It was super expensive for not a lot of food that didn't taste very good either. $10 for a seaweed salad. $11 for lettuce salad. The tempura udon noodle soup only came with one shrimp unlike most other restaurants which gives you three. The broth was just pure soy sauce, super salty with no flavor at all. Dinner for two cost over $100. Not worth it. read more

Love this place! My favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago! The service is always friendly! Food always fresh! read more

Wanted to love it, food was decent (I've had better sushi). Unfortunately the service was horrible. Felt rushed the entire time, waitresses were rude and rushing us to leave. Restaurant was nearly empty but it was obvious they didn't want us there. My friend went to the restroom and the waitresses wouldn't stop looking at me and telling me to have a good night even though we hadn't finished our dinner. Also expensive for the portions given. You can get better quality and quantity elsewhere. read more

This place has the best goo mai, and their Chilean Sea Bass is excellent! Their miso soup is good ( little salty) and the edamame is good too! Service is consistently good and the atmosphere is nice too! read more

My three stars is not because the food is bad. Just the opposite. The food is good. It's the customer service and the host staff. My partner and I came in on a Thursday night when it was slow and it almost seemed as if they were mad that we showed up. And when I asked if I could have fried rice instead of white rice the host is just said flat out no. I don't mind paying a difference. Ridiculous. WTF happened to customer service everywhere??? read more

CONS: - Got food poisoned - Alerted them to a food allergy, but they included the food anyway - Food quality is atrocious. Spicy tuna rolls had almost NO tuna (false advertising). Photos included - Awful customer service - Food took 2 hours I got very sick after eating here, and their spicy tuna roll has virtually no tuna. It's mostly spicy mayo and egg roe. I have included photos. It's a disgrace to sushi chefs and aficionados. Additionally, I have a food allergy and let them know IN WRITING to avoid that food. They included it in almost everything ordered, and I only found out by taking bites out of them all. Awful customer service, where they did not take ownership for their mistakes. read more

The quality of the sushi here is fabulous. Incredibly fresh. I don't know any other sushi restaurant that offers FRESH wasabi. So many places use a lot of sauces - maybe because the quality isn't as amazing as here?! They have some creative and yummy roles, too. I love the Salmon on Fire especially. Start your meal with Ahi Poki. My son loves the Beef Terriyaki, so there's something for the whole family. Service is impeccable, friendly, and efficient. There's space in the back for larger parties (when we can do that again) or you can sit at the sushi bar. This place is an icon. The owners are extremely friendly and work hard to make a quality experience. read more

One of the best sushi restaurants I have been to in Chicagoland area. We enjoyed our time chatting with chef Jim at the sushi counter, enjoyed and appreciated the food he prepared for us. The fish was really fresh, the rice was soft, though I felt like it is still missing a bit of the traditional sushi rice components, but I really enjoyed every piece of nigiri I had. The salmon gone wild had a very artistic presentation and wonderful combination of element. Never had chopped wasabi but the crunchiness of the wasabi added to the dish texture. The black cod miso dish was just really tasty :) Looking forward to going back for more. read more

Sai Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Three decades that I have dined at Sai cafe... There hasn't been a meal that wasn't outstanding. By far my favorite place for sushi in Chicago... With sushi places that come and go Sai Cafe is always our top choice.. I even proposed to my lovely wife at the table in front of the sushi bar... Buen Provecho... read more

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Sai Cafe has probably the best service in Chicago--the team is incredible in anticipating what you need, whether it's sushi, wine, or tea. Amazing! As for the sushi and other selections, they're fresh and yummy. Can't say enough about how great the sushi and service are! read more

Food was excellent and the staff were extremely nice. The cafe itself was very calm and it was very clean. I would definitely eat here again! read more

Jimmy is the best and the sushi is phenomenal. We come here when we're craving good sushi and don't want to risk trying someplace new

Amazing food and a great space to gather in. Kind and helpful owners and staff. Can't wait to return.

Have been here twice before. Each time my experience just got better. Their drinks are super strong and different which is a huge plus. The fish is very fresh. The presentation of rolls and appetizers is gorgeous, you can tell the chefs take their time to perfect their craft. The staff is very attentive and have great energy, from the busboy time the manager. It's an intimate and private restaurant that's great for dates and special occasions. Would recommend and come again! read more

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Sai Cafe is one of the best sushi places in all of Chicago. The staff is so nice, and their service is great. The sushi was delicious, highly recommend the volcano roll. Overall, great experience. read more

Sai is a beautifully decorated and welcoming restaurant in the Armitage Halsted area. It is never as busy as it should be, probably because of its side-street location. The staff is amazing and remember us every time we come, remembering our likes and dislikes without even telling them. Their nabeyake udon is the best we have ever had anywhere. Sushi is fresh and inventive amd the menu changes periodically so you can try something new. Their food price and quantities are comparable toi any sushi restaurant in the city or suburbs. read more

Perfect blend of fancy and neighborhood joint. Try the jalapeño hamachi. Buy the chefs a beer!

If I could give 6 stars, I would. This place is the Lebron James of sushi restaurants. Easily the best sushi I've ever had--my boyfriend and I are both traveling business people and try sushi in every city we visit. This place takes the cake. The miso soup was packed with tofu and just delicious. They brought our Volcano Roll out in the shape of a volcano. Enough said. The service was second to none, I never needed to ask for water or flag a waiter it was honestly like they were Casper the friendly ghosts. Also a great wine selection. 10/10 would do again, do not sleep on this place read more

Sai Cafe - Volcano roll and creamy scallop roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Decent place for sushi but a little overpriced in my opinion especially for the portions. They're rather small when you pay $12-17 for each one. The sushi is good but there are other places where it's equally as good but cheaper. I like that they have an outdoor space and the indoor area looked chill as well. Was okay for the one time I went but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again. read more

Sai Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sai Cafe is my favorite place for sushi. My first choice is the crunchy tuna roll second is Halloween Roll, then the tempura combination consisting of shrimp, zucchini, sweet potato, egg plant, broccoli, green beans and mushrooms. Dinner comes with white or brown rice and delicious miso soup. My husband's favorite is the combination soba noodles. My granddaughter who is not a sushi fan always enjoys the beef teriyaki and is never disappointed. Jimmy, the owner tries to visit each table and is always very friendly and welcoming. read more

Great and polite staff, clean environment, peaceful ambiance, pretty good food!! 4/5 - would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a casual dinner with friends or alone! Rolls are about $17-29 so not too terrible but also not cheap. read more

If I could give 10 stars I would! Such an amazing sushi spot, the sushi literally melts in your mouth! I saw some questionable reviews about the volcano roll but I was intrigued and had to try it. I don't know how this could have gotten a poor review because it was light, fresh, and so delicious! The staff are all so friendly and it is definitely a hip spot for a place that looks like just a hole in the wall! read more

Sai Cafe - Volcano Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Being Japanese I was a bit skeptical about Sai, but if they have been in business for 22 years and some chicago chefs frequent Sai, then they must be doing something right. One thing I like about the menu is they have some conventional items as well some nontraditional items that the chef has made his own. I decided to partake in his signature dishes such as the ahi poke, toro tartare, and tora no me (baked salmon wrapped in squid). Although interesting and exciting in concept, none of these dishes really pulled me in. I have had better poke in Hawaii. The toro tartare was the standout, but I still prefer the texture of biting into a slab of toro sashimi. The "tiger eyes" was great in concept but a bit bland. I also ordered a salmon avocado maki to test out the sushi, and no doubt, it was fresh and recommendable. Service is mixed for me. The hostess was sweet and friendly. The chef made his rounds through the dining room. The sushi chefs thanked us in unison on the way out. However, I didn't particularly care for our waitress. Her service was leaning more towards Chinatown service which was rushed with plates clanking the table. One thing she has to understand about Japanese restaurants is there is a certain delicacy, warmth, and cheerfullness. I'm not sure if Sai wants to be regarded as culturally authentic Japanese, but if they do, the waitress has to adopt certain mentality and idiocyncrasies. The hostess gave me a 20% off appreciation card, so next time I will probably stick to the sashimi and sushi. I give 3 stars for the appetizers and 4 stars for the sushi. read more

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I can't believe this was the first time I had been to Sai Cafe but it probably won't be my last. This is one cute little sushi restaurant that really seems to pull in it's regulars. I could tell that the staff had a good rapport with alot of the customers that night. One table was even discussing with one of the staff about having their child's first birthday there in a few weeks. Umm...not exactly the type of place I would expect for a kids first birthday but..what do I know? I ordered the Teriyaki Salmon which came along with a salad and Miso soup. I thought it might have been a little too hot outside to be drinking such a warm soup but mm it was good. Salty with just the perfect texture and size of tofu..yum. The Salmon was cooked perfectly and was accompanied by a bowl of white rice. As the appetizer we ordered the Hamachi Jalapeno which was the belly part of the yellowtail with a slice of jalapeno and served with soy sauce. the fish practically melted in my mouth it was so light and fresh. I'll definitely go back but next time I might request sitting in the second room. The first room seemed to be filled with kids and on a nice Friday night out I am so not into that....okay...I'm never into that kind of scene but especially on a Friday night! read more

Some of the best sushi in Chicago? Check. Good prices? Check. Convenient location? Check. 6pm on my first day back in Chicago? I'm there. The order? Dragon Roll, Futomaki, Volcano Roll, Seared Scallops, Nabe Yaki Udon Noodles, and Mochi Ice-cream. The crispiness of the freshwater eel in the dragon roll encapsulated my taste buds. Despite being doused in a little too much sauce, this was hands down the best dragon roll I ever had. Then came the volcano roll, layered bottom heavy and sprinkled with fish roe and could-be-a-bit-more-crispy tempura crumbs to imitate a real volcano. Though the pieces were small in size, they were generous in flavor: rich, creamy mayo that lifts the surprisingly fresh lobster pieces, spelling delectable on my palette. The savory (but at the same time a tad too sweet) broth filled with chewy udon noodles and fresh seafood creates a good, but not phenomenal experience. Beware, both the scallops in the Udon and the too-lemony seared scallops themselves have sand in them. But the mochi ice-cream glorified the night. One of the biggest mistakes in mochi is getting the skin to ice-cream ratio wrong. With a thin, floury layer of rice flour mixture playing the opening before the major (and oh-so-fresh-and-creamy) main ice-cream arrived, the mochi was perfect. Service was impeccable. The owner actually took the time to stop by our table and speak with us, making us feel like a regular. Making us feel like we were home away from home. read more

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Awful food. Some of the worst maki I've ever had. The spicy tuna tasted like it spent some time in an ash tray, and the hamachi looked like it was discarded fish parts that had been ground up and put in a roll. Will never eat here again! read more

Sai Cafe - Gross hamachi, spicy tuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here for the first time this weekend. Sai Cafe came very highly recommended from a friend, so I decided to check it out. I was not really hungry so I only tried two things on the menu. I am obsessed with sushi... I eat it at least once a week... and this was one of the best sushi places I have dined at. The fish was extremely fresh, not chewy or fishy tasting at all! The atmosphere was classy and trending. The service was fantastic- prompt and friendly. The martinis were strong and delicious. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and I will be returning! read more

I pass by this place all the time and I finally stopped in Thursday around 10pm as they are super nearby and they close at midnight and because...sushi... The outside is a bit deceiving as I thought it would be small and basic inside or I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I loved the inside! It was nicely decorated and I felt comfortable at the same time. Boo and I were seated straight back from the entrance, at a table across from the sushi bar top. I enjoyed the curved bench. The other room looked very nice too. Being pretty late imo, many people were still dining. There were a number of dates, a few friend get togethers, and a number of regulars. We got a couple maki rolls, soft shell crab app, tekka-don, and a beef Japanese style fried rice. My tekka-don came with a miso soup and that was very good. The soft shell crab looked amazing and it pretty much was. The vinegar sauce that paired with it was fine, just not my first preference. All the food came out at appropriate times. We enjoyed the fried rice...the highlight here though is definitely their sushi/sashimi. All I can say is...quality! Their fish is super fresh and their rolls are made to perfection. On point with the rice to fish ratio and temperature and cook of the rice. I enjoyed their menu as it wasn't overwhelming but had enough variety. Since I'm a sucker for green tea anything, the green tea crème brulee was a no brainer. Boo got the chocolate mousse. While we agreed the chocolate mousse was good, it wasn't amazing. That crème brulee though was sooooooooo amazing. Green tea flavor was enough for me to taste but not overpowering for my bf. You can taste the delicious eggy flavor as well. The textures were spot on! It was PERFECTION. Best dessert I've ever had? I think we have a winner! Let's not overlook Sai's quality service as well! Definite 5 stars. We were seated and greeted promptly, regularly checked on, waters always refilled, server was helpful and friendly, and the owner I believe even stopped by. Prices were very reasonable. You pay more at bs River North places that are subpar. I'd come back in a heartbeat if I wasn't a frugal person in general. Definitely will be back next time I'm feenin' for some quality sushi though. read more

Sai Cafe - Green tea crème brulee - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So great! We ordered take out during the lock down - and the food was ready early, packaged and awaiting pick up in a staged area for everyone's safety. Delicious food, I wish their wasabi was a bit stronger, but otherwise the fish is fresh and the serving sizes are perfect. read more

Can't miss with this pick... I'll never forget what the owner, Jimmy, intimated to me many moons ago on the art of sushi; he said, in short, that it's not the proximity to the oceans that make a great sushi restaurant but rather the connections the owner has with the dealers, or better still the boats out on the Sea of Japan. He said that O'Hare has flights from all over the world and more options than San Francisco. "Buying sushi-grade Hamachi, Jimmy said, "requires contacts and this (holding up his phone)." I've had sushi all over the U.S. and this little neighborhood joint gets top score in my book, and you don't pay downtown prices for it either. San Francisco or LA or Oakland never heard of "escolar" because I've never seen it on a California menu and I lived in that state. OMG, try it! You'll order more. read more

My roommate and I decided on this place for dinner solely off of Yelp reviews, and we weren't disappointed...by the end of the meal. At first we were a bit worried because our 10-15 minute wait started creeping toward 20+, but then the hostess asked if we would accept (what she considered) the worst table in the house. It was small and right by the entrance, but it wasn't that bad...we managed to fit our food and the bottle of wine we brought ($10 corking fee, FYI). We had the edamame, miso, and three rolls: Ebi Tempura Maki, Volcano Maki and the Spicy Tuna Maki. The spicy tuna was about what you'd expect, but the other two rolls were standout. The Ebi Tempura was a giant sized roll cut into four, which are always fun to enjoy. The Volcano Maki was very tasty and covered in tempura bits, but it was a bit hard to split because the pieces came piled on each other. Overall, the service and food were good, and the prices were much more reasonable than I expected. But a word of caution: they don't really give enough wasabi. I for one love the rush of realizing I had just put a bit too much on a piece of sushi...and the ensuing nasal explosion. read more

So on my way to watch Avenue Q up in the north part of Chicago and decided to stop by this joint as it was on the way for a quick Sushi dinner. The ratings were solid and it was conveniently located literally steps away from the subway line. The restaurant itself is in a nice neighborhood and the restaurant itself while on the outside looks kinda run down, the interior is nicely decorated. They had hanging chopsticks as decoration and it was pleasantly surprising. We were greeted promptly at the door and immediately seated at our table for our reservation made on opentable. After sitting down, we decided to order hot sake and choose what we wanted to order for food. We decided to go with the spicy oyster shooters, fried tempura, sashimi plate, and a few rolls. This place is obviously a typical "Americanized" sushi joint and the fish was OK but nothing amazing. I also did feel the sashimi was really cold and slightly chewy indicating to me that it was probably frozen and served. The food items were fine again but the oyster shooters just tasted really spicy and the tempura is hard to mess up I feel. The highlight of the meal was definitely the White Tuna Crunch roll which was solid I would say but again overall this place had nothing amazing about it that would prompt me to go again. Again OK joint for a quick bite in the area if you are craving sushi read more

Sai Cafe - Sashimi plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A go-to spot. Always amazing. Service is consistently great as well.

Ok, this second trip was not as successful as the first, so I have to downgrade it. I came in to try the spicy white tuna crunch roll, which I loved. I also got the Ten Don, which I hated. The sauce is wrong - places don't get that the suace is supposed to be liquidy and not sweet at all and you wind up with some disgusting teriyaki style goop flooding the food. Not a good time. The service is still fabulous and fast and the tea is yummy and refilled often, so I can't say I wouldn't give this another go - I may just stick with the sushi the next time around. And, totally not their fault, but can people with obnoxious babies please realize that if your kid cannot stop shouting or banging silverware on the table or throwing his stuff on the ground, you shouldn't bring the child to a restaurant? At least remove him when he is so loud that he drowns out the waitress taking my order? And Sai, when you hav these people in the room for a while and YOU KNOW what is going on, don't seat couples trying to have a quiet dinner next to them! read more

I love to come here every time I'm in town. Everything fresh and good. Chef has a lot is recipes that can please me, especially the oyster shooters. I send all my friends and family here. Love this place! read more

Friendly sushi chef and staff, price on par with sushi options in the area, nice dining room. Limited outdoor seating (one table). I sat at the sushi bar and ordered an 8 pc nigiri combo with CA roll and a seared salmon specialty roll. My only issue was that the rice-to-fish ratio was off. Not enough fish and too much rice in the nigiri and both rolls. read more

Sai Cafe - Sushi Combination and a seared salmon speciality roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I walked in with a friend for dinner on a Friday and we were able to be seated immediately. The inside of the restaurant is a lot nicer than you'd expect when you see the outside and it is very relaxed with some zen décor and lighting. My friend and I both shared the tempura udon noodles and combination sashimi entrée (white tuna, another white fish, fresh salmon, yellowtail, tuna) and both were very delicious and satisfying. The tempura was nice and crispy, the broth had a lot of depth and was salty and sweet, and the noodles were chewy the way I like them. The sashimi was really fresh (my fav was the white tuna) and each piece was a nice size. This really hit the spot since all the sushi I've eaten lately has been AYCE and the quality is just not up to par to places that are a little more expensive like Sai. Overall, it was a great meal that hit all the right spots! I will definitely be returning whenever I'm craving some fresh sashimi or in the mood to try some of their other delicious sounding dishes. read more

Sai Cafe - Sashimi combination entree - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

5 stars for the oyster shooters. I wish I know how they marinate it. It's very special and you can't get them anywhere else. Toro tartar was good, amaebi was good came with the fried shrimp heads, softshell crab was not so good. It's not crispy, the breading not so good. sea bass was ok and rolls were alright. The service is good too. In conclusion I will come back for the oysters but probably not anything else. read more

Sai Cafe - oyster shooters - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sushi rolls are not that good. Too much rice. The ratio from rice to ingredients/fish is pretty off. I've tried the white tuna crush and Halloween roll, not a fan. Tempura udon noodles were okay, but I've had better. Overall okay and probably wouldn't give them another shot. read more

Awsome for any sushi fans! Highly suggest :) Delicious food and not too pricy. Love the "rainbow roll!" read more