Favorite Des Plaines sushi place. Blessed to live right across the street. Delicious, fresh, great customer service. A bit pricy but worth it! read more

I cant believe it took me so long to try this place out! The atmosphere and interior is cozy and charming. Everything was delicious! Portions for the dinners are huge! Chicken katsu is tasty and enough for two! Don't pass up the gyoza. We'll be back! read more

My absolute favorite sushi place in the Des Plaines area! After I moved, I was devastated to leave my favorite sushi place & it's all-you-can-eat menu. Dotombori easily filled the void. Although they don't have an all-you-can-way option, their flaming rolls, lovely waitresses and delish rolls & dishes are to die for. Always our go-to when we don't feel like cooking. Crazy Boy is my favorite signature maki! You won't be disappointed if you visit or take carryout! read more

I used to work close to this restaurant and recently realized I hadn't had their food in a while. Had the lunch special with the chicken teriyaki and California rolls and it was just as delicious as I remembered it. I definitely recommend this spot the only reason I give it 4 stars is because I think service could be a little more friendly, they're very straightforward and a smile sometimes would be a little more welcoming and make this place the perfect spot. I usually pickup so my interactions with them are short. read more

So impressed by the quality of sushi, especially as a vegetarian. We've been here a few times before but it was crazy tonight with Valentines Day - what hustle and work by all of the staff. Like any restaurant, if you come here on a holiday don't expect the kind of service you'd get on a weeknight. But the quality was still there and the friendliness of the staff was far beyond what I'd expect on the busiest date night of the year. read more

Ramen has all veggies, no meat, egg or anything else besides broth and noodles. They dont tell you this... $18 after tax and tip. I left hungry. read more

I got the bulgogi bento to go today and was very impressed on the quality and quantity of food I got for slightly over $10. The bulgogi was fresh and the tempura was crispy and delicious. Upon arriving to pick up my food I was greeted by friendly staff and authentic Japanese decor that embodied a family run business that cares about presentation as much as the quality of their food. A great choice for lunch or dinner whether that be dine in or to-go! read more

Woah. Not to hate on the suburbs *too* much, but this place actually exists in the suburbs?! I LOVED Dotombori. Their lunch specials were amazing. AH-MAZE-ING. We got a giant bowl of ramen and a roll or tempura for $7.95. That's it! The ramen is vegetarian and you can get regular or spicy - I totally recommend spicy. The bowl of noodles, veggies, and broth is huge so really that's all you need. However, they also have lunch special rolls so we ordered two just to try them out. One was deep fried and one was spicy and they were both super delicious. Unfortunately, that was too much food for two people so I recommend only getting one additional roll or just getting the tempura as your side for ramen. Service was relatively quick, the place was fairly quiet for a weekday afternoon, and we loved the food. What more could you want? Be sure to arrive before 1:30 p.m. for the lunch special - they end it at 2:00 p.m. but they really mean they'll stop serving after 1:30 because then you'd be there well after 2. They probably should advertise that better since someone came in while we were eating and got super angry at the employees but it seemed like something dumb to be angry about since it's like a three-hour lunch special to begin with. read more

This place is awesome. The inside may not look like much, but it's the sushi that counts. We've been here multiple times and the food is always fantastic. My personal favorites are the spicy tuna roll (a staple, of course), the White Dragon roll, and the King Kong roll. read more

Very good! Fresh, tasty, delightful. Great date spot, birthday spot. They have very unique rolls and then do a wonderful job with traditional rolls. The staff is friendly. The place is clean. The Scorpion was good, Godzilla is good - you have to like cream cheese. Spicy tuna perfect!!!! Corona is fresh and the lemon sauce should be called something else because it tasted much better than how it sounds. Very good overall. We all loved it. Will be back!!! read more

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I can't tell you how many times I've driven by this place while they were opening, patiently waiting for them to let me in! Hubby and I were finally able to check it out the other day and it was really worth the wait. I'm going to say off the bat that I am NOT a sushi person. I like the *idea* of it and have always wished I could love it but even when I ordered "wimpy" sushi, i.e. no raw fish, it always made me gag. I thought it was a mental issue but then I had the most amazing sushi. Well, at least to this novice. Hubby convinced me to do the spicy tuna roll - his fave. I winced as it was brought to the table, thinking that I am going to completely embarrass myself. It's not that the raw fish makes me gag it's all the rice and the nori. Well, apparently, I've been eating complete crap for sushi because this was nothing like that. The rice wasn't all packed tight and a mass of starch. It was light and fluffy and fell apart in my mouth. The nori... wait, was there nori in there? I didn't feel a tough, fibrous mass in my mouth. Yep, there was nori. It melted away as well. And the tuna? It was creamy and delicate and amazing. Then the little punch of spice kicked in and I was sold. Hubby said it was the best he's had. We also ordered the chicken teriyaki lunch box and an order of ramen. The teriyaki was pretty standard. The veggies it was served with were kind of blah but that's fine. The ramen wasn't what I expected, however. I was hoping for a chicken broth but it was a miso ramen and.. well, one can only have too much miso, IMO. Their entree menu is pretty limited compared but it seems like the sushi is the main draw. This place used to be Subway and there is nary a trace of it anywhere. The decor is calm and soothing, the pottery is beautiful and the staff is very helpful. They also do take-out and will deliver to a 2-mile area. We will definitely be trying this place again and I suspect I will meet many a friend for lunch. read more

My SO and I come here a lot. We enjoy the sushi and appetizers and highly recommend their happy hour. We bring our friends and family and they absolutely love it as well. We had moved out of the neighborhood and now it's a 30 minute drive, but it is worth it! Love the food and atmosphere, service is okay but we mainly come for the food and make any excuse to come back. read more

Dotombori - Delish sushi! Happy Hour menu is da bomb.com as well as their regular menus. Recommend the Holy Molly & the smoked salmon crunch. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Sneaky . . . Originally, I had thought we had a pleasant first-time experience at Dotombori. The Spicy Rainbow and Mango Sushi were refreshing and revived my jaded seafood palate. The decor was simple, elegant, and overall is well-kept. Then it dawned on me; There were two major red flags I should have picked up on! The signature rolls average about $15. I'm fairly accustomed to that figure, but not after what I now realized: Don't be fooled by the photos or when the food is first presented. Yes, the rolls are colorful, plump, and scrape the sky. What you don't pick up on is that the sushi that seemingly covers the roll is PAPER THIN. From my observation, the rolls are triple or sometimes even quadruple the average thickness of rice you would find in more upscale sushi venues. Combined with paper thin sushi and a $15 price point, this is a thinly-veiled way of overcharging. The second red flag that I should have picked up on was the final bill. 2 Miso soups, 1 seaweed salad, 1 OMG, 1 Spicy Rainbow, 1 Mango Salmon, 1 Lycheetini (delicious), and 1 Asian Peartini (extra delicious) came out to $62.50. Final total after tax, before-tip, was $68.75. Not bad . . . Right? The kicker is their tip guide at the bottom: 15% Gratuity = $10.31 18% Gratuity = $12.38 20% Gratuity = $13.75 Makes sense.... Oh no it doesn't.. $10.31 / 15% = $68.75 $12.38 / 18% = $68.78 (!?) $13.75 / 20% = 68.75 Their tip guide is representing how much you should tip on the TAX as well!!! I don't know about you, but Uncle Sam has a large enough presence in my life already . . . I should not have to tip him as well. Very sneaky to an unsuspecting customer who is looking to correctly tip on the quality of food and service received (subtotal), not on Sam's shadow. It may seem like I'm making mountains out of mole hills, but I feel these two items are just blatant, sketchy, veiled business tactics that detract away from the overall experience. read more

Another visit to Dotombori and yum, I am hooked! The menu sure has grown since my first visit shortly after the opening and now there is a maki roll list to rival many trendy downtown sushi joints. On the latest excursion I had the rainbow roll and was pleased with the fresh fish. I also split the "omg" roll with a friend on the advice of the server. After we put our order in we realized we had ordered a flaming roll! The presentation was totally worth it - the roll comes out in an aluminum foil boat, on risers made of upside down soy sauce dishes and the plate has enough Bacardi 151 to create some fun blue flames. Fire tricks aside, the roll was delicious with shrimp termpura on the inside and fresh shrimp drizzled in sauce on the outside. I will definitely be back for more! read more

Amazing service, good ambience, and great sushi at a reasonable price!

I finally got around to trying this place, and I wish I'd eaten here sooner! The staff is very friendly, the menu has a good selection without being confusing, and the ingredients are fresh. There was no wait for a seat, even though I arrived during peak dinner hours. My favorite kind of sushi is the avocado roll, something that is not good at all unless the avocado inside is neither too ripe nor too hard. It was perfect here. I also ordered cucumber rolls and tried natto rolls for the first time. On top of all that, the chef behind the bar made me a little cornucopia of vegetables, including crunchy sprouts. Their green tea is flavorful and served very hot, and the gari and wasabi served with the rolls were of good quality--no pale, flavorless ginger here! Allegedly they have wifi here, but I brought a book, not my laptop, so I can't speak for or against it. The only thing this place is missing: sweet potato tempura. I didn't see it on the menu, but I can dream.... read more

I just moved to the neighborhood and didn't expect much from a sushi place in downtown Des Plaines. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fish, the service of the staff, and the uniqueness of some of the rolls. The owners were super friendly and gave us free soup and desserts to accompany our sushi. The thing you always look for is the freshness of the fish in a sushi restaurant and this place was definitely good. The prices were reasonable as well! Dotombori will be joining my list of local eateries in the area to go to for a nicer Friday meal with the GF. read more

I have been to a lot of sushi places and this place is the best hands down. The staff was friendly and attentive. I've paid twice as much for worse sushi than this. Tons of menu choices and free wifi, what else can you ask for? There is a free parking garage a block away, very convenient place to get to by all modes of transportation. I don't normally write reviews, but I had to make a yelp account just for this place because it blew me out of the water. If you have not tried this place yet, do it. You will not regret it. read more

I did not expect the food to be as good as it was, great service, quiet restaurant. We will be back often, highly recommend.

This place is great! Just moved back to the area and I have to say I am impressed. We definitely needed a sushi place in Des Plaines and Dotombori is a great start! The employees are very kind and accommodating and the food is simple and tasty. We wanted to go the first week they opened but we couldnt quite get it together until last week. Based on the first 2 reviews I decided to go outside of my typical spice comfort zone and ordered the spicy tuna maki. I cant say if it was the best ever as I think I have only done spicy tuna once before, however, it was fabulous to me! It definitely had a kick but it was smooth and delicious. Not sooo spicy that I couldnt taste the tuna. The texture of their rice is superb. Not mushy and not dry - just right! We also tried the Viking special roll. This one has spicy tuna in it as well as avacado and a layer of torched white fish wrapped around the outside. This roll was so good I had to go back for lunch just to get it again...and now that Im thinking about it I think I will sneak out and get another. Dotombori is not your average American sushi joint. They have a pretty limited raw menu but I prefer it is limited than they have so many types of raw fish you wonder how it could keep fresh. Pretty basic on the sushi front but what they do they do good and you cant argue with that! Off to Dotombori for another round with The Viking!!! read more

Love love love this place! Stopped by with some co-workers for lunch (an AT&T favorite) and had another great experience. Very attentive wait staff- Hi Mary ;-). Expertly prepared dishes- Big shout out to you, Simon. And a new twist, a rewards card! Not the, you must come here 10 times to get a free soda, type reward either. Your 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th all come with a free, tasty, loyalty reward! Wanna know what it is? Get your sushi loving self down to Dotombori! read more

This place is overpriced and the people working were talking so loud, It wasn't relaxing at all. We were trying to have a romantic anniversary dinner and I remember not being able to hear my husband because the staff were yelling at each other. The sake options are poor, you can find them at the liquor store next door. Very basic rolls and options in the menu, nothing original. I'm confused to why they have such a high rating. read more

Dotombori is my sushi go-to place! The servers are very nice and the sushi is freshly prepared. I'm always impressed by their presentation as well. The spider roll is a well made classic. If you want to try something different, the Mango Gaga roll is quite good. A great place to eat in downtown DP! read more

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This place was great, quiet and clean. Our server was very nice, polite and attentive. The food was delicious and the presentation was fun. It's not an inexpensive restaurant but worth the price and they have good lunch specials. read more

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Really good sushi and super cute and intimate atmosphere! We came here for dinner with a couple of friends and had a great time. Our server was very nice and recommended some very good cocktails. A bit pricey for Des Plaines, but the quality is there! Will definitely be back! read more

I frankly don't know how this restaurant has 4 stars. I've been there twice, today was the second time. First, the service is fine, but not over the top great. It's overpriced for what you get, the amount of food is average. If you order the vegetable tempura, you can expect about 5 pieces of vegetables on the appetizer plate. The tempura udon was good, but had all kinds of vegetables in it like onions, carrots, and broccoli - not typical of Japanese udon, I didn't like different vegetables and onions in it...keep in mind though, this restaurant is korean owned and managed, but only about 2 dishes are korean. sushi, is okay, but this wouldn't be my first choice. I love that its in my neighborhood, but not sure I can give it a 3rd chance. Just can't seem to walk away feeling like it was worth the money spent. read more

One of the best sushi restaurants I've found in the Chicago suburbs. The portions are a good size, the ingredients are always very fresh (very important for sushi/maki), and the combinations are flavorful. Presentation is always important, and Dotombori doesn't disappoint. They always present the dishes in an interesting and eye catching way. Service is prompt and polite as it always should be. I really have no complaints and I will be back often in the future. read more

Awesome Japanese restaurant with high quality sushi! The tables and restaurant atmosphere is also very nice and quite.

Freshest sushi around, very pleasant staff. Always or sashimi dinner, different rolls, and a Sapporo or two. We like to go a couple of times a month. read more

I really liked this place, and it's right in downtown Des Plaines! My cousins, brother, and I went for lunch one day and we were all happy to find something on the lunch special menu. Everything was $7.95! My cousin and I ended up with two rolls (I got the shrimp tempura and a california roll). My brother and other cousin got bento boxes with rice, bulgogi, tempura vegetables and shrimp, and a california roll. The bento boxes were huge, and I'm definitely considering getting that next time I'm in town and I visit this place. The sushi was very good and the experience overall was wonderful. Overall, I would definitely come here again! I heard happy hour prices here are great as well! read more

Miso- mine was on the house to match the one that my bf got from his meal. That was very sweet. Soup was Savory. Not bland. Full miso flavor. Lingering slight saltiness and warmth. Ample tofu and seaweed and bits of chives. Bf's tonkatsu curry was loaded with diced veggies on top, which i loved. We ordered nigiri and it was pretty decent. My biggest upset was over the ramen. If you're Korean, don't get it because it'll taste awfully familiar and know you're being charged several times more than its worth. I'll give them props for their clever way of stayin in business. Stick to what the yelpers give high ratings for here: rolls and alcohol. read more

Be warned, this place is pricey but it is well worth the money you'll shell out. Some highlights to try are the miso soup, the edemame and the spring rolls. Of the rolls they have, the best would have to be their mango roll with fresh, ripe mangos right on top of every piece. Dotombori does offer lunch specials so that is the best time really to get the most bang for your buck. read more

I took my wife here for our wedding anniversary, and we must admit, it was a good decision of places to eat. Pros: + NO MSG at all, whatsoever (not even in the soup, and not even in the soy sauce)! + Very nice staff (friendly, helpful, kind) + Huge portions! Usually when you order sushi, the rolls are small, so we ordered 2 rolls and one of the Sashimi packages. When they brought out the first roll, it was huge! Then they brought out the second, and immediately, we knew we were going to need a take-home box (our sashimi hadn't even come out yet!). You definitely get your money's worth. + Cute place, clean, authentic Japanese soda... + Very good Miso soup + Great place to bring a date (intimate, dimmed lighting, soft background music, quiet) There are also many other stores around the area, great for taking a walk around the area together. + Many rolls to choose from + Reservation or walk in (we made reservations the previous night, and they gave us the table right by the storefront window (very nice). Table even had a "reserved" sign. + We were given a "Rewards Card". This visit counted as the first, next visit will give us a free appetizer. + Free parking in lot around the block Cons: - I'm not a huge fan of cilantro, and there was a strong taste of it in the rolls. - Crab meat was listed in just about every roll (not all, but almost). - Though you probably could bring kids there, the ambiance is quiet and intimate. Plus, they don't have a kids' menu. read more

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My boyfriend and I decided to check out this place tonight since it's right by our place. WOW! Many times we went out for sushi, got a few rolls and there was one or two that were the "good ones"... all of the ones from here were DELICIOUS!!!! We got four rolls and figured we won't finish them since it was a lot but nope, we ate it all and felt "awesome full"! The place is also quiet, relaxing and would be a nice date restaurant:) Definitely will go back !!! Oh and btw, they give a simple, little dessert at the end at no charge - bananas with whipped cream and chocolate. Just the perfect thing after a great meal! read more

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I love this place! The staff are friendly, and service is quick. I bring family and friends here to dine, usually for the lunch specials. It's a little pricey for dinner, but the portions are generous. My parents lived in Japan for a few years and said the food is authentic. read more

This was the first time we went to this place. I have always passed this and today wanted to give it a shot. Being Vegetarian's we didn't know what to order so had the puzzled look on our face. Stella one of the waitress the best there helped us with what we can eat and cannot and made some great suggestions. By the time food arrived and we finished it our opinion changed to having one of the best Vegetarian Sushi we have had in a while. read more

Restaurant is very clean and the food is delicious. Many customers are visiting here when I was here in the morning 11:30. read more

Dotombori - Tempura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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This is great sushi. Their rice is perfect.; not too sweet, not remotely mushy. The service is very polite and pretty good. It is a small, quiet place, with great decor. The sushi is very fresh with some interesting rolls. As an app, we had the gyoza. It was very light with the perfect amount of ginger. We had the salmon nigiri and tobiko. The salmon was outstanding, with the perfect amount of wasabi. The tobiko (flying fish roe) is green, though I prefer the orange. I know it is just the dye, but psychologically, I prefer the orange. It was very fresh and not over salty. We also had the spicy tuna roll and it was excellent. We tried two specialty rolls. The Caterpillar was very good. We asked for a bit of sriracha to dip. We then tried the Viking. We didn't love this one. The white tuna on top is seared and we didn't love that. Since it was our first time, they gave us a bit of the banana cake to try, and it was great. They also have a card where you get something free every other visit. On your tenth visit, you get a free specialty roll. Overall, we were very pleased and will definitely be back. It isn't cheap, but nowhere near downtown prices. Their lunch specials and Happy Hour look extremely economical. We recommend it for great sushi in the burbs. read more

Their ramen noodle soup is the worst I've even eaten outside of making it myself at home. The server confirmed to me they use instant noodles, similar to what I have in my pantry. With that said, I won't be going back for ramen. I'll make that at home when I'm not feeling well. I'll continue to venture out for places like Mitsuwa and Sakura to give me the kind of Japanese ramen noodle soup I expect to have when I order from a restaurant. read more

I went here on a quick bit of dinner, and it was a bit disappointing, but since it was a discount night of sorts, it's not too bad since paying for sushi is like almost a car payment. My friend was already there and ordered a selection of rolls and nigri but she had no clue and clearly having a tough time - I don't think sushi is for her, despite my suggestions. I'm not even anything near of an expert on Japanese cuisine but I know what I want & like, and have an open mind to try stuff, even if it sounds yucky. I had a few California rolls and an assortment of tuna, salmon, and shrimp - all were decently tasty but it seems to not quite taste and prepared if it was done by an expert, and a Japanese one at that. Washed that down with some tea, had a few more rolls and assorted nigri, and left for the night. Decor was nice, had some Japanese and Asian touches for the interior, and generic tables and chairs. Music played didn't detract from the masticating activities or the conversations. The wait staff (and I think the owner too) tried to be helpful and did fairly well to serve us. Next time I come around, I'll need to try the fish dishes and bento box, and will update this review as well as the rating. To be continued... read more