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"The portions are HUGE! The size of the fish on the nagiri was ridiculous. Usually the nagiri can be one big bite but their portions are…" read more »
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my friends and i were had originally come up north to get some korean bbq on a saturday night, but after realizing that the line around the building consisted of people still waiting to put their name on the list, we decided it may be in the best interests of our bellies to venture elsewhere. since none of us were really familiar with the area, we decided to drive around until we found something, which is how we ended up at katsu. we walked in not sure what to expect, but we were greeted and shown to a table promptly.
after looking at the menu...we were all really tempted to get up and leave, not because it didn't look good...but because the prices were pretty steep for new grads. entrees ranged from $20-$50. sushi ranged from $8-$18. by the time we had decided that we should go elsewhere, the waiter had already brought us towels and water...so we decided to stay and splurge.
we ordered gyoza and shrimp & vegetable tempura as appetizers, both of which were excellent, but i've never gone anywhere that has been able to really mess up either one of those dishes. we ordered the salmon shioyaki, sukiyaki beef, and chicken teriyaki. nothing too adventurous, but some of the cheapest menu items. they all came with miso soup and salad. we also had green tea and red bean ice cream for dessert. (remember that part about us being poor? yeah, we are.)
all of the dishes were came out pretty quickly and were super hot and delicious. the salmon was really fresh and had a nice grilled flavor. i'd probably skip the sukiyake beef next time; while it was good, our other dishes were much better and more filling. the chicken teriyaki was probably the best i'd ever had...but again...it seems difficult to mess up chicken teriyaki. i'm sure it's possible, though.
i'll definitely come back to katsu when i find myself this far north...and if someone else is paying.
I always find it interesting how sushi restaurants, no matter how highly regarded, almost never have 100% positive reviews. Have you ever noticed that people who boast the loudest about being sushi experts often have the worst taste? Honestly, Tank Sushi is better??? But I digress...
A good deal of the sushi is flown in from Japan's most respected fish market and will cost more, so know that going in. They spend a great deal of time finding the best fish from all over the world - for example, the fatty tuna when we went was from a fishmonger in Canada, since they had the best cuts.
We had the omakase, and boy, is it expensive. But worth it? Absolutely! Each course (we had 9, but it varies) was exquisite, and chosen carefully to reflect the season. From the impeccable sashimi, to the soup made with mushrooms that only grow a certain time of year under red ferns, the fatty tuna, we were in heaven. We were served by Katsu's wife (Haruka?), and she was extremely friendly, helpful, and chose some excellent sakes for us. Katsu came out to greet us to ask how we enjoyed the meal, and wished me a happy birthday.
Also know that in Japan, they do not have fancy decor or pump techno music at their fine sushi establishments, so don't expect "low lighting" as someone mentioned. It is the food that's the star. This place is authentic - I repeat, authentic. And it's been around for 20 years, so obviously they know what they're doing.
To the haters - do us all a favor and keep on going to Oysy, Tank, etc., and leave more room for us at Katsu.
p.s. I should add that I have nothing against the cheap sushi places, - but to me it's like comparing TGI Friday's to Charlie Trotters...there is no comparison.
After a long-awaited visit to Katsu, here is my conclusion: the Katsu lovers are right on in their reviews; the haters are sushi amateurs who wouldn't know superior fish if it slapped them in the face.
Yes, there's a reason the fish is expensive- it's FRESH, AWESOME fish. The rolls are STUFFED with fish, with maybe a tiny amount of sauce for flavor. I was incredibly impressed with the amount of fish in the super white toro, fresh salmon & spicy tuna rolls. I recommend ordering all 3. The rolls here are not "crazy godzilla mayonnaise covered rainbow roll" - they are basic rolls like I listed above, that just have really good fish in them!
I noticed the sushi pieces are expensive. I'm guessing it's because it's large pieces of great fish. If you order a bunch of pieces, you won't eat cheaply, but personally cheap is not my goal when eating raw seafood.
This place is in a really random location. Look for the maroon awning on Peterson!
I came to Katsu hoping for amazing, authentic sushi here, and I have to say that I was surprisingly underwhelmed, especially considering the fact that this place was a bit pricey for me. I've had much fresher sushi at Hachi's and Toro for a much lower price.
The service was great; the fish not so fresh.
I had high hopes. Recommended to me by a colleague that knows sushi and fresh fish. My hubby and went casual, dressed casually that is. I don't like conspiracy theories but I really think they either serve different fish to different people or something about posturing with an air of importance or wealth will interact with the food and make it taste better here. The reviews before my own are just too inconsistent.
My husband lived in Japan for four years and I am just picky about fresh and yummy. We have a palate for fresh fish. Our fish was old. Pretty but old. Gold flakes on sashimi do not make for fish fresh. It was expensive and I was very very disappointed. For that money we could have eaten at Japonais or my favorite more casual but consistently excellent Suki Lounge.
If you decide to try this place go dressed up, doll it up and snoot it up. You will have a better tasting experience is my suspicion. Oh that would be so awful if it were true.
This place sucks. Let me repeat. This place sucks. Not only was the sushi old, smelly, fishy, and just all around terrible, the wait staff was some of the rudest that I have ever encountered in my entire life. Let me explain.
I went here with very HIGH expectations given the reviews Katsu had received on yelp. I looked at the menu, and although the prices were very high, I was willing to fork up the cash if the sushi was worth it. I ordered the fatty tuna and the best cut off hamachi they had. When the sushi arrived, it smelled awful and I had to spit it out into my napkin it was so fishy. I'm not an inexperienced sushi eater by any stretch of the imagination. I know what good sushi is supposed to taste like and this tasted like it had been preserved in salt for three days and left on lower wacker drive and aged under a homeless guy's ass.
When I politely told the waiter that we wanted to send the sushi back and try something else, he scoffed at me and arrogantly huffed "this is the best sushi in Chicago!" He shook his head furiously and ripped our plates away from us. When he came back he condescendingly asked us where we normally eat sushi as though we were just some sort of newbies that were out of our element. Mori Sushi in Los Angeles, which is a two star Michelin restaurant, actually. He shock his head again and left the table again. We drank our beer in silence, stunned by his rudeness. Then he came back a third time and said "I just wanted to check and make sure your BEER tastes ok." My beer? Really? As though the awful sushi wasn't enough, he had to continue insulting us. For the first time in my life, I left no tip.
If you really like good sushi and sashimi, go to Lawrence Fish Market (see my reviews) or Coast and I guarantee you will be FAR happier than we were at this dreadful place.
Please do not go here. Ever.
Hands down my favorite place for sushi. When my husband and I walked in, we were the only non-Japanese in the place...always a good sign for a sushi restaurant. We were quickly seated and began looking at the menu. There were so many options to choose from that we asked our waiter if he had any suggestions. He guided us to the Chef's Sushi & Sashimi Combo and said we should also order a roll or two and some additional sashimi if we'd like. We followed his suggestions and couldn't be happier. I love sushi and this is by far the best sashimi I've had in Chicago. Every piece just melted in my mouth! When we were finished, the waiter brought us orange slices. I don't think I've ever had an orange this delicious ever. The perfect end to our meal.
One word of warning, though. I don't think I would come here just for the maki. I love maki as much as anyone, but to really appreciate this place I would stick with the sashimi or the simpler rolls like the super white toro roll (awesome!)
Definitely the most authentic sushi I've ever had. The fatty tuna nigiri was sooo good, my mouth has never been happier to put something prefixed by fatty in it before. I like to order gyoza at every sushi restaurant I go to and this one's definitely the best I've ever had. Small but incredible! Their octopus and shiso roll was divine. All the food was spectacular! I really hope someone with deep pockets take me back again!
Best sushi I've had in Chicago so far, but it's also the priciest. I ordered the o-toro and tsukiji yellowtail combination. 8 thin slices of sashimi for $48 was costly but each slice was like reliving the best moments of your life. These were melt in your mouth, melt your soul good.
I also filled up on the basic spicy tuna and salmon rolls at $8 each. They just had the perfect fish to rice ratio.
I think Chef Katsu has great contacts and has a knack for finding the best fish at the time. Sometimes he gets the o-toro from Canada, sometimes from Spain.
Is the price justified? All I know is it's the best I've had in Chicago and there are places in New York that are much more expensive.
http://www.forbestrave...
Alright... so people have raved about this place on Yelp, and with the three dollar sign price range, I was reluctant to go... but payday just past, I have some extra cash, and I figured my fiancee and I could go check it out.
Chirashi - $40+ - Each piece of fish was very fresh and delicious... but at $40+, I'd expect a much bigger bowl with more options in fish. There was one piece of salmon, two pieces of blue fin tuna, one piece of white tuna (note, NOT super white tuna), two eggs, and some other items. You can get far more and only slightly lower quality chirashi in the city for half the price.
Tonkatsu - $20 - Nice thick cut of meat, served with traditional sweet dipping sauce with a dab of spicy mustard. This was really good, yet the portion just wasn't quite enough for $20.
2x Unagi - $5 a piece - This was just ridiculous.... the unagi was good, but not $5 good.
Good lord... this was a LOT of money.
Verdict: This place has great sushi, but is overpriced. If you're looking to impress your date with high quality sushi and having a fat wallet, come here. But for those of you who are regular sushi eaters seeking enjoyment on a regular basis, look away... there are far too many other places in the city that are worth your paycheck. I will not be coming back.
Katsu is one of those places you have probably been driving by for years but never really noticed it in this stretch of storefronts. Heck- we were looking for it and went by it and had to circle back!
But once you do find it- you will find a place that serves some really fresh fish in a quietly understated environment.
So much to choose from! We ordered simply with 4 rolls (three that I was very familiar with and one "wild card") Funny. I asked the server what he would recommend and he said he couldn't do that. Huh? I thought that was a little odd. Anyway- the server did tell us that the kitchen was slow that night and it would be around 30 minutes for our rolls. I had heard about the service issues with this place and even though it felt like our server was discouraging us from ordering- it did help explain the rather "longish" wait.
In the meantime, we had some miso soup, a couple of beers and a chance to catch with some quiet Japanese music playing in the background.
When our rolls did come out , they were served on a glass tray, very artfully arranged and explained to us rather ceremoniously by the server. All the rolls were great and the "wild card" roll was huge- requiring a couple of bites to finish! I also liked the fresh oranges that came at the end of the meal. While I can't personally eat them- they looked juicy and so fresh arranged on a small plate.
I did feel that Katsu was a little pricey for what you got. For 4 rolls and 2 beers our bill came to over $60. There are sushi places closer to my home where I can get the same meal for a little more than half that price. I need to go back and try something other than the rolls to get the full impact of the freshness of their fish.
If you drive- parking is a breeze on Peterson.
So give Katsu a try. A little off of my beaten path but certainly worth the drive or a visit when I am in neighborhood.
Katsu is my FAVORITE place for fresh sashimi and has one of the best sakes I've ever had! The staff was helpful and gave us proper serving suggestions and recommendations.
I don't like fusion Japanese sushi in general, and you definitely won't find the Americanized sushi rolls here. This is not a trendy place at all, but more traditional style setting.
This place was pretty good, but it's way overpriced. I expected something spectacular given the price and the past reviews, but this place was exactly as good as Oysy or the like and almost 2x the price.
I will say the atmosphere was nice-- not trendy and lounge-y with orange glass decorations, blue lights and blaring techno music; just a cozy Japanese family restaurant. Someplace you could take your parents *or* your friends.
Seriously, though, go to Mirai instead-- it's not much cheaper, but it is much better.
Price: Expensive
Food: Simply Amazing!
Atmosphere: Understated
Service: Excellent
Wow! I loved everything about this place! Off the beaten path! Been around so long they know all the purveyors of fine seafood by name and clearly have established themselves as the first in line for fresh seafood of the day!
Baby Clam Soup excellent! Tempura very good, Salad dressing soy based different but very good, Spicy tuna and sake hand rolls freshest I've ever had! You can't eat just one!
Sake and unagi nigiri OMG! Spider, Shrimp, Toro maki all very good!
$90.00 per person with tip!
4 miles from my house
I'll be back.....
Amazing sushi, especially in Chicago. I got a seat at the counter and spoke to Katsu-san, who was so amiable & chatty. It was great. The wait staff was fantastic too - the lady offered to get me a fresh cup of miso after it looked like I had let mine cool off (I was busy savoring the sake - a great suggestion from the male waiter). It is a bit pricey, but completely reasonable considering the quality of the fish. Don't go there for the decor (it looks like a typical Japanese, family-run restaurant), but go there if you want super-fresh sushi.
Can't wait to return.
There was a time in my life where I lived my life off pizza and sushi.
When it comes to sushi, I think it's very very very safe to say that Katsu has the best sushi in the whole neighbourhood!
Sure it's little more pricey compare to other sushi places in the area but it is worth ever single penny.
I tried couple of other fish dishes as well and this place had me keep coming back for more.
If Yelp was eBay and this restaurant was a seller, I would have given it A++++++++++!
Super clean washrooms.
Pros: Good food, good service, great place for a romantic or group dinner.
Cons: This place is on kinda side and in somewhat dark so look hard for this place. Street parking.
Our waitress was nice and very helpful. This other fellow exuded an air of arrogance. First telling me not to put my chop sticks a certain way on my plate because it was bad luck. I could have done without that. Then he seemed to laugh in arrogance at one of my friend's questions about the menu. The food was good, however I'm not an expert on sushi so I wouldn't know the subtle differences. Overall it was decent but overpriced in my opinion.
This is the best sushi in chicago. Authentic, meaning theres actually Japanese people working the sushi bar and its not korean, or flip owned.
Fresh, tasty, and awesome selection. It probably doesnt get its props because of its location but people who like sushi and know sashimi, come here. Its the real deal.
Get the toro if they have it, and the yellowtail is amazing. The handrolls are devine.
Without Katsu, I cannot live in Chicago! I was born and brought up in Japan, and was lucky enough to go eat the best sushi restaurant in Tokyo (the restaurant called "Kyu-bei" in Ginza). I gladly admit Katsu serves better sushi than most of the sushi restaurants in Japan! Super white toro tastes like fresh milk and melt in your mouth. Scallop is very fresh and this is the best scallop I ever had as sushi. If you like Saba (meckerel), Katsu has great saba nigiri and it is an art... Katsu-san, the owner, is very friendly and behind the counter, he always makes sure that guests are enjoying his food while he is busy making sushi. If you expect American style sushi (various rolls with mayo and BBQ source), Katsu is not the right place, but if you want to have authentic sushi, there is no other destination than Katsu in Chicago.
OK...I was DROOLING reading the reviews. How the HELL did I miss a sushi place in my hometown? I'm ashamed. I've been anticipating this visit for a couple weeks, and I cleared my busy schedule for this. However, I'm SHOCKED by the 5 star reviews.
The waiter was RUDE and very bossy. I almost fell over when I saw it was $7.00 for ONE PIECE of maguro. I am never sticker shocked and I was immediately put off. We ordered a $25.00 appetizer with 4 pieces of mediocre fish and a crab appetizer for $22.00. The EXACT same soft shell crab I have had at 50 other sushi joints for about 1/3 of the price. Unreal.
The quality of tuna was excellent, but, I kid you not, is even better at my local sushi restaurant at $2.50 a piece. I will say the Spider roll, which I don't order often, but have had many, is hands down the best I have ever had. I will not be going out of my way for this place anytime soon. It's worth about half of what they charge.
Hallelujah! I've finally found great sushi in this city. Disclaimer: I'm snobby about my raw fish. Born and raised in California + first generation Japanese foodie best friend = self proclaimed know-it-all on the subject.
If you understand the difference between high and low quality sashimi and nigiri, and are willing to pay a little extra for the great stuff, go here. If you are fine with rolled up chopped up mish mash mixed with cream cheese and other fillers, and have ever even uttered a notion of going to an all-you-can-eat sushi establishment, don't waste your time or money.
We were blown away by the quality of the "super premium" selections, flown in fresh from Japan and Canada. Melt in your mouth deliciousness over perfectly cooked sushi rice. Otoro, yellowtail, super white otoro were among the premium offerings, all amazing. The tako (octopus) was the most tender and flavorful I've ever had, and even the tamago (sweet egg omelet) was something special. I left the restaurant with a sushi high that I haven't felt since I left Cali and am still giddy...
My take on the ambiance is that it's mellow and unassuming, certainly not pretentious. Reservations are recommended, and the food takes a whileeven when the restaurant isn't bustling, but that doesn't bother me when the reward is so substantial.
We did go a little bananas due to over excitement, and the bill reflected that, but we'll be a little smarter about it next time now that we understand the offerings. Arigato.
Quick Word - if you are short on time, have a huge group, love fancy/artzy decor, enjoy drinking creative shochu based cocktail and/or cross cultural re-imagination of sushi is your thing, save some cash and trip to far north side. If you can appreciate more traditional, finely made japanese food not limited to sushi and your wallet can use a diet, then jump right at it.
I have a slight reservation on the 5 star rating mostly due to the price nowadays. I've lived for many years a few blocks from the place and seen the price go up steadily over the years after a renovation and rise of popularity. Food is great, whether traditional food or sushi.
The head chef/owner (Japanese, btw, unlike so many 'hip' sushi joints) runs the place and works in the kitchen and his touch shows. It's not the hip urban kinda place where more funky sauces and weird stuffs on roll is better. Their sushi menu won't overwhelm you w all the different sushis that require a paragraph each for description. If you grew up eating the stuffs or don't care for all the new stuffs that are in sushi but can enjoy the finer tastes of rice and fish, this a good place. Also, their non-sushi food is great. I love their tonkatsu and (seasonal) kani ramen. I'm not sure about their sukiyaki, as I've once been declined when asked for a raw egg and have never ordered it again. They do have a smaller menu but definitely more than couple items w teriyaki sauce thrown on top.
The restaurant is nice and clean. it's well lit enough to be able to see your food. the setup is rather open and some tables can be pretty close together. Along with a low volume on the music on the background, I wouldn't be having a personal conversation.
Service experience is generally decent, however, they can get really busy and the servers can be as well. sushi bar is not very large and the entire place is not huge - I wouldn't take a very large group (10+) to Katsu. I'd recommend reservation on weekends, and for best experience, visit on a weekday during colder months where they have the aforementioned kani ramen and super white toro is readily avilable.
Lastly, place can be easily overlooked driving down Peterson, look for maroon/dark red awning or pull over, park, then look for it while on foot. Luckily, street parking is not a challenge as long as it's not parallel parking on Peterson during rush hour. I don't recommend parking too further up north near green briar park.
I didn't realize when I decided to try out this restaurant, how expensive it was going to be. My fellow yelpers forget to mention it. LOL The entire menu was pricey - to the point that I could have been at Japonais (with the atmosphere that goes along with it). Katsu is very unassuming. We went on a particularly freezing night so there wasn't a wait; in fact there weren't many other diners at all. Our server had a very dry personality and sort of made me uncomfortable, perhaps foreshadowing....but at least we didn't encounter the horrible wait times we'd been warned about.
For appetizers we tried the clams in broth appetizer, Gyoza , Eggplant Agedashi , several boards of mixed sashimi, a spider roll and a supper fatty tuna roll. I want to give huge kudos on the Flounder. Good lord it was delicious. Best I ever had. The spider roll was really good. The crab wasn't greasy and it was really meaty.
Another thing I noticed was that the sushi rice was really good, slightly warm and sweet and it DIDN'T totally fall apart when you bit into it. I don't think I've ever had a spider roll that I could get in my mouth in one bite (without looking like a chipmunk). These pieces were really big and I didn't want to choke down food this expensive, so I took a bite ...and to my astonishment the piece separated perfectly. The crab was tender enough that it broke clean and the rice actually closed neatly at the bite mark.
I was really disappointed they had no Toro, but they had some other items on the specials menu so we decided to try the "premium salmon from Tasmania" and "fatty tuna from the Mediterranean". Basically we kept getting boards of fresh fish. The premium salmon was the only real food disappointment of the night. It was tough, grisly, and bland. The regular house salmon was much better in comparison. The fatty tuna was good but smelled really fishy - instead of just fresh like the ocean; but it tasted good.
At the end of the meal they brought peeled orange slices that were incredibly sweet and juicy. I would love to know where to get some just like that. Lately I've been bombing out on oranges at the store.
The bill needed to be split between us and the other couple, which we explained to the dry waiter. He returned with two bills, however on one he billed my credit card for the entire meal, and on the other he billed our friends for their portion. When we showed him the error he sort of went back aggravated to fix it. He came back with the void receipt for me and a new receipt for the correct amount. We paid the check and called it a night.
The following day I checked my bank account and sure enough, I had been charged twice. I called and left messages for two days with no return call. Finally on the 3rd day I got a hold of someone who told me that they didn't know what I was talking about that they didn't charge the card.
I foolishly used my debit card and had just spent 15 minutes on the phone with my bank trying to get the charge reversed. So I wasn't happy with the lady on the phone as she argued about the fact that money had indeed been pulled from my account and was not accessible (or held). I had no choice but to continue waiting to see if the money would eventually get released. It did (5 days later).
For this reason I don't think I'd go back. Although the food was good, I expect a certain level of service when the prices are that high. The atmosphere was very drab and the service was dry and uncomfortable. To top it off they double billed me and then made no attempt to assist me. This shows me what kind of management runs the venue. I rather spend the money elsewhere the next time I get my sashimi craving. But I'm glad I tried it. I'm always up for a new adventure.
According to the voice mail message I just checked, Katsu is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Their hours Wed-Sun are 5pm to 10pm.
This place has absolutely the best sushi I have ever had. It is super fresh, and they have a lot… Read more »
They get everything right at Katsu. The service is polite and friendly and the proprietors seemed to recognize quite a few regulars while I was there. The room is modest and casual, but the food is anything but reserved. This is not a flashy sushi restaurant, and it doesn't have to be. The food is superior to anywhere I have been.
I experienced some of the best, most fresh fish I have ever had and while the fish is the star, the details lie in the margin. The rice here is perfect-not gluey sticky, just a bit warm, and a smaller amount than normal, allowing the fish to really stand out. I love the fact that for many of their dishes, they site the source of the seafood.
It is more expensive, but so worth it. You can get out with spending $40/pp, but if you really want to go all out, you can spend over $100/pp. I found myself in the middle, and it was worth every penny.
Katsu is the best Sushi place in Chicago hands down! The fish is extremely fresh! Everything I have ever had here is delicious! You can tell by the clientele that this is a place for serious sushi lovers. The decor is not particularly fancy but it's the food that is the draw not the "scene". The prices are a little high, making this a place for special occasions (for me anyway) but well worth it. Parking is not an issue as there is usually plenty of spaces on Peterson. Staff is always polite and friendly.
First, answer the following question for me:
Do you judge a restaurant based on how crazy their maki creations are?
If you answered "yes", you are better off not coming to Katsu. There are a zillion other maki joints in Chicago you'll like better...and you won't have to pay as much.
Are you still with me? Then you must be someone who actually knows their fish. And there's some good news - if you know and love fish, you are going to love Katsu.
I have never had anything but a great experience here -- from the sashimi (I never order sushi...sashimi is a much better measure of quality as it is pretty hard to disguise freshness or lack thereof) to the interesting seasonal specials (Matsutake-based soups, Asaparagus in the spring, etc), Katsu has always delivered. Each time I go Katsu works the dining room and makes sure we are all having a great time. I'd recommend Katsu first for the hot food, second for the raw fish. In the hot food, Katsu really shines. Try a selection of interesting-sounding appetizers (avoid shumai, gyoza, edamame...the premade foods aren't worth it) and complement it with one of their interesting sakes -- cold.
Katsu will set you back a pretty penny, so come prepared to spend.
If you are in the mood to spend, there's nothing better than going for "omakase" - leave the decision-making to Katsu, and he'll serve you up the best of the best - whatever is super-fresh, super-rare, and, of course, in his hands, perfectly sliced. I have never had better sushi and sashimi than when I've sprung for omakase. There's no comparison to any other restaurant in Chicago.
And for those of you who aren't used to paying for good fish? Go spend your money elsewhere. Drown your maki in soy sauce and wasabi and enjoy. I'll be enjoying another great meal at Katsu.
First off I would like to address how appalled I am to see such a pathetic rating of true diamond in the rough. Seeing this rating of this restaurant has really made me second guess this entire website.. then I realized there are only Two reviews, so I'll set em strait Katsu-san!
Let me say up front that this is my favorite all-around Japanese restaurant in Chicago. Evey one wants to say that a restaurant has to be rated on their sushi, because that's the "in" thing to eat at Japanese restaurants and I partially agree, but I feel this is only because all other Japanese restaurants so-called authentic dishes, suck and no one honestly will give it a chance once you eat the same pathetic stuff over and over at so-called "amazing", "great authentic" Japanese restaurants.
There is a test that I have adopted over the years of dining at Japanese restaurants. Its called the Gyoza test. For those of you that don't know what Gyoza is, then you must go to Katsu's and order it. For those of you that do know what it is, and know of it as deep fried dumplings, then you have been fooled. Duped you have been yes, you have stumbled uppon what I like to call Chinese Gyoza. It lacks elegance, and it goes to show the level of expertise in the chef. Easiest test in the book, but sadly a lot of Japanese restaurants prepare Gyoza this way. I have yet to find out why this is, but I honestly don't really care that much, I know who knows what they are doing when it comes to traditional cuisine. This is why I consistently go to Katsu to impress my friends or guests that think they know the best or are seeking the best Japanese in the city.
Katsu opened in late 1988 a few months before my father opened our restaurant, and we found them as we were in search for a late night good healthy bite to eat, our local sushi favorite, Kuni's closes well too early for us to dine there after a long night of service.
So the place was a small cheap but very healthy and thoughtful. Family owned and operated Japanese hole in the wall restaurant that became our only stop for sushi on our much coveted nights off, Sundays.
Over they years the cuisine has slightly evolved. Fast forward to 18 years later, Katsu is now re-designed by Katsu-san's wife Hiruko, is an elegant fine dining Japanese restaurant that I have yet to find another restaurant that can top in what comes on your plate for the price.
I have been to them all, and when them all I mean them all, Sushi Samba, Mirai Sushi, Japonais, yadda yadda yadda. Not a one has impressed me to the extent that Katsu-san has done over the course of 15 plus years of dining.
Maybe Katsu is not the "hip" place in bucktown or in the middle of the glamor of downtown, but I guarantee that you will never have a bad meal there, and that you will not have a better experience of hot fine traditional Japanese cuisine in the Midwest.
I must warn you, this is not a cheap small sushi joint, expect to spend at least 50 bucks a person, I don't think I have left there with a check of under 160 for two people.. I have trouble with wanting to try everything over and over and over.. why? Because it's all that good.
Katsu's wife Hiruko, has also made great strides in improving the wine list, and sake list. They do a wonderful sake tasting for all of you armatures out there ready to get your feet wet in chilled sake.
This place is like Sundance is to Hollywood.
Ah, Katsu and I have FINALLY consummated our love affair.
It began with my reading of "The Time Traveler's Wife" a few months ago, continued with driving by longingly for a few months, and ended with a fantastic dinner there for Valentine's Day. If you haven't read the book or gone here yet, you need to do both. Trust me.
So, we started out with some great sake -- "well blended" but I forget the name. Damn. But it was really good.
For the appetizer we had their special clams in sake sauce. I don't know if this is only a special occassionally, but if you ever go and it is on the menu ... GET IT. I love clams and I was in heaven. The "soup" that it was cooked in was delicious too. In Chinese we describe it as "sweet" but not in a sugary type of way. More like a savory type of way. There's no real English translation. The only thing that turned me off a little was that there was still some sand in one or two of the clams.
Then we had the sushimoro and a few individual rolls and nigri. The special Yellowtail they had that night was AMAZING. It's different than the normal Yellowtail so one can absolutely not be substituted from the other. I have not had such good Yellowtail ANY where in Chicago. The fatty tuna special was OFF THE HOOK. Again, no where better in Chicago.
My advice is, go with someone(s) who really really appreciate good, fresh fish. It is pricey and for someone who is just "eh" about sushi, it's not worth it. But, if you are someone who really really really enjoys their food -- regardless of the price -- you must come here. This is for people who love the taste of fresh raw fish, not necessarily for people who enjoy sushi.
I cannot wait to go back.
Is there fatty tuna in Lake Michigan?
I love raw fish, and Katsu serves up fresh pieces of some of the finest sushi I've had all year. Toro, unagi, king crab oh my! Each piece was succulent. The maki pieces were on the small size, but Katsu is not a fancy-shancy American sushi roll restaurant, rather, an obscenely authentic dining destination for amazing fish.
Katsu is rounded out for a good saki selection, mild fish dishes, terrific evening specials, rich miso soup, and an amusing sorbet and gelato selection.
I suppose it's not worth a two hour flight from New York, but it's certainly worthy of a local visit.
Come on!! Katsu is THE best in the area. Yes, it is pricy for a neighborhood place,if it were in Wicker Park or The Loop-it would be twice the price-and I would STILL go!!I used to live in walking distance and loved it then and 18 years later still have yet to find better at any price.It is a splurge and well worth it,if I were closer and had unlimited $$$-I would eat there more frequently. I remember when you did not have to wait to be seated and it was more affordable, but that means that Katsu-san is finally recieving his due.For me-this is the best in the area and I have eaten in several Japanese homes where they would agree.
12/22/06- I have not been here in sooo long,it almost made me cry! Katsu-you are the best!!!
Katsu is pretty good, but not especially memorable. I got a couple rolls, which were pretty average. A couple of my friends got the chirashi though and were raving about it. Another friend got the chicken katsu, and it was definitely above average compared to other Japanese restaurants in Chicago. I might come back here for the katsu, but there are better places for sushi. Plus, it's pretty expensive for what you get, so I'm not sure the price is worth it.
Went in, prepared to really like this place (given reviews) on a Thursday night. Not super busy. Took forever to take a drink order, and even though their menu implies they have vodka/gin/etc., would not allow us to order cocktails. Then when a friend tried to order Japanese vodka, the waiter told us "you won't like it" and basically talked her into ordering something else (so much for trying new things). So she ordered something else, and after waiting about 15 minutes, the waiter came back and told her they were all out of That particular item. After much ado, we settled with wine and a beer, and then waited forever to get that.
Ordered all our sushi at once because the waiter insisted that the sushi bar was "really busy" and this would be best so as to not wait. (Not sure whether they had some secret room full of patrons because it was definitely not that busy. If they were busy, it was due to their own inefficiency, from the look of it.) The service was a little surreal - slow and confused, maybe post-holidaze?
Got the sushi. They brought all our orders together on one platter, and since they didn't deviate from the standard rolls with nori wrapped in rice, it all looked pretty much exactly alike and the waiter couldn't be bothered to tell us what was what. While still eating, waitress came and furtively ran away w/ wine glasses while we were still drinking a bottle of wine, then we spent lotso time trying to get glasses back. Waiter stopped by periodically to ask if everything was all right, but his demeanor was strange - obstinate, bored waiter from another planet, yet still nice-ish.
Just a little wacko experience all around, and the food was just average (nothing creative, nothing new, nothing to wow you). We exchanged many looks during the meal, a la "what the f#ck?!" So many better traditional/non-trendy places to go. Annnndddd scene.
Okay, it has been two weeks since I dined at Katsu and I am still mad about the experience. I trust Yelp and now I have learned that you need to read the other reviews that people have submitted to get an idea what other restaurants they are basing their star ratings on. Since most of the reviews for Katsu were in the 5 star range I was expecting to be blown away by the experience. However, I could not have been more disappointed with the ambiance, the service, the food, the portion size, the menu, and most of all the OUTRAGEOUS PRICE $$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!
First, if you are expecting a comfortable room to relax, enjoy sushi and sake you have come to the wrong place. The rooms are very brightly lit and classical music plays at a quite level in the background. I could easily hear every tables conversation which I found a bit distracting.
The service was slow, very slow. We waited five minutes to get a menu, then another ten to place our order for a glass of sake. We choose the sake flight, which was tasty but too much for the portion size. Once we received the menu, I had some very specific questions about the rolls, maki, and sashimi - none of which were answered with any clarity. At the end of our dinner, our server took twenty minutes to bring the bill, and there were only 3 tables seated in the entire place. Sorry lady, thats why you got a horrible tip (to insure proper service).
The food and portion size were nothing that I would recommend - yes, the fish was fresh, that is a given. I have never gone to a sushi restaurant that didn't have fresh fish and never would. No matter how good it was it didn't make a difference since you get such a minuscule portion of everything. Rolls consist of four small pieces and the sashimi was extremely small. Laughable portions left me hungry which I will explain more later.
The menu at Katsu is very basic, and not everything was available to be ordered on a Friday night. No imaginative maki or rolls to speak of, just the basics. It is also pretty confusing, and as I stated the service was not open to explaining.
Finally, I have never felt so ripped off as I did at Katsu, the cost is a joke. Our bill was $160 for an appetizer, two rolls, two pieces of scallop, and some sake. Not an expensive bottle of sake, but nothing is moderate in price when it comes to sake at Katsu. It is either $10 a glass or as much as hundreds of dollars for a bottle.
We left Katsu hungry, in fact we headed to Candlelight and ordered a pizza. We also left mad and disappointed with the food and service. If you are looking for a good sushi restaurant let me suggest a few in Chicago, as I have been to all of these and they are better;
Sushi Wabe
Tank
Coast
South Coast
Bob San
Kaze
Sushi X
Ra
Kite
etc. etc. etc. etc..... you get the point.
Katsu may be a bit off the beaten path, but it has the best sushi in the city, hands down.
I don't know where the fish comes from, but it's some of the freshest, best tasting I've had in the midwest. Hell, it's better than a lot of the coastal joints I've eaten at, which is quite a tall order.
Don't come here if you're looking for "creative" maki. Katsu sticks to the basics and does a great job in doing so. They also have other Japanese dishes that are fresh and authentic.
Is it pricey? Sure. But there's nothing wrong with paying for quality. You want a "bargain", go to a sushi buffet. But if you want some of the best fish you'l ever come across, come to Katsu.
Probably the best sushi I've had in Chicago and I eat sushi about once a week. Really really fresh, really really nice portions. The owner is very friendly too. Location is kind of funky but the street parking is easy. I'll definitely be back.
So far the best Japanese restaurant in Chicago.
My personal favorite, toro a.k.a. fatty tuna is always fresh and always on the menu. I emphasize the fact that it's almost always available, so unlike the other semi-japanese cuisines around the town.
The sake selection is exquisite and includes some of the rarest and less exposed to the mass ones.
If you wish to bump into some hot celebrities visiting the town (heard Wachovski brothers are biggest fans of Katsu), you should check out this humble dwelling located on the corner of Peterson and California.
Yes, Katsu is the best sushi in Chicago. The owners know how to buy their fish and are one of the only Japanese run sushi places in the city.
Do not come here unless you have money to spend. If you do, then this is the place to go. It's even better since it's not in a hip neighborhood. They don't have to try so hard. They let their exceptional food and service speak for itself.
This place is still somewhat undiscovered, and a bit out of the way (but not for meee!). Great, unpretentious little neighborhood place. FRESH and a great value for yummy sushi.
I'm really into sashimi, and this place has fantastic fresh fish. Can't say enough - YUM!
A pretentious, overpriced Japanese restaurant with an ambiguous menu.
Me and my sister went there based on the review given on the TV program, Check Please!.
Pretentious:
We walked in the place at around 6:30 pm, and clearly seen that the place was almost empty with only 3 tables occupied, but the waiter asked if we have reservation; we said no then he asked us to wait as he was trying to figure out where should he seat us at. After about a minute, he told us that the place will get filled up rather quickly soon, and he can only seat us at the sushi bar. We agreed, thinking it might not be a bad idea. As soon as we sat down, the owner/sushi chef greeted us, and was telling us the same thing, that the place will get filled up in about half an hour, and told us that we were lucky to be seated so quickly. We were there for over an hour, and during that time, only a couple, and a party of 5 walked in.
Ambiguous:
On the menu, they have a few assorted sushi and sashime dinners, however, none of them specified the number of pieces and what kind of fishes will you be getting. When we asked the waiter, he said that it varies and insisted that we ask the owner/sushi chef.
Overpriced:
According to the review on Check Please!, Katsu is a $$ kind of restaurant, but it turned out that their prices should be rated $$$ or more. We ordered a sashime dinner at $38 for a total of 10, yet very small cut sashime; because of the tiny portion, we ended up ordered a spicy hamechi roll too. The owner/sushi chef told us that the sashime dinner was specially prepared, because he gave us two pieces of toro.
The place does have nice decor, but the bottom line is I will never return for a second time.
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