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Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
Neighborhood: Lincoln ParkTue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
"I went here here for the first time with regulars. This sushi was SO good-- fresh and of good quality. The spicy mayonnaise was a…" read more »
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At long last I was able to try Toro Sushi and see what the fuss is all about..
Went with my roomies after a nice long morning of moving stuff and sat down at the bar.. As we sat down Mitch (owner/chef) asked if we've been there before and names. He also, gave each of us fist bumps and even blew up his last fist bump with the last roomie.. Really cool guy!!
Mitch gave us plenty of suggestions for sushi and cracked a ton of jokes.. Being a good sushi chef isn't all about the knifework although he does a fine job with that.. It's about how they can interact with the customers.. Mitch did that brilliantly even giving my roommate advice for his upcoming marriage..
The waitresses themselves were very much like ninja serving us the tofu and refilling our waters without us realizing what was happening.. Then again, Mitch was quite entertaining!
As for the food.. well, you can't just get 5 stars on service alone! Here's what we got:
AgeDashi Tofu - A gift to us from Mitch.. Really good broth. It was the second time I've had this and this was just phenomenal. The tofu had a almost gelatinous coating to it.. Soo delicious..
Kamikaze Roll - Jeebus.. All of us thought this was by far the standout item.. Really good spicy mayo with all the fish.. What made it so special though was the sunflower seeds.. The crunch and flavor of the sunflower seeds matched perfectly.. Genius I say!
Oh My God and 'O' Roll - Two customer favorites per Mitch.. These were really good as well. They weren't standouts however.
Saba/Superwhite Tuna/Salmon/Yellowtail Sashimi - This was where we could really see the freshness and quality of his fish. He has fish delivered 2-3 times a week and you can readily see that this is really premium stuff! What stood out for us was the saba. It was by far the best saba I've had and I get this everywhere! Even a roommate said this was excellent and he usually doesn't like mackeral! Really, all the pieces of fish were really good though!
Hopefully, I'll be able to make it over again sometime soon.. As Derrick T. said in his review, Mitch made 3 customers for life.. Soooo good!!!
Things to look for when sitting at the sushi counter:
Friendly sushi chef who banters, jokes, and tells stories. Check.
Sushi chef who makes suggestions and gets to know you as a customer. Check.
Excellent quality nigiri sushi/sashimi pieces. Check.
Innovative rolls that awaken the palate from all you've had before. Check.
Mitch does a phenomenal job of making Toro Sushi by far one of the best places I've had sushi, not only in quality of the fish, but also in quality of the experience. The excellent wait staff move like ninja's and take care of your every need while Mitch entertains you as you eat. We had a variety of items including AgeDashi Tofu, O Roll, Oh My God Roll, Kamikaze Roll, Hamachi, Maguro, Saba, Sake, and Escolar.
Standouts were:
AgeDashi Tofu - Superbly flavorful broth, with a nice coating to the tofu. Delish appetizer.
Kamikaze Roll - The spicy mayo was mixed expertly, but what really stood out was addition of sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds you say? The additional texture tied to the well managed flavor of the roll creates an eye opening experience you'll unlikely forget.
Saba - I'm not a huge fan of mackerel overall (reminds me a bit of the fishoil supplements I took as a kid) however it seems I just haven't had good saba until now. This was the best saba I've ever had. Period.
Verdict: We were lucky enough to walk right in and have seats, so I can't comment on those who had to wait significantly to get access to star treatment and high quality food. My experience was wonderful through and through. And while the rolls are about evenly priced with most other places, the nigiri and sashimi are priced in 2's and 3's (as in $5 for two pieces of nigiri salmon or three pieces of sashimi salmon, your choice) so keep it in mind when placing your orders. It's a much better deal than I had originally imagined.
Keep up the phenomenal work Chef Mitch, and thank you for the excellent experience. You've made three customers for life. Have a great Thanksgiving on the west coast!
Extra note: Chef Mitch prepares a non-raw fun version of sushi for kids, as there is no kids menu. It's pretty neat!
I cannot get enough of this place! In my humble opinion Mitch and Toro set the bar for good sushi in Chicago. Everything is always fresh, tasty, and leaves everyone completely satisfied. The staff is super friendly, and the cozy setting is great for dinner with friends.
I don't know if it's the recession or what, but I like that the wait has been reduced lately, but that can also be due to the new restriction on 1 bottle of wine per 2 people. I've bitched about BYO restrictions at sushi places before, but I'm not going to bitch this time since it gets this amazing sushi to my mouth faster. Stop thinking about good sushi places and just go here, you will not be disappointed.
Amazing sushi, some of the best I've ever had in Chicago. Very fresh, the chefs have interesting… Read more »
Although there is always a long wait to dine here, this is my friends and my go-to Japanese restaurant in the city. We usually come in hand with a bottle or two of some wine. There is a good variety of make rolls. . . all of which are pretty tasty and reasonably-priced. If only they expanded the restaurant to make it less cramped!
Went at 5:15pm on a Thursday night. It was basically empty. They were playing reggae music. Nice.
I like that is a BYOB, though I forgot to bring the B. Small place, but good atmosphere. A lot of locals chatting it up with the sushi chef makes it seems like the 'cheers' of sushi bars. Feeling good.
We ordered miso soup. It came out quickly. It was really good, if not slightly saltier than miso at some other places. But good. We ordered a few rolls and waited maybe 10-15 minutes before the food came. And when it did - woah. The first thing I thought was 'is there any rice under that fish?' The nigiri servings were generous (and 2 for $5 for the salmon. Awesome.) Fish quality was melt-in-your-mouth good. Every nigiri bite I had (unagi, hamachi, sake) had some fish left over that I had to take a second bite for. And the important thing was that I wanted to take the second bite. Really good quality.
We ordered the 'oh my god' roll which I wasn't 100% sure about when ordering, but it ended up being really delicious. There was a 'red' something roll (red dragon?) that was like spicy tuna with more added, and that was good as well. And some other shrimp tempura roll that was good. I don't recall - we ordered three rolls and three nigiri and couldn't finish it all. Very generous portions, and you can't argue with the prices. I think we paid maybe $55 total.
I really like this place and will be returning again and again. Oh, and stop by Molly's cupcakes a couple of doors down. Delicious way to end the evening.
Remember BYOB! And parking gets tougher as the night goes on, though it was no problem at 5pm. It's really a headache. Take the bus if you can.
The standard by which sushi should be measured. By far the best sushi in Chicago. Mitch, the owner, is always behind the bar and is a master of his craft. Every roll I've had has been stellar. It is reasonably priced and BYOB, a winning combination. Be prepared to have a bit of a wait, but there a lot of bars to chill at and the hostess will call you when your table is available. This is a great spot to bring the girlfriend, not so much of a place to bring a group because of the small space.
Overall I couldn't recommend it more. I feel like whenever we go to another sushi place I leave wondering, "why didn't we go to Toro?"
Good stuff! I made an impromptu visit to Toro, and happened to be with a regular (she even has her own set of real chopsticks there!) who was able to phone ahead to get a table for us. I feel incredibly fortunate that I was with her, because it was packed when we walked in, with people at the door, but we were seated immediately. I'm sure this will NEVER happen to me again! People are right, the place is really small, I would hesitate going with more than 3 other people, there just aren't enough tables.
On to the sushi - really tasty rolls! We shared four rolls between the four of us, plus the soft shell crab and tempura ice cream. The Chad was my favorite roll, with the Oh My God coming in a close second. The Sunny (I think that was the name of it, it had mango on top) and the "O" were also really good. Everything was so fresh, and there are so many choices!! I would love to go back and try some more, as well as order some of the same. Now only if I can figure out when they aren't slammed with customers...
Went back here two weeks ago when Mitch (the owner) had said they were getting an order of toro in. Obviously toro is an expensive fish, but definitely worth the money, was amazing.
The rest of the food is amazing as usual and I love the people there. I'd say I've been there about six times since and am planning to go again next week!
Best sushi in Chicago!
I had been waiting to go to this place for nearly 8 months. There's always a long wait and never had… Read more »
From here on out, every piece of sushi I ever eat will be compared to the sushi at Toro. This place is absolutely wonderful, and it's pretty evident from all the positive reviews it has gotten from the people of Yelp-land. Simply put, Toro=instant euphoria.
I highly discourage people from coming here because it's creating a longer wait time between me and my beloved sushi. Stay away.
PS: I love Mitch. Thanks for the free sashimi!
::Fist bump/tickle::
Toro is my favorite dinner spot whether it be with friends or the bf. This place never fails to provide a great meal and Mitch always treats everyone so well.
As for the wait....think of this place as the Hot Doug's or Kumas of sushi. Except, they actually take your number and call you when your table is ready!
They have a new liquor policy that limits the tables to a bottle of wine or 6-pack per 2 people which should help lessen the wait. It's a mom and pop business trying to do their thing, so please understand. One time there was a couple who sat at their table an hour after they had paid out. They're lucky I was already in the restaurant eating and not on the wait list.
Their salmon sashimi or nigiri is to die for! It's like butter in your mouth.
I would recommend sitting at the bar because it's first come first serve. I normally prefer tables and it took me about 5 visits until a friend convinced me to try it out. It's whole new experience because Mitch really takes the time to chat with his patrons despite the chaos of trying to whip out a gazillion rolls. He'll usually throw in some free pieces of fish too!
Hands down best sushi at the lowest prices! BYOB too!
1st timers- read the reviews and be forewarned…
Read more »
Oh my love for Toro. Definitely my favorite sushi place in Chicago.
I've eaten at Toro many many times (I used to live in the neighborhood) and have always been very satisfied. The fish is super fresh - if you like nigiri or sashimi, you can't miss Toro. There are also many great options if you like rolls - try the "O" -- its worth your time. Also, Mitch is super nice and often gives samples of fish or new rolls he is developing if you sit at the bar. And you can't beat Byob with no corkage fee... its nice that there is a liquor store across the street too.
So...
Pros:
-Really fresh fish
-Creative rolls
-Byob with no corkage fee
Cons:
-Small restaurant which can have a long wait - but you can leave your phone number and they will call you
So I have to give Toro 5 stars... the food is too good for any less. And now I'm hungry.
Size doesn't matter - well size of the restaurant. In response to everyone else who keeps bringing up the size of the restaurant: There are so many fantastic restaurants throughout Chicago that have a smaller space (see my other reviews of Adesso and Sapori Trattoria). It doesn't make the waiters less friendly, the service less prompt nor does it make the food taste any less delicious. Unless you are looking to book a table of 10 or so, you shouldn't make size one of your overall factors to go to a restaurant, that is, otherwise fantastic.
I went here with a group of six friends taking advantage of the BYOB without the corkage fee (gotta love that!) and we were able to sit comfortably after a short wait. I also love the tickets they give you so that you can just check mark the sushi you want for the all-you-can eat.
I only wish they had more specific descriptions of the types of sushi on the ticket. What I also liked about the place is that I didn't feel rushed at all even though they were fairly busy. Sushi was great, came out earlier than we expected and we had a great time.
Hands down one of my favorite sushi places in the city. Everything on the menu is so unique! It sucks you usually have to wait about an hour or longer but it's worth it every time!
If you have a party over 4 people, just DON'T go here. It's rude and obnoxious... the place isn't built for large parties!
BYOB-- heaven! Be aware you can only have one bottle of wine per couple or one 6 back per couple. This is a new rule they are enforcing to get people in and out... event hough I can clearly handle more than 2 glasses of wine, it's a great idea to keep things moving!
Get creative and order something out of your element; you'll probably surprise yourself! It's a great place for sushi starters as well.
Coming up to this place I saw five sushi places. This density and diversity of sushi and other ethnic eateries along Clark Street reminded me of districts in many college towns that I've been to around the country. This vibe is strengthened by the presence of a limited ethnic diversity of the patrons enjoying the restaurants. If anything, for tourists this means that you'll be safe on Clark Street and you'll be able to catch a cab very easily.
When we got into Toro it was right about 5pm and the place was empty. Strangely, I enjoyed how the reggae music that they play went with the sushi to create a really relaxed atmosphere. We ordered a Rainbow Roll, Yum Yum Yummy Roll, White Crunch Roll (can't recall the proper name) and we got a complimentary bowl of the tofu miso soup. The flavor was fine, but coming from California I am accustomed to having larger portioned rolls. Perhaps fresh fish is more affordable and available, but our rolls here were exactly half the CA size. While I was full after the meal, my companion was still famished.
Toro's sushi was delicious, nicely composed, visually pleasing and had a super atmosphere to go along with it. Unfortunately, their portion sizes left us seeking out more food down the street. Actually, maybe it isn't such a bad thing... you'll have room for dessert. Get some cupcakes three doors down.
Finally made it to Toro..and without a wait! I finally got to see what the hubbub was about.
For starters, the nigiri sushi is Grrrrrrrrrrreat. The nigiri pieces were sliced almost as large as Sushi Bistro (think, iPhone commercial) in SF, but I dare say they were tastier. They were served chilled, not at room temperature (critical on my list). And they were cheap...mostly $5 for two pieces (I think their menu pricing needs some updating) - I had the hamachi, salmon, and escolar. $6 for amaebi, but (again, critical) served with fried shrimp head. Not sure why unagi was priced a bit more though. Uni is reasonable at $8/2 pcs though I did not sample. Only complaint is that fish was not served with wasabi already on the rice, though the rice was nicely sized as well.
The rolls menu was long (in alphabetical order!) and really offered something for everyone...from those odd people who like cream cheese with their fish, to lots of jalapeno (ew) options, tempura-based, and spicy options. We had the red dragon, kamikaze, super white crunch, and spicy scallop rolls. The spicy scallop was pretty underwhelming, but the rest were excellent. I particularly like the fine tempura flakes on the super white crunch, which were done delicately and not clumsy and huge. I must have mixed up too many spicy choices though b/c by the end my mouth was semi on fire and I wasn't getting the full flavor of fish.
So all these good things, but why no 5 star? I think our waitress was busy on her iPhone at times and forgot to refill our tea after being asked. And when we finished, there was a sense of wanting to herd us out for the next customers in line....factory processing. "Would you like some dessert or just the check" doesn't really present an intimate environment to enjoy a meal. But, the sushi is good...though not so good and not nearly cheap enough that I'd want to wait an hour.
Every trip I make to Chicago I try to seek out unique restaurants with upstanding food. Sometimes I am successful and others I am a bit disappointed. After four days of trying new restaurants around the city and being underwhelmed, I was seriously doubting Chicago's ability to serve up a delicious dinner. Thankfully, Toro changed my mind.
Toro has an infamous wait due to their small space, but their food and friendly manner more than makes up for it! The menu is huge and there is a roll for everyone. Tons of appetizers, maki, nigiri and sashimi.
The super white crunch roll looked delicious and I especially appreciated their more than ample vegetarian section. I tried the eggplant, broccoli and shiitake rolls. All were great.
Great prices, good sushi and it's BYOB.
BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO--and top 5 ever.
I am from Cali, and sushi in Chicago is mehhh, until I came here.
The rolls are innovative and HUGE. There is tons of fresh fish. Great portions. FRESH FRESH FRESH. Delicious sauces. And they have the regular stuff, too. The prices are normal--not bad. We had 3 huge rolls and edamame and paid less than $50--not to mention, we were stuffed! (that's me, an eater, 5 '8 girl and my 6 '1 boyfriend... so ya. FILLING)
Anyway, if you are wanting sushi, or something new, you HAVE to try this place! You will love it.
DON'T GO HUNGRY. There is always a wait. So go like 30 mins before you wanna eat.
and it's BYOB.
We ordered the OMGRoll, and it was yum. (I didn't think amazing, but my boyfriend loved it. It had cream cheese, and I don't like cream cheese in rolls... I like more of the raw stuff). The "O" roll is SPECTACULAR.
Needless to say, we are going back!
YOU HAVE TO GO! Enjoy!
By far my favorite sushi place in the entire city. Everything I have had there has been amazing. My favorite being the Big Ten (but it changes after every visit). The only down-fall being that it is hit or miss with a wait time. One Thursday night I went we waited for over an hour at a nearby bar. The nice part being they take your cell phone number and call you so you don't have to stand around waiting. Another night I went we sat right down...so I guess you just have to be hopeful. Definately do not come here with a big group, its a tiny hole in the wall place but that just adds to the charm. It is a perfect date place. No matter what the wait though it is completely worth it. And the cherry on top is that its BYOB and nothing beats a delicious BYOB sushi resturant.
This place is fantastic. I eat sushi a lot and I love love love this place. The Oh My God roll is amazing. The owner is super friendly too.
I'm taking off a star because everytime I go I have to wait to be seated. I know there are a lot of places to go around the area while you wait, but I wish the place was a bit bigger.
Overall, this place is outstanding.
Toro was recommended by a friend of mine, so I was very excited to try it out. The fish was fresh, and the rolls were decent. However, I will not be coming back. The waiter did not make me feel welcome.
The restaurant is small, so there is always a wait. However, we got there pretty early on a Tuesday night, so we got a table for three right away. One of our girlfriends was running late, but we still ordered appetizers and sashimi while we were waiting. However, the waiter still treated us like we were a nuisance, asking when our third person was arriving, continually asking if we were planning on ordering more rolls - I'm guessing he was stressed out because people were waiting for tables and he wanted to turn the table for a new party. But I'm sorry, if you make the choice to seat us even if our party is incomplete, then that's your mistake, and you need to treat us like guests. We were friends who hadn't seen each other in a year, we wanted a nice dinner, and instead we got bad service. There are plenty of good sushi restaurants in the city. I recommend Tanoshi's in Andersonville and Kaze in Roscoe Village. Toro's is too small and too overwhelmed to treat their clients well.
On a side-note, there was a waitress there who was very attentive and much nicer than the waiter. She filled my tea-cup when it had been left standing empty for fifteen minutes, and she got us new ginger and wasabi right away, as well as my appetizer, which took too long to get to the table. Kudos to her.
OH. MY. GODZILLA ROLL.
Toro is fantastic. I'm currently on the Jeremy Piven diet and make sure to eat sushi as much as humanly possible. Unfortunately this doesn't get me out of my job like it does the Piv. Whatevs.
Toro sushi is always fresh and presented nicely. While the wait is a bit annoying (seriously, just expand already!), I like to think that the longer I wait, the hungrier I'll get, and the more rolls I'll get to try. Isn't that a healthy way of thinking?
I've never been dissapointed by what I've ordered like in other sushi restaurants where one maki roll can be a hit while the next a severe miss. And for my "friend" that is a complete lush, BYOB makes this place an even bigger winner.
SPICY. TUNA. HAND. ROLLS.
enough said.
I am a Toro believer. I was a faithful Butterfly girl and will always have a place for them in my heart but holy hell is Toro good. And its pretty darn easy to get to. Sorry Butterfly! But Lakeview isn't as close to you as Toro. And they are BYOB! That in itself earns a star. The sushi is simply amazing. And very reasonably priced. For two of us and three rolls it was a total of $25. Can't beat that. Nor the fact that we got a taste of free sashimi on the side! Its a little crowded in there or maybe it just seems that way because they are always packed for the amazing food. And because it really is that small. And one other downside to this place is that there are no reservations. =( However, even that wouldn't stop me from coming back. What can I say? I've been converted.
The fish is very good quality (for Chicago that is) and the preparation is top notch. However, I feel there are a lot of sushi places of similar caliber in the area. Why so much hype for this one place?
I have tried to get into Toro four times now. This, my fourth visit, was the first time they ever accepted me. The other three times I went between 7 and 8 on a week night and they had such a huge line that they were no longer taking names. How exactly does that happen three times in a row? The place is tiny, so I understand why. What I don't get is why there is such a hype over this place that it generates a line like that every single night. If anything, the line is a huge turn-off. Seriously, there are plenty of other sushi places around that are just as good.
I will say their selection of rolls is quite lengthy and they have a lot of complex rolls. If you like just shashimi this place will not disappoint either. Prices are also very reasonable considering the quality of fish.
In summary, a great sushi joint that I would love to patronize again but I refuse to wait in that ridiculous line. I will be going elsewhere where I can eat just as well and get seated immediately. Toro, if you open a larger restaurant I will give you five stars.
If you have another sushi place within walking distance that you like-save your bus fare-if not, it's worth the bus fare.
My husband and I decided to try Toro Sushi because we wanted to see if Toro Sushi was all that people say it is and whether or not we enjoy this sushi better than Oysy Sushi in River North...We prefer Oysy.
Pluses:
If you sit at the bar you might get to try some fish for free.
The Maki rolls we tried-avocado, shiitake, and california were all great.
You can BYOB
If you sit at the bar you can watch them put your sushi together.
You put your name on a list and they will call your cell when your "table" is ready.
Minuses:
There was a 45-60 minute wait at 7:45 PM on Saturday and when we did get a place it was at the bar (we did prefer a table).
The maki rolls were smaller than we're used to.
They only give you about 5 pieces of ginger and we got all three roles at once (18 pcs)!
The wasabi was not very hot at all which makes us think it wasn't that fresh.
So-overall it's good tasting but these minuses were why I gave it a "3."
Hmm a place named Toro that doesn't sell toro ...
Anyways, besides the fact that it didn't sell what its name claimed, the sushi was very good, very fresh - prob some of the best sushi I've had in a while. There was quite a wait though, but you can just jot down your name and number on the list and they'll call you when a table is ready. How awesome is that? No crowding in the doorway and making people uncomfortable as you drool over their food.
I'm taking away 1 star though because the Uni tasted off - not too fresh.
Buy a magazine, put your name on the list, then head across the street to Starbucks' outdoor seating and sip a latte while you wait.
This is a nice place to get sushi. My g/f loves sushi and she took me here. It gets busy fast so you have to get there when it opens if you want to get seated right away. I enjoyed their vegetable dumplings for an appetizer then I really liked the spider roll I had. I will definitely return here and try some other rolls on there large menu.
Ugh. Yum. So freaking delish. Too bad I live 2,000 miles away... :(
Worth the wait, if you have the time... esp. considering the wealth of nearby options to have a drink. Although the 1-hr quoted waited turned out to be more like 1hr30min, we weren't too concerned as we passed the time at nearby DOC (for wine) and a corner store (purchasing our wine for din). :)
We tried five rolls. The "Oh My God" was our fav.
Atmosphere is young and lively. I didn't see a table in there that hadn't brought their own wine (though saw a surprising number of people drinking red... w/ sushi[??]). And the wine was most certainly kicking in at most tables...
If there wasn't a guaranteed wait and we hadn't been less-than-blown-away by our final roll selection (the Big 10), I'd give it five stars. Regardless, I love it and recommend it and would go back if I lived in the CHI.
And finally, BYOB + No Corkage = Amazing.
I live pretty close to Toro and everytime I walk by at night, this place is ALWAYS packed to the max! Luckily, since I do live pretty close, I found out that lunch time is the perfect place to go. There is usually no line and they have great lunch specials! My brother and I went together and ordered each a sushi combo. The lunch combo gives you a pretty decent amount of food! It includes three pieces of nigiri, 6 small pieces of sashimi, and a california roll. The lunch combo also comes with soup and a salad. Toro's fish is always fresh, I loved the tuna sashimi, it was fatty and juicy, just the way I like my sashimi tuna! I am not usually a big fan of the california rolls with fake crab meat but Toro manages to pull it off. They add a pankocrust to the roll, and also drizzles some of that yummy bbq sauce on it so it gives it a bit of a different spin on california rolls. We also ordered the soft cell crab appetizer which came hot and crispy and was delightful! It was drizzled with the bbq eel sauce so it was a little sweet, which worked to offset the crispy fried taste of the battered soft shell crab. It was a little too sweet for my brother's liking but I thought it was yummy :) Lunch at Toro is a great deal and is fast becoming one of my favorite lunch places! Now..if only I can get it to check out their menu at dinner without having to wait!
My love affair with sushi started in Bloomington, IN, as a freshman at IU. From that point on, I have been on a crusade to find the holy grail of sushi rolls. My quest has made stops across the Midwest (where it all began), East Coast (NYC and Jersey), and Europe (Seville, Spain). That said, I am by no means a sushi expert or snob; I simply like the stuff. I celebrate most big events with some sushi and sake.
When looking for a sushi joint too break in my 27th year, a friend recommended Toro. To cut to the chase, I have to say, Toro's rolls were amongst the best I've ever consumed. You must try the "O."
The atmosphere is perfect: no frills decor and tight seating. A genuine mom-and-pop feel. No bells and whistles, the emphasis is on the food. The only drawback is the limited seating. I went on a Tuesday at 6:30pm and waited until after 8:00pm for a 4-top table. Go expecting at least an hour and half wait. Also, you will be seated much faster if you are rolling two or less. Enjoy.
I ate last night there...i had to wait for half hour until i seat. The food and service was very good. The price was reasonable. The atmosphere was noisy and the lights were too high for a restaurant...i liked the BYOB.
Went here for lunch awhile back. I actually really liked this place. I had like a bento box. It was super cheap, the restaurant was jammed for lunch on a Sat. I would definitely go back. The fish was fresh and I saw a sign that said BYOB. I wanna try it out for dinner sometime. Cute, cheap, yummy sushi
Hands down the best sushi in Chicago.
I feel like by writing this review I am contributing to two things:
1. success of the business
2. longer lines
But I am going to suck it up and let you all know how great it is. I am super picky when it comes to sushi. They give large portions of fresh sushi without sacrificing on quality. I often find that when you find a restaurant that gives large quantities, the food is bland or lacks quality. This restaurant finds a way to provide deliciously prepared sushi and still keeps the price reasonable. They didn't mess up the order, and the manager even came over to ask how everything was. My only complaint is that the seating is a little cramped but one can expect this once a restaurant is so popular. I will come back, again and again!
I've heard all the hype about this place and decided to take a chance on the little, unassuming storefront sushi place on Clark....
We were SO sold on this place! The portions are beyond generous and filled with FRESH and tasty ingredients. My date had the Oh roll, and I had the Philadelphia. Mitch also gave us free slices of bluefin with queso fresco on top....fantastic!
We were super lucky because we got there RIGHT before the crowd started lining up outside. The service, despite the crush, was still friendly and chill. The vibe is very casual. It can get a little loud in there (side effect of BYOB in Lincoln Park, for sure), but who cares? With fish this good, it's a tiny price to pay.
BEST SUSHI EVER... annnnd it's BYOB!
Coming from Southern California, where we don't have the luxury of BYOB restaurants, that alone made this place amazing. Sure, we had to wait like an hour and a half, but it made us hungry, and even more satisfied when we finally did get to eat.
This sushi is amazing. So fresh and so clean, clean. The specialty rolls are to die for. I mean OMG is exactly what came out of my mouth when I ate my first piece of the Oh My God roll. YUMMMMMM....
So yah, bring your fav bottles of white wine, yes, they give you a wine opener to open them, and chill for a bit while you wait for the best sushi of your life, thus far.
I know this place has a zillion reviews that all pretty much say the same thing. Let me tell you something new.
The rolls all tasted the same. Their fish was super fresh, so I would suggest sticking nigiri.
Not much to say that hasn't already been said...but be prepared to wait - you put your name in and they'll call you when your table is ready, usually about an hour or so later.
It's BYOB and doesn't have a corkage fee.
I don't eat sushi (my boyfriend raves about it though), but I had the beef teriyaki and it was delicious. The dinners come with soup (w/tofu), rice and salad, enough to fill me up! And the price is just right. I'll definitely be back sometime soon.
I used to like sushi only a few times a year. Until I tried Toro. I began to dream about their rolls, crave the fresh fish...and that's when I knew I was hooked.
This is the best sushi restaurant in the city. Yes, I know you wait a long time to get a table. But it's totally worth the wait. I haven't tried take out yet...because they won't let you take the menu. Apparently other sushi places have tried to steal their unique combinations. Which to me means Toro knows what they're doing.
So get there early, put your name in for a table, then and head over to Duke's or Wine DOC for a drink or two. And get ready for the best sushi in town.
Trying their sushi for the first time should induce a similar reaction to Homer Simpson's first sight of the Gummy De Milo:
http://www.hulu.com/wa...
So fresh, SO GOOD, and so reasonably priced. Best sushi I have ever had. You'll have to wait for about an hour, but their system of calling when your table is ready works out very well. You can hang out at Dunlays or DOC and have a drink while you wait.
Mitch is a fantastic chef and an awesome person in general. He makes sure everyone feels welcome, even when he is super busy. He cares a ton about quality and it definitely shows! Someone asked him where to leave a cash tip and he pointed to a Children's Hospital donation jar. Like I said... really great guy.
Great food, great owner... enough said.
15% off anytime for students
Neighborhood: University Village
wednesday and thursday…
Chicago, IL
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Sushi Bars
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