Dinner was delicious! Presentation was awesome. Atmosphere wonderful. There was a bad odor in the hallway on the way to the restroom. read more

I've heard numerous people rave about Ron of Japan, their meaty fried rice, and the overall experience. We came here for my birthday and made a reservation in advance through OpenTable. The young woman at the host station wasn't exactly rude but not super friendly either, but she sat us at our table just fine. The decor inside is really attractive. Lots of Asian style decor and little bridges as you walk to your table. Why isn't there water in those little ponds! That would add so much to the overall aesthetic! I had the sirloin and shrimp with chicken fried rice and my boyfriend had the filet with beef fried rice. Our food was very good and prepared well. The sirloin was very good, as was the shrimp. I didn't know egg sauce came on the shrimp, considering you already get a shrimp appetizer with egg sauce. It's a very heavy sauce and I would have preferred it on one serving of shrimp and not both. The only side sauce you receive is a little dish of soy sauce. No ginger sauce and no yum-yum sauce. Service and waiting did take a bit of time, but this isn't the kind of restaurant where you go if you're in a hurry. We had a older woman as our table attendant and a man who did the grill work. They don't do any of the little hibachi tricks like other restaurants do. I kinda like that, but maybe Ron of Japan is too classy for onion volcanoes and such. My biggest complaint are the plates. A traditional round dinner plate is really nice as your food is being prepared in staggered stages. When everything is cooked, you have a nice full plate. Here, they give you a small rectangular plate that rests on the hibachi grill and it's slanted downward towards the grill surface. It's searing hot, so you can't touch it or move it closer to you. I found it a bit awkward and could easily see myself dropping food in my lap or something. Overall, we had a really nice dinner and a really nice family sharing the hibachi table with us. I would come back here, but honestly, I don't see much difference between Ron of Japan and any other hibachi restaurant in the Chicagoland area, such as Benihana or Tsukasa. read more

My husband and I visited with our three young kids, and we were honestly a little nervous about bringing them to a hibachi restaurant, but we couldn't have been more wrong. It turned out to be such a fun, family-friendly experience! The atmosphere was perfect for kids, and they had an absolute blast. Our chef, Steve, was incredible, he really engaged the kids, made them feel part of the experience, and even encouraged them to try new foods. One of my picky eaters tried things I never imagined he would, all thanks to Steve! The food was amazing. I ordered the lobster and filet, and it was not only delicious but such a generous portion that I had leftovers for the next day. Every meal came with chicken noodle soup (which my kids loved), a fresh salad, and even ended with ice cream, such a great touch. Sam, the manager, also came by multiple times to check on us. He was so attentive, welcoming, and wonderful with the kids, it really made the whole experience feel special. We got so much food for the value, and more importantly, we made such great family memories. I honestly regret not bringing the kids sooner, but we will definitely be back again very soon! read more

Ron of Japan - Japanese Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Beautiful place for a nice dinner. We went for a birthday on a Saturday evening and enjoyed some drinks and sake bombs to start. I got a refreshing saketini which was great with the meal. The chicken noodle soup to start is delicious and light. The salad was also great but way too much dressing on top. The veggies were tasty, and I highly recommend the beef fried rice. Worth the upgrade! The filet and scallops combo was excellent and a lovely huge portion especially with the rest of the food. I was surprised however that they didn't give us any sort of show. They did cook in front of us but no show whereas every other hibachi place will interact with the guests and do some sort of performance. The service also took a while overall. read more

Ron of Japan - Japanese Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Sometimes the holiday season moves you in mysterious ways. I left my house planning on a takeout smash burger at a new fast food place 5 minutes from home, when on a quick whim, I hooked a right turn instead of a left, and drove 22 miles to Ron of Japan in Northbrook, a restaurant I last visited in 1993. I was turned on to the place by a good friend who took me there as a treat, thinking I would like it. She was very right. It was my first experience with teppanyaki, and I was hooked. Over the next 32 years I've had many more of these meals at other nice Japanese places closer to home. So now, for this visit, I suddenly went from getting a $10 burger, to dropping $200 at a restaurant (I went all-in, treating myself on this one). The place still looked the same, which in my case, I loved. I enjoyed a Super Mai Tai at the elegant bar before my table was ready (a very short wait). Lupe, a long serving, very experienced chef was my company for the evening, and he was wonderful. The lobster appetizer was absolutely delicious, perfectly cooked and presented. My filet was a fine piece of meat and it was the exact medium rare I requested. Soup, salad, vegetables, fried rice, shrimp - all fantastic. The waitress was also great, refilling my water, and bringing me a second Super Mai Tai. I topped it all off with a scoop of green tea ice cream. It was an extravagant meal and I was quite full, but it was a Christmas splurge, and it was worth it. Now, I'm planning on not waiting another 32 years to return here. I'll save up some money and come back here with my two grandsons, two daughters, son, and ex-wife. My little guys have been with me a few times at similar places and quite enjoyed it. As far as for me, it was well worth it, and I recommend it all - the people , the food, and the atmosphere, but load up your wallet. read more

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Manager called us and made efforts to make this right. Said our experience was very unusual. Willing to try again.

Everything was lovely from decor to the food. First, there's a huge parking lot and easy entrance from the back or the side. If you enter the back door, closest to the parking lot, you are immediately greeted with beauty of walking over a red bridge. The side door opens into the lobby. Throughout, there are red railings, little towers, and bridges, with pink leaved trees and plants, flat stones, etc. that made me feel transported to Japan. Our group of 6 was seated at a large round table with 3 strangers. I find this the oddest part of the experience. It was quite cramped although the table was initially set for 10. Immediately upon sitting, the server handed us menus and asked what we wanted to drink. I found this strange. How could we know what we wanted while we were still being handed menus? She gave us a minute and most of us chose the Mai Thai while one person ordered something closer to a pina colada but with melon so it was a beautiful light green color. Again we had to tell the server to wait as we thought about food. We all ordered crown dinners except the kid with us who ordered a teppan. Most of us had filet and chicken although one person had shrimp and chicken. The meal starts with chicken noodle soup which has a flavor close to wonton soup although not the same. Delicious. Then a salad with the largest glop of salad dressing. I removed all my dressing and will try to remember to tell them to skip it next time. Then the chef arrives and the real fun begins. No show but still mesmerizing to watch. The shrimp appetizer usually comes with an egg sauce but I can't handle very fatty foods so I asked for mine without which wasn't a problem. I found the shrimp exquisitely flavorful. Everyone else enjoyed the egg sauce. Next came the fried rice. I had skipped it , given the reviews of it being greasy. But others othered it and since there was extra, the chef offered me the rest and I found it delicious. The beef version has no veggies in it. Only the veggie fried rice gets any vegetables. Everyone liked the chicken but I found it too dry for my enjoyment. Fine but not amazing. There was a soy based dipping sauce but I guess I'm used to the low sodium version or something but I didn't like the sauce. The filet was amazing. Flavorful and tender. For dessert, ice cream was included but again I worried about it being too creamy. Amazingly, ice cream can be swapped for fresh pineapple. It was served beautifully, like a boat, and easily cut into bite sized pieces. Usually pineapple bites my tongue but this was so sweet, I ate all of it without pain. For my first hibichi experience, I was impressed. Still, the sitting with strangers and the table being too big for easy conversation would deter me from going often. read more

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Been coming here my entire life. This is a staple in my life. Consistency is key and over time they have maintained their classic feel with updates as needed. The kindness of staff never ceases to amaze me and the egg sauce is always the best. read more

Ron of Japan -- Northbrook, IL (633 Skokie Blvd) A lifelong favorite. A place that still feels like magic. There are restaurants you enjoy. There are restaurants you remember. And then there are places that quietly shape you. Ron of Japan is that place for me. I've been coming here since I was about six years old. Elementary school. Long before I understood food, or cooking, or what made a great dining experience. And yet--even then--I felt it. That sense that this was different. That this wasn't just dinner. Decades later, it still hasn't lost that magic. The tableside teppanyaki cooking is part of it, of course--the fire, the rhythm, the confidence of chefs who know exactly what they're doing. Watching a meal come together right in front of you has a way of pulling you fully into the moment. You're present. You're engaged. You're not rushing anything. But what makes Ron of Japan truly special goes beyond technique or tradition. It's the way time seems to soften here. The way conversation opens up. The way memories layer on top of one another--family dinners, laughter, milestones, quiet moments you didn't realize would matter so much until years later. I've shared meals here with my grandmother and my brother, and those experiences are among my most cherished. When I sit at the table, I don't just eat--I'm transported. Back to childhood. Back to warmth. Back to a feeling of being cared for, grounded, and genuinely happy. That's a rare thing. In an era where so many places chase trends, Ron of Japan has remained timeless. Confident. Unpretentious. Excellent. If you're familiar with places like Benihana, this is that experience at its most classic and refined--done with integrity and consistency over generations. This is more than a restaurant to me. It's a ritual. It's a memory. It's an experience that still transforms an ordinary evening into something meaningful. 11 out of 10. Always has been. Always will be. read more

Ron of Japan - Japanese Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

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Overall: Satisfied with the food and the fire show, large portions. Gave a point off because I wish some of the decor and furniture were more updated/modern. - Would I return?: Yes, I like coming with a group of friends and family. My Food ---------- * Ordered- Shrimp, Lobster, Fried Rice * Flavor & Taste- I love the seafood here, especially the lobster. Everything is made well and right in front of you. * Order again?- Yes * Portion Size vs. Price- You typically pay $30-50 for your whole meal. I always walk away with a take out box, and you get the fire show. Personally I think it's worth it. The Place -------------- * Atmosphere- Japan inspired, darker in the evening, not very modern. * Service- Chefs are great and always friendly/funny. * Crowd Levels- 6pm- moderate/full. We had a reservation and had to wait 5 minutes still. * Cleanliness- Clean but wish everything was a little more updated * Location- Attached to another building which I believe is a bank. * Parking- Large parking lot read more

Ron of Japan - Fire show - Japanese Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

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This place was underwhelming in terms of food and decor. It was my first time at a hibachi restaurant with a round table, but there were too many seats around it. I believe there were about 10 seats, and we ended up being six, which was just right. One more person would have been too many. The food was quite disappointing. My filet mignon was overcooked; I requested it to be medium rare, but it was cooked to medium well. The same was true for another person in my party, and theirs was well done. The portions lacked consistency, and the starter soup and salad had no flavor. The staff was very pleasant, which did help improve the experience somewhat. Still, I can't say I will come back. read more

Ron of Japan - Japanese Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

This was our first visit to this restaurant, and the food was mediocre at best, although the steak was good. My family are avid Benihana and hibachi enthusiasts so this was a big disapointment. The salad was disgusting. It tasted like pure mayo. We ordered the Japanese pickles and the flavor was not right. The decor is on theme and the whole restaurant seems to have have better days aesthetically. Our chef was a great conversationalist, but the egg sauce was bland and not worth eating. Not sure how this place has stayed open so long. It must have been different years ago. Not worth the price and I can cook better than this at home. The fire show was absolutely terrifying to be honest. Too much and too hot. Staff was great, but ultimately the food makes or breaks a place. This one is a no go for us. It has officially been banned. read more

A neat spot to enjoy some delicious hibachi, with tons of fun decorations, lots of space, friendly service, yummy egg sauce, plenty of parking, and reasonable prices. As compared to other Hibachi spots, I find the food is pretty similar in quality and portions. The overall selection of meat choices is bit on the higher end, with lobster tail, new york steak, sea bass, and other options in addition to the usual steak, beef, chicken, etc. Portion size is fairly generous, though for the price, not the largest that I've seen. In terms of flavor, the standout item here is the egg sauce that is provided pretty generously. The food could have a bit more umami, but still pretty good. The service is not bad, we were served pretty quickly and from friendly staff. The show was pretty basic overall, but this did allow the chef to spend a bit more effort on the cooking of the food. I like the setup of the tables here, as it allows the group to talk a bit easier than other spots with a more rectangular setup. Plating and presentation was fairly good here, as the chef neatly arranged all the different meats while cooking. Items such as the soup, salad, ice cream, pineapple, etc. were presented nicely which did give a bit more of a premium dining experience, in addition again to the substantially decorated interior full of art, bridges, plants, and other items to immerse diners in a fun experience. Overall, good value for a dinner and a show. It's not going to be the most amazing food you've ever had, but it's still done well and you get quite a bit to eat with dinner. I'd definitely choose to go here over similarly priced steak house options which many times aren't as flavorful. read more

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So, this is a really hot birthday spot! (LITERALLY.) If you like steak and Japanese foods, I really recommend coming here for your birthday. I came here for my birthday. As soon as you walk in, I guarantee you'll be amazed. Maybe just...don't look at the review photos online because they may spoil it. The menu consists of mainly steak, lobster, shrimp, soup, and a WHOLE LOTTA EGGSAUCE. (The egg sauce is really good, though, especially on shrimp.) They make everything in a very big hot pan in front of you. The filet mignons is especially good. They put a variety of seasonings on it which makes it really good. At the end, they light a huge fire on the pan. For that part, I recommend shielding your face. read more

When you're looking for hibachi or teppanyaki restaurants look no further than Ron of Japan in Northbrook. As soon as I stepped inside I was impressed with the ornate decor. You truly feel like you have left Illinois and landed in Japan. There are statues, red railings, aisles and bridges over pond-like decorations. One you get to your table, you are in the proper mindset for a feast. The tables are smaller than at other hibachi restaurants that I've been to. This allows for a more intimate experience. Our party ordered the crown combinations meal, which comes with two pieces of shrimp with egg sauce, chicken soup, fresh garden salad, teppan vegetables, rice, and ice cream. The egg sauce alone is worth the price. Where have you been all my life? I got salmon as my entre option. All of the food was amazing. The price is a little more than other hibachi restaurants, but the food and experience matched the price. I was not disappointed. I will be returning to Ron of Japan! read more

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Amazing food, very impressed. Definitely one of my new favorites. Restaurant was clean and full of helpful staff. Will be returning.

Why does the restaurant close so early? Many fellow food service employees like myself get off around 8-9. All I wanted was some fried rice. I understand these hours are pre set, however this was also ON a Friday night at 8:45 and I was denied service. Not the employees fault but they definitely need to extend the hours, at least for weekends. You're missing out to business with such strict cutoff EDIT: thank you Sam for reaching out to me quickly. However it seems I'm unable contract you directly. a my personal cell is 847-224-9011 if you happen to have a moment to discuss, I understand you are probably busy, but I think you in advance for your help read more

I loved it because the food my favorite was the fried rice and dumplings it was amazing I loved that the chef cooked in front of us it was way better than cooking at home it was so much fun I also enjoyed the filet and noodle soup. read more

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I had never been here. Thought I'd give it a try. First impressions are EVERYTHING. I walked in to a very unpleasant older gentleman. After asking for a table he was rude, grumpy and acted like I was a bother. To that gentleman, it helps to smile and good customer service goes along way. Needless to say, I was completely turned off by his attitude that I turned away and left. I went to thier competitor for hibachi. Won't ever consider coming back to try them out. I know where my business is wanted. read more

Food: colorless, oily, tasteless Serving Dishes: Dishes: old and tired Ambiance: tired Chef Service: bored, disengaged, robotic especially since a child was at the table Server: sweet and pleasant Prices: outrageous for the quality of food and the robotic service Overall observation: Place for tourists and people looking to give their children, a unique experience. This restaurant absolutely did not deliver. read more

Good food, thought there would be more of a show from the chef as have seen in the past, portions were good sized, setting was nice. Service went fast once it started. read more

The service was great! Our Chef Joe (Gerardo) was amazing! Such a great entertainer. He told us how the owners send the chefs to training in Osaka Japan. It is rare these days that a company invests so much into training their employees. The whole experience was wonderful. This place has bad reviews which I can only assume are from people having a bad day. As far as the decor which seemed to be a big part of people's complaints. I see as traditional Japanese decor. Anyone who has actually been to Japan would know that also. This place needs more people to share their good experience. This restaurant has been around for very long time and deserves better! read more

Just ok. It seemed like they didn't have enough customers to make the experience worthwhile. Food was very average and there was no flair or enjoyment in the presentation. read more

Still the same old Ron of Japan: excellent shrimp, appetizer, lobster, and the signature egg sauce, and ground beef fried rice. Over the years, there may have been some change in quality of cooking and training of chefs. But if you want a spot on meal consistently prepared well ask for Lupe. he's been there since the restaurant opened and he is an excellent chef. read more

Ron of Japan - South African, cold water lobster with egg sauce - Japanese Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

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My family loves going to Ron Of Japan to celebrate special occasions. It is our "go to spot" to celebrate my 13 y/o's birthday for 4 years and counting. He loves the beef fried rice and watches the chef intently during the cooking process. It's a great place for larger groups. read more

Use to go there all the time as kid. But the place just has gone down hill. Staff is polite but seems understaff. Food quality is alright. But for the price you're paying doesn't really match out. So many other similar restaurants out there this place has done nothing to improve over the years to compete. Not sure how the other locations are. But this place is just showing its age. Will probably never return again. read more

Visited Ron of Japan on a Friday evening. When we got there it was not busy but by the time we left there was already a waiting list. The service was great and our chef was very nice and entertaining. The food was great, had the 7 course seafood combo. Now the egg sauce on the shrimp....perfection. I couldn't get enough. Overall a great experience. The place is clean and the staff very caring. read more

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I have been going to Ron of Japan for over 34 years and until now I have raved about the restaurant. My recent visit to the Northbrook location left me quite disappointed. Our chef Alex was great but honestly I believe our server, kee (spelling?) needs to find a vocation more suitable to her personality. Serving is not for everyone. I won't elaborate. They have definitely downsized to a much smaller shrimp. The little shrimp made a huge difference. I'm not one to review a product but I definitely feel a great restaurant- one of two in the USA is on the decline. I hope they figure things out. ​ read more

This is my first and only yelp review I'd ever leave! I am utterly shocked by this place and I felt so bad for our server Sunday night. We still can't get over it. : My family loves this place, every time me or someone is in town we stop together by for old times sake. We have been coming here for more than 30 years. Almost every time we are having dinner we witness some type of commotion, an argument, we even witnessed a total of 3 different servers cry because someone is raising their voice or being demeaning towards them. even saw the host make someone cry before we left Sunday...and I'm started to believe there's some weird business going on around here, or, these people are NOT being treated well or payed enough. I would like to note all the servers are FEMALE, that we have all seen over time the past two years cry or be mistreated Our food is always exceptional, so is the ambiance so I can't complain about that. But what we don't like is how ALL servers seem very agitated, rushed, bothered, rude even or upset and frustrated. (like this one older women that's been working there for some time now, can't grasp how or why). It makes us very uncomfortable. Usually we ask if everything's okay and they always speak up about how poorly they're treated by other staff or management. There was an older lady that served us, that got yelled at by a manager two years ago, she sobbed in front of us and we NEVER saw her again. Another server that quit this year said that she started working part time, telling us exactly: "the mistreatment worsened my mental health so bad it's to the point where i cry every single day before I go to work because my coworkers are trying to make me quit"...IMAGINE! She was a great server we had zero complaints about, we actually requested her for a while because we preferred her service over anyone else's! There's another young lady named Anastasia who is such a doll and gives us the best experience when we have her but all the good servers eventually leave and you never see them again. Do better Ron of Japan! Treat your servers better, and maybe ditch the rude Host that gives a very unpleasant energy every time you walk up to the host stand read more

Our chef, Alex, was excellent! He was a pro on the cooktop and extremely patient with one of our very demanding table mates. Alex was kind, funny and super efficient while also checking in with each person (table of 8). All of us raved about his cooking skills and super yummy food as well. Great meal and lots of fun! Thanks Alex! read more

While visiting Chicago we got nostalgic and took the grandkids for dinner. The service was great and the food was as good as we remembered. Nice space and the chef cooked everything exactly as ordered. Unfortunately the heat from the table was overwhelming especially after the lit a fire on the table. Made for a nice effect but made the heat in the room even worse. Overall we enjoyed the experience. We had shrimp, chicken, steak, vegetables and fried rice. All were delicious. read more

It must have been awhile since I've been here. I was severely disappointed going there tonight. We were a party of 11. We made a reservation without a problem. However, we did not realize that the grill top tables here really only fit 8. They still crammed all 11 of us at this small table and did not put us at two tables because they were completely booked. Because of this, my dad and I were shoulder to shoulder with the chef. Our chef came and while he was a super nice guy, he was way over his head and had to keep checking his notes. It took him about an hour to cook everything. We got there at 6:15 and left at 9. While my crown combo of filet and shrimp was excellent, it was super overpriced. The website has the dead wrong prices and expect to pay about double. It is not worth this increase. The service here is atrocious. They refuse to help customers and the server only came back every 30 minutes or so. I guess I didn't want the second Mai Tai. I was disappointed in this place as I remember it being really good. Unfortunately, this was the last time we are coming. There are other options in the area. The egg sauce isn't worth coming back. read more

The ambience is really nice here! I like that the tables are individual as some habachi places are bigger tables with multiple parties. The restaurant did not fill up on a Saturday night. We were told that sushi was not an option as there was no chef. Our chef was nice but did not do any tricks or anything like other places do for entertainment. We thought the food was just okay. It needed more flavor and it was costly. I expect it to be more with being prepared in front of you but it seemed even higher than that. They also up charge you for fried rice made with ground beef, etc. I will say the waitress made it clear though. They do a nice presentation and song with ice cream for birthdays. read more

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The service was very good, and the decor is sort of fun. That's where the good part of the review ends. First thing that hits you when you walk in is that the air is just full of oil. You can almost taste it. Whatever air filtration they have going on just isn't cutting it. You walk past a fun, kitschy "Japanese" landscape and are seated at a big table with random people, and your table space is a tiny sliver around the edge of a gigantic metal cooking surface. At last, a guy comes out and cooks everything you ordered. All the food is cooked with tons of oil and tons of heavy teriyaki sauce, so it all tastes the same. The guy does a great job cooking it, and it's sort of fun to watch, but that doesn't outweigh the awful, greasy, sameness of the food. All this would be bearable for the sake of novelty, but the prices are crazy high for what you get. I'm talking $40-50 for some slices of beef, some heavy fried rice and some vegetables cooked and teriyaki'd to within and inch of their lives. You end up spending waaayyy too much money to go home smelling like oil. read more

Pretty crappy experience. Pretty certain our chef was on something as he kept dropping knives, spilling things, and making inappropriate "jokes." The food was cooked poorly and had no flavor whatsoever. Weird chicken soup, iceberg lettuce with what tasted like mayonnaise glopped on in a heap, white rice, overcooked flavorless steak and some beers for two cost us $176.00. The ambiance is fun, but not quite fun enough for the cost. I hate leaving bad reviews, but we talked about trying this place for years and really wish we hadn't. read more

Ron of Japan - Only cool part of the experience and it took him forever to get the lighter to work. - Japanese Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

This place is well over 50 years old and is maybe the first teppan style restaurant in the Chicago area. We have been patronizing Ron of Japanese during most if not all this time for special occasions. The food is very rich and has always been expensive. It's still worth it. Most of their competitors like Benihana have faded away but they are still going strong based on a recent visit. We were guests of an old friend who took me out for my birthday "for old times sake". We all had great meals including steak, their famous egg mayo grilled shrimp, scallops, and sides of teppan grilled veggies and fried rice. Others at our teppan grill ( you dine with up to eight people) had filet and lobster tail. Everyone was very satisfied. They serve good beer and cocktails also. We still recommend Ron of Japan for a special treat. read more

Decor was great. Server was great. Food was very plain and tasteless,beef fried rice was browned hamburger tossed into bland white rice with soy sauce. We had the steak and it tasted like something you would pull of the grill in your backyard no seasoning except salt. The vegetables again tasteless. read more

Had dinner there tonight for my husband and daughter birthday and I was not happy the cook he he acted he didn't know what he was doing he didn't know the technique plus they're charging a surcharge and you're not getting the quality that is expected I have been going to this restaurant over 20 years and it's going down because they have cooks they don't know how to cook that food read more

We were at Ron's last week and had a great experience, and the food was amazing. They have new management, he managed the Ron's in the city for 12 years. He was amazing and made sure everything was good. He's only been in Northbrook for a few weeks, but you can already see what a difference he's making in Northbrook. We can't wait to go back! read more

I really love Ron Of Japan . But this location is terrible . The servers don't care . The food is not the same as Downtown location . Truly disappointing for what you pay . read more