This is our go to Sushi restaurant in Evanston. It's more of a shop and restaurant. It's not for fancy dinners but for fresh authentic sushi at good price points. Our favorite rolls are the red dragon and Evanston (Dill-licious). The rolls have a very light coating of rice and the rice has less sugar than standard rice. Being byob is an advantage though not one we use often. Most often we opt to drink tea. read more

Love love love love LOVE this place -- fresh, clean, simple, cheap. Order at the counter and sit down or take out. You can get all kinds of sushi, sashimi, bento box with rice or noodles, or just a cut of their sushi-grade fish. Also has a mini Japanese market for ramen, instant noodles, snacks, rice, spices, etc. Just an awesome place! read more

This place is amazing if you go in person. They have a wonderful space with many Asian treats. They provide delicious free barley tea, green tea and water. The sushi is fresh and hits the spot. I do not recommend ordering delivery as it generally takes 60-90mins and the sushi does not arrive as fresh. Still yummy but just not as good as in the store. read more

Sushi was average. I was comparing it with Trader Joe's sushi and it was about the same equality of quality. Sea ranch just has avacado and fresher roe. Wild Ginger near my house has better sushi for half off on Monday and Tuesdays which beats Sea Ranch out of the ballpark in terms for freshness. The cute thing about Sea Ranch is that they have a mini grocery store like setup in the restaurant to buy Japanese snacks, sauces, candies, noodles and beverages so 2 stars for food but 3 stars for culture and convenience. They serve free barley tea! Service is super slow even with 3 sushi chefs. Took 20 minutes to get my 2 rolls.. read more

Sea Ranch - Seafood Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Really good sushi, we usually order take out or delivery. You can dine in but just be aware it is pretty casual. The spicy tuna rolls are very good. One of my fav spots in Evanston read more

Been going to Sea Ranch for years, and always enjoy the experience. The food tastes great, the staff is always polite and friendly, and the location is easy to get to/cozy on the inside (albeit not a ton of available tables). We ordered food for pick up today and were thrilled to see that business seems to be doing okay despite the lockdown! Very glad to have them in the neighborhood. read more

I really enjoy the nice stay here. You can have a simple ramen set or sushi set. And the barely tea is tasty too. Today I felt a bit hungry so I tried the chicken teriyaki combo, which includes teriyaki chicken, vegetable salad, California roll and sashimi inside. It absolutely satisfied my stomach. Yummy! read more

Sea Ranch - Chicken Teriyaki Combo - Seafood Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I finally tried All-You-Can-Eat at Sea Ranch today with some of my favorite Evanston Yelpers, and must admit that I almost killed one of them with a half bowl of ramen. (Sorry, Ehow!) The AYCE deal here is rad. Including tax, the total was $25.12... and considering I huffed at least 2 specialty rolls that usually cost $14 each, you are totally able to get your money's worth. The selections include half bowls of noodles, a variety of nigiri, rolls, and specialty rolls. Nothing too crazy, but if you're in Evanston and want to eat a ton of sushi without breaking the bank, then Sea Ranch is the place to be. The Tornado roll is SO ridiculously delicious, and they have an awesome spicy shrimp tempura roll. Always (ALWAYS!) opt for a half bowl of shoyu ramen to start off your meal. Sea Ranch also makes some of my favorite inari nigiri. Just know that if you're going to be doing this at peak eating hours or dining with a big group, things will probably take a while. Get yourself some cold barley tea and relax with your friends. And you'll be eating inside a little Japanese grocery store - I dig it, but not everyone will. read more

Been here quite a few times already and have had different things. The food is always good and fresh. I do like getting the ramen with a california roll side plus another interesting roll. Yum! I also have come here to buy certain grocery items that I can't find elsewhere. This place is awesome! read more

Since I don't eat seafood, I can eat at any sushi restaurant and need not complain about the quality or freshness of it. I like and only eat vegetarian sushi. I've been to Sashimi Sashimi in downtown Evanston, but Sea Ranch (odd name for a sushi joint) is closer to home, the food comes out faster, and the staff is very polite. The prices are merely cents higher here. They also serve soba and ramen noodle soups, all of which are great for lunch. If you're not in the mood for sushi, they offer Asian goods like Japanese rice, snacks (Super Lemon = the SOUREST candy. Yum.), and drinks for sale. Unfortunately, every time I've gone to Sea Ranch there are preteens hanging out, talking about themselves (the most important subject matter at that age) and taking up tables. School starts in a week. Hallelujah. read more

In the wise words of Patti Stanger, everyone is looking for their chupacabra -- a mythical creature with everything that one had hoped for (though a quick Wikipedia reveals she may be using the wrong fabled animal as a stand in for elusive perfection... but I digress) -- for her, this is a dating thing -- the chupacabra I seek is finding an all you can eat sushi place at which you are not actually afraid to consume the fish -- and in Sea Ranch, this is what you have. Sure, you can order off the menu as they have a variety of combos (4-5 veggie combos, 6-10 combos w/ fish), and they have probably 6-10 dishes that are more like Japanese peasant food (and I mean that in a wonderful way -- simple flavors, nice veg, good noodle-y soups) -- but really, when you can have as many rolls as you want, why back down (which admittedly, I sometimes do if I have to be polite in front of others)?! Order at the register, sit and wait 5 min, your sush will arrive -- it takes a few more minutes for the cooked dishes. The fish is pretty solid, though admittedly, it won't be the most mind blowing sush you've ever had, it's tasty and the rice has always been perfection. The atmosphere is non-existent as it's a storefront/market, but at these prices, who cares? Oh, also, they have a tiny section full of Japanese treats (and Koala Yummies.....?) -- which is always fun to explore. I've never done delivery, but I've heard it's hit or miss -- best just to come in. If you're going all in, it's $25ish, and I think most combos (which are 3-4 rolls, 6 pieces per roll) are between $9-14. The rolls are nicely sized, but the soups, etc are a bit petite for my American-sized appetite, so I'd get a soup and some rolls for true bliss. read more

I'm from Japan and this place is legit. The only downsides are that it's a mix of a super market and a restaurant and that the portions are Japanese size. If you are looking for good legit Japanese cuisine, this is the place. read more

Nothing fancy about this place -- just good quality fresh sushi at reasonable prices. Sure there are cheaper places, but the quality of their food is unquestionable. Their staff is friendly and accomodating. Oh, and did I mention it also has a grocery store so you can buy the items you need to make it at home! read more

I think I found my standby for Lawrence Fish Market. Sea Ranch has rolls at comparable prices, udon, and other Japanese comfort foods. I thought the quality of the sushi was quite good for the price. So if I'm in the mood for quick and cheap Japanese comfort food, I'm gonna skip Dozika and walk across the street. My only complaint is that the grocery items such as mochi ice cream etc, are marked up. read more

I did see the sea ranch. Not by the sea shore, or with sea shells, but it was still interesting. I note that the dragon rolls and caterpillar rolls in particular have avocado on the rolls - if you're a fan of that (as I am), I think you will enjoy their rolls. Overall the quality is good and I did want to say I do agree with other reviews commenting on how it's not 80% rice 20% substance like some places tend to do. At $23 or so, I would expect that it'd be of decent quality, and it is. If you've ever seen sea ranch, the first thing that comes to mind is a grocery store - because it has one inside, essentially. Not necessarily sushi, but that is indeed how they shine. I did the all you can eat (AYCE) and we tried a soup that was....odd, if not a very unique flavor. I think my wife hated it, to be honest. I think the phrase was something like "Dead hobo soup". Meanwhile, the options for the sushi menu are pretty good and include decent appetizer options along with noticeably fresh edamame as well. Green tea included is also nice. I think I will come back here some time to check it out again. There wasn't much too it, so simply put: decent sushi, a little expensive, decent service. read more

You like Sushi. You like the atmosphere very simple and you like extraordinarily nice(simple) and Smiling waitstaff. This is the place to go. Marcus(sp?!) is awesome, and his smile lights up the restaurant(store, and nearby city block). Yes, he and the Sushi Chef are awesome. All the rolls are deliciously prepared. They have green tea complimentary drink for all your orders. They have small shop to buy asian eatables to shop from. They have little stash of everything to buy from. The prices are affordable. Sizes of meat served are good portions. Enjoy the food and shopping at the store too. Wish they were open little late. read more

Dear Sea Ranch: Wear your best-sushi-in-Evanston crown proudly! It's true that your spicy rolls are in fact not spicy, and your ramen tastes like it's been seasoned with only soy sauce, but the consistent quality of your sushi puts you over the top. For a very reasonable price, you provide me with a lot of fresh-tasting fish. It may be that I've finally lowered my expectations enough, or maybe you really are that good, but who cares? I can let myself crave sushi again and you conveniently satisfy those cravings and for that you win the crown. Though it wasn't really that close of a contest. read more

I adore Sea Ranch! No atmosphere to speak of- but wonderful service, flavorful combinations of sushi at great prices. I have dragged everyone who loves sushi to Sea Ranch- explaining before hand that there is no decor and it smells like fish- but they will love the Spicy Tornado roll (seared salmon on top), Spicy Spring roll (shrimp, avacado and spicy mayo) along with seaweed salad (my new fave). The cashier knows me by name and has been kind enough to make my sushi at 6:59 and hold it until 7:25 when I finally make it into Evanston. I did convince him to change his hours a little- but he just went back 30 minutes to 7:30 sushi bar closing when I would love for it to be 9pm. Free green tea,ice water and they won't nickle and dime you for spicy mayo- plus a lot of their special combos are in easy to go packs. Enjoy! read more

The people were super nice and it was quiet! But the nigiri portions were pretty small; wish there was more. I much prefer Kuni on Main St. read more

I ordered my food online for pickup - they said it would be ready in 30 minutes. Took 50 minutes to prepare. They charged me again after I already paid online. Also gave me the wrong order so had to go out of my way to return and get the right order. Sushi may be good but the service is too much of a headache to go back again. Go somewhere else because this place is a real mess. read more

Originally from S. California, I find it hard to get quality Asian food without getting overcharged in the midwest. Sea Ranch fits the bill. Being also a vegetarian, I was very pleased to find multiple vegetarian options on the menu; the futomaki rolls were very fresh, and miso ramen was tasty! If that's not enough, you can buy Japanese snacks and food items there--now I know where to get my fill of mochi ice cream, gyoza, and ramune! Next time I've got a Japanese food craving but am too lazy to drag myself out to Chicago, then I'll definitely come back to Sea Ranch, possibly with a larger appetite for the AYCE option! read more

Sea Ranch - Japanese lunch with vege futomaki, veggie roll, and miso ramen! - Seafood Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

It's no Mitsuwa, but it's a close second. It's part Japanese grocery store and sushi bar, so it's a great place to pick up mochi, pocky, or everybody's questionable favorite: wasabi peas. Lots of pre-made sushi chilling in the supermarket-style coolers, but you really want to walk up to the sushi bar and get a Volcano or Crispy Tuna roll. There's definitely cheaper sushi in Evanston, possibly even better, but this place is a Jack of All Trades where everyone is bound to find something they like. read more

This is by far the best sushi i have had in Evanston! I absolutely LOVE sushi, and can honestly eat it every hour of everyday. I have been so disappointed since moving to Evanston a couple years ago to not have found "THE" sushi place up here. I have always drove past Sea Ranch and thought it was odd that a grocery-type store would have sushi, so I had been reluctant to try it. Thank GOD I finally decided to try it tonight! The sushi was so fresh, and unlike most special rolls, you can actually taste the fish! I thought the prices were very decent too. It's also a big plus when the staff is really nice as well. My only negative about this place is that there aren't any descriptions of all the rolls. I can never remember what is what, and each sushi chef is different, so i like to read what the rolls are. This was hard for me to decide what to eat. Other than that, really the best place to go to! I cannot wait to go back to try more!!! read more

Always fresh and authentic sushi. Sushi pieces are created by a Japanese chef unlike most other places in Chicagoland. Their uni especially was so creamy and full of flavor. Writing this review is seriously making me wanting to get some sushi for Sunday brunch tomorrow!! read more

Love this place for cheaply priced sushi. This place rock's it's half restaurant half grocery so you have something to do while you wait for you food. The prices are great about 40% cheaper then the fancy sushi joint's in town. And it not to far out of the city in Evanston off Chicago and Dempster ....good times ,,, read more

The Sea Ranch has no atmosphere and the cashier doubles as the server. This isn't a dining destination, it's a Japanese take-out restaurant/market. The owners were kind enough to add a few tables and offer free tea (barley or green) for customers who would like to dine-in. The Sea Ranch has delicious fresh sushi, sashimi and other Japanese dishes (ramen, tempura and the like). The sushi to rice ratio is very good and the fish is always cut into nice slices in the rolls. Their prices are fair and the AYCE is a great deal at $26. if you eat a lot - it's an even better deal if you have kids under 12 who can put away a ton of sushi! By Evanston/Northshore standards, this is the very best sushi around. I vote for a place named Yoshi's in Jack London Square in Oakland, CA as the best anywhere, but it's hard for me to get there for lunch. While I can appreciate some reviewers comparisons to sushi spots in Japan or on the West Coast, need I remind them that we live in Illinois and The Sea Ranch rocks read more

Sea Ranch still rates a 4 1/2 from me. For all the reasons I've mentioned before. But now that we have sampled just about everything on their menu (the website menu - when you actually go in, there are many additional options that go beyond Sushi including noodle dishes, salads and soups - and if you cook - don't forget to look into the fresh fish and seafood - that really are impeccably fresh and yet cost like half of what you'd pay at say, Whole Foods or Burhops. As of now my two most favorite rolls (in fact I think I might be addicted!) are the Oregon Roll (spicy tuna, avocado and on top of the seaweed wrap - a generous slice of smoked salmon (a bit pricy at $10 for 8 good sized pieces.) It's like a melt-in-your-mouth taste of heaven. I also can't get enough of the Spicy Crawfish Salad (a bargain at $6 - though only six pieces, they are BIG - for my mouth - like three bites per piece) they have a bit of fish roe mixed in which gives it a wonderful "crunch." I know some of you find this place to be good - but not the best - and I can't argue with that. (I am a Sushi Snob - as my husband would gladly point out.) But it is really good and very reasonably priced. read more

Love this place! The fish is always fresh and it's not very expensive. I always get the sushi/sashimi combo. It comes with 1 salmon sushi, 1 tuna sushi, 1 shrimp sushi, 3 salmon sashimi, 3 tuna sashimi, 1 red snapper sashimi, 1 imitation crab, 1 octopus sashimi, california roll (I think 6 pieces, if not more), small side of seaweed salad and miso soup. I'm always full after and it's only $12.99. Probably the best sushi in Evanston. read more

Heck to the YES! What a freaking fantastic find! It may look kind of like a hole-in-the-wall/grocery store but MAN their sushi knocks it out of the park! Generous portions of fresh, melt-in-your-mouth fish with a high fish:rice ratio :D It is a little on the pricier side but worth it in my opinion. Also, they sell barley tea bags. WHAT? I'm in heaven. read more

My go to sushi place in Evanston. WAYYYYY better than Todoroki-the fish is extremely fresh and the people here are super sweet. It's BYOB and also has a little grocery store in it! read more

The quality of the sushi here is not that great, but when you're coming for all you can eat sushi, it's the quantity that matters. They prepare the sushi pretty quickly, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed. read more

This place has the best authentic sushi I have ever tasted in the Chicago area. I always get the sushi & sashimi platter ($13.99) or the red dragon roll ($12). The restaurant isn't only a restaurant, but set like a small marketplace, so don't be disapointed by its appearance. It is definitely a local store where you can also buy to-go sushi and other asian snacks and goods (like Mochi ice cream). They have limited numbers of chairs and tables, so unless you come during rush hour, you shouldn't have a problem finding a place to sit. Although it's about ~$23 a person, you can also order all you can eat sushi here! A pretty good deal for extremely fresh and tasty food. Out of all the evanston sushi restaurant, this place is a MUST for sushi, hands down. read more

What a wonderful place! I went in just browsing and was pleasantly greeted by their staff. Ended up buying some Japanese soft drinks and eyed the mochi ice cream - mmm...checked out the poor lobster there that were waiting to be killed for dinner. I was eyeballing their sushi bar and somehow got talked into trying their Spicy Tornado roll (a whopping $11 but totally worth every bit of it) which had smoked salmon, avocado, and I really don't remember what else was in it but it was really yummy. I also tried the crunchy spicy california roll which was another delish choice. There's a seating area in there in combination of the Asian market, too. A great steal and find in my new neighborhood - oh, yeah - they give out a Northwestern discount, too! So keep those wildcards handy! read more

It is super cool to have Sea Ranch right down the street from us. You might find yourself at Sea Ranch for: - Chef-made sushi rolls in a casual lunch environment - Small Japanese grocery with everything you need to make sushi at home (rice, nori, seasonings, fresh fish, tofu, lots of amazing japanese snacks and ice creams) - BYOB sushi making classes (we can't wait to try one!) While I have not yet tried their actual sushi, I am confident that it will be excellent as we have purchased all of the sushi ingredients from their small Japanese grocery area. The fish is always on point, and the salmon we got there the other day was to die for. We also purchased an avocado from them for $1.50 (they don't usually sell them but had them for the rolls they make) and it was AMAZING. If you have a Japanese food fetish like me, welcome to your midwestern mecca. read more

Great place to pick up some Asian groceries. The ice cream selection is also great (waffle ice cream is the bomb). I've been here plenty of times but I ordered shoyu (soy sauce) ramen for the first time recently. It's just salty enough and not too fatty. But what makes this place so special is the sushi! The fish is so fresh and the special rolls are full of so much flavor. And the hot tea they serve is perfect for cold winter days! read more

Sea Ranch - Shoyu ramen which cones with California roll and miso soup - Seafood Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I usually come here to pick up their packaged salmon sashimi filet/steak (sorry for the bad description... hopefully you catch my drift). It's about $6-10 depending on weight, but it's still more cost-effective than buying sashimi by the piece. They also have octopus and mackerel among the options available to buy pre-packaged. I've purchased the salmon more than a few times and it was always fresh. In addition to many other Asian condiments/ingredients/groceries, this place also sells bowl ramen and Shin packaged ramen...this is the only place in dt Evanston that has these available I think.. The other day, I picked up one of their pre-made salmon skin rolls and it was so delectable I am tearing up just thinking about it now. Only about $8 too for *ten* pieces. And they were so generous with the sashimi/rice proportion... Udon is really good here too. You can also order a half portion for about $5. Free barley tea. Super polite workers. Clean. read more

This is a great place if you want to make a trip to buy fish - fish only! Maybe there are other places that are close or similar in selection and quality, but I go there if I have the time. I haven't figured out a real fish market in Chicago yet... Sea Ranch does not provide this experience and broad selection either. So that's the reason for the 4-star only. read more

This was one of the best finds I've made in the 2 years I've lived in Evanston! From the outside it doesn't look like much but it is a small Japanese grocery that offers a wonderful selection of Japanese goodies ranging from cookies and treats, frozen foods, sauces and ingredients and fresh fish to sushi, cook foods and sashimi that you can order. If you've lived abroad or know what asian treats you love, this place is fantastic! The quality of the food is wonderful. The fish is delicious and fresh and the prices are SO reasonable. They have been a quick and easy solution for a quick lunch or dinner or even to call and order a party platter. My only recommendation is to order online or call in advance if you have a larger order. Or you can patiently wait and have some complimentary hot green tea or shop around if you order in the market! read more

Very cool place. Good for lunch. Their ramen comes with a side of California roll but you can substitute for anything else. Very good unagi bowl. You can buy rice, sauces and candies there read more

Wonderful cozy vibe. Nice atmosphere with the restaurant and store being housed together. Great quality fish and well prepared rice. Delicious miso soup and very friendly and attentive staff. read more