My go to sushi spot! I crave the tataki crunch roll regularly so we are frequent customers. Dining in is a great option - I love the little touches they give you like complimentary mochi and a delicious butter cookie. Small looking space but seats more people than you'd think. Bento boxes are huge portions, including the kids one. Fried rice is solid as are the appetizers. Asparagus beef and the tempura combo are favs. It's family owned which makes the service special and that much better to support! read more

We ordered some sushi rolls for pick up. It was ready for us in 20 minutes and when I arrived, everything was packed up for me. We ordered gyoza, gomae, golden shrimp, and some rolls -- dragon, highland, sunset, Philly and futo. The rolls tasted fresh, nice portions for the order. I should have ordered different varieties or sashimi (that's on me). The golden shrimp was ok -- I've had it elsewhere where the shrimp are more succulent with a generous portion on sauce. This is always a quick and tasty option when we crave sushi and don't want to go out. Although eating in the restaurant is a pretty good choice too. The staff are always super nice and accommodating. read more

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Koya is such a lovely little neighborhood sushi spot. They always start you off with miso soup and at the end offer you a 1/2 mochi, so it feels like a multi-course meal even if we're just ordering a single course. read more

This is one of my favorite sushi spots in HP/Highwood, and I was excited to stop back here on my visit! It's easy to walk-in or do a takeout order. Very classic sushi restaurant vibe and the staff is always kind and quick. The sushi and food here is always fresh when I visit, plus I love that miso soup is included in your order. We shared the Gyoza as an appetizer and they were tasty with a flavorful dipping sauce. The bottom was fried nice and crispy. The Spicy Salmon roll was delicious and fresh. I felt very full after this meal! The price is right and we're always in and out quick. read more

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I'm from San Francisco so my standards for Japanese cuisine are pretty high, and I've struggled to find authentic, fresh sushi in the Midwest. Koya is incredible! So impressed by the fresh fish and friendly service. We recently relocated to this area and will definitely be going back frequently! read more

Yea. Easily the worst sushi on the north shore. There is no good sushi on the north shore. Overly priced for the quality. Sushi had way too much sauce. Wont ever come here again. read more

As we were driving back from after a long day, my kids asked for sushi for dinner. We are new to the area and still testing our restaurants, and we discovered Koya based on their high volume of yelp reviews. We opted for spicy tuna, avocado (not sure the name - he told me it was popular) , dynamite role, soft shell crab appetizer, shrimp tempura appetizer, and a steak bento box. 1. The bento box had Korean BBQ meat and not the steak I asked for - this was a fail for my son 2. The spicy tuna rolls were amazing! Perfect amount of flavor 3. The popular avocado and dynamite roles were OK! 4. Soft shell crab and shrimp tempura were very good. I'm willing to explore more off the menu! read more

We ordered takeout and the rolls we received had almost no fish in them and they looked like they were rolled by a first timer. The rolls were tiny and nothing like we used to get several months ago. You can buy better quality rolls at the local Whole foods than this "sushi bar." This is a never again. read more

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Koya has been my "go to" sushi place for years. The prices have always been on the high side, but the quality was always good. Ordered today, and was so disappointed. Not by the taste but by the size of the specialty rolls. Koya seems to have embraced "shrinkflation". The Red Dragon roll and the Avocado Crunch roll were so small (about as big around as my thumb). About half the diameter of typical maki. I will be going elsewhere in the future. read more

LOVE THE PLACE. True hidden gem in Highwood. The service was so good, so were the waiters, nicest waiters I've ever gotten. The miso soup is great as well, they give it to you right away even if you haven't asked for it. So cozy too, the booths are endless. read more

Let's get the positives out of the way: the sushi is very fresh and the staff hustles. Now, for the rest: the sushi/sashimi entree was only adequately sized for the price ($26). The sashimi appetizer is tiny for the price ($15). The gyoza appetizer was dry, and the tempura appetizer was small. The beef teriyaki was way too salty and the service alternated between non-existent and gruff (yanking menus out of our hands). Disappointing. read more

We went there for lunch, we both order a bento box, I had the salmon and my husband had the beef teriyaki! It was plenty of food for lunch as you can see by the picture! The place was not busy and the place can sit about 40 people. It's a great place to meet up for a business lunch! They have a lunch and dinner menu! The dinner menu is more extensive, I haven't been there for dinner yet! They also have a children's menu for 12 years or younger during dinner! The choices are children's platter for $10 includes chicken teriyaki, 2 pcs egg roll, 3 pcs of tempura(shrimp or vegetable) 1 pc of egg omelet, 1 pc of crab stick sushi, served with white rice! Children Bento for $8 and children sushi also for $8! The beef teriyaki and the salmon both were very tasty - and I will definitely go back for dinner and try other items! read more

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My favorite sushi place in Highland Park! Always fresh. Great sushi choices and specials and exceptional service! The Bento Boxes are a great value and way to get variety in one order. read more

This restaurant is excellent. They continue to impress us. We've been maybe 10 times now, and every time, everything is delicious. Sushi is extremely fresh, rice is properly cooked, and the menu has other Japanese options like teriyaki and Udon - all tasty. This is a local mom and pop place, so they get to know the customers and are so friendly. Lastly, the takeout is just as good as in the restaurant. They package things well, and because the food is so fresh, it travels well. read more

Good food at a great price, everyone working was lovely as well. Great spot to grab dinner!

Three and a half stars. The good: Service, atmosphere, fish, tempura, sake. The bad: Service, sushi rice, Miso soup. Yes, service is listed as good AND bad. Appetizers and main came out simultaneously, which meant pushing two tables together to accommodate all the plates. A bit awkward. Also, wanted to try their Golden Shrimp app, but they ran out. Decor is nice. Servers are friendly. Fish is fresh, but the sushi rice isn't sticky enough, and on the bland side. The Tempura was very good. Lightly battered, not oily. Fresh veggies and shrimp. Miso soup was a bit weak in flavor. The hot sake was above average. Overall, a good value for the money, especially for the ritzy North Shore. I'll be back, if I'm in the neighborhood, to try the Golden Shrimp. Hopefully they won't run out. read more

Went there tonight with a party of 9. It was excellent service!! Food was out quick and and fresh. Servers were very nice and made the experience worth while! Will definitely be back! read more

We came here friday after thanksgiving The resto was able to accommodate our party of 10. We enjoyed the miso souo, agedashi tofu, tempura, and multiple sushi dishes including the green and red specials. Only thing is the menu should specify the broth in agaedashintofu was beef broth and miso was fish broth. Service great read more

Excellent excellent excellent. I just wish they had good sound and played my Music. Best fish in the entire Midwest. Service is excellent. Sake and whiskey excellent. I could eat here everyday. Go here everyone has to eat here and know what the real deal is. read more

Would not go again. Chicken in bento box and beef strips in udon soup were both tough as leather. Waitress was surly, too. Also, there was a worker standing right next to our table most of the time as if waiting to help(?) but it's poor management that is responsible for training them to make customers feel welcome and well taken care of. I personally don't need much but almost standing on top of guests is very strange so that's a no for me. Bottom line, if the food was really good I would care less about the demeanor of the wait staff but in the absence of that it was a miss all the way around. read more

We originally discovered Koya as a take-out place for sushi. It's located in this small older-looking strip mall. We thought -- who on earth would want to buy sushi from this place? But don't let yourself be fooled like we did. The outside view kept us from going there for a while. When we finally went there for take-out, we walked into a delightful little place. Clean decorations that are just enough. You can clearly watch the chefs, who greet you with a smile. The joint often has families for the earlier eating hours and offers an intimate bar where you can sit. Also, Koya has the friendliest and joyful waiter. He's there all the time! I haven't really tried the Japanese entrees -- although from what I've seen they look good. But Mama's gotta have her sushi. I'm personably not into all of the crazy overstuffed rolls (and they do offer them). I prefer clean honest sushi and I can get it here. My favorite roll is the Koya roll. Don't even want to share that one with the hubby. Miso soup and edamame and I'm one happy girl. Oh. And be sure to order extra edamame to munch on with the kids the next day. It makes the entire family happy. read more

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We have been going there for years - consistently delicious food, outstanding staff, welcoming atmosphere- Grace, the owner, personally welcomes each guest with "Hello" as well as "bye and thank you for coming". This restaurant is a hidden gem in a little strip mall. read more

We ordered takeaway sushi. Pulling up to the restaurant I began to have doubts. The restaurant atmosphere is a little hokie however the food was great. read more

My go-to sushi spot now that I moved to the burbs. Friendly staff who work quick to get my order ready for pick-up. Thank you!

Food is always fresh and well prepared I prefer eating in person because I like the atmosphere and workers. They are always kind and efficient and enthusiastic but if you want carryout they do a good job of being on time with your order and it's warm and ready to eat once you get home. Our favorites are the teriyaki thin noodles with vegetables and teriyaki salmon and the shrimp achu-mai appetizers But everything we have ordered has been well prepared and well seasoned Haven't had a bad experience here in over ten years of patronage I'm SeanLogan and I approve this review and Koya for a tasty meal! read more

Plus: Free Miso Soup Free Mochi Ice-Cream Server was very helpful and explained ingredients I did not know Nice decor and ambiance Only Con is the portion size is way too small read more

I order from them weekly. Their sushi is amazing Everything is fresh and delicious. I wish they delivered and that they were open all day!! read more

Koya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

We had take out for dinner. I had the deluxe sashimi & my wife had udon soup & a California Roll. We judged it average. We have eaten there many times & had take out but this was our least enjoyable meal. My fish didn't seem to be fresh & in a couple of cases was hard to eat. Like eating poorly selected fish. We ordered for a time & it was ready when I arrived to pick it up. Not our best experience! read more

Oh how I love this restaurant. I've eaten here hundreds and hundreds of times and make it a priority every time I visit my parents in LF. Such nice staff and great for dine in or pickup. Highlights: -Avocado torch roll -Sweet potato tempura roll (seaweed on outside, which I prefer for this kind of roll) -Golden dragon roll (the golden egg sauce on top is just so good and ties everything together) -Asparagus beef roll -Agedashi tofu (vegan and delicious- in fact, lots of good vegan options if you're plant-based or fam that is with build-your-own veggie rolls, veggie spring rolls, etc) Tempura is always crisp. I also always get ikura and tamago. read more

Best sushi in the area. And I have tried a lot of it. Great place, Korean-owned, big menu, fair prices, fresh fish. Came here with an old buddy and my fam of two on this Xmas visit to my homeland. I had been to Koya years ago, as it was a favorite of my dad's. Koya has expanded since my last visit and now has two store's worth of seating... plenty of room for a lot of people and, in sushi terms, that turnover means higher quality. Our service was perfect. Had a great time. True five stars. read more

This place is niiiiice. The sushi is top grade with a variety of menu options accented with a lovely atmosphere. We had prompt service and enjoyed ourselves. There is both indoor and outdoor dining options with plenty of seating for varied group sizes. We will definitely be back. read more

Yelp did us a solid with Koya - we were in the area & saw good reviews so decided to stop. As others have noted, Koya doesn't look like much from the outside and is easy to miss. Once inside, however, it's a small, cute place filled with friendly employees. Because we visited at lunch, we took advantage of some of their specials. The Mister had the Koya combo which netted him 4 pieces of sushi, a spicy tuna roll, miso soup and some tempura for $13. The fish was fresh and he said it was among the best sushi he's ever had. I had a Tataki roll which is shrimp, tuna and some other stuff - very fresh and delicious. Their spicy crab roll was actually spicy too. I like that the menu isn't overwhelming - the rolls are organized by cooked/raw/no rice/vegetarian, etc and are more "traditional". You're not going to find jalapeños or rolls set on fire with 151 here. If you're not a raw fish eater, their tempura is absolutely delightful - the batter is light & crispy. And their seaweed salad is tasty too. Service was fast & friendly and they give you a cookie at the end of your meal. (Yay!) I thought the prices were quite reasonable especially considering the high quality of the items we had. read more

Koya means secret restaurant in Japanese (not!). But one has to look for this restaurant to go there. From the street in a seemingly 50's store strip (in Lake Forest!) by the train tracks, it doesn't suggest pizzaz. Walking in, there is jazz music playing and one is struck by the rich tones of the restaurant. While our visit was our first, it seemed that the restaurant had expanded recently (a good sign). Quiet good style for the décor and the food. Sushi spots have generally the same rolls and offerings. The test is freshness and the eating experience. Very fresh it seemed for us on a midday Sunday visit. The staff was attentive. By the time we were leaving, things were gearing into happy energy. A wish for a good day to us was made as we left. This restaurant was a good start. p.s. In west Lake Forest, our go-to Sushi place is Sushi Kushi Toyo. Another great sushi place. Their décor is newly refurbished and expanded. Light colors with bamboo--more modern. The cooks and servers are smiling, welcoming throughout. Is Lake Forest becoming sushi mecca? read more

I will preface my review with the fact that I am not a sushi expert. I just know what I like, and sometimes I have to try a place several times before I know my go-to dish. I have been to Koya several times. A few for lunch and a few for dinner. I have liked (not loved) everything I've ordered. The last time I went it was for dinner with hubby. We go the fried egg rolls for app. He commented how great they were. I liked them too. They tasted fresh, crisp, not oily. I ordered a bento box dinner. It is enough for two! They just kept bringing out more food when I thought I had my meal! Again... everything on it was fresh and good. The only minor annoyance was this: I had asked for hot sauce or chili oil. The waitress brought it quickly in one of those tiny bowls. They charged me 50 cents for it. I didn't know that until I got the bill. I'll go back and try some of the noodles dishes, maki, and more. I'msure I will find a dish that knocks it out of the park. read more

We've been eating at this restaurant for close to 10 years. Koya is located in a tiny strip mall at the north end of our residential neighborhood. They have earned an amazingly loyal customer base and know many of the neighborhood residents by name. I'm actually shocked that I have not reviewed this restaurant previously. I am almost reluctant to review it now and potentially increase my own wait time:). Honestly, however, the family that owns and runs this restaurant deserves every accolade and success that they've worked hard to build over the years. They take reservations, and on the weekends, it's almost mandatory. Don't plan to swing by on a whim and grab a table quickly. At least, phone first and make sure there's room for you. When you walk through the front door you are greeted with smiles and a verbal hello "Sushi". It doesn't feel forced, rehearsed, or automatic. It simply feels authentic and welcoming. After being seated in the new larger dining room, you are treated to complementary miso soup and a small complementary seaweed salad. The servers are so friendly and I'd be surprised if you ever found your water glass empty. My kids love the Japanese Ramune soda pop. It's a unique bottled drink that has a glass marble. Too fun. The sake is great and the miso soup mentioned above always perfect. My family rarely strays from our favorites and we always look forward to the complementary Mochi ice cream dessert! Check out the photos to see our choices. I highly recommend Koya and expect you will as well. "Sushi":) read more

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So I love trying new sushi places out especially ones that aren't that far from my house so I'm not sure if Koya is really new or just new to me but I was definitely excited to eat here. Coming in on a Saturday night the place was definitely larger than I thought it would be considering its on a strip mall. It is nicer on the inside than it looks on the outside. Plus it has like two rooms divided by a wall so definitely sufficient seating. However I still made reservations for a party of four for a Saturday night and I recommend that you do the same, Upon sitting down, we got our table very quickly so yay for that. Our server was very pleasant and took our order very quickly. They give you this complimentary seaweed stuff that didn't look too appetizing to me so I didn't try it. We ordered a bunch of rolls and they were standard prices for regular rolls from $6-$8 and the fancy rolls were from $12-$18 pending on which one you got. We ordered our usual few spicy salmons and they were delicious but not too large in size but made just the way I like them. We also ordered a black dragon and a red dragon roll to try out some of their more unique rolls and I definitely preferred the black dragon but my only complaint is that for a $13 roll it wasn't that big in size. Smaller but definitely tasty. Overall, the service was very good and I think the owner even came up after we were done asking us how everything was. The rolls were super yummy and brought out in a timely manner despite the fact that it was busy inside on a Saturday night. The prices were decent but I wish the rolls were a little larger to go along with them. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area. It's def in my top 5 suburban sushi places. read more

Koya - Not large rolls but yummy - Sushi Bars Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

Just a great neighborhood Sushi restaurant in the North Shore. The space is not fancy, and neither is the menu. The fish is fresh and they treat you like family. It is one of the few Japanese run sushi places you will walk into anymore. The prices are reasonable, and miso soup is included. The other Japanese fair is very good too. We had soft shell crab and it was excellent. I would say though, that the reasonable pricing might come at the expense of fish content in the sushi, which would be my only criticism. But that seems to be a common occurrence in most places. Sushi does not equal rice. read more

Located just off Old Elm by the railroad tracks, Koya is one of the only sushi restaurant I frequent on the North Shore. Not only has it expanded to double its original size and been repainted in a lovely shade of purple, but the variety of high-quality foods is hard to beat. Upon entering I'm always pleasantly greeted and immediately seated. I really appreciate that a small bowl of miso soup is served as part of your order. While there aren't many vegetarian/vegan sushi roll choices, there are quite a few appetizers that work, like classic edamame or agedashi tofu; my non-vegetarian friends have nothing but praise for the sushi here. Overall, totally worth taking the extra bit of time to find the storefront on the side of the strip. read more

Koya - Newly expanded and redecorated! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

Update: Had to update this place and give it the last star. The service is amazing and my only gripe could only be they are not my next door neighbors. I highly recommend this place. Coming off 2 years in Japan some may feel like I am hypercritical of sushi joints in the U.S. The fact that I am writing a review and giving it 4 stars should tell you what a little gem this is. Superb service from the greeting you get when you first walk in. Free Miso Soup and seaweed appetizer and Mochi ice cream desert? Yes please! I had sashimi/nigiri sushi platter, which is what really won me over. Really good buttery smooth salmon and the color/texture of the tuna tells you it's going to be a hit. Wife had avocado torch, fire dragon, and tataki crunch roll. All very very good. The seating may be awkward cause you may be very close to other patrons. On the other hand it's a relax environment so be friendly! read more

Koya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

Nice spot. Very friendly. Food is very tasty. They received 3 stars because the individual price of tuna in my meal were about 1 inch by one inch. Seriously. What a rip off. I luckily ordered 4!0orders bu it looked like it was an appetizer and not a meal. So disappointing. read more