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    Shakou Barrington

    3.7 (379 reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    SHAKOU BARRINGTON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Classy

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    Karen P.

    went here for nye dinner everything was amazing and delicious. I liked that the server wasn't rushing us and the appetizers came first and then the entrees came later but not that quickly. I really enjoyed the music they played and the atmosphere was lovely.ill Def be back again to try some other dishes.

    Unagi Sashimi - OTG
    Beth A.

    My family and I came here for New Year's Eve dinner, we reserved a table in advance on Resy. Although the restaurant was very busy, the food came out quickly and the staff was very attentive. Our waters were always filled, empty plates taken away, and our waiter was efficient. The inside has a modern decor with a lot of grays/white colors. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant - though a bit harder to find a spot given it shares the parking lot with other nearby businesses. The food we ordered tasted great and with good portions. Prices are a bit higher than other restaurants, but with quality food and service.

    Various choices of Sushi.
    W John K.

    Getting ready for a night out on the Town, with my Bride. Shakou was our destination for an enjoyable meal. Zia was in charge of our enjoyment. Since we were going out later, we passed on the drinks (What???!!! We passed on the drinks...yes, unfortunately,) My Bride ordered ordered the Chefs choice in Sashimi, I decided to have the Korean BoGogi with Vegetables. Check out my photos, they both were delicious. Have to say, never had a bad experience. To all Mangia & Cheers!

    Shrimp Tempura Appetizer - OTG
    Janeth R.

    Sushi is 10/10! Fresh ingredients, great customer service, the ambiance is amazing and chill very relaxing.

    Volcano bowl
    Liz K.

    I really like the atmosphere in this place. It's contemporary and higher end. The bonus is that you get to either sit in the restaurant downstairs or move over to the bar area, which is not necessarily a bar. It's another cozy place to eat, or go to the second floor inside or outdoor on the balcony overlooking Main Street in Barrington. The sushi is good. The teriyaki is great and the size of the maki rolls and bowls are ample. You won't walk away from the table being hungry. Try the seasonal dishes and cocktails. None of them will disappoint. Our service was great as always, and the servers are really chatty and super friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because it can be noisy in there and on the crowded end but, that's proof that it's a great restaurant that people want to come to.

    Ravi S.

    Stopped in randomly one weekend and was honestly impressed with what we got. Me and a couple friends came in and the interior is nice, clean, and has a kind of upscale (it's not like super fancy or anything) vibe to it. We got tons of different sushi to try and to be honest all of them were fairly good. Of course the ones we kept coming back to were the chutoro and otoro. Quality was solid for both as well. Always a treat to have them. Dessert was fairly solid as well. Nothing super special so you don't need to go out of your way, but if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth not a bad option. Overall would definitely come back again and recommend checking the place out!

    XiaoYan A.

    Extremely slow service. 40 minutes wait for sushi from order to serving. Food is fresh - perhaps the only commendable part of the experience. Very loud environment. Overpriced.

    Golden Lobster Roll - OTG Green Dragon Roll - OTG Urban Heat Roll - OTG Black Widow Roll - OTG Thai Chicken Wrap - OTG
    Kristina D.

    Went to Shakou for the first time last weekend as a last minute dinner with my husband and our 7 year old who requested sushi. Definitely some of the best sushi around. It's so fresh and honestly wish I had just ordered sashimi all night instead of rolls because of how fresh and tasty it was. The inside was hoppin, trendy vibes and tunes from the early 2000s. The service ~ definitely room for improvement, not horrible, but not great. Our server didn't check on us much and it took quite a while to order, and then far too long to get our check. It didn't ruin the night by any mean, just could've checked on us more frequently. Needless to say, we will be back!

    Celebrated a birthday on the rooftop. Perfect night from the best Long Island ever to the Seven Ahi appetizer (AMAZING!) to Ramen and lettuce wraps. All were perfect and James took excellent care of us! Glad we came early before it got too busy, but atmosphere was great.

    Lychee martini
    Lan N.

    We went here with a group of 10 people. It was a little busy upstairs cause they had another large group as week. Our waiter was really nice and attentive. We were surprised they were able to split the bill for each person! The lychee martini was actually pretty good. A little too lemony for me, but stir it up a bit and it's fine. I had order the 7 piece nigiri thinking it should be fine. But then I ordered the tempura udon later cause the sushi didn't fill me up. The sushi pieces weren't bad. They tasted decent. There was nothing amazing about them really lol the tempura udon was pretty good. The broth was well flavored. The tempura were battered and fried perfectly. Not too thick of a batter and not too oily. We originally wanted to sit on the rooftop area, but the weather was not cooperating that day. Our group wants to come back again in the summer when the weather is nicer.

    Farah A.

    Shakou, located in downtown Barrington has been on my list for a while now and finally made it to celebrate a birthday . The moment I walked in I was impressed by the interiors and stylish decor. We had reservations and were seated within minutes. I loved their menu, so many good options to choose from. We started with the stuffed jalapeños, Shumai soup, and seven spicy ahi! All three dishes were excellent . The stuffed jalapeños has just the right kick to it and loved the crunchiness. The Shumai soup was so flavorful and the shrimp dumplings tasted great. The Seven spicy ahi was just wow, loved the flavors in it. Next we ordered the signature rolls - AAC, Urban Heat, Raging Bulls, and Dragon Fire. Each of the rolls were prepared with the freshest ingredients and were beautifully presented. Each roll had its own unique flavor and tasted amazing . Executive Chef Sang Choi and his team have done an excellent job of serving the finest Asian cuisine . The four star review is because the service was not at par with the food . The host was really welcoming but our server did not make us feel welcome at all. It was a Friday night so the place was really busy which could be the reason why they were so rushed. Overall the food and vibe is a 10/10. Do check it out for delicious sushi and more.

    Egg roll
    Alexa R.

    What a super hip, vibey place! This location has 2 floors and 2 bars - not all that big so a bit quaint. The outdoor area looks fantastic, would love to enjoy that in the summer! Now the food. I don't eat fish so the sushi review comes from my husband. For appetizer, we had the egg roll: a bit greasy but yummy, gyoza: absolutely delicious (highly recommend), and the seven spicy ahi (he was OBSESSED with this). He had the chefs special for an entree, which he commented was very delicious but the slides of sashimi were on the thinner side. I had the chicken teriyaki for an entree which was one of the best I've had; reason being, everything on the plate was seasoned well. We also got a dessert on the house: mango and strawberry mochi. It was the perfect way to end the meal! We enjoyed our first experience at Shakou and look forward to coming back!

    It was a busy night at Shakou- I'm used to going to the Park Ridge location, which has a bit more ambiance/more "vibey." The Barrington location has brighter lights and feels more like a standard restaurant. Service was definitely slower than I'm used to at Shakou. Our waitress was very nice, but kept forgetting what we ordered and was checking in to see if what was dropped off was what we ordered. The food was tasty. I had the Niku niku, my husband had a hand roll and some sashimi and both were fresh. The others at our table also enjoyed their meals. The pyramid dessert at the end was also a favorite. The fire alarm went off about 3/4 of the way through our visit - and went on for quite a bit. Many guests left. They mentioned this just happened yesterday, because of vaping. No one came to tell us that it was not necessary to worry or leave- but staff just kept going along with their jobs, so we assumed we should stay. It was frustrating that there was no apology or check-in from our waitress about the situation... I won't be visiting this location again. I am a "member" of Shakou, but did not get that treatment. Our waitress didn't not even mention getting points for the visit. So, I can't even get that out of our visit.

    My favorite cocktail Ice and fire

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    Shakou B.

    Thank you for dining with us! Make sure to visit us again soon!

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    Shakou B.

    Thank you for your appreciated feedback!

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    9 months ago

    Good food. We prefer carry out Unfortunately recently they've not had enough staff to do carry out and serve in person customers.

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    Shakou B.

    We are so happy to hear that you love shakou! Visit us again soon!

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    Thank you for your excellent review.

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    2 years ago

    Nice selection of sushi, great ambiance and rooftop dining. They offer many options for vegetarians.

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    1 year ago

    Just not cool when you show up 15 min after the scheduled opening time and they see you at the door but the place is still not open.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Shakou Barrington

    Are the lunch specials only for weekdays?

    Lunch specials are available on all days we are open for lunch.

    Is this a place you would recommend for celebrating my wedding anniversary with my husband? Is it a good "special occasion" type of place?

    This place definitely is a good place for a date night. City lounge feel without having driving into the city.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Wok n Fire SB

    Wok n Fire SB

    (509 reviews)

    $$

    Wok n Fire brings a lot of energy and style to the sushi scene. It's a fun spot, with a lively…read moreatmosphere, good drinks, and a menu that offers enough variety to keep things interesting. The food is solid, the cocktails hold their own, and the overall experience feels a little more polished than your typical neighborhood sushi stop. It's a place that leans as much into vibe as flavor -- and does both well.

    Wok n Fire used to be one of those rare places that genuinely justified its price point--where the…read morequality, flavor, and overall experience made you feel like you were getting what you paid for. Unfortunately, that standard has declined noticeably, and the difference is hard to ignore. What was once vibrant, well-executed cuisine now feels uninspired and inconsistent. The dishes lack the depth of flavor they once had, coming across as bland or carelessly prepared rather than thoughtfully crafted. Portions feel less generous, yet prices have continued to climb, creating a frustrating imbalance between cost and value. It no longer feels like a premium dining experience--just an expensive one. Equally disappointing is the overall execution. The attention to detail that once set this place apart seems to have faded, replaced by a more rushed and indifferent approach. Whether it's the presentation, the freshness, or the cohesion of flavors, something is clearly missing. It's genuinely frustrating because this was once a standout spot--somewhere you could confidently recommend without hesitation. Now, it feels like a shadow of what it used to be, riding on its past reputation while delivering a subpar experience at an inflated price. For what you're paying, there are far better options elsewhere.

    Jaded Thai - Pad Thai lunch special

    Jaded Thai

    (222 reviews)

    $$

    Got some pretty great Thai food from this restaurant in Hoffman Estates. It may be yet another one…read moreof those restaurants in a strip mall but it's actually good to be honest. Jaded Thai is one of the many such Asian restaurants in this same area which is just kind of weird. For sure makes it hard to choose. They have the classics along with some more interesting looking selections. Coming at lunch it actually wasn't that busy. It's not exactly a good sign. Thankfully it turned out to be mostly great thankfully. Has a lot of the familiar items. There's all the usual things like Pad Thai. It's about $11 for a lunch entree. This is weekdays. A great way to get a value out of it. I got the Pad Woon Sen. A pretty typical looking one. This is stir fried bean thread noodles with broccoli, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and pea pods. Got it vegan without eggs. There was a light spiciness but pretty mild to be honest. Has a lot of the usual things as far as Thai food goes. It's now open daily even Sundays. There's great choices for vegans and vegetarians.

    Food is still good, but dine in service is not. It's more of a takeaway spot, as the focus shifted…read moreto people coming in to pick up their orders versus serving those seated at tables. The veggie egg rolls are now the size of your pinky, and the wontons are not as stuffed as they used to be. For the price of these appetizers, it's best to go for the entries. We always get the Tom Kha soup here, but for some reason they were out of this staple. We were told it would take too long to make. Still worth a try for takeaway as the entries are flavorful.

    K-BBQ

    K-BBQ

    (81 reviews)

    This is located in the same strip mall as Ramen House Shinchan. Plenty of parking. When we walked…read morein, there were a lot more Koreans eating there than Americans, so you know it's legit. The staff was mostly older Korean ladies that were very helpful and kind. The younger girl working there, gives you great service. Each table against the wall has a button that you can call for service. Prices weren't bad, they're about the same as other Korean places. We ordered popcorn dumplings, Korean steamed egg, beef bulgogi, LA galbi marinated, and soft tofu soup with galbi meat. If you pay cash, you get free ice cream. Also, the banchan is unlimited and you also get Korean stew with the bbq. Popcorn dumplings were nice and crispy. It's also moist and succulent inside when you bite into it. The steamed egg was delicious. The bbq meat was great. I liked that there was more meat than bone for the galbi. I recommend getting the tofu soup with galbi meat. The soup is savory and the galbi meat is very tender. This will be my new go to.

    Hadn't been here in a while but it's still good. I actually really appreciate the banchan they give…read morebecause it's not all spicy--most places have spicy odeng these days, which our kids don't like, so they were happy to have it mild for a change. What we got: Mul naengmyun (cold noodle soup) - Hit the spot on a hot day. Noodles were chewy, broth was already seasoned enough that I didn't need the extra vinegar or mustard provided. Japchae - Surprisingly good! Super flavorful, the noodles were great and I don't usually like shiitake mushrooms but I didn't hate them in this one! Galbitang - This one was a little disappointing. It was fine, but we've had it in the past and it was consistently tasty. The broth used to be more garlicky (a good thing that kind of made it unique to this restaurant) and the meat used to be high quality and tender. This time the broth was fine, and the meat was pretty grisly and a bit tough. Not great...made us wonder if they changed chefs/hands? Or maybe it was just an off day... One thing: we ordered to go and we wish they hadn't put the cold noodle soup broth right next to the steaming hot galbitang broth...just wasn't very well thought out when packing. Still delicious though and doesn't deter me from going here!

    Bistro Wasabi II

    Bistro Wasabi II

    (171 reviews)

    $$

    Checked out this classy Japanese restaurant in Hoffman Estates. It may be located in a strip mall…read morebut it's a lot better inside. Bistro Wasabi is one of the many Asian restaurants around. Had a hard time choosing which to go but this one was the choice. They're only open in evenings so hours are limited. Basic looking place when coming up on it. It's another one of these strip mall restaurants. There's also many other Asian restaurants in this same place so they basically just blend in together it seems. A difference is they're only open in evenings. They have the usual items like sushi. It's about $5 for the cheapest rolls. There's the usual and the unusual. A few choices for vegetarians to get. We got an Asparagus Roll and a Plum Paste And Shiso Leaf Roll. Better than expected. There was a minty flavor along with a sweetness. For sure it's worth going to if wanting to try some interesting rolls and other Japanese favorites. It's closed Mondays. There's lots to choose from but the rolls are the best things.

    Bistro Wasabi II made a great impression from the moment our dishes arrived. The pork cutlet was a…read morestandout--crispy from the panko breading yet still tender inside, paired with a fresh, crunchy cabbage salad. The sesame essence salmon was equally well-executed, with the teriyaki sauce served on the side so the flavor could be customized, plus a generous mix of crisp tempura vegetables. Both entrées also came with white rice and miso soup, which rounded out the meal perfectly. Overall, every component felt thoughtfully prepared and well-balanced. While the prices lean toward the higher end, the superb quality of the ingredients and the care in presentation made it feel well worth it. It's the kind of place where you can tell the kitchen pays attention to detail, and we left fully satisfied.

    Shakou Barrington - sushi - Updated May 2026

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