Bob San - still got it!

I used to go to Bob San on averag, once weekly - excessive, I know. This was about 5-3 years ago. The super fresh sashimi, great appetizers, gracious service all kept me coming back sometimes twice weekly.

I switched jobs, got busy, got distracted and hadn't been in over a year. I went back tonight and was greeted warmly, and DANG IT, they still got it!

I had goma ae which is still my favorite in the city, and haven't found a comparable version.
Hamachi, super white, salmon and spicy oyster sashimi that was expertly cut and super fresh.
I followed these cuts with wasabi tobiko, unagi(another best of chicago version), ama ebi(raw sweet shrimp with the best fried shrimp head version you will also have) and tamago nigiri/sashimis.

MY company had one of the new rolls - super white, cilantro, jalapeno, which was simple, yet so controlled and delicious that it blew my mind.

This visit confirmed one thing, I must start going back on a monthly/biweekly basis. It's a great Chicago restaurant that deserves an enormous amount of praise and great success.

I find myself to be a pretty serious sushi eater and am interested in hearing other's feedback - my mind was pretty impressed tonight.

I've always been a pretty warm fan of the place, and I know that there are other sprinklings of posts across this site with fans as well. The first time I went, I was thinking "uh-oh, pretty people and a long list of hipster mayo maki rolls, hmmmm...." but, the place is very solid for nigiri and sashimi, imo. It was my go to spot for a while. Can't say I've been back anytime recently at all, but I did really enjoy the food there.

Haven't been in quite some time, but I've always been a fan. Same goes for sister restaurant Naniwa, which is a little lower key. But IMO these are two of the better spots in Chicago for nigiri and maki.

Count me a fan as well. I enjoy all of Bob Bee's restaurants.... especially Sai Cafe.

rmtraut wrote:Count me a fan as well. I enjoy all of Bob Bee's restaurants.... especially Sai Cafe.

Bobby has not been affiliated with Sai Cafe for a really long time. Although he started it with his brother, Sai Cafe is now entirely Jim Bee's (along with Hachi!). Want more Bee family info? Dee's (down the street on Armitage) is owned by Bobby's and Jim's sister!

There's two sushi places within a 5 min walk from my home. Mirai and Bob San. Shortly after moving back to Chicago my sister and I opted for the former one night. The food was excellent, and the bill nearly $200. Next time out we went to Bob San. Again, the food was excellent, and to my surprise the bill was under $100. We loved them both but was the former twice as good as the latter? It was not. In fact, I'd say our meals were close to identical outside of a few more options @ Mirai. But in the quality of product department, they were equals. I understand paying more for better quality, I don't see it in this comparison though.

I'm the first to say I'm a snob about Japanese food from early exposure to cold fish (lox, chubs) to Happi Sushi on Clark and Newport in the late 70'd to Ichinomia Japan where I worked in my friends izakaya (the itamae from Happi Sushi) for 4 months decades later. Our meal of gomae (also my favorite in the city), pan seared scallops in citrus soy and veg tempura are auto-orders (my love Theresa doesn't have the same fondness for uncooked fish as I do and these are her "go to") so I share that w/her and am left to my own for my sashimi fix which always includes the impeccable saba w/shiso and some salmon. Round it out with whatever strikes your fancy and it's hard to go wrong here.

I'd avoid the uni though, but not just here. Anywhere that it's not taken out of a live urchin will be compromised, eliminating it from about 99.9 % of restaurants everywhere. If you've been fortunate enough to have it fresh as described, I believe you'd agree that uni does not translate to pre harvesting to a wooden board. Not even close.

In the intervening years I've been back to Mirai a few times- but I've been back to Bob San dozens of times. To me that says it all.

Jazzfood wrote:There's two sushi places within a 5 min walk from my home. Mirai and Bob San. Shortly after moving back to Chicago my sister and I opted for the former one night. The food was excellent, and the bill nearly $200. Next time out we went to Bob San. Again, the food was excellent, and to my surprise the bill was under $100. We loved them both but was the former twice as good as the latter? It was not. In fact, I'd say our meals were close to identical outside of a few more options @ Mirai. But in the quality of product department, they were equals. I understand paying more for better quality, I don't see it in this comparison though.

Exactly my thoughts on Bob San vs. Mirai in terms of value

Jazzfood wrote: Our meal of gomae (also my favorite in the city)

The gomae sauce at Bob San is hand ground by hand from sesame seeds, btw... In the big bowl with tiny ridges and a wooden pestle. This is the only place I have seen it done by hand! I think I lasted 10 secs before my arms started hurting...

Gotta also say that the pan fried scallops at Bob San are extraordinary.

I used to live in that area and agree completely with Jazzfood's assessment. Bob San is one of the few really solid places left along that stretch of Division. They both opened around the same time, but Mirai seemed to be trying for a more adventurous menu and hence the higher prices. Over the years they seem to have toned it down a bit, with fewer differences between the menus.

I wasn't aware of the connection with Hachi's. We moved to Logan Square about 10 years ago and Hachi's replaced Bob San as our go to sushi place.

rmtraut wrote:Gotta also say that the pan fried scallops at Bob San are extraordinary.

jazzfood wrote:Our meal of gomae (also my favorite in the city), pan seared scallops in citrus soy and veg tempura are auto-orders...

I third the pan-fried scallops recommendation. Many a times I've been tempted to make a meal out of these.