Service is good but the food tastes like it was sitting out for a while. The cucumber is squishy not crunch. it doesn't have that much flavor, it tastes like fish. if you want good sushi go to the Vernon hills location. read more

Always high quality and nice servers. A go to place that doesn't disappoint. Good udon and nigiri is excellent

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! I've been coming here for year and it is the best sushi place I've ever been to in my whole life highly recommend this place to everyone. Employees are super sweet and kind and food is amazing read more

Came in on a late Friday night. It was easy to get a table, it just took a little to get seated since there was no one at the host stand. Got seated and ordered right away. We order the Chicken Katsu, salamon teriyaki with tempura combination. We also got a dragon roll. Everything was delicious and service was very attentive. read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo - Dragon roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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Another great lunch experience at Sushi Kushi. I enjoyed a Kurobuta pork katsudon, the pork was tender with a crispy outside and it was a very generous portion. My companion enjoyed their chicken curry -- also a very generous portion and the chicken was very tender as well. read more

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Our family's special occasion spot for over the years! We make it here at least twice annually, and it never disappoints. Their sashimi and sushi are consistently top-notch, showcasing the highest quality. Don't overlook their other dishes - the udon and katsu are equally delicious and authentically prepared. In my experience, this is hands down the best sashimi/sushi restaurant in the Chicagoland area. Perfect for those moments when you want to celebrate with exceptional Japanese cuisine!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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A sweet, unassuming Japanese restaurant with authentic food and friendly service. I particularly enjoyed their goma-ae (spinach) and the Hamachi sushi. read more

a restaurant that is a mainstay in the area, sushi kushi does so many things right. my SO and i had lunch there, annie greeted us warmly and seated us right away. the menu has so many great dishes. here's what we had: gomaae--a non negotiable appetizer; one of the best we've had anywhere. the side salad with ginger dressing is crisp, cold and fresh. the dressing is perfect. negamaki beef is a hot appetizer served like a roll, cut into pieces with a terrific sauce. kitsune udon soup is really good: wheat noodles in a delicious broth served steaming hot. i often add spinach to mine. tuna carpaccio is an appetizer my SO enjoys. the tuna is sliced paper thin and the citrus dressing topped with lettuce and asparagus pieces is delicious. hotate karaage is served with a cold sauce that complements the scallops perfectly. uni shooters are small and fun! hot green tea is so good some people have asked to buy it in bulk. the ambience is cool, quiet and serene. specials should not be missed and have been so good! the service is always great: perfectly timed and always helpful. a neighborhood favorite of ours. read more

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Great food Perfect ambiance excellent staff Our family loves this place $$ but so worth it! read more

My 3-star review is very biased because I lived in Tokyo for 6 years and I can say that Sushi Kushi actually has the most traditional Japanese food in this area. After being back in the States for a couple of years now, I guess my taste buds were expecting more of the "American-style" sushi and portions so these 3 stars are purely subjective on my part! I had the bento lunch which consisted of a spicy salmon roll which had a nice filling of just that - spicy salmon and rice. The beef teriyaki on rice was overcooked for my liking but again, it was cooked to fit what a bento beef teriyaki would be cooked which is pretty well done and a bit bland. The tempura was perfectly and lightly battered with 2 big shrimps and veggies. Nothing bad right? Just don't go here expecting an Americanized Japanese restaurant with tons of sauce and filling in the rolls or huge portions of beef and rice. The service was not that great and definitely nothing like I got in Tokyo but I know I won't find any great service like I did in Japan. The waiter here was a bit sloppy when serving our food and didn't seem like he wanted to answer any questions. This is a biased review because I was expecting Japan-like service with Americanized sushi. Sharing this review so you know what to expect - if you're looking for traditional Japanese food, this is the place to go! read more

Visited on the recommendation of a friend who is a sushi expert. Said best she's had outside of Tokyo, at least in the Chicago area. Good news: the sushi was really good, as was the wasabi shumai appetizer. Bad news: truly awful service. In fairness, our server was charming and hard working and polite. But 15 mins to get a glass of wine and more than a hour to get our maki --- which we ended up taking to go and eating in the way to an event in the car -- was a total bust. Wasabi shumai was awesome and blow your head off spicy. So good. The special nigiri was also delicious, if small (pretty sure even the rice wasn't nine grams...) And the maki WAS good. And beautifully presented. Just would have been better 30 mins earlier and off of a plate instead of styrofoam. Everyone has a bad night, and we'll likely give this another chance because the food was delish. But right now, sigh... date night ruined. read more

We've eaten here a dozen times over the years and each time we try it "again," we remind ourselves why we haven't been back in awhile. We tried again recently, and again, there was regret. Mostly, due to cost. We ordered nearly $100 of sushi (for two) and still ended up hungry. That cost is no liquor, too, as it's carryout! In our recent outing we ordered several appetizers (the wasabi shumai and calamari were terrific). Then we had a tuna poke bowl (nicely flavored) followed by several maki rolls. This is where the disappointment set in. Not only was the sushi served with NO wasabi and NO ginger, the flavor was lacking. In addition, we have watched the cost inch up dollar by dollar to the point that a six-piece makimono can be over $20. That adds up quickly! When the sushi ends up just being "average" (with no accompanying wasabi/ginger or low-sodium soy sauce), it's a disappointing experience, particularly when there are other sushi options in the area. As this was a weekend order, we ordered in advance and this was a mistake. Despite a later pick-up time, we arrived early to ensure our food was hot (soups, calamari, shumai). Instead, everything was stone cold, and we had to reheat everything again. We want to love this place as many seemingly do. But each time we return, we tell ourselves not again. read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Lake County!! Tried many sushi restaurants in our area but this was is by far, one of the best; so, we keep coming back....for years!! Wait staff attentive and hostess makes an effort to check on her customers. Fish is very fresh, numerous varieties and their daily specials are the best!! Prices reasonable. Food is prepared and served quickly. No long waits. I just LOVE their delectable Avocado Salad with its addictive sauce. My husband and I tried their Tonkatsu Ramen for the first time because I wanted soup. The beef broth was light, savory, and purely delicious!! Leave room for dessert and order the Green Tea Cheescake. Green Tea not overpowering. Just the right balance. Pairs well with the Red Mongo Bean. If you are in the area or not, Sushi Kushi Toyo is really worth a try!! read more

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This is my favorite sushi place in lake Forest! Great service, great menu, great ambiance

Sushi Kushi is the place to go if you're serious about high quality Japanese food that's different from the value-oriented sushi you'll find in many nearby spots in the suburbs. You'll need to be open to more traditional preparations instead of being strongly sauce dependent and trying ingredients that are only available in more traditional Japanese restaurants (as opposed to the Chinese or Korean run Japanese restaurants). In exchange, you'll find high quality cuts of fish such as fatty tuna, or scallops that are not available everywhere. You can also get delicious favorites such as berkshire pork, pork belly, salmon/fish tartar, as well as a nice selection of different meats on skewers. Though the prices here are a little higher than nearby options, the portion sizes are generous and the food is consistently good. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

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I went here on the recommendation of my husband. I can see why he recommended it so highly. The quality of the dishes is really good. We had the fatty tuna negitoro, dragon roll, and the spicy scallops hotate. The rolls were very fresh and high quality. The reason that I can't give it five stars is that the spicy mayo that they used was too spicy, and it ruined the roll. I couldn't finish it after the first bite. The service was good. The menu is huge and large enough to please a wide variety of tastes. I highly recommend this restaurant but, I would avoid the spicy mayo! read more

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A lovely restaurant, nice service. Lots of regulars. Very good food. We went at 5:30pm and the place was still pretty quiet. We will go again. read more

This place never disappoints my husband and me. This was the first sushi spot I found since moving to north shore in 2020. This place has fresh sushi and carries some of the comforts of Japan my husband misses so much. We come here for the hamachi kama. I will generally stick to a sushi spot if they carry this on their menu. If you have never ordered hamachi kama, please try it but save some for me! I recommend it. I always order this when we eat here. Yakitori (Japanese skewers) - please try these. I first came here for the sushi but second for the yakitori. So good! I've ordered a variety of meats just so I could try. Our last visit, we ordered a pork katsu bento box also. Their portions are really large. You've been warned. So delicious also. The crunch texture on the katsu is perfect and the meat wasn't dry. This place is a hidden gem hiding a shopping plaza. Make reservations if possible, this place is busy all of the time with tons of local regulars. We eat here generally during the week and it's still busy on a Wednesday night. read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo - Pork katsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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I admit that I may have a local bias. Nonetheless my opinion is that Sushi Kushi Toyo is world class sushi, worthy of a trip to Lake Forest. We have traveled many places and eaten at Nobu and other allegedly great sushi spots. We continue to hold this place as the standard against which all others are judged. The service is great. The sushi is the best. Go here. read more

This is my FAVORITE place for sushi hands down. Love the food and the vibe. Best service, food, ambiance and it's so close!

If you're visiting from out of state, beware--they denied my ID because it was issued out of state, so no drinks for me.

It's Friday night. Their phone is disconnected and their online ordering is offline. Has the restaurant closed?

Sake was great, and the chicken teriyaki was delicious. The server was beyond kind and attentive. Would 100% recommend. Came on a Friday night had no issue getting seated right away. Great food! read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo - Sake! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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Love this place - my go to takeout spot after work. The interface online to order is very easy to use.

This is our favorite sushi place! Kenji is a wonderful waiter and makes anyone who is there feel at home. We tried the wafu don which was a special and we hope they add it to the permanent menu, it was delicious. We also feel welcome when we go here and can't wait for our next date night. read more

Good food. God awful service. The owner insists on taking phone orders herself and running around doing the trivial stuff instead of hiring someone to do these things so she can manage the operations. It's maddening. When you charge this sort of money, you need more than good food. Your patrons deserve better service. I am done with this place. Such a frustrating experience every time. Such a fixable problem. Sigh.... read more

One of my favorite restaurants to eat Japanese cuisine. Love the service and ambience here as well. This is my second time here and I enjoyed the food both times. This restaurant is perfect for hosting friends, family, or date nights. They have take out which is really awesome in my opinion. I highly recommend that you pay them a visit and enjoy their delicious food because I sure will. read more

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Sushi Kushi has been a go-to for my family for years! They have a wide selection of sushi/sashimi, cooked entrees, and a rotating mix of specials. We generally get a mix of maki and sashimi. I highly recommend include the Highland Park, Picante, Negi Hamachi, Lake Forest, and Chicago rolls. But I digress! Today, we started with 3 different types of Kushi, which are grilled foods on bamboo skewers. Beef marinated in a spicy miso like sauce (a special not on the menu), chicken meatball, and chicken liver. As a total carnivore, I liked them all but my favorite was the chicken liver. Given the kushi, we kept the sushi part pretty light with one 15-piece omakase sashimi and a few pieces of nigiri. As always, the fish was incredibly fresh and the nigiri (scallop and sea urchin) was expertly prepared. And for some reason, even though it's nearly 80 degrees in October, I was craving soup. The Tempura Udon fit the bill, with flavorful broth, thick and chewy noodles, and freshly fried tempura shrimp and vegetables. Although they don't take reservations, the restaurant is very popular given the top-notch food and service, and the space has expanded considerably over the years. Which is good, because that means the wait time is usually kept to a minimum unless you go during the height of the suburban dinner rush ;) read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo - Super fresh sashimi party on a plate :-) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

I came here for lunch with a coworker on a Wednesday afternoon. The place had a steady crowd and it seemed like most people were enjoying long lunches. After looking over the overwhelmingly large menu, my coworker and I ended up both deciding on bento boxes. I had the salmon bento box, while she had the vegetarian one. I really enjoyed the salmon and the tempura, especially the sweet potato tempura. The rice was the only negative as it wasn't the white rice I had been suspecting and the flavor of the rice didn't combine well with the rest of the meal. To go with our meal, we both had teas. The hot tea came in a super cute cup! Also, from where I was sitting I could watch the sushi chefs handling the sushi ingredients. The fish looked very fresh (and it tasted fresh too!) read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo - Salmon Bento box with spicy salmon roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

Sushi Kushi Toyo is a long time favorite of ours. Whether we're coming here for a weekday lunch date or getting take out for Friday night - I seriously could eat here every week. For lunches, we love the bento boxes. You really can't go wrong. You'll also see lots of folks, including families, come here for dinner. The rolls are all very excellent as well as the nigiri sushi. My personal favorite is the Crazy roll. If you love sushi, you will love this Lake Forest staple. read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo - Sushi lunch! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

This place came heavily recommended by some fellow California transplants. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the selection here--they do basically any and all Japanese cuisines that I've ever seen. Looking for something warmer to eat, I ended up getting the kurobuta pork katsu, while my fellow table mates got the lake forest roll and bento box. Despite the very different entrees, all three were brought to the table at the exact same time and with prompt service. I had the opportunity to test a bite of everything. The best way I can explain it is that sushi Kushi embodies the "Jack of all trades, master of none." Overall, you really can't go wrong with this restaurant tucked away in an unassuming shopping plaza. I could easily see sushi kushi becoming a regular go to spot for locals, and with good reason! Note: this review is for service in November 2021. Staff wore masks and tables were wiped down in between services. read more

Really excellent sushi and tempura. Went here for my husband's 40th bday and had a wonderful time. Great food and attentive staff. Very interesting, fancy sushi rolls, too! read more

Like most others here, I agree that Sushi Kushi Toyo prepares and serves magnificent sushi and other Japanese cuisine. I have rarely found better. That said, I am writing this review to warn patrons who choose to pick up their meal for takeout to not believe the pickup time that is provided whether the order is placed online or by phone. This is not intended to detract from the quality of this business. The fact is, I don't believe they really have a clue about when pickup is ready. I suspect, but don't know, that they prioritize their in-house guests. It is the only way I can explain waiting almost a full hour past the pickup time to actually receive my food. This represented two hours from the time the order was placed. And I can't imagine that an in-house patron would wait 2 hours from the time they order at the table. This experience was not a one-off. I should know better. It is the third time I've ordered for pickup and waited at least 30 minutes and usually more (45 minutes and 50 minutes) past the time I was told the order would be ready. This is not a complaint. I know, it sounds like one. The food is hand prepared item by item. And it's great. But they can't anticipate their order load and can't scale up for their busiest time. So this is just an advisory to plan well ahead, order early and anticipate that at busier times pickup may be anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 hours from the time of order. Support your local business. read more

Been here a few times and wanted to give them a chance before writing a review. Every time disappointed with the food. Tonight was actually the first time I ate inside and the service was not great at all. Had to wave the waiter down every time for anything. Food came out late all around for the five guest we had. The ambiance was ok but I've been to other places near by with way better. Would not recommend this place. read more

Get the moon river roll! Great sushi. This place is my family's go-to for sushi night. read more

Good quality sushi for reasonable price. Usually order take out but wait can be 45 min to an hour if you don't get your order in right when they open at 5. Friendly owner that works the hostess stand and takes orders. read more

There is only one word for Kushi...Excellent. Lake Forest is the perfect place for this little gem. It's expanded some over the years but the fish is always fresh and the food is spot on. We get our "usual"'every time we come but you won't be disappointed with the carpaccio (hamachi of course) and the the moon river. We try new rolls every time but they are all consistent and the service is impeccable. How do you like your rolls? Not a lot of rice, and just enough inside to move onto the next. And their gyoza is fantastic as well. Don't forget a side salad, cold tapped Sapporo in an icy glass mug and let's roll baby!!! read more

Sushi Kushi Toyo - A Sushi Extravaganza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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We regularly enjoy this restaurant, and the quality of the sushi. It is local to us, and have tried most of the different types of fish on the menu. I recommend anyone to go and visit this establishment. On a regular basis myself and my co-host run a hockey news channel/podcast and we discussed your restaurant at the 29 minute mark. Please enjoy and we welcome your support! https://youtu.be/vgCdMMDHmFM read more

Hubby and I went here for dinner one Saturday. It was a low key evening that we enjoyed. I used to come here for lunch a lot with colleagues, but that's not happening right now. I would say I like the place better for lunch, but was happy with dinner. For a cocktail, I ordered the Sake Martini. It was good... but Sake doesn't pack the same punch as vodka. Looking at the cocktail list, Hubby gave up and just had a hot tea. I think he could have been indicted with a Japanese whiskey, but that was not on the menu and the wait person didn't mention what they have at the bar. We ordered Gyoza and Spring Rolls for appetizer. Both were good dishes. I (of course) need something spicy to go with it. They have sriracha. Hubby ordered the Katsu chicken. He liked the dish, but said it could be more flavorful. I tasted a piece, and I do agree with him. It was nice and crispy. The BBQ sauce helped, but there could be a little more of something (pepper? Garlic? Ginger?) in the breading. I got my favorite maki roll, Dragon Fire, for dinner. It was still satisfying as ever. read more

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Amazing, authentic, fresh sushi cuts in the north shore. Pricey, but worth the money if you have it to spend. The fish cuts are fat and fresh, just how I like it! Service is quick and accommodating too. We ordered an array of appetizers, including the gyoza, garlic ika, and chainsaw roll to start. The gyoza was no different than others I've had. The garlic ika is a grilled calamari type dish, tasty with the teriyaki/garlicky sauce. The chainsaw roll was pretty yummy too- not too Americanized and saucy as there was still a good amount of fish packed in. For my entree, I had the chirashi salad and seaweed salad. I asked for the chirashi salad without dressing, so I could taste the freshness of the fish without. And it was superb. So filling also, as the portions were very fat and thick. We had to have dessert after such a great meal. The tempura ice cream was a popular hit. We ordered a few of those with the green tea ice cream, and though very rich, it was delicious. A great way to end a nice meal! read more

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