So the tuna tartar appetizer is pretty darn great. We let sushi mike design a roll of his choosing for us and it was delicious ( not sure worth the 21 dollar price tag) but pretty good ( some sort of mushroom and white fish roll). The rest of the sushi and sashimi we ordered was good. Nothing special but good ( Chicago rolls, some salmon sashimi, tobiko and ikura. Service is SLOW and they bring out the food as it's prepared in random order- I was done with my food before my daughter even got her roll. Anyway, if you are good with a long slow meal, and you are not on any sort of time frame, it's a good restaurant. Not spectacular enough that I'll remember anything ate but solid and enjoyable. read more

SO I now have a new favourite restaurant....sorry Las Tablas!! :) Tanoshii aka 'Sushi Mike' is in good ol' Andersonville, right across from the Jewel, which is nice considering this place is BYOB. We went to celeberate my roommate's b'day on a Monday evening. Although, there is a regular menu, we ended up getting the chef special rolls which Mike creates based on ingredients you specify. We ended up getting several special rolls including Spicy Tuna, White Tuna, Sea Bass & one with Mango & Unagi. They were all so good that I couldn't tell which I liked better. ;) We also got some sashimi and the fish was all so fresh! Other than the awesome food & the BYOB, Sushi Mike himself is very personable. He created a special b'day roll for my roommate and inturn we offered him some sake. Oh, and if you go on a weekday, say hello to Marc, referred to some as the 'Knob Creek' guy. The only con of this place....not the cheapest Sushi in town. We spent $125 on the 3 of us (tax, tip included). read more

Not for basic bitches.... If you want a flippin basic Godzilla roll, go someplace basic. If you want your mind blown, GO HERE! Yes he can make those, by why would you order that if you wanted a dinning experience like the mikes special? The mikes special is OOC good! I have never not liked every single thing I let him surprise me with! BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO! Nothing basic about this place! If you don't want to explore new things, go to jewel and get food poisoning..... read more

You have to expect the unusual but also the best sushi you've ever had when you come to Tanoshii. I'm from Detroit, but I'm hoping to come here every time I'm in Chicago from now on. This is definitely not the "standard" sushi place. Their "specials" tasted amazing and were very unique in their own way. Let's take the "Italian" roll for example. One reviewer didn't like it. I think it's only because he's never had anything like it and should have opted for the cookie-cutter sushi selection, or, better yet, go to some cheap "standard" sushi restaurant. For me, the best part was not knowing what to expect with the next special. Our good local resident friend recommended this place and he's had sushi from all over the world and thought this is as good as it gets. My other friend, who's been to Japan and is also a sushi fan, commented that this is the most "gourmet", yet genuine sushi he's ever had. read more

Tanoshi - One of "special" rolls, with crab & BBQ sauce - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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For a Sunday night, the restaurant was kind of empty, but the service was very attentive. The place was BYOB and we brought a bottle of wine -- which they took care of for us. (I think the corkage fee was like $4). We started off with edamame (which, I'm completely used to as being complimentary, but I digress), and that was fine. Of the sushi we had, I liked them all: dynamite, rainbow, and I think the last one we had was the red caterpillar. Whatever it was it was drenched in sriracha sauce which was a little overpowering over the sushi flavors, but still good. read more

Some of the best/ most fresh sushi I have had! Great service and enjoyable atmosphere. I would definitely recommend doing Mike's Special where they bring out food for you. The one "special" roll we got was out of this world-- wasabi puree with super white tuna and regular tuna. The Kamikaze roll was very good as well. The pieces were SO fresh. Melted in your mouth. Loved the mochi at the end of the meal :) read more

Tanoshi - Incredible roll from mikes special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm sorely disappointed with their lack of care of customer service. I made an order via DoorDash when the restaurant opened and an hour later received a text from DoorDash saying that Chef Mike canceled the order. I called and was told that the Chef canceled the order because they were too busy with in-person dining. That is a sad excuse and they've lost my business. I ordered delivery because of the pandemic and health reasons. read more

You cannot say that you went to Tanoshii if you did not order a couple of Mike's special sushi rolls and the fish and chips appetizer. Also, the udon noodle soup is one of the best I've had in Chicago. read more

I must have been Japanese in my past life because I love sushi!!!!!! I can eat it all day and all night and Tanoshii is seriously the best sushi ever. I try and go there once or twice a month ( I live in the suburbs so it's quiet the hike), My brother and his fiancé introduced me to this place and we have hosted a few events there and it is just the best. The service is great and sushi is even better. Recommendation: Don't come here if you want plain sushi, order the Mike's special, you can't fail. My personal favorites are the spicy shrimp Mike's special, Honey truffle ( salmon or tuna) Mike's special, Spicy Strawberry Mike's special and the truffle tuna IS THE BOMB. read more

The best Sushi in Chicago and probably in the world. Congrats to Sushi Mike and his success.

When I first moved into the Rodgers Park area I made a point of trying as many sushi places I could find in the area. Tanoshii is kind of one of those rare places you find that is very unassuming from the outside, but will be packed inside with hungry people enjoying the food. If you want to have a real experience get a reservation for the bar closer to the front of the restaurant and meet the owner and head chef Mike. Now if you are a purist for sushi you may not be as interested in Tanoshii, but if you like trying different flavor combinations with fish it is a great place to try. For example this was the first place in Chicago I had ever had a sushi role that incorporated asian pear. Mike has made some really interesting combinations and the meal always feels very upscale. One thing to mention about Mike is he does not always engage with customers, so if your expecting a deep conversation that may not happen. As the chef and someone who is working with really sharp knives I can understand he needs to be focused. I do love going to this place, but it is a little more high end on the budget. It is not quantity, but unique taste and quality you get at Tanoshii. read more

A colleague who has since relocated out of Chicago recommend Tanoshii to me; seeing as my husband and I have walked past it numerous times and commented that we should go in, we decided it was time to make a reservation. First, definitely call for a reservation and ask for a spot at the bar so you can sit by Chef Mike and have him prepare his great creations for you! Neither my husband nor I are picky so we started with the Fish and Chips (kind of like a packed down ceviche on a big pita-like chip...VERY tasty and the "chips" were nice and sturdy and didn't crumble) We chose to let Chef Mike do his magic and went with three of his fresh specialty rolls. We were asked to choose how spicy we like things and if there were any ingredients we were allergic to or didn't like. Everything was spaced very nicely and we never felt rushed. There were times that it took a little longer to get the next set of rolls, as Chef Mike was concentrating on a creation for a different customer. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The Fish and Chips+3 rolls was definitely enough food and was about $100; I consider this a good deal based on the quality of the fish. It was clear that this place has its regulars, as Chef Mike greeted 1/2 the patrons by name and some also came with alcohol to share with him. (It is also BYOB here) We definitely plan on returning, so hopefully someday we'll also be one of his regulars! read more

This is a decent place. Its quaint and quiet and probably the best sushi place in Andersonville, but thats like saying youre the smart guy in the dumb class. Service was a little spotty and slow...so wasnt too keen on that. Andersonville is not a sushi mecca, so its all relative. This IS a good place, so please attend and enjoy it. I liked the hamachi unagi spicy tuna tempura appetizer edamame I was lukewarm on the: shumai gyoza go enjoy as it is BYOB and I always like BYOB places. read more

I've only had sushi a few times here in Chicago, and so far this has been the best experience I've had. I'm sure it's not THE best, but it was very enjoyable. The service is friendly, the atmosphere is great, and the food is fantastic. It's BYOB which is a plus too if you are a fan. They have a wide selection of foods but everyone says go with the custom rolls, so that's what we did. With that said, the food was delicious. The 'fish and chips' appetizer, which was a mixture of spicy tuna among other goods, was fantastic. The custom sushi rolls were also great. There were some interesting standouts that I had never thought of in the sushi world, but there were also a few dull rolls. Overall great though. The downside is that the nigiri is expensive and, while I didn't pay for the bill this time, I'm sure the rest of the menu is as well. It is great sushi, but not super. They had uni, which is one of my favorites, so that was nice. Overall a great experience. Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 8.5/10 read more

Pretty cool experience, very different from any other place in Chi. Sit at the sushi bar, have Mike feed ya, and pay a LARGE bill, rolls if you are lucky average like $17-20 a piece! Reserved for special occasions for me. Those we my thoughts at first...now after my 4th time there, I decided I'm dunzo.... Reasons: * $21 a roll is just too much, and they are far too simple to warrant that price * You think Mike is making you 'special rolls' catered to what you like, but really he picks 4 or 5 to make that night and cranks 'em out to everyone * I cannot sleep at night lately knowing I paid $21 for rolls filled with crab stick and cucumber.... seriously... * crab stick and cucumber (I had to say it again) * I cannot be shamed for wanting some freakin soy sauce * I don''t like to be told "No". Ex: "Mike, I like eel, can you make me an eel roll?" Mike= "No". Me: "Mike I don't like salmon" Mike: "here is a salmon roll" Me: can I get some spicy mayo?" Mike: "No" Oooookkkkaaaaayyyyyy * random $4 at the bottom of my bill (cork fee??) * Being almost turned away at 5:45 even though the restaurant was empty...reservations were at 7:45...I can be out in 2 hours....sheesh... $104 tab (see pic) and I brought my own booze...ummmm...not happenin again read more

Very good sushi. Great service, but charging for BYOB?? Not OK. Fish was fresh but not anything extraordinary. read more

Tanoshi - Very good sushi and good service, but charging for BYOB??? Seriously? Not OK - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I never leave reviews but I felt the need to write one tonight. Our experience at this restaurant was terrible. We made a reservation but said they didn't have a table for us and seated us at the sushi bar. It took 20 minutes for someone to come and take our order. We ordered the omakase because we wanted to have an experience and try everything. We were excited because they are supposed to be selected at random and prepared by Sushi Mike. If you order this way it means they bring you rolls until you tell them to stop. This was a great sell but we were quickly underwhelmed. Our first roll took 25 minutes to come out. I should also mention that we did not bring wine to drink into this BYOB establishment. Perhaps that is what they are banking on with the slow timeliness of the food. The first roll was the Salmon Honey Truffle that we requested. We got two rolls after that and I can't tell you what they were because the chef didn't tell us when he handed us the food. Three rolls took two hours and after that we didn't care to try anymore. Sushi Mike told my boyfriend that we ate too fast and he hadn't had a break in 2 1/2 hours. We were seated at 7 and didn't get our second roll until 8:15. I'm not quite sure why we need to know when he last had a break. He was making rolls for everyone in the restaurant. If the omakase style is too much for the chef then don't offer it. The rolls were delicious but the overall experience overshadowed the food. After he made the comment about how fast we ate we asked for the check. We were prepared for an experience and prepared to drop more money but we didn't. Sushi Mike also fist pumped a customer, didn't wash his hands, and went back to making sushi. Don't waste your time here. read more

I don't even know where to start because this sushi.... was the best I have ever eaten?? I went with my boyfriend and it was perfect- everyone working that night was so friendly and dedicated to providing the best experience! We started with the fish and chips for an appetizer and it's such a treat to watch how it's done. There are pictures of it on yelp, but basically they take a pretty arrangement of tuna, avocado, pico and tobiko with lemon, etc and mix it together in front of you. They pack it onto a big chip and you eat it with your hands - it was a little pricey but delicious and worth it !! We then decided to go with the omakase option. I had a shellfish allergy so they really took that into account and provided us with three specialty rolls with fish that really complemented one another. No soy sauce, wasabi, or ginger was necessary because they had such a perfect flavor alone. The fish was fresh and one of them had a sauce with truffle oil... I think it was my favorite because I love truffle and I had never tasted that with sushi. The omakase is really special and I think I'll get that every time. At the end we had mochi and it was so good we ordered extra! They have a lot of flavors but my fav was mango where my boyfriend was really into the coffee and chocolate mochi. GO HERE IT'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OTHER SUSHI PLACES IVE BEEN AND I DO NOT GIVE FIVE FULL STARS A LOT read more

I only have one word. Excellent. The rolls were the best I have ever tasted. My husband doesn't eat rolls, but he was overwhelmed by how good they were. He said the nigiri with homemade wasabi was simply terrific. Overall, excellent experience. read more

Good food but the delivery quality is lacking and they sometimes just don't open or take orders. If it wasn't for the lack of professionalism and sometimes 2-3 hour wait times on an order, it would be a 4-5 stars for me. read more

Took a friend their for her birthday and we enjoyed the "Mike's Special" and loved it. Fantastic rolls and very fresh! I had been a couple times before and somehow never had never had the "fish and chips." The ingredients come stacked and then the server mixed it at your table as she explains whats in it. Oh wow! A must every time you visit! read more

Tanoshi - Fish and Chips - Mixed and ready to eat! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My fav sushi prepared by my fav (Inventive, hilariously eccentric, hardworking, perfectionistic, generous) chef, Sushi Mike! Everything is prepared from scratch, chemistry lab style. Do not miss his special rolls--mouthwatering flavor combinations. Your taste buds will be forever grateful! read more

This is the only place to get sushi! Sushi Mike is amazing! You must sit at the sushi bar and I recommend a reservation after 8. It will be less busy and you will get to chat with Sushi Mike, he is hilarious and makes the best sushi ever. Just order a couple Mike specials and the fish and chip!!! Also he will probably give you a few free bites. Be sure to bring some Miller Lite for him! Its such a great deal! and so delicious!!! Go now if you haven't been!!! read more

For the amount I spent here, the quality of fish was disappointing. The soy sauce was also extremely salty--if you're in Andersonville, try Ora instead! read more

This is my new favorite sushi spot in Chicago!! Sushi Mike is THE MAN!! The entire staff is tremendous. Each dish was out of this world. Even the miso soup was insanely delicious! That's when you know it's top tier. Also, our server Shiho was amazing and it felt like we made a new best friend!! Can't wait to go back! read more

Tanoshi - We let Mike decide. I'm still dreaming about this tuna. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Seriously the best sushi you will ever had. Don't even look at the menu, RSVP to sit at bar with Sushi Mike and let him make whatever for you. Order the fish and chips! Byob...bring extra...your experience there isn't in and out. Amazing night...cant wait to return. Menu prices 15$-25$. read more

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The sushi is decent, just over priced. Especially because if you are going to be paying so much, you should be having a great experience and environment. The whole place just looks tacky. And the management seems unprofessional. read more

This place is TRASH!!!!! Service was Terrible walked in at 830pm and was out by 11pm it was an hour before we got our first two rolls. I was with a few of my friends and we split the bill. Each card was over charged and needed to be fixed. The best part of the night was "Sushi Mike" pounding shots of knob creek with two douchebag patrons he knew. The three of them found it funny to insult my friends I was with. Great business Sushi Mike!!! read more

Who doesn't crave the perfect combination of fresh seafood, a lively BYOB environment and stellar service from a local Chicago restaurant? I was so impressed by my experience while dining at Tanoshii Sushi in Andersonville, and I encourage you to visit the best sushi place in Chicago. It's worth the trip out to Andersonville, and I am very much looking forward to visiting the other location in the West Loop. The ingredients selected for Sushi Mike's custom rolls are the freshest I have ever tasted compared to other sushi restaurants in Chicago. Tanoshii has designed a hidden menu where you can tell your waiter the type of roll you prefer and the chefs will use their expertise to put together the perfect combination for you. The maki selection is not worth looking at, although it is a more affordable option and their usual maki are cheaper than any other sushi place I have seen in the city. Two chefs crank out sushi for the entire restaurant, and it's fun to sit at the bar and watch the magic happen. They have a smart system going at this place by convincing you to go with the Mike's roll. It's a little bit more pricey, but you can BYOB. I told the chef I wanted to have scallop on top and veggies in the middle. He put together a mushroom roll with avocado and crab topped with a 14 year aged sweet balsamic sauce. It was a more high maintenance request and took a little bit of time to work out with my waiter, but it was worth the wait! The chef came to greet us at the end of our meal, and I am so excited to go back and try something new. It's smart to make a reservation here and head out for a sushi night like never before! On the blog: http://www.downtowndomesticblog.com/home/constantly-craving-sushi-treat-yourself-to-chicagos-best read more

Tanoshi - custom scallop and mushroom roll with 14 year aged balsamic - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best sushi I've ever had. A staple throughout my entire childhood, and I'll be coming back for life.

Warning: If you dine here, no other sushi restaurant will ever satisfy you. We used to live in Andersonville and were regulars. We moved to Evanston, which isn't that far but we don't dine here as often as we would like. We have struggled to enjoy sushi at any other restaurant since moving. We recently made the effort to revisit. We always get Mike's specials and they never disappoint. You must start with the fish and chips. This sushi is so well worth the price. You won't mind it when it revisits you if you happen to burp after your meal. The only reason I did not grant 5 stars is because I am a stickler when it comes to a decent and clean restroom. While it isn't the worst, I always wait until I get home. Upon working many years in the restaurant industry, I know that a clean bathroom means a clean kitchen. read more

you can go and ask for what you like and have fresh handcrafted rolls geared toward your taste and diet. The staff is so kind. Great to BYOB/sake. Sushi Mike for Mayor! read more

What a great neighborhood sushi spot! Sushi Mike is a great host; masterful chef, crusty conversation, super fresh fish, and fun environment. Mike's specials are the thing you don't want to miss. They change daily, use the freshest fish, and have unique and fun combinations of flavors. In addition, the fish and chips is a super interesting interpretation of ceviche. Yum. We'll be going back soon. read more

My first visit to Tanoshii wasn't my choice. When my friend asked me to drive up to Andersonville from River North for sushi I told her she was nuts. Her bet was, "if we go there and you don't think the food is worth the drive, the bill is on me." Say no more fam, nothing wrong with free sushi. I couldn't even lie to get a free meal. I paid every penny for that damn fish and have done it over a dozen times since. Mike is the man. Sit at the sushi bar with him for two hours and it will undoubtedly be time well spent. The fish selection is out of this world, his culinary skill is impeccable. I'd give Mike 10 stars if I could. read more

This place was nothing like the pictures. Extremely disappointed in the quality and quantity of food. Average about 4-5 pieces for a roll. I could of bought the same or even better sushi from a grocery store. Be prepared to spend $12-$20 for a below average roll. We also tried the uni ( sea urchin) and was disgusting. Tasted like something that was rotting on the bottom of the ocean floor. read more

Tanoshi - Rainbow Roll, Chicago Roll, and Spider Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We were at Tanoshii for a Saturday night dinner before heading to Chicago Magic Lounge. We had a 6 pm reservation and were the first guests in the restaurant, which was rather awkward at first, considering that there were at least 8 servers. The restaurant filled up quickly though and we started to feel more comfortable. This is an BYOB type of place and they do not serve any alcohol, which is a bummer. I must say that the quality of the food was outstanding with nice presentation and fast service. However, our server looked like she was rolling in the mud the minute before we came through the door. Her apron had stains from 2007 and it seemed like it was not washed in a very long time. Huge turnoff considering that we were eating sushi, not greasy burgers from a food truck where a dirty apron would be more acceptable. The restaurant has no character. I mean none. The music was very odd. It was too bright by the windows but too dark in the rest of the restaurant. Our table was served for at least 6 different people which was very confusing. It took me forever to decide what to order as the majority of the rolls have the same ingredients (avocado and cucumber), only fish is different. Maybe some creativity on the ingredients would help to make the menu more interesting. We did try fish and chips, which was very good, most definitely the highlight of the evening. I am not sure if I will be back, as I said the quality of the food was pretty good but the ambiance of the restaurant left me feeling disappointed. read more

What a surprise! Fresh sushi with an amazing flavors along with various sauce that owner has developed for many years

This is without a doubt my favorite sushi restaurant in the city! Chef Mike is not only an artist but enjoyable to be around as well. He always impresses me with his new creations whenever I come in -- from tuna to mushrooms to truffle he knows exactly what to put together to excite my tastebuds. It is truly a treat every time I visit! read more

The best Sushi of my lifetime! No cap- no bull- just the best fish you'll ever have and a laugh or two!

Ow. The next time you see me, ask to see the bruises on my shins. Why? Because I've been repeatedly kicking myself for not getting here sooner. Ow. See? Trust Chef Mike to tantalize your taste buds with a meal you won't experience anywhere else. Introducing, the Sushi Mike's Special. I'd tell you in greater detail about it, but chances are it's unique enough that you may never see the exact same dishes. That's the point. I have my favorites, you have yours. Spill the beans to Chef and you'll be in for a treat. No, make that adventure. There are only three things you need to know about this before you depart. The first is that I dig a cook like Sushi Mike that doesn't play by the rules (except his own, "Don't use soy sauce."), so don't expect boring. How about some rosemary with that fish? Or ceviche with a Japanese flair? Chef's pairings nearly blew my mind. At the conclusion of our most recent dinner, we were complimented with a mango dessert topped with a raspberry sauce rolling in hints of honey balsamic vinegar. Beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, of course. The second thing you need to know is that Tanoshii is BYOB. Sharing with your chef is courteous and welcomed. While you're daydreaming about the fantastic creations in store for you, call ahead and make a reservation. You don't want to have to wait any longer than necessary. For the prime experience, be sure to sit at the bar on Mike's side. This, kiddos, is true food immersion. And the last thing you need to know? Don't plan on it being a budget-friendly outing. You're paying for quality. Save your pennies now or quit being squeamish when you open the bill. To the less adventurous: yes, you can order off the menu. The usual standards look like they're prepared just as well, and I'm sure they'll do the trick for you. Though, when you go to Tanoshii, you should get in there and let your taste buds live a little. read more