Dynamite appetizer was amazing!!!!!! Sushi is so flavorful as well.

The sushi here is always good. My husband and I have been going here for years. We love sushi and always want to try new places but we always end up back at Sai Cafe! The staff is friendly and the food is amazing. read more

I can't say enough good things about Sai Cafe. I am lucky enough to live 1 block away and eat here or get take out at least once a month. My favorite rolls are the Volcano Roll (spicy lobster roll) and the Spicy White Tuna Crunch (only $7 - seriously amazing). Their staff is amazing, the owner is there a lot and he always checks in to make sure everything is good - even if you're just getting take out. Love this place! read more

Best sushi in Lincoln Park. Hamachi appetizer, oyster shooters, and scallops are great starters. Sushi and sashimi are fresh. Sushi is more meat than rice. White tuna crunch and escolar rolls are good. Service is excellent. read more

I REALLY like this place. I am a big sushi fan and it is one of my favorite places. Some of the things that I always get when I come here are oyster shooters, uni and wasabi tobiko sashimi and spicy tako roll. read more

Came here so many times and love the sashimi most! Try bar table and the chef will do special for you!

One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Chicago. As an LA native who uses quality of toro as a benchmark, this place is one of very few sushi restaurants in Chicago that serves the fatty tuna at market price and with good quality. The lychee martini is a nice complement to any dish you order! read more

Still on my top 3 list of favorite sushi places in Chicago. My fiance and I always eat at the sushi bar and the chefs there are incredibly nice and cater to our needs before we even ask. We love the maki there, as well as the shashimi. The fish in very fresh and always tastes great. My favorites are the spicy tuna crunch (perfect because it's not that spicy), halloween roll, crazy roll and the dragon. Their miso is also always hot and they are never forgetful on the drink refills! read more

Best sushi in town. Fresh eel is my favorite!

Since I don't live in the area I visit Sai Cafe on a semi-regular basis. I realized after last nights dinner why I make the trip ..... it's consist. The fish is fresh, the service is attentive and the ambience is stylish yet unpretentious. For sushi you can count on check it out! read more

I have been to this restaurant four or five times and have always had a positive experience. I think the sushi is always fresh and the service friendly. Overall solid spot, casual, unpretentious, reasonably priced I think for the quality, am a fan read more

Anyone who doesn't like Sai Cafe is a little sick in the head. The service is always fantastic, we're been going here for years. The sushi is fresh, and I would argue one of the best in the city. The only possible thing lacking might be the dessert but we usually go elsewhere for that. read more

The volcano maki and pasta dishes were very good. I strongly dislike crab stick and imitation crab... 70% of Sai Cafe's rolls have "crab stick" as a main ingredient. read more

This place is incredible. My family started going on a nearly weekly basis when our favorite sushi spot closed. The atmosphere is cozy and warm (even romantic if that's what you're aiming for), the service is top notch and the food is fresh and delicious. Highly recommend the oyster shooters (biggest oysters EVER!), jalapeno hamachi and sashimi (so fresh). As far as maki you really can't go wrong. Also, the price is totally reasonable for the quality of food. You will not be disappointed! read more

Was very satisfied with our meal there. We had apps like edamame and seared scallops which were both great. I got the sashimi combination and it was hefty and amazing. Fish is fresh and isn't warmed up by the rice which is important to me. Tried a piece or two of 3-4 other rolls - all were great. Went on a Thursday night at 8 and they had plenty of tables open too. I'd say it's around $15-25 a person, high end with app. read more

Been going here for 20 years... the past 10 with my wife. Hands down the best, freshest sashimi you'll come across. Sit at the sushi bar, and the chef's will make up most anything. Its been our "Cheers"... where every one knows our name! read more

If you haven't been to Sai Cafe in a while like me, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Jimmy and crew have totally raised their game. The staff is super-friendly, salad and goma ae portions are large, fish is as fresh as it gets, and there are some really creative items (e.g. Halloween roll, and another with tempura green beans in it.). Can't wait to return. 30+ years in business really says something as everything else along Armitage has turned over. read more

Best Sushi place in Chicago. Always fresh, the staff is always friendly. Highly recommend sitting by the bar. Spider Maki, Volcano Maki, Rainbow, Dragon Tail and Spicy White Tuna are a few of my favorite dishes here. read more

Wow! This place is beautiful and the menu is great. My husband and I ate there for the first time and didn't know what to expect from the mixed reviews, but we found that there was a lot to choose from and everything came out great. We had a lot of food and wine so our bill was over $100 but we didn't think anything was overpriced - we actually thought the pricing was low to moderate as compared to other sushi places we frequent. The staff is friendly but a little shy/quiet which makes the communication a little tough (the reason I'm giving 4/5 stars). I highly recommend this place if you want to have a nice dinner with your significant other or with a small group of friends. read more

Absolutely the best and freshest fish in Chi-town. Try the spicy white tuna crunch with cream cheese added to it. Absolutely to die for!

A friend and I are embarking on a quest to find the best sushi in Chicago, and Sai was stop number 3. Walking in, I was immediately smitten with the decor- very trendy feeling. And, I liked that they have a bar. A lot of places in Chicago are BYOB, and I personally prefer the option to order a drink on a whim rather than needing to pre-plan. Per the Yelp! community's suggestion, we ordered a Spicy White Tuna Crunch, which was good but we didn't think it was great. That's actually how we felt with everything we ordered (Volcano, Crazy, Spicy Creamy Tako). The Spicy Creamy Tako was probably the favorite of the four, but it still didn't tip the scale from "good" to "great" (came close though). The service was great, I'd definitely come back again. A good place for a date or a night where you want to talk to whoever you're eating with, since the music was nice and quiet and the place offers a variety of seating arrangements. Just giving it 4-stars because we didn't experience the "wow" factor we had at the first two places on our list. read more

Had a hankering for some Japanese food this evening, so I swung by Sai Cafe on the way home today. The service is nice and the place is beautiful on the inside. Overall, however, I was not super impressed. I got the Halloween roll and combination yakisoba. The Halloween roll was pretty great. Yummy and filling. The yakisoba was disappointing. Doesn't compare to Mitsuwa's. The beef was the best part. I'll probably go back to try some other rolls, though. read more

Excellent Sushi, and prices, while not cheap, are reasonable in my opinion. Sai Cafe is as good as Sushi Samba, at about 2/3 the price, great atmosphere, and very friendly employees. read more

Sai Cafe is a perfectly intimate Japanese restaurant, espeshally for dates and family gatherings. There menu offers a unique selection of maki roles. As a Gorilla that loves food, Sai Cafe's Halloween Maki roll is something I could eat everyday. The hot Chilean Sea Bass with Green onion & jalapeño is incredible. The service is flawless, with a distinct warm comforting attitude. Sai Cafe offers a guaranteed satisfying and enjoyable experience. Just north of Armatage on Sheffield. read more

Sai Cafe is great, one of, if not my favorite Sushi places in Chicago. It's every bit as great at Japonese, but at 2/3 the price, and still great ambiance. The staff is always VERY friendly too. Highly recommended! read more

Go here. I really don't need to say anymore BUT if you want to know why, because the sushi is delicious - fresh and generous portions. Even better than the food is the staff - hands down best customer service around. Everyone is friendly and professional. I have been here countless times and have never had one complaint and YES, they know my order when I walk in the door. read more

We have lived across the street from Sai for 8 years, and it has been the most convenient sushi option for us. There have been three instances, all relating to the owner, Jimmy's, conduct that have been nothing short of mean. It is because of these instances that I told my wife we shouldn't order from there - because it is not right to enrich a man who treats others so badly. To avoid too lengthy a review, I'll provide one instance. When my wife almost broke a tooth by biting into a pebble that found its way into a yellowtail jalapeno roll, we called Sai. Over the phone, Jimmy proceeded to tell us it was not a pebble, but rather a jalapeno seed. I was stunned at Jimmy's omniscience - he said it with such certainty as if he had been sitting in our living room and bitten into the roll himself. He was completely unwilling to consider the possibility that the customer had experienced a problem. There was an arrogance and lack of care that just completely put us off. The customer is never right. Jimmy is. We try to surround ourselves with good people who have positive energy. I would recommend patronizing one of the hundreds of fantastic sushi restaurants with owners who are good people, like Tanoshii in Andersonville, Sushi o Sushi on Armitage or Mirais. read more

Sai Cafe is my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago. I am someone who does not have an encyclopedic knowledge of sushi, but I love food and the art of food preparation. I think the chefs here, many of whom have been working at Sai Cafe for a number of years, do a great job of sharing their art in an accessible way. I love the sushi bar seating. Prices are reasonable, given the quality and attention that is paid to the food. read more

Absolutely love sushi, however the sushi here is absolutely Amazing!!!! I have not had better sushi!!!! Fresh and delicious all the time!!!!

Very good service. Sai has quality fish. Among my favorites are the escolar and toro sashimi, as well as their uni. The kani-su king crab app is a little expensive, but delicious. Good local option. read more

We have been a fan of Jimmy and Co. for more than 2 decades now. We used to bring our kids with us in carriers and eat while they slept. (Our oldest is now 22.) What brings us back is the superb, fresh and tasty fish. It's that simple. We have never had a disappointing plate. I hope they continue to serve their oversized sashimi portions for years to come. read more

BEST SUSHI EVER! Lincoln Park's sushi bar gem!!!!!! Been eating there for over a decade and have yet to discover a better sushi joint in the city... love their artistic presentation! Uncle Dan, the fabulous sushi chef, never fails to please...the staff is friendly, highly attentive and accommodating. I highly recommend the "Volcano Roll" and the "Spicy Taco Hand roll"...the owners, Jim and May are always charming and welcoming. read more

I have been going to Sai Cafe for the past 10 years. Its every bit as good today as it was on my first visit. The sushi is really best when you sit at the bar. During the week it isn't too busy but all the customers seem to be regulars. Its usually a good sign when you see lots of regulars. Your best bet is to sit at the bar. Ask the guys behind the bar to recommend what's fresh and you can't go wrong. read more

Based on the reviews I read about this place, I took two of my best friends who were in town visiting this weekend on Sunday night... and we loved it! The atmosphere is great, it wasn't crowded at all, it is very reasonably priced, and the food was awesome. One of my friends has lived in LA and is soon moving to San Francisco (she knows her sushi!) and said it was some of the best she's ever had...FYI-she had the volcano. I had the tuna crunch-yum! I liked the stylish, but not over the top decor, and the little bar area was nice to sit at and sip some wine before we ate. While we sat by the front window, it also looked like the chefs were a pretty fun bunch if you sat near them in the back dining area, too. Overall, I would definately recommend this place. read more

i don't have a lot of experience with this place but i loved what i did have. i've walked by many, many, MANY times and have never gone inside. luckily, some friends catered a party from there and enlightened me on what i have been missing. it was great sushi. i can't wait to try it on my own and eat in the restaurant or at their sidewalk cafe - i hope to have an update soon! read more

A-Ok is exactly what this place is. Sushi was fine, but you can find way better places in the city. Our server was a bit rude and rushed us through everything. Decor was nice in the front room but the side room was a bit tacky and we had to walk through the server station which offered an unappealing view of the kitchen. On top of that, both toilets were out of service.... did I just catch this place on a bad day? I sure hope so because the location is terribly convenient. I have ordered carry out from here and got Yakisoba and a salad - a much better experience than the dine-in. read more

Sai Cafe is my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago chop sticks down. I remember Sai Cafe being around over 20 years ago long before there was a sushi restaurant on every corner or every Thai and Chinese restaurant decided to add sushi to its menu. We always sit at the sushi bar and are treated to great service and guided what fish and rolls to order by Dann our favorite sushi chef. I know that Sai gets whole fish and cuts it to the desired pieces them self I think this is one of the reason all the fish is so fresh. I like rolls but the fish is so good and fresh here I order straight up fish most of the time I had 2 pieces of fish I had for the first time and loved. I would of never ordered either of these fish unless the sushi chef suggested them to me. The first fish was salmon let me say I'm not a big salmon lover but Dann insisted and gave me what is called a belly cut of Norwegian salmon it was so sweet mild clean flavor I will never look at salmon the same and until then never even heard of a belly cut. Dann took the whole fillet of salmon and the belly cut and showed me how they fit together. The second fish was Spanish Mackerel mmmm yummy I would of thought this to be a stronger tasting fish but it was mild sweet and creamy. A few other faves I have at Sai are the Hamachi Jalapeno, the Ahi Poke and the creamy octopus . I like Uni ( sea urchin) my wife does not they made up a beginner piece for my wife. On top of the rice they place a slice of crab topped with uni capped with a slice avocado and a dab of fish eggs. It had the flavors of uni I love but added flavors so the uni was not so strong. The restaurant has s nice atmosphere the people are very friendly and helpful and if you have any questions they are eager to help. Its just a great local place that has top notch fish and great food. read more

great sushi. reasonable prices for the excellent quality. fyi - if you're lonely and don't want to drink alone, the sushi chefs in the back will get hammered with you. not kidding. read more

Good sushi spot for first date. Not too loud and adequate comfort. Decor needs to be revised and energized. Went here a few weeks ago with a friend to experience some rather flavorful seaweed salad: just the right balance of acidity and depth from the peanut sauce. Julianed cucumber complemented this very nicely. We weren't terribly famished so had this, with the maki and cold edamame. Can I raise a question about this new trend: cold? Really? First time I had this I was like "oh, their bad" but now it seems to be a trend around the city. I'm sort of mixed on it. Not that this took away from the experience, just an observation of sorts. Spicy tuna (because I'm a girl of routine) and nama sake quri makis were both good. They didn't stop traffic, but were still nicely made: tight and compact with equal flavor distribution among pieces. The cucumber again was a lovely complement to the the salmon. The service was great as well. Kept us loaded on water, almost to the point of annoyance, but none the less, an appreciated feature. Overall good place. read more

This used to be my #1 sushi spot and a family favorite for decades. After a horrible food poisoning episode immediately after a huge delivery order, (spicy tuna roll and hand roll = the culprit) I will not be ordering / frequenting again. read more