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    Sozai Banzai

    4.4 (204 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    SOZAI BANZAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Nick P.

    This has been on my list for awhile and one day I decided to try. It's located in a strip mall with lots of parking. When you go inside, they have a sufficient amount of tables to sit at, but it wasn't very busy on a Saturday night. You order at the register and he brings it out to you. You'll have to be patient, they don't have a lot of staff. We ordered tako karaage (fried octopus), croquettes, Taiwan style tonkotsu ramen with 2 pieces of chashu, and the deluxe bento with butashoga (ginger pork). I had a bite of the pork and it was delicious. Ginger was not overpowering. Tender meat. Prices were very affordable and cheap. Service was great and he brought out our food hot and freshly made. I would definitely come back and try other items. -tako karaage 5 - it had a nice little chew and was not overly fried. Great taste. -croquettes 5 - I loved these. When you bite into them, they're soft. Flavorful, savory filling inside. I should have gotten more of these. -Taiwan style tonkotsu ramen 5 - noodles were chewy. Bountiful amount of ground pork. The two chashu pieces were tender and easy to break apart. Broth was not heavy, it was just right.

    Veg croquette and red bean paste inside dough dessert
    Michelle G.

    I live in Chicago and don't have a car but I truly think I would consider trekking out here via CTA and PACE to come back here. I am lowkey obsessed with this place. The food is delicious and the vibes are immaculate - it seems like such a cute spot to go after school (maybe it's because there was a kid, possibly related to the owner doing homework while snacking at a table) and it is just really cute and cozy inside. Plus the person who was at the counter where I ordered had very kind vibes and it was soooo cozy. My mom also loved it. To the food - we ordered a meat croquette, veggie croquette, saba shio bento with aji fry, oyakodon, and a battery dough dessert that looks a little like a wheel pie with red bean inside. Everything was good, like so yummy and nourishing. I was a bit stressed that day and not in the best mood when we got there but this food cheered me right up. My highlights (aka the things I would come back for, although I am curious about the rest of their menu) were the oyakodon, veggie croquette, bento sides, and the red bean dough dessert. The oyakodon was so nourishing and cozy and perfect. Such a good comfort food. The veggie croquette surprised me but I really liked the flavor combo, better than the meat croquette. The things that came with the bento were soooo yummy (I did not know what they were lol and did not ask) but it would be the reason I would get a bento again. And the batter dough dessert was exactly what I thought it would be when I saw it on the menu. Yum. May this place thrive forever.

    Gyu Don(Large) with Miso Soup
    Frank L.

    I tried Sozai Benzai restaurant for the first time tonight for dinner - it was pretty good. It's a small restaurant where you can dine in or takeout, the service was fine. The Gyu Don was pretty good - however, it needed more flavor so add a bit of soy sauce and siracha and then you're good to go. Spicy Stamina Ramen was pretty good - but it's really not spicy, maybe I have a higher tolerance level for spice. Overall, a nice place to eat at for a quicker and affordable Japanese meal.

    Outdoor sign
    Jenny K.

    Overall, good food for decent price and quick service. Would not be a go-to, but if I was in the area for a quick bite, I'd consider returning. Hard to find location. Tucked away in a small strip mall. Photos of the sign are old, so posting an updated sign to see. No greeting when we walked through the door, no servers? We ordered through the toasttab app. I'm sure it makes sense financially, but it was jarring since we were expecting a sit down restaurant. Then the bill recommends a tip, but like, who is it going to then?! Atmosphere: Cafe-like. Upbeat Japanese music in the background. Service: very fast and friendly. Food quality: Teriyaki sauce is a little bland and thin, but I think that's more authentic Japanese. Husband disagrees. -spicy stamina ramen had raw veggies instead of boiled veggies like I'm used to. I had to pick them out. Otherwise, I added an egg and Chashu which were very good. Noodles perfect for my liking, fresh, firm and chewy. -bento boxes were very good to my taste buds, but not so much for my kids. -potato croquette with pork -my favorite dish here

    Takoyaki (3 pc)
    Joshua Q.

    Want a good place for some ramen? This is definitely a place to look at... Ambiance The place is nicely lit. The chairs and tables seem similar to chairs and tables you would see more at a fast food place than a fine dining, but it fits the aesthetic of the restaurant. It think everything was written Japanese but the guy who works for he counter (he might have been the cook as well) can help you. Also, there are a lot of pictures, so you can point to what you would like. Service I think this is more towards a eat and go type establishment. You go to the counter order your food then sit down till it is ready. They call you up and you get it. Afterwards you bring your tray to the disposal area. It is clean and the staff is friendly and helpful. Food Katsu don I have never had katsu don before. It is a rice dish with a pork cutlet and egg on top. The taste has a slightly sweet taste. The rice is there to regulate the sweetness and also has a fried pork cutlet, which gives some texture. This dish does not seem like it should wait to be eaten since the cutlet does get soggy if eaten later. Takoyaki The takoyaki had a nice taste to it. Sometimes Benito flakes give off a petrol-like smell/taste, but these did not really have them. Ramen They had different types of ramen when we went. The one I ordered was a tonkatsu ramen. It had a rich pork broth with pieces of pork. The noodles had a nice toothy texture where it had some firmness to noodles but not where they were underdone. The other accompaniments gave the ramen different dimensions, I.e. the pickled ginger gave a slight sourness to it. Tsukemen ramen My brother got the tsukemen ramen. Tsukemen is a dipping ramen where the noodles are separated from the soup. It smelled nice and my brother seemed to have enjoyed the taste. Chicken wings... These wings were ordered by accident. We did not have any intentions of getting them. For the most part, they were crispy and had a sauce similar to buffalo hot sauce in it. Other then that, it wasn't bad but not really something I would order again. Overall The restaurant is nice and definitely a place to go if you want ramen. I would say that the other customer were all Japanese and kept looking at me and my brother funny, but that might be just paranoia...

    Interior
    Cici C.

    As one of the few Asian restaurants that open on Sundays and through the entire afternoon, Sozai Banzai is located in a pretty hidden strip mall plaza that's easy to miss especially coming from the southeast. Garlic Ramen-- the flavor was really good, but pretty dark because of the roasted garlic (so can be a bit bitter to some people) and was more oily than I'd preferred. I loved the thickness of the noodles, it was bouncy and chewy. The surprising part is that the pork is all lean meat (no fat or skin) but still somehow really tender, but the meat is definitely on the smaller side and they only give one slice. The egg I thought was done well, gel-like yoke, but the brown color and marinade flavor is on the lighter side and they only give you half an egg. Not a lot of toppings, so just scallion and very few bamboo shoots, but the bamboo shoots is really good flavor, not overpowering on sweet or acid flavors. Kyushu Style Tonkotsu Ramen-- the broth base has umami and seafood-like flavor profile, creamy and not as oily. The red sweet shredded ginger adds a nice contrast to the broth and paired well with the thin noodles. Same comment as garlic ramen for egg and pork. Like others have mentioned, the portion sizes are definitely smaller than other places for the price and have way fewer toppings, but everything seemed to be made with care and quality. Would come back to try other options!

    Serving Japanese comfort food
    Celeste B.

    This is one of those spots where it's consistently consistent. I have never had a bad meal here and they're consistently serving the same quality food and flavors. I really enjoyed their potato croquettes and usually have this to start or an order of their gyoza. My go to dish here is their katsu curry. It's such a feel good comfort food dish with abundant curry sauce and lots of pork Katsu. I usually order a regular (not a large) and even that's a generous serving. They also have gyudon which isn't something a lot of places offer as well as udon and ramen. They post their specials on their social media and have purposely don't detours to have the daily special. Give this spot a try. It doesn't look like much on the outside but they have some of the best Japanese food in town.

    Mala G.

    First time here with my Japanese friend. The customer service was phenomenal as well as the food. Great price too. Definitely come here again

    Table menu
    Gerry T.

    I was checking out Sozai Banzai on Yelp because I knew that I would be in the area. The food looked pretty good and then I came across one of my old pics. What?? I've already been here?? If my first visit was forgettable, why was that the case - I dunno??, so I went back to give them another try. You order at the counter and there are only a few tables due to restrictions. Not too many diners but a whole lotta people (Grub Hub, Door Dash) coming in to pick -up. In fact, be careful in the parking lot, some people are in a hurry to get their food - and not necessarily driving carefully. As for the food, the gyoza was fine and my Tonkotsu with extra pork belly was very good. I really enjoyed the porky broth, the flavors really came through. The bento box was ok - I ordered grilled mackerel but it came out fried. The service is minimal due to one guy managing the register, preparing the food (for both dine in and pick up) and for cleaning tables. I ended up going back to my car for a bottle of water, I couldn't wait any longer. So, the food was fine and I would consider this place as primarily a pick-up spot. Ahhh...I guess I know why I had forgotten about my first visit.

    Ebi Fry Curry Regular
    Brittney H.

    My bf and I wanted an authentic Japanese restaurant with a wide variety of options (not just ramen) and Sozai Bonzai popped up on our radar! You know the place is good when it's primarily people from Japan eating there. The place is fairly small but clean. You order and pay at the counter and wait for your food to be made! You can also order online as well from your table by scanning the QR code posted on the table. We ordered Sapporo Reserve, Coke, Gyoza, Corn Miso Butter Ramen, and a regular sized portion of the Ebi Fry Curry. Everything was lovely! The ramen was probably some of the best I've ever had outside of japan. The broth was phenomenal. The fried shrimp was super crispy and fresh and I loved the pickles that came on the side with my curry. I even requested extra, which they kindly accommodated! Our dinner came out to around $55, which isn't bad for two drinks, an appetizer, and two dinner entrees. I would definitely visit this restaurant in the future if I am in the area again! Thank you for a lovely dinner, Sozai Bonzai! Gochisosama deshita!

    XiaoYan A.

    Authentic, homestyle Japanese place! We've been coming here for about five years and never disappoint. The restaurant is small and semi self service - so if you are looking for a typical Japanese dining experience, this isn't the place for you. It's a place that you go as a regular, a place you go whenever you can't figure out what's for dinner, a place feels familiar and warm. Personally I love almost all the food there and usually order whatever I'm in the mood for - they have a good variety of rice, noodle and bento. If you want to try their daily special, better come for lunch because they sell out quickly. Price is affordable and excellent for the food quality.

    Kitsune Udon (R)

    Cute, clean, modern-looking Japanese restaurant in a small shopping plaza. We went on Sunday around noon and there were a couple of tables occupied at the time. Overall, the service was great and food was delicious (and authentic). I ordered kitsune udon that had two pieces of kitsune and a small piece of fishcake. Although sparse on ingredients and simple, the broth was flavorful and the dish overall was satisfying. I also had an eggplant appetizer that was good but was slightly watered-down. My husband had katsudon and said it was amazing and one of the best he's had. This came with a bowl of miso soup. Because of the service, reasonable prices and the vast menu, I'm definitely going back to try other items on their menu.

    Tang Tang Men

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    1 year ago

    Quality and affordable bentos and side dishes you'd eat on a daily basis. The hamburg bentos with different sauces are a must.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    This place is the best...try menchi katsu...oroshi katsu...any fish shio...all the sides kimpira gobo is a favorite

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    2 years ago

    Good food very small portion of miso soup though. It was a nice Japanese meal that I was craving.

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    3 years ago

    Absolutely DELICIOUS food and very good prices too! 10/10 would recommend to anyone who loves authentic comfort Japanese food

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    My son and I had rather uneventful ramen. The review has to be at least 85 characters

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    3 years ago

    One of our favorite spots for delicious Japanese dishes with a casual vibe. I especially enjoy the tantanmen ramen and the takoyaki!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Sozai Banzai Reviews in Other Languages

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    Mitsuwa Marketplace - Salmon Rice Ball

    Mitsuwa Marketplace

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    0.6 mi
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    Came to this particular Mitsuwa to pick up bentos for a long work day for the entire weekend and…read morewas very happy that the entire bento area was well stocked everytime I came in around 10 am. I also really enjoyed picking up a variety of delicious breads from the bakery every single day as well. My favorite was the cream pan; it was super soft, and had a perfect amount of cream filling. There were also a lot of cute breads in the shape of different characters that were also as delicious as they were cute. There is a self check out line as well as plenty of cashiers so the wait to check out was minimal to none.

    This was a quick pop-in, but this could still be a big review. This place is an otakus dream come…read moretrue! The architecture, the culture, the food, it's all here. So cool. I was just in the neighborhood and I've been wanting to check Mitsuwa out forever so I figured I'd finally take a look around. So whats here? Plenty of food options! It smells great in here. Walking in and right away there's wagu bento for sale. Friendly workers offering samples of alcohol behind them. Cool food stalls doing classics like yakitori, grilled fish, karaage, katsu don and more! Crepe stand, you bet. Bread shop, absolutely. With the yakisoba bread I've never actually seen for sale! Honestly there's plenty more. There's a grocery store. I didn't spend long in this section but I saw some of my favorite snacks and some premier cuts of fish. A small gatcha section! I didn't see anything I loved but they had some Spy Family stuff. A One Piece Card Game shop. I don't know anything about this particular card game, outside of its obvious relationship to the Anime it's based on. That said, the shop was busy and seemed to have people hanging out and maybe playing the game as well. Not sure if this was a pop-up or not. A small Pop-up section. Currently dedicated to merchandise from Godzilla, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider. A bookshop. Which is under-selling it. It's got English AND Japanese versions of manga. A nice selection of classic stuff and modern hits. Its got plenty of random merchandise and figures too. This spot is a destination on its own for sure. I'll be back with a full paycheck to eat and shop.

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    Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Hoffman Estates - Kids ramen set

    Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Hoffman Estates

    4.5(928 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    We're a little spoiled for ramen in the northwest burbs. I'm a fan of Chicago Ramen and Santouka…read morebut I'm happy to add another spot into the rotation. I was surprised to learn this is a small chain only with a couple locations in Illinois and the rest in California, which just gives it more credibility to me. Just a heads up that this place is pretty small, so you might run into a wait. But, they do have Yelp waitlist, so be sure to take advantage if you're coming by. While the waits can get long, once you're actually seated service is great and prompt. You won't be waiting long for your food, and if you get a counter seat you can see it being prepared which is fun. So far I've had the spicy tan tan ramen and the miso ramen. You get a generous amount of noodles, the meat is super tender, and the broth is the perfect cure for cold weather or a rough hangover. They have a kids meal option too, but they also have small chicken or pork and rice bowls that are perfect for our toddler. We'll definitely come back, I'm very curious how their curry dish is.

    What a delightful place! It looks small and unassuming from the outside in a strip mall, but when…read moreyou enter, it's clean, welcoming, and comfortable. The staff is extremely friendly. And it's clearly popular. I met a friend at opening time and there was plenty of seating, but within 20 minutes or so, the place was filling up. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen with a seasoned egg topping. The broth was rich and delicious, the pork and noodles tender, the scallions crunchy, and the red ginger gave just the right kick. The egg was cooked perfectly, jammy and seasoned beautifully. Hot green tea topped off the experience on a very cold morning. So many other things on the menu I wanted to try, but that completely filled me up.

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    Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Hoffman Estates
    Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Hoffman Estates - Tonkotsu Ramen with added egg and Bamboo Shoot

    Tonkotsu Ramen with added egg and Bamboo Shoot

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    Osaku Asian Kitchen

    Osaku Asian Kitchen

    4.4(61 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    Finally had an opportunity to come back here and order some takeout for lunch one day…read more From the looks of it, the interiors haven't really changed and that's fine. I really do treat this as a takeout only place. As usual, my food was ready on time if not early. The roll servings portion is very nice and generous. I got a hand roll for the first time as well, which was generous and delicious. For the prices of the sushi rolls here versus what's also in the nearby vicinity this is definitely worth it. I do enjoy coming here for the sushi for sure. Will definitely keep on ordering from here.

    Just wanted to share my thoughts on Osaku- The narturo was delicious. Seriously, the food was…read morefantastic. I especially loved the kimchi chicken rice, although it was more of a flavorful fried rice with a nice spicy kick. The Bears sushi was also a winner, that thick avocado layer and juicy tempura shrimp were incredible. I also tried the Bento Box D - chicken teriyaki, rice, veggies, California rolls, salad, and tofu soup. The teriyaki was bursting with flavor! Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The place itself is tiny - only two tables - but the staff were super friendly and attentive. They were really lovely to chat with! One small thing: the guy working there could probably use an apron, as his shirt and pants looked a little food-splattered. And a bit of a clean-up would do wonders - the curtains leading to the kitchen were dusty, and the TVs could use a wipe-down too. Overall, despite the minor cleanliness issues, I would definitely recommend Osaku! The food is incredible, the portions are generous, and the service is great. Give it a try!

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    Osaku Asian Kitchen
    Osaku Asian Kitchen
    Osaku Asian Kitchen

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    Sozai Banzai - ramen - Updated May 2026

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