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Sai Cafe
Category: Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaul2010 N Sheffield Ave
(between Armitage Ave & Dickens Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 472-8080
- Nearest Transit:
-
Armitage (Purple Express, Brown)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 4:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 3:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
Shine Restaurant
- 141 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Lincoln Park
"You know what the worst part about moving is? giving up your chinese place. or finding a new one. i found shine late in the game. I've…" read more »
142 reviews for Sai Cafe
Review Highlights
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My goodness, what a surprisingly good sushi spot! I ate there last night for the first time, and when I first walked in I thought, "oh, another cute dimly lit sushi place that is probably prettier than it is tasty"--but, I was completely wrong on several accounts. Yes, it is pretty, but the food is substantial, and the restaurant is secretly huge, so no need to worry abt getting crammed into the sushi bar (I know, it's the authentic experience, but I like my space).
For starters we got the house salad (pretty good, standard gingery dressing over iceberg w/ cabbage and radish slivers), the goma-ae (spinach w/ a "sesame flavored sauce"--I will say that this was a disappointment. I'm used to a thick dressing w/ a nutty sesame flavor, and this tasted much more like peanut butter, and was quite watery, so my app was not a homerun, but you win some you lose some). After salad, we moved onto rolls and sashimi,
I went for 2 veggies rolls and a salmon/avocado roll. Perhaps Sai's strength is not in their veggie options, b/c I agree w/ another Yelper that the rice they use for rolls is a bit bland, but these rolls were large and filled w/ a nice array of veggies, they just lacked a little flavor. On the other hand, my salmon was AMAZING. Perfect flavor and texture--really delicious. We also had the spicy white tuna crunch--I strongly dislike spicy rolls (mayo in sushi = blasphemous), but was forced to try one, and despite my snobbery about the aforementioned ingredient, this roll is delicious. Both crunchy and smooth--hell yes.
We also went for the sashimi app of salmon (great), and the hamachi jalapeno, which totally rocked my world. The fish had a wonderful consistency and the jalepeno added just the appropriate amount of kick.
For dessert we went for the mochi--lychee (decent), pumpkin (more please), and green tea (ice cream perfection). Our waitress kept the water and green tea flowing all night, which was much appreciated--and extra bonus, we were seated right over the heater, which is literally a dream come true for me, since a sushi dinner often leaves me freezing.
I will definitely return, keeping in mind that fish, rather than veggies, is Sai's main attraction. Din for 2 was $93 pre-tip, but we both have healthy appetites, so I think it could be done for much less.
Went on Friday night....my friend stated, " I feel like fish"...I responded,
"are you cooked or raw?" He replied, "you decide". So we went to Sai Cafe.
Umm, it's a pretty little space to begin with. Shiny black and silvery bar to sit at (if you can find a seat) to wait and drink while a table clears, and friendly patrons who will chat with you. And toney location in Lincoln Park.
We were led to a table for two, and really, just for two. It was hard to fit the sushi we ordered on the table, and I had to put my purse on my feet. No room anywhere and the chairs are such that you can't hang 'em there....
We ordered the Halloween roll, Tako Sensai roll, , Hamachi, tuna and then a piece each of eel and squid.
Nothing bad about the sushi here; the prices on the rolls were ok; a bit high, but the single piece nigiri was waaaaay expensive.
The place would have gotten three stars from me but the service was not adequate. Flighty little girls bumping into each other, taking each others orders from the sushi bar and needing to exchange plates...sigh.. you know the rest.
And my friend got his beer 10 minutes before I got my martini. One should never have to wait for their martini, you know?
All in all, not bad, just better elsewhere.
I decided I wanted to try a new sushi place instead of going to one of my usual standbys so we went and tried this place instead, hoping to find a new joint to add to the sushi repertoire. I have to say that it was just...meh. The ambiance was nice and perfect for a romantic date if you were so inclined so it gets props for that and the full bar as well. The service was decent (there seems to be a few complaints about that on this Yelp page). The Dragon Maki was tasty and the Volcano Maki was good too but other than that, they didn't have a particularly large selection and was overpriced for the most part.
All in all, the two of us was just kind of shrugged our shoulders after we left and said "meh." Kind of a downer but then not really when you consider the area. Don't plan on going back. There are much better in the sea.
had a good dinner, went ok.
the price seems on the high side.
The sea bass from the kitchen was really good.
sashimi just ok.
seems that they utilize lots of the frozen tuna in their sushi dishes.
decor in the restaurant is nice.
sushi roll need more seasoning in the rice, too plain. you have to literally use soy sauce to get the taste :( otherwise it doesn't taste anything.
overall food, just Ok.
I would come back to try a bunch of more different dishes.
Wow! This place is beautiful and the menu is great. My husband and I ate there for the first time and didn't know what to expect from the mixed reviews, but we found that there was a lot to choose from and everything came out great. We had a lot of food and wine so our bill was over $100 but we didn't think anything was overpriced - we actually thought the pricing was low to moderate as compared to other sushi places we frequent. The staff is friendly but a little shy/quiet which makes the communication a little tough (the reason I'm giving 4/5 stars).
I highly recommend this place if you want to have a nice dinner with your significant other or with a small group of friends.
I am still thinking happy thoughts about Sai Café and my delicious dinner last night. Been here a few times and never been disappointed yet. Even though we were a group of 4 we had a truckload of food - volcano, dragon, super creamy and spicy tuna rolls and pieces of salmon, white fish tempura, king crab, tuna, clam and scallops and to start edamame & go ma. The volcano roll was to die for and I love the white fish tempura with its neon orange sauce on top.
The menu is on the smaller side compared to other sushi joints but it's really quality over quantity. The sushi pieces are always fresh and the rolls are always made perfectly. Service is impeccable; everyone is extremely attentive and polite. The drawbacks - not BYO so the bar tab creeps up quickly and I have yet to get out of here without spending $50 a person.
I hadn't been to Sai in years, but I recently took a date to Sai Cafe for dinner, and it was as good as I remember. From the the prompt greeting as you enter the door, to the excellent attention we received during dinner, the service was excellent. Since this was a spur of the moment dinner (no reservations), we were pleasantly surprised to find that there were a couple open tables, and we could be seated right away on a Saturday night at 8pm.
The food was delicious- there are few sushi places in Chicago that can compare to Sai when it comes to overall consistent quality and presentation. The fish is so fresh and tender it melts in your mouth. Two of my pet peeves at sushi places are when the rolls are so big you feel embarrassed to eat them in front of your date, or that they fall apart when you grab them with chop sticks. At Sai the rolls are made the perfect size, and they never come apart. And they don't drown the sushi in sauces or wasabi, they come out with just the right amount of every ingredient so that you can taste each flavor. The presentation is not flashy, it's simple and understated. I love when you go to a nicer sushi restaurant and you get a real steamed towel, not the disposable in a wrapper.
Yeah, the decor is looking a little dated, but it's a neighborhood institution now, so you have to look at it that way. It's not meant to be a flashy upscale place like Sushi Samba Rio or Japanais. The bar up front is small but stylish, the first dining room by the sushi bar is very nice (guys- if you make reservations, ask to sit in this dining room), but the second dining room where we sat is a little older. Still, it was just fine for a dinner date, with candles on every table and in the windows, and the volume level was perfect for conversation.
The price is pretty damn good for a nicer sushi restaurant. We had edamame, 4 generous rolls, 4 huge pieces, 3 small bottles of hot house sake, and the total was $70+ tip. Not bad for a date night in the city. You could easily spend more, that's just what we spent given the rolls and pieces we picked. And we left stuffed.
Sai is reliable place to go for a nice dinner.
I love that whenever we come here we walk right in, and never have to wait more than 5 minutes for a table- even on a Saturday night. While the menu may not be huge, everything I've ever tried is nothing short of delicious! I always get sashimi (ah-mazing salmon), and the spicy octopus roll. There is nothing like it. Mmm... I'm getting hungry just thinking about this place!
The food was good, environment was very noisy. If you pay with a credit card the fun begins... They ask for your ID to make copy of it, and they put all that confidential info on receipt as well! so everyone could access it! The place is so cramped that you can easily reach the neighboring tables with your arms. The owner is also very scary! While you are eating she will come and fix with mean expression your fork and the plate. She never smiles either. Another weird thing... they put 20% tip automatically to your bill so you have no choise in deciding how much the servers deserve. They expect the downtown Chicago price for the location in the middle of nowhere.
Ok, this second trip was not as successful as the first, so I have to downgrade it. I came in to try the spicy white tuna crunch roll, which I loved. I also got the Ten Don, which I hated. The sauce is wrong - places don't get that the suace is supposed to be liquidy and not sweet at all and you wind up with some disgusting teriyaki style goop flooding the food. Not a good time. The service is still fabulous and fast and the tea is yummy and refilled often, so I can't say I wouldn't give this another go - I may just stick with the sushi the next time around.
And, totally not their fault, but can people with obnoxious babies please realize that if your kid cannot stop shouting or banging silverware on the table or throwing his stuff on the ground, you shouldn't bring the child to a restaurant? At least remove him when he is so loud that he drowns out the waitress taking my order? And Sai, when you hav these people in the room for a while and YOU KNOW what is going on, don't seat couples trying to have a quiet dinner next to them!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/17/2009
I love you Sai Cafe - from taking my bags from me to store elesewhere when I came in loaded down… Read more »
One time my boyfriend took me here and when I jokingly asked if he knew of the place because he had taken an ex there, the answer was yes.
Well, she must have been quite the sushi lover I say, because Sai was pretty damn good.
After giving him the stink eye he deserved, we indulged in one too many rolls, which seems to be our M.O. when it comes to sushi.
Although it's not a stand out like some of the other places in the neighborhood, its a good go to joint that pleases current (amazing, beautiful, smart, wonderful) and past (whorey, I'd imagine) girlfriends alike.
Very friendly, cozy, affordable, neighborhood place with great service and a nice interior. Sushi was decent, but wouldn't make a trip out to Lincoln Park here for the Sushi, where they have a very basic sushi menu. Don't get me wrong, it was fine, and I wouldn't be able to make better Sushi at home, but it is really a good neighborhood place, like Toro.
Cute space.
With so many sushi spots in Chicago, this place can't compete with the others. Forgettable food. Good location, though.
Sai Cafe is a delicious sushi spot and I have dined here for the past 5 years. The owner also owns Hachi's Kitchen in Logans Square. The fish is flown in fresh everyday which make the sushi melt in your mouth. My favorite appetizer is the Ahi Poke and the Scallops. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The owner is absolutely wonderful and always chats with us when we dine. This is definitely my favorite sushi in Chicago. I would highly suggest everyone give it a try :)
Sushi, great. Teriyaki chicken, excellent.
I used to frequent this place before I moved here. It's just really good, fresh, well-prepared food. The service is nothing special, not bad.
If you drive, be prepared to drive in circles for a spot. Otherwise, the el is right there. Probably a better bet.
Great little sushi joint. Totally affordable, high quality sushi. The abiance was great, the service was quick and friendly. The food was excellent. The menu didn't have a tremendous amount of options, but still plent to choose from. I'd go back anytime.
Sai Cafe has reliably great sushi - especially the spicy white tuna crunch roll (my favorite). The prices and atmosphere make it a great choice for both date nights and casual spur of the moment meals during the week. It has a nice, simple decor that doesn't make you feel like you're in a trendy nightclub that also happens to serve sushi (like sushi samba, et al) Sai also has non-sushi dishes for those less adventurous eaters.
The restaurant has ample seating but on weekends, I would suggest making a reservation. On weekdays I've never had a wait for a table.
Awesome sushi. Love the hot towels they bring you when you sit down. Not sure what all the service complaints are in other reviews, but ours was great- very attentive from multiple people.
Highlight: Fashion Roll - tuna, avacado, mayo, crab, other goodness
Lowlight: Spicy White Tuna Crunch - I don't like when tuna is prepared this way in a roll (the consistency is mushy- yick!)
One word: YUMMMMMMMMM!!!
By far my favorite Chicago sushi stop, Sai always offered fresh sushi, friendly service and a comfortable decor. By far my favorite was the spicy tuna which was the closest I'd ever had to my all-time favorite sushi place in the world (yes, literally of all the places I've been in the world)-- Sushi Aki (now Yagumo Sushi, which, if you are in Van Nuys, CA, you MUST go to because its amazing, strip mall sushi at it's absolute BEST).
Worth a stop, especially after an afternoon of shopping on Armitage.
I love Sai Cafe. Its one of my neighborhood sushi joints and its a great place to order out, dine in with friends or a date. They have some good roll options and I definitely enjoy some of their appetizers especially the Ahi Poki Tuna. I even really enjoy their miso soup with lots of tofu and scallions and their Chirashi option is also delish.
For rolls, favorites for me are Volcano and some of the basics like spicy tuna, salmon avocado and yellowtail are great. The place is reasonable priced for what you get and I like the atmosphere when dining in. The staff is also super friendly and I like the sushi chefs as well when you sit at the sushi bar! Overall, I've had some great dining experiences here and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good place in the area.
One of my favorite spots. Very nice interior and equally good food.
Food is fresh and doesn't leave you feeling good even after a large meal.
Agadeshi tofu appetizer is awesome as well as the vegetable fried rice (not too heavy).
Yummy sushi! Fresh soft melting sushi.
Been coming here for several years and I enjoyed everytime.
Service is usually great, sometimes there is a wait.
Nice calm envirnment. Sushi is great!
There is street parking but hard to find, most of the time we valet.
Great local spot tucked away from the hustle and bustle. The first time I went to Sai Cafe was on a date and he couldn't have picked a better place. I couldn't believe that I had lived in the neighborhood for so long and not known about Sai.
It's very small, but quite and intimate (just the way I like it). Even though we dined on a Friday night, it was busy but never overcrowded. We sat in the back dining room area away from the front door and the kitchen which was nice.
The service was nothing special, but I rarely find the servers in sushi restaurants to be friendly. Our waters were always filled but there were quite a few times when I was looking around for our waitress when I needed a glass of wine.
We started off with the Veggie Tempura which was very good. We tried a variety of rolls. The Crazy Maki, Unagi Maki, Fashion Maki, and Negi Hamachi Maki. Of course it was too much and we had to take some home but everything was fabulous and very fresh.
I give them an A for presentation, service was a C+ at best and the food is A+ for sure. I really loved the ambiance of this cute little spot and I can't wait to take my family, being as they are avid sushi lovers.
Bottom line. Nicki says check Sai Cafe out.
No wait on a Saturday night...good service, tasty sushi. There were lots of options and everything I tasted was good. The restaurant seemed huge and the tables were nicely spaced. I'm a huge fan of having lots of space and room to talk at a restaurant. Hearing other conversations (unless they are really juicy, and even that has its limits) is one of my main irritants.
I don't know if I would go rushing back as I'd go broke pretty quickly.
OUTSTANDING food all the time, visit after visit, year after year! Keep up the good work Jim-san! And ask for Fon, she is the BEST!!!!
What a great little spot tucked away on the side! Went in and were immediately greeted and seated at the table we were eying. Even though the menu was not what I would call elaborate, what they did have was all very tasty looking on the menu and also imaginative rolls (for the price).
I had the rainbow and fashion rolls which were both melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Avacado was so fresh and ripe that the it literally was hard to tell from the texture of the tuna. Started off with the Unagi tempura, which was something I had never seen before. Very tasty! I liked the ambiance and walking in you can definitely tell that the fish is fresh from the smell (fresh sushi smell, not "sitting in a fridge for 2 days smell) and the interior both funky and inviting.
If you have a small group, I would recommend trying to get the front booths - they looked super fun!
Being Japanese I was a bit skeptical about Sai, but if they have been in business for 22 years and some chicago chefs frequent Sai, then they must be doing something right.
One thing I like about the menu is they have some conventional items as well some nontraditional items that the chef has made his own. I decided to partake in his signature dishes such as the ahi poke, toro tartare, and tora no me (baked salmon wrapped in squid). Although interesting and exciting in concept, none of these dishes really pulled me in. I have had better poke in Hawaii. The toro tartare was the standout, but I still prefer the texture of biting into a slab of toro sashimi. The "tiger eyes" was great in concept but a bit bland. I also ordered a salmon avocado maki to test out the sushi, and no doubt, it was fresh and recommendable.
Service is mixed for me. The hostess was sweet and friendly. The chef made his rounds through the dining room. The sushi chefs thanked us in unison on the way out. However, I didn't particularly care for our waitress. Her service was leaning more towards Chinatown service which was rushed with plates clanking the table. One thing she has to understand about Japanese restaurants is there is a certain delicacy, warmth, and cheerfullness. I'm not sure if Sai wants to be regarded as culturally authentic Japanese, but if they do, the waitress has to adopt certain mentality and idiocyncrasies.
The hostess gave me a 20% off appreciation card, so next time I will probably stick to the sashimi and sushi. I give 3 stars for the appetizers and 4 stars for the sushi.
It was a snowy night in December and I was on vacation. That alone put me in a great mood! (Not that Sai doesn't deserve 4 stars on it's own, but I'm just saying that it probably helped.)
My sister, cousin and I went for dinner, and it was awesome! We ordered some Kani Su, Edamame, Dragon Rolls, and some other rolls that aren't coming to mind. The sushi was fresh and delish. The Kani came in a very light dressing w/ shaved cucumbers, and was a great way to start off the meal. Add to the excellent food some sake, large Sapporos, and a super friendly waitress, and you've got an excellent reason for me to go back!
My roommate and I decided on this place for dinner solely off of Yelp reviews, and we weren't disappointed...by the end of the meal. At first we were a bit worried because our 10-15 minute wait started creeping toward 20+, but then the hostess asked if we would accept (what she considered) the worst table in the house. It was small and right by the entrance, but it wasn't that bad...we managed to fit our food and the bottle of wine we brought ($10 corking fee, FYI).
We had the edamame, miso, and three rolls: Ebi Tempura Maki, Volcano Maki and the Spicy Tuna Maki. The spicy tuna was about what you'd expect, but the other two rolls were standout. The Ebi Tempura was a giant sized roll cut into four, which are always fun to enjoy. The Volcano Maki was very tasty and covered in tempura bits, but it was a bit hard to split because the pieces came piled on each other.
Overall, the service and food were good, and the prices were much more reasonable than I expected. But a word of caution: they don't really give enough wasabi. I for one love the rush of realizing I had just put a bit too much on a piece of sushi...and the ensuing nasal explosion.
It started with soggy edamame and went downhill from there. The rolls were all kinda... well, icky. Nothing was really that great.
I can't believe I haven't been here before!!! After walking in I immediately noticed the quaint, comfortable, and intimate setting inside, such a nice contrast to the mega sushi joints that seem to be everywhere in Chicago!!
For my meal I started w/ miso soup (which btw was a bit too salty... is it really that hard to mess up miso soup!???) and threw in some maki rolls for fun, the Unagi (fresh water eel w/ cucumber), Soft shell crab (crab, avocado, mayo, fish egg, and cucumber), and the Rainbow (tuna, yellowtail, fresh salmon & avocado), with the entire meal topped off w/ a large bottle of Kirin. The food was spectacular and fish incredibly fresh! The rolls were also pretty substantial in size, I could barely finish my meal!!
One of my friends had the chillean sea bass which looked flaky and delicious. Next time I go back I definitely want to try some of the hot and cold appetizers, as well as the udon and hot entrees! As you can tell, I'll be back here in a hearbeat!
I can't believe this was the first time I had been to Sai Cafe but it probably won't be my last. This is one cute little sushi restaurant that really seems to pull in it's regulars. I could tell that the staff had a good rapport with alot of the customers that night. One table was even discussing with one of the staff about having their child's first birthday there in a few weeks. Umm...not exactly the type of place I would expect for a kids first birthday but..what do I know?
I ordered the Teriyaki Salmon which came along with a salad and Miso soup. I thought it might have been a little too hot outside to be drinking such a warm soup but mm it was good. Salty with just the perfect texture and size of tofu..yum. The Salmon was cooked perfectly and was accompanied by a bowl of white rice. As the appetizer we ordered the Hamachi Jalapeno which was the belly part of the yellowtail with a slice of jalapeno and served with soy sauce. the fish practically melted in my mouth it was so light and fresh.
I'll definitely go back but next time I might request sitting in the second room. The first room seemed to be filled with kids and on a nice Friday night out I am so not into that....okay...I'm never into that kind of scene but especially on a Friday night!
my husband and i have been eating at sai cafe for over...i dont know, like 10 years. when they first opened, they were just one small room. in the past few years, they have expanded. however, they are still quite busy. despite being busy, jim, the owner, always seems to have time to greet his customers by name. this place is cozy, friendly, and consistently delicious. its our favorite sushi place in the city of chicago and we have been just about everywhere.
cant say enough. try it out and see for yourself.
If you're looking for a "scene", techno-music pumping in the background, or hip, young, model-like disaffected servers dressed in all black - try one of the other many places in the city. Sai won't be the place for you.
But if you want quality sushi at reasonable prices and the ability to have a conversation with your dining partners without shouting - Sai is it.
Sai was the first sushi restaurant I went to when I moved to Chicago almost a decade ago. I no longer live close by and I still go there - even for take out. I've eaten at all different kinds of sushi places all over this city and hands down - Sai's sushi is still the best quality by far.
Sushi spots have been popping all over the place over the last 5 years in Chicago and Sai Cafe has definitely held its own with the competition. The sushi is fresh and the sushi chef's recommendations definitely make my mouth water. There is one thing you have to get . . . its the orgasmic Oyster Shooters. Its soooo good. I usually get two orders and just pound them as quick as they come
It's all about the spicy tuna crunch - for $7! Awhile ago my friend and I each ordered 2 rolls of the spicy white tuna crunch - psycho I know.
(Spicy White Tuna Crunch - white tuna mixed with flying fish egg, scallion, avocado, spicy sesame oil & tempura crunch)
This is honestly one of my favorite "go to" sushi spots. The sushi is fresh, tastes great, and is so reasonably priced! The service is fast and friendly. The ambiance is contemporary Asian - not old and dingy.
For the record, yes, I have had other rolls; Dragon and Rainbow Makis are also delicious.
Love this place.
This might be the best Japanese restaurant in Chicagoland.
(Beats Japonais, and oh, definitely Kaze, hands down)
I stumbled upon it walking in our new neighborhood and walked right into the freshest sushi that could possibly be found in these parts of America.
Owners are Taiwanese-Korean who have a loyal set of customers they know by name, and have been running Sai FOR 22 YEARS.
The fact that people keep coming back says a whole lot about this place.
Me? I'm at my 3rd time, and counting.
Best bets are:
1. Toro Tartar (orgasmic!)
2. Salmon & Hamachi sashimi (if you are adventurous, ask what they have really fresh)
3. Sukiyaki (The only place in Chicago I've found that serves this- a sweet Japanese beef noodle soup that hits the spot in winter)
Tip: Sit by the sushi bar if its your first time and you just might get unexpected treats (freshly grated wasabi, anyone?)
This is a very solid Japanese restaurant serving good quality fish. If you are into fancy rolls, you have plenty to choose from. Personally, I think their nigiris are not always so consistent: we had quite a few instances of "fallen fish" when the plates arrived.
They do have a fantastic selection of sashimi; top notch. I noticed they do not have as many variety of raw fish selection as Mirai, but they certainly suffice.
Get to know your sushi chef and sit at the sushi bar. order some sake and send it back to the kitchen to make some friends.
Wow. How did it take me so long to get here? I was blown away by how fantastic the soft shell crab maki was -- insane! I can't wait to go back and try out more of their menu. I was a big fan of their Halloween specialty maki as well. A great place to take a date or small group of friends.
The presentation and service was stellar on top of everything else.
I think I can.... I think I can... I think I can.... (keep a review short and sweet that is). Let's see shall we?** ***
So Sai Cafe was one of the first sushi joints I ever tried in Chicago. I lived down the street, it was convenient and the sushi was surprisingly good. You'd never know it from the interior since it hasn't been updated since the early 90's. But the Halloween maki rocks, the Baby Salmon Sashimi is melt-in-your-mouth good and the Kani-su with huge real alaskan king crab is ahhmazing!
Confucius Say: good fresh sushi in ugly surroundings much better than bad sushi on fancy lucite stool.
**Ok, so I would have left my review at that and amply succeeded with my goal but a quick peek at their website has left me thinking they may have undergone a renovation recently since it doesn't look the same old Sai Cafe. Pretty back-lighting and geometric ceiling decor. Huh?? They are also touting a new location in Logan Square called Hachi's Kitchen which must have shiny new interiors since its, well, new. So maybe those are the pics I saw. I will research and update, but in the meantime you still won't go wrong with their sushi offerings so give it a try.
***I'm a complete failure.


