My husband went to Sushi-San on a work trip. He enjoyed the experience so much that he recommended I give the place a try on my trip to Chicago. Candidly it wasn't on my to-do, but the restaurant happened to be on my route back to my hotel and I hadn't had dinner yet. I walked into the restaurant, and there was a spot open right at the bar waiting for me. I think it was meant to be. Loved the vibe of the restaurant, which was casual but trendy. Best part of all was the music. My ears perked up when I heard Hieroglyphics - The Who... A Plus Remix. Instantly felt "at home" with the underground, old school hip hop. Compliments to their curated Pandora playlist. I ordered the the spicy scallop roll, super san roll, and sawara (Spanish mackerel) nigiri. The spicy scallop roll was my favorite. The super san roll was a mix of their toro with varying fattiness. I appreciated that you could order half rolls at Sushi-San, which came out to 5 pieces instead of 10. This was more than enough food for me. The sawara was buttery and fresh. If you don't like the "fishiness" of saba, you'll enjoy sawara. Lastly, overall customer service was great. The food came out incredibly fast. The bartender who assisted me was awesome. He was attentive and personable. read more

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Solid sushi spot in River North that does the job and has good ambiance, but doesn't blow me out of the water as the best sushi ever. I came with a friend for lunch during the week and they have a somewhat decent lunch special (for today's standards when factoring the cost of living and inflation). We took advantage of that and ordered the 3 combo platter per person so we got 6 total items since there was two of us. The highlights for us were three yellowtail yuzu sushi as well as the salmon rice bowl. The miso soup that came out first wasn't that great. It was overly salty. My friend who is from Japan that I ate with said this place was ok for American standards but not at all great compared to anything in Japan lol. read more

Obsessed with Sushi-San. Their rolls are so fresh, and select ones are only $6 during HH! The spicy tuna and the avocado crunch are both a 5/5! Thoroughly enjoyed their crispy rice as well, solid 4.7/5. Only thing this restaurant could use is a patio! Dim lit dining area. Service was just okay. Busy Thursday HH! read more

SUSHI-SAN - Happy hour rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really like their express lunch. For $21 you start off with miso soup and you can pick three items out of a list of food options. There were plenty of options to choose from the list. I had the spicy tuna roll, the salmon roll, and their spicy tuna and avocado bowl. Food was really good and fresh and the portion size was more than enough. I would definitely come back. read more

SUSHI-SAN - Express lunch for $21. Food was good. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to a hand full of sushi places and this is definitely up there when ig comes to quality of the food & drinks. Although we sat down fairly quick it took a while to get an order in. I had the edamame and wagyu. Wagyu was a bit chewy but super flavorful and had more tender parts to it. I will be back to try the rolls! read more

SUSHI-SAN - M - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sushi San is one of my favorite sushi place in the city!! They have the most incredible happy hour that is so affordable! Great drinks great food! Definitely don't miss out on the rolls and the crispy rice! The service is good but nothing special and the ambiance is casual yet elevated which I love! I will forever return to sushi San for lunch, happy hour, and dinner! read more

SUSHI-SAN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Easy to make reservations on OpenTable. Friendly service! The inside was open and inviting~ Food was decent! Bang bang cauliflower was breaded so well and tasty. I had some handrolls which were solid as well. The crispy rice was not as crispy as I wanted and wasn't as warm as I wanted it :( the fish for the nigiri was decent as well Street parking but walkable from Grand station. 2 single occupant bathrooms in the back. read more

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RESERVATION RECOMMENDED! This place was very popular so if you don't like to wait, call advance for reservation . It is very crowded even on the weekdays. The sushi is very fresh and the rolls are tasty too. Our waiter was very attentive. He is aware of my squid/octopus sensitivity therefore he made sure he inform the chef in regard to allergies. Every entree we had ordered had a an allergy tacks on it which I thought was hilarious but highly appreciated. I am thankful they pay close attention to my needs and accommodation. My only friendly suggestion is that that they bring out the edamame beans and cucumber salad first before anything comes out since that goes well with every entree. The two items were serve last and by the time our belly was content and full, we have no urge to eat it. It was packed to go for a midnight snack. read more

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I came here on a weekday for lunch and highly recommend it. It was not too crowded and food came out pretty quickly after ordering. I like the modern vibes of this location. Seating was comfortable. I tried their express lunch menu, which is a great option if you're here during lunch time. You get to pick 3 items from the list and I chose tako taco (a little spicy but highly recommend- one of my favorite things that day), salmon avocado (I'm not a personal fan of the Meyer lemon sauce), and tuna avocado rice bowl. Each item is smaller portioned but all together it's a substantial lunch set. I also tried the express sushi and sashimi lunch set, which comes with a delicious seaweed salad which I would order on its own as an appetizer. The lunch set comes with their "oh-my-kaze." This includes salmon, hamachi and tuna. One piece of tuna was substandard and had a big piece of sinew in it. Our server quickly switched it for another piece. The only dish I would skip is the Peking duck sizzling rice. The taste was fine- a little on the sweeter side with the hoisin sauce but the portion was more of an appetizer size. It's also not a true Peking duck, which focuses on a crispy duck skin and this dish just featured duck meat. read more

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This place rocks. Awesome vibe in there with a friendly staff that gives insight to menu options. I am a routine sucker for this places happy hour menu. The yellow tail hamachi is a great starter. read more

SUSHI-SAN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered this sushi for pick up and it was ready so quickly! The location itself is really convenient and close to a lot of the hotels in the area. The restaurant itself did seem like a really fun spot to go, especially with friends. It was packed and people seem to be having a good time. I ordered a few dishes so I could try a variety (they offer five piece rolls!) Truffle shiitake maki - my second favorite roll. SO flavorful, the flavors almost dance through your mouth. You get kind of a pepper flavor at first that transforms into the delicious shiitake flavor. The truffle flavor nicely pairs with the roll. Would absolutely get this again. Spicy salmon Maki - visually beautiful. Taste wise also exceptional. There's a very springy or fresh taste to it at first and then the flavors blend with the salmon to give you an outstanding pairing. If you like bold flavors, I would really recommend this one. Spicy tuna Maki - was so excited for this one, but honestly it really fell flat. The only thing you can really taste in it is the avocado, and then you just get a spicy aftertaste of which I'm assuming is the jalapeño. You honestly don't really get the tuna flavor, which was disappointing. Spicy scallop maki - WOW. Easily my favorite roll. The flavor is so hard to describe other than it's the thing you taste that makes you say wow out loud. The lightly torched scallops pair so well with the sushi that it's over...it's truly exceptional. Pan fried chicken and vegetable Gyoza - it was a pretty good dumpling. Honestly, I don't know if I would come here specifically for the dumpling, but it's a nice appetizer. The only reason I say that is because while it was pretty good, the sushi was just much better. Next time I'm in Chicago I'll definitely stop by here again! If you're looking for a good sushi spot for takeout or for eating and then I think this is the spot for you. read more

Reservations are a must! We visited this restaurant on a busy Friday night. My partner and I split the chicken/veggie gyoza, wagyu tartare crispy rice, and 4 maki rolls (spicy salmon, bluefin tuna avocado, snack-o, kabayaki eel). My favorites were the eel and snack-o. This was plenty to share, and easy enough to order more if needed. Service was great. read more

SUSHI-SAN - Left to right: Snack-o, eel, tuna avocado, spicy salmon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I once came here on a weekend and it was extremely packed that I didn't get to try it. I've heard a lot of good things about this restaurant so I decided to go on a Monday afternoon and was easily seated, despite there being so many people already. It seems like a popular space to go to have drinks with your coworkers. I opted for the Express sushi and sashimi for $26 which I think was an amazing price for the two appetizers they give and the insane amount of fish they provide. While very generous, the taste of the fish and the Nigiri did not wow me enough. The fish was fresh, but there wasn't much added to emphasize the flavor of the fish. I would love to come back to try other things on their menus, such as the hand rolls and regular sushi rolls, but I don't think I'll come back for this set. read more

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The service here was pretty good. The food, however, was fantastic! The outdoor seating area was also really nice. We opted for the Lincoln park lunch which includes a lot for $38. You get miso soup, roasted emami, ponzu yellowtail sashimi, akami nigiri, salmon nigiri, negi hamachi maki, spicy tuna crispy rice, and a umami scallop handroll for that price. Between quantity and quality, it is a pretty descent deal. You could easily split it depending on appetite. We live to eat so we also ordered an express lunch with seaweed salad, salmon avocado maki, and chilled sobu noodles as well. All dishes were fantastic. I am normally not a fan of edamame, but their roasted edamame is quite on a different level. Their signature ponzu yellowtail sashimi was my favorite item and it was perfectly seasoned with ponzu and little jalapeno and cilantro for some greenery interest. The miso soup was very good and perfectly savory. The akami and salmon nigiri were both very close seconds. The quality on all the seafood was excellent by all standards. The negi hamachi maki was well put together, but a little smaller and tight roll than expected. The spicy tuna crispy rice was nice and crunchy. The umami scallop handroll had good flavor, but the ratio was quite off. There was too much nori wrap to scallop ratio. Imho, if you wanna make that dish sing, then just cut back on the amount of nori to make the dish better if you want to keep the scallop portion the same. The chilled soba noodles were very tasty and had a nice garlicky topping on them. The salmon avocado maki was very good but pretty standard. The seaweed salad was among the best I have ever had and was probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite dish (in competition with the salmon nigiri for sure, maybe even the akami nigiri). We would come back on a heartbeat and make sure to get the yellowtail ponzu and seaweed salad and akami nigiri no matter what. Also, for such sn elegant place, they were very accommodating to our toddler and offered crayons and a coloring sheet. read more

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Wow!!! HH 7 days a week is a nice flex! Met with my new friend here Sunday and we had an amazing time! We ordered all the food off the HH menu (edamame, eggplant tempura, avocado rolls, salmon rolls and shishito peppers). I had a few old fashioneds and she had the lychee martinis. Our server was incredible, spot on and very kind and helpful. The restaurant is a nice size and the have a bar too and it is cool for families as well. We enjoyed our time! read more

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A year later and Sushi-San doesn't disappoint. The food is still yummy and the service is excellent! Visit during happy hour for great deals on drinks and snacks. Our booth felt private and would make a great date spot. Or in our case, an anniversary dinner. read more

SUSHI-SAN - Nama Chocolates. Delicious! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I can't speak ENOUGH about this incredible establishment!! From take-out to ordering at the restaurant, the food is always high quality. The cocktails are unique (including a margarita in a take-out sushi box) and is delicious. My favorite item on the menu is the crispy tuna, but you honestly can't go wrong. The atmosphere is great for a date night or before going out on the town. Staff is friendly and service is quick. Would recommend booking a reservation in advance! read more

Came here for the sushi but ended up loving the sizzling rice, Oscar steak, dessert, and cocktails way more. The sushi rolls and hand rolls were honestly a bit mid. The truffle & shiitake roll didn't taste like truffle at all, mostly mushrooms and greens. 4/10. The kabayaki eel roll was fine but nothing standout. 6/10. The hand rolls were also pretty small. I liked the tuna more than the salmon but neither felt super fresh or memorable. Tuna 6.5/10, salmon 5/10. The spicy tuna crispy rice was okay. I expected the rice to be crispier, but the tuna flavor itself was good. 4/10. The beef & bop sizzling rice was really good. Loved the teriyaki flavor. 7.5/10. The Oscar steak was the highlight of the meal. It tasted like super tender short ribs that fall apart, topped with king crab and a unique sauce that tied everything together perfectly. 9/10. The cocktails were great though. Third Eye Vision was strong and delicious. 8.5/10. Boots With the Fur tasted like bees knees which I loved, just not as strong. 8/10. Prices were also pretty reasonable for cocktails. The mochi brownie was amazing. Mochi on the bottom, hot brownie above it, and ice cream on top. One of the best desserts I've had in a while. 9.5/10. The spot itself is casual with dim lighting and loud music that helps cover up all the table noise, which made the vibes really fun. 8.5/10. Service was fine. read more

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Great spot for sushi! Came here to celebrate my birthday while in Chicago and had the best experience. Reservation was easy to make through Open Table and I would request booth seating as it can get chaotic in the main dining room. Lychee cocktail (5/5): really enjoyed this, perfect if you love lychee and a strong drink. Banana milk punch (3.5/5): this was a little too sweet for me but it was good. Food (5/5): we got the seaweed salad, yellowtail carpaccio, mixed tuna set, 12 piece assorted nigiri, and some additional à la carte pieces and everything was fresh and delicious. Butter Cake (5/5): omg this is a MUST, one of the best butter cakes I've had. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in Chicago! read more

SUSHI-SAN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here to celebrate a friend getting promoted at work. We started off with HH menu items and they were amazing! The service is quick here and ambiance is cute! This could be a cute date night spot or hangout for a bunch of friends. I'm not an eggplant person, but I loved their Japanese eggplant tempura. It was nicely battered and fried. The sauce made it even better! The cucumber salad was super refreshing and crunchy since it's been really hot in Chicago this summer. The spicy salmon and tuna maki rolls were really good. I think we did like 3-4 rounds of the spicy salmon makis. The star of the night was definitely the D-Luxe Nigiri Set. Every piece melted in our mouths and was freaking amazing! I usually get sushi from the Ramen San Deluxe in Streeterville since they also have sushi there, but WOW this place is way better probably because it's an actual sushi place HAHA. I cannot wait to come back here for HH and the regular menu. Just writing this review is giving me flashbacks of how fresh the fish were that night and making me hungry. This place is actually worth treating yourself out when you're craving sushi. The finale was the butter cake. It was served warm along with whipped cream which made it melt in our mouth. I only had like two bites because it was too rich for me but my other friend basically inhaled half of it on her own. She could not stop eating it and was telling the table next to us that they have to order it for dessert. Overall, I had a great dinner experience with my friends here and would stop by again if I'm in the area. read more

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We were in Chicago for a conference and we're looking for sushi. This restaurant had great reviews so we popped in the waiter was fabulous and recommended everything that we ordered. Service was great roles came out perfect and the ambience was bustling, but not overly loud. read more

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So delicious!! The quality of the fish was just superb, like butter melting in the mouth. Highly recommend the otoro. The otoro otoro was so fatty and rich- probably the fattiest I've ever had, almost too much for me, which I've never said before ever. Will definitely order from here again. read more

SUSHI-SAN - Otoro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by on a Saturday night for a birthday bite. Grabbed a seat at the bar which I regretted because the seats are fixed to the bar and was a bit tight for me. I'm a big guy so not complaining too much! I'll just choose different next time. On to the food...delicious! Fresh! And quick. I started with an old fashioned and an order of the bbq beef lettuce wraps. The beef was so flavorful and tender. All the garnishments they give with the dish go perfectly with it. The old fashioned was top tier also! After I devoured that appetizer I ordered the avocado roll which was delicious. The avocado was perfectly picked and tender. Then I ordered the crunchy spicy tuna roll which stole the show! This is a must have when you come by! Nice ambiance! A bit noisy on the weekends as expected. read more

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Had the nicest server ever. The food is delicious and the drinks as well! Dessert was amazing and we left feeling satisfied and so full. read more

SUSHI-SAN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been here a couple times and it's such a solid restaurant. If you're craving sushi or pot rice, you can get both here and they are lovely. The BBQ beef lettuce wraps are very good. The sushi is good, but not amazing. Also, I really did like their chocolate. Only truly unfortunate dish I've had is their cucumbers. read more

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The good: - Beef n bop, so tasty but might be greasy for some palates (we ordered a side of white rice to balance it out) - Super-san, the chu-toro was yummy and fatty! - Wagyu tartare crispy rice - the VIBES!! The OK: - Salmon Avocado roll, very normal and plain - Lobster California, again normal and not much flavor The Sub-OK: - Peking Duck Sizzling Rice, it's absolutely no Peking duck and the whole thing has a strange flavor profile. The duck is very salty whereas the sauce is very sweet. read more

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Was craving some sushi, so stopped by for a quick lunch/snack. The interior gives dark trendy spot, which I should've known might translate to high prices. The menu has a lot of options and a lot of them sound really good, but everything was so expensive! I ended up getting the miso soup and the Faroe Islands salmon and Hokkaido scallop nigiris. The miso soup was a little too salty for my taste, didn't have much depth in flavor. The nigiris came out next and they were pretty good. Salmon was fine, not standout good, but not bad. I really enjoyed the scallops though. I loved the butter nori that was on top, it added a delicious umami to the whole bite. Overall, an okay spot. It's definitely a bit too expensive for what they're serving. Service was quick and attentive. read more

SUSHI-SAN - Miso Soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in here for lunch and had their chicken gyoza and spicy salmon roll, which were both delicious and well made. I liked that the gyoza weren't oily and the salmon was really fresh! Our server had great drink recommendations and got our orders out really quick. Also-- Shoutout to the staff for helping me find my phone! read more

My partner and I wanted food after work and found this happy hour spot next to our hotel. We got there around 5:20 and the hostess, who was super friendly, quickly sat us. The HH is from 4-6 on weekdays. It def has modern Asian vibes, with nice ambiant lighting and upbeat music. My partner and I ended up trying each happy hour dish and were extremely happy with our meal. I really enjoyed the tempura eggplant, enough that I ordered a second round before HH ended. It was light but super flavorful with a fish sauce based sauce and a lemon dipping sauce. I actually enjoyed all the veggie dishes more than the maki. I thought the edemame was great with a nice char flavor and well seasoned throughout the dish (not just the top couple). The shishitos were good and came with a nice hoison/oystery sauce though I wish they were slightly more blistered/roasted. The maki was alright, pretty standard spicy tuna/salmon and a crunchy avocado as part of their HH menu. I also tried their drink of the month which was the hanah rojas and I really enjoyed it. It was a gin based drink inspired by jamaica tea. It was very refreshing with a slight tartness. I wish I lived in Chicago so I could try more of their cocktail specials! Service was also super great, our server checked in on us without being overbearing. She even let us know when happy hour was about to end to see if we wanted anything else. Definitely glad we found this place and will be back for that tempura eggplant! read more

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This is not what I would call sushi. It's American "sushi". It's okay quality (for Chicago). Some of the items were dry, and not very tasty. I'd say skip this place and go to Lawrence Fish Market. It's a much better value, and their fish is actually fresh! read more

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If you're hunting for a spot that nails both flavor and vibes, look no further than Sushi-San in River North. From the moment we stepped in, the playlist was bumping, the staff was smiling, and the whole room had that effortless cool-but-welcoming energy. Service was on point all night--attentive without hovering, quick with recommendations, and genuinely happy we were there! The feast: * Lamb skewers - Absolute show-stopper. Tender, smoky, and dripping with flavor in every bite. If they sold these by the dozen, we'd take a tray home. * Spicy salmon sushi - Perfect heat, super fresh fish, and just the right crunch from the tempura flakes on top. We might have fought over the last piece. * Shrimp tempura - Light, crisp batter that somehow stayed crunchy to the last bite. The shrimp inside? Juicy and perfectly cooked. * Thai basil chicken rice - Arrived in a sizzling cast-iron pan, still popping when it hit the table. The basil aroma hit first, followed by a blast of savory, slightly spicy goodness. Easily one of the most flavor-packed rice dishes we've had in ages. Between the stellar service, lively ambiance, and those standout dishes, Sushi-San more than earned a spot on our "repeat ASAP" list. Whether you're gearing up for a night in River North or just craving next-level sushi and skewers, this place is a win!! read more

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Great for takeout! Scallop sushi was soooooo good. And the green beans were a favorite! read more

SUSHI-SAN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I visited Sushi-san for lunch and had a great time. The food was very tasty, but I did find it slightly pricey for the portion sizes. We had the 8 piece nigiri ($34) , hand rolls (4 for $25), and an order of the kanpachi nigiri's (2 for $12) split between two people. My favorites were the kanpachi nigiri and the Toro Oshinko hand roll. The 8 piece nigiri was very tasty, but a couple of the pieces were paired with too much wasabi, which took away from the flavor of the fish. The service was great - our waitress was very attentive and kind and willing to help us choose between items. The seating is very spacious and it's a pretty casual establishment, so no need to dress very fancy or anything! read more

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Incredibly quality sushi at an affordable price! If you're new and want to get a taste of lots of things on the menu - highly recommend booking a 215pm reservation on a Sunday at the river north location because you get the express lunch menu that runs from 12-3 which lets you choose 3 options from a very extensive menu and it's decently portioned. If you eat into 3pm the happy hour menu starts and you can get 5 piece makis for $6 and a large selection of cocktails. Got the express lunch with the vietnamese pork and octopus in fried seaweed (bc I heard their hot dishes were impressive and I totally agree) as well as the spicy tuna maki - their fish is flown in from japan and spain as it reads on the menu! Tuna maki was so good I got extra during happy hour - their staple and an absolute must try. Would go back to maybe do their express lunch sushi and sashimi option because their sushi is very fresh. Interior was super cute with wooden and dimmed dining vibes 4 stars only because the wait for the food was weirdly long at about 35 minutes. read more

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Express lunch options are a great deal just like their sister restaurant Ramen San. Not the best sushi in the city, but a good option for lunch downtown. read more

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Food was amazing, services was amazing, the place is packed! Get a reservation and don't fight for bar seats! read more

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(Kari's Rating 5/10) Not a terrible place of your craving sushi, but also not anything amazing. I've been to a lot of different sushi places in Chicago and I don't think anyone has ever said sushi is the best sushi they've ever had. I went there not too long ago and the service is relatively typical, the music is pretty loud like Ramen, I know their sister restaurants, but the ambience is very loud so difficult for a first date. read more

Super yummy lunch special! The special included both miso soup and salad, nice ways to open the palette. It was nice to have a little variety with the sashimi, nigiri, and maki. The rice was cooked fine, but seasoned nicely, and the fish was fresh! Service was speedy and attentive. FYI, a lot of the seating lacks lumbar support. Can't wait to come back! read more

SUSHI-SAN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The cocktail in the Chinese takeout cup is so cute! Crispy rice spicy tuna is always a must and the tako tako also a must. My favorite is the beef and bop though like it is just SO. GOOD. Sushi was super average like literally as basic as it gets but that's what I was expected. The abundance of flavor in the fried rice makes up for the lack of flavor in sushi. read more

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If only Sushi San made its way to Minneapolis. Oh my goodness! Such good prices and amazing maki and small bites. Very busy on a Saturday evening, but still able to walk in, be placed on a wait list and then seated within 15 minutes. The ambiance is elevated from the more sterile sushi restaurant vibes I have come to expect. The lighting is moody, the chatter is loud, and the service is excellent. We started with two sharable plates and then each ordered our own maki rolls. The standout of the evening was the togarashi chicken nuggets, cannot recommend enough. Flavorful chicken thighs are coated in a crisp, flavorful and slightly spicy crust paired with a lime aioli - life changing. Think almost like sushi san's version of chicken karaage. We also ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice which I remember being good but have experienced better in both NY and Minneapolis. I don't even remember the name of my roll, just that its preparation was magic. I hate when sushi rolls fall apart with even the slightest flirtation of your chop sticks. These rolls were thiccccck. Very dense, flavorful and big. And again, at such a good price point! I feel like they would do a great takeout service as well. Highly recommend for high quality, affordable sushi right in the heart of River North. read more

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