This is a great little hibachi spot that definitely deserves more attention. The staff was incredibly kind and attentive, and our hibachi chef, Tom, was fantastic--funny, talented, and great at getting everyone involved in the experience. The food was excellent. You can really tell they put care into everything, especially the homemade sauces--definitely try the yum yum sauce. Even the salad dressings are made in-house, which is a nice touch. The fried rice was especially delicious. It's also very reasonably priced for the quality and portion sizes. We went on a Wednesday evening and had the place to ourselves, but the staff still made it feel lively and welcoming. They also have a great drink menu and a really nice, relaxed ambiance. Overall, a wonderful experience--I'll definitely be back! read more

This is an expensive restaurant, so I do not go often. This visit, my server's time was split between the small tables upstairs and several large groups at tables downstairs. She could not manage both. I had to push her hard for tea, napkins and my food. The icing on the cake was a hair in my meal that wasn't mine. I did report it all to the manager. She took a couple of dollars off my bill. I am very disappointed and likely will not come back here. read more

I've been going to this restaurant for years. My kids loved everything about sitting around the fire! Chefs are very engaging, and food is delicious! My fave is golden shrimp. read more

We waited for over two hours, patiently, while watching multiple parties get seated before us -- even though they didn't have reservations. It was extremely frustrating and honestly felt discriminatory. The only clear difference between us and the people being seated ahead of us was that we are Hispanic and they were white. No one should ever feel overlooked or treated unfairly because of their ethnicity. We all deserve to be treated with the same respect and fairness. I truly hope this establishment reflects on how they handle their seating process and ensures that all guests are treated equally. read more

Hanakawa - Japanese Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

I came here a few months ago with my husband and we had such an amazing time. We arrived 45 minutes before close (sorry I randomly started craving hibachi) and were promptly sat and welcomed with no hesitation. Everyone was so nice and it felt so romantic. The food was also delicious and the drinks were strong. There wasn't a single thing I was served that I didn't enjoy. The meal didn't feel rushed, the cook put on an excellent show, and I had no complaints the whole night. Thank you to the workers who make positive experiences like this possible read more

Meh, prefer tsukasa. Left alot to be desired. Not bad... just mediocre. Service was fine, restaurant could be better ventilated for hibachi.

Loved it! The food was great as was the service. Only downside was was the restaurant was cold!!!!

We were in vacation staying in the area and decided to try this place out. We were able to get in as soon as it opened. It was 3 adults who ordered full means and my son ordered fried rice. I like that we got our own table. The chef was very attentive and interacted with everyone in our group. The entire staff was great out water cup of water was always full. Everything was really good. I did notice on the menu that the tofu was more expensive than the chicken I found that a little odd. Our bill came and it was $115 for 3 adults and a cup of fried rice I felt that was a bit pricey. Overall good experience. read more

Hanakawa - Japanese Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

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Came here for lunch with my partner and we got the two roll lunch special, the sushi was AMAZING! Not too heavy or crazy large roll portions like other sushi restaurants, and the miso soup that came with it was delicious as well. My partner ordered a small fried rice that was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. The service was wonderful, our server was very kind and friendly as well as funny which was refreshing! The restaurant itself was so cute and cozy and even had live fish and turtles in the pond by the hibachi tables! 10/10 recommend! read more

The food service and ambiance was all super! The staff did everything they could to accommodate us! We were11 people celebrating and we barely fit around the grill but they did it for us anyway!! We had good food and a fun time. KUDOS! read more

Always amazing food and the owners always come out to greet us. Better than Tsukasa. And more avordable.

We had dinner here and were not in the mood for the table side cooking show, so we ate upstairs where you can order the same food without the communal tables and watching the chef cook your food. We had several hibachi combos including fillet and shrimp, chicken and scallops and steak and lobster. Prices ranged from around $45-$55. Fried rice was $2 extra. They also had single entrees for about half as much. Everything comes with miso soup, salad and a side appetizer. None of us liked the soup which had an odd flavor. The salad was basically a handful of iceberg lettuce with a watery ginger dressing. For appetizer sides we had shrimp tempura and gyoza. Both were good, but nothing really special. Our entrees were good. The steak was very tender and everything was well cooked. The biggest negative was the timing. We had barely started our soup and they brought out the salads. The sides followed immediately. A couple of us just left over the soup and salad since we wanted to eat the sides while they were hot. We asked them to slow things down and were told the food comes out as it is prepared. Really? The entrees appeared minutes later. In spite of some of the food being good, we will not return. I think there are better Hibachi option in the area. read more

We went for lunch not to busy. Started off with a Sapporo beer nice and cold. Ordered steak & chicken combination hibachi style with their yum yum sauce on the side. Yum yum sauce had good flavor. Chicken and steak cooked just right. Good amount of food. Would go back. read more

Hanakawa - Steak & chicken combination (lunch) - Japanese Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

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Food and service is pretty nice, the red dragon roll is yummy, so is the beef apetizer

If you're near Libertyville craving some sushi or hibachi, this is the spot to visit. Their sushi rolls are delicious! You must try the Dragon Ferrari and OMG rolls. They won't disappoint you. They're full of flavor. It's probably my 4th time coming to this spot and they never disappoint. If you're feeling hibachi, try the stake and shirmp, it's also delicious! read more

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We loved this establishment. We last minute tried to find a reservation at a hibachi restaurant and Hanakawa was able to get us in (family of 6). The service was exceptional and the food was delicious. The hibachi experience was fun for the whole family. We did not order hibachi for our 1.5 year old (we figured he could eat from our plate) and the chef graciously put together a small for him to snack from. Excellent selection and reasonable pricing. Highly recommended. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is that the hibachi area felt crowded, with limited walking space. read more

I did dinner carry-out from here recently for my wife's birthday. I had heard of this place but never had their food before. I am usually not a Japanese hibachi food person but my wife suggested we try something different for her special occasion's dinner and she chose this place. Because of COVID-19, obviously, the restaurant was not open for dine-in. We ordered Vegetarian Spring Rolls, Sushi rolls (Laurie's Special and Spicy Tako), Chicken Yakisoba, and Hibachi scallops w/ fried rice, salad and veggies for carry-out. I was told it would take ~one hour for the food to be ready. That wasn't a problem. When I got to the restaurant, the food was ready for pick-up. There were handful of other take-out dinner bags ready for pick-up as well which told me that this place was getting good business (at least for the weekend evening I went). I saw a husband & wife (owners, I am assuming) being the two people in the restaurant (and maybe someone in the kitchen?) taking care of everything. I received good service. The lady who took my order over the phone, took care of me at the counter as well. She followed good hygiene while handling my credit card (as in she wiped by credit card with anti-bacterial wipe after handling it). Now to food. We liked the food. We weren't wowed by it but it was definitely better than average. Our favorite dish was the vegetarian spring rolls followed by the Chicken Yakisoba. The Hibachi scallops were decent but we didn't care for the batter/ breading they had on them. Also, there were no sesame seeds coated on them like the menu says. The sushi rolls were decent but nothing special. The Spicy Tako (Spicy chili mayo with octopus, crabsticks and masago with cucumbers) was my favorite between the two kinds that we got. It was tasty but not spicy. Overall, we thought the food was okay to fairly decent. Although we would try some of their other menu items again but it wouldn't be anytime soon. Plus, they are a bit on the pricey side. The menu is pretty good. I liked the variety. Personally, I would go more for their sushi. Anyway, check this place out if you haven't before and if you like sushi and hibachi style food. It's a popular place among the locals. read more

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We've been to Hanakawa multiple times since moving here 2 years ago & it's by far our favorite hibachi restaurant but last night we went with our 1 year old for the first time and our cook was SO incredible with her. He didn't do the big fire just the choo choo train because he didn't want to scare her. We ordered her a little something and he cut up every piece perfectly for her. We got there at 5 right as it opened which is a reason we may have had the advantage since we had a grill to ourselves but we felt like they truly cared and it was a relief for me personally since we were celebrating my birthday! Love this staff & their food!!! read more

We went for lunch so hibachi was available but not cooked in front of you. Service was decent except they forgot one of our meals. They did apologize tho. Food was decent. read more

Idk what to say. Every hibachi place has good and average. The sushi was really good. The filet was tender and good. The vegetables were in the griddle for less than 3 min and was super raw. They should've served them with ranch dip. The ginger dressing for the salad was watery and sad. Little flavor. Soup was mid at best. Overall I can't give it better than a stars read more

Perfect super cool experience Had a great time Service is awesome Shrimp is sooo good read more

I never review any restaurants but we frequent Hanakawa with our 3 young kids 2-3 times per year and they blow it out of the water every single time. The food is good, the service is fast, and the staff is amazing! We will continue to come here both for the hibachi and the sushi. So yummy! read more

Always a pleasure to visit Hanakaw the selection are always fresh and they will accommodate your request asbest asthey can. Again always a pleasure. Pleasant environment. read more

I liked this place when my husband and I first tried it and decided to take a few of his shipmates along since it was one of their birthdays. We didn't have a reservation but they managed to find a table for the 8 of us an hour later than when we first arrived which was great. It didn't really sit well with my husband and I that they "typically take military, but not on Fridays"... At that point, it defeated the purpose of making my husband and the other service members welcome. Drinks were ordered and a few orders went missing and were taken off the bill. When we ordered food I noticed that the hibachi combos are exorbitantly priced. ~$50 for steak and chicken? It only costs $35 for a filet and chicken at a beloved hibachi place in my hometown in the DC area. I decided to go with the hibachi steak. Chef was playful, but didn't really mind me as I was the only lady at the table. After veggies, fried rice for those who got it and protein -- that was it. We had to remind our server 3 times we were missing steamed rice for the ones who had that option. But it seemed odd how short the time cooking at the table was. There wasn't much of a show, just cook and serve. Flavor was average at best. Sushi that the table ordered fell apart, but that's a different tale. We were left alone for a good 45 minutes after that with no one checking on us. I did catch the eye of one of the younger waitresses and I know she saw me. I caught her glance at me 5 times trying to call her over and she didn't - she'd turn back around so fast either pretending it didn't happen or going to another server instead. That part really irked me that I was getting ignored and there was no reason to. There was another table who had a birthday and they were served dessert and we had informed our server we had a birthday at our table too along with a few of them ordering dessert. No one got dessert. It honestly felt like no one wanted to to service our table. Please do yourself a favor and find another hibachi place or just find a Benihana read more

Excellent food. The best hibachi chef. Best filet mignon. Tenderest steak I ever had.

My new favorite Japanese restaurant for lunch. The lunchtime prices are very reasonable and the portions are still a good size. I ordered the salmon and fried rice. Very delicious. I will say the fried rice is a bit bland, but I just asked for some of their teriyaki sauce on the side and mixed that in the rice which ended up giving it flavor. I also got the tuna sashimi which was smooth and fresh. I will keep coming here for lunch time whenever I crave a hibachi type meal! I would say their competitor is tsukasa which is down the road in vernon hills. It is comparable, but I will say I like Hanakawa better because of the hospitality that you don't get at the other restaurant. I believe it was the owner who kept going around everyones tables multiple times to make sure everyone was satisfied. He greeted me and said goodbye which I thought was great customer service. A must try! read more

Hanakawa - salmon entree - Japanese Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

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I love it here. The staff treats you with so much hospitality and always makes sure you're taken care of. It's a bonus the food is excellent! read more

Hanakawa - a bowl of soup and a bowl of salad - Japanese Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

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Try new things...yes, we did! Out of town guest was excited to have sushi and a life-long L'town resident has never been here. It was excellent! Super nice masked up, hostess (possibly the owner) welcomed us to take a seat at the Hibachi grill. Our waitress was efficient in taking drinks...strawberry Japanese soda (woot-woot), hot tea for the drivers, and Kirin Ichiban for the balance of our grill mates. Salads and miso soup for starters, and a perfectly spiced Tuna Tartare app, as well---all fresh and beautifully presented. The hibachi show was so much fun.:.clanging, banging and flames galore! The grilled steak, chicken and scallops were all cooked to perfection. The veggies added a fair amount of healthiness to the meal, as did the deserts---mango was sublime! We'll return for the food and the chef's skills! Go for a birthday with a group to celebrate...and enjoy a Zombie or Mai Tai. What a gem in Libertyville! read more

Hanakawa - Contact info - Japanese Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

My family always comes here for my birthday! It's sort of a tradition. We make sure to make a reservation because sometimes it gets very busy. I usually order the garlic shrimp and scallops combination. With the combo or any entree you get a ginger or cream dressing salad and miso soup. But, with the combo you get a side so I usually get California roll or shrimp tempura. Besides the food, the grill offers great entertainment. The chef usually spins eggs on the spatula, throws broccoli around, makes onions into a volcano and much much more. The chefs are always very creative. If you're looking for a dinner experience, Hanakawa is the place for you. read more

This is 3rd time visiting but our first time during lunch. The prices are significantly less. It took us no time to be seated and our order to be taken per usual. We both ordered sushi appetizers, 1 was salmon and the other was salmon avocado and we both had the option of soup or salad. The salmon avocado was enough for 2 ppl to share. We both ordered the steak and shrimp and without fail it turned out to be just right. So much so we were able to take leftovers with us. Our server was super nice and on time with everything. read more

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We love coming to Hanakawa Japanese Steak & Sushi Bar! The food is amazing and so are the people who work here. There's a little something for everyone, so even if sitting at the hibachi table isn't your thing, no need to worry because there is a separate dining area and a diverse menu of Japanese appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Their drink menu also includes beer, wine, and cocktails. Finally, you won't find better service. The staff were some of the most courteous and kind I've ever seen. The chef was amazing and engaging, and of course, the food was over the top amazing. The experience was perfect: delicious hibachi and sushi, great service, and a very welcoming atmosphere! Highly, highly recommend this place! read more

Delicious food, great service and great ambience. Great drinks too. They have a huge menu and cater to allergies as well.

Food was delicious. Service was efficient . It was fun to watch the cook prepare the food in front of us.

Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 4 I came here with a friend for Friday dinner around 8pm. 1. Yakitori, 4 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/A2OxFi_OdvgpTE1zCxVucw?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ Yummy. Yakitori wasn't grilled as much as I was expecting, but it was actually quite good. 2. *Tarantula - negi spicy tuna topped with softshell crab, 11 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/A2OxFi_OdvgpTE1zCxVucw?select=VSEcyqM0GCbsJZ5D9ZYniQ Not bad. Roll was moderately spicy, and this was apparently our server's favorite roll. 3. Chicken soba, 12 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/A2OxFi_OdvgpTE1zCxVucw?select=sTzJfdsGV1hLugGemE9mjA Mediocre. Not much to say except that it was average, and there were a lot of noodles. My friend got the nabeyaki udon: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/A2OxFi_OdvgpTE1zCxVucw?select=p5I6EkOkjuSw6x8uL1P5mg Overall, okay Japanese food. Service was friendly, although the server kept asking us if everything was okay. read more

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I've been to this restaurant several times and I think it's delightful. I think the food is good. If you think the food was bland with no taste it's because you probably didn't have Nino the chef. He seasons the food and it always tastes good with him. I can see how the food was bland with the other chefs because they don't season the food as well as Nino does. When my husband and I go here, we always request Nino. He's fun, he can cook and he is talkative. He's just awesome and entertaining. So those of you complaining about the food request Nino. If you think the restaurant was too "smokey" from the grill, come earlier when it's open. I think that is a dumb reason to give this place a bad review. And to the "connoisseur of hibachi", I've been to Japan SEVERAL times and the food is pretty close to what I've had there. read more

Hanakawa - This is Chef Nino, I highly recommend requesting him. - Japanese Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

Spent over $100 for two and was the worse hibachi I have had. The shrimp were overcooked where they were hard and rubbery. The scallops undercooked to where they were mushy and not firm at all. Terrible mouth texture. The calamari was just ok however was different than I have seen. Was a brick of calamari instead of strips as I am accustomed to seeing. Not a fan of this place at all for the price. Our new sailor wanted hibachi after boot camp so this is where we ended. On a good note, the sake was good! . The California rolls were good also. read more

I like this place and the food is consistently good. They need to update a bit and provide the cooks with the time and tools to let the customers have the same fun experience, no matter whom they are given to cook the food. The pop is often a bit flat but again food is what we are there for, so if you want a great meal take your date or kids here for a fun and different experience. read more

Not a fan of this stuff, but its supper fun!! The cook was great. And the service, wow, they where supper good. We eat out 5-7 times a week. And there service blows everyone out. They make Morton's look like a joke. read more

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Hanakawa's lunch specials are great (and ranges from $8-13) - if you want a food prep show like Tsukasa, come here because it's much cheaper! I usually get the teriyaki sirloin steak lunch special which includes fried rice and vegetables. The food is pretty good and the chefs are always so friendly. I normally don't get full from the meal but am satisfied (order the lunch combo special if you want to feel full!) The only downside is if you only order one type of meat and not two for the combo, you don't get more of that one type of meat than the others who order the combo. For instance, all of my friends also ordered sirloin steak but got a combo with another meat whereas I ordered just one type of meat. After the chef cooked the sirloin steak, he divided the meat evenly among all of our plates. One of our friends was the only one who got the teriyaki chicken with his combo so he ended up getting a LOT of teriyaki chicken. My friend and I thought the distribution of portions wasn't really fair. read more

If you're used to benihanas or something similar to it I would NOT recommend this place, the flavors are just not there. Very expensive. The waiter that helped me was very rude at first then she started trying to be nice but the first impression matters a lot. I will definitely not be back read more