Hubby and I stopped by for a weeknight dinner and there was only one other table occupied. I don't know why but we struggled to make a decision about what to eat. Our waitress patiently kept checking on us to see if we were ready to order. We started off with the agedashi tofu which we enjoyed. It was delightfully crispy and well seasoned. We also shared the spicy tuna roll, tuna crunch roll, sushi 21 roll (tuna, salmon, avocado, sesame seed, scallion), and shrimp tempura roll. The rolls were okay and were tiny. The sushi 21 roll was the best roll of the ones we tried but it really tasted like they used guacamole as an avocado substitute. We also split an udon which was average. The service was great! Our waitress came by to see how we were doing throughout our meal and my tea cup was never empty (I drink a lot of fluids). read more

I ordered their lunch special, the three tuna rolls. I received a spoiled, white colored tuna roll. It is supposed to be red. I don't know how the hell they had the balls to serve this knowing damn well People know what fresh tuna is supposed to look like read more

Sushi 21 - They gave me white, spoiled tuna! yum - Japanese Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Went here last night for dinner with 3 other people. We decided to get the sashimi course meal. First the miso soup came out with the salad. Then agedashi tofu (a cube of deep fried soft tofu in soy sauce). Tempura fried shrimp and veggies. Edamame. Sashimi platter (with fresh salmon, tuna, flounder, etc). Spicy tuna hand rolls. Raw oysters on the half shell with chogochujang (gochujang with vinegar and sugar). Baked mussels with spicy mayo. Maki (spicy tuna maki, dragon roll, and some weird fried sweet potato one that was still raw). Perfectly fried whole fish with spicy sauce (my favorite of the night!). This rice porridge thing, kinda (which is the bottom of the rice pot if you leave it cooking a little longer, it gets hard, almost like a cracker and was cooked with water) with shrimp sauce. Maewoontang (spicy fish stew made from the bones of the flounder from the sashimi platter). And ended with a scoop of ice cream. Over all, the food was good. I just didn't like that they put a weird tempura fried sweet potato in one of the maki. It was basically raw and I was not expecting sweet potato. Also, the menu said one of the courses was soft shell crab, but that never came out so we asked about it and the server said they don't have it. When we asked what it was replaced with, he had no idea. I think they should have clarified that when we ordered it because we were looking forward to that. Btw, you get free refills on miso soup after the first course. There are tanks in the middle of the restaurant. With each order, the chef takes the fish out of the tanks to prepare them. Most likely for part of the sashimi platter and the whole fried fish. We couldn't even finish the maewoontang at the end of the meal. I tried it and it was really watery and bland and we were really full anyway. This is a nice place to go with an group of people and just hang out and eat for a few hours. Maybe have a couple bottles of soju or sake too. read more

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This place ignores your dash or Uber orders. I had to cancel a huge order while everyone waited for two hours. Very unprofessional. No wonder most their reviews suck read more

I really love with this food. Beef don, Agedashi Tofu and seaweed salad. Prices are cheap !!! I used to get sushi foods and today it was my first time I have kitchen foods. Its very tasty :) It tasted just like the family food I ate in Japan last year. To compare this store, it is like a small Japanese restaurant that only local people in Japan enjoy eating. The atmosphere is quiet, the food is qualitative and quantitative. It is very peaceful place for couples and singles to avoid from noisy resturant. The reason I wrote this review is some reviewers critizied this resturant so I coulnd't ingore that evry customer has different experiences I understand that. But I had nice times with this resturant. So I'm writing for those who might hesitate to go on a bad review. read more

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Living 5 minutes from the restaurant this has become our families staple for sushi. When entering you are greeted by the staff in a traditional Japanese greeting. The wait staff is eager to seat you and take your drink orders immediately. They have private tables for private parties and can accomodate up to 30 guests on a table in the main dining area. Their bar seats up to 8 people and the chefs are always friendly. The best part about Sushi 21 is the quality food and the low prices. They have take out and even have nice presentation on the take out. i highly recommend this for all sushi eaters! read more

Sushi 21 - Japanese Near Me - Niles, Illinois

I walked in to pick up my order and 2 of the 3 employees I saw weren't wearing masks including the one prepping the food. I cant say anything on how the food is because I turned around and walked out. read more

Salmon was still frozen and oysters were already opened sitting in water. Do not ear!

The more times I eat here, the more I like it. My daughter and I went last week and really enjoyed a mother-daughter bonding time over some sushi and sake! Started out with Miso Soup, yum... We did get a bit adventurous... The RED DRAGON ROLL, this was a spicy dragon and it was beautifully presented! The roll itself was very large and there was plenty for us to share. We also had an Alaska and Spicy Tuna. Everything was delicious! I sometimes forget that this place is even here, tucked away in this little strip mall which isn't the most convenient place to get in and out of!! But it is worth the hassle. I would recommend this place in a heartbeat. read more

Last night, I was shopping at Old Orchard Mall and had a craving for sushi. I decided to stop in at one of my favorite sushi places--Sushi 21! I used to come here every night when I worked in the neighborhood years ago, but don't anymore because I changed jobs. I usually get their Bulgoki Bento Box, which to me is like tapas. The Bulgoki Bento Box comes with marinated Korean beef, white rice, house salad with their own homemade dressing (wish they sold bottles of these), a little dish of shredded crab meat, California rolls, and tiny crispy egg rolls. The portions are generous in size, but I always manage to make room for their special Sushi 21 roll. I don't know what's in it, but there's chopped up tuna, scallions, and rice all wrapped in a seaweed. I didn't order any appetizers during my recent visit, but I used to get their Akadashi Tofu which is a lightly battered tofu with sweet sauce drizzled on top. I tried other Akadashi Tofu at other sushi places, and this by far is on top of my list. Aside from my usual staples, I have had tried their Dragon Roll before and it was okay. The eel was a little soggy for me, but I'm not a big fan of eels. Lastly, the owner is super friendly and he prepares all the sushi rolls. He usually wears the tall chef hat behind the sushi counter. Every time I do have the opportunity to visit here, the owner always acknowledges me with a nod and a smile. The servers have always been courteous with me as well. The food is always prompt whether you dine-in or carry out. I wish they can expand and open one in the city by me! read more

My friend frequents this place for quick sushi take-out and she brought me here yesterday. The take-out service was quick and friendly but when we got home and I tried the California rolls, I found that they had a funky flavor that I could not get over. Out of the 6 in my order I tried two and gave the rest to my friend, who in turn devoured them! Maybe my tasty buds are off... Also tried the chicken fried rice. It was okay, wish it had more chicken and broccoli and less zucchini. Overall, I've experienced better sushi but then again maybe it was an off night?? read more

On a whim, we popped in to Sushi 21 after donating a bunch of stuff to the resale shop in the same strip mall. (Dude, if you like beige wood, this is the decor for you! I've heard of spartan tastes, but do the booths, chairs, walls and floor ALL need to be the same color?) After much musing, we decided to go with the sushi platter (I forget the name) that had 35 pieces of sushi and came with 2 bowls of miso soup. Price was a bit high, but knowing us, we figured we'd rack up a pretty big bill anyway. So, the sushi came and the pieces of fish on top were generous. Quality was good. Pretty fresh. We also tried some abalone sushi and it was good. But the bf noticed we'd not gotten our soup. I asked the gal assisting our waiter where it was and she told us flat out that no soup came with our meal. I suggested they update their menu. She then walked away. (Losing the restaurant a star on this review.) A few minutes later the waiter brought our soup. No apology, he just set it on the table and left. So we paid up and walked out. So why a 2 star review? Apathetic service, boring decor and the experience left me feeling "Meh". read more

My mom suggested this place after seeing it advertised on korean tv. Apparently it was supposed to be very good. I (and my mom) thought otherwise. First off, the service seemed a bit slow. we had to call our waiter a good while in to tell him we were ready to order, and even then, we did not get plates or our edamame until much later. It was somewhat busy, but not packed. Next to the sushi. We ordered a gold deluxe combo as a sampler and then a dragon roll and a hollywood roll. A lot of the sushi seemed kind of dry and old, and only the salmon tasted fresh. For the rolls, the dragon was not bad, but the hollywood was definitely not what I expected. It's a fried roll, so I expected light tempura batter, but it was more like a breaded corndog. And the inside was just a grinded up goop of the ingredients which looked like someone just threw up inside a roll. It didn't taste bad, but I just didn't really know what I was actually supposed to be getting. read more

Nothing to write home about, but no complaints either. The sushi is average and the prices aren't too high (but not too low either). Everytime I've been there, it's always empty and cold - so bring a jacket. If you live in the neighborhood and want some sushi, I think Jewel's sushi is as equally good. read more

The OYSTERS are to die for. Theyre bigger than the average $3/piece at fancy restaurants. My husband and I go here 2x a month and love it everytime. Its best to order ahead bcus it takes time to prepare the oysters. The red sauce is what makes it so delicious so ask for extra sauce n lime. read more

Sushi 21 - The Oysters!! - Japanese Near Me - Niles, Illinois

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Never have i been more disappointed in a restaurant or its service than when i went to Sushi 21. Considering that this place is close to my house, this has always been the go to place when my family craved a bit of sushi. So needless to say, it wasn't our first time. We decided to order the course meal. This means you get the soup, salad, misc. items, the sashimi tray, couple rolls, the spicy seafood soup, a couple of other dishes, and the hot rice in water. Now, up until the soup, everything was fine. Sure the appetizers came out a bit slow. Sure the order in which the food came out was a bit out of whack. But the sashimi platter was the straw that broke the camel's back. The pieces were visibly way too small. So small, that in fact it was obviously an attempt to take a single piece and pass it off as two. The cut up radish that garnished the platter was not the usual white freshness it usually is, but rather turning an off brown. I dont know about the rest of you, but this is a big sign indicating the lack of freshness, and the lack of care that goes into preparing someone's food. We called the waitress over and explained to them: "I dont understand why the sashimi pieces are so small. We're not first time customers, and we know how the pieces are supposed to be like, why are these so small? We are paying good money to eat here, and I am insulted that you would serve us such miniscule portions and unfresh products." (it sounded better in korean) To which her reply was, "Just eat it, we'll take care of you next time." Next time? She should only hope that there is a next time. The purpose of my yelp review today is not to make any good recommendations to adventurous foodies out there. Instead, its my way of trying to boycott this place. How does one expect to do business in America by offering such substandard foods and lack of care? As i mentioned before, never have i ever been so disrespected as a customer and disappointed at the fact that even after a complaint, they gave us the attitude of not giving a rat's behind. I had to ask for water 3 times before they brought over their little kettle. And when i'm complaining to you, dont just stand there staring at me. I'm speaking your language. if i'm disappointed, make me happy. Dont tell me to come back next time........ anyways. I'm giving this place 1 star because thats the minimum i can give. if it were up to me, this place would receive nothing at all. If you want lackluster food, subpar service, and a genuinely disappointing experience, check this place out. You'll end up leaving hungry and frustrated that you just spend good money on crap. The owners have to realize that they cannot treat their customers like this. Its an embarassment to their business and their profession. The trips we had taken before were enough to keep us coming back cause they treated us ok. But this time, it was a major disappointment. I've been here before and kept coming back, but last night will be the last time i ever go. I am never returning here and i hope none of you ever try this place out. The food sucked. the sushi sucked. the service sucked. and the attitude sucked. unfortunately, they include tip in the course meal. Instead, please check out Dempster Fish market or Lawrence fish market. if you pay cash at places like this, theres no tax. you can eat plenty at home for $50 (feeds 4). Or, check out sushi station in rolling meadows; the conveyor belt idea is pretty neat. Otherwise, just stick to a couple places up north in glenview or northbrook. all i gotta say is that this was by far, the worst birthday dinner ever. happy 25 to me. dont eat sushi 21 unless you like garbage. read more

This place is an okay option for sushi in the 'burbs. Sushi 21 may not be the most amazing sushi you'll ever eat but it's a reliable place to get some fairly tasty rolls. They've got the usual rolls (california, salmon, tempura, etc) and several interesting speciality rolls like the deep fried Hollywood roll. Quite a few options for those who want vegetarian sushi or cooked fish. Best time to come is during lunch to take advantage of their lunch box specials. Staff is attentive and while the decor is a little dated, the restaurant itself is spotless. read more

Sushi 21 - Hollywood, salmon, and shrimp tempura rolls - Japanese Near Me - Niles, Illinois

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I stopped by to get some sushi before starting my work. I came in before dinner time but they welcomed me and food was very fresh. I would recommend Hwe-dop-bob if you like spicy with lots of fresh veggies. read more

I went there because we were in the neighborhood and it was convenient. It was nothing that spectacular but it was alright. The english spoken was less than basic and the server had a real hard time understanding was was being ordered. I would think that they would have someone fluent in english to take orders for business reasons alone. read more

By far my favorite sushi place. Friendly service and fresh sushi all the time! Combination deals give the most value for the price!

Worked around the area for years, and also went to college at Oakton. This was a good place for picking up sushi for me. I like that this place is more traditional with their sushi. Pricing is a little bit more on the expensive side. If there's any advice I can give, I't's this. Get the spicy tuna roll. I can't find a better spicy tuna roll anywhere. It's in perfect proportions, not minced up, or heavily coated with a fat layer of rice around the seaweed paper. You'll really taste the fresh taste of the tuna with a good amount of spicy mayo. Again. Best spicy tuna roll I've had. Otherwise, I'd say this place suffices as a sushi-to-go place for me. I'll usually pick up an order and grab my drink next door from the bakery to get the mango bubble tea read more

I've passed by this strip mall countless times. Finally tried it out. I enjoyed their Nabeyaki Udon (korean version where you add a raw egg to the bubbling soup). the broth had a good flavor, not too salty. chicken pieces could be more tender. Comes with 3 big tempura peices (shrimp, sweet potato & broccoli). I came with a large group. The big ticket rolls turned out to be DYNAMITE roll (spicy scallops) & DRAGON (shrimp tempura & eel). The Una Q was a good choice. The spicy tuna hand roll was good, but not amazing. I tested the Las Vegas roll (fun name)...the crunchy tempura outside was exciting, but heavy tasting roll (due to the cream cheese). Share this one. Spider roll was average, not exciting & i would pass on the Rainbow roll. Loving this place?! neh. Hit and miss with the rolls. good for a quickie meal. On the pricier side for the amount of food you get. I was not pleased they charge $3.00 for an iced green tea and $2.50 for ONE tiny piece of mochi icecream. This place has been around for 12 years. I presume it is korean owned based on the korean japanese menu. i would skip dessert and drinks here to keep the tab down..haha. Servers were attentive and friendly. However, on a saturday night, the wait staff looked stressed out when the restaurant was not that busy. read more

Solid Korean owned Japanese sushi place. Good Korean style Japanese food. Sashimi didn't quite cut the mark, but manageable. Order the Korean dishes, really. Udon is also very excellent - in its illegitimate Korean form. They give you Korean style dessert and ice cream at the end of your meal and edemame as appetizer, though YMMV depending on whether you are Korean.... Atmosphere can use some work, but does not take away from the sushi quality. read more

hmm, could've been worse. the server seemed rushed although it was very slow. she didn't really make a connection or take the time to conversate... cool if you don't mind that kind of thing but the experience didn't feel very inviting. i ordered the chirashi, which was presented beautifully. there was a great amount of raw sliced fish on top so they didn't skimp out on that. i also got unagi which tasted good and soft, salmon + tuna sashimi. the slices for each one was very generous so i was impressed with that. i went with the 'sushi 21' roll as well.. not a favorite. tasted like a mushed up avocado roll pretty much, no sign or taste of scallops anywhere. final verdict: dunno what i expected but i am kind of disappointed with this place and probably won't be back. read more

Sushi 21 - chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Niles, Illinois

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Feels like Japan (I've never been to Japan). There's private dining areas (very Korean). But there's a sushi chef that you can check out and they have a fusion of Korean/Japanese cuisine. Not sure what the 21 is all about in the name, but the Sushi 21 roll is pretty legit. Very nice place for a daddy-daughter date. read more

Sushi 21 - Looks Japanese - Japanese Near Me - Niles, Illinois

I just moved into the Niles area. Maybe I was spoiled with the sushi restaurants in my old location. Royal sushi on Foster and Harlem. Nami sushi on Lawrence. All within a mile radius of where I lived spoiled me. Sushi 21 is hands-down the WORST Japanese restaurant. The pot stickers or burnt to a crisp and taste like oil. The edamame cold and consists of maybe 15 to an order. The Dragon Roll look like something a child put together. Don't get me wrong I don't need it to look good but I definitely wanted to taste good and everything from this restaurant is far from that! Sorry Sushi 21 but you need to overhaul your entire kitchen. The only reason you're getting one star is because the lady on the phone was really nice. read more

from this place I want to thank the chef for the amazing sushi I've prepared for us. We was here the first time and will certainly visit this place again.I do not understand why so weak is the only rating this place ...?! Food is good , it's allt space , mood is peacefuel and quiet ;) For me as a five star thank you sushi 21 read more

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Service: Always friendly! Pretty fast! Quality: Fish is always fresh! Get the Spicy Tuna handroll!!! I am a spicy tuna handroll fanatic! read more

The restaurant itself it beautifully decorated , no complains there. But I ordered sushi, and not the best , very small and over priced for how little they are . The staff is very friendly. read more

Nice place. The Boston Rolls are my favorite. The dumplings are also good. Not enough ambiance though.Some Japanese music playing would be nice. But it does look nice. Major downside is that it's pretty expensive. read more

Been here twice for maki rolls with b/f, and we're happy with the quality and presentation. Both times the place was nearly empty and we had to wait for ask for refills/check, but food was made in a reasonable time and it's one of the better sushi places close to home. read more

Sushi 21 - Delicious maki rolls! - Japanese Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Best Miso Salad in Chicago-Land! Went there 10+ times. Dragon roll look so cool and tasty! Very nice bamboo cabins. Chef is really professional and always enjoyed watchig him making maki. Great waiters and very nice quiet place for a date. read more

I currently work at a Japanese restaurant in Indiana, and so I know a little bit about sushi. When I come home for breaks from school, I always go to this Japanese restaurant for some good sushi. As you arrive at this restaurant, you are greeted by the nice workers (in japanese). I come here all the time with family and friends and gathering around the semi-private rooms. They have good selection of specialty rolls, I always get the dragon roll. Their salads are amazing, I asked for some dressing to go. I love their Agedashi Tofu, the Nigiri... especially Salmon is what I always get there, it's perfect long pieces that just melt in your mouth. The service is a decent speed and the waitresses are all so kind and knowledgeable. The food is up to some people's opinion but I think it's good price and quality and everything else such as service and atmosphere is nice and friendly. 5 stars to this restaurant. read more

I absolutely love the sashimi! It's very delicious and they choose and have great fish. However the sushi isn't great. I didn't try every type of sushi but, the sushi rice is very dry. There is a bit to much of the rice as well! If you are a bigger fan of sashimi this is the place for you! The hamachi, super white tuna, and sake is absolutely phenomenal!!!! The seating is great. If you want more space there is great booths with a partial cover so that you can enjoy your food with some privacy! There is more regular booths and tables for a more regular time! Both are great for different occasions that are perfect for each!! This is a great restaurant I think you should try it! read more

After having two sub par sushi dinners in Evanston I was pleasantly surprised to find Sushi 21 to have some of the best sushi I have tasted in the Chicago suburbs. The selection is average but the fish was extremely fresh with good portions. Rice is often an overlooked part of the sushi experience but the rice here had great flavor and was cooked perfectly. I ordered the sashimi dinner box and it was quite a deal for $16.95. It came with 12 pieces of beautiful fish, a california maki, two potstickers, rice, a salad, and miso soup. It was a great value given the quality of the food and attention to detail. I can't wait to return to Sushi 21, and now that I live closer, I expect to be back frequently. read more

I have eaten there a few times b/c it is close to my house. The last time I ordered from there the Vegas roll didn't taste right but i gave them another try. BAD IDEA! Ordered from there the other day and got food poisoning. From what I hear I'm not the only person that has happened to from that restaurant. I will never eat there again. read more

This place is actually pretty decent, overall though the food my family ate was not the best. The California Roll was even worse than the Sushi Kushi Restraunt. read more

I finally decided to risk it and go here, and I definitely do not regret it. The sushi was great. My date ordered the lunch box with chicken terriyaki, and he loved it. The sushi selection isn't the greatest, but I'm sure they can make any maki you want. It's nice to have a spot in the suburbs that's inexpensive with a decent ambiance. read more

Went there last night....the sushi's alright. It satisfied my craving, but it wasn't amazingly great. I ordered the dragon roll, which was visually appealing...it looked like an actual dragon with small onion rings for eyes! It was cute! After I scarfed down the 8 pieces, I found myself hungry for more and ordered a Philadelphia roll. The Philadelphia was okay, it had too much cream cheese for my liking. I was also able to taste the spicy tuna roll and it had a nice kick to it. Oh, and the service was a bit on the slow side that night! read more

Great selection of sushi and they did some nice remodeling on the inside. I was really happy to see that they had many choices for cooked sushi because I am pregnant. My husband was also pleased with the raw sushi selection. They are generous with the amount of fish in the rolls. The prices are reasonable compared to other sushi places in the area. read more