Another wonderful dinner at Raisu. This restaurant deserves to be packed every night, if it was closer to downtown it would get the accolades it deserves. Highly recommended !!! read more

Love everything about this restaurant: food, service and ambience. Chef Simon as well as staff remember what their patrons like from previous visits. The food is fresh and served in a creative way. read more

Raisu - Uni and ikura - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Raisu is a solid sushi spot in Irving Park. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and were given options on where to sit. We ended up at the counter and were able to watch the chefs prepare various nigiri and rolls. Overall a fairly mellow environment today dinner. I'm happy we found a place in walking distance from home, though is a title more pricey than I had anticipated. We will be back! read more

Honestly was such a let down after seeing so many good reviews. My friend asked if instead of a uni don, she could get sake don. The waitress goes so how many pieces would you want on top? My friend asked how many comes with it and the waitress responded with we'll just charge for how many pieces you order, which is quite odd. I'd assume that they would tell you how many pieces it comes with. I ordered udon and it was not udon - it was just noodles. Usually nigiri comes with two pieces an order, theirs only came with one. Lastly, the nigiri came at the very end. So late that I thought that they had forgotten about it. read more

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LOVE THIS PLACE! It's been in the neighborhood for years and finally stopped in and was not disappointed. Lychee martinis are perfect, not overly sweet nor too strong. Spicy tune crispy rice was fantastic. It's hard to find a good place for tuna crispy rice. The rice is not greasy or soggy, perfect crunch and loaded with tuna! The rolls were tasty and that inferno dragon roll is too cool to not get. Service is quick, they accept reservations. Definitely returning! read more

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Innovative sushi, a varied menu and amazing service at this unassuming Japanese restaurant - a huge hit for the entire family! Hubby thought everything was fresh from the enormous salad of greens to the sashimi. I was delighted to find items you don't typically see at sushi restaurants in Chicago like silky chawanmushi (a must get). Favorites - omega roll topped with blue fin tuna (5/5), signature blue fin tuna & white tuna (5/5), shrimp tempura (5/5) & karaage chicken (5/5). Pass - spicy salmon hand roll lacked spice and overall seasoning and wasn't a fan of the green onion in the bottom of the roll (3/5) & signature salmon sashimi which were aesthetically pleasing but was not sold on the raw apple (4/5). Really wish they had the mochi dessert tonight but it's something to try next time! We look forward to returning! read more

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I asked for vegan rolls and the chef delivered! I had 3 very different rolls, the first (not pictured) one had apple slices for a hint of tart sweetness. Great service and my partner enjoyed the fish maki and hamachi. read more

Raisu - Avocado and black sesame topping on an asparagus and shiitake roll. - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Fresh sushi and great appetizers. All the fish was extremely fresh. Great service, nice atmosphere with easy parking. Drink menu is also well-price (wine and cocktails $15.) While the food was very good (standout was the tuna on crispy rice appetizer) a couple misses: The crepe cake tasted a few days old and the maki of the month had something that tasted like canned tuna on it. All the fresh fish was outstanding. read more

Raisu was my birthday dinner pick, and it was a delicious meal. we started with an Iwai Mars whiskey for him and a sake flight for me. We liked the Joto Junmai and Hakutsuru Ginjo enough to order another serving later. The most amazing dish was the white tuna sashimi which was garnished with lychee, mango, slivered apple and jalapeno. On a warm summer night the flavors were fantastic, and the fish was velvety. Also very good was the Omega maki, a server's recommendation, made of tempura shrimp, bluefin, unagi sauce and cilantro. Less enjoyable was the lobster roll, because the smoked salmon dominated the flavor and I didn't care for the jelly-like texture of the raw lobster. Serving sizes were generous enough that we brough a few extra pieces home with us. The space has large windows but the interior decor is a bit lackluster and the ambiance is boring. The place looks much nicer from the outside than it is inside. The tables show signs of wear; maybe it's time for an update? read more

This place is a neighborhood gem! Fresh ingredients, very nice staff, will go back! They have a dish that comes out all fiery if you're looking to impress a date! read more

My friends and I had the Omakase at Raisu, and it was fresh and delicious! It was 15 dishes for $120. We also ordered lobster tempura and chicken Karaage, which weren't my favorite. I thought the tempura lobster was unique, but there wasn't much flavor or lobster meat. For the chicken Karaage, it wasn't prepared in a way I preferred. It tasted okay, but the portion was on the smaller side, and the chicken was like bite-size tender pieces. I felt like it was missing a fullness in each bite. As for the service, the staff were efficient and very friendly. I appreciated how descriptive they were with the sushi! Overall, I would definitely come back and order more nigiri and try other dishes! read more

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We came by Raisu after hearing about it on TikTok. This was a fantastic find and we felt very impressed with the experience. Interior is nicely decorated and spacious. We didn't have to make a reservation on a weekday but the restaurant was fairly busy. They do take reservations online. There is no parking lot but there is street parking and public transit. They have a great menu especially the set meals which are well priced for the portions. We got the two nigiri sets as well as a few rolls. Their menu offers are more unique and definitely not run of the mill rolls, with some creative combinations. The nigiri sets came with a big variety of meats including multiple grades of tuna and salmon. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. There is a sake bar as well and they sell entire bottles at a pretty reasonable price. Service was a bit scattered but overall adequate. Definitely some of the best sushi I've had in Chicago. Raisu is a great find and I'm looking forward to coming back. read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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OMG, if you're looking for one of Chicago's best, Omakase experiences would highly recommend Raisu by Simon Liew ! Not only is this Omakase, one of the better priced ones in the city, its variety is amazing from the starting soups, the nigiri, handrolls and mochi dessert . For those that are looking for the special gems not in the standard Loop area, venture out to the north side . Service is amazing and top notch and the such a cool vibe to eat with friends and dates. #sushi #omakase read more

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I ordered the Mother's Day Premium Combo - Tornado Roll (RAW) - Unagi, Hamchi, Shiro Maguro, Topped with Avocado, Sake, Hon Maguro & Nigiri - oTotoro, hom maguro, sake, Hamachi, A5 wagyu & Tuna Tartare There's not many legit sushi options around Irving Park. I think this is a solid neighborhood sushi spot. It's not high end but quality of fish, preparation, and presentation were all decent. I sat at the bar but got 0 conversation from any of the chefs behind the bar. Server was polite but not really helpful about giving recs. read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a hit or miss. When the chef isn't busy chatting and drinking with customers at the sushi bar, maybe you'll get your food at a reasonable amount of time. An hour after ordering, you'll still be waiting for food. I also think they are better than they really are. The price isn't warranted for what you get. Won't be going back. read more

Love this place! Just wish it was closer to a CTA stop. Came here at 7:45pm on a Thursday night with a reservation and it got very packed after. My friend and I split 3 maki rolls and salmon sashimi. We also got the yuzu sake. Fish was fresh and flavor is good. Will definitely come back if I'm in the area read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Can't stop eating the nigiri, and their rolls are well priced. Friendly staff, cozy dark atmosphere.

Amazingly fresh sushi. Loved the nigiri night with scallop maki and the sashimi night with tornado maki. All the nigiri be sashimi we're so incredibly fresh and well prepared. California roll was really good too. Order 1 mousse cake per person and I especially loved the pistachio one. My daughter took all the pocky sticks. Can't wait to come back and street parking was easy on a Sunday night. read more

Raisu - Nigiri night with scallop maki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were in the mood for some Maki, and I have been eyeing Raisu for a while now. I will admit their prices are a little high, and although maki rolls are delicious, they never fill me up. So I usually have to order a lot to be satisfied, making it an expensive dinner option. Fortunately, for me Raisu offers a three maki roll special for only $38. What a great deal! We ordered their Hi Jack, Tornado and black widow signature maki rolls, and we also ordered their Negi Hama and Ebi Tempura off their classic maki menu. Signature Maki: Hi Jack- Tempura Shrimp, cream cheese, avocado, scallion, sesame seeks, homemade spicy mayonnaise Tornado- Unagi, white tuna, cucumber, avocado, salmon, tuna, sesame seeds Black Widow- tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado unagi, tempura flakes, sesame seeds Classic Maki: Negi Hama- Hamachi, scallion, pickled onion, Japanese pepper Ebi Tempura- Tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado, sesame seeds, Japanese mayonnaise They were all delicious and it was hard to actually pick a favorite, but I would order all 5 of these again next time I'm in the mood for sushi/maki. read more

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E for effort is probably best way to describe. We went for the omakase to celebrate a birthday. Overall presentation service and even execution was top notch. However the seasonal twists on traditional sushi fell flat on its face. There was a piece that had an apple topping and all you tasted was the apple rather than the entire sushi working together. It was primarily just the topping. The other aspect was there was no story. Thr chef started with the toro and maguro. Then jumped around and finished off with uni. It was like a pulp fiction style story telling but at the end instead of figuring out how it all connects, you're just sitting there wonder what was that,,, While each piece definitely had artistry and skill. This was more of look at what I can do rather than wholistic design of the experience. Overall. I say good effort, skill, talent. But, it needs direction and revision to refine hence the 4/5. I encourage people to patron and provide feedback and I have high hopes that the product gets that much better. read more

My friend and I rarely get an opportunity to meet as we both have family and work obligations so when we were able to snag a free evening for dinner, I was thrilled. We went at 5:30 pm on Sunday and there was only one other party there. I asked for a dry sake recommendation from my server and she suggested one. It was not dry but it was fine and I ordered a different sake afterwards which was better. My friend and I ordered some apps, nigiri, and rolls. The rolls were fine but all the nigiri pieces were drenched in ponzu or some sort of soy dressing. It was way overpowering, too salty, and ruined the taste of the fresh fish we were hoping to enjoy. When we put our order in, we let our server know that we would be ordering more. She never came back. By this time, the party that had been there had left, another party had been seated, eaten, and were leaving. A family had just arrived and both our server and the sushi chef went to this family, hugged them, played with their baby, and stayed at their table for the 20-30 minutes we waited for service. My friend wanted to place another drink order, we both were still pretty hungry and wanted to order more rolls. After seeing that we would not be getting any service, I got up and went to the table where the staff was playing with the baby to ask for the bill. What a disappointing experience. We wanted to make this a regular spot for us as it is a halfway point between where we live. We both agreed we would never return and would not recommend it to our friends and family. read more

Highly recommend this restaurant! Amazing and fresh food, especially the avocado. The service was great; the waitress made sure we had everything we needed and brought out our sushi quickly. And the decor was so beautiful. read more

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Our second visit. Just as amazing as first. I'm sure of many more visits to come. Amazingly fresh sushi. Melt in your mouth. Great appetizers: we had the golden calamari and the tuna tartare. We then had three rolls: spider maki, spicy tuna maki, and unagi maki. We ended with a signature roll Tornado. read more

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Best tasting Sushi in Chicago ! If you care more about the fish than the scene - this is your spot read more

Omakase delicacy **.** Excellent service and attention to detail. 12 course chef-selected menu starting @ $140/per person. Although I did not try their sushi rolls, they did look beautifully presented and appetizing. Sat by the sushi bar to soak in the experience all the better. Excellent place for fresh, high quality sushi. Left there with a full and happy tummy! Highly recommend this spot ;) read more

When you're talking about sushi, what you're really talking is freshness and craft. How fresh is the salmon on top of the roll? Is the roll falling apart in your soy sauce? What's with that avocado? If you want well-made rolls that are as fresh as can be, look no further than Raisu. Just four blocks from my house, this is an easy place to keep coming back to, with quality first and foremost, and knowledgable staff. Why not 5 stars? As others have said, we're a little on the pricier side, but sometimes you have to pay for freshness. The menu is quite limited compared to other, similarly great spots, though this could again speak to freshness. read more

The restaurant markets itself as "fine dining," but as far as fine dining sushi goes, it is not. There are way better sushi restaurants that don't even try to make that claim. And, because they see themselves as fine dining, they jack up their prices. They are way overpriced! If you truly want some fine dining sushi, try Kai Zan! read more

Excellent food and service! Everything was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be back!

I loved the Omakase here! Really unique and it starts from heavier dishes and ends with light. Really unique flavor combinations, and chef Simon has over a decade of experience. A good neighborhood spot with a cozy and dimly lit interior. I loved it. read more

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Been trying to get here for a while. So glad we made it tonight. Everything was absolute perfection. Emily was our server. She guided us through the chef's special selections and some of the more unique items on the menu. Raisu is not your run of the mill sushi restaurant! Inventive preparation and pairing of Ingredients coupled with the best quality ingredients made our experience exceptional. Just brilliant. Definitely going to return. What a gem! read more

The best sushi and service in chicago. Sit at the small Sushi bar and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I visited specifically to have their omakase experience. Older reviews show that there is a basic omakase for less cost, but they do not offer that anymore. I enjoyed the courses and my server was very nice. I wanted a chilled sake and she was very nice to offer a tasting first to make sure I recieved one that was my liking. The starter was a delicious lobster bisque with crabmeat. And the rest of the courses were nigiri for the most part. The sushi was fresh and the cuts ranged from salmon to different fatty cuts of tuna, scallop and uni. Dessert was green tea mochi ice cream. Although I had never had an omakase experience, I was a little let down. Sitting at the sushi counter, I had hoped to be able to watch them make the cuts of my nigiri but the work surface is blocked from view by displays of bottles of the drinks they offer and other decorative items. None of the sushi chefs acknowledged me which was a disappointment too because in all the sushi restaurants where I sit at the counter, I'm always greeted in Japanese (even if they chefs aren't japanese). And most of othe cuts of nigiri didn't seem super special. The scallop and oyster were the standouts to me. The maki that were coming out to be served to others looked fantastic. Although my initial disappointment with the omakase, I think ordering a la carte is probably the way to go and how I would order next time. read more

Living on the Northside, I feel like my options for delicious, high quality sushi are relatively limited. I have tried many places and I have found that either the fish isn't fresh, or the rolls are sub par for various reasons (namely issues with sauce proportions). Enter Raisu! This place is legitimately the opposite of all the issues I described above. This place has been my savior in the pandemic. Their fish has always been super fresh and clean. This is critically important, especially when you are ordering something like nigiri. I love the nigiri here (although I wouldn't hate if they dabbed a little more Wasabi between the fish and rice). I particularly love their wagyu nigiri. They quickly sear it with a torch to give it that smoky flavor, yet the melt-in-your mouth quality of the wagyu is retained. Prefer nigiri over rolls? No problem! They have delicious rolls as well. My favorite signature maki rolls here are the Tornado, Omega and Infernal Dragon. Thank you Raisu for always being a solid option to address my sushi fix! read more

Raisu - Nigiri, Tornado and Omega rolls - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Popular place, we got there just when it opened at 5 on a weekend. And there was a steady stream of customers afterwards as well as take-out orders. Here's what we got: Appetizers Tea - meh, I like strong tasting green tea and I could not taste anything in this cup Miso soup - I liked how the mushrooms were mini sliced fresh shiitake? Mushrooms, not much of a strong miso flavor though Tuna tartare - tiny portion, literally one mouthful. But flavor combination was excellent between the tuna, sauce, and avocado wrapped around it Nigiri Salmon - good Bluefin tuna - good White tuna - our favorite (we ordered 4 more), the tuna tasted so rich and the garnish on top just complemented it so well Yellowtail - good Eel - good but nothing special, tastes like unagi as at any other restaurant Smoked salmon - unexpectedly really liked this one a lot. It's not your typical smoked salmon that you see on an eggs benedict. It's a thick slice of salmon with a subtle smoked flavor with a very tasty garnish Sea bream - least favorite of the nigiri, texture of meat is tougher Sashimi Hamachi - delicious Rolls Tornado - delicious read more

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We went here to celebrate my husband's new job and got the traditional omakase (they also have a $75 omakase option, with a set course). The total ended up being about $475 for the 2 of us and it was 100% worth it. Probably due to covid (or maybe language barrier) we weren't allowed to sit by the chef, but our server did a great job hauling in dishes for us and doing her best to explain all the different dishes. There was never a time when we were waiting for our food. As soon as we were finished with 1 dish, she took it away, and brought new ones out. The sushi was very tasty and unique. Lots of flavors to explore here. Definitely a great place to stop by if you are a fan of good quality, fresh sushi. We ended up leaving the place STUFFED and happy. The wagyu beef at the end was probably fake but delicious nonetheless and a great ending to our meal. read more

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Ingredients are so high quality and the food was amazing. Everything was melt in your mouth good from the chicken to the tempura to the nigiri. Highly highly recommend. read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Incredible sushi - highly recommend. The fish is super fresh and the tempura is to DIE for. read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have a group of 8 ladies last night for dinner and each of us ordered 2 maki, sashimi and other sushi rolls. They were all delicious and fresh. We also ordered a lot of wine, to which we should had ordered by the bottle but they had a good selection of wine as well. Prices for both food and drinks were up there but overall, they were all fresh and good. read more

Great fish selection--over 20 types of sushi/sashimi--and friendly service. Pretty low-key, casual environment. If this were closer to where I live, I would go there once a month read more

I've had my eye on Raisu's raw fish ever since they opened their doors less than a year ago...and finally made it last night to see what all the hype was about. I made a reservation several weeks ago, but they didn't seem too crowded at 8pm on a Saturday so you may even get lucky with a last minute reservation here. And you'll also get lucky with some fresh and tasty sushi. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful and after helping us choose a sake (sweet for me, dry for my husband) told us all about the specials on the menu. And we ordered a few of them since they truly did sound special. As many yelpers say (and our waitress confirmed) it's all about the nigiri and sashimi here so I highly recommend sticking with that. We loved the bluefin tuna so much (special= 3 pieces for $25) that we ordered a 2nd order...and even thought about a 3rd order. The unagi nigiri was also pretty amazing- it's topped with parmesan cheese! We also ordered a tornado roll in addition to nigiri and sashimi. It was good, but when we go back we'll likely skip the rolls in lieu of more nigiri/sashimi. However, the calamari appetizer happened to be a lovely way to start our meal. We left very happy with our newest sushi discovery and bellies full of raw fish, although perhaps not full enough because we ended up stopping on the way home for desserts and wine. Definitely some of the better sushi I"ve had in Chicago and I highly recommend! read more

Raisu - Unagi (one of their many amazing nigiri) - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois