much as I love Benihana, Tsukasa is better. I like Benihana's fried rice more than Tsukasa's, but I like Tsukasa's everything else more than Benihana. The steak in my order of steak teriyaki dinner was cooked perfectly medium rare. I customized my fried rice, asking them to hold the teriyaki sauce (can't believe I've become one of THOSE people who customize this and that). There's a reason traditional fried rice doesn't include teriyaki sauce -- it tastes better that way! Our table of 8 also ordered a bunch of rolls and appetizers. The seaweed salad and goma ae were good starters to wet our appetites. The group also seemed to enjoy the squid appetizers but I can't comment any further on that since I don't eat squid. We finished off with desserts. I got the tempura ice cream for around $7. It's a huge portion cut into 4 fat slices, definitely enough for 4 people... Yet... I ate it all up myself. The crispy outside with the yummy creamy crunchy strawberry bits-filled inside was a perfect conclusion to my meal.
(4)Mina H.
This is a standard hibachi place that is very popular in the area... probably due to the lack of competition... I like the food but its not spectacular in my honest opinion, just decent and a little overpriced for the value. There is a place in DT Libertyville that is on par with this, just a tiny place though... so this has that beat in size for sure. One thing about hibachi places, I don't like getting different portions of my food at various times, as the cooking process goes...rice first, and it's soon cold or gone by the time the protein and vegetables get placed on the plate.... and sometimes you don't want to watch the show but just chat... Sushi appetizer shared was GOOD... for the meal got the sesame scallops entree ($23?) and it was decent, but I prefer mine a little more seared and crisp. I guess I could have asked, but hadn't had them before so... I would like it if they had a brown rice option too. And this was a free team dinner paid for personally by the manager (thanks Mike G.), so I guess I shouldn't complain... Free == GOOD right? ;-)
(3)Jacqueline R.
Yummmmmmm!!!!! This is probably one of my favorite places to eat!!!! Me and my boyfriend go here at least once a month!!!! The lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I'm obsessed with the sushi roll "the yellow Ferrari!" Seating at the hibachi table is come first serve but it's totally worth the wait. The only downside is if you sit at a regular table versus the hibachi table the fried rice isn't the same, it's good just not as good as the guy making it I front of you at the table. Service is fast and very friendly. The restaurant is very clean as well. Would recommend to anyone looking to eat hibachi or sushi, 10 times better than Kyoto.
(5)Sara K.
One of my favorite date night places! The soup salad and rice is to die for! I literally crave it all the time! The main food is pretty good too! The hibachi chefs are really hit or miss though.. sometimes the guy is entertaining and talks to you.. other times we have gone there and gotten complete DUDS! Great restaurant but they need to work on some personalities not only within the chefs but in general they don't seem very friendly.
(4)Christine G.
We came here to celebrate my sisters 18th birthday and had an amazing time! The food was amazing and I'm actually writing this review because our chef Andy was AMAZING! I've been here about 10 times and always have a good experience, but Andy is the best!! We will ask for him every time!!
(5)Troy R.
We really enjoy going there as a big family fun event, kids love it, but service was slow and unfriendly, overpriced and attached a mandatory tip counting kids as adults without telling us ahead of time. Unfortunate because often it is great.
(1)Karolina S.
Such a great atmosphere! The resaturant is beautiful and the food is incredible. It's pricey but definitely worth it for special occasions. I love their octopus with fried rice. By the way, they have the best fried rice I've ever tasted. Great dine-in experiance!
(5)Tony A.
This restaurant is always the talk of the neighborhood. Foregoing any special occasion, my girlfriend and I just went for dinner on a Sunday. The hostess gave us the choice of being seated right away in the general area or wait 10 minutes for a seat at a grill table. We came for the habachi grill experience so we decided to wait. It was a little longer than 10 minutes but it was definitely worth it. After receiving drinks we were served with a small portion of soup and salad, both of which were very good. Next the chef came and started to prepare rice, veggies, and finally our entrees. The chef was very friendly and charming. Really made the food preparation quite a show. It's such a delight to see your food get made in a really fun way. Much better than just sitting at a booth waiting for your food to come out. Everything tasted delicious. Chicken, steak, shrimp were all cooked perfectly. Please be aware that the large portions will definitely satisfy your appetite. Almost everyone at our table went home with leftovers. Not too many negative aspects to this place. Getting a waiter to stop by is quite difficult though. They don't do the usual walk-by to refill your drink or check if you need anything. If you'd want service you'll actually have to stand up and flag someone down or ask the chef to stop and do it. This is a great and beautiful habachi grill place. Will definitely come here again. Might be a good idea to make reservations if you plan on sitting at the grill tables.
(4)Kelly B.
My favorite restaurant...ever. I love everything about this place. I usually end up sitting in the booths or by the sushi bar, you end up getting like double the amount of fried rice with your meal :) Service is always great.
(5)Tony M.
Great service! We brought our friends from out of town and they took care of us like no other. They brought out a special menu after one of our friends didnt see anything appetizing on the dinner menu and spoke perfect spanish to our guests who had a hard time ordering in english. The chef also made sure he had a smile on his face and was very friendly. The kids also loved it! 5 stars!!
(5)Christina L.
We have been here on previous occasions and normally sit at the hibachi grill. Today we chose to sit at the bar. The service was good and my boyfriend and I decided to share the Tatsuta age. We both agreed that it reminded us of chick fil a chicken nuggets...but hey that's not a bad thing. For my main course I got teriyaki salmon with fried rice with golden sauce (YUM). My boyfriend ordered the golden shrimp with the same rice. Of course we had to get the food wrapped. They give you SO much food. Overall it was a great dinner! I shall be back with the bf.
(4)Yanja B.
Conflicted with how many star to rate Tsukasa. I have been dined here on countless occasions. Time after time it has been amazing but recently I feel like the sushi quality fell off. Last night was a huge disappointment. My boyfriend and I came here for sushi. We literally got nothing but rice. We could not taste any of the fish or the stuffing inside- it was nothing but rice. BTW we ordered Ebi-Shrimp My boyfriend also ordered a side of fried rice, it was also not up to par with how it usually is. Usually its amazing and thats the main hook that keeps us coming back. After last night's experience I don't see myself coming back in the foreseeable future. There are plenty of other quality sushi options- very disappointed.
(2)Forrest R.
Absolutely the best sushi that I have had coast to coast. Everything that I have ordered here is top notch, very fresh and extremely tasty. You have to try the spicy octopus appetizer and the Yellow Ferrari roll. Although the food is amazing, I cannot always say the same about the service. I have been coming here for close to 10 years and on 2 different occasions my order was forgotten all together. On one occasion I was with a large party of about 20 people. On another occasion I was with a small group of 3 other friends. It is not uncommon for them to forget a roll or an order so keep tabs on what you ordered, what you actually received and what you are charged for! I have never had this problem sitting at the bar, the bartenders are always great. I must say, I continue to come here knowing the service is worthy of maybe only a 6 or 7 rating although the food is always a 10.
(5)Jen H.
I went for sushi. I did not like the sushi. This pink dragon roll everyone seems to like...sucked! Too much sauce on it and it's topped with too much fake crab. The spider roll was just ok, but larger and more rice than I like. Too much. I did like the age dashi tofu and the fried rice. Service was good! I asked the waitress for chicken katsu for my daughter and she had never heard of it in her life!! So don't look for katsu here unless you want to be looked at like you're crazy. I would return to try different sushi rolls. Do yourself a favor and don't get the pink dragon. I don't know why people think this is actually a good sushi roll. Disgusting.
(3)Rick G.
Awesome Teppan Yaki style Japanese restaurant. It seems like it must always be busy there. We had to wait at the bar and have appetizers which were excellent. This is not a complaint that we had to wait, the fast service at the bar made the wait enjoyable. Spinning knives and food are tossed around, the chef even tosses shrimp to one person at a time and seems to never miss landing the shrimp in the person's mouth.
(5)Alyssa P.
I have had Tsukasa twice now, once a pickup order and another dining in. It seems to be a popular place and my friend really likes it but I've had better. Pickup order was good, I was starving, the fried rice and vegetables were good and I really enjoyed the rolls (even though I am not a big sushi person which is saying something). Could care less for the "golden" option, too fatty for me. Dining in was nice although seated more towards the front, went with the same friend (we were both full) but ordered salmon, rice and rolls. Enjoyed the rolls and I am a big salmon person so I really enjoyed the salmon (though again, I've had better). Would repeat again if I was craving sushi and perhaps see a bit more of the interior of the restaurant but not an immediate go-to choice. Prices were decent for a sushi place, many people seem to enjoy, and staff was busy but friendly.
(3)Vasi D.
Sat down with my family for dinner. When the cook came out, he constantly was rubbing his nose which j found to be very disgusting. Didn't care for any extras in my food from his nose and particles that came falling out. Ordered the hibachi tuna. BEWARE!!!!! It is butterfish not even tuna and I was sick like a dog for 15 hours. Now the thought of fish makes me sick. Just google and look butterfish. This is what they are serving as tuna??? When j called to complain the lady said she fed 700 people and no one else called in to complain. ( they open at 2:00 I called in at 2:05. How many people could have called in within those 15 min ) she told me she hopes I feel better and that was it. Really? Horrible cooks with disgusting habits and rotten disgusting imitation food. Who knows if chicken is even chicken or a dead crow in a cage out back. Stay away!!!!! Will never return !!!! Also had my husband called in the evening because no one ever called me back and he also complained of being sick and the women Connie went to say that no one called in complaining of being sick from the food. What I lie. Stay away !!!
(1)Connor B.
Tsukasa is your typical hibachi grill experience, and it does a great job at being a hibachi grill. Location and Ambiance: Its kind of plopped down near a home depot, tiger direct, and other stores. This being said, the ambiance inside is great! Tsukasa does a great job setting the mood. Food: All the foods I have tried are great! Steak, chicken, and shrimp are all done right! This paired with the hibachi grill experience all make for a great time if you decide to go to Tsukasa for a meal. Staff: The staff is very generic, and there isn't any personal feel to the people who have served our tables. With this in mind, I have no complaints. As we all know a lot of your experience will depend on the chef you have. Overall, Tsukasa does a great job doing what it does. Its a hibachi grill with no unique twists along the way, which isn' t a bad thing it just means its not the BEST place I have been. With all of this in mind I think it deserves a solid 4 of 5 stars! :) Thanks, Connor Brady
(4)Alex G.
Love this place and even though it gets a little busy for dinner it's still worth the trip and the wait. Hibachi food is very good but what sets it apart is its sushi bar. the fish is always incredibly fresh menu selection is excellent and services very good. My wife and I love this place so much we sometimes even buy several gift certificates at 20% off ahead of time so when we come back it's a little cheaper. Definitely a place to go if you love Japanese food.
(5)Laura C.
Hibachi restaurants are like the Disneyland of restaurants. Cheesy, but still fun, especially with kids in tow. If you've ever eaten out with a toddler, it can be hard to keep him or her entertained enough so you can enjoy your own meal. At Tsukasa, the chefs take care of that for you, with quick knife skills, flying vegetables, and some highly volatile compounds. The meals start off with a bland, iceberg salad with an unappetizing ginger dressing. Followed by a bowl of lukewarm water and soggy, floating rice puffs, the "soup" was a disappointing beginning. Our chef carted in our veggies, proteins and white or fried rice and promptly began the show. When you surrender to the sights, smells and the sake or lychee martini kicks in, the idea that you're at a suburban hibachi restaurant disappears, and you start to soak up the atmosphere and just go with it. My scallops were cooked well, and the veggies were somewhat raw, but you're there more for the experience than the food. We left with full bellies, a smiling toddler, and a slight sake buzz. Not too shabby for a suburb dinner.
(2)Steve M.
This place is on fire..... I have been to this restaurant a few times including when they were located across the street in a strip mall. The new building is very nice with a well laid out plan of tables with their cooking surfaces. There is plenty of parking as they share the lot with other bug stores in the area. The Atmosphere: We came here to celebrate my birthday which is kind of funny because you wouldn't believe how many people come here for their birthday. There was one point where they were singing this birthday song which I didn't recognize but I'm sure that's what it was. Tim who was our chef asked the question and of course my family told him that it was my birthday. Tim being the creative chef that he is while making our fried rice spelled my name out with the rice and my made up age of 28. He then asked me what my favorite number was which I said 24. He had a frustrated but funny face as he was going to flip an egg on his flipper 24 times. He stared flipping the egg counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 times 3 = 24. The Food: We all decided to go with a combination plate. I went with the lobster and filet with fried rice. They first served us soup and then a salad. After we finished our soup and salad he pulled out the lobster tail. As Chef Tim pulled the lobster out of it's shell and seasoned it he started cutting up the vegies where he started flipping pieces of broccoli into my sons mouth until it was overflowing. Once the veggies were complete and on our plates he pulled out the filets. I ordered mine medium rare and I have to say that the steak melted in my mouth. I am going to have to add them to my list of steak joints, that's how good the filet was. The Experience: From the moment that we arrived, the experience for me and my family was amazing. We had a terrific time and really enjoyed ourselves. We will need to come back of course but next time we will try them for lunch.
(5)Luna M.
We went to Tsukasa in Vernon Hills last night to celebrate my husband's Birthday. My last time at Tsukasa's was probably a few years ago. I have been to the former location (located across the street) & I'm glad they have this new spacious area. Helpful to make reservations because they do get B-U-S-Y! They also have lunch and dinner hours so its always good to check on when they are open. They have a nice pond & rocks set up in the front. It becomes a nice photo-op moment. Now, to the real reasons why we come to Tsukasa -- for the entertainment & great food. I feel some table chefs are better than others so I was hoping for a really good chef for our table. I even joked with my family if the color of the hats indicated their expertise. Just like the black belt signifies high level of advanced skills with Karate, I wondered if the black hats were the higher leveled chefs. I think I got my family convinced, so we were a little doubtful when our chef came by with a red hat. Within a few minutes we found out that our Table Chef "Tim" was awesome. He was funny, engaged us in conversation & made sure our food orders were up to our standards. I became the source of a couple of his jokes. When he asked who wanted ginger and teriyaki sauce, I was the only one who did not want any. At the end, he insisted on giving me some teriyaki & when he attempted to squeeze some in my face -- I found out it was a trick squeeze bottle. It was funny & got the whole table laughing. So I covered "entertainment," now, to rate the food. Whenever I go to a Hibachi Grill type of restaurant, I always get hibachi filet & shrimp. I have to say that my filet at Tsukasa was so tender that it melted in my mouth. Also, their fried rice is sooooo good. Oh & their shrimp was delicious. Boy, I can't stop thinking of that great meal. I want to back real soon. In reference to pricing, I agree that Tsukasa is pricey but its worth it. Other Yelpers have mentioned that Hanakawa offers the same quality but less expensive. I will have to disagree on the quality of food. But I would rather spend a little bit more & have better quality food & entertainment. One more final note--They have another location in the Lake Zurich/Deer Park area. We will have to check out that place also.
(4)Susan S.
Really great sushi. Rice is seasoned well huge pieces of sashimi. Really fresh . If you like tepanyaki go during lunch, It's more reasonably priced.I love scallops n golden or garlic shrimp. The soup is soso. I love the ginger salad dressing on everything . I think the fried rice is to sweet.
(4)Aaron G.
Tsukasa is definitely one of the better Japanese tepanyaki grills I have been to. The chefs are humorous and clever in their cooking show. The wait staff is on top of things and the food tastes great. Tonight we had a large group and sampled quite a bit. Shrimp with garlic sauce (always great and keeps the vampires away), shrimp with egg yolk sauce (another favorite but so rich it is not for timid stomachs). Filet and other steaks cooked to order, and of course starters of sushi and tempura. Tsukasa soup is a nice alternative to the regular Miso soup (they have both). Throwing broccoli in the kids' mouths is always a fun game they play. The place is very large for tepan and has a separate area for sushi or plain table dining. If one likes this kind of meal you won't go wrong here.
(4)Melissa F.
Growing up in the North Shore, I'd heard so much about Tsukasa, nearly uniformly good. I finally tried it a few weeks ago with a friend. The space had been moved and updated, so it felt very sleek and classy. Ron of Japan is great and all, but it is outdated and long in the tooth, so to speak. We were early, so we had to wait a bit, but it was pretty efficient in terms of seating us at a good time. We sat down at our communal tables and waited. It was a Saturday night, and I know hibachi places are slammed at this time usually. The chicken soup and the salad were a bit "meh." The chicken soup was oily and oniony in terms of taste, so it didn't do much for me. My friend and I both got the California rolls as our "sides," and they were decent. The main event was very cool - setting stuff on fire in the name of quasi-fine dining never gets old, really. The veggies were good but a bit bland. My filet mignon was really well seasoned, though. The shrimp was above-average, but I've had better shrimp at other teppanyaki places. It was a bit dry. Overall, I found Tsukasa to be pleasant and not bad by any means - but really not worth it in terms of price or centering your whole night around a long "dining experience" here.
(3)Faith O.
NEVER AGAIN. This place is unprofessional and racist. Service was bad and let me tell you why. Our cook was Japanese and he clearly didn't know how to cook and kept on having chit-chat conversations with us (e.g Where are you from?, blah, blah, blah). Please, don't. Just concentrate on cooking our food instead of throwing my fried rice everywhere (they even flew to the table), and stop favoring the two Caucasians next to us by giving them more meat. Also, please don't serve food to someone and then take it from their plate to give it to someone else even though we're all related. Just because we're Asian too, it doesn't give you the right to give us bad treatment. Also we told him we want the meat to be medium rare, but it was really done. Overall: Food was oily, place was smoky (yes, I know we're near a grill but the suction was not good) and the service for getting refill on tea was really poor. Never will I set foot at this establishment! I wish this place bad luck.
(1)Lakshmi N.
I went with my family on her birthday. We had a toddler with us, so we got the regular table, not the hibachi table coz of the fire and the heat that might frighten the baby. The staff was rude. We asked to change the table twice coz we weren't happy with the table we were given. The waitress started making faces when we asked her to change the table. The food was very bland, no taste at all. It was my first time with japanese food and I did not enjoy it. I'm hoping the hibachi experience would be good but I'm skeptical about trying it out after my first experience. If you wanna go, try hibachi, donot get the regular table. Food is not tasty, and is very pricey.
(1)Ritika K.
I have been here several times for lunch with my colleagues. The service is always very fast. It gets really crowded during lunch hour so sometimes it is difficult to find a table with hibachi style cooking. Their restaurant and patio always has tables available. Both hibachi and sushi are really good. I love the hibachi sauce they serve with their house salad.
(4)Naomi Z.
I love going here for lunch (great deal) and for special dinners. (A little expensive- but always awesome). Since moving to their newer location (probably 10 years now) they have kept the staff, the atmosphere and the food consistently great. This is hard to do in an ever changing environment. I have also gone here just for sushi which was equally as good. If you are willing to have a heart attack on the spot definitely try anything with the "golden sauce". There is nothing better. Period. The calamari tppenyaki is as good as the tenderloin. I have never been disappointed. The chefs do the "usual" things- but are personable and funny. Great place to take the kids for a fancy night out.
(5)Daniel N.
Went here for lunch one day during work... sushi was good, nothing spectacular. My only advice is do not get the King Louis roll.. The waitress kept selling us on it so we were like why not, but it's a rip off. The roll is MASSIVE, but it's just a scam to get your money since its $21 and uses more ingredients. Sushi rolls that size are not good at all.
(3)Karolina L.
To start with, the service of this place was very bad. Our host was quite unprofessional and our server looked clearly uninterested in providing us with a good service. Food itself was good. I would recommend dressing up in a business suit next time you visit in order to be treated seriously.
(3)Michelle W.
One of my favorite places for sushi and special occasions.
(5)Yuri S.
Great food. Our waiter was Korean and super funny . Great place for a nice group outing . Saki was bomb!
(5)Mimi A.
I have been looking all over the midwest for a decent sushi place. In the west coast, we always have fresh fish and a vast amount of sushi bars to choose from, especially in Seattle. I was trying many different sushi restaurants here in the Chicagoland area and none could ever satisfy my cravings. That is until a coworker of mine told me about the Yellow Ferrari Sushi at Tsukasa. It looked so delicious in the pictures on her phone that I just had to check this place out. I was absolutely skeptical due to the fact that almost all sushi restaurants here were a huge disappointment. I heard so much about the culinary experience in Chicago, I figured that they must have at least one good sushi place. I found that place in Tsukasa of Tokyo. Hibachi is the entertainment but the sushi is the star of this place.
(4)Daniel M.
My girlfriend chose to come here for our anniversary, great choice. I could tell our chef max was a nice man that works hard. All in all I am satisfied amazing steak PS DONT BE THOSE SNOBBY RICH PPL WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT FLAWLESS SERVICE. ENJOY:)
(5)Mike R.
A little birthday celebration for the wife tonight. I was skeptical of coming to another "hibachi" grill. Never been a huge fan but she insisted. I'm glad we did. Fried rice was to die for. I'm beyond stuffed and staff very friendly.
(5)Britt J.
Yep, 5 Stars! We love there Sushi and their service! Highly recommend the Pink Dragon, the JJ Roll and the Bear. The rolls are all a great size and price, but the bear is especially huge... you've been warned. Their sushi is consistently fresh and, when necessary, cooked to perfection! Oh yes, and the "show" at their grill is always a good one ~ even better with a couple of Sapporo's down. Oishii!
(5)Jessica K.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was 16. Every special holiday, birthday of anniversary - this is where I have always gone.
(5)Nikki T.
Tsukasa is hit or miss. Never go for lunch. It's not all that fun and they rush you out the door. Dinner and your experience will depend on your chef. I've had great and horrible. You can complain all you want, management won't listen. The best experience I've had was at my sons 6th birthday dinner there. The chef made it all about him, spelling his name in the rice, and even allowing my son to walk over behind the grill with him where he out his hat on my son and let him hold his spatula so he could pose for a picture . These chefs are supposed to talk to you, engage you, and yes you will have a little smoke, and a grain of rice may fly. I've yet to see any chef behave in a racist manner as I read in another review.... For the most part they're great. I like their garlic shrimp, I don't eat a lot of red meat so I can't comment on their steak. all in all because management is worthless and lunch service is usually dull and rushed, I'll give just 3 stars.
(3)Madeline L.
Food is good, but nothing special. Prices are quite high for some items that don't taste spectacular. I wouldn't recommend the spicy tuna rolls - Sushi Kushi has amazing spicy tuna rolls for about the same price or even cheaper (not too sure)
(4)Jennifer B.
I've been coming to Tsukasa for years for the sushi. I've tried almost every sushi restaurant in Chicago and the northwest suburbs and nothing comes close to Tsukasa. The Yellow Ferrari and Caterpillar rolls are amazing!
(5)Jason S.
Took the wife and kids , ages 10 & 12 and they all enjoyed the food as well as the cooks skills & jokes. Everything tastes good to me. For me the rice is too sweet. We were on time for the reservations and we had to wait 15 minutes which isn't to bad. I don't mind spending good money on good food. I would say this is slightly high although I did get a big kick watching my kids enjoy it all. I'd return.
(4)Andrea C.
The cook was so funny. It hurt to laugh so much. The food was a little overpriced for the amount we got. It was pretty tasty though. I am pretty sure I paid for the entertainment because that made my whole experience better. If it wasn't for the chef I wouldn't come back. I got the teriyaki chicken with fried rice and it was okay... the fried ice cream was delicious though. It's meant for 2 people I'm,pretty sure but I ate it by myself.
(3)Andrew T.
I have yet to eat sushi here, but their Teppanyaki is pretty good. I wouldn't say it knocks my socks off, but it's definitely edible, and it kind of hits the spot once in a while. My clients like this place, and even though every time they say "Tsukasa" I hear "su casa" (as in "mi casa"). They have a steak and shrimp combo that's a favorite. If you hate your heart, you can get your shrimp "golden" - topped with what I think is some kind of almost an egg custard. It's tasty, but it's rich. And it can't possibly be good for you. Also of note, their fried rice has a little sweet/salty sauce on it, making it a lot more interesting that most places. Sometimes it's a little stickier than other times, but it's usually pretty tasty. So all in all, not bad, and worth a visit if you're looking for this kind of meal. I would like to try the sushi, but unfortunately, my clients aren't sushi people, and this isn't close enough to home to visit with more sushi-friendly diners. Oh well.
(3)Yuriy S.
Definitely my favorite sushi place. I have never tried their cooking table but dining room has great selection. My favorites are sushi salad, yellow Ferrari But honestly I have never had anything I don't like. The only problem - the place is always crowded and they don't accept reservation for dining room, only for cooking tables. Be prepared to wait a long time to be seated should you come Friday or Saturday night.
(5)Mike H.
Last night i had the opportunity to eat here and had a decent time. The food is great and the atmosphere is good but some of the employees seemed stand-off-ish or cold. All in all i had a great meal and would recommend for sure
(3)Marta R.
Delicious fried rice (they make it in front of you, if you watching your waistline please don't look how much butter they put into it :)! When they add egg to fried rice they split it and make little picture on a grill before mixing it together with rice, fun to watch. We went here over NY season and cook painted egg Xmas tree scene! I normally have lobster tail and steak with my fried rice. It's ok, lobster is a touch rubbery and I normally ask for rare steak and it is always medium at best... I never tried sushi here, it is on my to do list, so I can not comment on that. I think stuff could be more friendly and attentive overall, but in big group of people you will have fun here.
(4)Alisa S.
BEWARE THE TUNA STEAK IS BUTTERFISH/ESCOLAR!! My daughter discover this the hard way with the aftereffects for escolar ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es… ). They should warn people that it's not Albacore. We have eaten here many times as a family and have enjoyed it. This was our first time ordering the tuna steak hibachi meal. The fish was fresh and tasty, but it was not tuna as she unfortunately discovered the next day as she was running for the bathroom with the exact symptoms of Keriorrhea. (It's really hard to misdiagnose this one...) I called the restaurant to let them know that their tuna steak is not tuna and the woman was very defensive and refused to acknowledge that it was their food. I told her that it wasn't that the fish wasn't fresh, it just wasn't tuna and that maybe they needed to talk to their supplier. Not sure we will eat here again after the way they handled this incident....but if we do we definitely won't order the tuna....
(1)Deena R.
Never had the hibachi, but I understand it's really the thing most people associate with the place. I'm a sushi whore - yeah I said it -- and this is THE BEST, hands down, sushi for many many miles. It's incredibly consistent, so I can get the same things over and over as I tend to do, and it will be exactly as I expect. First - don't be put off by the menu. It's not easy to know the descriptions (look on the back of the ordering sheet). And yes, it can be expensive, but if you follow my advice, you can get out of there at a reasonable sushi price. First, if you like scallops, you MUST have the Yellow Ferrari. It's large, it's fresh, and it's tough to pick up with chop sticks -- trick: make sure one stick is on rice, not both on avocado. Yes, it's expensive, but hold on, I'm about to create balance in your world.. The Mexi-Maki - fresh, light, and inexpensive. Now, when you look at the Ferrari price, you can justify it. The nigiri/sashimi is top notch every time. I love their Kani-Su, it's got king crab, but that's not something I get often because of the price. Hey, if I'm gonna be frugal somewhere to justify the Ferrari, I'll just get a salad or miso as filler appetizer. The Stuffed Tomatoes (not tomatoes at all) are priced per piece and are spicy. One per diner is enough to get the experience of it without going broke. The only thing I'd advise against is the 911 roll. It was painfully hot and I didn't get the flavor of the fish - just mouth pain. Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer H.
We came here for my birthday with a large group. What made the experience fun was just being with my friends. The food was decent but part of what you pay for is the entertainment. I've been to other hibachi restaurants where the chefs went all out. Not here. The chef was friendly but not over the top.
(3)Estee G.
I came for dinner w my friend middle of the week. We ordered wine and tuna tartar. It was amazing. The waitress barely paid attn to us, but we were so busy with our conversation that it didn't matter.
(5)Ashley S.
Eh....I love sushi, this is a well known fact. The service here was horrible, we had a total of three servers at our table, which caused our order to be delayed because no one was putting it in... The sushi was good, but the service kind of ruined the experience.
(2)Malish B.
This place has the best Sushi in all of Chicago and we have tried many places. The quality and freshens of the fish is hard to beat. We still come back every time we are in the suburbs. The actual teppanyaki grill is also very good the garlic shrimp is great and by far the best fried rice
(5)Taylor M.
Tsukasa is a fun restaurant to go to every once in a while. It is fun to have a show while you eat your dinner, but I feel like the food is not that great. The chefs are fantastic when it comes to entertainment. I am allergic to mushrooms and everything on the menu comes with a ton of mushrooms. When I ask for no mushrooms, I am giving just the same amount of meat, which is not very filling. I was super disappointed in the calamari tempura. It was tasteless fried mush... The vegetable tempura was yummy though. The sushi was just okay... did not seem like anything special, but I just got traditional rolls. For the meal, I got the tuna and steak combination. I had my tuna cooked rare which was good, but it was already cold when it hit my plate. I ordered the steak medium rare and got it medium well... it was dry and tasteless. My favorite parts of the meal where the soup (yummy) and the pineapple birthday dessert. I also truly enjoyed the drinks here. I tried a couple different mixed drinks and Juan did a fantastic job with all of them. Also, I kept having to ask for a glass of water and I did not receive it until after dinner!
(3)Valerie W.
We've been coming to Tsukasa for years for various special occasions, and for me, this last trip included some things that were great, some things that fell short, and some things that were downright no bueno. The good: I tried the calamari for the first time. I'd seen it before but usually stick to my steak and shrimp combination. Since I'm *trying* to eat healthier, I went with shrimp and calamari instead. The calamari was tender and perfectly cooked, with a dash of teriyaki for extra flavor. Our chef was great for entertainment. We had three birthdays at our table, and he made sure they all felt special. The stuff that fell short: The flavors on practically everything else fell a bit flat. Everything was just sort of, bland. The soup, the veggie tempura, the fried rice, the veggies... all just a little flat tasting. I do have to say, it's better than eating what tastes like a salt lick, but... something just wan't jiving. I gave my sister my leftovers. Outright. I NEVER give up teppanyaki leftovers. EVER. The downright no bueno: we had two different servers who just couldn't seem to keep things organized. The result? A bottle of wine we did not order, added to our bill. My dad tends to inspect these things with a fine toothed comb, so, he caught it, but think of how many other's don't? I notice that I'm not the first person that is mentioning to inspect the bill. I feel as though this location has declined a bit since moving to their new SUPER MEGA HUGE location. I liked it better when it was in the strip mall. Luckily, they have the Kildeer location now (closed on Monday's), but I still think I prefer Hanakawa.
(3)Boon K.
My friends love this place and maybe it was too hyped up for me. We came here for my birthday and my best friend's birthday and over several sushi rolls and hibachi. I must say I really love the sushi rolls and their names were crazy that I can't remember most of them but they were huge. I had the combination which was the filet, golden shrimp and golden shrimps with fried rice. Wow did they use a lot oil. The teriyaki sauce a so thicken with sugar that it was too sweet for my taste. The fried rice was also sweet as they use the teriyaki sauce to season with. I did like the golden shrimp and the golden sauce was light and fluffy. I really wish the soup and salad that it came with was better season as it was generic too me. It was lot of food even without the sushi rolls.
(3)Carl F.
I usually don't like giving 3 stars to places because it really does not make a clear stand on my view of the place... it's somewhat in limbo. Where as a 2 indicates I don't like it and a 4 or more clearly states I like it. After mulling over the rating for this place, I decided I was in limbo... I've been to better and I've been to worse. What Tsukasa has going for it is the entertainment factor, especially for events like birthdays & anniversaries. It's a nice place to come perhaps 2 times a year but more than that would probably be overkill, considering all the other choices in the area. If your not familiar with these type of places I'll give a quick run down. Albeit the decor and name are Japanese and they market themselves as Japanese, it's somewhat a tad off the mark and it is really a place where they serve steak, chicken or seafood right in front of you. It is cooked to order, using Asian spices/sauces, and as the guy cooks it, he perform a little show tossing about the fork, spatula, doing a few tricks with an egg or veggie, some roaring flame and a neat thing with an onion... which is neat when you see it the first time, but after that it's old hat. Wait Time: We had reservations, with a party of 8 and we were seated right away with no issues. Wait Staff: They were friendly, but to the point and not much help in addressing your questions on the menu. If your looking for suggestions, it doesn't seem they are very open to providing suggestions. You clearly get the feel this is a get them in, feed them, and clear them away from the table so we can get another set of people in and make more money. Cook: This is a luck of the draw type of thing... however he is pivotal in either making this a fun evening or just plain ol' bla. There are the cooks who simply have that entertainment factor and captivate the audience. They put on a good show, crack jokes, make things lively and get everyone at the table in a jovial mood. So if your lucky, you get one of these guys and you walk out of the place content and glad you came. But... if your not luckily, you get the lack, luster cook who is not engaging and simply goes thru the repetition of tossing the egg about, makes the onion choo-choo, and goes about his cooking stone faced with probably about as much zeal as the person in the back scrubbing the dishes. With this cook you generally leave unfulfilled and grudging the price of the bill. Food Quality: From the looks of it, the food appears to be of a good quality, yet how it ends up once it hits your plate is all dependent upon how tentative your cook is. I know this is an obvious factor, but considering the cook is right there in front of you prepping the meal, it's that much more obvious. I've seen really nice cuts of steak make it to the plate tasting really good... but on he other hand I've seen these same nice cuts get overly abused and too well done to be any good. Cost: Pricy... easily $35 + for each person coming to the table... kids included! In summary... this place is somewhat like a factory. They have a fixed menu, they don't like to waver too far from the menu, they get you in, to their thing, then get you out as quickly as possible. The entire success of the event is highly dependent upon the cook. Now, I've not kept track, but at this place it seems around 1 in 4 are good cooks/entertainers. If your looking for something different to do for an anniversary or birthday or take someone who has never experienced something liked this (which is becoming rare these days) this will do the trick, but it's also a gamble as well. So, choose wisely.
(3)Anthony C.
One of the best japanese kitchen restaurants in the area, highly recommended!
(4)Mad I.
ALL TIME favorite sushi....and I live in Chicago! Everything is soo good, I will just mention my favs Yellow Ferrari-omg!! Worth every penny. Whole scallops a top each of the 8 pieces Tarantula: spider roll with a yummie soft shell crab mixture on top, amazing JJ: really good eel with sauce deliciousness! Chicken fried rice, who knew! Soo sweet and yummie Pink dragon: my first roll here, sooo amazing...what is that crab combo on top with that sweet sauce? Top notch!!!!
(5)Anastasia D.
Wherever I go - I could always ask to substitute meat or shrimp with tofu when I order noodles or rice. I couldn't believe when our waiter told me it's not feasible - I asked the owner the same question. The Japanese owner refused to satisfy my request out of principle. He was very rude and arrogant. I couldn't believe that they don't respect their customers. Very unpleasant experience, we left right away
(1)Justine S.
Been here so many times. Food is always good i'll give them that. But the service is just terrible. Everyone is in a hurry, no genuine gestures.. every employee's personality is so DRY! you come here for a special occasion, but they have the same tricks every time.. I wish they learned new table tricks so it's not boring whenever you come back. They NEED to work on customer service. BIG TIME
(2)Marie C.
Obviously love it here and is always fun for birthdays even though we are getting older every year! Really great drinks esp their martinis or sake bombs and I always end up ordering scallops. The chefs are always entertaining and funny :)
(5)Marissa L.
Worst ever. So many other things I would have rather spent over $100 on. If I wanted to watch a shakey old man drop things all night, I'd watch a michael j fox movie. Make the drive to kampaii, its way better.
(1)Alice L.
I miss Chicago! Can't wait to move out there this April. I'm from LA and we have a plethora of sushi restaurants out here. Glad to find a sushi joint in the Midwest that's just as yummy if not better. Excited to go back here with my hubby :)
(4)Lisa F.
The first time I visited it was for a birthday at a hibachi table. The entertainment was fun and the shrimp was delicious. Since my office is close I decided to try Tsukasa for lunch. This is a wonderful place for lunch! Love, love, love their sushi. Always fresh, made well, and sitting at the bar can be an extra treat (the staff is really nice). I enjoy the chicken teriyaki with fried rice and the portion is large enough for two meals. Even though the meal is large they do not skimp on the quality. Go and try teriyaki, yakiudon, sushi, and hibachi!! Im sure everything else on the menu is good too!!
(5)Jim M.
We had the best time! I'd never been to this location, but my mom took me, my older sister and her kids out here last week during my visit home. Huge place, very clean and we must have arrived RIGHT on time, because it was pretty chill when we got there, but completely paked [with a wait] by the time we finished up. Our chef was very cool and even went easy on the "big oil flames" after noticing that my 3 y/o nephew was hiding under the table to escape certain death. We tried the chicken, fish and steak, along with some fried rice and vegetables. Everything was perfectly cooked before our eyes... just a really cool experience. FYI that I think if you come here with just 2-3 people then you get stuck sitting with other people at the table. That wouldn't be my favorite thing personally, so if you go, consider reservations and bring a group of 5-6 so you have a solo show all to yourselves!
(4)Dr S.
terribly overpriced sushi and mediocre taste, tasted bland actually, not very good....
(1)Michael R.
I don't know if it was the cook that I had, but this was hands down the most disappointing Japanese Steakhouse experience I have had in recent memory. I was taken here by a vendor for a luncheon, and we all opted for a variety of the combination plates, many of which included their Teriyiki sauce, and some were the Golden Shrimp. Given that it was lunch, we weren't expecting a full dinner show, and being with vendors it was less of a concern, but the attitude of our chef was sub par. It was almost like he was only there to be a short-order cook; cooking and serving the food without interacting with any of the folks' at his table or any pieces of flair. It was like he was just going through the motions before his shift was over. The rice and sides weren't bad, but anything with the teriyiki sauce left a greasy, oily taste in my mouth and was not at all appetizing. I'm not sure if they make their sauce on-site or use a vendor provided sauce, but the taste and feel were all off for what I would consider good or even homemade sauce to taste like, and that unfortunately set the mood for the lunch. Additionally, my boss had the unfortunate pleasure to order the Golden Shrimp, which were custard covered shrimp, and when they were served, the custard was not even cooked all of the way through. We were both experiencing some gastrointestinal discomfort later that afternoon. This was unfortunate because based on the expectation set by our vendor, we were excited to be visiting the restaurant. I'm willing to give Tsukasa a second chance, but I would be skeptical if I saw the same chef at my table again.
(2)Erica T.
I have been to this place so many times for so many different occasions and not even close to being sick of it! I could eat their sushi salad for every meal of the day! If you love raw fish, a little crunch and the perfect kick of spicy-ness then I highly recommend. I haven't met anyone who doesn't love it. Also, the pink dragon maki roll and yellow Ferrari maki roll are super creative, beautiful and always delicious!!Every time I bring someone here for the first time they love it and always come back. Great for family occasions, work parties or just a dinner with a friend or significant other. You can never go wrong with tsukasa!
(5)Jenny Z.
It's mediocre. Overrated and pricey. Nothing I've had here from the fried rice to the scallops to steak were really that impressive.
(3)Mike V.
First if all the fried rice is the best I've ever had! The chef was amazing and really nice to my 3 yr old who was amazed at his culinary skills. The wait staff kept drinks full and dishes cleared. You also get a lot of food so no worry of leaving hungry. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five was due to the young lady who sat us. The tables fit 2 on two sides and 4 on one side. I was there with my wife and child. 1 lady was sitting on a 2 person side by herself. My family attempted to sit on the 4 person side. She told us that this was for a larger sitting of people so that they could fill up the table. We ended up squeezing 3 chairs on a two person side. While the next group of "3" was seated five minutes later. I almost left but this was a birthday dinner for me from my family. I please ask that they should worry about your current guest first. Overall it was a great time after the seating issue.
(4)Sarah d.
Bad service,the sushi is so good it almost makes up for it though ... the guy I talked to on the phone to make a reservation with was not friendly at all(his name was Armando), love the pink dragon and the Ferrari roll is my favorite ... It's really a shame... I've been here quite a few times with my girl friends... Bartenders are friendly but the waitstaff not at all
(3)Brad G.
If you've ever been to Benihana you are aware of the type of place Tsukasa of Tokyo is, a Japanese hibachi and sushi joint. I went for lunch with some co-workers as part of a going away party. Eight of us went during a typical week day and sat at the grill, and were out of there in about an hour. The restaurant itself is very spacious and tidy inside, with a sushi/bar area and grill area. Our chef who was Mongolian was fantastic, and prepared all of our meals well. I had the Steak and Golden Shrimp, the shrimp are very rich but tasty. The onion soup is bold and flavorful, while the ginger dressing salad is crisp and delicious. The only thing keeping this from a five star review is the fact that they put teriyaki sauce in their chicken fried rice, which is just strange to me. I've been to many hibachi places in my time, and I've never seen that before. In my opinion, this was a huge let down as one of my favorite things at Benihana, is their simple chicken fried rice. Either way, I'll be back to this place for sure.
(4)Kat A.
My fiance and I love this place. Beats Benihana hands down. The chefs are all Asian as opposed to Benihana's Latino chefs. Their teppanyaki show is entertaining. I love the fried rice. My favorite sushi rolls are the yellow ferrari and J.J. They also have another item I like but that is not on the menu- the green tomato. I ask for spicy salmon or spicy tuna to be filled inside slices of avocado, so it's shaped like a tomato.
(4)Christina S.
In anticipation of a double birthday celebration tomorrow night, visions of hibachi shrimp dance in my head. I find it appalling that I have not yet reviewed Tsukasa! I cannot compare this to another Japanese steakhouse, as I've never been to one. Having said that it has the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have in your life, and that's no exaggeration. The combinations are a great way to try out a variety of items on the menu. I recommend the filet mignon combination with hibachi shrimp. Golden batter shrimp is good but that is very rich it is not for everybody. It's not what you think; it is not fried shrimp in a batter. It is grilled shrimp with eggy, golden, buttery thick batter that sits on top of the shrimp as it cooks on the grill. If you get an appetizer my favorite is the shumai with wasabi (steamed pork dumplings). Your first bite will zing right through your nose! I also really enjoy the soup that comes with the combination meals. It's a chicken broth with little wonton pieces in it with a few noodles. The broth itself I think has such wonderful flavor. For you vegetarians, the grilled vegetables they serve are plentiful so you won't feel like you're skimping, and they have a lot of vegetarian options in addition to that as well. If you have the option, try going at lunch (weekdays only) instead of dinner and it will save you a few coins. The show is fun at lunch and dinner, and kids really enjoy the flaming grill and how they flare up, with the exception of the occasional scared out of your mind kid- but they usually bounce back. ;) If it's just you, and you have a hankering for Tsukasa, getting take out vegetable fried rice and soup will save you significantly. The rice is only $3.50 or so and they really give you a huge amount whether you're there or whether it's takeout. The rice seriously last 3 to 4 meals unless you're a pig like me. Again it's the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have, I kid you not. Tsukasa is one of my favorite restaurants, and on the pricey side ($30+ a person, easy) so usually for special occasion for us, but not to be missed! (Crap, it's after 2 a.m. and now I'm drooling for Tsukasa! I blame my Yelp addiction for this!!!)
(5)Joel P.
This last visit was pretty horrible which is why I'm dropping my rating down. We ordered the lunch special which comes with soup or salad. Soup bowl came out half-full. I asked to switch out golden shrimp for garlic shrimp and the waitress said that was fine. She didn't tell me there would be an up charge which I found on my bill. When I asked her about it she made it seem that it was my fault. She didn't take care of it and spent about 15min prior to bringing out the non - revised check. On top of that the cook left egg shell in the fried rice. I was coming here about once a week for lunch but will likely not return for some time.
(2)Zara S.
Number one place to go for sushi. It gets very busy on weekends so plan accordingly.
(5)Daniel M.
I have always been a fan of chinese food. It is fantastic and would pay anything to get a high quality meal. Tsukasa is definitely the restaurant to go to. It's great, the food is awesome, the cooks are fun and the atmosphere is relaxing, for the most part. Sure, they could improve on their servers as they always seem miserable as can be but it isn't bad. The service is OK, and I feel that's what draws me away from this restaurant. And, it can get really noisy. It's definitely family-friendly but it can get noisy, especially since everyone is seating so close together.. It's pricey so be careful how many people you bring here but if you are out for a nice birthday or anniversary dinner, Tsukasa is a great place to go and enjoy yourselves. I recommend you eat here. I'm not entirely crazy for this place but it is nice and it provides you great food and definitely a great time. You can even choose whether you want to sit at a public table where the cooks cook in front of you or a private table like any other ordinary restaurant serving style. Stop in and try it, it's worth a shot!
(3)Philip D.
A group of 14 went here for a birthday party dinner. The reservation was at 5:30 pm, the entire party was there but 2 they would not seat any of the group till all of the party was there. They made they ENTIRE party wait for 20 min for the last two (jt was myself and my spouse) to arrive, I understand if it was half the party not to be there to make wait, but 2, that is just bad customer service, they could have seated the group and started with drinks. HELLO make more money! So we arrive and they seat us. I go up with the birthday girl and the manager has the nerve to say "Well we need to hurry up since you are late we are behind, lets get you seated!" I told the manager I think it is bad service to make a whole party wait for 2 people when 12 are here. She looks at me like HOW dare you, shakes her head and pretty much waves me away. As we are all seated the server was very off, we had two hibachi tables and we were not on the same schedule. The soup, the salad, the drinks, we all got it at different times, thank god the chefs knew what they were doing and put us back on the same schedule. When we were done with the main course, again the chefs were awesome, the server again screwed up and was giving dessert to 2 people while 12 people were still eating dinner. He had no concept of time, so I had to tell him take it back and wait till we are all ready. So we get it all in sync AGAIN and it goes OK. The night wraps up and its ok. I did my friend a favor and said NOTHING till it was all over. I spoke to the owners daughter, the same story I typed above, she was shocked and very sorry. She tried to find her sister. In the process she felt the best person to handle the situation was the manager (the lady in the start who said to hurry we are late and need to be seated, the look of death lady) She came and talked to us. I said I would rather not talk to you since you are part of the problem. She said she is the one to handle all the issues. Ok, so we explain it all and she goes, "Well, I did you a favor by holding the table longer than 15 min, we should have given your table away. We also let you stay longer than 8:30 pm because we dont let people stay that long." I was floored. I said thats enough. I walked over to the owners daughter I told her what she said and she goes "Sorry but there is nothing I can do. I am sorry you feel that way." Moral of the story, don't be late, don't have big parties, don't expect them to understand. Never going back again.
(1)H K.
The service: Host had his back to the door talking to coworkers when we walked in, waitress was rude and seemed like she didn't really know English. Hibachi chef was nice and entertaining. I dropped my fork and he blew me off, then when I asked again he said we have to wait until the waitress comes back instead of calling her over. My friend had told the waitress that there was a hair in his salad and she took it away and did not bring another. Since we were a party of 2, we were sat with another party who had also found hair on one of their plates! The food: Hair in 2 separate dishes at our table alone.... They start you off with soup & salad. The soup was yummy! Salad I don't care for and asked not to be given. Then you have a choice of meat (or meats if you get a combination) and either fried rice or white rice and they give everyone vegetables. They don't have noodles! That alone will keep me away for good. The environment: LOUD. There was a table 2 over celebrating a new marriage with lots of drinks. I had to yell when ordering my food. All in all, I will not return again. The Hibachi place in my hometown in PA is much better and less expensive. Expect to spend anywhere from $30-50 on each person.
(1)John C.
Ate here while traveling for work. Best fried rice I have tasted in a long time. Food at cook were great. The server acted like they didn't want us there. Otherwise great experience. Better service would make this a solid 4 star.
(3)Julia P.
I crave the Yellow Ferrari, each piece has an entire scallop on top of it! It is delicious...
(4)Brian H.
Absolutely great!! I haven't been here in 3 years due to changing business but I'm back and it's as good as I remember. You HAVE to sit at the sushi bar and ask for Ricky - he's unrea. Ask him to make a special and he'll make what he's feeling and he'll never disappoint you.. Phenomenal.
(5)Maddy K.
This place is so cool! The chef threw broccoli in our mouths! Having the food made in front of us was awesome. It was quite a show. The food was delicious, too. I had the tofu which was a little too soft for my liking but everything else was excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to a friend, and I would love to return someday.
(4)Lauren M.
Best place to eat EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Great atmosphere, great chefs and they just know the recipe to do it right. Do a sakebomb for me!
(5)Jenna C.
Went there for the first time. It was delicious and the best sushi I'ver ever had, but a bit expensive and it took a while to sit even with my reservation.
(4)Eric S.
Great fun for the kids and delicious food as well.
(5)Nina G.
Good food. Fun presentation. Should work on service - our waitress barely speaks English.
(3)Hanna R.
This place has been a lifetime favorite of mine. I have been going to this place since I was about 11 years old with my parents. That was way back when this restaurant was just a little place in a strip mall next to Chuckie Cheese. So nice to see that they dragged that Pacman machine over to their new location, brings back memories. :) The food has never disappointed me here. Steak is always PERFECTO; you can tell they always use prime ingredients for their food. I remember taking my BF here for the first time when we started dating and he was just blown away. This has become one of his favorite spots as well; he is obsessed with the Golden Shrimp and the fried rice! The sushi is also decent, but you know that people are more here for the Hibachi! The chefs in themselves are pretty much always friendly and ready to entertain, and make awesome food to boot. Love the chefs that like to strike up a conversation and joke around with you; makes you feel so much more welcome than the rare chef that just cooks and you feel like you're awkwardly watching him. Let me repeat though, that running into the latter sort of chef has been very rare for me! Only thing that gets to me every time are the servers. When they were in their smaller location years ago, they were so much more attentive. Now, it's like I have to flag down someone, ANYONE, just to get something that I would like! And if you order steamed rice instead of the usual request for fried rice, you better pay attention to make sure you get it. Most times, I have to flag someone down because they almost always forget to give me my steamed rice!! Quite frustrating. But despite that, this place is definitely worth trying; best Hibachi in the area in my opinion!
(4)Wendy W.
I'm so disappointed I could write a novel but to keep it short, they try to pass low quality beef as filet mignon. I'm seriously wondering if they use "meat glue" google it. Also if you order 3 "filets" they make 2 and add mushrooms for filler chop it up and divide it into 3... I have been eating here since my 18 year old was about 6 and I have noticed these changes in the last year or so. Sometimes I go with a group for a birthday party or whatever and since they are not frequent diners they think its incredible however, I can tell the difference and I am disgusted and will not be back they lost a loyal customer because they are cheap and greedy. We usually eat at a regular table and the service is terrible. Thats another novel in itself.. Pay attention next time you eat here.
(1)Alex M.
Best sushi in the far north suburbs of Chicago. Large pieces of freshest fish and creative rolls. Teppanyaki (grilled ) food is pretty good too. No lunch Saturday or Sunday.
(5)Liz S.
Absolutely delicious and fresh tasting sushi. They have many original rolls they are famous for, like pink dragon. If you are going for habachi, they are cleaner and better than benihana, and for sure their sushi is much, much better. They get incredibly busy and getting into the habachi part of the restaurant calls for reservations.
(5)Joel A.
We started going to Tsukasa again after realizing their bar menu is awesome. Tasty chicken and a great sushi menu has us going here on a regular basis.
(5)Katie K.
I was following a thread and was recommended this place over Benihanas (which I love) . I looked through their menu online and found a nice variety with all prices straight forward. We arrived at 5:30ish on 8/12/2012 and they said just about a 10min wait (probably for more to arrive so we wouldn't be at the grill forever). We sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The bartender was very nice and helped me choose a good house drink. I tried the Tsukasa Blue Tea. It has enough sweetness for my liking with a nice sour kick to cut through that. We get seated and start looking through the menu. The waitress for our table was currently getting drinks orders for other guests which was great because I really wanted a water. She kind took off without even acknowledging us. I just shrugged it off because I would just ask her when she came back. I feel bad but no acknowledgement to guests even though they may have drinks, not good service. Anyways we order, I got the Steak and Chicken combo with a upgrade to fried rice. I love the fact they clearly state in their menu upgrade charges. My husband got the Filet and Calamari combo also with fried rice upgrade. (Filet upgrade is only $2!!) All combos come with soup, salad, your choice of side, rice (as stated we upgraded from white to fried) veggie medley, and ice cream. The soup was nice and hot and quite delicious. We both devoured the salad, dressing is incredible! When the chef arrived he did something i really liked, he asked if you would like a side of teriyaki, ginger sauce, and mustard. This is huge because I love teriyaki and other places never give you extra. And they didn't waste pouring a bunch out when you dont like it, waste not what not! Our chef was awesome, very polite and even though there was a young girl (maybe 8) at our table he didn't try to favor her with tricks. He had some new tricks I haven't seen yet so I was impressed with his trick style. The fried rice was incredible! So good. Difference between T and B, B does chicken fried rice, T just fried rice. So all i would have to do is save some of my chicken and tada I have that. The veggie medley consisted of onions, zucchini, carrots and brocoli. Now I am not a fan of brocoli, chef noticed and gave me some of the extra onions. B honestly I feel is better with the medley. They use more soy sauce and grill them a bit longer so they have more bite. T though it was very good, they were mushy after a few min and very little flavor. Now onto my steak and chicken, just wow. Everyone else who orded steak go filet and I got the normal steak. I am not complaining because the cut i got was so tender and delicious. My chicken was so flavorful and moist! I tried a bit of my husbands filet and yes it was very good as filet is, but my steak was just as good. My husband has no words for how good his Filet and Calamari were. This was simply much better quality meat then B ever had and we have eaten there over 20 times easily. Now I am singing praises so why a 4 star, the service, I said thank you and smiled and tried so hard to get something out of my server, she wouldn't even look up, she never acknowledged us until she took our order for dinner after being back and forth with drinks for the rest of the guests 3 times. And honestly the veggie medley, it just wasnt that good. But everything else was amazing and I will totally be back!
(4)Natalie F.
Sushi, sake, pretty girls!!!
(4)Vince V.
Chef Daniel starts the show with a controlled grease fire, the kind that makes you inventory your eyebrows. He does the bit with the onion choo-choo train, which starts off as an onion facsimile of a fiery volcano. There's the bit where he flips bits of broccoli at your waiting mouth. It's all a game, and damn it, I'm enjoying it. I come here, like so many other customers for the golden shrimp. It can't be good for me or any other human being but I can't help it. Their version also happens to be the best when comparing them against Teppan Kegon, Ron of Japan and Kampai. Benihana doesn't offer the dish. Steaks are always done right, in my case a lovely medium-rare. Their fried rice is a tad sweet with the addition of a little teriyaki sauce but again, it all works because it's just a tad bit different. Kitschy cookery? It's easy to dismiss the whole teppanyaki experience when you look at it that way. I on the other hand do not. You see when it comes to food pyromania and overall silliness, it's hard to beat it. And what Tsukasa does better than their contemporaries is they have more fun with it and that is what makes it special. A bit less formal, a lot more sincere.
(5)J J.
I only gave this place 2 stars, because the place is nice, big and bright inside. however, I do not judge the food I eat, on the ambiance. this place is over-priced and foo-foo Americanized food. poor quality, poor portions and totally inauthentic. absolutely no thought or care went into my food. there are way too many other places I'd rather give my business to.
(2)Becky P.
YUMMY! I think that the food here all depends on the chef you get. We had a great chef who actually had a conversation with us and made excellent food. As always, their ginger dressing is out of this world. I pour it all over my steamed rice.... mmmmm!!!! We did try an appetizer, the pork dumplings. They were OK. When they said spice, I thought they meant chili pepper spice, not a tablespoon of wasabi spice. Whoops! Always great for groups (as long as you fit at 1 table!) and great for a nice night out!
(5)Chet M.
This is the place to get your "Golden Sauce" fix. No need to sit at the show grill, you can get it on your Hibachi shrimp entree. You get 8 shrimp covered with this delicious concoction and a helping of fried rice that will last you for 3 meals. Also, by sitting at a regular table, you can order shushi ala carte. Get the blue fin tuna (vs the yellow fin tuna) if they got it. It's much tastier than yellow fin and not a rip like toro or fatty tuna. Server was a young dude and could have been friendlier.
(4)Wa W.
I've been to many teppanyaki places coast to coast and this is easily my favorite given the right demo chief. The food is good, but I never come for the food. The showmanship is the true value for this dinning experience. Few things in life are more pleasant than spending a evening with the people you love while entertained by a humorous and skilled entertainer around a sizzling dinner table. The joy it brings to one's love ones can be felt in the depth of one's soul. In brief don't come alone, don't order sushi but open your eyes for a soul-stampeding time :)
(5)Frank N.
This place is awesome! The "show" during the dinner is funny and amazing. The chefs are gifted and they make the dinner experience complete! The fried rice has such a distinct flavor and is too addicting! I have tried to copy that recipe many times even after watching them make it, but to no avail! The lobster and meat choice is the way to go and the sushi is killer!
(5)Bernardo S.
Obviously a lot of people love this place but I don't quite get it. The food is ok but nothing great and the service typically is slow. I only go here when a friend picks but overall not bad just not great.
(3)A K.
We went there for sushi couple of times with our suburban friends. Sashimi, rolls, and sushi salad portions are huge, comparatively fresh and tasty, but elegance and personality are missing both from the food and from the place itself, which is but a huge barn. Bottom line is, what's good for suburbans is not good enough for city dwellers, so I am not switching from my favorite little gem of a sushi place yet. And no, I am not naming it here either - it's too small for all of you!
(3)Jen S.
This place is great! I have experienced the Sushi bar and the steakhouse side. The sushi bar is delicious. I don't get very adventurous with my sushi rolls but my favorite here is the spicy tuna. YUM! Also, you have to have the edemame as an app. The steakhouse side is super entertaining. The chefs entertain you while cooking and can be quite funny! They will throw broccoli or something at you to catch in your mouth, all part of the experience! The fried rice at this restaurant is my favorite fried rice in the world! (You can order it from the Sushi side of the restaurant as well.) I have had the chicken teriyaki every time I have gone but next time I might try the salmon because it looked dang good! Brian Urlacher is known to come here a lot and even has a sushi roll named after him. They love him! GO BEARS! PS You will smell the food on your clothes later. You are sitting basically on top of the food being cooked so it makes sense.
(4)Marina K.
Unfortunately, after moving away more than a decade ago and remembering about this restaurant, on the recent visit we had the WORST experience. This isn't about the food, nor the atmosphere. The manager, or whoever is the gentleman behind the reservation counter was an amazingly rude, obnoxious and cantankerous. It is unfortunate how he forgot the fact that his salary is paid by the customers he treats like dirt. I have NEVER had a worst experience in a restaurant, nor have I ever been treated lower by an establishment whose survival depends on customers. I will NEVER come here again, and if you don't like being treated like dirt, you shouldn't either!!!!!
(1)Marlo P.
So I was searching for a new place to eat tonight and was craving sushi and my husband told me he's done a fire alarm inspection at this place and told me the place was very nice. I guess it's also important to say that he's seen the kitchen in the back and that it is pretty clean back there, which is a good thing because you wouldn't want to eat somewhere with a dirty kitchen. I can't speak for the teppanyaki but I did sit at the sushi area. I have to say that it's pretty loud here. Maybe because it was a Friday night and there were a lot of people at the bar that was right next to the sushi area but I felt like I was yelling at my husband while I was sitting there. I ordered myself 2 Kirin light beers and it's one of the cheapest prices I've seen on Kirin at a restaurant thus far. I ordered a few things. Asparagus beef roll (pictures above!) 911 tuna roll (pictures above!) J.J. maki roll (pictures above!) Dragon roll and spicy tako tempura The 911 tuna roll was my favorite maki roll of the night. I like my food spicy and when I saw this roll on their menu I had to try it. You eat it at first and you feel like you're eating a regular spicy tuna roll and then it hits you.. hard. The J.J. roll was really good too. It had everything I wanted in the roll including eel, shrimp tempura, avocado, masago, and a couple more awesomeness things. The dragon roll and the spicy tako tempura were just okay. Nothing to brag about. But what really made my night was my appetizer. I didn't think I was going to be ordering something so delicious! That asparagus wrapped in beef smothered in a sweet sesame soy sauce was just so good. I never had it before, but I was feelin' for some asparagus and glad that I had gone with it. I actually ordered it before my sushi meal and AGAIN after eating sushi. The sushi prices were pretty good and the ambiance just made me feel so hip and cool on a Friday night. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone! You will for sure catch me here again.
(5)Paul E.
I absolutely love this place! My family and I have gone back there every time we have a good group to go with. It's an absolute blast when you have a very interactive chef, but the food always tastes great. The place is clean and the staff is a little on the snobby side, but they are accommodating and get the job done. Reserve your table because it gets really busy there.
(4)Justin S.
I don't like to give 3 stars to a business on yelp, but for me this place gives off mixed reviews. When I was little, I would go to Tsukasa every year for family events and birthday dinners. The food, while sometimes overpriced, tastes great and is some of the best Japanese Steakhouse food I have ever had (the rice really is to die for). Now, after not going for a few years, this place has lost a little bit of its once special quality in my mind. The food is still the great sushi/habachi it was when it first opened, but the chefs and their acts have not changed in 6 years, leaving this place feeling repetitive after you go more than once. The prices of the food are what you would expect from a higher class area, around $20-40 a person. For me, I would not go here repetitively, leaving it to special events once a year or so. Now keep in mind I have been here 15+ times. If you have never been here are are looking for a fun dinner with family or friends, this place does the trick, as long as the gimmicks don't wear off.
(3)Angela D.
Was suprised how good this Japanese steakhouse was, guess I need to stop underestimating the burbs! Really enjoyed the food, everything was fresh, delicious and affordable. I had a bento box that included miso soup, tempura, several pieces of sashimi, pot stickers and rice. It was far less than I spend, even at some so-so chains, and I was stuffed. Looking forward to "getting stuck" out in the Northwest burbs again so I can do dinner there sometime :) There was a nice looking seating area outside, but it was a bit hot so we opted to stay indoors. I was also skeptical of how enjoyable it would be since it was pretty much next to a Home Depot parking lot. I also noticed a nice bar area, and a separate section for Japanese grilling (think Benihana). Hoping to get back a few more times to try that as well. Lastly, the PacMan table in the lobby cracked me the heck up. I didn't know you could even still find those anymore!
(4)Katie R.
I went to Tsukasa on a Friday night with a friend and they were quite busy. We were told we could be seated right away in the enclosed heated porch, and since we were hungry, we agreed. What we weren't told was that there was a limited menu there and no cooking table. The menu seemed abbreviated with only sushi options. Since I had been there a few years ago, I was perplexed and asked what happened to all the food options. Then I was told they did not have the same options in this seating location and "didn't the host tell us this?" We almost left at that point. Then we were told we could have the dinner options, but it would take longer. We agreed to this as we were very hungry by that time. We ordered garlic shrimp. It was supposed to be garlic butterfly shrimp. Instead it was teeny tiny pieces of shrimp hidden under mounds of breading. Considering the price, I would have been appalled at the actual amount of shrimp, and immediately returned the dish if the breading hadn't hidden that fact. When we figured out the ruse, ("Hey! Where's the shrimp?"), we were too far into the meal. The sushi we tried was only so-so, and I wouldn't come here just for that. Overall our experience was VERY DISAPPOINTING and certainly not worth the price. One other thing we noticed in the fine print of the menu: There was a $6 DOLLAR SHARING FEE!! Really?? The waiter was very apologetic and did the best he could to make us happy, but in the end we left saying "We're never coming here again!!" One last thing, if you look at the reviews, you'll notice that most of the good reviews were written a few years ago, but the more recent reviews are not favorable. And that rude (and deceptive) host that is mentioned so frequently, needs to go.
(1)Akanksha V.
This is by far my favorite place to go, not only for dinner but amazing drinks. The bartenders really get to know you and personalize the conversation by getting to know you. Besides the staff, I have ordered my own mix of sushi not on the menu. Of course their filet and teriyaki chicken wit fried rice is to die for! Great environment, service and food!
(5)Jennifer L.
FORGET Benihana's.. That place blows in comparison. Tsukasa's food and overall experience is always wonderful. They are always busy, so call a few days (maybe even a week) in advance and make reservations! This place is a tradition hibachi style (food cooked right in front of you at your table) restaurant, and they also have a sushi bar. I can't speak to the sushi bar cuz I don't do seafood. I always get the filet mignon and fried rice, with a side of edamame. The filet is always tender and delicious. The fried rice - oh my god, I could eat it every day of the week. I've been known to even order an extra fried rice "to go". LOL. They also have the best ginger sauce around. I don't think I've ever been disappointed in the food. The quality is excellent!! The reason I only give it 4 stars is because their wait-service sucks. Always. Seems like most of the waitresses have a hard time with English, and they don't come around very often. There have been several occasions where I've sat with an empty glass for a bit too long. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of people to flag down, so that's normally what I end up doing. And to make up for it, the Chef's are great!! And that's what you're there for, right?! This is always one of my first choices for restaurants!!
(4)Michele B.
Another year later and I am sticking to my rating. this place is always packed and for the second year in a row--lost the reservations!! No I am sorry, no have a drink while we get a table--nothing. When we were seated, it took 12 minutes to get our drink order and when the food was served, the gentlemen at the table were given larger portions than the ladies !?!?!?! How many times can you see the same antics, of a smoking onion train. The golden shrimp were overcooked and tough and the soup cold. If this was not the halfway point for my friends and I to go for something different I would pass. You know, next year I think I will!
(2)DeWitt K.
I have been to Tsukasa a number of times and although the teppanyaki is great some of their other menu items are subpar... First and foremost, I am a ginger dressing freak. Seriously. When I am done with my salad, I typically drink what is left in the bowl. My friends find this disgusting but they can go pack sand. However, I just finished up a to-go large salad and I must say that there were not dressing shots for me. I also got a spicy tuna and the nori seemed a bit too... nori? Anywho... I would say if you are going for the teppanyaki experience go for it. If you are going for sushi keep heading west on 60 to Sushi Kushi San3 there you will find the drinkable dressing.
(3)Tiffany K.
Every time I come here with girls, we get AWESOME SERVICE! Well, I guess anywhere attractive girls are, we get pampered to the tee. ;) I've been here a couple times for a birthday dinner with the girls, some employees (no names) ended up having a few drinks with us and we all had such a blast. Service is always consistent. I came here for my boyfriend's father's birthday and we had a blast too. The food is always cooked to perfection and drinks are always good. I just hate that this restaurant is so far away because someone has to stay sober to drive 30-45+ minutes back home. :(
(5)david s.
Went and ordered a fried rice lunch special to take home. I waited 40 minutes. The guy said there was some problem, blah blah, but it had to be that my order didn't go thru the first time. It's just fried rice plus a small salad, guys. As far as the food, those who read all of the wow reviews here about the fried rice should understand that it's very sweet. Lots of people like that, of course. I like it in a dessert but not in a main course. And the dressing for the salad wasn't tasty. The fried rice and salad dressing at Ron of Japan are hugely better.
(2)Angie M.
Benihana can suck it! Tsukasa is where it's at! * The fried rice is heaven. The chefs put approximately a pound of butter and a pound of oil in it, which is why it's so friggin' good. I would roll around in that fried rice I love it so much. * I'm a fan of the shrimp/chicken combo for lunch. Hibachi style. That way I can douse my shrimp and chicken in the ridiculously good ginger sauce. Once, the chef referred to it as "Japanese Ketchup." Sounds about right. * Really, really reasonable prices. For about 11 bucks at lunch, you get a massive portion of orgasm-worthy fried rice, chicken, shrimp and even your choice of soup or salad. * Oh, and that salad? It's served with THE BEST ginger salad dressing on the face of the planet. Again, I want to roll around in it. Last, but certainly not least, Tsukasa has a very old-school Ms. Pacman video game in the lobby. My sales rep and I sat there and played it for about 30 minutes after our lunch yesterday. I'm fairly certain the nice hostess thinks we're nuts. WARNING: You will smell like Tsukasa for the rest of the day. I suggest leaving your coat in the car.
(5)Dominik S.
THE BEST DAMN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE PLACE IN TOWN! Disclaimer: I don't work for them, nor are they cheap by any means. I've been going for about 8 years now, and it has been an awesome experience. Don't read the other reviews, just go and have a good time. Make sure to get a table with a chef. This is the only review where I do not go into detail. Trust me, it's a good bet.
(5)Jaime J.
I love this restaurant... for a teppanyaki restaurant.. their sushi is alwasy fresh and better than most sushi restaurants i've been to all over chicago. The drinks at the bar are always yummie and just enough alcohol to make you have a great time at the table.. The cooks always provide a fun and entertaining teppanyaki show.. the food is amazing as well. everytime i go to tsukasa i have a great time. tsukasa is a place to go for a special treat.. since the prices are a bit high. but totally worth it.
(4)Gerald M.
Best sushi in Chicagoland area. Their take out is a mess but dinner in is the greatest you'll have. Go and be sure to add a spice scallop app to start the night - wow it's good.
(4)Dawn M.
We have been here several times over the past few years. It's one of my daughter's favorite places and we usually end up here for her birthday celebration dinner as we did a few weeks ago. I don't know if we just got a new cook or what the deal was, but it was the worst experience we have had here. First, the cook served us our protien before anything else. Normally, you recieve the rice and veggies first and then the protien. This just seemed odd, but we were hungry..so we ate what was put in front of us. The next thing was that my son's meet was burnt. He asked for med. well and it was like charcoal. It was inedible. We mentioned it to our hostess and she informed the manager. They came over several times, looked at the burnt dish of food, walked away, chatted then came back and offered us a few dollars off our bill. I said "no"..none of the meat is edible. We don't want it. They did offer to cook another one in the back but by that time, my son wasn't hungry as he had eaten all his veggies and rice. Just not a good experience. Not sure if we will spend the money or travel the distance to go back.
(2)Doug W.
We have reservations on a Saturday night for 630 pm and we waited 45 minutes to be seated because we were a party of two....WITH RESERVATIONS! As a tip for people trying to make reservations, smaller parties are always placed secondary to the bigger parties. If you don't mind missing the show, be proactive and ask to sit in the bar. As we continued to check-in and find out the status of our reservation, we were constantly told to wait 5 minutes. In fact, the manager on staff offered us free drinks for the wait and then didn't take it off the bill. Now once we got to the meal, the food was wonderful as always (4.5 stars), but unfortunately even the best food doesn't taste as good after about an hour of disappointment and waiting (and waiting). Because I choose not to round up, I am dropping my 2.5 (4.5 food, .5 in service) to a 2 due to a complete disregard of service.
(2)Cody S.
Despite the positive reviews for this place, I was very dissatisfied. I think that if you like: snappy waiters with zero personality , fresh fish that is as old as the salsa in your refrigerator, water that tastes like pesticides, and roll ingredient combinations that abstract all of the amazing things about Japanese food.... then you will love this place. It is just for you. However, it is not for me and even my stomach (and the stomachs of my 3 colleagues) agrees. Being served old fish is never that fun. If you want sushi that is tasty and does not make you try and purge yourself every 5 minutes then please look elsewhere. You will have a better night. Just point your car toward the city and drive. :)
(1)Derek V.
Took our kids to celebrate our son's 8th birthday. Fantastic experience at the Teppanyaki table. The food was very tasty, generous portions and entertaining! The staff are very attentive. The sushi was good too. Highly recommend. We'll be going back for sure!
(5)Tommy L.
This place is great! Worth your money. Been around town for sushi nowhere come even close to Tsukasa.
(5)Luke S.
It pains me to a place with such wonderful food one star, but we had the most atrocious service imaginable on a meal that was well over $200. We made a reservation early in the day for 7pm and they asked which section we preferred. We told them that it didn't matter as long as we had full menu access. Upon our arrival (Sunday night) we were seated in the sushi bar area. We were handed a sushi menu and a basic Hibachi menu. My friend who was with us had been raving about their combo meals, but we were told by the waiter that we couldn't have the full Hibachi menu. After asking for the manager we were allowed to "order" from the Hibachi menu. Our server was not happy about taking our orders from the other menu, but he did repeat everything that we ordered. There was no way anything could go wrong right? WRONG! Most of us ordered off the more elaborate menu. Our sushi appetizers came out first and they were outstanding! It was some of the freshest, most loaded rolls that I've ever had. After that everything was down hill. Our entrees came out piece by piece and I kid you not everyone at the table was missing something. My poor brother ordered the golden shrimp, but guess what after asking for more than 20 minutes the golden sauce never came. He was forced to eat Ice Cold shrimp. The veggies that were to come with my order never came, our family friend was missing her rice for the first 15 minutes of our meal. It was a horrific train wreck. Did the manager come over to apologize? Nope. We were simply told by our server than much of our order was accidentally sent to another table. I have to say our server was kind, but did NOTHING to resolve our problems. He offered us free ice cream, but it was supposed to come with many of our meals anyways. Once he listed off all of the flavors we ordered. What happens next you ask? Of course they are out of every flavor of ice cream with the exception of Green Tea flavor. You would think that after such a horrific showing of service they would knock off a menu item from the bill? No way! Not only that, but they were a few extra add ons that we never got. Instead of losing it we paid for everything, tipped 15%, and have vowed to never come back.
(1)David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 3 I came here with a party of 15 for a company lunch after making reservations. 1. TENDERLOIN AND CHICKEN $14.75 Not bad. Tenderloin and chicken were both pretty good, although the fried rice was mostly just white rice. 3.5 stars, rounding down. Service was mediocre, and I would have liked more of a show.
(3)Monalisa M.
Delishhhh. Hibachi grills for fun group dinners, & bar area for sushi time. Quick service, and good gooood sangrias ;) Mexi-Maki The Bear Inspired by the Chicago Bears The Pink Dragon Tarantula Always have a good time here.
(4)Bernice L.
Love everything about teppenyaki and Tsukasa definitely does it best!! LOVE IT! The food is the best quality especially their delicious combo meal of filet and golden shrimp. The tuna steak is also white tuna and super fresh. Food is a definite 5 stars. Service 4 stars only because they forgot my sweetie's scallops at the end and didn't even apologize for it :T Otherwise..delicious and everything you would want :)
(4)J C.
This is really not anything like Japanese food. Its Japanese ingredients with a lot of corn syrup on them, with the exception of the sushi, which is pretty standard. That being said, it is entertaining and the food tastes good. Steak, chicken, rice, vegetables, shrimp - all drizzled in delicious corn syrup based sauces. Many of the tables are shared with other parties, and a chef prepares the food for you with a modicum of entertaining banter.
(2)Rachel H.
The fact that I haven't reviewed this place is mind-boggling considering my sister's propensity to come here to celebrate anything from a birthday to a good haircut to getting a good deal at Jewel. We used to go to Ron of Japan, but lately it just hasn't been as good. Enter Tsukasa. The chefs are much livelier here than at Ron of Japan and even though I'm shy (sometimes) I have no problem catching a piece of broccoli in my mouth like a trained seal pup. I usually go with the filet mignon and golden shrimp combo which also comes with a salad, soup, a drink, a side item, and dessert. No wonder I always have a grumpy depressed food coma in the car on the way home and want to pull over and cry/fall asleep/hold my tummy. Actually I think my leftovers are putting me to sleep right now... oh Tsukasa, more sleep inducing than Thanksgiving and the show is always less drama filled.
(5)Cosima B.
Best steak I have had in years! I had the steak and shrimo combo, the steak was amazing, but the shrimp burned. The Calamari were mouthwatering as well and I can only recommend them as a side! The place is not the cheapest, but it was a great experience. When I am back in the area, I will definitely go back!
(4)Nick L.
It's a nice teppanyaki place (food wise) albeit a pricey one. The place also needs a severe update to the decor inside as it's terrible! There are better teppanyaki's in the area like Hanakawa if you head further north on Milwaukee.
(3)David W.
Wow. I greatly underseatimaed the size of the portions. I ordered a lobster and steak combo, and could barely finish the lobster. The food was delicious, the hibachi chef was entertaining, and I only got partially singed by the flames. All in all, it was a good night. Oh yeah, I challenge anyone to beat my record - I caught like 8 pieces of broccoli in my mouth. I'm kind of a big deal.
(4)Justin S.
Like teppenyaki restaurants? This is the spot! Wait wait wait...I have to disclose that I have never paid for a meal here before. It's always outings w/ vendors or company celebrations so I can't really complain to begin with... The service at this place is awesome. They're walking around constantly and making sure everyone is good and drinks are filled. The chefs are great too. Some are sarcastically funny, some are really entertaining with their cooking skills, others are just plain boring. But the end result, food, is always amazing! And that's what counts right? You can't really go wrong with any of the lunch specials. If you're looking to shorten your life, get that Golden Shrimp. ;) I strongly recommend the Sushi Salad or Spicy Octopus for starters and even the Beef Asparagus rolls. Make sure you have febreeze on hand afterwards! Your clothes WILL smell of food.
(4)Mr. sushi G.
Absolutely delicious sushi! Good value. Service was ok. When we walked in and asked to be seated at a regular table since my party was all ordering sushi, the hostess kept asking us in disbelief if we were sure we didn't want hibachi. Yes...I'm quite sure I know why I came the the restaurant... Then they said they didn't have any more tables, and asked if I would like to sit on the heated patio...As I walked to the heated patio, I must have passed several open tables...The problem with the heated patio, is the heat lamps basically have two modes..Hot and Off. So you either eat in a sauna, or an igloo. My sushi was fresh, and delicious. The spicy tuna was just okay, but everything else was great. I did have 2 bones in my salmon nigiri however. I don't like bones in my sushi... The servers were very nice, and provided me with very good service. Fish (9/10) Overall (9/10) Value (8/10) Overall, I love it! I will be back!
(4)Evan L.
I like it if you get the right cook, better than Benihana. It also depends who you sit with because you're sitting with strangers unless you have a party of 7 or more. The fried rice is more entertaining to watch cooking than to eat. 5 stars if you bring kids and your cook has taken his Prozac.
(4)Eric H.
No beating around the bush: I went there on Wed. 4/14/10, for lunch with work. The bill was 150.82 6 of us split the same bill, since the lady did not want to do separate checks. 3 paid cash. 3 paid in credit card. How should a server handle this problem? Well, apparently they handled it by charging us 3 credit card payees 150.82 each, yes, the price for the entire bill---3 times... Now I am currently on hold with my bank trying to fix this. We saw the server and manager in their pay cubby looking confused and two of us actually approached them and asked if everything was ok. They said it was. That idiocy doesn't deserve 1 star, but the food was only alright compared to Benihana's, and the Habachi grill guy didn't say but two words the entire time! I thought they were supposed to be entertaining! Unbelievable. Oh, you get a ton of fried rice, which is white rice with sat fats and sugars added to it. I got the steak and chicken, so did 2 other people at my table, the grill guy split 2 chicken breasts 3 ways and used what looked like stew meat (low quality). They seem to think that they can charge so much for the entertainment factor, but there was no entertainment! The food is not of great quality, unless you get the filet mignon and lobster tail combo, but who can afford that? Many other great restaurants in Vernon Hills, so stay away from this one---just a friendly word of advice!
(1)Natalie V.
Absolutely the best teppanyaki I've had outside of Asia. And easily the best fried rice I've ever had. Admittedly, it's been a few years since I've eaten there, but I had to come back and post a review now that I live in Torrance, CA, which is a hotbed of authentic Japanese cuisine. I have learned a TON about Japanese cuisine in the last two years and while we have incredible Japanese food out here, we don't have anything that compares to Tsukasa. This place is way way better than Benihana's or Ron of Japan. The chefs put on a good show (although I remember a few relatively lifeless ones) and the fried rice changed my life. I never bothered with the sushi, just the chicken and beef. It was all good. Oh, did I mention the fried rice is clearly laced with crack?
(5)Jeanette K.
Choo Choo goes the onion train over the hibachi grill... Tsukasa has some of the best teppanyaki food I've ever had. Benihana's? Sub-par. Ron of Japan? Nasty. Tsukasa? Mmmm. I always order the terriyaki chicken with a double order of fried rice (leftovers for lunch the next day FTW) The terriyaki sauce is out of this world. Its super sweet and thick, almost like maple syrup. The chefs put the terriyaki in the rice, which makes it sweet and salty and oh so delicious. All dinners come with soup and salad. The soup is a little bath watery, and lacking in flavor. The salad has a ginger dressing which is excellent. If you order a combination dinner, you also get an appetizer choice which is mostly tempura options. The BF and I usually order a single dinner each, and then share an appetizer of Age Dashi Dofu. The tofu is hit or miss- sometimes I think they make it on the fly so it doesn't have enough time to marinate and absorb all of the flavor. The main reason I give Tsukasa 4 stars instead of 5 is that the meat is often a little overcooked. If you have the opportunity, ask for Max as your chef. We've had him twice and he seems to be the only chef that can get the chicken right. Also, I wish the veggies that came with the meals were a little less onion-focused. I always seem to end up with 90% onion and a few pieces of zucchini or broccoli. Like most teppanyaki restaurants, Tsukasa is not cheap. You're paying for a meal + entertainment. And by entertainment, I mean the chefs and the random other people at your table. (Sidebar: Why do I always get stuck at the table with the crazies?) However, if for nothing else, go for the fried rice.
(4)Jeremiah H.
I never go anywhere else for sushi unless I want to be disappointed! Staff is friendly and food is amazing.
(5)Terese C.
Outstanding food, but the service is disgusting! We had a reservation, arrived early, and sat in the bar area. Not ONE employee asked us if we wanted drinks. We went to the bar, FINALLY, someone paid attention and we ordered drinks. Our table was ready as we received our drinks. The waitress was in a rush and not very friendly. The ONLY thing I liked about the evening was spending it with my family, and the food. I will NEVER go to this restaurant and spend another penny there. There are too many great Japanese restaurants in Chicago!
(1)Elina S.
LOVE this place! Where do I begin?! The food is consistently delicious, they have some of the best fried rice ever! I mean I've been to Thailand and even there, the fried rice isn't as good as Tsukasa, okay maybe I'm a tad over exagerating, but everything I've ever had from the steak to the seafood, everything is always fresh and delicious. Plus, if you request John as your cook, he's awesome, always entertaining the entire party and making the entire experience THAT much more enjoyable. We love going here for special events because we always leave with a smile on our faces. For great quality food, and entertainment, oh and they serve sushi, what else could you ask for.
(5)Junior D.
I am a fan of Tsukasa.. its not the best service but the food is great... I must say there reservations are almost always screwed up.. we never get seated on time...but I never waited more than 20 minutes... I always order from the hibachi menu and because I have a big appetite I always order the Sumo which consist of a bigger portion filet mignon and bigger Lobster... but I hate the fact that it gets cooked together and mixed with everyone elses food that I end of getting the same portion as everyone but paid more cash to cough up more steak and lobster.. So DON"T order the sumo,, go for the regular steak and lobster entree.. The Fried rice is out of this world and its the best I ever had!! For apps try the beef asparagus rolls or shrimp tempura.. I love the golden sauce on my lobster... the salad is meh and they always cook the vegetables last when no one wants to eat anymore... the sake and Japanese beers are tasty and calls for a good time.. The chefs are funny, the bus boy are good but the waitresses need to smile more often.. They look mean... But anyways... the place has its pro's and con's but the food is great!
(3)Dilara M.
This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants because the food is so good! The sushi is great, the hibachi grill is tasty and it is totally worth the extra money to get the fried rice rather than steamed because it is the best fried rice I've ever had! Yes it is pricy but it the food is good, the ambiance of the place is upscale and the service (including the chefs) is wonderful.
(5)Dustin H.
Well, I just had to finally stop in here and try out the sushi. My wife and I sat on the bar side (not by the group tables) and it was nice and quiet. We both got sushi (obviously) and were very pleased. I got a spicy tuna maki roll, a red dragon maki roll, and an Urlacher maki roll. All 3 were very good, and the spicy tuna was the best I have ever had (so far). It was excellent and that alone will make me come back. Also, they have hand rolls, which I will also try next time (if you don't know what those are, they are the small sno cone shaped rolls). As far as the interior, it was nice and large, and it was nice that the hibachi area is well separated from the people who aren't doing that. The ONLY complaint I have is the prices, and it wasn't across the board. The basic rolls were on par with everything else I have had, as were MOST of the more deluxe rolls, but be careful. I didn't pay attention and when I got the bill, I found that the Urlacher roll was about $17. I probably still would have gotten it, as it was worth it, but things like that can catch you off guard if you don't pay attention. Anyway, thumbs up, 5 stars and all that. I look forward to my next visit and many after.
(5)Mark M.
My favorite Japanese restaurant period. You must get fried rice......Pricy thought! Be ready to open your wallet.
(5)Tony M.
Went here with a group of friends, our chef put on an awesome show! I had the garlic shrimp which was excellent. Great place to sit back and enjoy your night out. Only complaint was the host seemed a wee bit rude.
(5)Rebecca M.
SO delicious!! Tsukasa has the best Japanese food and the atmosphere is so much fun. The ONLY bad thing about going here is having to wash everything you're wearing immediately - since they cook right in front of you. But that's why I don't wear anything dry-clean only here! On to the food... I've never had their sushi, but everything else is amazing. Whether you like seafood or simply chicken or steak, they cook it perfectly. My personal favorite is the golden shrimp. They use this buttery/garlicy egg dip with the shrimp that makes it tastes devine. The chefs also cook rice and vegetables for you, but go easy on the rice or else you won't be able to finish your meal! It's not that great as leftovers.
(5)Scott C.
Tsukasa is an Americanized version of Japanese tepenayaki. I went with some colleagues from Japan who commented that the only Japanese menu items were the beer... Needless to say, the food is typically very well done here and I've never left disappointed or hungry. The lunch items are a good value instead of paying full price for the dinner menu - same stuff but less expensive. The chef's do a good job of putting on a "show" while they cook and seem to be good at understanding if they are the center of attention or if your conversation is and they will back off on the "show" a little bit. An under appreciated part of menu is the sushi selections. Their sushi is typically very good - served with fresh cuts of fish and some creative rolls. One roll that I had was the "Urlacher" which was a crab roll topped with tuna and spicy mayo. It was pretty outstanding. One word of caution is that their xxxExtra Spicy Tuna roll lives up to its name. The only complaint I ever have about the restaurant is the service. They can be very pushy to move you through your meal - like "Hey wait - I was still using that soy sauce!" as they take it away... The food, fortunately, makes that a footnote rather than a headline.
(4)Rebecca Huicha K.
Sushi bar review and not for the teppanyaki portion of the restaurant. their sushi bar space is a bit limited considering the size of this place but it seems like most people are there for the teppan yaki anyways. the restaurant itself looks fairly new and is pretty big. i'm sure they totally bank it on the weekends since it's packed. Their sushi menu isn't that different from any other sushi restaurant. They do have a decent amount of specialty rolls but i was mainly there for their nigiri. Our table did other a couple rolls to share and they were all very good. The fish itself was pretty fresh and the pieces were decent sizes. The salmon, scallop, unagi, and toro were the best. I was really impressed with the unagi, very fresh and melts in your mouth :) Also, had the pomegranate martini which was pretty strong yet tasty. My fiancee really wanted to try the fried rice since it seemed so popular. I took one bit and in my opinion its way too sweet but he loved it. Next time I definitely want to try the teppan even though i'm not a fan of it.
(4)Andrew D.
Food is great and the atmosphere always comfortable there as long as some fool doesn't bring a ton of kids there.This is a adult type restaurant , neat and classy. People should keep small children and babies at home however as the cooking surface is part of the table. If you are stupid enough to bring them, THEY WILL GET BURNED McDonald's is a better place to take them. People go there to have a peaceful meal not to hear your kids screaming .....sorry you had them ~ you deal with them.............
(4)Amber G.
Best food you will ever have. There's nothing to change about this place. Yum.
(5)Marina F.
Excellent choice of rolls and sushi, delicious kids' selections, great drinks. Our go-to Sarurday night destination...
(5)Jeff F.
Ok, suburban people. Enough is enough. I don't care how good you think the food may be out here in the burbs - if they treat you bad, stop supporting them! I've been to places like this dozens of times. Each and every time, the service has been fun and impeccable. So the other day when the wife suggested we go to Tsukasa (she hasn't been since they changed locations), I was happy to indulge her craving. When we got there, she said she wanted to see what the wait was - if it was more than half an hour, we'd just go somewhere else. It was 6:35 on Sunday (yesterday). She came back out and told me that the hostess said it would be 10-15 minutes, so I parked and went in to wait. And we waited. And waited. People who walked in after us without reservations were sat. And we kept waiting. 25 minutes after walking in, we approached the hostess to find out what was going on. It was now 7 pm. The hostess told us that they were waiting for a 6:30 reservation when she asked, was going to seat them if they didn't show up, and that they showed up at 6:50, so we had to wait until 7. When my wife asked why she said 10-15 minutes, then didn't tell us what her incredibly stupid plan had been, she said that now we were waiting to see if a 7 pm reservation would show up or not and would be sat within 20-25 minutes. So we walked out. On the way to the car, I decided that I needed to talk to management about it because telling people there is a 10-15 minute wait when you have no intention of seating customers for 30-45 minutes isn't acceptable. After 10 years in the biz, I know that I'd want to know something like that, so I walked back in and asked for a manager. The hostess said she was the manager. So I explained that she told us it would be 10-15 minutes and after 20-25 minutes, we were still waiting. She said that she was waiting on a reservation. Now, here's the deal folks - if your reservation is for 6:30 and you haven't showed up by 6:45, you lose your reservation. End of story. Don't like it? Buy a watch. So I ask her why she didn't tell us that because then we'd have had reasonable expectations and she said that we would be sat after 7. I told her that she clearly had no intention of seating us in 10-15 minutes and that I don't like being lied to just so I'll stay. She admitted that she said 10-15 minutes, but explained that she really meant 25-30. I said that lying to customers isn't good business and she said that she hadn't lied. I said "you said 10-15 minutes, but knew it would be at least 20-25 minutes. Is 10-15 minutes the same as 20-25 minutes? We would have waited 20-25 if you had just told us that." Her response is the best argument I have for all of us to stop giving them our hard earned money - "If you are going to argue like that, then I don't want your business." I said "Argue like what, with facts and accuracy? Tell you what, you'll never see my money and I'm going to make sure everyone I know is aware that you don't care about service or your customers." Then we left and went up the road to Benihana, where we didn't wait, had a lovely meal, and were treated the way customers should be treated - like the restaurant wants you to enjoy your experience. Until you all stop forgiving terrible service, rude management, and disgraceful behavior simply because you like their food (by the way, you DO know that it's literally ALL THE SAME, right?), you will simply encourage them to not care about the most important part of a dining experience besides the food - good service. Stop giving these amateurs your hard earned dollars. You deserve to be treated well and considering the fact that you can get exactly the same food elsewhere for the same money, but with excellent and friendly service, stop wasting your time. You deserve better. You really do. Stop compromising. Stop pretending the food is worth being treated like you don't matter. Without you, there is no restaurant industry. It's high time we reminded restaurants like this of that fact. Let them go bankrupt - they deserve it.
(1)Herman S.
Consistantly good quality food served in an entertaining environment. Make reservations on the weekend as it can get quite busy! Great for parties.
(4)Mike S.
Sushi bar only review: The sushi bar served up some excellent sushi last night, however it seemed that they were light on waitstaff. A little more attention would have added a star to this review. We will definitely return to the sushi bar.
(3)Ryan G.
For my birthday, I was looking for something nice but out of the ordinary for my parents and I. After searching around Yelp, I came across Tsukasa and their stellar reviews. They did not disappoint. We called in our reservation around 3:30-4pm for 7pm that evening and only had a short wait upon arrival. We were initially concerned that we would not get a chef's table since the place was so full but that was what we got (we have since assumed that the regular tables are for walk-ins or request. We were seated at one of the furthest-back teppanyaki tables with a group of 5-6 joining us for the evening. The chef was friendly, entertaining and skilled; putting on a show that was not only fun but delicious and the wait staff was quick and precise on drink orders. While sushi was available, the food we ordered was mostly from the cooks. The Miso and Shrimp Tempura were above average but it was everything else that made the meal: a combination of sirloin and Golden Shrimp with roasted vegetables and fresh fried rice were all excellent. A good selection of deserts were also available including Rainbow and Mango sherbert and Green Tea ice cream. Given the quality of the food and the quickness and warmth of the staff all around made my first visit an instant favorite and one worth repeating.
(5)Eugenia O.
I love tsukasa so much that I make the drive from Evanston to go there. The food, in my opinion, is much better than that of Ron of Japan and Behihana and while it is a little pricy, it is cheaper than Ron of Japan and totally worth the price. The restaurant used to be open for lunch and had a much more reasonably priced lunch menu but due to the economy is no longer serving lunch. Tsukasa's menu is great because it has lots of teppanyaki grill entrees but the restaurant also has an extensive sushi menu. The bar serves a wide variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and is always good for sake bombs. I usually stick to the teppanyaki entrees since that is the restaurant's specialty. For dinner, most entrees come with soup, salad, choice of appetizer, rice, veggies, and a dessert. The entrees come with white rice and you have to pay a little extra to get the fried rice, but for the extra dollar or so, you definately will not regret it. The fried rice is simply amazing. I've been to tsukasa tons of times and have tried every type of teppanyaki entree: chicken, steak, salmon, scallops, etc. and they are all amazing. The only downfalls I could think of are the fact that the food is slightly on the expensive side, the teppanyaki tables are designed for six people so if you have a party of less than six, hope to be sitting next to some friendly and not too awkward of people, and that, for girls, you're hair kinda smells of food afterwards. But I must say for how amazing the food is, it is totally worth it! Oh, and don't forget to make a reservation!!! The place often has a very long wait for the teppanyaki tables.
(5)LaWanna O.
OMG, what's not to say about this place! I love it, love it, love it! The food is awesome, fresh & great prices! The Chef's are very entertaining. The fried rice is the best, I've ever had, seriously. You can choose from the Habachi Grill or the sushi bar. This place Rocks, their better than Ron of Japan, for those of you that have been there! I would even suggest this restaurant to my worst enemy, that is how great they are!
(5)Beth P.
Simply stated - the best of the best! And while the prices are high, it is so worth it! The food is of the highest quality. The portion sizes are amazing. You just cannot walk away hungry or unsatisfied. The owner is kind, his staff is well trained, service is amazing. The golden shrimp is so good my mouth is watering just typing about it. I eat here whenever I can!
(5)Nicole B.
No place has ever compared. Highly suggest the fried rice! Whether you are enjoying the sushi bar, dinning in, or sitting around the grill your bound to have an enjoyable meal.
(5)Valerie R.
The three things that make Tsukasa great are the teriyaki sauce, the fried rice and the delicious tempura batter. Typically I am not a fan of fried rice, but the fried rice here is to die for (not to mention completely unhealthy). The teriyaki sauce is what is really special about Tsukasa. It is thick and sweet and is particularly delicious on the steak. I have also had a hard time finding any place that has as good of tempura batter. It is light and has a great flavor. It is a busy place and is often quite loud. The chefs are corny, but that is to be expected and typically makes for a fun time.
(4)Y V.
OMG, why am I thinking about Golden Shrimp at 2 a.m.? Tsukasa has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants for that dish alone. That is some serious s&#%! (more on that soon). This teppanyaki place is indeed special for many people in Vernon Hills and the surrounding suburbs. They've had a loyal following for 16 years, which is quite a feat for a non-chain restaurant. We went here on a Wednesday night expecting few customers, but the dining room was packed. Always a good sign. The menu is simple and straightforward - hibachi-style chicken, steak, and seafood and various combinations of those options. I ordered the hibachi steak with fried rice and golden shrimp. He had the filet mignon. All dinners come with soup, salad, and rice. Fried rice is extra, but it's worth it. Shhh... don't tell anyone but the secret ingredient is a little butter. The chef had a huge block of butter at his station and he went to town on the rice, vegetables, shrimp, beef, you name it. Not too much, but just enough to make everything really tasty. Now on to the Golden Shrimp. This crazy concoction is basically a thick egg yolk/butter/who knows what else.. sauce that's spread over butterflied shrimp and steamed. It turns into this amazingly rich custard that is perfect with the sweet shrimp. The custard itself reminds me of a vegetarian version of roasted bone marrow (hot daaaamn). I'm kicking myself for just getting the appetizer, because they also have it as a dinner option. Our chef was awesome. He did the ever-so-popular "flaming onion volcano", all kinds of tricks with food and fire, cracked jokes, and even threw broccoli florets in our mouths (except the teenage girl sitting next to me didn't want to participate.... LAME!). We met a nice older woman who grew up in Rogers Park, which pleased my Rogers Park-raised bf. Good food, good company, and strong drinks. I love this place.
(5)Helena D.
If you're up in the northern suburbs of Lake County and need a sushi fix, head on over to Tsukasa. Located a stone's throw from Hawthorn Mall in a newer outdoor strip mall, Tsukasa features a large cavernous bar, an cozy outdoor patio area, an expansive open dining room with multiple cooking stations, as well as a smaller party room with shoji screens that can slide close if privacy is needed. We came here for a private party with approximately 30 people and had an overall great time. The drinks are on the stronger side while sushi rolls are large and fresh. The chefs were a bit grumpy and did their 'tricks' in a mechanical yet fun style - it was nice to see them prepare the cooked dishes in front of us on the habachi grill. However, be prepared to have the smokiness waft back to you and grease splatter every so often (i.e don't wear your nicest duds here). One star is removed b/c if you want a bit of privacy, they will fill up the open spots at your habachi table with other patrons - even though we were suppose to be in a private room for our special event. Service can be on the slower side and prices are high, perhaps even a bit higher than the ritziest restaurants in Chicago. Overall, if you have a lot of clients, friends and/or family to entertain and are in the area, go here.
(4)Alvin L.
The wife and i tried this place on the back of the high yelp rating and a small ad in a local japanese publication. we had a bad feeling the moment we walked in; no asian customers, chefs resorting to tons of cheap tricks for laughs (lobbing brocolli into mouths of customers) and a loud noisy atmosphere. The food ultimately was as bad and corny as the first impressions. everything served on the teppanyaki was coated with a heart-attack inducing dosage of oil AND butter, and to be completely honest, nothing was authentic AT ALL. i can see how with the cheap tricks the chefs perform for the table and the generous amounts of sausces provided that a more caucasian clientele can be impressed but authentic teppanyaki
(1)Laura C.
I went to Tsukasa for the first time tonight as a party of four to celebrate my dad's birthday (it was his choice of restaurant). Being a "special occasion" (quotes added for sarcasm, see below :) ), we called a few days in advance for reservations and asked the staff to make a note it was for a birthday. Today, the day of, we called to verify and make sure they would bring something out with a candle (regardless of whether we were charged). The meal itself was excellent: I have a shellfish allergy and both the waitress and chef were accommodating. The chef was entertaining without being over the top. Our host, waitress, and chef were all aware of my dad's birthday: when the check was dropped I was irked. My boyfriend tried to discretely alert the staff, then eventually sought out a manager, who happened to be glued to the playoff game being broadcast at the bar. As my family was leaving, I took the manager aside and explained to him what happened. He first tried to accuse us of leaving too soon. Perhaps realizing how silly this sounded, Jeff retracted and admitted it was him who made the mistake and did not convey the information. My favorite part, though, was when explaining it was disappointing (considering how great everything else was and that we chose Tsukasa for a "special occasion"), Jeff casually responded that most of the reservations were for "special occasions". His tone strongly implied our business was of no consequence to him (mind you, we had already paid the bill and were simply on our way out). I pointedly asked him if this was the case, and he meekly trailed off, "no, no, I will hook you up your next time here or something..." Or something...moral of the story: food was great, steer clear if you are trying to organize any type of event.
(3)Eric L.
Living in the suburbs doesn't lend itself to too many dining choices so it's nice when a restaurant is just as good the fifth time as it is the first. I've been here a number of times in the past for the teppanyaki and it was always a fun and tasty (but unhealthy) experience and the lunch prices are a great deal. The golden shrimp is especially good (but especially unhealthy). But what I've been coming for recently has been the sushi. Sharing a couple rolls with friends makes for the perfect lunch. Among my favorite rolls are the Pink Dragon (good for those who aren't quite ready for raw fish), the Green Dragon, White Dragon, and salmon skin. The sushi combos are also reasonably priced (around $15) with good portion sizes. Tsukasa is great whether you want your meal to be a celebration or a nice casual event.
(4)I B.
To be fair, this is based on one visit, where I only had one of the combinations, which they prepare at the table. I think people come here for the show. I guess that's obvious, because the food is like the Applebee's of Japanese food. Or the PF Changs of Japanese food. Watching the chef scoop goose-egg sized globs of butter onto your food is pretty gross, and then they squirt on oil and more oil with ketchup bottles. I thought Japanese food was generally light, mild, and bright tasting, but this stuff was heavy, muddy, and...well, it tasted like the ugly fat American cousin of Japanese food. It'd be funny if it wasn't $35-$50 a person. I had the chicken and tuna combo. The food is so heavily sauced with teriyaki/soy/some ginger thing that they were identical tasting, and barely distinguishable even in texture. My companions (who love this place) raved about the fried rice -- which tasted like heavily salted teriyaki sauce. I will say I had the california rolls as an appetizer and they were pretty good. And, coming from the city (where good East Asian isn't as hard to come by as it is in Vernon Hills), I did love the fact the restaurant is huge and you're not bumped up against other diners. But really, this is Japanese food the way the Olive Garden is Italian.
(2)Ellie S.
This is a great teppenyaki restaurant. The location and service are great. I have gone twice with my husband on a Friday or Saturday night and had a 5-15 minute wait without a reservation. Likely because they can easily put 2 people at most tables. The food is very good although I don't think I have ever had bad teppenyaki. Chef is always dramatic which makes it so fun. If you have to wait, stop by the bar and have a White Horse martini. It is a delightful chocolate martini. Bartender is also very nice. Definitely a great place to go. This is a very large teppenyaki restaurant so it is always crowded and loud. More so than the average teppenyaki place so if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place.
(4)Steven M.
Wow, that was a huge disappointment. I had a fairly low bar going in, we were just hoping for some decent food for the adults and something entertaining for a 7 year old that was with us. The experience was honestly a complete whiff. First the chef that was at our table was very low energy. He just went through the motions and barely cracked a smile the whole time. Meanwhile there were chefs all around cutting up, acting silly and making sure each table had a great time. The kid with us was pretty bored by the whole thing and spent most of her time watching what was going on at the OTHER tables. I know it's luck of the draw, but you would think they would have a minimum standard.... In terms of the food, it was extremely bland. Trust me, I wasn't expecting much despite the lofty reviews, but this is the most disappointing of any Teppan Yaki place I've ever been to. Overcooked rubbery lobster, steak with little to no seasoning, bland veggies, etc. They earn one star for the refried rice which was at least up to par. I will not return.
(1)matt g.
If Tsukasa were a woman, I'd marry that woman. If it were a dude, I'd gaymarry that dude. I live in the city, so I only make it up here a few times a year, but it's well worth it. Unfortunately, this means I order the same thing every single time, so I haven't gotten to experience the full range of what Tsukasa has to offer, like the amazing-looking sushi. Basically, my night at Tsukasa consists of: Asparagus beef rolls (+ sake bombs) salad with an amazing sesame ginger dressing (+sake bombs) the best fried rice I've ever had (+sake bombs) grilled veggies (+ sake bombs) hibachi shrimp and filet (but my friends swear by the lobster and shrimp in golden sauce... +sake bombs) Sake bombs, sake bombs... "Why are we the only ones here?" The bus boys vacuuming the carpet all around our table. The waitress dropping the check. "Did we ask for the check? Oh, it's closing? Could we maybe get one more round of sake bombs? Ok, cool." Passing by the gift shop, "Oh hey let me get a bottle of that plum wine for the road. Who was the DD again? I think I'm going to throw up... in the best way possible."
(5)Ray A.
I've only been here once and had a VERY great meal. I was invited here as a congrats/going away affair for work. The hibachi chef/cook was VERY entertaining and had us all laughing the entire time. I had the shrimp fried rice and a dragon roll. VERY GOOD!!!!! I've also been to Benihana's and a couple other hibachi places. This one is #2, sorry, but Benihana's got the #1 spot in this category!!! To Eric H. we were about to have billing problems because some had cards and some had cash, but we figured it out on our own; gave the cash to the carders and the carders paid for the combined amount. I highly recommend if you don't feel like driving all the way to Benihana's....
(4)Michael N.
Tsukasa is my favorite sushi bar. Their fish is the most fresh I have had in Lake/Cook County. Inside out, super white tuna with oshinko...doesn't get any better than that. I could also eat the salmon teriyaki with fried rice for every meal, every day of the week too!
(5)Lina K.
I loved my eating experience at Tsukusa! All of the rolls that I ordered were delicious and one of my dining companions knew the sushi chefs. She ordered something completely off the menu ... she asked them to whip up something special. It was AMAZING! The fish is very definitely fresh and the sauces sublime. A very surprising and delightful meal as this was also a hibachi house as well (and I generally avoid them due to over-tourism).
(4)Lisa E.
Great food and a show!!! Cook at the tables in front of you . Food can be $$$ but it is worth it for special events.
(4)Erin J.
My mom has suggested Tsukasa a few times in the last few years and it is always a good time. I love the decor. I wish I could ever be early for anything so I could spend time at the cool bar. The chefs are funny! Here is my latest favorite story from Tsukasa: My daughter does not eat meat, vegetables, or fruit. The chef was tossing little broccoli florets at everyone at the table. My daughter didn't want one, but the game intrigued her and she got excited. So we told her she had to close her eyes and I put the piece of broccoli in her mouth. She got so excited that she caught it. Now she tells people that she only likes broccoli when it's thrown at her face! Ha! Ha! Ha!
(4)Chris W.
When I walked in I was expecting to eat with my family at some normal little restaurant in a normal little booth and be drowsy and drink diet coke. INSTEAD! I drank diet coke while I nearly got my eyebrows burned off while giggling at the cutest japanese man in the universe (or in IL maybe) do food flipping tricks and all sorts of things while preparing my food. It's like Ron of Japan/Bennihana but not lame. They actually have an all Japanesey staff, they have a sushi bar but screw that its all about their dishes. I've had the teriyaki chicken there which is AMAZING but since I'm a fan of dishes a wee bit less sweet I liked the hibachi chicken a little better (personal preference) which is PERFECT when you dip it with their mustard sauce. Fried rice? YEAH. Get it. Worth the 2 bucks. Go begging on the street for the extra 2 bucks. You need to get the fried rice. Veggies? VERY TASTY. You want to eat them, you WILL eat them. You will have broccoli flipped into your mouth and you WILL catch it. HOW? Japanese chefs are magical. Dessert: Try it, it's pretty basic, pretty tasty. Drinks: there's a selection of them, they're a bit pricey but hey if you're there why not? Excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know how this became a list but I assure you there is much excitement in your dinner. This isn't just a normal dinner it's a real experience, and it's a really great one. You get soup, salad, dinner, and have a lot of fun. Please check it out. I implore you!
(5)Geoff F.
Pricey but the sushi is some of the best I've had. The fish melts in your mouth. The Kirin beer is good, you get a big bottle. If you're at a cooking station table, the chef does some cool stuff with the food like the onion w/ fire coming out (typical cooking fun, still cool though). Service is real good. Your clothes will smell like food if you sit at a cooking station table but that's expected. Overall, I highly recommend here.
(5)Cari K.
Hands down freshest best sushi in town! Very interesting rolls! We go once a week! My top fav!
(5)Lara C.
Went here for lunch - wow prices are so good for hibachi!! Golden shrimp was my husbands favorite :)
(4)Luba K.
Tsukasa only got 3 stars from me due to the following reasons. Good: you must try King Louie Roll. It is hands down the best roll I have ever tried in my life. I have been to many sushi places and this one is the top of the game. Bad: customer service is not existent at this place. I have prob been there 10 times and every time I get a ride waitress, hibachi cook who just sucks and the food is very regular. If it wasn't for King Louie I would not be coming back. For as many people as they have coming in, you would think their service would be a lot higher. Also check your bill every time. Idk if it is non English speaking servers or they try to make more money on the side, but they are known for charging extras on your bill!!!
(3)Sarah L.
Last night was wonderful! We are a great fan of Kyoto teppan in Crystal Lake, so we never made our way out here...but so much closer...and had very good reviews...hence our last minute teppan fix! So, since it was a bit slower night, we walked in and were able to be seated at a hibachi table right away. The soup & the salad. Nothing new, but very flavorful. My hubby ordered filet & shrimp combo, and I ordered a filet & scallops combo with golden shrimp. Now the hard part :fried rice. We judge the entire teppan restaurant based on how they make the fried rice. The chef was amazing!!!! I think he was a mongolian gentleman (not korean...and didn't recognize the language spoken ) and his fried rice was absolutely delectable. Not salty, not sweet, not bland....but perfect combo of sweetly flavored fried goodness! My hubby and I were both pleased~ Then he did the entertainment. Now, being a patron of many hibachi restaurant nation-wide, it is hard to get excited about the "show" when we know the drill. Right?? Wrong! He was funny & quirky....and he struck up good conversations, made wisecracks that were actually funny, and did his whole bit with smooth flare that made everyone at the table comfortable & enjoyable. The food. Succulent. Flavorful. Delicious. Just right. It was just good- The combo came with one side order and one dessert. The golden shrimp was great. Not too heavy. The rainbow sherbet....a bit of disappointment but no fault of the restaurant. It just wasn't too good~~~ Overall, Tsukasa was friendly, fun atmosphere with food I would rate at 9/10. We will definitely be back soon!!
(5)Abhijit C.
I have been to many Hibachi places around US and the world and can rate this place at best average. The service is average and so is the food!
(3)Delia S.
I gave it three stars cause the food was good but not the service. The two hostesses were busy talking to one another. After we did get sat the cook was very nice. We told him no need for the show. Our server seemed rude or maybe that is just the norm. Will be back to see if this place has good service.
(3)Steve P.
I know that sushi is only a part of the menu here, but I can't bring myself to get anything else. The pieces of nigiri and sashimi are much larger than one can get elsewhere and they taste great. I now get 90% of my sushi here because it is so consistently excellent. Also, the long menu list of rolls is terrific; I've never had a bad one here. I keep telling myself I will try the other parts of the menu but I just can't drag myself away from the sushi. I usually end up paying the same as or less than I would pay in other restaurants, but I get more and better quality food here than those other spots.
(5)Ruth O.
I've gone here twice for lunch, with people from work. Chicken and steak were very good. Tons of fried rice. Enjoyed the salad (ginger). I have not tried the sushi. The service has been polite and prompt. We've always made reservations and shown up on time. I get the feeling walking in to the restaurant, the host and people at the front are a little gun-shy. Like they kinda eye you warily. Hard to describe. Like not friendly, but yet not unfriendly? It makes me a little uneasy. But, after I'm in and seated, good time. Check the hours before you head over. On Saturdays they are not open for lunch, they open at 5 PM. Plenty of parking. Cute fountain in front. Looked clean from what I could see.
(4)Melissa W.
I went on 02/13/2010 with my fiance and his family. It was for his dad's birthday. Since we haven't been to teppan yaki place in a few years, we decided to try out this restaurant, recommended by some family friends. Overall, it was an okay meal. The amount of food you get for the money is great. I had the Filet Mignon with Golden Shrimp ($35). It came with soup, salad, a combination side order (I had Shrimp Tempera), grilled vegetables, and an ice cream dessert (I had Green Tea Ice Cream). Soup and salad were okay, nothing special from other Japanese restaurants. Tempera came out a bit after the soup and salad. Tempera was really good, perfectly crispy, and my shrimp tempera, also, had green beans, zucchini, and a yam. The cooking order was: fried rice, grilled vegetables, and then the steak/shrimp/fish/chicken. I didn't order the fried rice, but everyone else did, so the chef gave me a little to taste. It was pretty good, but I'm not a big fan of fried rice with sticky rice. Grilled vegetables were nothing special. My steak was alright. I could have used a little more salt/seasoning to it. I didn't like any of the sauces provided. The mustard sauce wasn't thick, like I would have preferred a sauce to be, but a bit watery. The ginger sauce was a bit bitter, and the teriyaki sauce was alright. The Golden Shrimp was very yummy. I didn't really like the high amount of oil/butter with the egg (since I know how to make the soft egg, you really don't need to use that much oil/butter, but I guess to make it the way they do, it's justified). I, also, ordered Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. As if I didn't have enough food already, but it's something I do when eating at a new Japanese restaurant. I'm searching for the best Agedashi Tofu. I love the silky tofu with a crispy outside from the tempera - NOT to be confused with a crispy fried tofu, there's a difference! And Tsukasa hits it pretty close. The tofu was soft in the inside and had this crispy tempera that was on the outside. The sauce was very good and came with daikon to be mixed in to the sauce. Overall, it was very good agedashi tofu in my book. Service was good. I couldn't really understand what the waitress was mumbling sometimes. Overall, I would go back again if I were craving some golden shrimp and agedashi tofu. I would probably not try teppan yaki again. The restaurant had some hits and some misses. But from their agedashi tofu, shrimp tempera, and golden shrimp, I can tell that they know how to cook Japanese food pretty well.
(4)Luiza R.
Perfect for big groups on birthdays or for any occasion, but also their sushi bar is perfect for a date! They have a myriad selection of sushi, and the fish is always really fresh. I've been here many times, and I've never left disappointed. The prices are fair and it's not too expensive, but the atmosphere is cozy and romantic.
(5)Russ C.
Excellent sushi every maki roll was very tasty with great presentation. Service was quick and attentive. My wife and I found our new place when we want sushi. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Leonor S.
My new number 1 spot for sushi and tepan! Ron of Japan and Benihana can kiss my behind! This is THE place to go for show-cooking! Delicious, fresh, and SO worth the drive! I also love their rolls! My favorites: 911, yellow ferarri, spicy scallops, and the pink dragon. I'll be back.... especially now that I know it's frequented by the chicago bears team :)
(5)Brenda P.
What to say about Tsukasa? The food - it was good. Cooked fresh right in front of you with entertainment. They offer you dipping sauces for your food.. which given that I had never been there before, I opted for the chef's recommendation. Teriyaki is the big flavor there. Teriyaki was my dipping sauce. Teriyaki flavored the chicken fried rice. So if you are a big Teriyaki fan, you will definately enjoy this place. Give it a try if you like Japanese steakhouses.
(4)Amy L.
I love this place. I almost always go here when I want to eat at a teppanyaki restaurant. I'd say it is the best out of all the so-called top teppanyaki restaurants (Benihana, Ron of Japan) in Chicagoland. They have stayed consistent in quality service and good food throughout the years that they've been open too. I originally used to go to their first location but I guess it got too small and moved. I recently went to their new location and wow is it so much bigger and still just as busy. The chefs are funny and I think they added some new ideas to their show because it seemed a little different than the usual one. The new place is a lot nicer too not that their old place wasn't. I always order Golden Shrimp at teppanyaki and boy was it delicious. Tsukasa is also known for their awesome fried rice. It was definitely still good. Their veggies are so simply sauteed and sauced yet tastes so good. There is plenty of parking too. We couldn't find the restaurant at first since it was my first time going to the new one. It is next to the old Circuit City that closed down in that plaza next to Rivertree theaters. Oh and make sure to make reservations!! It gets packed! We made reservations and were going to be seated right on time but our whole party wasn't there on time so we moved to the waiting list. We waited another 15-30 minutes I think even after our whole party of 4 showed up. Worth the wait though cuz good food. Quite pricey but that's expected for these type of restaurants. MMmm, my mouth is watering just thinking of it.
(4)Frank L.
Call it, "Beni-hana on steroids". And as always with hibachi grill - prepare to wait for a table. Tsukasa has a nice decor, but aside from that, it's not all that different than Beni-hana. The prices are maybe a dollar or two more than the other hibachi grill down the street (Tsukasa is Milwaukee and Townline roads, while Beni Hana is Milwaukee and dundee. about 7 miles). Chef's vary by table. some pull of some cool tricks while they cook, but others just light the grill on fire - make an onion volcano, and toss you some raw brocolli like you're a seal. The STRANGEST thing we saw on the grill were the GOLDEN SHRIMP. we just couldn't figure out how they made these things. It looked like the chef put a slab of butter on top of the shrimp, and then just covered them until they were ready, and there was a mound of yellow sponginess covering the shrimp. Who goes to Tsukasa? Those looking for an entertaining, "Watch your food get cooked" evening. You might even meet some strangers who are sitting next to you at the grill. Who doesn't go to Tsukasa? People looking for something special/unique, when they can just get it at benihana. Those who want trendy sushi. (this place has sushi, but it is not like your downtown sushi parlors with their "art-like" sushi rolls)
(2)Angela U.
We went here with friends, and I was very impressed. We have been to two other restaurants that are similar, but I think this was by far the best. Plenty of food. I found it a little unusual that they didn't have plum wine or japanese wines on the menu, only the standard like Pinot Noir, and other common wines. Next time I'll just have to ask for the plum wine...
(4)Victor V.
Have you ever been in Japan? Me neither. And I hardly think that visiting Tsukasa would help. The vast majority of patrons are either oversexed teenagers (no complaints here), or loud-mouthed Russian upper middle class who are dressed to kill and speak to contuse (loudly that is). And as a fellow Russian born, I have a misfortune of understanding what they say: calling it vulgar platitudes would be an insult to platitude). The waitstaff is not Japanese either. And as much as I love Mongolian and Korean people (and I do), a little more English proficiency (at least food-related) and a little less attitude would go a long way. But the food is good, and I mean really good. My advice: go for Chef's special and DON"T make any additional requests-just let them do what they do best: create great Sushi that wil make your NITI (I know just enough Japanese to weed out the impostors). P.S.: When your waitress tells you she is only half Japanese, ask her which half: upper or lower - I bet you they will understand this as little as they do Japanese language.
(3)Wonseop I.
Great lunch menu. Their teppanyaki is awesome during dinner even though it's on the pricy end it was well worth it. They have great scallops. Our cooks name was Andy and he was hilarious.
(5)Ronald C.
There are many Japanese steak houses to go to. This has to be the best one. If you're ever in the northern suburbs, I'd suggest eating here. It's definitely a taste that you won't forget that will leave you wanting to come back again and again. The fried rice is some of the best I've ever tasted ANYWHERE! The steak is excellent along with the Salmon or Tuna if you're up for it. I love the way they prepare it. You always get a good show and will no doubt be full after your meal. The salad is good with the ginger dressing that never tasted better anywhere else! The price may be up there for lunch and dinner, but it's a taste that hasn't been rivaled by any other place that I've been to. It's worth it to take a trip out to Vernon Hills if you're a food enthusiast looking for something GREAT!
(5)Matthew L.
I keep going - they keep kicking food a$s! Love it!
(5)Diana T.
This place is like Benihana's but wayyy better. I had the filet mignon with salmon combo for 34 bucks. It's pricey but comes with soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, a side order (I ordered the golden shrimp: a definite must try! It has this buttery topping steamed egg yolk topping as it's sauce.....SO GOOD), plain rice or fried for 2 more dollars (get the FRIED RICE, SO GOOD), and 3 different sauces (teriyaki, hot mustard, and ginger). The chefs were all so animated and fun. Reservations are highly recommended because your wait will be really long if you don't, especially on a weekend.
(5)Kevin S.
Tsukasa is one my favorite places to eat. If you like sushi, I recommend ordering one (or more) of their Big Rolls especially the Tarantula. It is one of the best sushi rolls you will have this side of the Mississippi. The Teriyaki Hibachi Sirloin Steak with Teriyaki Chicken is excellent. And yes, get fried rice, you will not be disappointed. The chef's here are all good and none of them will reject you if you ask them to have a sake bomb with you. "Sakeeeee" They do take reservations and I advise that you do so or else you will wait 1 to 2 hours before you can get seated in the restaurant. The reason for this is not because it is a small restaurant (they have expanded to a much larger location) but because it is that good. Yeah, that's right! If you don't want to wait, sitting at the bar is okay too. That is usually where I like to enjoy my Tarantula roll. If you have a large party, you can call ahead (way ahead) and they will seat you in their private room. The service quality depends on how busy they are. I have been there on a slow afternoon and have had excellent service but I have also gone on a Friday night and let's just say you better ask for what you need all at once or else it will be a while before you get everything you need. The quality of the food and sushi definitely makes me want to come back for more.
(4)Scott H.
Definitely one of the best teppanyaki places I've been to anywhere. The food is always fresh, the portions are formidable and the service ranges from good to fantastic (the 'fantastic' experiences tend to be in the evening when everyone loosens up). I've been here for numerous work lunches where the experience is appropriately more hurried to get you in and out in about an hour. The evenings are more relaxed as the booze flows freely and the chefs kick their antics up a few notches. Some coworkers and I enjoyed a hilarious and very memorable birthday celebration here a year ago that we still talk about. Make reservations, don't hesitate to enjoy a cocktail and a maki roll out in the lounge while you wait, enjoy the atmosphere. This is a great place that reminds me of what other teppanyaki places used to be.
(4)Lauren H.
I love love this hibachi place. My family and I always come here for birthdays and the food is always amazing! Our chefs area always entertaining and our table is always full of laughter.. I always get the golden shrimp and filet mignon and it always cooked yo my perfection!
(5)Ann Y.
I have been here twice and have never been dissapointed. Great interior (the best I have found for a restaraunt of this kind), wonderful food- especially the golden shrimp (ask them to add some garlic and they happily will comply), and steak. The portions are huge and the service is wonderful (my glass was never empty). By far my favorite Japoneese steak house.
(5)Lauren L.
I love it. I don't know why, because I'm not sure the entertainment is all that great. In fact, it hasn't changed since I was 8 years old and went there for birthdays parties. however, the food is still really good, the atmosphere is fun, and I never leave disappointed. When I left for college this was the place I missed the most!
(4)Ruthie B.
Maybe it's that I'm from Chicago and have higher expectations when it comes to food and service, but my disagreement with everyone who had a positive review about this sh!@t-hole borders on insulting so I'll get to it. Food: The eel tasted fishy. Eel is not fishy. The spicy tuna roll was so hot it made me wonder what they were covering up considering the inedible eel roll. The Cubbie Comfort tasted good, but made me sick afterward. Mind you, I did not eat the eel or spicy tuna roll and had them take it off the outrageous bill for the poor quality food we were served. My mom had the Salmon Teriyaki which for 16.50 she got salmon sticks (literally) and white rice. Veggies are $3.00/side. I've never heard of an entree that only includes protein and heaping pile of dry, overcooked starch. My father got the Hibachi Scallops, which came out looking like sliced bananas. Also for 16.50 with a heaping pile of dry, overcook white rice. Not to mention that even an amateur cook knows you serve salmon filets (fish sticks), and whole scallops not slice razor thin. If the food was halfway decent and didn't make everyone in my party nauseous I could forgive the service. Service: We had 2 waiters and 4 bus boys, none of which knew who ordered what or brought the right food at our table. I ordered Shrimp Tempura, and they never brought it out. Not that I would have eaten it at that point. They bring scallops and salmon to the table and never even think to bring lemon slices (duh). Only 1 of our waiters spoke english, he took our order and we didn't see him until my sister got up to find the manager because when we told the other waiter we wanted to see him he just brought the check. No one asked us how our dinner was, the waiter snuck up behind me to peer at our table and skulked away, and at the end of the meal a bus boy asked how everything was...to which I replied, "Do you want the truth?" I asked to see the manager, I got the skulking waiter, asked him to see the manager, I got the check, went and got the manager (who was rude, arrogant, and talked to me like I've never eaten Sushi when clearly I knew more about it than he did), and finally, waiter #1 who I thought disappeared along with my order of shrimp tempura shows up to chit-chit. Afterward, I talked to some of my friends (a few from the city, a few from the burbs), and the consensus was "I wish you would've told me you were going there beforehand, I would've told you not too." Well, I'm telling you, don't waste your money. There's a cute little Mongolian BBQ in Grayslake for all you suburbanites who crave sushi, and the chef is Japanese!
(1)Robert N.
For lunch during the week this is a great place to eat... I've eaten at several habatachi style restaurants and this is one of the best...I also think I am addicted to their fried rice, it's pure happiness to eat.
(4)Robin C.
The customer service is TERRIBLE! My nephew who was sick, has an outside beverage as that was all he could have (he's little) and the manager practically jumped on my sister telling her that it's ABSOLUTELY not allowed and unaccepptable, he was really unprofessional and didn't care if we ever came back. We told him that we ate there quite often and explained that the child was sick and perhaps they could make an acception - but they were not willing to bend one bit - not even to offer to pour his juice into a regular glass - so we left vowing NEVER to spend another dollar there. Bottom line, if you have little kids, don't try to bring in any outside food or beverage - no juice cups, snacks etc. - it's not allowed and they are extremely RUDE about it.
(1)Peter S.
This has become a favorite place to celebrate, among my pals. Our local teppanyaki restaurant's quality has dipped a bit, but Tsukasa has more than made up for it. Their staff and chefs are all very friendly, and accommodating. Their prices are good, considering the depth of their selection and nature of the restaurant. The chefs put on a great performance, and interact well with guests. Best of all, the food is phenomenal. We enjoyed the age dashi tofu and gyoza. The veggies always come out well. The golden shrimp is a mouth-watering favorite of many of my friends, and I loved the teriyaki calamari steak. I highly recommend Tsukasa of Tokyo for entertaining and tasty teppanyaki in Vernon Hills!
(5)Ben W.
I've only been there once, the only I remembered is I was so hungry that I had to go to another restaurant right after this place. THE PORTION IS SO TINY! Make sure you eat before you go there. The tricks the chefs fo is like Bebihana's. It is usually packed on Friday night and the weekends.
(2)Phil K.
I was impressed with Tsukasa of Tokyo on my first visit last night. I've never really been to one of these cooked-at-your-table places before, but Tsukasa seems to have a good mix of quality preparation and showmanship. Our chef did a few tricks while he was cooking our fried rice and entrees, but he certainly wasn't annoying. He gave us tips on what sauces we should try for our steak, salmon, chicken, and shrimp, but didn't spend the whole time trying to talk with us. All in all it was a great experience. Highly recommend the salmon teriaki and especially the friend rice. You'd be crazy to have white rice at this place, their fried rice is that good. Friends also enjoyed the chicken (hibachi and teriaki) and the steak. I didn't think the prices were too high, but I'm probably used to prices in the SF Bay Area. The tab for the 5 of us was about $150, not bad for dinner and a little bit of a show.
(4)Jane K.
Best sushi around and I have tried a lot of other places. The pink dragon and stuffed tomato are my favorite. Love this place
(5)Justin W.
Benihana eat your heart out. I love Tsukasa. They have a new location and it looks absolutely beautiful. The chefs put on a show, like Benihana, but it didn't scream chain restaurant. The dishes we had were delicious and I can't wait to go again. Comparing Tsukasa's sushi to Benihana's and I'll take Tsukasa's any day of the week. Usually I don't get fried rice, especially Japanese fried rice (it always seems more bland to me than the Chinese version), however our chef put the nectar of the gods into this and it instantly became my favorite! It had a semi-sweet flavor to it! YUM!
(5)JC M.
This restaurant has become our "place to celebrate" anything memorable in our family. Grand decor, family friendly, good sushi and killer Golden Shrimp.
(5)Dkrejser S.
This was my first time but my husbands second. My husband absolutely hates the place, not that he hates hibachi or sushi (in fact when in Tokyo he will get up at 3 am to get fresh sushi at the market). It is the poor quality food that appeals to the masses. The what must be the rudest service on the NorthShore and the laughable miniature hibachi shows. We have often gone hibachi on the East coast, and yes admitted it is difficult to find a place here in US where one both gets a good show and good food. Usually one or the other is compromised. Here we have to say both were compromised and just chopping wildly or making a big fire has nothing to do with hibachi. They really cram people close together to get fit as many people into the hibachi room, so tight that there is only enough space for one chef to stand at the time between two tables. So our table ended up having to wait for the other table to finish as they were delayed. The fried rice was already premixed to shorten the show and they used so much teriyaki sauce on it that it was sweet as a desert. Nothing to do with japanese fried rice. The soups were cold/lukewarm. The salad was ok, but very very basic. The meats were ok and cooked right. The veggies was a little overcooked. The shrimp were smelling foul and old The sushi was average but nothing bad to say. Not gourmet sushi for sure. The show was a blend of sounds and a big fire. Some fast chopping with food flying everywhere and of course the usual catching a bite with your mouth. Nothing extradinary and very disappointing for our children who are used to more spectacular shows with knifes, pallats, eggs and food flying around - and some meaning to the fires not just a big fire to start the show. The waitress still has to learn to smile (as do the rest of the staff) and she was slow and at best indifferent. We had booked the table and ordered birthday treat for a birthday. We had specifically beforehand ordered icecream instead of pineapple boats as the birthday child is allergic to pineapple. Repeated it twice before we sat down. Still when the birthday show came then of course they lined up with pineapple..... They did correct it and then our waitress charged us for 2 birthday shows. Had to argue with her that we only had one. One star for the on time seating. We had made a reservation and we arrived a little early. It was crowded and extremely busy but still the hostess/manager did seat us right on time! Also, one star for the smile and friendliness of the Chef, and the chef at the table behind us, which is nice when the wait staff and manager all seem so grumpy. Cleanliness is better than many hibachis here in US but still there was a piece of dirty paper from the uncooked meats lying around on the floor next to our table and the waitresses couldn't be bothered to pick it up but rather stepped on it. Wondering how it looks in the back...... Next time we do hibachi it will not be here....
(2)Leocris L.
ugh, so good i'm salivating as i'm typing this- best hibachi i've had. the fried rice is soo addicting. the staff is so fun, and interactive. it's funny watching people try to catch broccoli thru their mouths. i still remember their old location..
(5)Liz M.
My fiancee and I have been to many Japanese steakhouses (almost all of them in the area) and I have to say this is the best. It is the quality of food that really stands out among the other places I have been. The soup and salad were good, I actually ate the salad although I don't normally because I actually liked the sauce. It was a great balance of sweet and bitter. Although I did not order the fried rice our chef gave me a taste and boy was it good! Wish I had ordered it! I then got the Hibachi Steak with a side of Golden Shrimp. The shrimp was melty good! Like I was tempted to order another round because it was so good, the shrimp was cooked perfect and had just the right amount of egg sauce without being overwhelming as it can be. The steak was cooked perfectly and was a very good cut (you can tell because you see the cut while it's being cooked!) Our chef, Brian, was hilarious and very good at what he did! He was careful to pay attention to everyone at the table (us, one other couple and a family of 4). He was funny, charming and very good! Others at our table had lobster and chicken and there were many orders of steak, plus I've heard the sushi is very good! Everything looked very good, guess I'll have to go back and try more!
(4)Joe H.
Love the food here. Steak and chicken teriyaki are always the favorites. Usually I get the fried rice instead of the steamed. The fried soft shell crab appetizer is melt-in-your-mouth good. Sushi is decently priced and always good. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Missy L.
Went here with a group of 8 people. I am not a huge sushi fan but I do like to go out for it every once in a while and order the basics... So I took the advice of fellow yelpers....I ordered the chicken with fried rice (even though I am a bigger fan of white rice) and California roll-pretty basic for sushi and everyone was right!!!!! It was so good I wish I could have finished the plate. My boyfriend and friend ordered a pink dragon and green dragon. I sampled from his plate and both rolls were very tasty. I would definitely go back for dinner again.
(4)Randy H.
I have plans to go here tonight AND Sunday!! Fricken' LOVE this place!!
(5)Elyse C.
I went here last night for my birthday dinner because my favorite sushi spot was closed booo Mondays. Anyway I was pleasntly suprised by everything. It is really nice inside and even has an outdoor patio! Awesome except it was raining. We started off with the shrimp tempura app which was pretty good. Crispy and such. Then the Wasabi pork dumplings which were awesome. Yummy wasabi flavord pork. For our sushi we had the Yellow Ferrari which was pretty good.
(4)sandy L.
As a lunch (M - F only before 2) this place cannot be beat! Standard Menu for a Japanese teppanyaki place - as a family owned restaurant, I highly admire their quality and attention to detail!! The sauce for their fried rice and Terriyaki is homemade and delicious - it takes 24 according to the server I talked to - and they sell it - so you can try and make your own fried rice at home!! It is an amazing teppanyaki restaurant, and a true "mom and pop" establishment - if I'm going to spend $10 - $12 at lunch I'd rather have this huge portion - (take half to go!) than a sandwich from Panera!
(5)Gen T.
A lot of people don't know Tsukasa has sushi, but a little known secret as that it's the BEST sushi in the area. We ordered the Cubby Comfort at our visit on Saturday night and adored the mix or sweet and crunch... so tastey! We went with a group of 10 and found that we were seated promptly. They were super busy that night because of Homecoming dances so it was understandable that the service was slightly slower than normal. However, our chef (who prepares the dinner in front of you) was incredibly funny and entertaining. For our entrees, I got the teriyaki chicken and my husband got the teriyaki salmon (their teriyaki sauce is the best I've ever had). Both entrees were exceptional. Tsukasa is a little pricey so not an everyday restaurant but well worth making it here as often as possible... and great for big groups.
(5)Renato P.
Ok, here's the dirt. I've officially been to enough Japanese Places like this to be a bit jaded. Nothing this place did knocked me out, nor did it in any way disappoint me. It was crazy busy, having been completely booked up for Valentines Day. I can't say it would stand out in my head as a particularly great place for a date either being that it's rather loud and busy. In any case, I have to say the food was really good, so on to the positives. The seared tuna was in a word delicious, the only misstep being a bit too much mayo sauce and not enough terriyaki sauce, still very good. The tempura calamari was very unique , featuring rather large octopus tentacles as opposed to the smaller and more preferred by me squid tentacles. Still, it was the most tender octopus I've ever had, with an almost fish like texture, so I'll say it was great. The teppenyaki steak was pretty standard, yet very good. The scallops seared to perfection and seasoned perfectly, great. The Fried rice had terriyaki sauce added to it, a decision I don't really agree with, it was good, not great. The golden shrimp , again almost identical to every place I've had it , was very good. You get the usual schtick with the chef with the flipping eggs and flinging veggies, our chef was quite fun. So for a fun night out, you will probably be happy going here. Really the only down side I can think of for this place is that it is on the more expensive end of places like it. Still, I didn't leave feeling ripped off.
(4)gard c.
Love the sushi here! Spicy Tako Tempura is to die for; and the Green Ferrari Roll is amazing. Oh and taste the Rainbow Roll wow! Good show. I think I'm in love.
(4)Phillip D.
This is the place to go for sushi. I always eat here and the atmosphere is great. Ask for Juan at the bar. He is a great guy.
(5)Kate M.
I've been here many, many times and it's a great restaurant. Food is excellent. I've never had better teriyaki sauce anywhere. It's expensive, but if you're ordering a teppan dinner, you get a lot of food. Sushi is good, but not amazing. I probably wouldn't come here and just eat sushi. The teppan chefs are pretty accommodating, but the service from the waitresses is usually not that great. They don't have free refills on drinks, which is insane. They have Chimay beer though, which is a huge plus. Their new location is pretty nice. It's always crowded though and the main dining room is pretty loud.
(4)Stephen D.
Always great food, but the service is totally hit or miss; I often wait a while to be served, and even then, the waitresses are often grumpy (I think I've seen maybe one of them ever smile). Bottom line: if you're going for the food and the show, you probably won't be disappointed. But do consider Hanakawa in Libertyville -- about the same quality of food, but with lower prices and better service (and it's more quaint). UPDATE (12/20): I ate here again last night, just to give it one more shot. Can't say I'll ever go back. The service just plain SUCKS. For the money you spend here -- with a (small) tip, our meal for five was $170 -- you don't get your water or tea refilled; nobody asks if you're content or need anything else; and the servers are downright apathetic, exhibiting no personality and almost snapping at even the smallest request. It used to be more quaint and personal, but now that they're in this huge warehouse of a building, their M.O. is to get you in and spend a lot of money, and get you out. Go to Hanakawa in Libertyville where they treat you like a guest and even remember your name!
(2)Philip P.
This place deserves 5 stars....me and my wife came here and decided to splurge and it was worth every penny! We ordered appetizers, entrees, sushi, AND dessert and couldn't get enough. Everything was exceptional and the service was great. My only complaint would be just how busy it is all the time. If you can't get a table here, I'd HIGHLY recommend Hanakawa just north about a mile on Milwaukee Ave. It's easy to pass up since it looks like a house but the prices are very reasonable and the quality is on par with Tsukasa.
(5)Rachel C.
Comparing this place to Benihana is like comparing apples to oranges. The only thing they have in common is the fact they cook on your table in front of you. Otherwise, Benihana has NOTHING on Tsukasa. The food here far surpasses any fancy restuarant I've ever been to. It's an entertaining show, great chefs and the food is freaking delicious. The fried rice and golden shrimp is the best EVER. The new location that they opened is huge and they even have a lounge area with a bar now. And on the same note, reservations are highly recommended because this place books up quick.
(5)Ron S.
This place is awesome, Rokbonki used to be my favorite teppenyaki style place but this place takes the cake now. It is packed every time I'm there whether its lunch or dinner but they do a good job with flipping tables and service wise.
(4)charkhian c.
great sushi moderetly priced waiter could be a bit less bitchy all and all very good experience.
(4)Scott S.
The best sushi in the area. The pieces are good size, fresh, and look great. The rolls are also fresh and have a great flavor. I have tried most sushi in the area and have found this one to be the best so far. The service is not always the best, but they are busy, and the food is good, so that is not a big deal. The prices are on par with others in the area, except you do get bigger pieces. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for good food and good atmosphere.
(5)David N.
Some of the best Sushi in the Chicago area. The Sushi chefs are very good, the rolls are unique and the service is great. I have been to many Sushi houses over the years and Tzukasa is still tops. And they pour a mean martini!
(5)Timothy B.
Great Fried rice, expensive but great good food, will not be disappointed
(5)Leah C.
entertaining for this vegi and her 17 mo old niece... i guess there's only so much "fun" a vegetarian can have at a japanese steakhouse. i do need to commend the "more than just pepper and onions" grilled vegetable dish - packed with zucchini and broccoli as well. the usual accompaniments: the soup was unfortunately not miso but instead a beef/chicken broth... this vegi had to pass that up. the iceberg lettuce with miso dressing tasted freezer-burnt... not sure how that's possible. the fried rice was on the sweet side...different, not in a good way. the hot mustard condiment was surprisingly good and added the only flavor to my vegis. service was borderline ok. by my questions and my final food order, it was more than obvious that i was vegetarian. when ordering an asparagus maki roll, out came a beef asparagus roll instead. also, the server misunderstood my sister's calamari order - out came scallops instead. our chef was very interactive. overall though, i'd say one of my better experiences at a teppan restaurant - portions are bigger and the restaurant is much more spacious than average.
(3)William T.
I go to Tsukasa for Hibachi, but have also had their sushi a number of times. Their hibachi is the standard by which I judge others, and IMO none have met that bar.
(5)Alan M.
Big fan of Tsukasa, especially their steak and golden shrimp, with extra golden sauce. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Jonathan C.
I love this place. Even if its terribly pricey for me. It is in fact a star better than Benihana, based purely on food quality. It does feel similar to all of the "Japanese-style" steakhouses out there. The show you get is largely dependant on the skill of your chefs, Tsukasas are almost universally excellent and Japanese, even if young. The "golden shrimp" cannot be healthy, but it is a standout for me. Poney up for the fried rice, its really worth it. I personally think that the sirloin is tastes better cooked in this style than the filet, so save your money! The new restaurant (it moved from its original location) is very nicely done, and staff and service is excellent. Parking is no problem in this location, although it is somewhat hidden by a Circuit City. Don't let the location put you off though, the food is great.
(5)John K.
This place has the best fried rice in the world. It is like eating candy, but it's food. They are busy at times, but it is definitely worth the wait.
(5)Diane Z.
We went here on a date night dinner. It was awesome. We have been hearing about this place for years. We ended up eating in the bar because the bigger table we had been seated with was full of kids. We had great sushi and would recommend this place anytime.
(4)Vinny The Vacuum S.
Ate here last night, 10 years after my first visit. They are in a new building that is very modern and spacious compared to the old site. The food is still good and the show was the same as it was a decade ago but the chef wasn't as enthusiastic as other chefs in the room. Maybe we just got a low key chef but he put on a decent show. Also he oversalted everything he cooked - not good. I recommend a the teriaki steak or chicken (about $20/person) with a tempura shrimp or calamari appetizer. Everyone gets miso soup and a salad b4 the show starts and everyone gets vegetables with their dinner. Fried rice, however, will cost $2 extra (white rice is free). Overall a good meal that I recommend even though the prices are in the $20-$40 range w/o drinks or tip factored in. Finally, make reservations - you need it!
(4)Jessica S.
By all basic criteria, yes, this is your typical Japanese steakhouse. Shared tables? Check. Entertaining chefs who cook your meal in front of you? Check. Sushi, green tea martinis, and Happy Birthday sang in Japanese? Check check and check. But don't be fooled, this place is in a league of its own. We (my friends, family, and everyone else in my close network) have been dining here for 13 years now. The food has never changed and I always expect and get the best quality and taste at Tsukasa. The new location is bigger and much more appealing to the eye. It's not often that a restaurant needs to expand as much as they did but they just couldn't handle the overflow of people wanting to eat there. A reservation is ALWAYS recommended by this Yelper because it is just that popular. We used to spend EVERY birthday, homecoming, and special occasion here and we finally had to find other options. Not because we didn't like it or got sick of it because I'm pretty sure that's impossible, but it was just becoming too cliche to eat there all the time. The highlight of Tsukasa is the fried rice and if you don't order it you're lacking something upstairs. The thick heavy teriyaki sauce they pour on it is sensational. I often get the fried rice meal instead of a meat entree. As far as meat goes however, I generally stick with the hibachi shrimp, teriyaki steak, or my favorite, sesame scallops. But you can't go wrong with anything at this place. My sister insists that their Pink Dragon is simply the best maki roll she's ever had. I personally enjoy the Tarantula. I get spicy tuna wherever I go but the 911 (XXX Spicy Tuna) is unbearable here. It's delicious, but too hot for me. Service is always fantastic but do make sure you have a reservation or you'll be crabby from waiting and that can taint any dining experience. Most of all, have fun and embrace your dinner show!
(5)Inna T.
The food is very comparable to Benihana, but I like Benihana. Great fruity cocktail menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The service is very good. The food is very good, especially the Golden Shrimp (best I've had). Very entertaining for kids. The chefs are nice and friendly. They give you a ton of food (we rolled out of there). The prices are high but we were satisfied anyway.
(4)miss a.
food is good. no complaints. it's a tad bit too loud sometimes
(4)Tiffany P.
Best fried rice and ginger salad dressing, love this place!
(5)Jonathan K.
i remember loving benihana as a kid, but now im aware of what the cooks are doing...ive never actually seen so much butter used in one instance at a time, its nuts. the food is pretty good, but its sooo heavy w all that butter, oil, and teryaki sauce. looking around, the place was filled w company groups for lunch...and a birthday group. thats what this place is for, a group outing of some sort. still curious, is tsukasa a play on words? i dont know im not nippon-ese, but it sounds too spanish haha
(3)Kristen H.
I recently went here for lunch for the first time for someone at work's birthday. This place was awesome! The "show" of them preparing the food in front of you was pretty cool. The cook was very entertaining. The food was great. I got a combo (beef and chicken) that also came with a shrimp appetizer. It was cheap (can't remember the exact price but it was about $10). The fried rice was tasty. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the food is pretty greasy.
(4)Jason M.
this restaurant is amazing, prices are decent for people who are looking for outstanding food, the yellow Ferrari was amazing, the atmosphere is amazing, this place looks great and the food is even better.
(4)Jenna H.
I'm not a huge Japanese steakhouse fan--this one is pretty good though, maybe a 3.5 The chefs are fun but not eye-rollingly over-the-top. The food was good and, with the exception of my tough calamari (which was probably a stretch to order), well-cooked. The sushi was fresh & tasty--not amazing, but I would've been happy to have it as an entree. And the fried rice, which I normally pass on, somehow disappeared from my plate! Heavy, but delicious! All in all, a good dinner, & if you're in the 'burbs it's definitely worth a try!
(3)chuck f.
Golden Shrimp! Ooh LaLa.... great suchi
(5)penny h.
This is a nice place to go for a celebration. The food is prepared in front of you and the chef tries to get everyone at the table involved and to enjoy the experience. The preperation of the food is the best part of the experience.
(4)Scotty I.
All I gotta say is that it's just like Benihana. Everything down to the menu is almost the same. I went there thinking it would be different. Don't get me wrong, it's a good restaurant.
(4)Matthew k.
I'm suprised that lunch hasn't been mentioned more in this thread. A lot of people have noted the price point of this restaurant but not a lot of discussion about their lunch combo specials. For $11-15(cept lobster), you get soup or salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer(four little pieces), combo meat/fish, and fried rice. If you get a willing waitress, the way to go is Golden Shrimp / Hibachi Shrimp Combo(off menu) with a side of golden sauce. I take the side of golden sauce and mix it into the fried rice. I would bathe in their golden sauce, if it were socially acceptable. How do they make it so gosh darned delectable? A thorough google recipe search found nothing but attempts at golden perfection. And what type of crack are they putting in their ginger dressing for the salad? A quick lunch? No. Healthy? No(Golden Sauce has probably taken 2 years off my life). Best value for your Teppanyaki Dollars? Yes. Only reason for the loss of a star is that service can be indifferent at times.
(4)Nicholle H.
This is a great place to eat. It features Asian cuisine prepared in front of you. The fried rice is the best I've ever eaten! The teriaki is tender and succulent. The people are great and know how to make you feel special on your birthday! Great show and great food!
(5)Lara C.
Went here for lunch - wow prices are so good for hibachi!! Golden shrimp was my husbands favorite :)
(4)Luba K.
Tsukasa only got 3 stars from me due to the following reasons. Good: you must try King Louie Roll. It is hands down the best roll I have ever tried in my life. I have been to many sushi places and this one is the top of the game. Bad: customer service is not existent at this place. I have prob been there 10 times and every time I get a ride waitress, hibachi cook who just sucks and the food is very regular. If it wasn't for King Louie I would not be coming back. For as many people as they have coming in, you would think their service would be a lot higher. Also check your bill every time. Idk if it is non English speaking servers or they try to make more money on the side, but they are known for charging extras on your bill!!!
(3)Geoff F.
Pricey but the sushi is some of the best I've had. The fish melts in your mouth. The Kirin beer is good, you get a big bottle. If you're at a cooking station table, the chef does some cool stuff with the food like the onion w/ fire coming out (typical cooking fun, still cool though). Service is real good. Your clothes will smell like food if you sit at a cooking station table but that's expected. Overall, I highly recommend here.
(5)Cari K.
Hands down freshest best sushi in town! Very interesting rolls! We go once a week! My top fav!
(5)Britt J.
Yep, 5 Stars! We love there Sushi and their service! Highly recommend the Pink Dragon, the JJ Roll and the Bear. The rolls are all a great size and price, but the bear is especially huge... you've been warned. Their sushi is consistently fresh and, when necessary, cooked to perfection! Oh yes, and the "show" at their grill is always a good one ~ even better with a couple of Sapporo's down. Oishii!
(5)Jessica K.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was 16. Every special holiday, birthday of anniversary - this is where I have always gone.
(5)Sarah L.
Last night was wonderful! We are a great fan of Kyoto teppan in Crystal Lake, so we never made our way out here...but so much closer...and had very good reviews...hence our last minute teppan fix! So, since it was a bit slower night, we walked in and were able to be seated at a hibachi table right away. The soup & the salad. Nothing new, but very flavorful. My hubby ordered filet & shrimp combo, and I ordered a filet & scallops combo with golden shrimp. Now the hard part :fried rice. We judge the entire teppan restaurant based on how they make the fried rice. The chef was amazing!!!! I think he was a mongolian gentleman (not korean...and didn't recognize the language spoken ) and his fried rice was absolutely delectable. Not salty, not sweet, not bland....but perfect combo of sweetly flavored fried goodness! My hubby and I were both pleased~ Then he did the entertainment. Now, being a patron of many hibachi restaurant nation-wide, it is hard to get excited about the "show" when we know the drill. Right?? Wrong! He was funny & quirky....and he struck up good conversations, made wisecracks that were actually funny, and did his whole bit with smooth flare that made everyone at the table comfortable & enjoyable. The food. Succulent. Flavorful. Delicious. Just right. It was just good- The combo came with one side order and one dessert. The golden shrimp was great. Not too heavy. The rainbow sherbet....a bit of disappointment but no fault of the restaurant. It just wasn't too good~~~ Overall, Tsukasa was friendly, fun atmosphere with food I would rate at 9/10. We will definitely be back soon!!
(5)Abhijit C.
I have been to many Hibachi places around US and the world and can rate this place at best average. The service is average and so is the food!
(3)Delia S.
I gave it three stars cause the food was good but not the service. The two hostesses were busy talking to one another. After we did get sat the cook was very nice. We told him no need for the show. Our server seemed rude or maybe that is just the norm. Will be back to see if this place has good service.
(3)Tracie P.
Not only is their hibachi the best around, but their sushi is fantastic! Moving from Florida to Chicago area I am very picky about my sushi and Tsukasa does it right...super fresh! Love the yellow Ferrari and Urlacher rolls. My husband and I enjoy this place as our date night!
(5)Anastasia D.
Wherever I go - I could always ask to substitute meat or shrimp with tofu when I order noodles or rice. I couldn't believe when our waiter told me it's not feasible - I asked the owner the same question. The Japanese owner refused to satisfy my request out of principle. He was very rude and arrogant. I couldn't believe that they don't respect their customers. Very unpleasant experience, we left right away
(1)Justine S.
Been here so many times. Food is always good i'll give them that. But the service is just terrible. Everyone is in a hurry, no genuine gestures.. every employee's personality is so DRY! you come here for a special occasion, but they have the same tricks every time.. I wish they learned new table tricks so it's not boring whenever you come back. They NEED to work on customer service. BIG TIME
(2)Alice A.
Compared to other teppanyaki places around the area, I would definitely recommend going to Tsukasa. From their outdoor decor to their spacious restaurant, this place is perfect for business dinners, date nights or just for good food. I would highly recommend making a reservation, especially for weekends. They are almost always packed and walking in on a weekend for teppanyaki during dinner time will have a wait time at least 1.5 hrs. I decided to try their sushi rolls this time around after going there numerous times for their teppanyaki. I got the shrimp tempura, California roll and one tamago. Every thing was delicious! Fresh, rice was not too sticky and the rolls were intact. I don't eat raw fish so I can't say much about their sushi but people who I with that got sushi said it was very fresh. I think chicken teriyaki is a very common and popular choice for when it comes to teppanyaki. I never had a bad experience before. If you like calamari and scallops, those are pretty fresh as well! If you order shrimp, and get it "golden," be careful because they literally put a glob of butter on top of the shrimp. The butter is very overwhelming... Can't imagine anyone eating a spoonful of butter on a tiny shrimp... For someone who likes fresh salmon and appreciates their original flavor, their salmon teriyaki overpowers the fish and personally, I don't like it at all. Just feel like that salmon taste and teriyaki sauce doesn't really mix as well as chicken. Don't forget to add $2 for their fried rice! Will not disappoint! And if you don't want piles of oil and grease on your food, you can always ask them for less oil and or salt. Oh! And as for appetizers, I really like their age dashi tofu! The tofu is deep fried to perfection and the sauce goes well with it. A dish you should try if you like tofu! If you go there for your birthday, they will sing to you, give you a pineapple float thingie and they take a picture of you and your party for you to take home. ($6) A nice touch to end a birthday celebration :)
(4)Kate W.
Every time I go here, my stomach hurts for weeks. I think we went there 3-4 weeks ago and my digestive track is still not back to normal. Probably won't ever go back.
(2)Sara T.
Yesterday was my 4th time dining at Tsukasa. As much as I love Benihana, Tsukasa is better. I like Benihana's fried rice more than Tsukasa's, but I like Tsukasa's everything else more than Benihana. The steak in my order of steak teriyaki dinner was cooked perfectly medium rare. I customized my fried rice, asking them to hold the teriyaki sauce (can't believe I've become one of THOSE people who customize this and that). There's a reason traditional fried rice doesn't include teriyaki sauce -- it tastes better that way! Our table of 8 also ordered a bunch of rolls and appetizers. The seaweed salad and goma ae were good starters to wet our appetites. The group also seemed to enjoy the squid appetizers but I can't comment any further on that since I don't eat squid. We finished off with desserts. I got the tempura ice cream for around $7. It's a huge portion cut into 4 fat slices, definitely enough for 4 people... Yet... I ate it all up myself. The crispy outside with the yummy creamy crunchy strawberry bits-filled inside was a perfect conclusion to my meal.
(4)Mina H.
This is a standard hibachi place that is very popular in the area... probably due to the lack of competition... I like the food but its not spectacular in my honest opinion, just decent and a little overpriced for the value. There is a place in DT Libertyville that is on par with this, just a tiny place though... so this has that beat in size for sure. One thing about hibachi places, I don't like getting different portions of my food at various times, as the cooking process goes...rice first, and it's soon cold or gone by the time the protein and vegetables get placed on the plate.... and sometimes you don't want to watch the show but just chat... Sushi appetizer shared was GOOD... for the meal got the sesame scallops entree ($23?) and it was decent, but I prefer mine a little more seared and crisp. I guess I could have asked, but hadn't had them before so... I would like it if they had a brown rice option too. And this was a free team dinner paid for personally by the manager (thanks Mike G.), so I guess I shouldn't complain... Free == GOOD right? ;-)
(3)Jacqueline R.
Yummmmmmm!!!!! This is probably one of my favorite places to eat!!!! Me and my boyfriend go here at least once a month!!!! The lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I'm obsessed with the sushi roll "the yellow Ferrari!" Seating at the hibachi table is come first serve but it's totally worth the wait. The only downside is if you sit at a regular table versus the hibachi table the fried rice isn't the same, it's good just not as good as the guy making it I front of you at the table. Service is fast and very friendly. The restaurant is very clean as well. Would recommend to anyone looking to eat hibachi or sushi, 10 times better than Kyoto.
(5)Sara K.
One of my favorite date night places! The soup salad and rice is to die for! I literally crave it all the time! The main food is pretty good too! The hibachi chefs are really hit or miss though.. sometimes the guy is entertaining and talks to you.. other times we have gone there and gotten complete DUDS! Great restaurant but they need to work on some personalities not only within the chefs but in general they don't seem very friendly.
(4)Christine G.
We came here to celebrate my sisters 18th birthday and had an amazing time! The food was amazing and I'm actually writing this review because our chef Andy was AMAZING! I've been here about 10 times and always have a good experience, but Andy is the best!! We will ask for him every time!!
(5)Troy R.
We really enjoy going there as a big family fun event, kids love it, but service was slow and unfriendly, overpriced and attached a mandatory tip counting kids as adults without telling us ahead of time. Unfortunate because often it is great.
(1)Karolina S.
Such a great atmosphere! The resaturant is beautiful and the food is incredible. It's pricey but definitely worth it for special occasions. I love their octopus with fried rice. By the way, they have the best fried rice I've ever tasted. Great dine-in experiance!
(5)Tony A.
This restaurant is always the talk of the neighborhood. Foregoing any special occasion, my girlfriend and I just went for dinner on a Sunday. The hostess gave us the choice of being seated right away in the general area or wait 10 minutes for a seat at a grill table. We came for the habachi grill experience so we decided to wait. It was a little longer than 10 minutes but it was definitely worth it. After receiving drinks we were served with a small portion of soup and salad, both of which were very good. Next the chef came and started to prepare rice, veggies, and finally our entrees. The chef was very friendly and charming. Really made the food preparation quite a show. It's such a delight to see your food get made in a really fun way. Much better than just sitting at a booth waiting for your food to come out. Everything tasted delicious. Chicken, steak, shrimp were all cooked perfectly. Please be aware that the large portions will definitely satisfy your appetite. Almost everyone at our table went home with leftovers. Not too many negative aspects to this place. Getting a waiter to stop by is quite difficult though. They don't do the usual walk-by to refill your drink or check if you need anything. If you'd want service you'll actually have to stand up and flag someone down or ask the chef to stop and do it. This is a great and beautiful habachi grill place. Will definitely come here again. Might be a good idea to make reservations if you plan on sitting at the grill tables.
(4)Kelly B.
My favorite restaurant...ever. I love everything about this place. I usually end up sitting in the booths or by the sushi bar, you end up getting like double the amount of fried rice with your meal :) Service is always great.
(5)Tony M.
Great service! We brought our friends from out of town and they took care of us like no other. They brought out a special menu after one of our friends didnt see anything appetizing on the dinner menu and spoke perfect spanish to our guests who had a hard time ordering in english. The chef also made sure he had a smile on his face and was very friendly. The kids also loved it! 5 stars!!
(5)Christina L.
We have been here on previous occasions and normally sit at the hibachi grill. Today we chose to sit at the bar. The service was good and my boyfriend and I decided to share the Tatsuta age. We both agreed that it reminded us of chick fil a chicken nuggets...but hey that's not a bad thing. For my main course I got teriyaki salmon with fried rice with golden sauce (YUM). My boyfriend ordered the golden shrimp with the same rice. Of course we had to get the food wrapped. They give you SO much food. Overall it was a great dinner! I shall be back with the bf.
(4)Yanja B.
Conflicted with how many star to rate Tsukasa. I have been dined here on countless occasions. Time after time it has been amazing but recently I feel like the sushi quality fell off. Last night was a huge disappointment. My boyfriend and I came here for sushi. We literally got nothing but rice. We could not taste any of the fish or the stuffing inside- it was nothing but rice. BTW we ordered Ebi-Shrimp My boyfriend also ordered a side of fried rice, it was also not up to par with how it usually is. Usually its amazing and thats the main hook that keeps us coming back. After last night's experience I don't see myself coming back in the foreseeable future. There are plenty of other quality sushi options- very disappointed.
(2)Forrest R.
Absolutely the best sushi that I have had coast to coast. Everything that I have ordered here is top notch, very fresh and extremely tasty. You have to try the spicy octopus appetizer and the Yellow Ferrari roll. Although the food is amazing, I cannot always say the same about the service. I have been coming here for close to 10 years and on 2 different occasions my order was forgotten all together. On one occasion I was with a large party of about 20 people. On another occasion I was with a small group of 3 other friends. It is not uncommon for them to forget a roll or an order so keep tabs on what you ordered, what you actually received and what you are charged for! I have never had this problem sitting at the bar, the bartenders are always great. I must say, I continue to come here knowing the service is worthy of maybe only a 6 or 7 rating although the food is always a 10.
(5)Jen H.
I went for sushi. I did not like the sushi. This pink dragon roll everyone seems to like...sucked! Too much sauce on it and it's topped with too much fake crab. The spider roll was just ok, but larger and more rice than I like. Too much. I did like the age dashi tofu and the fried rice. Service was good! I asked the waitress for chicken katsu for my daughter and she had never heard of it in her life!! So don't look for katsu here unless you want to be looked at like you're crazy. I would return to try different sushi rolls. Do yourself a favor and don't get the pink dragon. I don't know why people think this is actually a good sushi roll. Disgusting.
(3)Rick G.
Awesome Teppan Yaki style Japanese restaurant. It seems like it must always be busy there. We had to wait at the bar and have appetizers which were excellent. This is not a complaint that we had to wait, the fast service at the bar made the wait enjoyable. Spinning knives and food are tossed around, the chef even tosses shrimp to one person at a time and seems to never miss landing the shrimp in the person's mouth.
(5)Alyssa P.
I have had Tsukasa twice now, once a pickup order and another dining in. It seems to be a popular place and my friend really likes it but I've had better. Pickup order was good, I was starving, the fried rice and vegetables were good and I really enjoyed the rolls (even though I am not a big sushi person which is saying something). Could care less for the "golden" option, too fatty for me. Dining in was nice although seated more towards the front, went with the same friend (we were both full) but ordered salmon, rice and rolls. Enjoyed the rolls and I am a big salmon person so I really enjoyed the salmon (though again, I've had better). Would repeat again if I was craving sushi and perhaps see a bit more of the interior of the restaurant but not an immediate go-to choice. Prices were decent for a sushi place, many people seem to enjoy, and staff was busy but friendly.
(3)Vasi D.
Sat down with my family for dinner. When the cook came out, he constantly was rubbing his nose which j found to be very disgusting. Didn't care for any extras in my food from his nose and particles that came falling out. Ordered the hibachi tuna. BEWARE!!!!! It is butterfish not even tuna and I was sick like a dog for 15 hours. Now the thought of fish makes me sick. Just google and look butterfish. This is what they are serving as tuna??? When j called to complain the lady said she fed 700 people and no one else called in to complain. ( they open at 2:00 I called in at 2:05. How many people could have called in within those 15 min ) she told me she hopes I feel better and that was it. Really? Horrible cooks with disgusting habits and rotten disgusting imitation food. Who knows if chicken is even chicken or a dead crow in a cage out back. Stay away!!!!! Will never return !!!! Also had my husband called in the evening because no one ever called me back and he also complained of being sick and the women Connie went to say that no one called in complaining of being sick from the food. What I lie. Stay away !!!
(1)Connor B.
Tsukasa is your typical hibachi grill experience, and it does a great job at being a hibachi grill. Location and Ambiance: Its kind of plopped down near a home depot, tiger direct, and other stores. This being said, the ambiance inside is great! Tsukasa does a great job setting the mood. Food: All the foods I have tried are great! Steak, chicken, and shrimp are all done right! This paired with the hibachi grill experience all make for a great time if you decide to go to Tsukasa for a meal. Staff: The staff is very generic, and there isn't any personal feel to the people who have served our tables. With this in mind, I have no complaints. As we all know a lot of your experience will depend on the chef you have. Overall, Tsukasa does a great job doing what it does. Its a hibachi grill with no unique twists along the way, which isn' t a bad thing it just means its not the BEST place I have been. With all of this in mind I think it deserves a solid 4 of 5 stars! :) Thanks, Connor Brady
(4)Alex G.
Love this place and even though it gets a little busy for dinner it's still worth the trip and the wait. Hibachi food is very good but what sets it apart is its sushi bar. the fish is always incredibly fresh menu selection is excellent and services very good. My wife and I love this place so much we sometimes even buy several gift certificates at 20% off ahead of time so when we come back it's a little cheaper. Definitely a place to go if you love Japanese food.
(5)Laura C.
Hibachi restaurants are like the Disneyland of restaurants. Cheesy, but still fun, especially with kids in tow. If you've ever eaten out with a toddler, it can be hard to keep him or her entertained enough so you can enjoy your own meal. At Tsukasa, the chefs take care of that for you, with quick knife skills, flying vegetables, and some highly volatile compounds. The meals start off with a bland, iceberg salad with an unappetizing ginger dressing. Followed by a bowl of lukewarm water and soggy, floating rice puffs, the "soup" was a disappointing beginning. Our chef carted in our veggies, proteins and white or fried rice and promptly began the show. When you surrender to the sights, smells and the sake or lychee martini kicks in, the idea that you're at a suburban hibachi restaurant disappears, and you start to soak up the atmosphere and just go with it. My scallops were cooked well, and the veggies were somewhat raw, but you're there more for the experience than the food. We left with full bellies, a smiling toddler, and a slight sake buzz. Not too shabby for a suburb dinner.
(2)Steve M.
This place is on fire..... I have been to this restaurant a few times including when they were located across the street in a strip mall. The new building is very nice with a well laid out plan of tables with their cooking surfaces. There is plenty of parking as they share the lot with other bug stores in the area. The Atmosphere: We came here to celebrate my birthday which is kind of funny because you wouldn't believe how many people come here for their birthday. There was one point where they were singing this birthday song which I didn't recognize but I'm sure that's what it was. Tim who was our chef asked the question and of course my family told him that it was my birthday. Tim being the creative chef that he is while making our fried rice spelled my name out with the rice and my made up age of 28. He then asked me what my favorite number was which I said 24. He had a frustrated but funny face as he was going to flip an egg on his flipper 24 times. He stared flipping the egg counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 times 3 = 24. The Food: We all decided to go with a combination plate. I went with the lobster and filet with fried rice. They first served us soup and then a salad. After we finished our soup and salad he pulled out the lobster tail. As Chef Tim pulled the lobster out of it's shell and seasoned it he started cutting up the vegies where he started flipping pieces of broccoli into my sons mouth until it was overflowing. Once the veggies were complete and on our plates he pulled out the filets. I ordered mine medium rare and I have to say that the steak melted in my mouth. I am going to have to add them to my list of steak joints, that's how good the filet was. The Experience: From the moment that we arrived, the experience for me and my family was amazing. We had a terrific time and really enjoyed ourselves. We will need to come back of course but next time we will try them for lunch.
(5)Luna M.
We went to Tsukasa in Vernon Hills last night to celebrate my husband's Birthday. My last time at Tsukasa's was probably a few years ago. I have been to the former location (located across the street) & I'm glad they have this new spacious area. Helpful to make reservations because they do get B-U-S-Y! They also have lunch and dinner hours so its always good to check on when they are open. They have a nice pond & rocks set up in the front. It becomes a nice photo-op moment. Now, to the real reasons why we come to Tsukasa -- for the entertainment & great food. I feel some table chefs are better than others so I was hoping for a really good chef for our table. I even joked with my family if the color of the hats indicated their expertise. Just like the black belt signifies high level of advanced skills with Karate, I wondered if the black hats were the higher leveled chefs. I think I got my family convinced, so we were a little doubtful when our chef came by with a red hat. Within a few minutes we found out that our Table Chef "Tim" was awesome. He was funny, engaged us in conversation & made sure our food orders were up to our standards. I became the source of a couple of his jokes. When he asked who wanted ginger and teriyaki sauce, I was the only one who did not want any. At the end, he insisted on giving me some teriyaki & when he attempted to squeeze some in my face -- I found out it was a trick squeeze bottle. It was funny & got the whole table laughing. So I covered "entertainment," now, to rate the food. Whenever I go to a Hibachi Grill type of restaurant, I always get hibachi filet & shrimp. I have to say that my filet at Tsukasa was so tender that it melted in my mouth. Also, their fried rice is sooooo good. Oh & their shrimp was delicious. Boy, I can't stop thinking of that great meal. I want to back real soon. In reference to pricing, I agree that Tsukasa is pricey but its worth it. Other Yelpers have mentioned that Hanakawa offers the same quality but less expensive. I will have to disagree on the quality of food. But I would rather spend a little bit more & have better quality food & entertainment. One more final note--They have another location in the Lake Zurich/Deer Park area. We will have to check out that place also.
(4)Susan S.
Really great sushi. Rice is seasoned well huge pieces of sashimi. Really fresh . If you like tepanyaki go during lunch, It's more reasonably priced.I love scallops n golden or garlic shrimp. The soup is soso. I love the ginger salad dressing on everything . I think the fried rice is to sweet.
(4)Aaron G.
Tsukasa is definitely one of the better Japanese tepanyaki grills I have been to. The chefs are humorous and clever in their cooking show. The wait staff is on top of things and the food tastes great. Tonight we had a large group and sampled quite a bit. Shrimp with garlic sauce (always great and keeps the vampires away), shrimp with egg yolk sauce (another favorite but so rich it is not for timid stomachs). Filet and other steaks cooked to order, and of course starters of sushi and tempura. Tsukasa soup is a nice alternative to the regular Miso soup (they have both). Throwing broccoli in the kids' mouths is always a fun game they play. The place is very large for tepan and has a separate area for sushi or plain table dining. If one likes this kind of meal you won't go wrong here.
(4)Melissa F.
Growing up in the North Shore, I'd heard so much about Tsukasa, nearly uniformly good. I finally tried it a few weeks ago with a friend. The space had been moved and updated, so it felt very sleek and classy. Ron of Japan is great and all, but it is outdated and long in the tooth, so to speak. We were early, so we had to wait a bit, but it was pretty efficient in terms of seating us at a good time. We sat down at our communal tables and waited. It was a Saturday night, and I know hibachi places are slammed at this time usually. The chicken soup and the salad were a bit "meh." The chicken soup was oily and oniony in terms of taste, so it didn't do much for me. My friend and I both got the California rolls as our "sides," and they were decent. The main event was very cool - setting stuff on fire in the name of quasi-fine dining never gets old, really. The veggies were good but a bit bland. My filet mignon was really well seasoned, though. The shrimp was above-average, but I've had better shrimp at other teppanyaki places. It was a bit dry. Overall, I found Tsukasa to be pleasant and not bad by any means - but really not worth it in terms of price or centering your whole night around a long "dining experience" here.
(3)Faith O.
NEVER AGAIN. This place is unprofessional and racist. Service was bad and let me tell you why. Our cook was Japanese and he clearly didn't know how to cook and kept on having chit-chat conversations with us (e.g Where are you from?, blah, blah, blah). Please, don't. Just concentrate on cooking our food instead of throwing my fried rice everywhere (they even flew to the table), and stop favoring the two Caucasians next to us by giving them more meat. Also, please don't serve food to someone and then take it from their plate to give it to someone else even though we're all related. Just because we're Asian too, it doesn't give you the right to give us bad treatment. Also we told him we want the meat to be medium rare, but it was really done. Overall: Food was oily, place was smoky (yes, I know we're near a grill but the suction was not good) and the service for getting refill on tea was really poor. Never will I set foot at this establishment! I wish this place bad luck.
(1)Lakshmi N.
I went with my family on her birthday. We had a toddler with us, so we got the regular table, not the hibachi table coz of the fire and the heat that might frighten the baby. The staff was rude. We asked to change the table twice coz we weren't happy with the table we were given. The waitress started making faces when we asked her to change the table. The food was very bland, no taste at all. It was my first time with japanese food and I did not enjoy it. I'm hoping the hibachi experience would be good but I'm skeptical about trying it out after my first experience. If you wanna go, try hibachi, donot get the regular table. Food is not tasty, and is very pricey.
(1)Ritika K.
I have been here several times for lunch with my colleagues. The service is always very fast. It gets really crowded during lunch hour so sometimes it is difficult to find a table with hibachi style cooking. Their restaurant and patio always has tables available. Both hibachi and sushi are really good. I love the hibachi sauce they serve with their house salad.
(4)Naomi Z.
I love going here for lunch (great deal) and for special dinners. (A little expensive- but always awesome). Since moving to their newer location (probably 10 years now) they have kept the staff, the atmosphere and the food consistently great. This is hard to do in an ever changing environment. I have also gone here just for sushi which was equally as good. If you are willing to have a heart attack on the spot definitely try anything with the "golden sauce". There is nothing better. Period. The calamari tppenyaki is as good as the tenderloin. I have never been disappointed. The chefs do the "usual" things- but are personable and funny. Great place to take the kids for a fancy night out.
(5)Daniel N.
Went here for lunch one day during work... sushi was good, nothing spectacular. My only advice is do not get the King Louis roll.. The waitress kept selling us on it so we were like why not, but it's a rip off. The roll is MASSIVE, but it's just a scam to get your money since its $21 and uses more ingredients. Sushi rolls that size are not good at all.
(3)Karolina L.
To start with, the service of this place was very bad. Our host was quite unprofessional and our server looked clearly uninterested in providing us with a good service. Food itself was good. I would recommend dressing up in a business suit next time you visit in order to be treated seriously.
(3)Michelle W.
One of my favorite places for sushi and special occasions.
(5)Yuri S.
Great food. Our waiter was Korean and super funny . Great place for a nice group outing . Saki was bomb!
(5)Mimi A.
I have been looking all over the midwest for a decent sushi place. In the west coast, we always have fresh fish and a vast amount of sushi bars to choose from, especially in Seattle. I was trying many different sushi restaurants here in the Chicagoland area and none could ever satisfy my cravings. That is until a coworker of mine told me about the Yellow Ferrari Sushi at Tsukasa. It looked so delicious in the pictures on her phone that I just had to check this place out. I was absolutely skeptical due to the fact that almost all sushi restaurants here were a huge disappointment. I heard so much about the culinary experience in Chicago, I figured that they must have at least one good sushi place. I found that place in Tsukasa of Tokyo. Hibachi is the entertainment but the sushi is the star of this place.
(4)Daniel M.
My girlfriend chose to come here for our anniversary, great choice. I could tell our chef max was a nice man that works hard. All in all I am satisfied amazing steak PS DONT BE THOSE SNOBBY RICH PPL WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT FLAWLESS SERVICE. ENJOY:)
(5)Mike R.
A little birthday celebration for the wife tonight. I was skeptical of coming to another "hibachi" grill. Never been a huge fan but she insisted. I'm glad we did. Fried rice was to die for. I'm beyond stuffed and staff very friendly.
(5)Nikki T.
Tsukasa is hit or miss. Never go for lunch. It's not all that fun and they rush you out the door. Dinner and your experience will depend on your chef. I've had great and horrible. You can complain all you want, management won't listen. The best experience I've had was at my sons 6th birthday dinner there. The chef made it all about him, spelling his name in the rice, and even allowing my son to walk over behind the grill with him where he out his hat on my son and let him hold his spatula so he could pose for a picture . These chefs are supposed to talk to you, engage you, and yes you will have a little smoke, and a grain of rice may fly. I've yet to see any chef behave in a racist manner as I read in another review.... For the most part they're great. I like their garlic shrimp, I don't eat a lot of red meat so I can't comment on their steak. all in all because management is worthless and lunch service is usually dull and rushed, I'll give just 3 stars.
(3)Madeline L.
Food is good, but nothing special. Prices are quite high for some items that don't taste spectacular. I wouldn't recommend the spicy tuna rolls - Sushi Kushi has amazing spicy tuna rolls for about the same price or even cheaper (not too sure)
(4)Jennifer B.
I've been coming to Tsukasa for years for the sushi. I've tried almost every sushi restaurant in Chicago and the northwest suburbs and nothing comes close to Tsukasa. The Yellow Ferrari and Caterpillar rolls are amazing!
(5)Jason S.
Took the wife and kids , ages 10 & 12 and they all enjoyed the food as well as the cooks skills & jokes. Everything tastes good to me. For me the rice is too sweet. We were on time for the reservations and we had to wait 15 minutes which isn't to bad. I don't mind spending good money on good food. I would say this is slightly high although I did get a big kick watching my kids enjoy it all. I'd return.
(4)Andrea C.
The cook was so funny. It hurt to laugh so much. The food was a little overpriced for the amount we got. It was pretty tasty though. I am pretty sure I paid for the entertainment because that made my whole experience better. If it wasn't for the chef I wouldn't come back. I got the teriyaki chicken with fried rice and it was okay... the fried ice cream was delicious though. It's meant for 2 people I'm,pretty sure but I ate it by myself.
(3)Mad I.
ALL TIME favorite sushi....and I live in Chicago! Everything is soo good, I will just mention my favs Yellow Ferrari-omg!! Worth every penny. Whole scallops a top each of the 8 pieces Tarantula: spider roll with a yummie soft shell crab mixture on top, amazing JJ: really good eel with sauce deliciousness! Chicken fried rice, who knew! Soo sweet and yummie Pink dragon: my first roll here, sooo amazing...what is that crab combo on top with that sweet sauce? Top notch!!!!
(5)Andrew T.
I have yet to eat sushi here, but their Teppanyaki is pretty good. I wouldn't say it knocks my socks off, but it's definitely edible, and it kind of hits the spot once in a while. My clients like this place, and even though every time they say "Tsukasa" I hear "su casa" (as in "mi casa"). They have a steak and shrimp combo that's a favorite. If you hate your heart, you can get your shrimp "golden" - topped with what I think is some kind of almost an egg custard. It's tasty, but it's rich. And it can't possibly be good for you. Also of note, their fried rice has a little sweet/salty sauce on it, making it a lot more interesting that most places. Sometimes it's a little stickier than other times, but it's usually pretty tasty. So all in all, not bad, and worth a visit if you're looking for this kind of meal. I would like to try the sushi, but unfortunately, my clients aren't sushi people, and this isn't close enough to home to visit with more sushi-friendly diners. Oh well.
(3)Yuriy S.
Definitely my favorite sushi place. I have never tried their cooking table but dining room has great selection. My favorites are sushi salad, yellow Ferrari But honestly I have never had anything I don't like. The only problem - the place is always crowded and they don't accept reservation for dining room, only for cooking tables. Be prepared to wait a long time to be seated should you come Friday or Saturday night.
(5)Mike H.
Last night i had the opportunity to eat here and had a decent time. The food is great and the atmosphere is good but some of the employees seemed stand-off-ish or cold. All in all i had a great meal and would recommend for sure
(3)Marta R.
Delicious fried rice (they make it in front of you, if you watching your waistline please don't look how much butter they put into it :)! When they add egg to fried rice they split it and make little picture on a grill before mixing it together with rice, fun to watch. We went here over NY season and cook painted egg Xmas tree scene! I normally have lobster tail and steak with my fried rice. It's ok, lobster is a touch rubbery and I normally ask for rare steak and it is always medium at best... I never tried sushi here, it is on my to do list, so I can not comment on that. I think stuff could be more friendly and attentive overall, but in big group of people you will have fun here.
(4)Alisa S.
BEWARE THE TUNA STEAK IS BUTTERFISH/ESCOLAR!! My daughter discover this the hard way with the aftereffects for escolar ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es… ). They should warn people that it's not Albacore. We have eaten here many times as a family and have enjoyed it. This was our first time ordering the tuna steak hibachi meal. The fish was fresh and tasty, but it was not tuna as she unfortunately discovered the next day as she was running for the bathroom with the exact symptoms of Keriorrhea. (It's really hard to misdiagnose this one...) I called the restaurant to let them know that their tuna steak is not tuna and the woman was very defensive and refused to acknowledge that it was their food. I told her that it wasn't that the fish wasn't fresh, it just wasn't tuna and that maybe they needed to talk to their supplier. Not sure we will eat here again after the way they handled this incident....but if we do we definitely won't order the tuna....
(1)Deena R.
Never had the hibachi, but I understand it's really the thing most people associate with the place. I'm a sushi whore - yeah I said it -- and this is THE BEST, hands down, sushi for many many miles. It's incredibly consistent, so I can get the same things over and over as I tend to do, and it will be exactly as I expect. First - don't be put off by the menu. It's not easy to know the descriptions (look on the back of the ordering sheet). And yes, it can be expensive, but if you follow my advice, you can get out of there at a reasonable sushi price. First, if you like scallops, you MUST have the Yellow Ferrari. It's large, it's fresh, and it's tough to pick up with chop sticks -- trick: make sure one stick is on rice, not both on avocado. Yes, it's expensive, but hold on, I'm about to create balance in your world.. The Mexi-Maki - fresh, light, and inexpensive. Now, when you look at the Ferrari price, you can justify it. The nigiri/sashimi is top notch every time. I love their Kani-Su, it's got king crab, but that's not something I get often because of the price. Hey, if I'm gonna be frugal somewhere to justify the Ferrari, I'll just get a salad or miso as filler appetizer. The Stuffed Tomatoes (not tomatoes at all) are priced per piece and are spicy. One per diner is enough to get the experience of it without going broke. The only thing I'd advise against is the 911 roll. It was painfully hot and I didn't get the flavor of the fish - just mouth pain. Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer H.
We came here for my birthday with a large group. What made the experience fun was just being with my friends. The food was decent but part of what you pay for is the entertainment. I've been to other hibachi restaurants where the chefs went all out. Not here. The chef was friendly but not over the top.
(3)Estee G.
I came for dinner w my friend middle of the week. We ordered wine and tuna tartar. It was amazing. The waitress barely paid attn to us, but we were so busy with our conversation that it didn't matter.
(5)Ashley S.
Eh....I love sushi, this is a well known fact. The service here was horrible, we had a total of three servers at our table, which caused our order to be delayed because no one was putting it in... The sushi was good, but the service kind of ruined the experience.
(2)Malish B.
This place has the best Sushi in all of Chicago and we have tried many places. The quality and freshens of the fish is hard to beat. We still come back every time we are in the suburbs. The actual teppanyaki grill is also very good the garlic shrimp is great and by far the best fried rice
(5)Taylor M.
Tsukasa is a fun restaurant to go to every once in a while. It is fun to have a show while you eat your dinner, but I feel like the food is not that great. The chefs are fantastic when it comes to entertainment. I am allergic to mushrooms and everything on the menu comes with a ton of mushrooms. When I ask for no mushrooms, I am giving just the same amount of meat, which is not very filling. I was super disappointed in the calamari tempura. It was tasteless fried mush... The vegetable tempura was yummy though. The sushi was just okay... did not seem like anything special, but I just got traditional rolls. For the meal, I got the tuna and steak combination. I had my tuna cooked rare which was good, but it was already cold when it hit my plate. I ordered the steak medium rare and got it medium well... it was dry and tasteless. My favorite parts of the meal where the soup (yummy) and the pineapple birthday dessert. I also truly enjoyed the drinks here. I tried a couple different mixed drinks and Juan did a fantastic job with all of them. Also, I kept having to ask for a glass of water and I did not receive it until after dinner!
(3)Valerie W.
We've been coming to Tsukasa for years for various special occasions, and for me, this last trip included some things that were great, some things that fell short, and some things that were downright no bueno. The good: I tried the calamari for the first time. I'd seen it before but usually stick to my steak and shrimp combination. Since I'm *trying* to eat healthier, I went with shrimp and calamari instead. The calamari was tender and perfectly cooked, with a dash of teriyaki for extra flavor. Our chef was great for entertainment. We had three birthdays at our table, and he made sure they all felt special. The stuff that fell short: The flavors on practically everything else fell a bit flat. Everything was just sort of, bland. The soup, the veggie tempura, the fried rice, the veggies... all just a little flat tasting. I do have to say, it's better than eating what tastes like a salt lick, but... something just wan't jiving. I gave my sister my leftovers. Outright. I NEVER give up teppanyaki leftovers. EVER. The downright no bueno: we had two different servers who just couldn't seem to keep things organized. The result? A bottle of wine we did not order, added to our bill. My dad tends to inspect these things with a fine toothed comb, so, he caught it, but think of how many other's don't? I notice that I'm not the first person that is mentioning to inspect the bill. I feel as though this location has declined a bit since moving to their new SUPER MEGA HUGE location. I liked it better when it was in the strip mall. Luckily, they have the Kildeer location now (closed on Monday's), but I still think I prefer Hanakawa.
(3)Boon K.
My friends love this place and maybe it was too hyped up for me. We came here for my birthday and my best friend's birthday and over several sushi rolls and hibachi. I must say I really love the sushi rolls and their names were crazy that I can't remember most of them but they were huge. I had the combination which was the filet, golden shrimp and golden shrimps with fried rice. Wow did they use a lot oil. The teriyaki sauce a so thicken with sugar that it was too sweet for my taste. The fried rice was also sweet as they use the teriyaki sauce to season with. I did like the golden shrimp and the golden sauce was light and fluffy. I really wish the soup and salad that it came with was better season as it was generic too me. It was lot of food even without the sushi rolls.
(3)Carl F.
I usually don't like giving 3 stars to places because it really does not make a clear stand on my view of the place... it's somewhat in limbo. Where as a 2 indicates I don't like it and a 4 or more clearly states I like it. After mulling over the rating for this place, I decided I was in limbo... I've been to better and I've been to worse. What Tsukasa has going for it is the entertainment factor, especially for events like birthdays & anniversaries. It's a nice place to come perhaps 2 times a year but more than that would probably be overkill, considering all the other choices in the area. If your not familiar with these type of places I'll give a quick run down. Albeit the decor and name are Japanese and they market themselves as Japanese, it's somewhat a tad off the mark and it is really a place where they serve steak, chicken or seafood right in front of you. It is cooked to order, using Asian spices/sauces, and as the guy cooks it, he perform a little show tossing about the fork, spatula, doing a few tricks with an egg or veggie, some roaring flame and a neat thing with an onion... which is neat when you see it the first time, but after that it's old hat. Wait Time: We had reservations, with a party of 8 and we were seated right away with no issues. Wait Staff: They were friendly, but to the point and not much help in addressing your questions on the menu. If your looking for suggestions, it doesn't seem they are very open to providing suggestions. You clearly get the feel this is a get them in, feed them, and clear them away from the table so we can get another set of people in and make more money. Cook: This is a luck of the draw type of thing... however he is pivotal in either making this a fun evening or just plain ol' bla. There are the cooks who simply have that entertainment factor and captivate the audience. They put on a good show, crack jokes, make things lively and get everyone at the table in a jovial mood. So if your lucky, you get one of these guys and you walk out of the place content and glad you came. But... if your not luckily, you get the lack, luster cook who is not engaging and simply goes thru the repetition of tossing the egg about, makes the onion choo-choo, and goes about his cooking stone faced with probably about as much zeal as the person in the back scrubbing the dishes. With this cook you generally leave unfulfilled and grudging the price of the bill. Food Quality: From the looks of it, the food appears to be of a good quality, yet how it ends up once it hits your plate is all dependent upon how tentative your cook is. I know this is an obvious factor, but considering the cook is right there in front of you prepping the meal, it's that much more obvious. I've seen really nice cuts of steak make it to the plate tasting really good... but on he other hand I've seen these same nice cuts get overly abused and too well done to be any good. Cost: Pricy... easily $35 + for each person coming to the table... kids included! In summary... this place is somewhat like a factory. They have a fixed menu, they don't like to waver too far from the menu, they get you in, to their thing, then get you out as quickly as possible. The entire success of the event is highly dependent upon the cook. Now, I've not kept track, but at this place it seems around 1 in 4 are good cooks/entertainers. If your looking for something different to do for an anniversary or birthday or take someone who has never experienced something liked this (which is becoming rare these days) this will do the trick, but it's also a gamble as well. So, choose wisely.
(3)Anthony C.
One of the best japanese kitchen restaurants in the area, highly recommended!
(4)Marie C.
Obviously love it here and is always fun for birthdays even though we are getting older every year! Really great drinks esp their martinis or sake bombs and I always end up ordering scallops. The chefs are always entertaining and funny :)
(5)Marissa L.
Worst ever. So many other things I would have rather spent over $100 on. If I wanted to watch a shakey old man drop things all night, I'd watch a michael j fox movie. Make the drive to kampaii, its way better.
(1)Alice L.
I miss Chicago! Can't wait to move out there this April. I'm from LA and we have a plethora of sushi restaurants out here. Glad to find a sushi joint in the Midwest that's just as yummy if not better. Excited to go back here with my hubby :)
(4)Lisa F.
The first time I visited it was for a birthday at a hibachi table. The entertainment was fun and the shrimp was delicious. Since my office is close I decided to try Tsukasa for lunch. This is a wonderful place for lunch! Love, love, love their sushi. Always fresh, made well, and sitting at the bar can be an extra treat (the staff is really nice). I enjoy the chicken teriyaki with fried rice and the portion is large enough for two meals. Even though the meal is large they do not skimp on the quality. Go and try teriyaki, yakiudon, sushi, and hibachi!! Im sure everything else on the menu is good too!!
(5)Jim M.
We had the best time! I'd never been to this location, but my mom took me, my older sister and her kids out here last week during my visit home. Huge place, very clean and we must have arrived RIGHT on time, because it was pretty chill when we got there, but completely paked [with a wait] by the time we finished up. Our chef was very cool and even went easy on the "big oil flames" after noticing that my 3 y/o nephew was hiding under the table to escape certain death. We tried the chicken, fish and steak, along with some fried rice and vegetables. Everything was perfectly cooked before our eyes... just a really cool experience. FYI that I think if you come here with just 2-3 people then you get stuck sitting with other people at the table. That wouldn't be my favorite thing personally, so if you go, consider reservations and bring a group of 5-6 so you have a solo show all to yourselves!
(4)Dr S.
terribly overpriced sushi and mediocre taste, tasted bland actually, not very good....
(1)Sarah d.
Bad service,the sushi is so good it almost makes up for it though ... the guy I talked to on the phone to make a reservation with was not friendly at all(his name was Armando), love the pink dragon and the Ferrari roll is my favorite ... It's really a shame... I've been here quite a few times with my girl friends... Bartenders are friendly but the waitstaff not at all
(3)Michael R.
I don't know if it was the cook that I had, but this was hands down the most disappointing Japanese Steakhouse experience I have had in recent memory. I was taken here by a vendor for a luncheon, and we all opted for a variety of the combination plates, many of which included their Teriyiki sauce, and some were the Golden Shrimp. Given that it was lunch, we weren't expecting a full dinner show, and being with vendors it was less of a concern, but the attitude of our chef was sub par. It was almost like he was only there to be a short-order cook; cooking and serving the food without interacting with any of the folks' at his table or any pieces of flair. It was like he was just going through the motions before his shift was over. The rice and sides weren't bad, but anything with the teriyiki sauce left a greasy, oily taste in my mouth and was not at all appetizing. I'm not sure if they make their sauce on-site or use a vendor provided sauce, but the taste and feel were all off for what I would consider good or even homemade sauce to taste like, and that unfortunately set the mood for the lunch. Additionally, my boss had the unfortunate pleasure to order the Golden Shrimp, which were custard covered shrimp, and when they were served, the custard was not even cooked all of the way through. We were both experiencing some gastrointestinal discomfort later that afternoon. This was unfortunate because based on the expectation set by our vendor, we were excited to be visiting the restaurant. I'm willing to give Tsukasa a second chance, but I would be skeptical if I saw the same chef at my table again.
(2)Erica T.
I have been to this place so many times for so many different occasions and not even close to being sick of it! I could eat their sushi salad for every meal of the day! If you love raw fish, a little crunch and the perfect kick of spicy-ness then I highly recommend. I haven't met anyone who doesn't love it. Also, the pink dragon maki roll and yellow Ferrari maki roll are super creative, beautiful and always delicious!!Every time I bring someone here for the first time they love it and always come back. Great for family occasions, work parties or just a dinner with a friend or significant other. You can never go wrong with tsukasa!
(5)Jenny Z.
It's mediocre. Overrated and pricey. Nothing I've had here from the fried rice to the scallops to steak were really that impressive.
(3)Mike V.
First if all the fried rice is the best I've ever had! The chef was amazing and really nice to my 3 yr old who was amazed at his culinary skills. The wait staff kept drinks full and dishes cleared. You also get a lot of food so no worry of leaving hungry. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five was due to the young lady who sat us. The tables fit 2 on two sides and 4 on one side. I was there with my wife and child. 1 lady was sitting on a 2 person side by herself. My family attempted to sit on the 4 person side. She told us that this was for a larger sitting of people so that they could fill up the table. We ended up squeezing 3 chairs on a two person side. While the next group of "3" was seated five minutes later. I almost left but this was a birthday dinner for me from my family. I please ask that they should worry about your current guest first. Overall it was a great time after the seating issue.
(4)Brad G.
If you've ever been to Benihana you are aware of the type of place Tsukasa of Tokyo is, a Japanese hibachi and sushi joint. I went for lunch with some co-workers as part of a going away party. Eight of us went during a typical week day and sat at the grill, and were out of there in about an hour. The restaurant itself is very spacious and tidy inside, with a sushi/bar area and grill area. Our chef who was Mongolian was fantastic, and prepared all of our meals well. I had the Steak and Golden Shrimp, the shrimp are very rich but tasty. The onion soup is bold and flavorful, while the ginger dressing salad is crisp and delicious. The only thing keeping this from a five star review is the fact that they put teriyaki sauce in their chicken fried rice, which is just strange to me. I've been to many hibachi places in my time, and I've never seen that before. In my opinion, this was a huge let down as one of my favorite things at Benihana, is their simple chicken fried rice. Either way, I'll be back to this place for sure.
(4)Kat A.
My fiance and I love this place. Beats Benihana hands down. The chefs are all Asian as opposed to Benihana's Latino chefs. Their teppanyaki show is entertaining. I love the fried rice. My favorite sushi rolls are the yellow ferrari and J.J. They also have another item I like but that is not on the menu- the green tomato. I ask for spicy salmon or spicy tuna to be filled inside slices of avocado, so it's shaped like a tomato.
(4)Daniel M.
I have always been a fan of chinese food. It is fantastic and would pay anything to get a high quality meal. Tsukasa is definitely the restaurant to go to. It's great, the food is awesome, the cooks are fun and the atmosphere is relaxing, for the most part. Sure, they could improve on their servers as they always seem miserable as can be but it isn't bad. The service is OK, and I feel that's what draws me away from this restaurant. And, it can get really noisy. It's definitely family-friendly but it can get noisy, especially since everyone is seating so close together.. It's pricey so be careful how many people you bring here but if you are out for a nice birthday or anniversary dinner, Tsukasa is a great place to go and enjoy yourselves. I recommend you eat here. I'm not entirely crazy for this place but it is nice and it provides you great food and definitely a great time. You can even choose whether you want to sit at a public table where the cooks cook in front of you or a private table like any other ordinary restaurant serving style. Stop in and try it, it's worth a shot!
(3)John C.
Ate here while traveling for work. Best fried rice I have tasted in a long time. Food at cook were great. The server acted like they didn't want us there. Otherwise great experience. Better service would make this a solid 4 star.
(3)Julia P.
I crave the Yellow Ferrari, each piece has an entire scallop on top of it! It is delicious...
(4)Brian H.
Absolutely great!! I haven't been here in 3 years due to changing business but I'm back and it's as good as I remember. You HAVE to sit at the sushi bar and ask for Ricky - he's unrea. Ask him to make a special and he'll make what he's feeling and he'll never disappoint you.. Phenomenal.
(5)Christina S.
In anticipation of a double birthday celebration tomorrow night, visions of hibachi shrimp dance in my head. I find it appalling that I have not yet reviewed Tsukasa! I cannot compare this to another Japanese steakhouse, as I've never been to one. Having said that it has the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have in your life, and that's no exaggeration. The combinations are a great way to try out a variety of items on the menu. I recommend the filet mignon combination with hibachi shrimp. Golden batter shrimp is good but that is very rich it is not for everybody. It's not what you think; it is not fried shrimp in a batter. It is grilled shrimp with eggy, golden, buttery thick batter that sits on top of the shrimp as it cooks on the grill. If you get an appetizer my favorite is the shumai with wasabi (steamed pork dumplings). Your first bite will zing right through your nose! I also really enjoy the soup that comes with the combination meals. It's a chicken broth with little wonton pieces in it with a few noodles. The broth itself I think has such wonderful flavor. For you vegetarians, the grilled vegetables they serve are plentiful so you won't feel like you're skimping, and they have a lot of vegetarian options in addition to that as well. If you have the option, try going at lunch (weekdays only) instead of dinner and it will save you a few coins. The show is fun at lunch and dinner, and kids really enjoy the flaming grill and how they flare up, with the exception of the occasional scared out of your mind kid- but they usually bounce back. ;) If it's just you, and you have a hankering for Tsukasa, getting take out vegetable fried rice and soup will save you significantly. The rice is only $3.50 or so and they really give you a huge amount whether you're there or whether it's takeout. The rice seriously last 3 to 4 meals unless you're a pig like me. Again it's the best vegetable fried rice you will ever have, I kid you not. Tsukasa is one of my favorite restaurants, and on the pricey side ($30+ a person, easy) so usually for special occasion for us, but not to be missed! (Crap, it's after 2 a.m. and now I'm drooling for Tsukasa! I blame my Yelp addiction for this!!!)
(5)Joel P.
This last visit was pretty horrible which is why I'm dropping my rating down. We ordered the lunch special which comes with soup or salad. Soup bowl came out half-full. I asked to switch out golden shrimp for garlic shrimp and the waitress said that was fine. She didn't tell me there would be an up charge which I found on my bill. When I asked her about it she made it seem that it was my fault. She didn't take care of it and spent about 15min prior to bringing out the non - revised check. On top of that the cook left egg shell in the fried rice. I was coming here about once a week for lunch but will likely not return for some time.
(2)Zara S.
Number one place to go for sushi. It gets very busy on weekends so plan accordingly.
(5)Philip D.
A group of 14 went here for a birthday party dinner. The reservation was at 5:30 pm, the entire party was there but 2 they would not seat any of the group till all of the party was there. They made they ENTIRE party wait for 20 min for the last two (jt was myself and my spouse) to arrive, I understand if it was half the party not to be there to make wait, but 2, that is just bad customer service, they could have seated the group and started with drinks. HELLO make more money! So we arrive and they seat us. I go up with the birthday girl and the manager has the nerve to say "Well we need to hurry up since you are late we are behind, lets get you seated!" I told the manager I think it is bad service to make a whole party wait for 2 people when 12 are here. She looks at me like HOW dare you, shakes her head and pretty much waves me away. As we are all seated the server was very off, we had two hibachi tables and we were not on the same schedule. The soup, the salad, the drinks, we all got it at different times, thank god the chefs knew what they were doing and put us back on the same schedule. When we were done with the main course, again the chefs were awesome, the server again screwed up and was giving dessert to 2 people while 12 people were still eating dinner. He had no concept of time, so I had to tell him take it back and wait till we are all ready. So we get it all in sync AGAIN and it goes OK. The night wraps up and its ok. I did my friend a favor and said NOTHING till it was all over. I spoke to the owners daughter, the same story I typed above, she was shocked and very sorry. She tried to find her sister. In the process she felt the best person to handle the situation was the manager (the lady in the start who said to hurry we are late and need to be seated, the look of death lady) She came and talked to us. I said I would rather not talk to you since you are part of the problem. She said she is the one to handle all the issues. Ok, so we explain it all and she goes, "Well, I did you a favor by holding the table longer than 15 min, we should have given your table away. We also let you stay longer than 8:30 pm because we dont let people stay that long." I was floored. I said thats enough. I walked over to the owners daughter I told her what she said and she goes "Sorry but there is nothing I can do. I am sorry you feel that way." Moral of the story, don't be late, don't have big parties, don't expect them to understand. Never going back again.
(1)H K.
The service: Host had his back to the door talking to coworkers when we walked in, waitress was rude and seemed like she didn't really know English. Hibachi chef was nice and entertaining. I dropped my fork and he blew me off, then when I asked again he said we have to wait until the waitress comes back instead of calling her over. My friend had told the waitress that there was a hair in his salad and she took it away and did not bring another. Since we were a party of 2, we were sat with another party who had also found hair on one of their plates! The food: Hair in 2 separate dishes at our table alone.... They start you off with soup & salad. The soup was yummy! Salad I don't care for and asked not to be given. Then you have a choice of meat (or meats if you get a combination) and either fried rice or white rice and they give everyone vegetables. They don't have noodles! That alone will keep me away for good. The environment: LOUD. There was a table 2 over celebrating a new marriage with lots of drinks. I had to yell when ordering my food. All in all, I will not return again. The Hibachi place in my hometown in PA is much better and less expensive. Expect to spend anywhere from $30-50 on each person.
(1)Maddy K.
This place is so cool! The chef threw broccoli in our mouths! Having the food made in front of us was awesome. It was quite a show. The food was delicious, too. I had the tofu which was a little too soft for my liking but everything else was excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to a friend, and I would love to return someday.
(4)Hanna R.
This place has been a lifetime favorite of mine. I have been going to this place since I was about 11 years old with my parents. That was way back when this restaurant was just a little place in a strip mall next to Chuckie Cheese. So nice to see that they dragged that Pacman machine over to their new location, brings back memories. :) The food has never disappointed me here. Steak is always PERFECTO; you can tell they always use prime ingredients for their food. I remember taking my BF here for the first time when we started dating and he was just blown away. This has become one of his favorite spots as well; he is obsessed with the Golden Shrimp and the fried rice! The sushi is also decent, but you know that people are more here for the Hibachi! The chefs in themselves are pretty much always friendly and ready to entertain, and make awesome food to boot. Love the chefs that like to strike up a conversation and joke around with you; makes you feel so much more welcome than the rare chef that just cooks and you feel like you're awkwardly watching him. Let me repeat though, that running into the latter sort of chef has been very rare for me! Only thing that gets to me every time are the servers. When they were in their smaller location years ago, they were so much more attentive. Now, it's like I have to flag down someone, ANYONE, just to get something that I would like! And if you order steamed rice instead of the usual request for fried rice, you better pay attention to make sure you get it. Most times, I have to flag someone down because they almost always forget to give me my steamed rice!! Quite frustrating. But despite that, this place is definitely worth trying; best Hibachi in the area in my opinion!
(4)Becky P.
YUMMY! I think that the food here all depends on the chef you get. We had a great chef who actually had a conversation with us and made excellent food. As always, their ginger dressing is out of this world. I pour it all over my steamed rice.... mmmmm!!!! We did try an appetizer, the pork dumplings. They were OK. When they said spice, I thought they meant chili pepper spice, not a tablespoon of wasabi spice. Whoops! Always great for groups (as long as you fit at 1 table!) and great for a nice night out!
(5)Chet M.
This is the place to get your "Golden Sauce" fix. No need to sit at the show grill, you can get it on your Hibachi shrimp entree. You get 8 shrimp covered with this delicious concoction and a helping of fried rice that will last you for 3 meals. Also, by sitting at a regular table, you can order shushi ala carte. Get the blue fin tuna (vs the yellow fin tuna) if they got it. It's much tastier than yellow fin and not a rip like toro or fatty tuna. Server was a young dude and could have been friendlier.
(4)Katie K.
I was following a thread and was recommended this place over Benihanas (which I love) . I looked through their menu online and found a nice variety with all prices straight forward. We arrived at 5:30ish on 8/12/2012 and they said just about a 10min wait (probably for more to arrive so we wouldn't be at the grill forever). We sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The bartender was very nice and helped me choose a good house drink. I tried the Tsukasa Blue Tea. It has enough sweetness for my liking with a nice sour kick to cut through that. We get seated and start looking through the menu. The waitress for our table was currently getting drinks orders for other guests which was great because I really wanted a water. She kind took off without even acknowledging us. I just shrugged it off because I would just ask her when she came back. I feel bad but no acknowledgement to guests even though they may have drinks, not good service. Anyways we order, I got the Steak and Chicken combo with a upgrade to fried rice. I love the fact they clearly state in their menu upgrade charges. My husband got the Filet and Calamari combo also with fried rice upgrade. (Filet upgrade is only $2!!) All combos come with soup, salad, your choice of side, rice (as stated we upgraded from white to fried) veggie medley, and ice cream. The soup was nice and hot and quite delicious. We both devoured the salad, dressing is incredible! When the chef arrived he did something i really liked, he asked if you would like a side of teriyaki, ginger sauce, and mustard. This is huge because I love teriyaki and other places never give you extra. And they didn't waste pouring a bunch out when you dont like it, waste not what not! Our chef was awesome, very polite and even though there was a young girl (maybe 8) at our table he didn't try to favor her with tricks. He had some new tricks I haven't seen yet so I was impressed with his trick style. The fried rice was incredible! So good. Difference between T and B, B does chicken fried rice, T just fried rice. So all i would have to do is save some of my chicken and tada I have that. The veggie medley consisted of onions, zucchini, carrots and brocoli. Now I am not a fan of brocoli, chef noticed and gave me some of the extra onions. B honestly I feel is better with the medley. They use more soy sauce and grill them a bit longer so they have more bite. T though it was very good, they were mushy after a few min and very little flavor. Now onto my steak and chicken, just wow. Everyone else who orded steak go filet and I got the normal steak. I am not complaining because the cut i got was so tender and delicious. My chicken was so flavorful and moist! I tried a bit of my husbands filet and yes it was very good as filet is, but my steak was just as good. My husband has no words for how good his Filet and Calamari were. This was simply much better quality meat then B ever had and we have eaten there over 20 times easily. Now I am singing praises so why a 4 star, the service, I said thank you and smiled and tried so hard to get something out of my server, she wouldn't even look up, she never acknowledged us until she took our order for dinner after being back and forth with drinks for the rest of the guests 3 times. And honestly the veggie medley, it just wasnt that good. But everything else was amazing and I will totally be back!
(4)Natalie F.
Sushi, sake, pretty girls!!!
(4)Wendy W.
I'm so disappointed I could write a novel but to keep it short, they try to pass low quality beef as filet mignon. I'm seriously wondering if they use "meat glue" google it. Also if you order 3 "filets" they make 2 and add mushrooms for filler chop it up and divide it into 3... I have been eating here since my 18 year old was about 6 and I have noticed these changes in the last year or so. Sometimes I go with a group for a birthday party or whatever and since they are not frequent diners they think its incredible however, I can tell the difference and I am disgusted and will not be back they lost a loyal customer because they are cheap and greedy. We usually eat at a regular table and the service is terrible. Thats another novel in itself.. Pay attention next time you eat here.
(1)Alex M.
Best sushi in the far north suburbs of Chicago. Large pieces of freshest fish and creative rolls. Teppanyaki (grilled ) food is pretty good too. No lunch Saturday or Sunday.
(5)Liz S.
Absolutely delicious and fresh tasting sushi. They have many original rolls they are famous for, like pink dragon. If you are going for habachi, they are cleaner and better than benihana, and for sure their sushi is much, much better. They get incredibly busy and getting into the habachi part of the restaurant calls for reservations.
(5)Joel A.
We started going to Tsukasa again after realizing their bar menu is awesome. Tasty chicken and a great sushi menu has us going here on a regular basis.
(5)Vince V.
Chef Daniel starts the show with a controlled grease fire, the kind that makes you inventory your eyebrows. He does the bit with the onion choo-choo train, which starts off as an onion facsimile of a fiery volcano. There's the bit where he flips bits of broccoli at your waiting mouth. It's all a game, and damn it, I'm enjoying it. I come here, like so many other customers for the golden shrimp. It can't be good for me or any other human being but I can't help it. Their version also happens to be the best when comparing them against Teppan Kegon, Ron of Japan and Kampai. Benihana doesn't offer the dish. Steaks are always done right, in my case a lovely medium-rare. Their fried rice is a tad sweet with the addition of a little teriyaki sauce but again, it all works because it's just a tad bit different. Kitschy cookery? It's easy to dismiss the whole teppanyaki experience when you look at it that way. I on the other hand do not. You see when it comes to food pyromania and overall silliness, it's hard to beat it. And what Tsukasa does better than their contemporaries is they have more fun with it and that is what makes it special. A bit less formal, a lot more sincere.
(5)J J.
I only gave this place 2 stars, because the place is nice, big and bright inside. however, I do not judge the food I eat, on the ambiance. this place is over-priced and foo-foo Americanized food. poor quality, poor portions and totally inauthentic. absolutely no thought or care went into my food. there are way too many other places I'd rather give my business to.
(2)Wa W.
I've been to many teppanyaki places coast to coast and this is easily my favorite given the right demo chief. The food is good, but I never come for the food. The showmanship is the true value for this dinning experience. Few things in life are more pleasant than spending a evening with the people you love while entertained by a humorous and skilled entertainer around a sizzling dinner table. The joy it brings to one's love ones can be felt in the depth of one's soul. In brief don't come alone, don't order sushi but open your eyes for a soul-stampeding time :)
(5)Lauren M.
Best place to eat EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Great atmosphere, great chefs and they just know the recipe to do it right. Do a sakebomb for me!
(5)Jenna C.
Went there for the first time. It was delicious and the best sushi I'ver ever had, but a bit expensive and it took a while to sit even with my reservation.
(4)Eric S.
Great fun for the kids and delicious food as well.
(5)Nina G.
Good food. Fun presentation. Should work on service - our waitress barely speaks English.
(3)Frank N.
This place is awesome! The "show" during the dinner is funny and amazing. The chefs are gifted and they make the dinner experience complete! The fried rice has such a distinct flavor and is too addicting! I have tried to copy that recipe many times even after watching them make it, but to no avail! The lobster and meat choice is the way to go and the sushi is killer!
(5)Bernardo S.
Obviously a lot of people love this place but I don't quite get it. The food is ok but nothing great and the service typically is slow. I only go here when a friend picks but overall not bad just not great.
(3)A K.
We went there for sushi couple of times with our suburban friends. Sashimi, rolls, and sushi salad portions are huge, comparatively fresh and tasty, but elegance and personality are missing both from the food and from the place itself, which is but a huge barn. Bottom line is, what's good for suburbans is not good enough for city dwellers, so I am not switching from my favorite little gem of a sushi place yet. And no, I am not naming it here either - it's too small for all of you!
(3)Paul E.
I absolutely love this place! My family and I have gone back there every time we have a good group to go with. It's an absolute blast when you have a very interactive chef, but the food always tastes great. The place is clean and the staff is a little on the snobby side, but they are accommodating and get the job done. Reserve your table because it gets really busy there.
(4)Jen S.
This place is great! I have experienced the Sushi bar and the steakhouse side. The sushi bar is delicious. I don't get very adventurous with my sushi rolls but my favorite here is the spicy tuna. YUM! Also, you have to have the edemame as an app. The steakhouse side is super entertaining. The chefs entertain you while cooking and can be quite funny! They will throw broccoli or something at you to catch in your mouth, all part of the experience! The fried rice at this restaurant is my favorite fried rice in the world! (You can order it from the Sushi side of the restaurant as well.) I have had the chicken teriyaki every time I have gone but next time I might try the salmon because it looked dang good! Brian Urlacher is known to come here a lot and even has a sushi roll named after him. They love him! GO BEARS! PS You will smell the food on your clothes later. You are sitting basically on top of the food being cooked so it makes sense.
(4)Marina K.
Unfortunately, after moving away more than a decade ago and remembering about this restaurant, on the recent visit we had the WORST experience. This isn't about the food, nor the atmosphere. The manager, or whoever is the gentleman behind the reservation counter was an amazingly rude, obnoxious and cantankerous. It is unfortunate how he forgot the fact that his salary is paid by the customers he treats like dirt. I have NEVER had a worst experience in a restaurant, nor have I ever been treated lower by an establishment whose survival depends on customers. I will NEVER come here again, and if you don't like being treated like dirt, you shouldn't either!!!!!
(1)Marlo P.
So I was searching for a new place to eat tonight and was craving sushi and my husband told me he's done a fire alarm inspection at this place and told me the place was very nice. I guess it's also important to say that he's seen the kitchen in the back and that it is pretty clean back there, which is a good thing because you wouldn't want to eat somewhere with a dirty kitchen. I can't speak for the teppanyaki but I did sit at the sushi area. I have to say that it's pretty loud here. Maybe because it was a Friday night and there were a lot of people at the bar that was right next to the sushi area but I felt like I was yelling at my husband while I was sitting there. I ordered myself 2 Kirin light beers and it's one of the cheapest prices I've seen on Kirin at a restaurant thus far. I ordered a few things. Asparagus beef roll (pictures above!) 911 tuna roll (pictures above!) J.J. maki roll (pictures above!) Dragon roll and spicy tako tempura The 911 tuna roll was my favorite maki roll of the night. I like my food spicy and when I saw this roll on their menu I had to try it. You eat it at first and you feel like you're eating a regular spicy tuna roll and then it hits you.. hard. The J.J. roll was really good too. It had everything I wanted in the roll including eel, shrimp tempura, avocado, masago, and a couple more awesomeness things. The dragon roll and the spicy tako tempura were just okay. Nothing to brag about. But what really made my night was my appetizer. I didn't think I was going to be ordering something so delicious! That asparagus wrapped in beef smothered in a sweet sesame soy sauce was just so good. I never had it before, but I was feelin' for some asparagus and glad that I had gone with it. I actually ordered it before my sushi meal and AGAIN after eating sushi. The sushi prices were pretty good and the ambiance just made me feel so hip and cool on a Friday night. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone! You will for sure catch me here again.
(5)Justin S.
I don't like to give 3 stars to a business on yelp, but for me this place gives off mixed reviews. When I was little, I would go to Tsukasa every year for family events and birthday dinners. The food, while sometimes overpriced, tastes great and is some of the best Japanese Steakhouse food I have ever had (the rice really is to die for). Now, after not going for a few years, this place has lost a little bit of its once special quality in my mind. The food is still the great sushi/habachi it was when it first opened, but the chefs and their acts have not changed in 6 years, leaving this place feeling repetitive after you go more than once. The prices of the food are what you would expect from a higher class area, around $20-40 a person. For me, I would not go here repetitively, leaving it to special events once a year or so. Now keep in mind I have been here 15+ times. If you have never been here are are looking for a fun dinner with family or friends, this place does the trick, as long as the gimmicks don't wear off.
(3)Angela D.
Was suprised how good this Japanese steakhouse was, guess I need to stop underestimating the burbs! Really enjoyed the food, everything was fresh, delicious and affordable. I had a bento box that included miso soup, tempura, several pieces of sashimi, pot stickers and rice. It was far less than I spend, even at some so-so chains, and I was stuffed. Looking forward to "getting stuck" out in the Northwest burbs again so I can do dinner there sometime :) There was a nice looking seating area outside, but it was a bit hot so we opted to stay indoors. I was also skeptical of how enjoyable it would be since it was pretty much next to a Home Depot parking lot. I also noticed a nice bar area, and a separate section for Japanese grilling (think Benihana). Hoping to get back a few more times to try that as well. Lastly, the PacMan table in the lobby cracked me the heck up. I didn't know you could even still find those anymore!
(4)Michele B.
Another year later and I am sticking to my rating. this place is always packed and for the second year in a row--lost the reservations!! No I am sorry, no have a drink while we get a table--nothing. When we were seated, it took 12 minutes to get our drink order and when the food was served, the gentlemen at the table were given larger portions than the ladies !?!?!?! How many times can you see the same antics, of a smoking onion train. The golden shrimp were overcooked and tough and the soup cold. If this was not the halfway point for my friends and I to go for something different I would pass. You know, next year I think I will!
(2)DeWitt K.
I have been to Tsukasa a number of times and although the teppanyaki is great some of their other menu items are subpar... First and foremost, I am a ginger dressing freak. Seriously. When I am done with my salad, I typically drink what is left in the bowl. My friends find this disgusting but they can go pack sand. However, I just finished up a to-go large salad and I must say that there were not dressing shots for me. I also got a spicy tuna and the nori seemed a bit too... nori? Anywho... I would say if you are going for the teppanyaki experience go for it. If you are going for sushi keep heading west on 60 to Sushi Kushi San3 there you will find the drinkable dressing.
(3)Katie R.
I went to Tsukasa on a Friday night with a friend and they were quite busy. We were told we could be seated right away in the enclosed heated porch, and since we were hungry, we agreed. What we weren't told was that there was a limited menu there and no cooking table. The menu seemed abbreviated with only sushi options. Since I had been there a few years ago, I was perplexed and asked what happened to all the food options. Then I was told they did not have the same options in this seating location and "didn't the host tell us this?" We almost left at that point. Then we were told we could have the dinner options, but it would take longer. We agreed to this as we were very hungry by that time. We ordered garlic shrimp. It was supposed to be garlic butterfly shrimp. Instead it was teeny tiny pieces of shrimp hidden under mounds of breading. Considering the price, I would have been appalled at the actual amount of shrimp, and immediately returned the dish if the breading hadn't hidden that fact. When we figured out the ruse, ("Hey! Where's the shrimp?"), we were too far into the meal. The sushi we tried was only so-so, and I wouldn't come here just for that. Overall our experience was VERY DISAPPOINTING and certainly not worth the price. One other thing we noticed in the fine print of the menu: There was a $6 DOLLAR SHARING FEE!! Really?? The waiter was very apologetic and did the best he could to make us happy, but in the end we left saying "We're never coming here again!!" One last thing, if you look at the reviews, you'll notice that most of the good reviews were written a few years ago, but the more recent reviews are not favorable. And that rude (and deceptive) host that is mentioned so frequently, needs to go.
(1)Akanksha V.
This is by far my favorite place to go, not only for dinner but amazing drinks. The bartenders really get to know you and personalize the conversation by getting to know you. Besides the staff, I have ordered my own mix of sushi not on the menu. Of course their filet and teriyaki chicken wit fried rice is to die for! Great environment, service and food!
(5)Jennifer L.
FORGET Benihana's.. That place blows in comparison. Tsukasa's food and overall experience is always wonderful. They are always busy, so call a few days (maybe even a week) in advance and make reservations! This place is a tradition hibachi style (food cooked right in front of you at your table) restaurant, and they also have a sushi bar. I can't speak to the sushi bar cuz I don't do seafood. I always get the filet mignon and fried rice, with a side of edamame. The filet is always tender and delicious. The fried rice - oh my god, I could eat it every day of the week. I've been known to even order an extra fried rice "to go". LOL. They also have the best ginger sauce around. I don't think I've ever been disappointed in the food. The quality is excellent!! The reason I only give it 4 stars is because their wait-service sucks. Always. Seems like most of the waitresses have a hard time with English, and they don't come around very often. There have been several occasions where I've sat with an empty glass for a bit too long. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of people to flag down, so that's normally what I end up doing. And to make up for it, the Chef's are great!! And that's what you're there for, right?! This is always one of my first choices for restaurants!!
(4)Tiffany K.
Every time I come here with girls, we get AWESOME SERVICE! Well, I guess anywhere attractive girls are, we get pampered to the tee. ;) I've been here a couple times for a birthday dinner with the girls, some employees (no names) ended up having a few drinks with us and we all had such a blast. Service is always consistent. I came here for my boyfriend's father's birthday and we had a blast too. The food is always cooked to perfection and drinks are always good. I just hate that this restaurant is so far away because someone has to stay sober to drive 30-45+ minutes back home. :(
(5)david s.
Went and ordered a fried rice lunch special to take home. I waited 40 minutes. The guy said there was some problem, blah blah, but it had to be that my order didn't go thru the first time. It's just fried rice plus a small salad, guys. As far as the food, those who read all of the wow reviews here about the fried rice should understand that it's very sweet. Lots of people like that, of course. I like it in a dessert but not in a main course. And the dressing for the salad wasn't tasty. The fried rice and salad dressing at Ron of Japan are hugely better.
(2)Angie M.
Benihana can suck it! Tsukasa is where it's at! * The fried rice is heaven. The chefs put approximately a pound of butter and a pound of oil in it, which is why it's so friggin' good. I would roll around in that fried rice I love it so much. * I'm a fan of the shrimp/chicken combo for lunch. Hibachi style. That way I can douse my shrimp and chicken in the ridiculously good ginger sauce. Once, the chef referred to it as "Japanese Ketchup." Sounds about right. * Really, really reasonable prices. For about 11 bucks at lunch, you get a massive portion of orgasm-worthy fried rice, chicken, shrimp and even your choice of soup or salad. * Oh, and that salad? It's served with THE BEST ginger salad dressing on the face of the planet. Again, I want to roll around in it. Last, but certainly not least, Tsukasa has a very old-school Ms. Pacman video game in the lobby. My sales rep and I sat there and played it for about 30 minutes after our lunch yesterday. I'm fairly certain the nice hostess thinks we're nuts. WARNING: You will smell like Tsukasa for the rest of the day. I suggest leaving your coat in the car.
(5)Dominik S.
THE BEST DAMN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE PLACE IN TOWN! Disclaimer: I don't work for them, nor are they cheap by any means. I've been going for about 8 years now, and it has been an awesome experience. Don't read the other reviews, just go and have a good time. Make sure to get a table with a chef. This is the only review where I do not go into detail. Trust me, it's a good bet.
(5)Jaime J.
I love this restaurant... for a teppanyaki restaurant.. their sushi is alwasy fresh and better than most sushi restaurants i've been to all over chicago. The drinks at the bar are always yummie and just enough alcohol to make you have a great time at the table.. The cooks always provide a fun and entertaining teppanyaki show.. the food is amazing as well. everytime i go to tsukasa i have a great time. tsukasa is a place to go for a special treat.. since the prices are a bit high. but totally worth it.
(4)Gerald M.
Best sushi in Chicagoland area. Their take out is a mess but dinner in is the greatest you'll have. Go and be sure to add a spice scallop app to start the night - wow it's good.
(4)Dawn M.
We have been here several times over the past few years. It's one of my daughter's favorite places and we usually end up here for her birthday celebration dinner as we did a few weeks ago. I don't know if we just got a new cook or what the deal was, but it was the worst experience we have had here. First, the cook served us our protien before anything else. Normally, you recieve the rice and veggies first and then the protien. This just seemed odd, but we were hungry..so we ate what was put in front of us. The next thing was that my son's meet was burnt. He asked for med. well and it was like charcoal. It was inedible. We mentioned it to our hostess and she informed the manager. They came over several times, looked at the burnt dish of food, walked away, chatted then came back and offered us a few dollars off our bill. I said "no"..none of the meat is edible. We don't want it. They did offer to cook another one in the back but by that time, my son wasn't hungry as he had eaten all his veggies and rice. Just not a good experience. Not sure if we will spend the money or travel the distance to go back.
(2)Doug W.
We have reservations on a Saturday night for 630 pm and we waited 45 minutes to be seated because we were a party of two....WITH RESERVATIONS! As a tip for people trying to make reservations, smaller parties are always placed secondary to the bigger parties. If you don't mind missing the show, be proactive and ask to sit in the bar. As we continued to check-in and find out the status of our reservation, we were constantly told to wait 5 minutes. In fact, the manager on staff offered us free drinks for the wait and then didn't take it off the bill. Now once we got to the meal, the food was wonderful as always (4.5 stars), but unfortunately even the best food doesn't taste as good after about an hour of disappointment and waiting (and waiting). Because I choose not to round up, I am dropping my 2.5 (4.5 food, .5 in service) to a 2 due to a complete disregard of service.
(2)Cody S.
Despite the positive reviews for this place, I was very dissatisfied. I think that if you like: snappy waiters with zero personality , fresh fish that is as old as the salsa in your refrigerator, water that tastes like pesticides, and roll ingredient combinations that abstract all of the amazing things about Japanese food.... then you will love this place. It is just for you. However, it is not for me and even my stomach (and the stomachs of my 3 colleagues) agrees. Being served old fish is never that fun. If you want sushi that is tasty and does not make you try and purge yourself every 5 minutes then please look elsewhere. You will have a better night. Just point your car toward the city and drive. :)
(1)Luke S.
It pains me to a place with such wonderful food one star, but we had the most atrocious service imaginable on a meal that was well over $200. We made a reservation early in the day for 7pm and they asked which section we preferred. We told them that it didn't matter as long as we had full menu access. Upon our arrival (Sunday night) we were seated in the sushi bar area. We were handed a sushi menu and a basic Hibachi menu. My friend who was with us had been raving about their combo meals, but we were told by the waiter that we couldn't have the full Hibachi menu. After asking for the manager we were allowed to "order" from the Hibachi menu. Our server was not happy about taking our orders from the other menu, but he did repeat everything that we ordered. There was no way anything could go wrong right? WRONG! Most of us ordered off the more elaborate menu. Our sushi appetizers came out first and they were outstanding! It was some of the freshest, most loaded rolls that I've ever had. After that everything was down hill. Our entrees came out piece by piece and I kid you not everyone at the table was missing something. My poor brother ordered the golden shrimp, but guess what after asking for more than 20 minutes the golden sauce never came. He was forced to eat Ice Cold shrimp. The veggies that were to come with my order never came, our family friend was missing her rice for the first 15 minutes of our meal. It was a horrific train wreck. Did the manager come over to apologize? Nope. We were simply told by our server than much of our order was accidentally sent to another table. I have to say our server was kind, but did NOTHING to resolve our problems. He offered us free ice cream, but it was supposed to come with many of our meals anyways. Once he listed off all of the flavors we ordered. What happens next you ask? Of course they are out of every flavor of ice cream with the exception of Green Tea flavor. You would think that after such a horrific showing of service they would knock off a menu item from the bill? No way! Not only that, but they were a few extra add ons that we never got. Instead of losing it we paid for everything, tipped 15%, and have vowed to never come back.
(1)David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 3 I came here with a party of 15 for a company lunch after making reservations. 1. TENDERLOIN AND CHICKEN $14.75 Not bad. Tenderloin and chicken were both pretty good, although the fried rice was mostly just white rice. 3.5 stars, rounding down. Service was mediocre, and I would have liked more of a show.
(3)Monalisa M.
Delishhhh. Hibachi grills for fun group dinners, & bar area for sushi time. Quick service, and good gooood sangrias ;) Mexi-Maki The Bear Inspired by the Chicago Bears The Pink Dragon Tarantula Always have a good time here.
(4)Bernice L.
Love everything about teppenyaki and Tsukasa definitely does it best!! LOVE IT! The food is the best quality especially their delicious combo meal of filet and golden shrimp. The tuna steak is also white tuna and super fresh. Food is a definite 5 stars. Service 4 stars only because they forgot my sweetie's scallops at the end and didn't even apologize for it :T Otherwise..delicious and everything you would want :)
(4)Derek V.
Took our kids to celebrate our son's 8th birthday. Fantastic experience at the Teppanyaki table. The food was very tasty, generous portions and entertaining! The staff are very attentive. The sushi was good too. Highly recommend. We'll be going back for sure!
(5)Tommy L.
This place is great! Worth your money. Been around town for sushi nowhere come even close to Tsukasa.
(5)J C.
This is really not anything like Japanese food. Its Japanese ingredients with a lot of corn syrup on them, with the exception of the sushi, which is pretty standard. That being said, it is entertaining and the food tastes good. Steak, chicken, rice, vegetables, shrimp - all drizzled in delicious corn syrup based sauces. Many of the tables are shared with other parties, and a chef prepares the food for you with a modicum of entertaining banter.
(2)Rachel H.
The fact that I haven't reviewed this place is mind-boggling considering my sister's propensity to come here to celebrate anything from a birthday to a good haircut to getting a good deal at Jewel. We used to go to Ron of Japan, but lately it just hasn't been as good. Enter Tsukasa. The chefs are much livelier here than at Ron of Japan and even though I'm shy (sometimes) I have no problem catching a piece of broccoli in my mouth like a trained seal pup. I usually go with the filet mignon and golden shrimp combo which also comes with a salad, soup, a drink, a side item, and dessert. No wonder I always have a grumpy depressed food coma in the car on the way home and want to pull over and cry/fall asleep/hold my tummy. Actually I think my leftovers are putting me to sleep right now... oh Tsukasa, more sleep inducing than Thanksgiving and the show is always less drama filled.
(5)Cosima B.
Best steak I have had in years! I had the steak and shrimo combo, the steak was amazing, but the shrimp burned. The Calamari were mouthwatering as well and I can only recommend them as a side! The place is not the cheapest, but it was a great experience. When I am back in the area, I will definitely go back!
(4)Nick L.
It's a nice teppanyaki place (food wise) albeit a pricey one. The place also needs a severe update to the decor inside as it's terrible! There are better teppanyaki's in the area like Hanakawa if you head further north on Milwaukee.
(3)David W.
Wow. I greatly underseatimaed the size of the portions. I ordered a lobster and steak combo, and could barely finish the lobster. The food was delicious, the hibachi chef was entertaining, and I only got partially singed by the flames. All in all, it was a good night. Oh yeah, I challenge anyone to beat my record - I caught like 8 pieces of broccoli in my mouth. I'm kind of a big deal.
(4)Justin S.
Like teppenyaki restaurants? This is the spot! Wait wait wait...I have to disclose that I have never paid for a meal here before. It's always outings w/ vendors or company celebrations so I can't really complain to begin with... The service at this place is awesome. They're walking around constantly and making sure everyone is good and drinks are filled. The chefs are great too. Some are sarcastically funny, some are really entertaining with their cooking skills, others are just plain boring. But the end result, food, is always amazing! And that's what counts right? You can't really go wrong with any of the lunch specials. If you're looking to shorten your life, get that Golden Shrimp. ;) I strongly recommend the Sushi Salad or Spicy Octopus for starters and even the Beef Asparagus rolls. Make sure you have febreeze on hand afterwards! Your clothes WILL smell of food.
(4)Mr. sushi G.
Absolutely delicious sushi! Good value. Service was ok. When we walked in and asked to be seated at a regular table since my party was all ordering sushi, the hostess kept asking us in disbelief if we were sure we didn't want hibachi. Yes...I'm quite sure I know why I came the the restaurant... Then they said they didn't have any more tables, and asked if I would like to sit on the heated patio...As I walked to the heated patio, I must have passed several open tables...The problem with the heated patio, is the heat lamps basically have two modes..Hot and Off. So you either eat in a sauna, or an igloo. My sushi was fresh, and delicious. The spicy tuna was just okay, but everything else was great. I did have 2 bones in my salmon nigiri however. I don't like bones in my sushi... The servers were very nice, and provided me with very good service. Fish (9/10) Overall (9/10) Value (8/10) Overall, I love it! I will be back!
(4)Evan L.
I like it if you get the right cook, better than Benihana. It also depends who you sit with because you're sitting with strangers unless you have a party of 7 or more. The fried rice is more entertaining to watch cooking than to eat. 5 stars if you bring kids and your cook has taken his Prozac.
(4)Andrew D.
Food is great and the atmosphere always comfortable there as long as some fool doesn't bring a ton of kids there.This is a adult type restaurant , neat and classy. People should keep small children and babies at home however as the cooking surface is part of the table. If you are stupid enough to bring them, THEY WILL GET BURNED McDonald's is a better place to take them. People go there to have a peaceful meal not to hear your kids screaming .....sorry you had them ~ you deal with them.............
(4)Amber G.
Best food you will ever have. There's nothing to change about this place. Yum.
(5)Marina F.
Excellent choice of rolls and sushi, delicious kids' selections, great drinks. Our go-to Sarurday night destination...
(5)Jeff F.
Ok, suburban people. Enough is enough. I don't care how good you think the food may be out here in the burbs - if they treat you bad, stop supporting them! I've been to places like this dozens of times. Each and every time, the service has been fun and impeccable. So the other day when the wife suggested we go to Tsukasa (she hasn't been since they changed locations), I was happy to indulge her craving. When we got there, she said she wanted to see what the wait was - if it was more than half an hour, we'd just go somewhere else. It was 6:35 on Sunday (yesterday). She came back out and told me that the hostess said it would be 10-15 minutes, so I parked and went in to wait. And we waited. And waited. People who walked in after us without reservations were sat. And we kept waiting. 25 minutes after walking in, we approached the hostess to find out what was going on. It was now 7 pm. The hostess told us that they were waiting for a 6:30 reservation when she asked, was going to seat them if they didn't show up, and that they showed up at 6:50, so we had to wait until 7. When my wife asked why she said 10-15 minutes, then didn't tell us what her incredibly stupid plan had been, she said that now we were waiting to see if a 7 pm reservation would show up or not and would be sat within 20-25 minutes. So we walked out. On the way to the car, I decided that I needed to talk to management about it because telling people there is a 10-15 minute wait when you have no intention of seating customers for 30-45 minutes isn't acceptable. After 10 years in the biz, I know that I'd want to know something like that, so I walked back in and asked for a manager. The hostess said she was the manager. So I explained that she told us it would be 10-15 minutes and after 20-25 minutes, we were still waiting. She said that she was waiting on a reservation. Now, here's the deal folks - if your reservation is for 6:30 and you haven't showed up by 6:45, you lose your reservation. End of story. Don't like it? Buy a watch. So I ask her why she didn't tell us that because then we'd have had reasonable expectations and she said that we would be sat after 7. I told her that she clearly had no intention of seating us in 10-15 minutes and that I don't like being lied to just so I'll stay. She admitted that she said 10-15 minutes, but explained that she really meant 25-30. I said that lying to customers isn't good business and she said that she hadn't lied. I said "you said 10-15 minutes, but knew it would be at least 20-25 minutes. Is 10-15 minutes the same as 20-25 minutes? We would have waited 20-25 if you had just told us that." Her response is the best argument I have for all of us to stop giving them our hard earned money - "If you are going to argue like that, then I don't want your business." I said "Argue like what, with facts and accuracy? Tell you what, you'll never see my money and I'm going to make sure everyone I know is aware that you don't care about service or your customers." Then we left and went up the road to Benihana, where we didn't wait, had a lovely meal, and were treated the way customers should be treated - like the restaurant wants you to enjoy your experience. Until you all stop forgiving terrible service, rude management, and disgraceful behavior simply because you like their food (by the way, you DO know that it's literally ALL THE SAME, right?), you will simply encourage them to not care about the most important part of a dining experience besides the food - good service. Stop giving these amateurs your hard earned dollars. You deserve to be treated well and considering the fact that you can get exactly the same food elsewhere for the same money, but with excellent and friendly service, stop wasting your time. You deserve better. You really do. Stop compromising. Stop pretending the food is worth being treated like you don't matter. Without you, there is no restaurant industry. It's high time we reminded restaurants like this of that fact. Let them go bankrupt - they deserve it.
(1)Eric H.
No beating around the bush: I went there on Wed. 4/14/10, for lunch with work. The bill was 150.82 6 of us split the same bill, since the lady did not want to do separate checks. 3 paid cash. 3 paid in credit card. How should a server handle this problem? Well, apparently they handled it by charging us 3 credit card payees 150.82 each, yes, the price for the entire bill---3 times... Now I am currently on hold with my bank trying to fix this. We saw the server and manager in their pay cubby looking confused and two of us actually approached them and asked if everything was ok. They said it was. That idiocy doesn't deserve 1 star, but the food was only alright compared to Benihana's, and the Habachi grill guy didn't say but two words the entire time! I thought they were supposed to be entertaining! Unbelievable. Oh, you get a ton of fried rice, which is white rice with sat fats and sugars added to it. I got the steak and chicken, so did 2 other people at my table, the grill guy split 2 chicken breasts 3 ways and used what looked like stew meat (low quality). They seem to think that they can charge so much for the entertainment factor, but there was no entertainment! The food is not of great quality, unless you get the filet mignon and lobster tail combo, but who can afford that? Many other great restaurants in Vernon Hills, so stay away from this one---just a friendly word of advice!
(1)Natalie V.
Absolutely the best teppanyaki I've had outside of Asia. And easily the best fried rice I've ever had. Admittedly, it's been a few years since I've eaten there, but I had to come back and post a review now that I live in Torrance, CA, which is a hotbed of authentic Japanese cuisine. I have learned a TON about Japanese cuisine in the last two years and while we have incredible Japanese food out here, we don't have anything that compares to Tsukasa. This place is way way better than Benihana's or Ron of Japan. The chefs put on a good show (although I remember a few relatively lifeless ones) and the fried rice changed my life. I never bothered with the sushi, just the chicken and beef. It was all good. Oh, did I mention the fried rice is clearly laced with crack?
(5)Herman S.
Consistantly good quality food served in an entertaining environment. Make reservations on the weekend as it can get quite busy! Great for parties.
(4)Mike S.
Sushi bar only review: The sushi bar served up some excellent sushi last night, however it seemed that they were light on waitstaff. A little more attention would have added a star to this review. We will definitely return to the sushi bar.
(3)Beth P.
Simply stated - the best of the best! And while the prices are high, it is so worth it! The food is of the highest quality. The portion sizes are amazing. You just cannot walk away hungry or unsatisfied. The owner is kind, his staff is well trained, service is amazing. The golden shrimp is so good my mouth is watering just typing about it. I eat here whenever I can!
(5)Jeanette K.
Choo Choo goes the onion train over the hibachi grill... Tsukasa has some of the best teppanyaki food I've ever had. Benihana's? Sub-par. Ron of Japan? Nasty. Tsukasa? Mmmm. I always order the terriyaki chicken with a double order of fried rice (leftovers for lunch the next day FTW) The terriyaki sauce is out of this world. Its super sweet and thick, almost like maple syrup. The chefs put the terriyaki in the rice, which makes it sweet and salty and oh so delicious. All dinners come with soup and salad. The soup is a little bath watery, and lacking in flavor. The salad has a ginger dressing which is excellent. If you order a combination dinner, you also get an appetizer choice which is mostly tempura options. The BF and I usually order a single dinner each, and then share an appetizer of Age Dashi Dofu. The tofu is hit or miss- sometimes I think they make it on the fly so it doesn't have enough time to marinate and absorb all of the flavor. The main reason I give Tsukasa 4 stars instead of 5 is that the meat is often a little overcooked. If you have the opportunity, ask for Max as your chef. We've had him twice and he seems to be the only chef that can get the chicken right. Also, I wish the veggies that came with the meals were a little less onion-focused. I always seem to end up with 90% onion and a few pieces of zucchini or broccoli. Like most teppanyaki restaurants, Tsukasa is not cheap. You're paying for a meal + entertainment. And by entertainment, I mean the chefs and the random other people at your table. (Sidebar: Why do I always get stuck at the table with the crazies?) However, if for nothing else, go for the fried rice.
(4)Jeremiah H.
I never go anywhere else for sushi unless I want to be disappointed! Staff is friendly and food is amazing.
(5)Terese C.
Outstanding food, but the service is disgusting! We had a reservation, arrived early, and sat in the bar area. Not ONE employee asked us if we wanted drinks. We went to the bar, FINALLY, someone paid attention and we ordered drinks. Our table was ready as we received our drinks. The waitress was in a rush and not very friendly. The ONLY thing I liked about the evening was spending it with my family, and the food. I will NEVER go to this restaurant and spend another penny there. There are too many great Japanese restaurants in Chicago!
(1)Elina S.
LOVE this place! Where do I begin?! The food is consistently delicious, they have some of the best fried rice ever! I mean I've been to Thailand and even there, the fried rice isn't as good as Tsukasa, okay maybe I'm a tad over exagerating, but everything I've ever had from the steak to the seafood, everything is always fresh and delicious. Plus, if you request John as your cook, he's awesome, always entertaining the entire party and making the entire experience THAT much more enjoyable. We love going here for special events because we always leave with a smile on our faces. For great quality food, and entertainment, oh and they serve sushi, what else could you ask for.
(5)Junior D.
I am a fan of Tsukasa.. its not the best service but the food is great... I must say there reservations are almost always screwed up.. we never get seated on time...but I never waited more than 20 minutes... I always order from the hibachi menu and because I have a big appetite I always order the Sumo which consist of a bigger portion filet mignon and bigger Lobster... but I hate the fact that it gets cooked together and mixed with everyone elses food that I end of getting the same portion as everyone but paid more cash to cough up more steak and lobster.. So DON"T order the sumo,, go for the regular steak and lobster entree.. The Fried rice is out of this world and its the best I ever had!! For apps try the beef asparagus rolls or shrimp tempura.. I love the golden sauce on my lobster... the salad is meh and they always cook the vegetables last when no one wants to eat anymore... the sake and Japanese beers are tasty and calls for a good time.. The chefs are funny, the bus boy are good but the waitresses need to smile more often.. They look mean... But anyways... the place has its pro's and con's but the food is great!
(3)Dilara M.
This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants because the food is so good! The sushi is great, the hibachi grill is tasty and it is totally worth the extra money to get the fried rice rather than steamed because it is the best fried rice I've ever had! Yes it is pricy but it the food is good, the ambiance of the place is upscale and the service (including the chefs) is wonderful.
(5)Dustin H.
Well, I just had to finally stop in here and try out the sushi. My wife and I sat on the bar side (not by the group tables) and it was nice and quiet. We both got sushi (obviously) and were very pleased. I got a spicy tuna maki roll, a red dragon maki roll, and an Urlacher maki roll. All 3 were very good, and the spicy tuna was the best I have ever had (so far). It was excellent and that alone will make me come back. Also, they have hand rolls, which I will also try next time (if you don't know what those are, they are the small sno cone shaped rolls). As far as the interior, it was nice and large, and it was nice that the hibachi area is well separated from the people who aren't doing that. The ONLY complaint I have is the prices, and it wasn't across the board. The basic rolls were on par with everything else I have had, as were MOST of the more deluxe rolls, but be careful. I didn't pay attention and when I got the bill, I found that the Urlacher roll was about $17. I probably still would have gotten it, as it was worth it, but things like that can catch you off guard if you don't pay attention. Anyway, thumbs up, 5 stars and all that. I look forward to my next visit and many after.
(5)Mark M.
My favorite Japanese restaurant period. You must get fried rice......Pricy thought! Be ready to open your wallet.
(5)Tony M.
Went here with a group of friends, our chef put on an awesome show! I had the garlic shrimp which was excellent. Great place to sit back and enjoy your night out. Only complaint was the host seemed a wee bit rude.
(5)Rebecca M.
SO delicious!! Tsukasa has the best Japanese food and the atmosphere is so much fun. The ONLY bad thing about going here is having to wash everything you're wearing immediately - since they cook right in front of you. But that's why I don't wear anything dry-clean only here! On to the food... I've never had their sushi, but everything else is amazing. Whether you like seafood or simply chicken or steak, they cook it perfectly. My personal favorite is the golden shrimp. They use this buttery/garlicy egg dip with the shrimp that makes it tastes devine. The chefs also cook rice and vegetables for you, but go easy on the rice or else you won't be able to finish your meal! It's not that great as leftovers.
(5)Scott C.
Tsukasa is an Americanized version of Japanese tepenayaki. I went with some colleagues from Japan who commented that the only Japanese menu items were the beer... Needless to say, the food is typically very well done here and I've never left disappointed or hungry. The lunch items are a good value instead of paying full price for the dinner menu - same stuff but less expensive. The chef's do a good job of putting on a "show" while they cook and seem to be good at understanding if they are the center of attention or if your conversation is and they will back off on the "show" a little bit. An under appreciated part of menu is the sushi selections. Their sushi is typically very good - served with fresh cuts of fish and some creative rolls. One roll that I had was the "Urlacher" which was a crab roll topped with tuna and spicy mayo. It was pretty outstanding. One word of caution is that their xxxExtra Spicy Tuna roll lives up to its name. The only complaint I ever have about the restaurant is the service. They can be very pushy to move you through your meal - like "Hey wait - I was still using that soy sauce!" as they take it away... The food, fortunately, makes that a footnote rather than a headline.
(4)Rebecca Huicha K.
Sushi bar review and not for the teppanyaki portion of the restaurant. their sushi bar space is a bit limited considering the size of this place but it seems like most people are there for the teppan yaki anyways. the restaurant itself looks fairly new and is pretty big. i'm sure they totally bank it on the weekends since it's packed. Their sushi menu isn't that different from any other sushi restaurant. They do have a decent amount of specialty rolls but i was mainly there for their nigiri. Our table did other a couple rolls to share and they were all very good. The fish itself was pretty fresh and the pieces were decent sizes. The salmon, scallop, unagi, and toro were the best. I was really impressed with the unagi, very fresh and melts in your mouth :) Also, had the pomegranate martini which was pretty strong yet tasty. My fiancee really wanted to try the fried rice since it seemed so popular. I took one bit and in my opinion its way too sweet but he loved it. Next time I definitely want to try the teppan even though i'm not a fan of it.
(4)Ryan G.
For my birthday, I was looking for something nice but out of the ordinary for my parents and I. After searching around Yelp, I came across Tsukasa and their stellar reviews. They did not disappoint. We called in our reservation around 3:30-4pm for 7pm that evening and only had a short wait upon arrival. We were initially concerned that we would not get a chef's table since the place was so full but that was what we got (we have since assumed that the regular tables are for walk-ins or request. We were seated at one of the furthest-back teppanyaki tables with a group of 5-6 joining us for the evening. The chef was friendly, entertaining and skilled; putting on a show that was not only fun but delicious and the wait staff was quick and precise on drink orders. While sushi was available, the food we ordered was mostly from the cooks. The Miso and Shrimp Tempura were above average but it was everything else that made the meal: a combination of sirloin and Golden Shrimp with roasted vegetables and fresh fried rice were all excellent. A good selection of deserts were also available including Rainbow and Mango sherbert and Green Tea ice cream. Given the quality of the food and the quickness and warmth of the staff all around made my first visit an instant favorite and one worth repeating.
(5)Eugenia O.
I love tsukasa so much that I make the drive from Evanston to go there. The food, in my opinion, is much better than that of Ron of Japan and Behihana and while it is a little pricy, it is cheaper than Ron of Japan and totally worth the price. The restaurant used to be open for lunch and had a much more reasonably priced lunch menu but due to the economy is no longer serving lunch. Tsukasa's menu is great because it has lots of teppanyaki grill entrees but the restaurant also has an extensive sushi menu. The bar serves a wide variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and is always good for sake bombs. I usually stick to the teppanyaki entrees since that is the restaurant's specialty. For dinner, most entrees come with soup, salad, choice of appetizer, rice, veggies, and a dessert. The entrees come with white rice and you have to pay a little extra to get the fried rice, but for the extra dollar or so, you definately will not regret it. The fried rice is simply amazing. I've been to tsukasa tons of times and have tried every type of teppanyaki entree: chicken, steak, salmon, scallops, etc. and they are all amazing. The only downfalls I could think of are the fact that the food is slightly on the expensive side, the teppanyaki tables are designed for six people so if you have a party of less than six, hope to be sitting next to some friendly and not too awkward of people, and that, for girls, you're hair kinda smells of food afterwards. But I must say for how amazing the food is, it is totally worth it! Oh, and don't forget to make a reservation!!! The place often has a very long wait for the teppanyaki tables.
(5)LaWanna O.
OMG, what's not to say about this place! I love it, love it, love it! The food is awesome, fresh & great prices! The Chef's are very entertaining. The fried rice is the best, I've ever had, seriously. You can choose from the Habachi Grill or the sushi bar. This place Rocks, their better than Ron of Japan, for those of you that have been there! I would even suggest this restaurant to my worst enemy, that is how great they are!
(5)Y V.
OMG, why am I thinking about Golden Shrimp at 2 a.m.? Tsukasa has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants for that dish alone. That is some serious s&#%! (more on that soon). This teppanyaki place is indeed special for many people in Vernon Hills and the surrounding suburbs. They've had a loyal following for 16 years, which is quite a feat for a non-chain restaurant. We went here on a Wednesday night expecting few customers, but the dining room was packed. Always a good sign. The menu is simple and straightforward - hibachi-style chicken, steak, and seafood and various combinations of those options. I ordered the hibachi steak with fried rice and golden shrimp. He had the filet mignon. All dinners come with soup, salad, and rice. Fried rice is extra, but it's worth it. Shhh... don't tell anyone but the secret ingredient is a little butter. The chef had a huge block of butter at his station and he went to town on the rice, vegetables, shrimp, beef, you name it. Not too much, but just enough to make everything really tasty. Now on to the Golden Shrimp. This crazy concoction is basically a thick egg yolk/butter/who knows what else.. sauce that's spread over butterflied shrimp and steamed. It turns into this amazingly rich custard that is perfect with the sweet shrimp. The custard itself reminds me of a vegetarian version of roasted bone marrow (hot daaaamn). I'm kicking myself for just getting the appetizer, because they also have it as a dinner option. Our chef was awesome. He did the ever-so-popular "flaming onion volcano", all kinds of tricks with food and fire, cracked jokes, and even threw broccoli florets in our mouths (except the teenage girl sitting next to me didn't want to participate.... LAME!). We met a nice older woman who grew up in Rogers Park, which pleased my Rogers Park-raised bf. Good food, good company, and strong drinks. I love this place.
(5)Helena D.
If you're up in the northern suburbs of Lake County and need a sushi fix, head on over to Tsukasa. Located a stone's throw from Hawthorn Mall in a newer outdoor strip mall, Tsukasa features a large cavernous bar, an cozy outdoor patio area, an expansive open dining room with multiple cooking stations, as well as a smaller party room with shoji screens that can slide close if privacy is needed. We came here for a private party with approximately 30 people and had an overall great time. The drinks are on the stronger side while sushi rolls are large and fresh. The chefs were a bit grumpy and did their 'tricks' in a mechanical yet fun style - it was nice to see them prepare the cooked dishes in front of us on the habachi grill. However, be prepared to have the smokiness waft back to you and grease splatter every so often (i.e don't wear your nicest duds here). One star is removed b/c if you want a bit of privacy, they will fill up the open spots at your habachi table with other patrons - even though we were suppose to be in a private room for our special event. Service can be on the slower side and prices are high, perhaps even a bit higher than the ritziest restaurants in Chicago. Overall, if you have a lot of clients, friends and/or family to entertain and are in the area, go here.
(4)Alvin L.
The wife and i tried this place on the back of the high yelp rating and a small ad in a local japanese publication. we had a bad feeling the moment we walked in; no asian customers, chefs resorting to tons of cheap tricks for laughs (lobbing brocolli into mouths of customers) and a loud noisy atmosphere. The food ultimately was as bad and corny as the first impressions. everything served on the teppanyaki was coated with a heart-attack inducing dosage of oil AND butter, and to be completely honest, nothing was authentic AT ALL. i can see how with the cheap tricks the chefs perform for the table and the generous amounts of sausces provided that a more caucasian clientele can be impressed but authentic teppanyaki
(1)Laura C.
I went to Tsukasa for the first time tonight as a party of four to celebrate my dad's birthday (it was his choice of restaurant). Being a "special occasion" (quotes added for sarcasm, see below :) ), we called a few days in advance for reservations and asked the staff to make a note it was for a birthday. Today, the day of, we called to verify and make sure they would bring something out with a candle (regardless of whether we were charged). The meal itself was excellent: I have a shellfish allergy and both the waitress and chef were accommodating. The chef was entertaining without being over the top. Our host, waitress, and chef were all aware of my dad's birthday: when the check was dropped I was irked. My boyfriend tried to discretely alert the staff, then eventually sought out a manager, who happened to be glued to the playoff game being broadcast at the bar. As my family was leaving, I took the manager aside and explained to him what happened. He first tried to accuse us of leaving too soon. Perhaps realizing how silly this sounded, Jeff retracted and admitted it was him who made the mistake and did not convey the information. My favorite part, though, was when explaining it was disappointing (considering how great everything else was and that we chose Tsukasa for a "special occasion"), Jeff casually responded that most of the reservations were for "special occasions". His tone strongly implied our business was of no consequence to him (mind you, we had already paid the bill and were simply on our way out). I pointedly asked him if this was the case, and he meekly trailed off, "no, no, I will hook you up your next time here or something..." Or something...moral of the story: food was great, steer clear if you are trying to organize any type of event.
(3)Eric L.
Living in the suburbs doesn't lend itself to too many dining choices so it's nice when a restaurant is just as good the fifth time as it is the first. I've been here a number of times in the past for the teppanyaki and it was always a fun and tasty (but unhealthy) experience and the lunch prices are a great deal. The golden shrimp is especially good (but especially unhealthy). But what I've been coming for recently has been the sushi. Sharing a couple rolls with friends makes for the perfect lunch. Among my favorite rolls are the Pink Dragon (good for those who aren't quite ready for raw fish), the Green Dragon, White Dragon, and salmon skin. The sushi combos are also reasonably priced (around $15) with good portion sizes. Tsukasa is great whether you want your meal to be a celebration or a nice casual event.
(4)I B.
To be fair, this is based on one visit, where I only had one of the combinations, which they prepare at the table. I think people come here for the show. I guess that's obvious, because the food is like the Applebee's of Japanese food. Or the PF Changs of Japanese food. Watching the chef scoop goose-egg sized globs of butter onto your food is pretty gross, and then they squirt on oil and more oil with ketchup bottles. I thought Japanese food was generally light, mild, and bright tasting, but this stuff was heavy, muddy, and...well, it tasted like the ugly fat American cousin of Japanese food. It'd be funny if it wasn't $35-$50 a person. I had the chicken and tuna combo. The food is so heavily sauced with teriyaki/soy/some ginger thing that they were identical tasting, and barely distinguishable even in texture. My companions (who love this place) raved about the fried rice -- which tasted like heavily salted teriyaki sauce. I will say I had the california rolls as an appetizer and they were pretty good. And, coming from the city (where good East Asian isn't as hard to come by as it is in Vernon Hills), I did love the fact the restaurant is huge and you're not bumped up against other diners. But really, this is Japanese food the way the Olive Garden is Italian.
(2)Ellie S.
This is a great teppenyaki restaurant. The location and service are great. I have gone twice with my husband on a Friday or Saturday night and had a 5-15 minute wait without a reservation. Likely because they can easily put 2 people at most tables. The food is very good although I don't think I have ever had bad teppenyaki. Chef is always dramatic which makes it so fun. If you have to wait, stop by the bar and have a White Horse martini. It is a delightful chocolate martini. Bartender is also very nice. Definitely a great place to go. This is a very large teppenyaki restaurant so it is always crowded and loud. More so than the average teppenyaki place so if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place.
(4)Steven M.
Wow, that was a huge disappointment. I had a fairly low bar going in, we were just hoping for some decent food for the adults and something entertaining for a 7 year old that was with us. The experience was honestly a complete whiff. First the chef that was at our table was very low energy. He just went through the motions and barely cracked a smile the whole time. Meanwhile there were chefs all around cutting up, acting silly and making sure each table had a great time. The kid with us was pretty bored by the whole thing and spent most of her time watching what was going on at the OTHER tables. I know it's luck of the draw, but you would think they would have a minimum standard.... In terms of the food, it was extremely bland. Trust me, I wasn't expecting much despite the lofty reviews, but this is the most disappointing of any Teppan Yaki place I've ever been to. Overcooked rubbery lobster, steak with little to no seasoning, bland veggies, etc. They earn one star for the refried rice which was at least up to par. I will not return.
(1)matt g.
If Tsukasa were a woman, I'd marry that woman. If it were a dude, I'd gaymarry that dude. I live in the city, so I only make it up here a few times a year, but it's well worth it. Unfortunately, this means I order the same thing every single time, so I haven't gotten to experience the full range of what Tsukasa has to offer, like the amazing-looking sushi. Basically, my night at Tsukasa consists of: Asparagus beef rolls (+ sake bombs) salad with an amazing sesame ginger dressing (+sake bombs) the best fried rice I've ever had (+sake bombs) grilled veggies (+ sake bombs) hibachi shrimp and filet (but my friends swear by the lobster and shrimp in golden sauce... +sake bombs) Sake bombs, sake bombs... "Why are we the only ones here?" The bus boys vacuuming the carpet all around our table. The waitress dropping the check. "Did we ask for the check? Oh, it's closing? Could we maybe get one more round of sake bombs? Ok, cool." Passing by the gift shop, "Oh hey let me get a bottle of that plum wine for the road. Who was the DD again? I think I'm going to throw up... in the best way possible."
(5)Ray A.
I've only been here once and had a VERY great meal. I was invited here as a congrats/going away affair for work. The hibachi chef/cook was VERY entertaining and had us all laughing the entire time. I had the shrimp fried rice and a dragon roll. VERY GOOD!!!!! I've also been to Benihana's and a couple other hibachi places. This one is #2, sorry, but Benihana's got the #1 spot in this category!!! To Eric H. we were about to have billing problems because some had cards and some had cash, but we figured it out on our own; gave the cash to the carders and the carders paid for the combined amount. I highly recommend if you don't feel like driving all the way to Benihana's....
(4)Michael N.
Tsukasa is my favorite sushi bar. Their fish is the most fresh I have had in Lake/Cook County. Inside out, super white tuna with oshinko...doesn't get any better than that. I could also eat the salmon teriyaki with fried rice for every meal, every day of the week too!
(5)Lina K.
I loved my eating experience at Tsukusa! All of the rolls that I ordered were delicious and one of my dining companions knew the sushi chefs. She ordered something completely off the menu ... she asked them to whip up something special. It was AMAZING! The fish is very definitely fresh and the sauces sublime. A very surprising and delightful meal as this was also a hibachi house as well (and I generally avoid them due to over-tourism).
(4)Lisa E.
Great food and a show!!! Cook at the tables in front of you . Food can be $$$ but it is worth it for special events.
(4)Erin J.
My mom has suggested Tsukasa a few times in the last few years and it is always a good time. I love the decor. I wish I could ever be early for anything so I could spend time at the cool bar. The chefs are funny! Here is my latest favorite story from Tsukasa: My daughter does not eat meat, vegetables, or fruit. The chef was tossing little broccoli florets at everyone at the table. My daughter didn't want one, but the game intrigued her and she got excited. So we told her she had to close her eyes and I put the piece of broccoli in her mouth. She got so excited that she caught it. Now she tells people that she only likes broccoli when it's thrown at her face! Ha! Ha! Ha!
(4)Chris W.
When I walked in I was expecting to eat with my family at some normal little restaurant in a normal little booth and be drowsy and drink diet coke. INSTEAD! I drank diet coke while I nearly got my eyebrows burned off while giggling at the cutest japanese man in the universe (or in IL maybe) do food flipping tricks and all sorts of things while preparing my food. It's like Ron of Japan/Bennihana but not lame. They actually have an all Japanesey staff, they have a sushi bar but screw that its all about their dishes. I've had the teriyaki chicken there which is AMAZING but since I'm a fan of dishes a wee bit less sweet I liked the hibachi chicken a little better (personal preference) which is PERFECT when you dip it with their mustard sauce. Fried rice? YEAH. Get it. Worth the 2 bucks. Go begging on the street for the extra 2 bucks. You need to get the fried rice. Veggies? VERY TASTY. You want to eat them, you WILL eat them. You will have broccoli flipped into your mouth and you WILL catch it. HOW? Japanese chefs are magical. Dessert: Try it, it's pretty basic, pretty tasty. Drinks: there's a selection of them, they're a bit pricey but hey if you're there why not? Excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know how this became a list but I assure you there is much excitement in your dinner. This isn't just a normal dinner it's a real experience, and it's a really great one. You get soup, salad, dinner, and have a lot of fun. Please check it out. I implore you!
(5)Steve P.
I know that sushi is only a part of the menu here, but I can't bring myself to get anything else. The pieces of nigiri and sashimi are much larger than one can get elsewhere and they taste great. I now get 90% of my sushi here because it is so consistently excellent. Also, the long menu list of rolls is terrific; I've never had a bad one here. I keep telling myself I will try the other parts of the menu but I just can't drag myself away from the sushi. I usually end up paying the same as or less than I would pay in other restaurants, but I get more and better quality food here than those other spots.
(5)Ruth O.
I've gone here twice for lunch, with people from work. Chicken and steak were very good. Tons of fried rice. Enjoyed the salad (ginger). I have not tried the sushi. The service has been polite and prompt. We've always made reservations and shown up on time. I get the feeling walking in to the restaurant, the host and people at the front are a little gun-shy. Like they kinda eye you warily. Hard to describe. Like not friendly, but yet not unfriendly? It makes me a little uneasy. But, after I'm in and seated, good time. Check the hours before you head over. On Saturdays they are not open for lunch, they open at 5 PM. Plenty of parking. Cute fountain in front. Looked clean from what I could see.
(4)Melissa W.
I went on 02/13/2010 with my fiance and his family. It was for his dad's birthday. Since we haven't been to teppan yaki place in a few years, we decided to try out this restaurant, recommended by some family friends. Overall, it was an okay meal. The amount of food you get for the money is great. I had the Filet Mignon with Golden Shrimp ($35). It came with soup, salad, a combination side order (I had Shrimp Tempera), grilled vegetables, and an ice cream dessert (I had Green Tea Ice Cream). Soup and salad were okay, nothing special from other Japanese restaurants. Tempera came out a bit after the soup and salad. Tempera was really good, perfectly crispy, and my shrimp tempera, also, had green beans, zucchini, and a yam. The cooking order was: fried rice, grilled vegetables, and then the steak/shrimp/fish/chicken. I didn't order the fried rice, but everyone else did, so the chef gave me a little to taste. It was pretty good, but I'm not a big fan of fried rice with sticky rice. Grilled vegetables were nothing special. My steak was alright. I could have used a little more salt/seasoning to it. I didn't like any of the sauces provided. The mustard sauce wasn't thick, like I would have preferred a sauce to be, but a bit watery. The ginger sauce was a bit bitter, and the teriyaki sauce was alright. The Golden Shrimp was very yummy. I didn't really like the high amount of oil/butter with the egg (since I know how to make the soft egg, you really don't need to use that much oil/butter, but I guess to make it the way they do, it's justified). I, also, ordered Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. As if I didn't have enough food already, but it's something I do when eating at a new Japanese restaurant. I'm searching for the best Agedashi Tofu. I love the silky tofu with a crispy outside from the tempera - NOT to be confused with a crispy fried tofu, there's a difference! And Tsukasa hits it pretty close. The tofu was soft in the inside and had this crispy tempera that was on the outside. The sauce was very good and came with daikon to be mixed in to the sauce. Overall, it was very good agedashi tofu in my book. Service was good. I couldn't really understand what the waitress was mumbling sometimes. Overall, I would go back again if I were craving some golden shrimp and agedashi tofu. I would probably not try teppan yaki again. The restaurant had some hits and some misses. But from their agedashi tofu, shrimp tempera, and golden shrimp, I can tell that they know how to cook Japanese food pretty well.
(4)Luiza R.
Perfect for big groups on birthdays or for any occasion, but also their sushi bar is perfect for a date! They have a myriad selection of sushi, and the fish is always really fresh. I've been here many times, and I've never left disappointed. The prices are fair and it's not too expensive, but the atmosphere is cozy and romantic.
(5)Russ C.
Excellent sushi every maki roll was very tasty with great presentation. Service was quick and attentive. My wife and I found our new place when we want sushi. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Leonor S.
My new number 1 spot for sushi and tepan! Ron of Japan and Benihana can kiss my behind! This is THE place to go for show-cooking! Delicious, fresh, and SO worth the drive! I also love their rolls! My favorites: 911, yellow ferarri, spicy scallops, and the pink dragon. I'll be back.... especially now that I know it's frequented by the chicago bears team :)
(5)Nicole B.
No place has ever compared. Highly suggest the fried rice! Whether you are enjoying the sushi bar, dinning in, or sitting around the grill your bound to have an enjoyable meal.
(5)Valerie R.
The three things that make Tsukasa great are the teriyaki sauce, the fried rice and the delicious tempura batter. Typically I am not a fan of fried rice, but the fried rice here is to die for (not to mention completely unhealthy). The teriyaki sauce is what is really special about Tsukasa. It is thick and sweet and is particularly delicious on the steak. I have also had a hard time finding any place that has as good of tempura batter. It is light and has a great flavor. It is a busy place and is often quite loud. The chefs are corny, but that is to be expected and typically makes for a fun time.
(4)Brenda P.
What to say about Tsukasa? The food - it was good. Cooked fresh right in front of you with entertainment. They offer you dipping sauces for your food.. which given that I had never been there before, I opted for the chef's recommendation. Teriyaki is the big flavor there. Teriyaki was my dipping sauce. Teriyaki flavored the chicken fried rice. So if you are a big Teriyaki fan, you will definately enjoy this place. Give it a try if you like Japanese steakhouses.
(4)Amy L.
I love this place. I almost always go here when I want to eat at a teppanyaki restaurant. I'd say it is the best out of all the so-called top teppanyaki restaurants (Benihana, Ron of Japan) in Chicagoland. They have stayed consistent in quality service and good food throughout the years that they've been open too. I originally used to go to their first location but I guess it got too small and moved. I recently went to their new location and wow is it so much bigger and still just as busy. The chefs are funny and I think they added some new ideas to their show because it seemed a little different than the usual one. The new place is a lot nicer too not that their old place wasn't. I always order Golden Shrimp at teppanyaki and boy was it delicious. Tsukasa is also known for their awesome fried rice. It was definitely still good. Their veggies are so simply sauteed and sauced yet tastes so good. There is plenty of parking too. We couldn't find the restaurant at first since it was my first time going to the new one. It is next to the old Circuit City that closed down in that plaza next to Rivertree theaters. Oh and make sure to make reservations!! It gets packed! We made reservations and were going to be seated right on time but our whole party wasn't there on time so we moved to the waiting list. We waited another 15-30 minutes I think even after our whole party of 4 showed up. Worth the wait though cuz good food. Quite pricey but that's expected for these type of restaurants. MMmm, my mouth is watering just thinking of it.
(4)Frank L.
Call it, "Beni-hana on steroids". And as always with hibachi grill - prepare to wait for a table. Tsukasa has a nice decor, but aside from that, it's not all that different than Beni-hana. The prices are maybe a dollar or two more than the other hibachi grill down the street (Tsukasa is Milwaukee and Townline roads, while Beni Hana is Milwaukee and dundee. about 7 miles). Chef's vary by table. some pull of some cool tricks while they cook, but others just light the grill on fire - make an onion volcano, and toss you some raw brocolli like you're a seal. The STRANGEST thing we saw on the grill were the GOLDEN SHRIMP. we just couldn't figure out how they made these things. It looked like the chef put a slab of butter on top of the shrimp, and then just covered them until they were ready, and there was a mound of yellow sponginess covering the shrimp. Who goes to Tsukasa? Those looking for an entertaining, "Watch your food get cooked" evening. You might even meet some strangers who are sitting next to you at the grill. Who doesn't go to Tsukasa? People looking for something special/unique, when they can just get it at benihana. Those who want trendy sushi. (this place has sushi, but it is not like your downtown sushi parlors with their "art-like" sushi rolls)
(2)Angela U.
We went here with friends, and I was very impressed. We have been to two other restaurants that are similar, but I think this was by far the best. Plenty of food. I found it a little unusual that they didn't have plum wine or japanese wines on the menu, only the standard like Pinot Noir, and other common wines. Next time I'll just have to ask for the plum wine...
(4)Victor V.
Have you ever been in Japan? Me neither. And I hardly think that visiting Tsukasa would help. The vast majority of patrons are either oversexed teenagers (no complaints here), or loud-mouthed Russian upper middle class who are dressed to kill and speak to contuse (loudly that is). And as a fellow Russian born, I have a misfortune of understanding what they say: calling it vulgar platitudes would be an insult to platitude). The waitstaff is not Japanese either. And as much as I love Mongolian and Korean people (and I do), a little more English proficiency (at least food-related) and a little less attitude would go a long way. But the food is good, and I mean really good. My advice: go for Chef's special and DON"T make any additional requests-just let them do what they do best: create great Sushi that wil make your NITI (I know just enough Japanese to weed out the impostors). P.S.: When your waitress tells you she is only half Japanese, ask her which half: upper or lower - I bet you they will understand this as little as they do Japanese language.
(3)Wonseop I.
Great lunch menu. Their teppanyaki is awesome during dinner even though it's on the pricy end it was well worth it. They have great scallops. Our cooks name was Andy and he was hilarious.
(5)Ronald C.
There are many Japanese steak houses to go to. This has to be the best one. If you're ever in the northern suburbs, I'd suggest eating here. It's definitely a taste that you won't forget that will leave you wanting to come back again and again. The fried rice is some of the best I've ever tasted ANYWHERE! The steak is excellent along with the Salmon or Tuna if you're up for it. I love the way they prepare it. You always get a good show and will no doubt be full after your meal. The salad is good with the ginger dressing that never tasted better anywhere else! The price may be up there for lunch and dinner, but it's a taste that hasn't been rivaled by any other place that I've been to. It's worth it to take a trip out to Vernon Hills if you're a food enthusiast looking for something GREAT!
(5)Matthew L.
I keep going - they keep kicking food a$s! Love it!
(5)Kevin S.
Tsukasa is one my favorite places to eat. If you like sushi, I recommend ordering one (or more) of their Big Rolls especially the Tarantula. It is one of the best sushi rolls you will have this side of the Mississippi. The Teriyaki Hibachi Sirloin Steak with Teriyaki Chicken is excellent. And yes, get fried rice, you will not be disappointed. The chef's here are all good and none of them will reject you if you ask them to have a sake bomb with you. "Sakeeeee" They do take reservations and I advise that you do so or else you will wait 1 to 2 hours before you can get seated in the restaurant. The reason for this is not because it is a small restaurant (they have expanded to a much larger location) but because it is that good. Yeah, that's right! If you don't want to wait, sitting at the bar is okay too. That is usually where I like to enjoy my Tarantula roll. If you have a large party, you can call ahead (way ahead) and they will seat you in their private room. The service quality depends on how busy they are. I have been there on a slow afternoon and have had excellent service but I have also gone on a Friday night and let's just say you better ask for what you need all at once or else it will be a while before you get everything you need. The quality of the food and sushi definitely makes me want to come back for more.
(4)Scott H.
Definitely one of the best teppanyaki places I've been to anywhere. The food is always fresh, the portions are formidable and the service ranges from good to fantastic (the 'fantastic' experiences tend to be in the evening when everyone loosens up). I've been here for numerous work lunches where the experience is appropriately more hurried to get you in and out in about an hour. The evenings are more relaxed as the booze flows freely and the chefs kick their antics up a few notches. Some coworkers and I enjoyed a hilarious and very memorable birthday celebration here a year ago that we still talk about. Make reservations, don't hesitate to enjoy a cocktail and a maki roll out in the lounge while you wait, enjoy the atmosphere. This is a great place that reminds me of what other teppanyaki places used to be.
(4)Lauren H.
I love love this hibachi place. My family and I always come here for birthdays and the food is always amazing! Our chefs area always entertaining and our table is always full of laughter.. I always get the golden shrimp and filet mignon and it always cooked yo my perfection!
(5)Ruthie B.
Maybe it's that I'm from Chicago and have higher expectations when it comes to food and service, but my disagreement with everyone who had a positive review about this sh!@t-hole borders on insulting so I'll get to it. Food: The eel tasted fishy. Eel is not fishy. The spicy tuna roll was so hot it made me wonder what they were covering up considering the inedible eel roll. The Cubbie Comfort tasted good, but made me sick afterward. Mind you, I did not eat the eel or spicy tuna roll and had them take it off the outrageous bill for the poor quality food we were served. My mom had the Salmon Teriyaki which for 16.50 she got salmon sticks (literally) and white rice. Veggies are $3.00/side. I've never heard of an entree that only includes protein and heaping pile of dry, overcooked starch. My father got the Hibachi Scallops, which came out looking like sliced bananas. Also for 16.50 with a heaping pile of dry, overcook white rice. Not to mention that even an amateur cook knows you serve salmon filets (fish sticks), and whole scallops not slice razor thin. If the food was halfway decent and didn't make everyone in my party nauseous I could forgive the service. Service: We had 2 waiters and 4 bus boys, none of which knew who ordered what or brought the right food at our table. I ordered Shrimp Tempura, and they never brought it out. Not that I would have eaten it at that point. They bring scallops and salmon to the table and never even think to bring lemon slices (duh). Only 1 of our waiters spoke english, he took our order and we didn't see him until my sister got up to find the manager because when we told the other waiter we wanted to see him he just brought the check. No one asked us how our dinner was, the waiter snuck up behind me to peer at our table and skulked away, and at the end of the meal a bus boy asked how everything was...to which I replied, "Do you want the truth?" I asked to see the manager, I got the skulking waiter, asked him to see the manager, I got the check, went and got the manager (who was rude, arrogant, and talked to me like I've never eaten Sushi when clearly I knew more about it than he did), and finally, waiter #1 who I thought disappeared along with my order of shrimp tempura shows up to chit-chit. Afterward, I talked to some of my friends (a few from the city, a few from the burbs), and the consensus was "I wish you would've told me you were going there beforehand, I would've told you not too." Well, I'm telling you, don't waste your money. There's a cute little Mongolian BBQ in Grayslake for all you suburbanites who crave sushi, and the chef is Japanese!
(1)Robert N.
For lunch during the week this is a great place to eat... I've eaten at several habatachi style restaurants and this is one of the best...I also think I am addicted to their fried rice, it's pure happiness to eat.
(4)Robin C.
The customer service is TERRIBLE! My nephew who was sick, has an outside beverage as that was all he could have (he's little) and the manager practically jumped on my sister telling her that it's ABSOLUTELY not allowed and unaccepptable, he was really unprofessional and didn't care if we ever came back. We told him that we ate there quite often and explained that the child was sick and perhaps they could make an acception - but they were not willing to bend one bit - not even to offer to pour his juice into a regular glass - so we left vowing NEVER to spend another dollar there. Bottom line, if you have little kids, don't try to bring in any outside food or beverage - no juice cups, snacks etc. - it's not allowed and they are extremely RUDE about it.
(1)Peter S.
This has become a favorite place to celebrate, among my pals. Our local teppanyaki restaurant's quality has dipped a bit, but Tsukasa has more than made up for it. Their staff and chefs are all very friendly, and accommodating. Their prices are good, considering the depth of their selection and nature of the restaurant. The chefs put on a great performance, and interact well with guests. Best of all, the food is phenomenal. We enjoyed the age dashi tofu and gyoza. The veggies always come out well. The golden shrimp is a mouth-watering favorite of many of my friends, and I loved the teriyaki calamari steak. I highly recommend Tsukasa of Tokyo for entertaining and tasty teppanyaki in Vernon Hills!
(5)Ben W.
I've only been there once, the only I remembered is I was so hungry that I had to go to another restaurant right after this place. THE PORTION IS SO TINY! Make sure you eat before you go there. The tricks the chefs fo is like Bebihana's. It is usually packed on Friday night and the weekends.
(2)Phil K.
I was impressed with Tsukasa of Tokyo on my first visit last night. I've never really been to one of these cooked-at-your-table places before, but Tsukasa seems to have a good mix of quality preparation and showmanship. Our chef did a few tricks while he was cooking our fried rice and entrees, but he certainly wasn't annoying. He gave us tips on what sauces we should try for our steak, salmon, chicken, and shrimp, but didn't spend the whole time trying to talk with us. All in all it was a great experience. Highly recommend the salmon teriaki and especially the friend rice. You'd be crazy to have white rice at this place, their fried rice is that good. Friends also enjoyed the chicken (hibachi and teriaki) and the steak. I didn't think the prices were too high, but I'm probably used to prices in the SF Bay Area. The tab for the 5 of us was about $150, not bad for dinner and a little bit of a show.
(4)Jane K.
Best sushi around and I have tried a lot of other places. The pink dragon and stuffed tomato are my favorite. Love this place
(5)Justin W.
Benihana eat your heart out. I love Tsukasa. They have a new location and it looks absolutely beautiful. The chefs put on a show, like Benihana, but it didn't scream chain restaurant. The dishes we had were delicious and I can't wait to go again. Comparing Tsukasa's sushi to Benihana's and I'll take Tsukasa's any day of the week. Usually I don't get fried rice, especially Japanese fried rice (it always seems more bland to me than the Chinese version), however our chef put the nectar of the gods into this and it instantly became my favorite! It had a semi-sweet flavor to it! YUM!
(5)JC M.
This restaurant has become our "place to celebrate" anything memorable in our family. Grand decor, family friendly, good sushi and killer Golden Shrimp.
(5)Dkrejser S.
This was my first time but my husbands second. My husband absolutely hates the place, not that he hates hibachi or sushi (in fact when in Tokyo he will get up at 3 am to get fresh sushi at the market). It is the poor quality food that appeals to the masses. The what must be the rudest service on the NorthShore and the laughable miniature hibachi shows. We have often gone hibachi on the East coast, and yes admitted it is difficult to find a place here in US where one both gets a good show and good food. Usually one or the other is compromised. Here we have to say both were compromised and just chopping wildly or making a big fire has nothing to do with hibachi. They really cram people close together to get fit as many people into the hibachi room, so tight that there is only enough space for one chef to stand at the time between two tables. So our table ended up having to wait for the other table to finish as they were delayed. The fried rice was already premixed to shorten the show and they used so much teriyaki sauce on it that it was sweet as a desert. Nothing to do with japanese fried rice. The soups were cold/lukewarm. The salad was ok, but very very basic. The meats were ok and cooked right. The veggies was a little overcooked. The shrimp were smelling foul and old The sushi was average but nothing bad to say. Not gourmet sushi for sure. The show was a blend of sounds and a big fire. Some fast chopping with food flying everywhere and of course the usual catching a bite with your mouth. Nothing extradinary and very disappointing for our children who are used to more spectacular shows with knifes, pallats, eggs and food flying around - and some meaning to the fires not just a big fire to start the show. The waitress still has to learn to smile (as do the rest of the staff) and she was slow and at best indifferent. We had booked the table and ordered birthday treat for a birthday. We had specifically beforehand ordered icecream instead of pineapple boats as the birthday child is allergic to pineapple. Repeated it twice before we sat down. Still when the birthday show came then of course they lined up with pineapple..... They did correct it and then our waitress charged us for 2 birthday shows. Had to argue with her that we only had one. One star for the on time seating. We had made a reservation and we arrived a little early. It was crowded and extremely busy but still the hostess/manager did seat us right on time! Also, one star for the smile and friendliness of the Chef, and the chef at the table behind us, which is nice when the wait staff and manager all seem so grumpy. Cleanliness is better than many hibachis here in US but still there was a piece of dirty paper from the uncooked meats lying around on the floor next to our table and the waitresses couldn't be bothered to pick it up but rather stepped on it. Wondering how it looks in the back...... Next time we do hibachi it will not be here....
(2)Leocris L.
ugh, so good i'm salivating as i'm typing this- best hibachi i've had. the fried rice is soo addicting. the staff is so fun, and interactive. it's funny watching people try to catch broccoli thru their mouths. i still remember their old location..
(5)Liz M.
My fiancee and I have been to many Japanese steakhouses (almost all of them in the area) and I have to say this is the best. It is the quality of food that really stands out among the other places I have been. The soup and salad were good, I actually ate the salad although I don't normally because I actually liked the sauce. It was a great balance of sweet and bitter. Although I did not order the fried rice our chef gave me a taste and boy was it good! Wish I had ordered it! I then got the Hibachi Steak with a side of Golden Shrimp. The shrimp was melty good! Like I was tempted to order another round because it was so good, the shrimp was cooked perfect and had just the right amount of egg sauce without being overwhelming as it can be. The steak was cooked perfectly and was a very good cut (you can tell because you see the cut while it's being cooked!) Our chef, Brian, was hilarious and very good at what he did! He was careful to pay attention to everyone at the table (us, one other couple and a family of 4). He was funny, charming and very good! Others at our table had lobster and chicken and there were many orders of steak, plus I've heard the sushi is very good! Everything looked very good, guess I'll have to go back and try more!
(4)Joe H.
Love the food here. Steak and chicken teriyaki are always the favorites. Usually I get the fried rice instead of the steamed. The fried soft shell crab appetizer is melt-in-your-mouth good. Sushi is decently priced and always good. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Missy L.
Went here with a group of 8 people. I am not a huge sushi fan but I do like to go out for it every once in a while and order the basics... So I took the advice of fellow yelpers....I ordered the chicken with fried rice (even though I am a bigger fan of white rice) and California roll-pretty basic for sushi and everyone was right!!!!! It was so good I wish I could have finished the plate. My boyfriend and friend ordered a pink dragon and green dragon. I sampled from his plate and both rolls were very tasty. I would definitely go back for dinner again.
(4)Randy H.
I have plans to go here tonight AND Sunday!! Fricken' LOVE this place!!
(5)Elyse C.
I went here last night for my birthday dinner because my favorite sushi spot was closed booo Mondays. Anyway I was pleasntly suprised by everything. It is really nice inside and even has an outdoor patio! Awesome except it was raining. We started off with the shrimp tempura app which was pretty good. Crispy and such. Then the Wasabi pork dumplings which were awesome. Yummy wasabi flavord pork. For our sushi we had the Yellow Ferrari which was pretty good.
(4)sandy L.
As a lunch (M - F only before 2) this place cannot be beat! Standard Menu for a Japanese teppanyaki place - as a family owned restaurant, I highly admire their quality and attention to detail!! The sauce for their fried rice and Terriyaki is homemade and delicious - it takes 24 according to the server I talked to - and they sell it - so you can try and make your own fried rice at home!! It is an amazing teppanyaki restaurant, and a true "mom and pop" establishment - if I'm going to spend $10 - $12 at lunch I'd rather have this huge portion - (take half to go!) than a sandwich from Panera!
(5)Gen T.
A lot of people don't know Tsukasa has sushi, but a little known secret as that it's the BEST sushi in the area. We ordered the Cubby Comfort at our visit on Saturday night and adored the mix or sweet and crunch... so tastey! We went with a group of 10 and found that we were seated promptly. They were super busy that night because of Homecoming dances so it was understandable that the service was slightly slower than normal. However, our chef (who prepares the dinner in front of you) was incredibly funny and entertaining. For our entrees, I got the teriyaki chicken and my husband got the teriyaki salmon (their teriyaki sauce is the best I've ever had). Both entrees were exceptional. Tsukasa is a little pricey so not an everyday restaurant but well worth making it here as often as possible... and great for big groups.
(5)Renato P.
Ok, here's the dirt. I've officially been to enough Japanese Places like this to be a bit jaded. Nothing this place did knocked me out, nor did it in any way disappoint me. It was crazy busy, having been completely booked up for Valentines Day. I can't say it would stand out in my head as a particularly great place for a date either being that it's rather loud and busy. In any case, I have to say the food was really good, so on to the positives. The seared tuna was in a word delicious, the only misstep being a bit too much mayo sauce and not enough terriyaki sauce, still very good. The tempura calamari was very unique , featuring rather large octopus tentacles as opposed to the smaller and more preferred by me squid tentacles. Still, it was the most tender octopus I've ever had, with an almost fish like texture, so I'll say it was great. The teppenyaki steak was pretty standard, yet very good. The scallops seared to perfection and seasoned perfectly, great. The Fried rice had terriyaki sauce added to it, a decision I don't really agree with, it was good, not great. The golden shrimp , again almost identical to every place I've had it , was very good. You get the usual schtick with the chef with the flipping eggs and flinging veggies, our chef was quite fun. So for a fun night out, you will probably be happy going here. Really the only down side I can think of for this place is that it is on the more expensive end of places like it. Still, I didn't leave feeling ripped off.
(4)gard c.
Love the sushi here! Spicy Tako Tempura is to die for; and the Green Ferrari Roll is amazing. Oh and taste the Rainbow Roll wow! Good show. I think I'm in love.
(4)Phillip D.
This is the place to go for sushi. I always eat here and the atmosphere is great. Ask for Juan at the bar. He is a great guy.
(5)Kate M.
I've been here many, many times and it's a great restaurant. Food is excellent. I've never had better teriyaki sauce anywhere. It's expensive, but if you're ordering a teppan dinner, you get a lot of food. Sushi is good, but not amazing. I probably wouldn't come here and just eat sushi. The teppan chefs are pretty accommodating, but the service from the waitresses is usually not that great. They don't have free refills on drinks, which is insane. They have Chimay beer though, which is a huge plus. Their new location is pretty nice. It's always crowded though and the main dining room is pretty loud.
(4)Ann Y.
I have been here twice and have never been dissapointed. Great interior (the best I have found for a restaraunt of this kind), wonderful food- especially the golden shrimp (ask them to add some garlic and they happily will comply), and steak. The portions are huge and the service is wonderful (my glass was never empty). By far my favorite Japoneese steak house.
(5)Lauren L.
I love it. I don't know why, because I'm not sure the entertainment is all that great. In fact, it hasn't changed since I was 8 years old and went there for birthdays parties. however, the food is still really good, the atmosphere is fun, and I never leave disappointed. When I left for college this was the place I missed the most!
(4)Stephen D.
Always great food, but the service is totally hit or miss; I often wait a while to be served, and even then, the waitresses are often grumpy (I think I've seen maybe one of them ever smile). Bottom line: if you're going for the food and the show, you probably won't be disappointed. But do consider Hanakawa in Libertyville -- about the same quality of food, but with lower prices and better service (and it's more quaint). UPDATE (12/20): I ate here again last night, just to give it one more shot. Can't say I'll ever go back. The service just plain SUCKS. For the money you spend here -- with a (small) tip, our meal for five was $170 -- you don't get your water or tea refilled; nobody asks if you're content or need anything else; and the servers are downright apathetic, exhibiting no personality and almost snapping at even the smallest request. It used to be more quaint and personal, but now that they're in this huge warehouse of a building, their M.O. is to get you in and spend a lot of money, and get you out. Go to Hanakawa in Libertyville where they treat you like a guest and even remember your name!
(2)Philip P.
This place deserves 5 stars....me and my wife came here and decided to splurge and it was worth every penny! We ordered appetizers, entrees, sushi, AND dessert and couldn't get enough. Everything was exceptional and the service was great. My only complaint would be just how busy it is all the time. If you can't get a table here, I'd HIGHLY recommend Hanakawa just north about a mile on Milwaukee Ave. It's easy to pass up since it looks like a house but the prices are very reasonable and the quality is on par with Tsukasa.
(5)Rachel C.
Comparing this place to Benihana is like comparing apples to oranges. The only thing they have in common is the fact they cook on your table in front of you. Otherwise, Benihana has NOTHING on Tsukasa. The food here far surpasses any fancy restuarant I've ever been to. It's an entertaining show, great chefs and the food is freaking delicious. The fried rice and golden shrimp is the best EVER. The new location that they opened is huge and they even have a lounge area with a bar now. And on the same note, reservations are highly recommended because this place books up quick.
(5)Ron S.
This place is awesome, Rokbonki used to be my favorite teppenyaki style place but this place takes the cake now. It is packed every time I'm there whether its lunch or dinner but they do a good job with flipping tables and service wise.
(4)charkhian c.
great sushi moderetly priced waiter could be a bit less bitchy all and all very good experience.
(4)Scott S.
The best sushi in the area. The pieces are good size, fresh, and look great. The rolls are also fresh and have a great flavor. I have tried most sushi in the area and have found this one to be the best so far. The service is not always the best, but they are busy, and the food is good, so that is not a big deal. The prices are on par with others in the area, except you do get bigger pieces. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for good food and good atmosphere.
(5)Diana T.
This place is like Benihana's but wayyy better. I had the filet mignon with salmon combo for 34 bucks. It's pricey but comes with soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, a side order (I ordered the golden shrimp: a definite must try! It has this buttery topping steamed egg yolk topping as it's sauce.....SO GOOD), plain rice or fried for 2 more dollars (get the FRIED RICE, SO GOOD), and 3 different sauces (teriyaki, hot mustard, and ginger). The chefs were all so animated and fun. Reservations are highly recommended because your wait will be really long if you don't, especially on a weekend.
(5)David N.
Some of the best Sushi in the Chicago area. The Sushi chefs are very good, the rolls are unique and the service is great. I have been to many Sushi houses over the years and Tzukasa is still tops. And they pour a mean martini!
(5)Timothy B.
Great Fried rice, expensive but great good food, will not be disappointed
(5)Leah C.
entertaining for this vegi and her 17 mo old niece... i guess there's only so much "fun" a vegetarian can have at a japanese steakhouse. i do need to commend the "more than just pepper and onions" grilled vegetable dish - packed with zucchini and broccoli as well. the usual accompaniments: the soup was unfortunately not miso but instead a beef/chicken broth... this vegi had to pass that up. the iceberg lettuce with miso dressing tasted freezer-burnt... not sure how that's possible. the fried rice was on the sweet side...different, not in a good way. the hot mustard condiment was surprisingly good and added the only flavor to my vegis. service was borderline ok. by my questions and my final food order, it was more than obvious that i was vegetarian. when ordering an asparagus maki roll, out came a beef asparagus roll instead. also, the server misunderstood my sister's calamari order - out came scallops instead. our chef was very interactive. overall though, i'd say one of my better experiences at a teppan restaurant - portions are bigger and the restaurant is much more spacious than average.
(3)William T.
I go to Tsukasa for Hibachi, but have also had their sushi a number of times. Their hibachi is the standard by which I judge others, and IMO none have met that bar.
(5)Alan M.
Big fan of Tsukasa, especially their steak and golden shrimp, with extra golden sauce. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Jonathan C.
I love this place. Even if its terribly pricey for me. It is in fact a star better than Benihana, based purely on food quality. It does feel similar to all of the "Japanese-style" steakhouses out there. The show you get is largely dependant on the skill of your chefs, Tsukasas are almost universally excellent and Japanese, even if young. The "golden shrimp" cannot be healthy, but it is a standout for me. Poney up for the fried rice, its really worth it. I personally think that the sirloin is tastes better cooked in this style than the filet, so save your money! The new restaurant (it moved from its original location) is very nicely done, and staff and service is excellent. Parking is no problem in this location, although it is somewhat hidden by a Circuit City. Don't let the location put you off though, the food is great.
(5)John K.
This place has the best fried rice in the world. It is like eating candy, but it's food. They are busy at times, but it is definitely worth the wait.
(5)Diane Z.
We went here on a date night dinner. It was awesome. We have been hearing about this place for years. We ended up eating in the bar because the bigger table we had been seated with was full of kids. We had great sushi and would recommend this place anytime.
(4)Vinny The Vacuum S.
Ate here last night, 10 years after my first visit. They are in a new building that is very modern and spacious compared to the old site. The food is still good and the show was the same as it was a decade ago but the chef wasn't as enthusiastic as other chefs in the room. Maybe we just got a low key chef but he put on a decent show. Also he oversalted everything he cooked - not good. I recommend a the teriaki steak or chicken (about $20/person) with a tempura shrimp or calamari appetizer. Everyone gets miso soup and a salad b4 the show starts and everyone gets vegetables with their dinner. Fried rice, however, will cost $2 extra (white rice is free). Overall a good meal that I recommend even though the prices are in the $20-$40 range w/o drinks or tip factored in. Finally, make reservations - you need it!
(4)Kristen H.
I recently went here for lunch for the first time for someone at work's birthday. This place was awesome! The "show" of them preparing the food in front of you was pretty cool. The cook was very entertaining. The food was great. I got a combo (beef and chicken) that also came with a shrimp appetizer. It was cheap (can't remember the exact price but it was about $10). The fried rice was tasty. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the food is pretty greasy.
(4)Jason M.
this restaurant is amazing, prices are decent for people who are looking for outstanding food, the yellow Ferrari was amazing, the atmosphere is amazing, this place looks great and the food is even better.
(4)Jessica S.
By all basic criteria, yes, this is your typical Japanese steakhouse. Shared tables? Check. Entertaining chefs who cook your meal in front of you? Check. Sushi, green tea martinis, and Happy Birthday sang in Japanese? Check check and check. But don't be fooled, this place is in a league of its own. We (my friends, family, and everyone else in my close network) have been dining here for 13 years now. The food has never changed and I always expect and get the best quality and taste at Tsukasa. The new location is bigger and much more appealing to the eye. It's not often that a restaurant needs to expand as much as they did but they just couldn't handle the overflow of people wanting to eat there. A reservation is ALWAYS recommended by this Yelper because it is just that popular. We used to spend EVERY birthday, homecoming, and special occasion here and we finally had to find other options. Not because we didn't like it or got sick of it because I'm pretty sure that's impossible, but it was just becoming too cliche to eat there all the time. The highlight of Tsukasa is the fried rice and if you don't order it you're lacking something upstairs. The thick heavy teriyaki sauce they pour on it is sensational. I often get the fried rice meal instead of a meat entree. As far as meat goes however, I generally stick with the hibachi shrimp, teriyaki steak, or my favorite, sesame scallops. But you can't go wrong with anything at this place. My sister insists that their Pink Dragon is simply the best maki roll she's ever had. I personally enjoy the Tarantula. I get spicy tuna wherever I go but the 911 (XXX Spicy Tuna) is unbearable here. It's delicious, but too hot for me. Service is always fantastic but do make sure you have a reservation or you'll be crabby from waiting and that can taint any dining experience. Most of all, have fun and embrace your dinner show!
(5)Inna T.
The food is very comparable to Benihana, but I like Benihana. Great fruity cocktail menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The service is very good. The food is very good, especially the Golden Shrimp (best I've had). Very entertaining for kids. The chefs are nice and friendly. They give you a ton of food (we rolled out of there). The prices are high but we were satisfied anyway.
(4)miss a.
food is good. no complaints. it's a tad bit too loud sometimes
(4)Tiffany P.
Best fried rice and ginger salad dressing, love this place!
(5)Jonathan K.
i remember loving benihana as a kid, but now im aware of what the cooks are doing...ive never actually seen so much butter used in one instance at a time, its nuts. the food is pretty good, but its sooo heavy w all that butter, oil, and teryaki sauce. looking around, the place was filled w company groups for lunch...and a birthday group. thats what this place is for, a group outing of some sort. still curious, is tsukasa a play on words? i dont know im not nippon-ese, but it sounds too spanish haha
(3)Jenna H.
I'm not a huge Japanese steakhouse fan--this one is pretty good though, maybe a 3.5 The chefs are fun but not eye-rollingly over-the-top. The food was good and, with the exception of my tough calamari (which was probably a stretch to order), well-cooked. The sushi was fresh & tasty--not amazing, but I would've been happy to have it as an entree. And the fried rice, which I normally pass on, somehow disappeared from my plate! Heavy, but delicious! All in all, a good dinner, & if you're in the 'burbs it's definitely worth a try!
(3)chuck f.
Golden Shrimp! Ooh LaLa.... great suchi
(5)penny h.
This is a nice place to go for a celebration. The food is prepared in front of you and the chef tries to get everyone at the table involved and to enjoy the experience. The preperation of the food is the best part of the experience.
(4)Scotty I.
All I gotta say is that it's just like Benihana. Everything down to the menu is almost the same. I went there thinking it would be different. Don't get me wrong, it's a good restaurant.
(4)Matthew k.
I'm suprised that lunch hasn't been mentioned more in this thread. A lot of people have noted the price point of this restaurant but not a lot of discussion about their lunch combo specials. For $11-15(cept lobster), you get soup or salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer(four little pieces), combo meat/fish, and fried rice. If you get a willing waitress, the way to go is Golden Shrimp / Hibachi Shrimp Combo(off menu) with a side of golden sauce. I take the side of golden sauce and mix it into the fried rice. I would bathe in their golden sauce, if it were socially acceptable. How do they make it so gosh darned delectable? A thorough google recipe search found nothing but attempts at golden perfection. And what type of crack are they putting in their ginger dressing for the salad? A quick lunch? No. Healthy? No(Golden Sauce has probably taken 2 years off my life). Best value for your Teppanyaki Dollars? Yes. Only reason for the loss of a star is that service can be indifferent at times.
(4)Nicholle H.
This is a great place to eat. It features Asian cuisine prepared in front of you. The fried rice is the best I've ever eaten! The teriaki is tender and succulent. The people are great and know how to make you feel special on your birthday! Great show and great food!
(5)