Coral Sushi and Thai in Forest Park

I stopped by on the way to work for a quick takeout meal at the just opened Coral Sushi and Thai in Forest Park yesterday. It has taken over a long empty spot at the corner of Madison and Des Plaines Ave, and I was hoping maybe it would be a decent addition to the whole new cadre of restaurants showing up in the area.

The menu is what you would basically expect in one of the fusion Asian places: one side is all basic Japanese dishes, and the other your typical Thai options. The only thing that stands out is they offer a "filipino pancit" as well as lumpia in addition to the Thai options on that side of the menu. They do not offer a lunch special, although the place was maybe close to half full when I went, which is not bad for midday on a Wednesday at a new establishment.

I was on a business phone call at the time, as well as hungry and in a hurry, so I probably could have ordered better, but just chose the first thing that looked interesting which was a roll called Summer Passion (spicy tuna, cucumber and mango, salmon and avocado). I normally don't eat or judge on rolls very often, but I just couldn't get myself to pay $24 for the chirashi for lunch.

The roll itself was actually better than I expected, although nothing to call anyone about. The fish was fresh but certainly not exquisite, but the nice thing was that often "spicy tuna" is minced and swimming in spicy mayonnaise that probably just hides the taste of tuna going bad, but this tuna was in big chunks and just bathed very lightly in the spicy sauce. The mango actually did add a nice sweet note to the roll.

So overall I am glad there is a new Asian place in the area, although I am very suspect that anything will be all that delicious and I fear we may just have added another Penny's noodles (with sushi). Hopefully someone else can have a sit-down meal and delve deeper into the menu to give it a true test.

Coral Sushi & Thai
7600 W Madison St
Forest Park, IL 60130
http://www.coralsushithai.com/index.html

Funny, I just ate at the new Sen Sushi on Oak Park avenue, which I learned was originally intended as ... a combo sushi and Thai place. Certainly we don't need more of the latter in this area, at least not until we get a nearby Vietnamese place (please?). As for sushi, Sen Sushi wasn't bad, and was probably about on par with Inari in Elmwood Park. But I keep hearing from people, included some Japanese friends of friends, that Fuji Grill in Forest Park is the best of the bunch. I've never been there, but suppose I'll get around to trying it one of these days.

Good luck to the Coral folks, though. That spot is cursed.

Vitesse98 wrote:But I keep hearing from people, included some Japanese friends of friends, that Fuji Grill in Forest Park is the best of the bunch. I've never been there, but suppose I'll get around to trying it one of these days.

Fuji does Japanese comfort food well (unagi, katsu-don, soba), but if it's setting the sushi standard as well in the minds of those who have sampled all of the local place, I'd be worried. It's a very small and predictable selection prepared with minimal flair.

Well, I'll give Sen Sushi credit on the flair front. Its "contemporary" menu offerings at least had some personality, and the (small) space is well-designed, though all of the local sushi places are laudable far more for the convenience factor than for the food or presentation. In fact, that none of them are terrible is a small miracle.

Santander wrote:

Vitesse98 wrote:But I keep hearing from people, included some Japanese friends of friends, that Fuji Grill in Forest Park is the best of the bunch. I've never been there, but suppose I'll get around to trying it one of these days.

Fuji does Japanese comfort food well (unagi, katsu-don, soba), but if it's setting the sushi standard as well in the minds of those who have sampled all of the local place, I'd be worried. It's a very small and predictable selection prepared with minimal flair.

I'll first say that I wish Fuji Grill all the best.
I will never, ever go back there. If you want to search out my post about my experience from a few years ago, feel free. I won't add it in here, because I really do wish them the best, and I know that my experience could not be the norm. It was laughable.

If it's decent now, then there have obviously been staff changes.

My mom and I had dinner at Coral Wednesday night, starting off a two day spree of being comped at two different places for totally minor infractions.* It's a very polished looking place with prominent bar in the center. I was wondering if any of the decor was left over from the previous restaurant.

I had the catfish curry in a red sauce. I am not an expert on Thai food, but I found this a lovely dish, balanced heat with coconut milk & lemongrass along with tender catfish. My mom had maki (Sunshine maybe?) and some sashimi which was not bad. Not a glowing endorsement, but we both preferred the curry that night.

The food was taking a while, but because we were in no hurry I was surprised when the waitress offered a 2nd glass of sangria (what can I say - my mom's pick) on the house for the wait. Overall service was quite friendly and attentive.


*Randomly given a cucumber salad on the house at Bodhi Thai Thursday night for, again, tardiness of food which went unrecognized by my boyfriend and I. Also: how did the fact that Bodhi is BYOB escape me? I've used up my bf's tolerance for thai for a while now and I feel totally robbed.

Vitesse98 wrote:was originally intended as ... a combo sushi and Thai place.

So I got a menu this week from "Bua Hana" on Madison in Forest Park. Sushi bar and Thai cuisine. Glossy four-fold menu; Thai on the first fold with some inexplicable Filipino items, entrees and curries next, Bua Hana specials, flip it and you've got maki.

Ah, says I, Coral has renamed itself and made a glossier menu. Then I hit the web to check the address. It's not the same. It's two blocks away from Coral. I had missed Panther's post in Openings / Closings.

Like the mystery of how Oak Park supports three gourmet popcorn shops, I'm never going to get this one. Not just two Thai places within two blocks, not just two Thai and sushi places, but two Thai and sushi places with identical menus and lumpia in the middle of the appetizers. WTF, Forest Park.

Right there with you, Santander. And no good places for Chinese food, as we've long lamented!