Small and unassuming location at a strip mall. It was nice to find authentic ramen. They also have poke bowls and a selection of sushi rolls. Excellent customer service! Would come back. read more

Tokyo Bowl - Spicy ramen with braised pork and spicy tuna roll - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Food,service, location a perfect trio. Tonkotsu with Bulgogi is the route to take. Make sure to get the ability Shuman and octopus dumplings Split a bowl and order more appetizers. Saturday afternoon with my hubby was amazing! You can wear anything here, just be respectful read more

My bf and I come here all the time, and it's easily one of my favorite spots. The ramen is always amazing, especially the tonkotsu. The broth is so rich and flavorful, it's the kind that makes you want to drink every last drop. I also love their deal where you pick your ramen meat and a side (sushi, a rice bowl, or dumplings). It's such a great combo and makes for a super satisfying meal. On top of that, the service is wonderful. The man at the front that takes your order, who I think might be the owner, is always so friendly and welcoming. He really makes you feel like a valued customer, which is part of why I keep coming back. Def a place worth checking out! read more

Tokyo Bowl - Tonkotsu with spicy pork! - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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I have always heard of and seen this place around since I was a teen, and it's been landmark in this area for a long time. Nearly 20 years later, I'm trying this place for the first time. Curry ramen with pork cutlet-- flavor was really good, typical Japanese curry flavor, but not overly salty or oily, noodles were thick and springy. I really liked the veggie to meat to noodle ratio (1:1:3). Mango ramen with spicy pork-- the mango ramen broth is sweet, savory, and a bit dark but very good flavor. Kind of reminds me of a Kbbq dipping sauce but can't remember the name. The spicy pork isn't too spicy, fortunately! Each bowl is $12.99, including topping of your choice. Decent portion size, great flavors and does not make you feel overwhelmed after eating. I really liked that they added corn to each ramen. I was initially suspecting that if it is a non-Japanese owned place, the ramen would be cheap instant ones, but I was wrong! This place is a gem and takes their food seriously! read more

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Food was delicious and was greeted very nicely at the front desk and was told I could take my time. place is well kept and with a lot of options I went with the beef bowl with crab rangoon. read more

Be aware this is a "strip mall" restaurant, 6 tables and 4 seat counter top. You order food at the front, it comes quickly, they bring it to you. First time here, they were friendly but not very helpful. We had miso ramen - it was "OK" but not something I will come back for. Big menu including sushi plates. Might be good for some - I will continue to look for a good ramen place. read more

My guilty pleasure is grabbing Ramen on the way from this local Asian eatery. Friendly owner and the ramen is well packed in separate containers so my noodles are just right when I arrive at home. We have tried the Tonkatsu ramen and the Shio ramen. The pork cutlet, braised pork are excellent but the spicy pork topping is my favorite. The place was a true gem during the pandemic. Their sushi is freshly made and spot on. read more

Totally not what I expected. I really love small Ma and pa shops and self serve restaurants but the ramen and bulgogi rice bowl was too salty. I really appreciated the portion size, ramen noodles authentic, and lettuce in the bulgogi bowl was plenty and fresh. Maybe getting bulgogi as a side on the ramen was the issue as the shio broth was flavorful. To get to the bathroom you literally walk through the kitchen which is a good sign that they have nothing to hide. Not sure if I will try this place again. read more

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I ordered Tonkatsu with charsu. The meat was very dry. Nice presentation, the kelp was very good .came out with corn, scallions, fishcske ( kombouku) corn , half a boiled egg and seaweed. The ramen was average, the stock was bland but probably health way to go less spiffing. I would like my broth very hot it was tepid. My eldest raves of this place do I will try for third time and explore the menu. read more

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My partner and I decided to try this place the other day before a day of shopping. It was perfect! I got the tempura crab sushi roll (delicious), and the "Japanese hash browns" which I forget the name of, it's not all potato on the inside, there's a mix of things, I saw corn and maybe sweet potato, whatever it was, it was delicious! On the menu it's pictured with the sauce drizzled on top, it was served on the side which I appreciated but I was soon dowsing it in the sauce because it was so yummy! My partner really enjoyed the ramen and was fully satiated before the bowl was done! Will definitely be eating here again. Would recommend! read more

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Ordered a tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu pork and a side of chicken terriyaki, crab rangoon and chicken gyoza. Ramen was delicious, pork amazing and mixed well with the broth. Teriyaki was great as well, not overpowering with the sauce, had a lightness to it, rice was fresh. Crab rangoon was my favorite of all i had before. Gyoza wasnt concrete hard, crunchy and tasty. Overall very very good, would highly recommend. Service wise, attentive to my requests, no complaints, priced well considering the area. Bathroom was clean and in the back. Restaurant was small and simple, heavy focus on food quality. read more

This is one of my favorite ramen restaurants. My sister Mukuro and I were looking for a good place to try some ramen and he looked for great tasting and cheap food. The restaurant is a bit hard to find because it is in a congested strip mall. The place is a bit small but comforting. The owner is very nice, and seems to be in high spirits every time we come. The food is flavorful, cheap, and comes out quite quickly. My favorite dish is the Pork Tonkotsu with steamed Gyoza. The beverages vary from children's Japanese style pop to American soda's. I personally suggest the ramen instead of the sushi because this place is know for their ramen dishes. But, all in all the place is simple and I will definitely come back with my sister! read more

From the reading some of these reviews and looking at the really low prices (ramen + a side of eel over rice for $12...??), I had to try this place out. Upon walking into the restaurant, I was a bit surprised to find that the store looked more like a tiny Chinese takeout place. The food came IMMEDIATELY... like literally 2 minutes after I ordered and paid at the counter. So that was a nice plus. There was literally no one in the tiny restaurant besides my sons and I. The person who took my ordered disappeared to the kitchen after he served us our food for the whole time and never reappeared. It was a bit empty and odd feeling, but I didn't really need anything else, so that was fine. That aside, the prices were great. I ordered a tonkatsu ramen with chashu meat with a side of eel over rice. It looked delicious. And it could have been an "okay" 3-star meal if I didn't know it was supposed to be ramen. The ramen tasted like I was eating Chinese lo-mein. Something about made me feel like I was eating that the whole time. Chinese lo-mein is decent, but not if you're comparing it to any other ramen shop. The chashu meat wasn't the nicely sliced fatty meats that I've had at other places. A bit harder and charred. I wish the egg was soft-boiled as well, but it was just fully boiled. Still nice that they included an egg. The eel over rice was okay. The eel tasted great and there were slices of avocado in the dish, but there was something about the sauce that wasn't really on par. And maybe it was too much sauce as well. Not sure if I'll be back, though the prices make me curious..... On a better note, my picky 3-year old had a lot of noodle and the ramen soup. His first word right after trying it, "DE-LI-CIOUS!" read more

The food and atmosphere and friendly service never disappoint. My brother had been coming here since he was in high school (2008) and I'm so grateful he introduced me to it! The sushi roll combos are my go-to for a quick, filling, and yummy lunch! read more

It's not bad for a mom and pops ramen noodle sushi shop. They play wonderful music on the stereos and the customer service is friendly. I got the tonkotsu ramen and my husband got the miso ramen both were tasty full of char su, corn and some scallions. I felt the pork was dry for my preference. However for $9.99 you can't be excepting that it will hit on all notes. It hit a few good notes, fast, tasty warm ramen. We were glad we got to check this place out. read more

Compared to other ramen places in the suburbs this place is average. You can build your ramen bowl here by picking your broth and toppings. You can also add a side dish such as sushi or appetizers for an add on fee. Had the ramen with tonkatsu broth, pork, and shrimp tempura. The broth was hot and flavorful. Shrimp tempura was cooked well. The pork is a leaner cut and had no marbling of fat in it and dry. The egg was overcooked. Noodles were average. The sitting area is very simple. Self service. The owners are super nice and very helpful at explaining the menu. Overall, average food. When you are craving it and nothing is around this place will tie you over. read more

Tokyo Bowl - Tonkatsu ramen with pork and shrimp tempura - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Skip the trip unless you really want fast junky Japanese "style" food. Based on the Yelp reviews, I was expecting to run across a hidden gem here, but the actual food came well short of expectations. The best part was probably the fast and friendly service. It's still more of a food court style of dining, except that they bring your food to the table. Prices we a bit on the high side and the decor could've been a bit nicer. The food overall didn't really showcase technique or ingredient quality, as it was difficult to really get the full flavor the main ingredient in each dish. Textures were okay, but there was a severe lack of natural flavors as salt and sauces covered up the flavors of the meats and seafood. I tried 4 dishes total and this is what I thought about them. Beef teriyaki - Where is the umami? The beef was chewy and drowned in a sweet sauce that overpowered everything. I was expecting a nicely marinated and seared piece of beef with the lightest touch of sweet soy for flavor. The beef got completely lost in the flavor of the sauce. Shoyu Ramen with Pork Cutlet - The texture of the ramen was okay but the broth had an usual raw onion spiciness with pepper. I was expecting a smooth and sweet soy based broth that would really complement the crispy pork cutlet. The flavor of the meat in the cutlet was severely lacking though. The entire bowl was a bit on the salty side. Tonkotsu Ramen with Pork Cutlet - Was probably the best dish I had, but instead of using pork bones to really build this broth -- it seems that they used corn, onion, and possibly sugar to create the sweetness instead of the long traditional slow extraction method of the pork bone marrow for flavor. Shrimp Tempura Udon - Udon had an alright texture, decent grade of noodle. The broth was very unmemorable and the shrimp tempura was crispy but once again lacked natural flavor. Unadon - Very plain and oversauced. There was a decent amount of unagi in it. California Roll - Didn't like it at all. The rice wasn't seasoned and really only tasted like a cucumber roll. Simple touches like vinegar or sesame or rice wine or fish roe would've helped to give it some flavor. Overall, I'd travel further to go to one of the better Japanese places in Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, or Mount Prospect in a second. The quality of the ingredients just isn't there and the cooking style isn't all that impressive. read more

Great food and customer service. We've only had the ramen here but the quality and flavor is consistent and excellent each time. I can't even share the photo because we ate so fast. Truly a hidden gem. How to order: Pick broth (pork, miso, curry, shoyu) Pick topping (meat, gyoza) Add side dish +3.00 Appetizers 3.99 read more

Tokyo Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Pleasant owner, great food, big portions, good music. I ordered 12 California rolls and they were excellent. My friends ordered the Raman, and they both were impressed by not only the portions but also the quality. Thank you! read more

Overall: 4 stars Service: 5 stars - The owners are always vibrant and happy to take your order. They are very quick in the kitchen and the food is delivered to your table within 10 minutes. Facility: 3 stars - The eating area is really small and can get very crowded during the lunch hour. The menu is very large and easy to read. Food Dishes: 4 stars - Spicy Pork: 5 stars The spicy pork is what keeps me coming back! I've included a few pictures of this particular dish. The spiciness isn't overwhelming but doesn't need any additional chili sauce. However, the chili sauce is always a nice addition from a taste perspective and I always enjoy a little extra heat. The veggies are perfectly cooked and the pork is ridiculously tender. - Orange Chicken: 5 stars The reason why "Food Dishes" is a 4 overall is simply because this dish has been removed from their menu. This was by far the best orange chicken in Lake County. It was very unique compared to your typical Asian restaurant but was absolutely incredible. I have no idea why this was removed from their menu. I've included a picture just to reminisce on how amazing it once was... read more

Tokyo Bowl - Spicy Pork - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Never knew this place was good! Me and my wife didn't cook anything for dinner and decided to eat at this place. The best ramen and takoyaki compared to the rest of japanese restaurant around our area. Love the combination ko-bop with spicy pork, bulgogi and gyosa. Would come back to eat different food next time and would recommend this place to anybody! read more

Vernon Hills has "hole in the wall" restaurants? Please. Store front still looks brand new and the place if anything could compete with any of the restaurants nearby. This is good food at any time. Apologies for the outburst, I've read reviews calling it that and heard some folks at work with the same opinion, except at least in the case of the coworkers they judged it on appearance without trying. It's a family owned spot that has its own unique following. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that people drive from a distance to enjoy their food. I'd guess that the owners are Korean which is why they offer a few Korean dishes as well, like Kalbi, Bul ko gi, jjam ppong and more. Mainly the food is Japanese fast food. They have sushi which is mostly priced five dollars and under. Their bests are entrees like Yakisoba, Udon, Sukiyaki, Tempura combo and more. All food is prepared fresh and it's flavors comes out in its overall taste. Whether an order is placed over the phone or in person, most times they will serve you within ten to fifteen minutes. Food portions are large, so you will most likely have some take out for later. Of the appetizers I've tasted both the egg rolls and the crab Rangoon's. Egg rolls are a must try, a single order gets you two of them and they are huge, almost 4-5" in length and fattened with tasty stuffing. If dining for the first time and unsure about what to order, why not try the Tokyo bowl lunch special $5.99. Consisting of fried rice, diced chicken teriyaki style and an egg roll, you won't believe how fresh the egg roll is. I've photographed many of their dishes as I've had them, for your viewing pleasure. I've been here a bunch of times now and always look forward to a few special details: they remember you and greet with entrance or exit greetings, most entrees are under ten dollars and with a beverage the cost is ten at most. The food is always good and never weighs me down. And... I usually always have some leftovers which I can reheat for the next workday. I would wager that their egg rolls are one of the better around these parts of the burbs. read more

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We visited Tokyo Bowl last night largely on the positive reviews posted here on Yelp. I wanted to mention just for those first timers that may be considering a trip to Tokyo Bowl, the menu is on the West and South wall- and by that I mean the WHOLE WALL. Most items have helpful pictures to assist you in making your selection. I tried the vegetable udon noodle soup bowl and was immediately impressed with how flavorful the broth was and how fresh the vegetables seemed. It was probably the best of this type of dish that I have ever enjoyed. I know that the Japanese consider leaving soup in the bowl when finished to be rude, but I am sorry- it was such a large portion that I could not finish it. I hope that the people working there will forgive me. Terri had two sushi rolls and seemed pleased although she didn't make much in the way of comments. The presentation of the sushi was very good from what I could see. We shared an order of the tempura style egg rolls which were tasty and certainly different. Perhaps they were a bit too different for my taste but I would encourage you to give them a try; maybe you will enjoy them as much as other reviewers who sing their praises. Drinks are canned or bottled sodas, teas and water in a large cooler next to the counter where you order. Service and friendliness of the person at the counter was top notch. As someone else mentioned- everything was clean and inviting in the dining area. The only negative, and it is a small one, is that I wished that they had regular silverware rather than plastic take-out style. I should have gone for chopsticks but wouldn't have been able to enjoy the amazing soup broth. If you like Asian or Asian Fusion food, I would very much encourage you to try Tokyo Bowl for take out or for dining in sometime soon. read more

Location - tiny, no bathrooms, clean Seating - small tables, comfy enough though Food - ordered the special of the day, which was fried rice with teriyaki chicken and an egg rolls. I shared this 1 dish, an additional egg roll and yaki gyoza, with my boyfriend. It was definitely enough food for the two of us.... the run down on the food. The chicken was almost none existent... and I mean it, they gave us about 6 teeny tiny little pieces with a giant stack of rice... we were a little upset because we didn't just order fried rice, we ordered chicken too... which obviously wasnt present in the meal. The egg roll was not good, it was too over fried, the skin was just falling off.. The gyoza was also very fried, and almost burnt.. Service - the cashier was nice. It is good for a quick lunch, don't expect over the top amazing chinese, but it is edible. Also, remember that they do not have a bathroom. read more

Tokyo Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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I usually don't write reviews but I had to for this place. I have been searching for the perfect ramen since leaving Japan and coming back to the US. Everything I had here was GREAT! Definitely recommend!! read more

Best sushi in Vernon Hills. I usually don't review, but I had to for this. My go to is the Dragon roll, which is perfection. Extremely flavorful and hits the spot every time. read more

This place is a gem!! I've literally been coming here since middle school, I was recently passing through Vernon Hills and saw they were still there & had to stop in. Best fried rice ever. They are always so friendly in there too. Loved it, thank you! read more

Tokyo Bowl - Chicken fried rice and ramune, a strawberry Japanese soda - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

I had the tonkatsu with pork cutlets, which was overall good but underwhelming in flavor. Hubby got the soy base with tofu, which was pretty good especially after adding some spice. The avocado in our side order avocado roll was inedible, and I am surprised they would even serve it. If you're out of decent ingredients, just let me know, and I'll order something else ‍. But the place was pretty busy for the size and on a frigid Friday night, so I may have to venture to try it again if I need a ramen fix and don't have time to drive to Ramen Time in Deerfield. read more

Tokyo Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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My 3/4 visits here seem to happen about ~4 years apart. I think most of the positive reviews come from lunch specials, as the standard menu is the only option when eating in the eve. (I know "duh", lunch special only at lunch). I have sampled several dishes here and all seem to be bland. They also seem to skimp on the amount of proteins in the entrees, so its not that great of a deal for dinner. I may be in the minority in not bestowing high praise on this place, which is a shame, as I enjoy supporting family run places. Its ok and better than the over sauced entrees at Panda Express, but in terms of quality its average. read more

Tokyo Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

This place makes a mean soup. I also really enjoyed the soup was steaming hot Got the spicy seafood noodle. It was off the chain. I'll be back. And everybody I know will be here. I also like that they played Christian elevator music. read more

Honestly, this place has GOD tier sushi. Honestly, going there has spoiled me, and I always judge sushi compared to Tokyo Bowl's sushi, as there isn't any sushi place I have ever been to in my travels across the country that is even 1/5th as good. The owner is an amazing person, and whenever I am able to, I go here for an amazing sushi, or whatever is on my mind at the time, and am never ever disappointed. read more

Great place, good cheap Japanese food. Pork cutlet was rather saltless but was served in a bowl full of flavor it absorbed so it was fine. You get a lot of bang for your buck. I got the tonkotsu, and it had corn interstingly, which actually added to the soup in it was something else to absorb the flavor, and it added a nice consistency. Bulgogi sushi was weird, but idk what I was asking for, it's bulgogi wrapped in rice and covered in sauce. Delicicous, but a bit rich though that's the style of this kind of cheap Asian food restaurant. Will be coming back read more

Don't be fooled by the dated strip mall look, this place has the goods. Serving ramen, sushi, Korean dishes and poke' dishes, there's something for everyone. I had the Ramen Shio and it was dynamite. Wifey had pork cutlet and it was some of the best I have ever tried. We had a side of sushi (Tokyo Roll), 8 pieces), made fresh to order. Did I mention the prices, the best bang for the buck. All of that and a King Bop (japche & karrage chicken) to go for 50 bucks. A true diamond in the rough. We will definitely put this place on our favs to frequent!!! read more

Discovered a little while ago, I like this place. I get a variety of stuff here, mainly sushi. Good service too. Nothing to complain about. Love it. read more

Tokyo Bowl - Combo b. 12.95 - Japanese Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

This is a hole in the wall but it is a gem. The owner/cook is very nice. I love ordering the Ramen noodles soup, you have a lot of combinations to try with the lunch specials... read more

I love this place. Not only is the owner a wonderful friendly man, the food is delicious. My favorite dish is the bulgogi kobop spice level 4. It is fantastic every time. read more

this is one of our favorite places to catch a quick inexpensive meal. TB is run by a Korean family who cook really good Korean & Japanese fast food. I would not get any "Chinese" food here because they do their Korean food best. The spicy seafood noodle soup is great, the Tokyo rolls are a great deal for under $5, and the bulgogi is great too. other hits: Unagi bowl, sukiyaki, and the udon. we are always under $50 for a family of four. Compare that against over $100 for our local "sushi" places, and we keep coming back. read more

They have decent ramen here. When going in I thought it would be like one of those hole in the wall places because the place was a bit dirty - the floors were filthy and there was minimal effort in supplying the restaurant with comfy chairs and tables but that's just how most (if not all) hole in the walls work right?...but what makes up for all of it is the quality and tastiness of the food... So when we finally got our $9 (+tax) ramen - this wasn't so. The ramen was a nice size...but the quality was ok. It was not as tasty as what I was expecting from the reviews and there was not enough meat. I've had my good share of Ramen and one of the best I've had was in San Diego and strangely enough the Whole Foods I'm Vernon Hills. I don't think I'll be coming back here. Lived and learned :) read more

Two years later, I came here to give it another try. Got the rainbow rolls and it was really bad. The rice was falling off, thus not sticky enough. Rainbow rolls should have salmon but this only have tuna, white tuna and shrimp. I am a huge sushi fan but I could not even finish my food. I wish they rolled the wasabi into a ball because it was mixed in with my rice in the container they put it in. Small ma and pap place, so I understand they might not want to invest the capital into buying proper takeout containers, but some people could really dislike wasabi or cannot eat spicy at all, and then their meal would have been ruined. No sashimi option here. Ramen, all they have is chicken or vegetable ramen. Nothing against the owners, they are beyond cute, courteous and nice, but the food is just not very good at all. read more

I was in the area and spotted the Tokyo Bowl sign and stopped in for lunch. Tokyo Bowl is located in a shopping center with plenty of off-street parking. At lunch time on a weekday, a total of five people were either dining in or carried out food. I ordered their special, which was chicken teriyaki, fried rice and an egg roll ($5.99). The meal came on a real plate (not paper or plastic), however the fork was plastic. I thought the food was delicious and in adequate portion. I only wish they were closer, so I could stop in more often. I would love to try some of their other dishes. Give Tokyo Bowl a try. I think you'll like it. read more