Amazing food, the atmosphere wasn't great. I sat at the sushi bar on a Saturday night and the chefs weren't too busy, they seemed bored / trying to kill some time. I had some sashimi pieces and a roll, as well as a Japanese beer and a cucumber salad. I thought the sashimi was overpriced and not a great selection, but still good. read more

Had tempura udon + salmon avocado roll. Their tempura was so crunchy and tender-- perfect. Sushi tasted really fresh too! Only qualm is I wish there was less rice on the rolls, but I think that's just my personal preference... definitely coming back here again. read more

Love everything about this place! We moved to the neighborhood not even 2 weeks ago and already been twice. Everyone is extremely nice, the first time we sat at a table in one of the dining areas, and the second time we sat on the sushi bar. Personally, I prefer sitting on the sushi bar for a more interactive experience. We went for the Omakase and it did not disappoint! Every single dish we had was fantastic. The only thing I'd change about the Omakase is a dessert other than mochi since you can get that anywhere. Other than that, all the dishes including sushi, sashimi, and hot dishes were perfection. What a great neighborhood find! read more

Ordered omakase and was truly amazed! Wonderful experience. Our go-to place for sushi downtown.

Jason and I along with a few friends came here on Friday to celebrate his 23rd birthday. He'd heard great things and also a good friend's girlfriend is the hostess and she promised he would love it. Definitely have to agree with this one. The atmosphere to this place was very cool. There are booth like seats near the window with a modern twist to them. Service was pretty quick here considering it was dinner time and they had a full house. Jason and I ordered the spicy white tuna crunch, rainbow maki, and volcano maki. Let me tell you, this place has some of the freshest fish I've ever had. The sushi was very flavorful and well-made. I enjoyed the spicy white tuna crunch and volcano maki the most just because they have tempura-like shavings on them. I'm a sucker for those. Later on, Jason also ordered a shrimp and scallop hand roll but I didn't eat any of it. Overall, we were very satisfied with our food. Very impressed. My mouth is watering right now just thinking of it... mmmm read more

I can't believe I haven't been here before!!! After walking in I immediately noticed the quaint, comfortable, and intimate setting inside, such a nice contrast to the mega sushi joints that seem to be everywhere in Chicago!! For my meal I started w/ miso soup (which btw was a bit too salty... is it really that hard to mess up miso soup!???) and threw in some maki rolls for fun, the Unagi (fresh water eel w/ cucumber), Soft shell crab (crab, avocado, mayo, fish egg, and cucumber), and the Rainbow (tuna, yellowtail, fresh salmon & avocado), with the entire meal topped off w/ a large bottle of Kirin. The food was spectacular and fish incredibly fresh! The rolls were also pretty substantial in size, I could barely finish my meal!! One of my friends had the chillean sea bass which looked flaky and delicious. Next time I go back I definitely want to try some of the hot and cold appetizers, as well as the udon and hot entrees! As you can tell, I'll be back here in a hearbeat! read more

Ok, this restaurant review is loooong overdue, because I've been coming here for years, and it's always the best sushi (sorry to Jimmy the owner that I've never written about them before). My wife and I love sushi, and we're not about trying different places around Chicago. In terms of freshness of the fish, and overall taste? We always come back to Sai. It's all about the little details... like the delicate sauce for their cucumber salad. I have a copy of a seafood cookbook by the late, great Charlie Trotter. Guess how he treats sushi in his cookbook? In his chapter on sushi, rather than photographing his own sushi creations, Trotter went over to Sai Cafe and took pictures of and described their sushi, and gave them props as being one of the best to prepare sushi. Really, can you get any higher praise than that of Charlie Trotter putting your food in his cookbook? read more

A fabulous low-key sushi restaurant in Lincoln Park! I highly recommend the spicy super white tuna crunch and the spicy scallop roll, but everything I've had there is great. The atmosphere is very cute and I frequently order in from there...there sushi still tastes fresh even if you aren't dining in, which is a rare find. read more

So all of my friends were out of town, sick, or busy on a lonely Friday night, but did I let that stop me? No! I wanted sushi and a martini and I was going to get sushi and a martini. Everyone talks about Toro which is of course why I went to Sai - I always like to give the underdogs a chance. I had a wonderful evening. I sat at the sushi bar which is a cool experience. I got a 007 martini which was delicious (for those of you who don't know it's just a half and half of vodka and gin) The octopus salad - delicious - tender octopus (not chewy at all) and a wonderful dressing. The sushi was fresh fresh fresh and so good. I had a roll and some individual pieces. I was not disappointed and I have eaten a lot of sushi in my past. I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

This might be the best Japanese restaurant in Chicagoland. (Beats Japonais, and oh, definitely Kaze, hands down) I stumbled upon it walking in our new neighborhood and walked right into the freshest sushi that could possibly be found in these parts of America. Owners are Taiwanese-Korean who have a loyal set of customers they know by name, and have been running Sai FOR 22 YEARS. The fact that people keep coming back says a whole lot about this place. Me? I'm at my 3rd time, and counting. Best bets are: 1. Toro Tartar (orgasmic!) 2. Salmon & Hamachi sashimi (if you are adventurous, ask what they have really fresh) 3. Sukiyaki (The only place in Chicago I've found that serves this- a sweet Japanese beef noodle soup that hits the spot in winter) Tip: Sit by the sushi bar if its your first time and you just might get unexpected treats (freshly grated wasabi, anyone?) read more

No wait on a Saturday night...good service, tasty sushi. There were lots of options and everything I tasted was good. The restaurant seemed huge and the tables were nicely spaced. I'm a huge fan of having lots of space and room to talk at a restaurant. Hearing other conversations (unless they are really juicy, and even that has its limits) is one of my main irritants. I don't know if I would go rushing back as I'd go broke pretty quickly. read more

Great local spot tucked away from the hustle and bustle. The first time I went to Sai Cafe was on a date and he couldn't have picked a better place. I couldn't believe that I had lived in the neighborhood for so long and not known about Sai. It's very small, but quite and intimate (just the way I like it). Even though we dined on a Friday night, it was busy but never overcrowded. We sat in the back dining room area away from the front door and the kitchen which was nice. The service was nothing special, but I rarely find the servers in sushi restaurants to be friendly. Our waters were always filled but there were quite a few times when I was looking around for our waitress when I needed a glass of wine. We started off with the Veggie Tempura which was very good. We tried a variety of rolls. The Crazy Maki, Unagi Maki, Fashion Maki, and Negi Hamachi Maki. Of course it was too much and we had to take some home but everything was fabulous and very fresh. I give them an A for presentation, service was a C+ at best and the food is A+ for sure. I really loved the ambiance of this cute little spot and I can't wait to take my family, being as they are avid sushi lovers. Bottom line. Nicki says check Sai Cafe out. read more

Neighborhood sushi gem! Tried several dishes throughout the dinner and all were quite good. Reasonable prices for the portions. Will be back! read more

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Sushi, great. Teriyaki chicken, excellent. I used to frequent this place before I moved here. It's just really good, fresh, well-prepared food. The service is nothing special, not bad. If you drive, be prepared to drive in circles for a spot. Otherwise, the el is right there. Probably a better bet. read more

Not bad, Lincoln Park....not bad. Despite looking like I live in Seattle, I felt like an affluent Japanese businessman sitting at the bar. The design and lighting of this place is perfect. Call me weird, but that stuff matters. Delicious sushi and a large Sapporo? Adequate dinner, if you ask me. read more

Sadly, Sai Cafe is now serving pre-cut fish in their nigiri, sashimi and maki rolls. Even worse, they don't display the pre-cut pieces at the sushi bar, retrieving them from bins below - perhaps to create the illusion they are preparing the fish per order to casual inspection. Sitting at the bar, I watched them slamming out sashimi orders in minutes that should take 20 minutes of preparation to get to your table. Pre-cut sushi oxidizes in the fridge, and tastes more and more bland the longer it's in there. I expect this at Dominick's, not a sushi restaurant - unfortunately the practice has afflicted even renowned establishments like Sai Cafe. On the plus side, some of the more exotic slices like saba, ikura and ama ebi were all very fresh - perhaps because they are so infrequently ordered. So the mega-popular cuts are stale, and the slices rarely ordered are fresh - makes a lot of sense, no? Tuna rolls were also generous and well seasoned. I think it would be amusing to start a sushi restaurant near some of these famous places and put a sign in my window saying "only fresh cut sushi" and see how quickly all the other places abandoned the practice. Pre-cut fish is no better than a steak someone heats to rare in the morning, then reheats for dinner hours later. read more

One word: spicycreamytakomaki. Seriously my favorite roll for some time now. I think the secret is in the orange tobiko. I'm not sure, it's just delicious. Sai has won over my vote for most consistently good fish. The rolls don't need to hide behind fancy plating, the fish is just really good. And there is almost always Uni, and it is fresh. I think we've been there one time when there was not uni. The staff know who we are now, we go there that often. At first when we used to come in in they'd say, aah, you are the ones who like uni - but now they just say, welcome back, how was your week! :-) The bar/waiting area and front seating is nice, when you can get it. It actually seems to be a family place - quite a few families there during the week, but not such that it would ruin the meal. The staff are consistent and friendly which is great. The owner comes out to check on the guests often. Definitely a go-to place, and I'd recommend it to others for sure! read more

Best sushi restaurant in Chicago! I started eating sushi in Chicago in 1979 when it first entered the dining scene and since then, have been to most of the popular sushi restaurants in the city to date. I have watched other sushi places come and go over the years, but Sai Cafe is one of the few that has lasted. That is due to their consistent quality and service. Sai Cafe has been around since '85 and I have been a loyal customer since then. Their sushi portions are huge in comparison to even the most expensive sushi bars in the city, yet their prices are modest in comparison. The quality of the seafood is outstanding and always fresh. Their appetizers are very good, too. I recommend their "Spicy Oyster Shooter". It's awesome. Their cooked menu is also quite good, but you come here for the sushi. They even have desserts which is novel for a sushi restaurant. It is located in the DePaul area, so finding street parking is challenging. They do have valet parking service if your patience gives out. The place gets crowded, especially on weekends. Reservations are highly recommended. Best time to go is early (before 7:00) to avoid crowds. read more

The maki and special rolls are great, but really I'd recommend going here most if you are a sashimi lover. Some of the best quality fish around. On a similar level as Macku Sushi, but without the trendy presentation and decor (plus it's a little less costly). Also, if you've never had fresh ground wasabi give it a try here, they do it well. I'd request to sit up front if possible, especially if you're making reservations for a date. Note to the management - on a cold night there is a hefty draft by the window in room 2. read more

Amazing!!!!! This is by far our favorite sushi place right now!! MUST haves are the Salmon gone wild (melt in your mouth mazing) pan seared scallops, creamy scallop maki, and the do the best unagi ive ever had. The quality of fish Is amazing. we also love the green tea creme brulee go ahead and order 2 though, you're not going to want to share. The service Is extremely prompt and they always take such great Care with us. Looking forward to our next sai night already! Yum! read more

Sai Cafe is an excellent place to get yourself fresh sushi and sashimi. The staff is friendly and courteous and they've a great bar area for you to enjoy a wide range of beverages while you wait for your table. Even though this place tends to get packed, the wait time is still manageable. The fish is extremely fresh and you do get a good selection off their menu. The Hamachi Jalepeno and Toro (definitely keep an eye out for this) is some of the best I've tasted around town. The pricing here is reasonable for the quality of fish you get. I've yet to have a trip to Sai that I've ended up regretting. This place is highly recommended. You'll probably need to put in a bit of work to find a parking spot in this area so try to carpool to minimize headaches. read more

Sai Cafe is odd. We have a friend in from out of town who originally wanted deep dish pizza, but we managed to talk her into some good sushi, instead. Sai Cafe is right around the corner and I'd never tried it, and after seeing the reviews here we figured it was worth a shot. We got there right after they opened for dinner (about 4:45), so the place was totally empty. While generally I would think was a good thing, allowing my friends & I to catch up in peace, it turned out to be a little strange. I guess because the place was empty, we had about 5 different waitresses sicked on us. They would show up about every 2 minutes to ask if everything was okay. They would constantly refill waters even after we said that we didn't want anymore. When my roommate joined us, they immediately brought her a hot towel. She took a few minutes to take off her coat and hug our visiting friend - and the waitress showed up, rather impatiently, to push the hot towel toward her and make her wash her hands. Perhaps the most bizarre thing was that toward the end of the meal, as my roommate was wiping her face with her napkin, one of our many waitresses came over and pulled the napkin OUT OF HER HANDS, then folded it onto the table and walked away. It was so damn weird. The sushi was pretty decent. The bagel roll was better than I thought it would be, with a good ratio of cream cheese and salmon, but the salmon was a little tough. I also got the spicy white tuna crunch rolls, and the tempura flakes were a lot better than what most places stick on their sushi, but the tuna was very mushy and the spicy sauce not extremely flavorful. My roommate was unimpressed with her tempura; she said it was too oily and soggy. Gyoza was really great, though. I think I would stick to ordering takeout from Sai if I did business with them again. My friend and roommate literally ran out of there exclaiming "Get me out of crazy town!" It was a bizarre experience. read more

Oh Sai. How your star has fallen. Sure, it's still pretty tasty and I will never complain about winding up here with the power old-school combo of KFG and KAM, Sai has started to rest on its laurels a bit too much for my taste. Came in like a wrecking ball around 8p on a Friday night - business was brisk but not slammed - started with house salad + ginger dressing (duller than I remember) and the "salmon gone wild" (belly, salmon roe, flying fish roe, chopped wasabi) - the fish is still fresh, slightly sweet, and lush, but as K remarked, the portion size as diminished slightly over the years - then moved into the toro tartare (tuna + fresh wasabs, black tobiko, and yam chips) - tasty, nice mix of mushy and crunchy, but did my heart pitter-patter with joy? No. In the past have loved the hamachi jalapeno, but I couldn't get any other takers tonight so I had to pass. Eased in to a salmon/avo roll - as expected, was fairly nice - I mean, it's hard to eff up that many glorious omega-3s - but, the rice was a bit off in terms of texture and was so bountiful that it took over the delicacy of the ingredients wrapped inside - also hit a veg roll (spinach, cuc, kampyo, oshinko, asparagus), tasted fine, but again, the rice was running the show instead of what was within. KFG hit the spicy white tuna crunch (roe, scallion, avo, tempura crunch), her perpetual favorite, and KAM went for the halloween maki (salmon, wasabi, tobiko, green been tempura) - both were well enjoyed. Miso is $2, salads are around $7, the sashimi starters are $16-21, hot apps (yako tori, tempura, soft shell) range from $7-14, noodles around $12-15, non-fancy maki are $7-10, fussier choices are $12-14. I don't remember whether it's one or two pieces per order of sush - most clock in at $3-4. Overall, it's still a fine place to get your raw on, but it's no longer the belle of the ball. read more

I would like to start off by saying that.... Sai Cafe is my FAVORITE restaurant. (and this is a really long review) They deserve an indefinite amount of stars. yes. really. I've been here more than 3 dozen times and they always know how to treat me tummy good. real good. I love fish. I love raw fish. Sai has plenty of it... Generous cuts that are so fresh and buttery soft that I could just gobble it all up. I always order a sashimi platter when I dine here...Slices of glistening hamachi and sake placed in front of me....no... nothing else makes me more excited. Sai Cafe makes the best Toro Tartare appetizer. In fact, I love it so much I wouldn't mind naming my first child Toro... or Tartare (I'm pretty sure my future husband wouldn't enjoy it all that much though). If I could, I wouldn't share a single piece of it with anyone. Next best appetizer goes to their Oyster Shooters. Those things are orgasmic. I've had them at Bob Sans and Matsuyas before and they have nothing on Sai. The oysters are cold and fresh and the sauce compliments the flavors so well...*drools* The Soft Shell Crab appetizer here is pretty good too. They do a great job on frying them, crispy without being oily. It comes with this light and crisp cucumber type dipping sauce that goes really well with the soft shell crabs. For Maki, I usually order the White Tuna Crunch and Volcano Roll (obviously very popular here judging from all the other Yelp reviews...). Both are yummy and plated really well but I'm not much of a roll person... I end up still ordering them anyways... I love Uni. Sai always serves up the freshest, sweetest pieces of Uni. They also have a yummy Yaki Soba and Udon that I order from time to time to fulfill my noodle cravings. I would also recommend the Dynamite, Goy-Za, and Scallop appetizers but you have to try the Toro Tartare and Oyster Shooters before you order anything else (or I'll be mad at you). I'm impressed that their entrees are so nicely prepared too. I had their Sea Bass and Teriyaki Chicken entres. Usually Japanese restaurants are either good at sushi or their hot dishes and Sai perfects both with such ease For dessert, they have an awesome Green Tea Crme Brule and Chocolate Mousse cake (comes in the shape of a pyramid. Awesome!). I've also had their Mochi and ice cream. All recommended. The Dimly lit rooms and exposed brick walls make the restaurant so inviting. It's quiet enough for people around the table to hear you and noisy enough to know that everyone is having fun and the table over isn't listening in on your conversations. The waitresses are great and the service is prompt. Once in a while, the owners would move from table to table for a little conversation and make sure everything is going good. I'm a bit hesitant writing this review. I can usually get a table here on Fridays and Saturdays being a walkin so I hope you Yelpers dont fill up all the ables before I get there.... grrr. But if you do, don't mind if I join. =) read more

The sushi rolls aren't the best I've had in the city but they sure hit the spot. My favorites---spicy white tuna crunch, dragon and volcano. The fresh pieces of salmon (nama sake) and eel (unagi) BLOW MY MIND. Sai has the BEST fresh sushi pieces in Chicago--imported from all over the world (ex. nama sake comes from our friends in Alaska.) I also love the Mochi ice cream for a tasty happy ending. The red bean flavor really gets me there. :) The staff is always so so friendly and extremely helpful! The decor could use a little umm feng shui. It's not your usual trendy sushi bar. Lastly, if the dessert doesn't get you the happy ending--the bartender is dreamy and easy on the eyes. It'll get you started. Ha ;) read more

The fish here is fresh. But Sai probably should be relegated to local sushi shop status rather than a destination. The menu, as many have mentioned is pretty old-school, nothing particularly fancy - although the dynamite and the tora nome (tiger eyes) definitely caught my eye on the hot appetizer list, but the one appetizer ordered, the seaweed salad was no good. I brought out the usual measuring stick - chirashi. Fish was large and juicy, but the sushi rice...couldn't quite put my finger on it, it wasn't particularly mushy or hard or too vinegary, but something wasn't quite right. Another barometer I like to use is the ubiquitous California roll - I'll never order it but if it's incidental to someone's order I'll try it. Granted, it's not really Japanese, but you figure if they don't make that right, well, it's not a good sign! They used fake crab, and they put way too many cucumbers in there, was not good. The volcano roll was a nice concept and well presented, but it was a tad too creamy. Likewise, the spicy white tuna crunch also looked nice, and as Bethany L mentioned, the tempura flakes were a nice touch, but the tuna itself was weird (def not on par w/the white tuna sashimi in my chirashi) and not spicy enough. Service was pretty good, water was refilled multiple times, and while doing my usual ritual of trying to remember all my nihongo for the various fish, the manager/hostess noticed and came over and pointed out what was what, so that was nice. Overall, solid place for fish. If it's rolls you want, head over to Sushi Wabi. read more

Just moved to the neighborhood - my parents said they used to come here when they lived in the hood 30 years ago! We eat sushi at least once a week and know our sushi - but aren't snobs about it. We've been to Sai twice in the last 2 weeks. Excellent food!!! Had lots of different sushi the first time - great selection, flavors and freshness! Our waitress was a bit confused and got a couple items from our order wrong but it was OK. Last night we sat at the sushi bar and had a great time. Ordered the omakase which was superb! A great mix of cold food, hot food, sushi and desert. It's pricey but if you're considering it - go for it! Had good chat with the sushi chef and the owner James. For sure will be a new regular spot for us. read more

ok, ok, ok, this wont be popular, BUT this place is OK. Its a solid place with decent sushi. I cant say its authentic, because its not, but its good. This is for the lincoln park crowd, and I think its a great local joint. Its a fab local spot and great for locals. I wouldnt go out of my way to eat here, and hence I cant give it 4 stars. Its not jap owned, and that does play a part in my review and sushi is truly an art. I was born and raised in the city and have had sushi all over, and this place is ok..I have had better sushi in scottsdale. If you want authentic but wont have the same atmosphere, go to Katsu. read more

I want to give this restaurant five stars, but I can't. I can't, because if you can't fit one piece of maki in your mouth, the maki is too big. I don't want to bite maki, and get all of the cucumber and none of the crab stick or tempura shrimp. And then you eat the next bite, and it's all of the fishy items and none of the veggies. That said, the food all tasted really, really great. I loved each roll I ate, and the nigiri was nicely priced and very, very fresh. (Escolar, FTW!) I really did enjoy my meal here, and I'd be more than happy to eat at Sai again. We're on an austerity budget save for special occasions, but someday I'll be able to come back. read more

If you're looking for a "scene", techno-music pumping in the background, or hip, young, model-like disaffected servers dressed in all black - try one of the other many places in the city. Sai won't be the place for you. But if you want quality sushi at reasonable prices and the ability to have a conversation with your dining partners without shouting - Sai is it. Sai was the first sushi restaurant I went to when I moved to Chicago almost a decade ago. I no longer live close by and I still go there - even for take out. I've eaten at all different kinds of sushi places all over this city and hands down - Sai's sushi is still the best quality by far. read more

I live on the same street as this place just a minute walk so it was only natural that I would order food from here for takeout. I ordered their Shrimp Japanese Fried Rice and honestly did not like it much. The taste was a little burnt and the portion was small. However, I decided just because it was so close to just dine in one day and had a much better experience! They are definitely known for their sushi so I just should have stuck to that originally. I got my usual at a sushi place, a Chirashi, and it was great. The pieces of fish were like slabs of fish really, cut very thick and neat so you really got your money's worth. I felt like treating myself even more so I had a glass of red wine to go with it and going all out is perfect in a restaurant this beautiful. The outside is deceiving because the interior is gorgeous. Overall, I think if you just stick to sushi you will have a great experience. read more

I have been in this place several times. What can I say? The food is fresh and tasty, and every dish has a beautiful appereance. The environment is really nice, the glass doors and the bar look classy, and if is packed (this place gets crowded every single day of the week), you can always eat and drink at the bar. It is a little expensive but you cannot expect anything different. Ask for the "escolar" and you will feel that sushi melting in your mouth. The anagi is superb, and although the service is not the best of the world, hey I always come back for the food! read more

I got lost the first time I went to Sai Cafe because the woman on the phone gave me the wrong address. How do you give the wrong address to the place you work for?? That's just bad customer service. Other than that, we came here for a birthday dinner for some friends and had a great time. The outside of the restaurant is a little deceiving because inside is quite nice. There's not too much of an impressive sushi menu, and with four people, we were able to order everything we wanted to try. They were very accommodating even though we were late due to getting lost and we also brought a cake for them to serve. We ordered all rolls and they were good, but not great. Prices were also very decent. I had a great time though. I came back again the second time and didn't find it too impressive. I was stuck on what to order, because it felt like I was going to end up ordering what I did the first time. It seemed like I got all there is to get out of it the first time around. There's other places in the city for good cheap sushi that I would rather revisit. read more

Wow. How did it take me so long to get here? I was blown away by how fantastic the soft shell crab maki was -- insane! I can't wait to go back and try out more of their menu. I was a big fan of their Halloween specialty maki as well. A great place to take a date or small group of friends. The presentation and service was stellar on top of everything else. read more

by no means am I a sushi expert, but this was great. We had a pre-arranged menu taken care of as this was part of a big group dinner. I don't fully remember everything so I'll just hit some of the high points. The black cod dish was probably the best thing that we had on the night, and it was no small feat. The rolls were really tasty and they had some lobster rolls that i couldn't stop shoving into my mouth. We also had some grilled hamachi collar that made a great capper on the night. The service was great the entire dinner and extremely friendly. They let us go at our own pace and we never felt rushed but we didn't feel like it was taking a long time as well. read more

Sai Cafe has been my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago for the past 3 years. It's a nice and casual ambiance and the maki rolls are excellent. My all time favorite sushi rolls are the Spicy White Tuna Crunch rolls they serve. I've taken a lot of sushi fans here and the Spicy White Tuna Crunch has won the hearts of many. The mochi is yummy too. read more

I may be biased because my boyfriend* and I went to Sai Cafe on our first date - but....it was honestly a great little spot. In addition to all your classic sushi favorites, Sai Cafe's custom maki rolls and entrees are definitely worth trying. The Chilean sea bass was fantastic - cooked and seasoned to perfection. If you're feeling adventurous order the Volcano Maki - the plating for the dish is done extremely well and looks like a mini volcano when it arrives at your table. Sai Cafe has wide appeal - you can dress for the night or go casual - no one's there to check you out, everyone's there for the kickin' food. *My girlfriend wrote this, she's from Toronto and not on Yelp. read more

With service this good I'll leave my home for a cup of Miso just to say hi to the friendly, professional, kind people who work at Sai. Even when it's zero degrees outside. The inside was recently redone to be much more accomodating to people who like to go alone, the food is great, always fresh, even on Mondays and Tuesdays when other sushi places give you the weekend leftovers. I highly recommend Sai Cafe! Enjoy! read more

OVERALL: Really like this place, food was great, and i left feeling like it was a good experience. ATMOSPHERE: Abit fancy, and would be a place to go with a date. I imagine mood lighting and music at the right time of night. And I loved the fact that the waitress brought hot towels to the table nice. FOOD: Fresh and good. I had fried sushi. LOCATION: Lincoln Park, but college student area. Some shops are close by the restaurant. PRICE: $$, not too bad. read more

A place we have frequented over the years. Last week hoping for some traditional Japanese fare, we went to Sai Cafe. It was excellent. Their sushi was fresh. The gomae delicious. Over the years, we have found that Sai Cafe can be spotty but it was excellent on our recent visit. read more