First time dining at the Arlington Heights location! I usually go to the Libertyville Shakou, so I was excited to try this one with a friend who is gluten-free. We ordered the Lemon Buttered Sea Bass -- pan-fried Australian sea bass with lemon butter sauce, sautéed asparagus and white rice. The sea bass was perfectly seasoned and really good! The rice, unfortunately, was a bit hard and cold, so that wasn't my favorite. We also got the Secret Garden Roll with avocado, greens, cucumber, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms and pickled radish, rolled in black rice and wrapped in soy paper. Vegetarian and gluten-free. For a gluten-free option, this was actually pleasant and tasty! The restaurant itself is chic and fun, and I think it's a great spot for a date night. The only downside for me was the music. It was SO loud that I felt like I was shouting the entire time just to have a conversation. Overall, we had a nice meal and I'm glad I finally checked out the Arlington Heights location! read more

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Made a 6:30 reservation here on a Friday because I was given a gift card for Shakou. The arrival / seating was disappointing. We had to stand in the lobby for 5 minutes without much information, while other groups who came in without a reservation after us were seated before us. Furthermore, the reservation was for the "Patio" and while technically we were seated on the "Patio", I would say it was the bottom rung of the patio. Sat at the first table outside the restaurant, underneath the awning with a bird's nest overhead chirping the entire time. Essentially in my opinion, when you make a reservation somewhere, you don't really expect to be seated in probably the worst location they have to offer. Food was pretty decent. We had two bowls basically. Both were okay, like any Sushi style restaurant, prices were a bit high, especially considering their location in the heart of the AH downtown. I would come again, but for a first try it wasn't anything special for sure. read more

Had a reservation for three people and was impressed right away -- the interior was beautiful and had a really nice atmosphere. It was pretty busy, probably because there was a food fest happening outside, but we were seated on time. I started with a blackberry mocktail, which was refreshing and not too sweet. For appetizers, we tried the lobster and shishito peppers -- both were delicious! The lobster paired perfectly with the dip, and the peppers had just the right amount of flavor. Unfortunately, service was on the slower side. Our server checked in only occasionally, and the entrées took quite a while to come out. I ordered the teriyaki salmon, which ended up being overcooked and a bit charred on the side, so it wasn't very enjoyable. The couscous and veggies that came with it, however, were really good. Overall, it was a nice spot with great ambiance and appetizers, but the slow service and overcooked entrée left me unsure if I'd come back to this location. read more

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It was a great dinner experience overall:) The music is a bit loud and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hear/participate in our group conversation. But I managed. Food and service was good:) I definitely want to make another dinner visit or maybe lunch where I can sit outside. The vibe here seems to be kinda hip. Good for drinks before your next stop. I also noticed the Metra about a block or two away. What a great location! read more

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I had family in town for the holidays and we're looking for a last-minute place to go and I have not been to this location in about seven years and we were feeling sushi so we were able to secure a reservation. There were people at the restaurant, but it was not super crowded so when we ordered our drinks, it took quite a long time to get the first round so we're a little confused about that. After our drinks, we ordered our Nigiri pieces and we waited for quite some time for those to be completed and then we thought to ourselves maybe we should've ordered all of our food together because by the time we get our rolls, it will be like 10 PM at night. The pieces finally came. They were good and then a while after we got our sushi rolls that we ordered for our entrée. They were also very good. The best one was the one that I posted in the pictures. I forgot what it was called, but it was a spicy roll of some sort. The service was slow, but our server was also very nice. The drinks were so so but the price point for the drinks was not bad so I'll give them that. It always looks very nice. Inside in the room is well lit. It's not super dark but it's not super light so it's a nice little date night spot. I would suggest going when it's not busy if you don't wanna wait five hours for your food. read more

Shakou - Arlington Heights - Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Definitely our go to spot for summer, the sushi and sake combo is amazing! We try to get an outdoor table and watch the Arlington Heights crowd before we head over to Metropolis theater for a show. read more

Shakou upon entrance lets the atmosphere set the tone. It's sleek, modern, and energetic without being over-the-top. There's a kind of "night out" vibe here, even if you're just grabbing dinner on a random weeknight. The menu is creative, with specialty rolls and fusion-style dishes that feel a little more elevated than your standard lineup. When it's on, it's really on. Service is iffy to be honest. Staff is attentive and knowledgeable, and the whole experience feels polished. Drinks are well-crafted, and the patio (when open) adds a whole extra layer to the experience. That said, this is where the missing fifth star lives. Shakou can be a little inconsistent. Some visits feel like a five-star experience, others land closer to "really good, but not unforgettable." A few dishes might lean a bit too sweet or not quite balance the flavors, and during busier times, things can feel a little rushed or loud. But even with that, it's still an easy recommendation. This is a great spot when you want sushi that feels a little more upscale without going full fine dining. It's stylish, flavorful, and usually delivers a really solid experience. Four stars, comfortably... with just enough flashes of brilliance to make you keep coming back! read more

Another fantastic spot in downtown Arlington Heights! I loved Shakou! Everything about it was 5/5 without a doubt. The atmosphere was awesome and very different from other sushi places(at least ones I've been to). Four of us came here for dinner on a Friday and the place was buzzing. It's very modern and beautiful. It was dark for dinner service and the music was similar to music you'd hear in a club. Perfect for a Friday night! A very fun and upbeat vibe. The service was great from the start. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. I ordered the Urban Heat signature maki rolls and they were incredible! If you like your rolls spicy, you'll love them! They weren't overly spicy which was great. My boyfriend ordered the golden lobster signature maki rolls. The lobster tempura was delicious and paired perfectly with the other ingredients. I tried one and wanted more! I'll be ordering those next time I'm here. Everyone at our table ordered a side of fried rice and loved it. Some places have memorable fried rice and Shakou is one of them. It's definitely worth ordering it with your dinner! My brother ordered egg rolls as an appetizer and those were great too. They had so much flavor and were easy to eat. Shakou also has a really nice drink menu. We all found a cocktail that we really liked. I ordered the blackberry mojito and it was sweet and refreshing. I highly recommend dining here, especially if you're a sushi fanatic like myself! read more

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Been here twice. Love the food. Table service was fantastic. Don't sit at the bar unless you're a regular or you'll feel like a second class citizen. First time I got a table because every single bar seat was "reserved". I'll go to Barrington, a bit more drive, but never felt like I should go somewhere else. read more

I was with my Mom, Dad, and brother and we were like let's go to some sushi so we go to this restaurant. This was probably the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. The waiter was nice. And the fried rice was really good. Everything else sucked. My got a dish, I don't know the name but she said it was terrible so my dad had to eat it. He got sick and is now on the hospital. The place looks cool but for what. And now my mom is sick, but she is feeling a little bit better than my dad. Shakou do better!!! And fire your manager he's a bitch!!! Manager didn't say goodbye or anything he just asked if we payed which we did. read more

It was a promising start entering Shakou. Upscale, modern atmosphere, clean cool air inside. Clean floors, tables, and chairs. Nice outside seating area, but we decided to eat indoors. Service was good, although pretty slow considering the restaurant was only about 1/3 full. Food was good, but not great. The highlight of the meal was the 7 Spicy Tuna appetizer. The sushi rolls were all good, but not fantastic. If this was a cheaper restaurant, I would have rated it higher, but $175 for two people (1 app, sushi, and 3 cocktails) should yield superior food, and it didn't. The presentation of the sushi was also quite mundane considering the price per roll ($21-$26/ea). The basic maki, such as spicy tuna was $11/ea and only 5 pieces, no cucumber or anything. Don't get me wrong, everything tasted fresh, but nothing "wowed" me, and it should, for the price. Everything else was fine. I really liked the atmosphere except their A/C sounds like the low rumbling of a train and was obnoxious. All in all, if this place was half the price and had quicker service, it would be 5 stars. But at this price, it is sadly a 3. I could see rating them higher if they did half priced maki for happy hour or something, but right now, I don't think it's a great value. read more

Let me say that my friends who do not particularly fancy sushi actually came to liking it after dining in. The place is sectioned off in two areas and lighting was perfect. Not too bright that it becomes intruding and not too dim to the point where you are put to sleep. The udon had a very rich brothy taste and the tempura were fried to perfection. No complaints on the katsu either. I ordered the lychee drink and it was presently beautifully. For service, the waitress kept checking in on us every 10 minutes to ensure that our needs were met. Parking can pose a little challenge as there is practically nothing besides the public spaces a few minutes walk away. read more

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Big fan of Shakou; came here on a Friday night on the hunt for sushi. FYI - this place is a tad lively on a Friday (which I liked.) Didn't have to wait long for service, and the waitress was very helpful. I'm a newly minted vegan, and needed help navigating the menu. In addition to the miso soup, the server recommended two rolls: the midori and the secret garden. One of these rolls was soooo good, and I think it was the midori (forgive me peeps for my poor recollection.) Too full to even attempt desert. The Japanese whiskey selection wasn't robust, but they have a good number of specialty cocktails. Also the prices were reasonable, and as I mentioned above - the service was outstanding. I'll definitely check this place out again in the future. read more

This restaurant never disappoints. I highly recommend to do the boat option. Do chef selection. It has great atmosphere, friendly host, will come back again. read more

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Shakou provides a modern yet classy ambiance inside and out. The interior is dimly lit with surprisingly upbeat pop music in the background. The waitress was very friendly and enthusiastically listed the various drink specials, stating that the hibiscus was made in-house, which sold me on trying the scarlet night cocktail. It was very good but exceptionally strong. Fresh would be the word to describe all the food of the night. We started off with the shrimp and vegetable tempura which was lightly battered and came with a tasty sauce. The batter did not overpower the actual food underneath which was nice. For the entrée, I had the barramundi which was sea bass cooked in parchment paper with vegetables and seasoning. Both the fish and vegetables were cooked nicely and were once again, very fresh. My friends had the salmon poke bowl and the miso ramen. I hesitantly tried the salmon as I'd never tried raw fish before. It was surprisingly not bad but was spicy and had a unique texture. All ingredients in the dish combined nicely, especially the rice. If you're looking for an affordable, high quality Japanese restaurant, you can't go wrong with Shakou. read more

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We sat outside, there was a nice breeze. The Calamari was delicious. Perfectly crisp and tender, with the edible shell... I polished it off. I had something Udon, which was Fabulous. I'ml ooking forward to trying something else, soon. read more

This restaurant is truly phenomenal. Located in downtown Arlington Heights, Shakou is an elegant restaurant serving mostly Japanese food (they're known for their sushi). I've tried a lot of things on their menu, and the items I recommend most are the Dragon Fire roll, seven spicy ahi, Black Widow roll, Green Dragon roll, calamari, and their poke bowl. My favorite cocktail here is the lychee martini. Besides the food here being top-tier, the service here is also excellent. Every server I've ever had was so attentive and friendly. The manager, Gabby C, is the best, too! Shakou is perfect for all occasions - date nights, going out with friends, getting dinner with your family, birthdays, anniversaries, anything. The food here is delectable, the service is impeccable, and the place itself is so clean and luxurious. In the summertime, they have the outdoor and all the windows open, so there's even more space. The ONLY downside are the wait times because this place is always poppin', so make that reservation beforehand! All in all, if you don't go to Shakou, you're missing out! read more

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I just picked up a $300+ carry out order. When I went to pick up at the promised time, it wasn't ready. When it came out, it was wrong. By the time everything was fixed, it was 25 minutes past the promised time and now I am late to my event. I asked to speak to the manager and all she offered was that perhaps it was miscommunication. I understand mistakes happen but am very unhappy with how it was handled. The restaurant was practically empty at this time. They could have offered me a beverage and a seat while I waited since they were the ones in the wrong, instead the hostess asked me to "step aside and wait." I will not be coming back to Shakou. read more

I had a terrible experience at the Arlington Heights location on 10/18/25 around 5:15pm. My 15 year son and I were looking forward to enjoying a nice father/son dinner at his favorite sushi restaurant. We ordered egg rolls, and four Signature Maki Rolls. We were enjoying our meal until my son said to me "Dad, I think there's a bug swimming in my food". I looked over and noticed a live cockroach swimming in his soy sauce dish. He immediately looked disgusted at which time I called over the waitress. She quickly took away the dish and later came back with the manager who told me that they just had an inspection and this has never happened before but has been more likely to happen in outdoor seating. The manager never returned to the table to apologize but the waitress came back and apologized and said we will not be charged. We immediately got up and walked out having left over half of our food uneaten. As I walked out, I walked over to the same manager who was preoccupied delivering dishes to other customers and told him I'm leaving his restaurant. He apologized again but never once offered to provide any additional customer service kindness for the horrible experience. I was astounded that the manager did not handle this in a more customer friendly manner. I will never return to any Shakou location and will be certain to share this horrible experience with many of my friends, family and acquaintances. I regret not having the opportunity to take a photo before the waitress removed the dish. Shakou owners, you lost a very loyal customer forever!!! read more

Came here with my family to celebrate my mom's bday. It appeared they were short of staff because we had to wait quite a while for our waiter to come to us each time. I felt rather bad for him because he was working nonstop! The food was just OK - generous portions on their rolls. I had the chirashi bowl and to be honest I probably wouldn't order it from there again for the price I paid. If you had to choose I say stick to rolls. Most of them are cooked rolls and very few with fresh fish. read more

The food isn't bad, but it's absurdly expensive and it takes forever to prepare. I'd go elsewhere if you're looking for sushi.

We came here and sat on the patio to celebrate a milestone for a friend. I love the outdoor seating here. This area in Arlington Heights in the summer is my favorite! The food was amazing. I got the dragon fire roll which was spicy and fresh. Super delicious! Our waitress was so kind. She was attentive and really sweet and surprised us with the celebratory dessert. We will definitely be back! read more

Shakou - Arlington Heights - Sushi Bars Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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The food was good and came out super quick and ambiance was great. Only problem was the service. Hostess had to come and take our order and get our drinks after we sat for a while waiting for our server. Minimal service received and the bar tender had to call server to get us our check. read more

Shakou - Arlington Heights - Two person boat - Sushi Bars Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Late post, went there for dinner on Friday night. My first visit and truly enjoyed our meal. I had sweet potatoes maki which was delicious and had shrimp and scallops bowl. My friend had maki rolls and need to try the snow cosmos! Great service. Highly recommend to make reservations. This place gets crowded. read more

Had a 6:15 dinner reservation yesterday. Got there about 20 minutes early. They told us they were busy and we would have to wait and be seated closer to our reservation time. We requested the main dining room, but could see that there were four high tops open the entire time we waited. They finally called us at 6:20...and they offered us the high tops...the same ones that sat empty the entire time we waited! We walked out. I never had this type of experience at the Park Ridge Shakou. read more

Came here for Valentine's dinner and left highly satisfied with the quality of food and service! We ended up ordering their Shumai soup and seafood miso to start. Super flavorful broths and would definitely order again. We also ordered the chefs choice sushi boat for two as our main course for the evening. All the fish they included were fresh and the boat came out super fast! Will definitely be back to try their higher quality cut of fish like their chu-toro and o-toro. read more

Shakou - Arlington Heights - Sushi boat for 2 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

I always enjoy this place. The service was great, food was good. The 7 spicy tuna app is my favorite thing I have tried here. Just the perfect bite of crispy rice, fresh tuna, and spice. The rolls were good. Not fantastic but good sushi. The fried rice was solid. The reason for the 4 stars - it is so pricey. read more

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My girlfriend brought us here for our anniversary dinner in July. Not sure if there is specified parking for this area. Looks like all street parking. The block was blocked off for seating due to COVID. The indoor looked nice, we walked through it on the way out to where we were seated at high top tables outside. They utilized no-touch menu's that you load on your own device. Got some of their fruity cocktails and they were nice. Could taste the alcohol in the martini but not so much in the others.,.. whether thats good or bad, I'll leave it to you. We got the salmon carpaccio, which is something I tend to get anywhere if its on the menu. It was very good. Even my gf who doesn't actually like seafood was able to eat it. We got three total rolls. I believe it was the raging bull, cali roll, and a philly roll. They were all good, but nothing blew my mind or anything. I think they have very solid food and service, but since the prices are on the high end, its not a place I would frequent over a much more affordable place with comparable food. I also prefer fresh salmon in my sushi. Their menu didn't have that many options that highlighted salmon. read more

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A great Japanese restaurant in downtown Arlington Heights. We've been here several times and the food is always at a very high quality. We ordered the bulgogi, the sweet and chili chicken and the salmon poke bowl. All were top notch. Be prepared to spend a little more than usual but the prices are in line with the food and experience you get here. A great spot to go if you're downtown! read more

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If it was possible to give a restaurant 6 stars, I would give this meal a 7! The seven spicy ahi tuna appetizer is an absolute must if you are coming here. It was so good I ordered one to start and one for dessert! This appetizer is flavored like nothing I've ever had before. It's umami flavor simply left me shocked. I will 100% be back for this alone! To accompany this I had a 20oz Sapporo beer (which was also delicious) for my roll I went with the urban heat - very good and filling, although possibly higher in price than it is worth. For dessert, like I said, we orders the seven spicy ahi tuna ... again! Left feeling full and extremely happy. Service was fast but gave us our space and that was much appreciated, especially when catching up with an old friend! Overall 7/5 stars here. Well worth the price for the quality you receive. TIP: If you have a Costco membership, they sell $100 shakou gift cards for $80, which can help bring the cost down. Can't wait to come back here! read more

Shakou - Arlington Heights - Seven Spicy Ahi - OTG - Sushi Bars Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Shakou is fantastic! Always high grade sushi served by an upbeat professional staff. Space has a city like vibe which is a hard find in the burbs. read more

The food was so delicious. If your a sushi lover this is a must place to visit. I asked the waiter for his recommendations on appetizers and sushi. He did not disappoint and he was very attentive towards us. I love coming here because it feels like your in the city and the food and drinks are always delicious. It was my friends first time going and she loved it. Definitely coming back. read more

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We were in at 7 pm on Saturday night. Lots of families with small kids. The music was horrendously loud. I felt like I was in a Rush Street nightclub in 1985. read more

I highly suggest eating in their patio area because their a/c doesn't really work inside. It was the same temperature inside as it was outside, but there was not much air circulation when we sat inside. Luckily, we sat by the door where the waiters were going in and out all the time to serve the people outside so we got a fresh breeze here and there. I was sweating as I was waiting and eating my food...not a pleasant feeling. The food was alright and overpriced. I got the black widow and it was a total of 8 small pieces for $22. The scallops had a rubbery texture which I was not a fan of. It looked like banana slices on top of the pieces. I tried the urban heat and that was much better if you like spicy food. You get 10 big pieces for $19. We had the bulgogi egg roll, but you can't really taste the bulgogi unfortunately. If you get a poke bowl, it will be served in a takeout plastic bowl because they didn't have real bowls yet since it's a new item on their menu. It looked very tacky compared to everyone else at our table who had real dish plates for their food. The teriyaki entree with salmon is a big bang for your buck. The salmon is huge and the portion is large. The Asian pear martini has a beautiful presentation but the drink is not cold. I have to give a shoutout to the waiters and staff for they were working extra hard. They were very busy and sweating like crazy bc it was hot inside and outside. Our waitress was also super nice. read more

A disappointing visit on a Friday evening. The place was busy and hectic. Chatter carried all over the open layout of the dining room making it so loud to a point where it was uncomfortable. Adding to the injury, they decided to play loud music - we had to shout to talk. The calamari pleasant yet oily, ocean drive sushi was refreshing, black widow mushy too sweet yet with a pleasant taste of scallop, pink panther had too much rice, and niku niku not very fresh. The sushi was not well executed with the exception of ocean drive, and the loudness made for an uncomfortable visit. read more

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02/04/19 - My friend and wife invited me and my wife out to dinner to Shakou in Arlington Heights. The interior of all the Shakou's are beautifully designed. They have a signature look that they seem to use as a prototype for all their restaurants. Seafood, chicken, beef or pork dinners. Appetizers They have a pretty large menu selection everything ranging from sushi boats for 2 or 4 people to individual sushi or sashimi. There are dinners w/seafood, chicken, beef or pork dinners. Appetizer options * Chilean Sea Bass was outstanding - 5 Stars * Chicken Katsu was a huge disappointment. Usually chicken Katsu has a light flaky panko batter that is crispy. The batter on this Katsu wasn't prepared correctly 2 Stars * Shrimp & Scallops - I've had this before, nice plump scallops & shrimp over a bed of risotto w/tempura asparagus pieces. This is pretty good, but not earth shattering. 4 Stars * Chicken Teriyaki - it looked good, but I can't comment because I never had it before..... Overall the ambiance is 5 stars, the service was outstanding 5 stars, the food 2.3501 to 4.00235 (thanks Ahmad's rating scale lol). Overall I give the food a 4. My friends 5.00 The ambiance, company & service is what made this a great evening. Thanks you guys for a fun evening read more

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Wow - so good! This was our first time here. There were 5 of us. Our experience was SO good! We had a reservation so we were seated immediately. We received water quickly. After a short time of reviewing the drink menu, our drink orders were taken. Our drinks came timely. Everyone enjoyed them. We ordered some sushi rolls to start. So good! We ordered our meals and they were brought out timely. I have to add that our server was very helpful to me making my drink and meal selections. I had the Short Rib and it was amazing. So tender and so flavorful. My wife had the Sea Bass and I tried it. Wow - also very good. All said, this was a great evening and a great meal. We'd come back. read more

Shakou - Arlington Heights - Beef short rib. Very tender and very tasty. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

This restaurant was a pretty mixed experience for me. We ate at this restaurant as a "plan B", so we walked in on a Friday night without a reservation. No reservation meant that we were immediately told we had to wait 45 minutes. We took a seat at the bar area to wait for the table. The bar area was very full, making it noticeably hot. There was loud music making it difficult to hear the person sitting next to me. Some might really like this kind of scene, but I guess it just didn't feel like the atmosphere I expected from a Japanese restaurant. After a lengthy wait, we were finally seated in an area that was much more comfortable as it was much cooler and quieter. I ordered a bowl of ramen noodles (Shio or Tonkotsu, I can't remember) with extra pork. The ramen was phenomenal! Our waitress was also generally attentive and patient with us. In the end, I would consider going back as I really enjoyed the food. But, I probably wouldn't do so without a reservation on a busy night, and I would probably also try to avoid any night where there is a "club like" atmosphere if possible. read more

So very disappointed at Shakou last night. We started with Seven Spicy Ahi, which was good as usual. But then we tried the Dragon Fire roll. I had to send it back, it tasted so fishy (yes, I know it's fish). Decided on Thai Chicken Lettuce wraps. I did not read the description of the dish, I would never have ordered it. It was tasteless & unimaginative. Limp lettuce leaves, a few slices of plain grilled chicken, halved grape tomatoes, long, curly strips of carrots, too chunky pieces of cucumber and bean sprouts. Horrible! I've never seen lettuce wraps like this. Not anxious to go back here. read more

Shakou - Arlington Heights - Thai chicken wrap - Sushi Bars Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

The decor is rather striking, quite modern minimalism. Much of the seating is large tables accommodating at least six which is very nice. The smaller tables are very comfortable looking, they seem very inviting with like living room chairs. Also nice is the outdoor seating. Finally, the staff is exceptionally friendly, kind, and courteous. However, the food was nothing special. We started with 2 rolls that were adequate. I had a salmon salad that was a lot of lettuce and I not particularly sizable portion of salmon; I also don't like that the fish was fried. My husband had a fish ((cod) and chips. The sandwich is served on a pretzel bun which I normally love but thought was just ok. The sandwich was very messy. The fries were pretty darn good. The price for the lunch specials was relatively reasonable. read more

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