Overall, while the food was above average in terms of quality and portion size - my main concern when dining out - the lackluster drinks and poor service left me unlikely to dine here again. If I do, I will possibly order carry out but there are so many good thai places around that it doesn't seem likely. They have a BYOB sign out front, but charge a corkage fee. They have drinks specials for five dollar mimosas, which we opted for since the place wasn't truly BYOB. Unsurprisingly, they were extremely weak. Finally, the reason this place loses out is the awful service. After I tried to pay - and hopefully take my date home, something I was pretty eager to do - the wait staff made me wait FORTY FIVE MINUTES to take my check. I mean, there's only so much post-dinner conversation I can make. The restaurant had three or four waitresses; and just as many parties, so there was no dinner rush. I found that completely inexcusable. read more

This is a very fancy sushi place that I live next to. My fiance loves the food. I recommend all the sushi dishes and the yellow curry. It's a little crowded in this place because it's small but the food will make you come back every time. Great place for a date or a couple. Not the best for a large group of people. It's one of the better places to eat at in Edgewater read more

Indie Cafe - This is their Japanese salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Indie hands down cooks up the the best green and panang curry in the city. The sushi is not too shabby either but the real reason to go is for the curry. I lived in the neighborhood and my wife and I would eat and indie once a week. It's very affordable, BYOB, great service and they deliver too if you don't feel like leaving the house! read more

This is one of my favorite places to go with my husband ... I love sushi and curries. However my husband does not enjoy sushi. -sigh- You can get a big variety of yummy rolls for good prices. And the thai food is good as well. Ask about any specials because last time we were there John got one of the best Thai curry dishes I've ever tasted. Service is okay. Nice but nothing outstanding. Call for a reservation just to be safe. read more

I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. Did both dine in and delivery, delivery took 1 hour as promised, restaurant service was good, the only upsetting thing was that their gluten free soy sauce tasted off as it was rotten and the bottle was dirty. Other than that, they have great vegetarian maki rolls selection! I've tried the avocado cucumber, shiitake, spinach w/BBQ sauce and the pickled radish and they all were great, fresh and tasty! My sister had their white fish in curry sauce and she wasn't impressed, the dish was kinda pricey too/$18, I say don't get it, not worth the money. Maki rolls prices are reasonable though. read more

I came here with a friend (and an admitted fan) so I had high hopes for the food, and the lunch special did not disappoint. First, it's an adorable cozy little spot with nice wooden chopsticks (not crappy break-apart), friendly service, and a fab lunch special. For approx $11 total (including tip) I got an entree, 3 crab rangoons, miso soup, and a drink. I had the drunken noodles which were not too greasy, full of fresh veggies, and the perfect amount of spice for my wussy palette. The rangoons were perfect 2-bites with a yummy sauce and the miso will be a favorite come cold weather. My only complaint is that the service was a little lacking. Friendly yes, but our empty drinks were never re-filled, nor were we asked if we would like re-fills (which was odd considering how often they re-filled the water... maybe I should be more proactive in my iced tea re-fill requests). Other than that, it was a great lunch and I will def be back. read more

I work steps away from Indie and it's always my first choice for lunch! I love the spring rolls, crab rangoon, miso soup, fried rice, seaweed salad... The Santa Fe roll is my favorite of the less expensive sushi items. The lunch specials are great and reasonably priced. The staff is wonderful and sweet. They remember me by name and there's never a wait. I have yet to actually dine-in yet, but I'm looking forward to sipping drinks and eating some of my favorite food among the fabulous artwork and relaxed atmosphere of the place. Love it! read more

I've been twice now. First time, strictly adhering to nothing from the japanese menu. It was really good. A highly enjoyable, low key Friday night after a long week. The soft shell crab was brilliant. Two bottles of wine were consumed so I don't really recall EXACTLY what we ate but, it was all very good. Service was friendly, relaxed and everything was well timed. Total bill = $35 [which induced a healthy amount of questions but, it was correct] The second time, the entire menu was fair game and the sushi won the day. Of course we did go back to the soft shell crab appetizer. All lovely. Total bill was about $55 this time round which was more than reasonable for the amount of food....and prolly quite cheap for the taste / quality. read more

Went back here to crave my sushi needs! Ordered the following... 1. White Scorpian - YUMMY!!! It's pricey at $14 a roll, but it's def. the most tasty roll we ate tonight. 2. Spicy sake - ehh.. wasn't spicy at all, plus small pieces of salmon inside. 3. Crazy chicago - once again ehhh.. nothing special. Has cucumber, salmon, and tuna; but once placed in your mouth, nothing stands out. 4. Monte Carlo - The white fish, which didn't seem to be cut correctly (it was big chunks vs. nice tender slices) was kinda hard. Plus the salmon piece inside was tiny! For the price ($12), I would not get again. 5. 2 orders of Sake sashimi - good, big, and nicely cut. Total bill with tip was around $65 for two people. Unfortunately, this is the best place between 4800 N to 5800 N compared to Agami and dib. read more

Immediately after stepping out from the Thorndale red line station, your olfactory organs are filled with something amazing. If you continue walking west on Thorndale and then north on Broadway, you can follow that smell straight to the doors of Indie Cafe. One day after work, i had enough--I walked the extra block to my house, grabbed my fiancé and came right back for dinner. Because its a Thai restaurant, I am hesitant to try their Japanese dishes. However, their spicy basil fried rice is my favorite dish. Not only is it tasty, but it will clear your sinuses. The fiancé is a fan of the tempura sushi which he orders every time. After every meal, be sure to order their mochi ice cream in mango or strawberry. They can get crazy busy during dinner time on the weekends so be sure to call ahead and make a reservation. read more

Love love love. They have interesting veggie sushi, which is rare in my experience. I used to get excited and think it was exotic when a restaurant had an asparagus roll. Now, I look at those menus disdainfully while thinking about Indie's mango-avocado-cucumber roll and the veggie tempura roll. I order the same thing every time (mango-avo-q roll and v-tempura) and it's delicious. Service is iffy - sometimes it's great, sometimes it's slow. But the sushi is so good that I don't complain. read more

i say goddamn! when it comes to sushi rolls, indie does 'em all the best. philly, dragon, spider, etc., etc., etc. yum, yum, yum. i have a hard time not getting sushi when we go here. but i love it when my friends order thai cuz then i get to sample it. :) and lo and behold, indie makes my favorite sushi AND my favorite thai. in all the land. just a few days after our delightful, relaxed, family-style nye dinner (which included an abundance of appetizers, wine, sushi, thai, AND desserts, all for the low-low price of $35 pp), i was having some serious cravings. give me an exact repeat of that entire meal, please. i can now add the following to the list of the best things i have ever eaten: chicken satay basil chicken drunken noodles panang curry dragon ball z dessert (battered & fried ball of green tea ice cream with raspberry stuff drizzled on top) and of course we had the usual crab rangoon and variety of sushi rolls, which were as succulent as ever. swoon. read more

Indie Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is always great; I've never been disappointed. I've been going here for about 2 years and its my favorite sushi place. The only negatives are that (1) it can get crowded on Friday/Saturday nights meaning service is a little slow and you may be seated up against other people and (2) for some reason I've never enjoyed one of their custom martinis, like the fresh ginger martini. They're pretty sweet; if you're into sweet cocktails you'll love it, if you're not, stick with wine. read more

Indie Cafe - Best restroom sign ever. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sushi is solid, definitely not your cheap kind but also not the greatest I've had. The rest of the menu is appetizing as well and their selection of libations is decent. The ambiance/decor is somewhat strange and borderline creepy. I would not recommended this place for a romantic dinner. Moreso a dinner with a buddy you like, but don't want to date... The service isn't the greatest either. I suppose the owner wanted to compensate for the poor decor by hiring non-English speaking staff that's barely (or, is it?) of legal age for working. All of that said, when you crave some sushi and you're in the neighborhood, you won't regret stopping by here. As long as you don't expect the night cap, ha! read more

90 minutes for delivery when I was quoted 45. ONLY 4 RANGOONS in an order?!!!! Look, the food is not bad. The rangoons were tasty (but ONLY FOUR!!!!!). The Kuai maki was pretty good. The Pad See Eiw was good, and the Bay Beach fried rice was above average..... HOWEVER...... They would have all been a lot better if they were actually HOT when they got to me. Ironically, they comped my sodas and my roll - the two things that I actually wanted cold. I am sure under normal circumstances, this place could be pretty good, but you do not get my repeat business when you deliver cold food to me. read more

Great atmosphere, great food! Service is fast. I'm always surprised when I come that the restaurant isn't packed. They have a wide variety of sushi, ramen, and Thai food. Whenever my dad visits he wants to eat at Indie because he loves to get pad Thai and sushi. I love this neighborhood restaurant and wish that more people knew about it read more

Amazing food, everything you want, wonderful service staff (Sarah was our server) and warm, fun vibe!! Can't recommend enough for Thai and Japanese food! read more

Just left this restaurant after being unable to be served even though the restaurant was half empty. Went across the street to The Growling Rabbit where the service is friendly, timely and reliable. Very disappointed since this was our first visit. We don't believe that the staff even noticed that we left. They seemed to be off into their own world. read more

Absolute favorite Thai restaurant!! Very trendy and relaxing atmosphere. Staff is so friendly and accommodating. I had several questions about a few different meal options and the wait staff was so friendly and patient. The restaurant looks small but they can accommodate bigger groups no problem. I had my bridesmaids luncheon there- a group of 10 of us. They also deliver to areas outside of their catchment area! I love it so much, I've ask them to deliver to me in Evanston, which they have accommodated! I highly recommend this place! read more

I give this joint 5 stars because the staff and food are fantastic, and they are consistently so. Service here is top notch, no waiting for water, no waiting to order, and no waiting for plates to be taken away or for the check. And they check in on you without being annoying. I get annoyed quick by slacking servers, ive been a server myself. None of that here. They obviously take pride in bringing great food with professional service, at a very decent price. I love eating here, and giving them my business. Edit: The house music is uber cheesy jazz vocal musak covers, but I'll come regardless. read more

The raves are justified -- totally. From being voted by Chicago Magazine as one of the Best New Restaurants of 2005 when it opened to the frequently full dining room(s), this restaurant lives up to the hype. The combination Japanese/Thai menu is the best invention ever. If you're not in the mood for sushi or tempura or noodles or curry -- then what good are you??? There is something for everyone. I try to order a new dish every once and again, though I have my favorites (drunken noodles with tofu, veggie tempura maki, tofu steak teriyaki), and I have never been disappointed by anything I've ever ordered -- in fact, I ususally end up with some new favorites. Presentation is a huge plus at the restaurant: the sushi looks like art, and it really elevates the whole experience. Service is wonderful, sweet, and charming. Another biggie: BYOB. If you forget your wine, there's a Dominick's across the street. Phew! Their take-out is really fabulous as well -- the quality of the food comes through and nothing is lost in transport or translation. With the recent expansion of the restaurant, the space has really opened up. The new seating area is very well designed, clean and modern, great lighting. The original seating is still comfortable and intimate as well. You can't go wrong with either side -- and with more space, hopefully there will be less waiting time during their peak hours. Oh and the prices -- un-freaking-believable. Sometime I'm going to really go nuts with appetizers, sushi, and dessert, and maybe then, just maybe, the bill might fit. Otherwise, you won't believe the deal you're getting! read more

I have been going to Indie for about two years now and see myself coming back again and again for the good food and equally good service. Consistency of the menu items were shaky the first few times I dined there, but it has increased tremendously in the past year. The maki and nigiri mated with the excellent miso soup and crab rangoon as starters will leave you with a serious case of Happy-Belly for the evening. :) On the Thai side, the fried rice and noodle dishes always leave a smile on my face. Definitely good options for carry out. But these are just my opinions. Go out and try it personally. Enjoy the selections and ... above all... have fun. read more

they get the one star because the delivery service is so good. but if you go here to eat, BYOW. Bring your own waiter. I went there for lunch today with a friend and was waited on by a dude with a princess attitude. He "greeted" us at the door, pointed his nose up in the air, and pointed at a table where we could sit. He came by late to take our order and did so with the same asshole attitude. Much later, he brought the tea out and carelessly half slammed it down on the table. I'm a waitress myself so I know what it's like having a bad day. I let it slide. But, not being rude or demanding, we wanted to get the soy sauce dishes changed because they were crusty with something or the other. He blatantly ignored me, so my friend tried to get his attention "Excuse me, when you have time can we please get new dishes? These are pretty dirty." He rolled his eyes and snapped at my friend and word for word said, "Ya ya ya. New dishes." When he brought them back he tossed them on the table and made it seem like we were one of those high maintenance tables, always asking for something. "Here. Here are new dishes." He also didn't come back to the table after he brought the food out. Which came out late. If I'm going to pay money for a bag of Mighty Tea, at least refill the hot water. We waited forever for the check. I usually tip about 20-25% regardless of service. Still left something but honestly two bucks was about as much this Jack Ass deserved. I'll still order from this place solely for delivery, but will never bring people here again for food. The service is not worth it. The attitude was uncalled for. I'd rather go to Oysy and barely get served. At least the girls are nice about it. read more

This is my favorite day-to-day restaurant in Chicago. Sure, there are a couple uber-expensive places I like better on special occasions, but I get takeout from Indie about three times a week and often take friends or dates to eat here, hence day-to-day. I like the atmosphere (great downtempo chillout music, constantly pulling out my phone to identify songs and download them for myself), and there's so much variety in the food -- even though I usually do get one of two or three things! The only bad thing about the place is it can get very crowded and noisy during peak hours -- you almost have to come on off hours (i.e., not during regular dinner time) if you want to carry on a conversation. Love that these guys are savvy enough to have a Facebook page, though. They take credit cards under $10 unlike a lot of other affordable Thai places, too. The food is really cheap (except the sushi, which is mid-range as far as sushi restaurant prices go) but it's good and there are lots of healthy and vegetarian options. The decor and atmosphere are much classier and more hip than you expect from a cheap Thai place though. read more

I love this place! Great sushi, very reasonable prices, great service. The crab rangoon is amazing! The sushi is very fresh. Everything I have tried, some more basic rolls, some speciality rolls, was amazing. They do serve alcohol now, wine list isn't too bad either, One of the best sushi places in Chicago! read more

We have been at the Indie twice, once with friends and the second time with my husband and son. The food is delicious, beautiful presentation and they have plenty of options to choose from. The bad side, is the service. Super slow, both times. The waitress who gave us the menus passed by our table ignoring us when we wanted to order. I don't know if she was new, or shy, but both times it took her forever to take our order, to bring the drinks, the check etc. We had to stand up and call her more than once, while she was staring the windows... the place had only two busy tables. So it wasn't like she was super busy. If they had trained waitresses/ters... I'm pretty sure the place would be packed...! So take a look to the menu beforehand if you decide to go... read more

I like sushi, the ex-lady liked Thai. She probably still does, I don't know. What to do. Indie cafe. The selections are amazing, the prices fantastic, and the help is always patient, helpful, and tip-worthy. When they suggest a special, try it. I've never had anything bad. Nor has anyone that I know. read more

Food ok, not great. Service, a total fail on all levels. I should have seen it coming when I had to track down the server to get the wasabi and ginger that was absent from our sushi appetizer. The main issue was a problem with my main dish, lacking the advertised garlic sauce. Up to this point, our server had been inattentive - very slow to bring drinks, never checked with us on how our appetizer or main dishes were. I had to get up to find her to note the problem with my meal and ask for some sauce. She left and avoided our table from that point on (until delivering the check). I had to track down the manager, who eventually brought some sauce - no apology. As my husband noted, they seemed to act like I owed them an apology for pointing out a problem with the meal. A better-run place would have replaced the dish. Overall we felt unwelcome. My two dinner companions liked their meals well (tofu curry, cashew chicken). The appetizer (spider roll) was mediocre for sushi. We've been twice before and liked it pretty well for a quick neighborhood meal. But we'll give this a long break in the rotation before they get another chance. read more

Just OK. We used to come here years ago when it first opened. Back then it was delicious, but we used to have the Thai food. Stopped in for lunch today. Had maki - the Mexico City roll. Dragon and the Spicy Crab. Edible but just OK. I've had better. The decor is starting to look run down, especially the faux leather on the banquette. Service was wonderful, though. Will come back to see if the Thai food is better. read more

I was't sure if we should eat there at first, but the minute I walked in - i felt in love with this place!!! I like there design, so cute and comfy. Waitresses are super nice and polite. Great customer service! Prices are average - pretty much the same as in the city. Food is coming out fast, fresh and really good! Wonton soup was literally the best soup I ever tasted, and sushi are great and affordable. Definitely coming back and bringing my friends to check it out. read more

This is one of the WORST restaurants I have ever been been suffered to endure. I've been twice. Once I went there and ate with friends. The sushi was of poor quality. So much so that I didn't want to eat it. The second time I ordered a delivery of the Seafood Madness. Not only was it disgusting, but it totally smelled (bad) fishy and the squid/octopus was like smelly rubber. Awful. read more

After leaving Edgewater for about 6 years and then moving back, I was so pumped that Indie Cafe was still open. Their sushi rules and there are so many things to choose from and most of them are delicious. They don't use a ton of tempura for no reason, which I appreciate. Also, they are BYOB and there's a Whole Foods right there AND they have an impressive drink menu. My cons: Delivery is no bueno. Maybe this is the case for all sushi and I know that the drivers likely don't even work for Indie Cafe itself (grubhub, uber eats), but the food just doesn't travel well. Just go to the restaurant. There aren't very many non-spicy seafood options. That may be super specific, but maybe some teriyaki scallops or something would round out the menu a little. read more

Another gem of Edgewater. I have forgotten about this place for a while but now it will be stuck for a very long time. Food and drinks are so good. And I love the coziness of the restaurant read more

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My very first visit and I was extremely happy that a friend of mine recommended Indie Cafe. I ordered appetizers which I highly recommend the chicken curry dumplings (fried), the chicken gyoza and the shrimp dumplings (fried) amazing! Additionally I ordered the traditional fried rice with chicken and no egg and it was by far one of the best I've had. The food was flavorful and fresh. It is a nice atmosphere and our waitress Wow was very nice, professional and attentive (we were 11 in our party). They do accept reservations and honor it. You are also allowed to BYOB but like all restaurants there is a service charge to do that so it's ok it's industry standard. Next time I visit Chicago I will definitely stop by to eat here again. read more

Ok, so I used to go here all of the time about 4 years ago when it first opened. I went back with some friends for some sushi and BYOB! Sushi-4.5 stars....AMAZING, loved it and totally reasonable in price. Cant beat it. Service-2....OMG this place was barely busy, but we had to ask several times for our apps, more water, ice, etc, etc, etc....it was quite annoying. I could understand if it was packed but it wasnt. Also, we werent being excessively high maintenance. BYOB-4.5, its always good when you can bring your own booze, especially when you plan on drinking to forget! Overall, I would say 3.5 stars...however yelp doesnt believe in halves so I am being stingy today. If you can deal with the horrible service, this truly is a great sushi/thai restaurant. read more

Meh. My initial review is based on the Thai food, which simply doesn't hold a candle to the better options I enjoyed in D.C. when I lived there; I'll have to give the sushi a try and see how many stars that bumps Indie up, because their options on that side of the menu do look tasty. Keep in mind that I know a bit about Thai cookery, to the point that I get curry stocks brought to me by a friend who worked in Thailand for years. So, I'm a harsh judge, and if I expected good grub, what I got was barely adequate. I went for takeout, asking for "Thai spicy" up front, and ordered a trio of straightforward classics: spring rolls, tom yum, and basil chicken. The presentation of the spring roll was pretty (loose, untucked ends flying high, woohoo!), but the tamarind sauce was thick and flavorless, and the ingredients themselves not blessed with any particular snap. Pretty but bland is still bland; a proper spring roll has a certain crunchiness, and the tamarind a certain piquance; both qualities were entirely absent. Then I tried the tom yum, which was was very good--spicy, harboring a good pair of shrimp, and with that right amount of tangy lime-y flavor; this reassuring bit of yumminess left me hoping that perhaps the chicken would end this meal on a high note. Sadly, such was not the case. Remember, I asked for spicy, but what I got instead was merely oily, too-finely ground (and therefore that much more oily, not especially flavorful, and mixed in with overcooked and infrequent peppers, onions, and green beans, and with the most flavorless basil I think I've ever stomached. It wasn't the worst Thai dish I've ever tried in Chicago, but it wasn't far from it. So, basically, the tom yum is what gets this place something higher than the lowest possible review, and as I mentioned before, maybe the sushi's all that and the proverbial bag of chips. However, if this is the state of Thai in the Midwest, then leaving DC has given me at least one source of regret. read more

I've been to Indie innumerable times in the past three years (dine-in, take-out and delivery) and, like other reviewers, I am always pleased to find a variety of dishes to choose from. Take a group of friends here and everyone is sure to find something crave-worthy. Delivery is fast and reasonably priced, if you don't feel like braving the snow. However, I do feel that, having eaten here so much, I can tell you that their sushi is not always consistent. It's either delicious, fresh, fabulously plated. Or it's--well--not. Three times now, I have had spicy tuna rolls that were inedible; last time, I actually had to send them back because the smell and taste was just off. And I KNOW what their spicy tuna is supposed to taste like, having had it at its best. My stomach felt a little queasy just 15 minutes after I started my meal. I can't give you reasons why, and I don't want to discourage business for this nice place, but I would say that if you taste something off, send it back. The waitress was very accommodating, took the roll in question off my bill without a moment's disagreement, and even gave me a free miso soup "to settle [my] stomach." So, my heart is with Indie, but I'm going to only order sushi at their restaurant and not risk a night in with disappointing delivery. read more

Yummy yummy yummy. I'm addicted to this place. Favs: Spring rolls (and the presentation - even with delivery - awesome!); Red curry (hot hot hot). I usually do take out or delivery, which is a shame, as the atomsphere is cozy and lovely - even with their recent expansion. Very good thai food and I really enjoy their maki. read more

This is my absolute favorite neighborhood restaurant, bar none. I have been going for years now; their quality, presentation, and pleasant demeanor keep me coming back. Both the Thai and the sushi are excellent (the teriyaki can be a bit tough sometimes) and they have more than a few unique dishes that really take things to the next level. Their presentations are impeccable and worthy of a restaurant twice its price. Dishes I love include the smoked chili combo, the gyoza (and especially its sauce), their salad dressings, the spicy tuna roll, and some of their custom far-out rolls like Bangkok. It saddens me that I can no longer go here due to dietary restrictions. I will treasure the memory of many wonderful long lunches and delivered dinners from this gem. If you're in the neighborhood, please give it a try - and see how fast you return. read more

Food is consistent and inexpensive. The sushi rice is plain rice (not flavored like true sushi rice), but the rolls are good. The Thai food is also good and rich! For the price it is completely worth it. A couple things you should know... - bring a coat or wear a sweater if you go during the winter. They keep it cold in the dining room. - don't feel rushed. We had two waiters doubling their efforts to take our order and get us drinks - but they don't really rush you. I think there was just confusion (which happens often when we go there). - be prepared for big bites. They cut our roles into 5 pieces instead of 6, so they were quite a bit to chew. - don't BYOB. They have a full bar, and their wine is VERY inexpensive. read more