Anyone have the scoop on Hachi's Kitchen in Logan Square

Just spotted: Hachi's Kitchen, a sushi joint just south of Starbucks on California (between Logan and Fullerton). The place has a lit exterior sign, furniture, and decor but isn't open yet. Has anyone heard anything?

If it is any help to you I believe that Hachi's is the place being openned by husband and wife who own Sai Cafe. I am terribly with names, so please excuse the vague use pronouns here. In June they had said they had a space picked out, on California and Logan Boulevard, and were hoping to be open by the end of June. Likely this is the place. If so, the food promises to be quite good.

OK -- this makes sense. Hachi means "Bee" in Japanese -- Bee is the surname of Sai's owner.

Thanks!

FYI -- Hachi's is now open. I may try to stop in within the next few days.

Went to Hachi's last night! Here is my assessment. Edamame: on their cold appetizer list. No complaints but I think I prefer edamame warm. Gyoza: a little overcooked--too brown on the outside. Tuna tartar- fish itself was good but nothing was added to it save a small dollop of black tobiko and some spicy green stuff/not wasabi (?) so it was a bit bland. It was served with tempura mint leaves which i felt was not a good match - the fat in the breading counteracts the bright, clean taste of fresh tuna. Oyster shooters: delicious, smoky, tender, creamy and huge! best thing we had. Halloween roll: made with salmon, with black and green tobiko. The fish was very fresh and toothsome. a nice simple roll. Uni (sea urchin) -- fresh, creamy and delicious. Ikura -- nice medium sized eggs, fresh. Scallop sashimi: pieces were large, dense, slighty sweet, delish. Overall, an excellent dining experience, especially since it was their opening night. Service was friendly and the timing was appropriate. The owner and his wife were very friendly. The dining room has black Kanji characters on rice paper covered walls, and mirrors mounted on the side walls; there are flowers in the center of the room in several cylindrical vases. They were playing some cheezy sounding jazz that I didnt' really dig but thats just me. I recommend it.

Just checked it out tonight...verdict: I'm happy to have it as an option in Logan Square, but it will not replace visits to Katsu, Mitsuwa, Kitakata, etc. For what it is -- gussied up American-style Japanese-cum-sushi restaurant (no sushi bar there, fyi) it is very good, offering all the best hits and then some. Food tastes fresh, which is always a plus. It is as good as any of the other American-stylee sushi places around town, if not better.

Funny thing. "Omakase" (trust, when you leave the sushi selection to the chef, basically) is an actual menu item there, $55 per person. I've never seen it listed on a menu before - guess those relatively recent articles about omakase have had an impact on sushi menu trends.

While I was trying to choose my meal, a sense of despondency fell over me, as I realized that most of the 'hot' dishes were fried, and many of the complex composed rolls contained bits of tempura 'crunch' -- none of this so bad were I not on a (temporary, imposed by nutritionist) gluten-free diet. It is rather lamentable considering that in a more authentic Japanese restaurant, it would be very easy to find various forms of niimono (boiled foods), which are a staple in Japanese households, as well as broiled and grilled foods.

I guess I'll be going to Hachi's for my local sushi fix, but doing all my meaningful Japanese eating in the 'burbs.

Hachi's Kitchen
2521 N. California Ave
Chicago, IL 60647

www.hachiskitchen.com

very tasty meal last night at hachi's kitchen on what we found out was the 1-month anniversary.

so great to have sai quality sushi just 4-5 blocks from home. we walked over in the blizzard, determined to try hachi's. there were a few tables occupied throughout the night & the sushi chef was floating around, ended up bringing us a free bottle of hot sake for making it out on such a snowy night.

the interior is really great, kinda lounge-y. i'd almost say it's the polar opposite of sai cafe, but in a very good way. no real signage out front, so kinda easy to pass it up if you're not paying attention.

no plans for delivery yet, but they will probably start to do some carryout within a few months, then maybe expand to a small delivery area.

all in all, great place for the neighborhood, please visit & tell your friends!

miss ellen

I was holding off on writing this post until I took a look at the pictures that I took during dinner at Hachi's Kitchen over a week ago.

When I finally got around to looking at the photos, they were a perfect metaphor for the meal that they represented: bland when they should have been exciting; fair quality when I had hoped for top-notch.

Hachi's Kitchen has a promising interior space, a nice location right off of Logan Blvd., and an inviting menu. I am a little dismayed by the lack of a visible sushi bar at this sushi restaurant, but I can hardly hold that against them.

During my recent dinner at Hachi's I tasted the gomae and the agedashi tofu appetizers, two things that I consider to be reasonable litmus tests for a Japanese restaurant's appetizer skill. Both were completely tasteless. The gomae came in a watery dressing that barely reflected the faintest hint of sesame. The agedashi broth was equally watery and insipid.

I followed this disappointment with a bowl of chirashi which consisted of fish of fair quality but frigid temperature. I did enjoy the rice and ate every grain. I also had the opportunity to taste a roll or two which really did nothing to sway my feelings about the place in any direction.

I had high hopes for Hachi's, given their Sai Cafe pedigree, but it fell flat for me.

If I lived in Logan Square, I would certainly return to give their fish another try. There was nothing wrong with the quality and I'm sure that some nights are better than others. It would take some convincing for me to order any of their non-sushi items.

Since I do not live in or near Logan Square, I doubt I'll be returning to Hachi's. I'll spare you the photos.

Best,
Michael

I'm always felt that Sai Cafe was like the "Brain Dennehy" of sushi bars in Chicago. Solid, not too flashy, always tasty performances. Hachi seems to be his slicker version, atleast in decor, of Sai Cafe. Menu is about the same, but a very cool room.