What a great find this was in our travels to the northern 'burbs of Chicago! We were preparing to leave the area to head toward home, but it had gotten late enough that it made sense to grab dinner before we left. Our 21-month old granddaughter was along so we had to be a bit circumspect in our choice. But my wife and I both like Japanese fare and our granddaughter, whose Mom is Korean, gets a lot of that type of food at home. The location of this place is in a strip plaza tucked away in a non-descript commercial area. It was not too difficult to locate with GPS. The interior was well-kept and made a good impression on entry. Located in a single storefront slot, it was not too surprising that it was narrow in layout. It could probably be described as cozy. We were seated right away and our server attended to us quickly. She did an exceptional job taking care of us during our visit. The food was delivered promptly and was ready to eat with no problems. We started with the Asparagus Beef Maki, which was excellent. Served in a soy-based sauce, it was very tasty. For entrees, we tried a Bento Box (Box C) and a Dinner combo (Combo C). Both featured tempura and sushi. We both gave thumbs-up to these. We were able to feed our granddaughter from our portions amd have some to take home as well. With food, drinks, tax and tip, our total was $76. At roughly $38 per person (cheaper on a per-person basis really, since we fed a toddler as well), this was a good deal. We will definitely go back when we are in the area. read more

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As always, service at hayashi is so very fast, professional and friendly. As always, the ambience has enough music and enough crowd and is never too loud. As always, tonight , the restaurant was clean and easy to get a table. As always, hayashi's food is absolutely excellent and the prices are absolutely reasonable. Parking is easy. read more

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We decided to go out for an early dinner with our little one and landed on this Sushi restaurant near us. We have driven by it so many times and decided it was time to give it a try. Upon arrival, we did have to wait a little as the restaurant is pretty small but we were greeted and happy to wait the 10-15 minutes. Once seated, they were so kind to us and our baby who was getting a bit fussy. We got our food quick as did folks around us. And we're in and out. We ordered a few appetizers, the combination tempura which has both veggies and shrimp. The shrimp tempura was delicious but the veggies were a little under done. We tried the Hayashi cheese ball as well, those were delicious! If you like crab Rangoon, this is essentially that but with their own fair. After that we ordered a few rolls, they we ended up having to take home as the little one was competing against bed time. They quickly wrapped it up and helped us make sure we have what we needed. The California sunset and the dynamite rolls were our favorites! Overall a great experience, we will be back. read more

Hayashi - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

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I had my first experience eating sushi at Hayashi and couldn't recommend it enough. It was delicious. The service was top-tier. I will be returning. read more

My mom, sister, and I have been coming here for years. We love getting the bento boxes. The other day, we came for lunch and got the Bento Box B. It had tempera shrimp and veggies, 4 pieces of California roll, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki salmon, and a bowl of rice. Every thing was so good and there's lots of food. I also got the hot tea, which was light and good. Perfect for the cold day. They do have an extensive menu and they specialize insushi, sashimi, and maki rolls. Hope to bel be back soon! read more

An amazing place to go and support! I called Hayashi on Saturday around 8:30pm and asked if they can accommodate 10 people. I told them we'll get there around 9 and that would give us less than an hour to eat. My friends and I just finished a Six Flag trip and needed some food in our body. We decided to go to Hayashi because of how close it was and the late hours. When we walked in, we were instantly greeted and led to our seat. They had menus for us to look through and gave the entire table water to drink. We asked if we could split checks and they said it was possible. So my group split up into 4 different checks. We got an assortment of sushi, noodles, and rolls. Personally, I ordered three regular rolls and the beef udon. I told my server that I was allergic to shellfish and she informed me that one of my rolls included crab essence. I decided to order the roll anyways and I took it to go for my mom to eat. But for the other rolls, as someone who use to work in a sushi restaurant, they were fresh! They were delicious! I paired my sushi with the beef udon and I feel like the beef udon alone would have been perfect for me! The serving size and the content made me full! The beef udon had a savory taste and I just couldn't stop slurping the noddles. The server also informed me that the udon has a fish base which I appreciate for the transparency! I truly felt welcomed at Hayashi because they were full of knowledge. At the end of the dinner, we got to celebrate our friend's birthday with mochi ice cream! We appreciate all the kind service we received that night! It was something we kept mentioning in the group chat! I hope to come back with either the same group or other people!! read more

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Food Extensive menu with many appetizers, sushi, and cooked entrees. I went for lunch and had edamame and teriyaki salmon. Both were good. The salmon still had the grey meat which I removed. Will have to try the sushi next time. Was $30 with the tip. Service Service was good. My ice tea was refilled without me having to ask. Ambiance Small place near Gurnee Mills. Simple decor. read more

Our very first time eating at this Sushi restaurant in Gurnee, IL! Arrived at 1300 Hours on Thursday, 8/22/24, and got seated promptly for a Party of 4 - 3 Adults, 1 Baby. We received the menu to look at what food to order. But the server was busy with other tables so we didn't get to put in our order until 1:15 PM. Wrote everything down and checked off the rolls we wanted on the form we received at the table and gave it to him once he came by to our table... The food items we ordered were: 2 California Rolls, 1 Chicken Teriyaki, 1 Calamari, 1 Karaage, 1 Tamago, 1 Sunny Maki, 1 Tempura Crunch Roll, 1 Dragon Roll, 1 Teriyaki Chicken Roll; Drinks: 2 Sprites and 1 Diet Coke. After a few minutes, we got our drinks. Then got the Calamari as the appetizer and afterwards, received the Karaage and Sushi Rolls. Food tasted very good! Liked the Sushi, they were all delicious and flavorful!! Portions were abundant as well. Service could have been better for refills and whatnot.... But overall, we enjoyed eating here. Most definitely better than other Sushi joints we've tried before. We'll be back to try some other menu items next time we're around the area again. read more

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Great sushi. Service was great and I wish I had his name because he was awesome. The restaurant is small but I liked that. We got a ton of food and some how they got it out super fast. When we got home all we talked about was how good this was. read more

Hayashi - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

The service is good and the atmosphere inside the restaurant was OK. The place is a little bit in the smaller scale, however the way they have their chairs and tables set up maximize use of the space. It wasn't so busy when we got there pretty much we were the only ones in the restaurant eventually, the people started showing up. Presentation of the food was OK however something was off with the sushi. I had the salmon spicy roll and the 911 sushi roll. Which they were not like over the top but I thought they were maybe OK until I start eating the salmon sushi roll I knew something was off. The grilled chicken was a little bit past cook even burned. As you can see on the pictures. Shortly after leaving the restaurant as soon as I got home I ended up in the bathroom for the rest of the night until Sunday. Needless to say, I will not come back. read more

Food was not as good as usually. Didn't taste like yellow tail. Call and talk with girl. The ticket didn't say what it was supposed to say and all she said was the shop said it should be. I really don't know what that means should be or was question mark when she looked up my order. It did not say substitute yellowtail. Nor did it say it on the receipt. she could care less than go on her over 25 years. Probably. Not gonna come back as often.Service and quality of food seem to have dropped read more

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LOVE this place! My dad comes here all the time. We are in town visiting and came in after our flight. I asked them to make a roll for me that wasn't on the menu and they were able to do it for me. My dad always orders yellowtail sashimi -- this place has excellent fish! It's fresh and absolutely delicious. The service is excellent too. We also ordered these scallop rolls that were delicious! My dad got two orders of fried soft crab and my boyfriend really loved it. The teriyaki chicken was ordered for my boyfriend and my daughter and they both enjoyed it. Hot sake was great for the cold night we came in. It's a very casual spot but you will definitely be taken cared of! read more

Hayashi - a sushi roll with salmon, avocado, and cheese - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

The Bloody Tuna Roll is the best--always friendly service. It's a nice little dining room that still has a good vibe.

Service was amazing and food was great!!! Came in 5 minutes and the server is so nice and welcoming! Tables are clean everything is perfect! Definitely coming back soon! read more

Unhappy with yellow tail. Called to ask if it was correct. She could only say; chef says it should be...could care less. I'll go somewhere else. Been going here since it opened. Goodbye!!! read more

Hayashi - Food - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

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Been eating here for years, first started pretty close to when they opened. It was delish! Moved away and moved back into the area in 2023, and have been enjoying my weekly visits there My kids and I love this place and what I love is that they know me! Lunch time the bento boxes are perfect and affordable and all the sushi is amazing! Definitely recommend y'all will not be disappointed!! read more

I didn't take any pictures but I wish I did. My friend is a regular here and she was raving about it. And now I know why. The food was delish! I ordered the Red Dragon, Kama Kazi, and Sake Nigiri. Highly recommend! The Kama Kazi roll was my favorite and what I really loved is that the pieces were actually bite-sized. They were little rice pillows of perfection. The salmon on the nigiri was great quality and they also gave the option to add wasabi on which I greatly appreciate because who wants to be trying to smear it on themselves. I wasn't in love with the wasabi they used, but it wasn't bad. I had a little with me so I ordered her the chicken teriyaki (I stole off of her plate so I can say definitively that it's delicious) which was a huge portion so she had leftovers for lunch the next day. I also grabbed a bite of the calamari and I will be ordering this every time I'm here. It's in a tempura batter with a sweet sauce... soooo good! I don't mind that they don't have a kids menu, but I do wish they had some smaller portion entrees available. It is a smaller restaurant so you may have to wait a bit during dinner hours, but we had a group of five and were seated within 10 minutes when we got there around 7 pm. They also provide kiddos (or anyone that asks, I'm sure) with paper and pencils to draw art for their wall when you walk in. We spent a good amount of time looking at all of the drawings. They also offer takeout so this would be a great option for any night of the week. I definitely would go again! read more

This place is the best. I eat here a lot and they know who i am at this point. Service is not good, it's great! Servers are funny and friendly. Food comes out fast. Love the vibes here, they always treat me well. from rolls to cuisine, they got it down. read more

10/10 stopped here with my boss while working for lunch would come again. Its quick and amazing

Nice service and delicious sushi; especially the White Dragon rolls. It's a wonderful place for sushi!

Found this on google as a quick spot for dinner and the sushi was great, and service was fast!

Always really good food and service. The place is small and usually filled. At a busy time like Friday night or Saturday lunch, it may be smart to make a reservation so you don't have to wait! The staff is always very friendly and helpful. Food is super tasty and they have a wide selection. Would definitely recommend! read more

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The sushi was amazing and fresh. Our waiter Jed was very attentive and checked on us to make sure everything was to our liking.

Literally my most favorite sushi place, I go here all the time with my family almost every Sunday cause we love it so much to the point where the waiters remember us and already know exactly what we're gonna order before we even order it lol! If you want a really chill, laid-back sushi place with good sushi that isn't too expensive I would definitely come here but if you don't like when places are packed, don't come during the weekend at night it'll get really packed but on weekdays it's really laid-back and quiet and that's like the best time to go there really awesome even if there's not a role on their list They're so accommodating that they'll even make you custom rolls not on the list! For example our last trip there the roll in the middle to the left of the ginger and wasabi is a custom gourd roll they made me! Always tastes amazing, love this place I'm seriously obsessed with them. Whether it's sushi, sashimi, donburi's, udon's, or katsudons, they make everything just so favorite appetizer has to be their shumai but even simple stuff like their miso soup, side ginger salads, and ice cream mochi are delicious. read more

Hayashi - Crunch roll; California roll; custom gourd roll; super white tuna; albacore; salmon; unagi/cooked eel - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

Our family has been going to Hayashi since it opened and we've never been disappointed or any concerns with the restaurant's cleanliness, attentiveness of wait staff, or quality of food. Seafood used for the sushi and sashimi is always fresh. We support local as much as possible but would only recommend if worth it. Hayashi is worth it!! read more

Hayashi - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

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Long standing local gem in Gurnee, which says a lot. Great green tea, exceptional soft shell crabs, tasty bento box C, and unagi roll.. to top all that off, very attentive service and a warm and friendly atmosphere. I regretted I hadn't visited for quite a few years but hello Hayashi, surly happy to be back tonight to treat my son his last meal at home before heading back to collage in AZ! read more

Hayashi - Soft shell crab - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

This is my favorite Japanese restaurant for sushi in Lake County. It's a storefront type place in a strip mall so you're not going for the ambiance, but the food is fresh, the prices are decent, and it has a good balance between traditional and creative roll concoctions. The food is fairly sophisticated without being pretentious. It reminds me of a neighborhood Japanese restaurant in the SF Bay Area. read more

On our return visit, we went for the chicken wings (are they really thighs? so meaty!). They're Lolli popped so there is a handle. Super hot, crispy and meaty. Forget about those other wing places! Also tried the nabe udaon soup. Noodles were springy, broth was flavorful and tempura shrimp was crunchy. read more

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Delicious Bento Box with salmon and tempura veggies...yummy!!! Nice and clean restaurant. read more

Hayashi - Great Bento Box A for lunch with tempura veggies and teriyaki chicken...yummy! - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

This is a regular sushi restaurant for us as it's close and open late. It's a small and out of date restaurant but the service is always great. The sushi is fresh and tasty as is their ginger dressing. read more

Love this place, it's our go to for family dates. We always order sushi and delicious appetizers. Staff already know us and they are always welcoming. Food and service are fast. We have come here to celebrate birthdays and other celebrations. read more

Great sushi in Gurnee!!! We will be coming back. Really great price for quality sushi. So happy we came! read more

Hayashi - Red dragon, chicken Teriyaki and a few others! - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

Super good sushi! My boyfriend and I luckily beat the dinner rush for a Saturday night dinner for 2. The server was really sweet and the service was extremely fast. My boyfriend and I ordered the Ebi Tempura Maki, Chef Tears Roll, and 9-1-1 roll. We also ordered the seafood udon soup and a plum flavored cold sake. The sake was really good and smooth! The rolls came out within ~10 minutes which was amazing!! The 9-1-1 had jalapeños which were spicy for me, but the Chef Tears was my favorite with the salmon on top! The seafood udon came with a bunch of seafood and the kimchi on the top gave it a little more heat, which was good! We also enjoyed some green tea mochi, even though it's something you could've bought out of the authentic grocery stores for cheaper. The bill was $75 ish including tip. I wouldn't mind coming back here for my sushi fix! read more

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Order: River moon roll Ninja turtle roll Rainbow roll White dragon roll They all were just okay. Nothing special. Good service tho. Restaurant is chilly so bring a jacket. Very small inside & Construction going on. I don't recommend the Ninja turtle roll --wayyy too much wasabi added. read more

Hayashi - RiverMoon, Rainbow, NinjaTurtle, WhiteDragon - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

I called in to order from this restaurant. The staff member was polite who took my order. I was informed that my order would be completed in 20 minutes. Upon arrival, the food was hot. I had fun with this order by putting some of the food on my favorite plates. Hayashi's food is very healthy and colorful. My favorite was the miso soup. It is the best miso soup I have ever tasted in Illinois. There was just enough miso added to give it a rich flavor. It was almost as good as my mother's miso soup. My second favorite is the vegetable tempura, which was tender, with a crispy, light batter. The main dish with the teriyaki salmon was a treat. The salmon was tender and not over cooked, with delicious vegetables. Even if you are not a sushi lover, this restaurant has something for everyone. read more

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Great food, service, and ambiance all around! The miso was very flavorful and the sushi was fresh and delicious! A happy surprise to find a quality sushi restaurant close to our hotel. read more

Cute interior. Not a ton of tables but we were able to get a table easily for 4 on tues night. Sushi rolls were delicious (red flower, ninja turtle, house special, crazy love). Kids got the bento box and the udon soup which they both enjoyed. Wait staff was very friendly and prompt. Overall experience was great! read more

We've been regulars at Hayashi for over 20 years. The sushi has been top notch & the service is friendly!

Haaaa... it's tough to say this as I love all types of Asian food but man this place was a total let down. The decor, employees, and atmosphere were nice, but man the food and prices are a total let down. The prices are high, but you usually get what you pay for with this type of food. That was not the case here, or the 3 entrees and 2 apps we ordered 5 had no flavor and the soft shell crab app was just downright unpleasant to eat. The shrimp tempura I ordered was large, but had no flavor whatsoever and was utterly lacking with the sauce that did little to help it along with the white rice. Usually the rice is an amazing complement to mellow out the flavorful food but eating a bland piece of meat into a bland bowl of rice is just miserable. Try some place else. TLDR. You get way less than you pay for here read more

Hayashi - a couple of people sitting at a table with plates of food - Japanese Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

Great food great service. Small area but cozy enough. They are all very nice and good has always been A plus. Nothing bad to say at all they are wonderful! read more