Sushi downtown

Are there any decent sushi places that you would recommend for lunch downtown? I just moved to Chicago about two months ago and am trying to get my bearings around here. Oh, more importantly, I work on madison and wacker.

Well, if you want anything that rises even slightly above what you can buy in a supermarket, your best bet is the Kamehachi outpost at 311 S. Wacker. Tokyo Lunch Box on Wells between Washington and Madison is less expensive, but also of lower quality (basically what you would find in a supermarket).

Other than that, you can hop in a cab and head over the Randolph for Sushi Wabi, Starfish or Meiji (personally, I'm not really a fan of any of these 3 but if I had to pick I would go with Sushi Wabi).

I would also suggest Naniwa in the loop for sushi.

On the north side, I would recommend Sai Cafe or Coast.

Well, if you want anything that rises even slightly above what you can buy in a supermarket

Who doesn't?

define 'downtown" ??

Ginza (19 E. Ohio) is a favorite among some of my friends... it's divey looking on the outside, definetly not one of those loungey posh sushi places.

there's a "hey sushi" express in the Illinois Center (233 N Michigan) way in the back... A bad location--a lot of people I work with go in the building every day and have never seen it.

a bit of a hike, but in south loop now there's South Coast... 1700 S Michigan. i haven't been but it's sister Coast is beloved by many.

It's the wrong end of the Loop for you (East side), but Oysy Sushi at 888 South Michigan Ave isn't bad.

It's the wrong end of the Loop for you (East side), but Oysy Sushi at 888 South Michigan Ave isn't bad.

Oysy has another branch on Grand - at State, I think - which may be more convenient.

Takumi in Presidential Towers. I think they have better sushi than most at lunchtime, and it's close to your office. I have yet to have anything there that was not extremely fresh and delicious, although I admit I stick mostly to the rolls. I will warn you that it is a small place and gets really busy at lunchtime. I find the best times to go there are at 11:30 or 1:00.

Suzy

RyanDe680 wrote:I would also suggest Naniwa in the loop for sushi.

I'd give a strong second that motion to Naniwa, but it's north of the Loop. I take clients there at least once a week in the summer. It's even more appealing than most places because it has a large outside patio, in addition to the superb fish.

Use the search function. I like the Randolph Street corridor, which I rank from best to not bad (all are fine in their own way):

Meiji (see my recent dedicated thread)
Izumi
Starfish
Sushi Wabi

For anyone that works in the Loop area, I would highly recommend going to Tokyo Lunch Boxes and Catering for decent Sushi.

The first time I went, I have to say I was a little frightened by the setting, it's very small, you walk up to a counter and pick up already made sushi, or you can order fresh from the man behind the counter. But, the sushi is very good and reliably fresh, from what I have sampled. I went there today for lunch and had the Spicy Tuna Maki and Miso Soup and for under $10 and quick service I have to say I am pretty impressed.

Four locations downtown

37 N. Wells
179 W. Van Buren
111 E. Wacker
Merchandise Mart Plaza

A couple of other places which are walking distance from Madison and Wacker:

Thai Urban Kitchen (in the Ogilvie train station)
Went for lunch today. Didn't try the sushi though. Had the crispy sea bass which was pretty good.

Shikago
Only had the bento box so far. Will be trying the sushi next time I'm there though.

RyanDe680 wrote:I would also suggest Naniwa in the loop for sushi.

On the north side, I would recommend Sai Cafe or Coast.

I would no longer recommend Naniwa. My wife and I have been serious regulars -- often twice a week.

Although I believe that ownership has been unchanged, there has been a serious downward spiral in quality and value. A sashimi dish was ridiculously overpriced last week, with small piece of average to below average fish. We also had a scallop dish that was also both overpriced and lacking in quality. The other items we ordered in our most recent visit were ordinary at best.

It is unfortunate, but Naniwa has just not kept the quality that is required

Starfish - genius braised short rib tonight (second time I've had it this year). Almost candied, reconstructed on the bone, drizzled with bosc pear puree, and served with greens in ponzu (cold) and a very traditional Italian risotto, with saffron, cream, cheese, and shallots (hot). Goofy plating but so very good.

Not good - one of my dining companions' seared tuna entree was 35 minutes late, the original being sent to another table by mistake. Our initial compensation was a very brief California roll to "tide [him] over," but he doesn't eat maki, so that was small consolation. Since we were running to see Sampras at the UIC Pavilion, I took the check when the entree was finally served and politely but firmly asked for the tuna to be removed. We received additonal apologies and they did comply.

I still love the room and the overall vibe, quite conversation-friendly but sophisticated. Dragon roll was spot-on tonight as well but can be hit and miss, but the entrees always seem to rock.

Walking to the train this week, I noticed Sushi Sai has opened at approx. 325 W. Randolph.

This place is actually in the 125 N. Wacker Building (Morton Salt) tucked behind a Corner Bakery, but the physical entrance is on Randolph (cross from Giordano's)

Saw a We Deliver sign, but too far away for a phone number.

Sushi Wabi on Randolph is pretty good. I've had consistently good sushi at Naniwa. I've heard good things about Ginza but I've never tried it. I had a mediocre experience at Oysey and have never gone back. But here's my sleeper recco: Sushi Loop. It's a little more west then where you are, but I swear they do good stuff. It's on Jackson just west of Halsted. It's an assuming little place sandwiched (so to speak) between a Subway and a gyros joint. Inside is very pleasant and clean with a long sushi counter and about 10-15 tables. The sushi chef is really nice and cares a lot about what he does. My wife and I have been there several times in the past couple of years (we live about a block away) and we've been consistently happy with everything we've had. Always fresh. Never a funky piece ever. Very nice presentation. I'm a "just give me the basics" type of sushi guy and they do that really well, but they have many roll options and they're all really tasty. I say give them a try sometime.

I have given Sushi Wabi a few chances in the past, with mixed results, but my latest meal there occurred by happenstance (my GF and I were looking for a quick bite on that section of Randolph, and Veerasway was shut for a private event). While on this visit the sushi was adequate, and the tiny chairs, high prices and pseudo club vibe that have all been thoroughly documented still remain, other problems evoked the old "three strikes and you're out" axiom.

First, I tried the "homemade ginger soda", which was flat mineral water with a couple of raw ginger slices floating in it. BZZZ! It tasted like month-old Canada Dry that had been watered down to a nub.

Then came a gomae that had absolutely no flavor, topped with a peanut sauce with no salt. Swing and miss.

Lastly, a seafood restaurant that does not know how to properly sear a scallop needs to be taken to the woodshed. Dry, shrunken and rubbery. Grab some bench!

I brought these complaints to my server's attention, and while she couldn't have handled it more diplomatically (both apologizing for my poor experience and comping the dishes in question), she also confirmed that the all foods had been properly prepared by their standards ("We can give you another scallop dish, and undercook it"...that is a direct quote). So we just agreed to disagree, and I will never darken their door again.

dddane wrote:define 'downtown" ??

Ginza (19 E. Ohio) is a favorite among some of my friends... it's divey looking on the outside, definetly not one of those loungey posh sushi places.

Second on the Ginza, my boyfriend was just there and said it was a solid joint that wasn't extraordinarily expensive. Also, lots of Japanese business men there, which is always a good sign.

Sushi Sai at Randolph and Wacker is good. Call ahead for carryout.

I really like Sushi X. It's not down town - they're on Chicago Avenue at Milwaukee - but they deliver. Anytime my office wants sushi, we order from them. You have to call ahead, but they package and deliver all of the food beautifully - no smashed, mushy maki here! Even the soy sauce, ginger and wasabi is packaged in neat little containers. They rule.


Sushi X
1136 W. Chicago Avenue
312-491-9232
http://www.sushi-x.net/

mellonhead wrote:I really like Sushi X. It's not down town - they're on Chicago Avenue at Milwaukee - but they deliver. Anytime my office wants sushi, we order from them. You have to call ahead, but they package and deliver all of the food beautifully - no smashed, mushy maki here! Even the soy sauce, ginger and wasabi is packaged in neat little containers. They rule.


Sushi X
1136 W. Chicago Avenue
312-491-9232
http://www.sushi-x.net/

Submitted without comment from the Sushi X menu:

The five-o roll - bacon, hamachi, avocado, cilantro, scallions, pineapple mustard mayo, rolled in bacon, bits, wrapped with proscuitto.

I had a really terrible experience at the Kamehachi cafe at 311 S Wacker this week. Ok, granted, it's for downtown workers on their lunch hour. But the service was terrible, and the food incredibly overpriced. $13 for 5 pieces of maki and watery miso soup with a solitary half cube of tofu and shred of seaweed? I do not recommend it.