Tried this out last night and it was really tasty! I had the Korean BBQ and my husband had the Teriyaki Steak Hibachi. Both came out very fast and were very good. The menu has lots of options and we will definitely be going back to try out some of the other things that caught our eye.
Review Source:You know what- this place used to rock, but quality isn't what it used to be. Veggies were frozen? The carrots look like the kind you get from the store for your kids. Â At 14-20 bucks a plate I expect a bit more... hopefully they get this corrected as I really did like this place over the past few years.
Service is always top notch however and very friendly. Â They did give us a free app for while we wiated for our main course.
I tried Kuma's for the first time on Sunday, and I have to say that I am SUPER impressed! The service was amazing, the food was amazing, and they had a lot of different options for drinks (although I didn't try any of them yet). I had the Latan Drunk Noodles, and they were very good. The chicken, which at some places can be bland and dry, was cooked very well and was very flavorful. I really want to try their wine tastings on Wednesday nights for $15 as they sound really cool. I will definitely be back!
Review Source:exceptional place...from the service...to the atmosphere...and through the food.
neal the bartender was extremely knowledgeable, friendly AND professional. Â fred the co-owner and kuma the chef are also present, and very nice that they come by to check on how you are doing.
the miso soup was a great start...then the lettuce wraps were very good,,,especially with the sauces.......the mains were all from the korean list...which i would advise....the hot bowls that you mix together were so good....with kimchi and spicy radish on the side....really authentic flavors...and pretty unique offerings for naperland.
this is our new regular place to go for the asian fix no doubt. Â the prices are also really reasonable...we were a group of 4 with drinks and got out at like 120 bucks.
congrats to kuma's, you guys have something pretty special there.
Kuma is amazing! Kuma, herself, is extremely friendly and comes out to check on us when we eat there. I always order the Honey Walnut Saba, which is a fantastic, light fish, It almost tastes like chicken. I've never seen it anywhere else! Also, the "trust us" drink of the day has never disappointed, either. You will LOVE this place!
Review Source:I really wanted to love this place based on the other reviews, however the food was just ok. The decor was very warm and inviting, love the tin ceiling and exposed brick walls. The prices are very reasonable for an upscale Asian rest. in downtown Naperville. The service was outstanding and I do like the fact that the owner/chef is out and amongst the patrons, shows that they really care what their customers think. I was looking for  PF Changs type food, there isn't one close to Naperville/Aurora, however the flavor of the food is just ok. I had the Latna drunken and my adult son had the hibachi steak and we both felt the same about the food. I'll go back again to give it another try and will report back when I do. I really want to like this place.
Review Source:Kuma's is my favorite Asian place. The staff is always wonderful, and when Kuma is in the kitchen she always come out to make sure everything is great.
I love their Bulkogi () and the Bibimbap (). The Kimchi is always fresh and just like I like it. And they have this Wasabi dipping sauce that is killer. I dip everything in is, and pour it on everything.
My wife doesn't like the Korean food, but she loves the Teriyaki Chicken. It comes with Broccoli and Fried Rice. A fabulous meal and a wonderful experience.
We celebrate at Kuma's often. From Bridal Showers, Bachelorette parties & Birthday Parties. We can always count on the food being delicious! They are very consistant. I love the friendly personal service and that Kuma (the owner/chef) always comes to our table to make sure everyone is happy. I would highly recommend this be a stop on your way through Naperville. Make sure you order the Honey Walnut Chicken....my personal favorite, my husband perfers the Korean BBQ Beef of which he can "spice" to order. We always look forward to returning!
Review Source:Despite being in the area for years, for some reason I'd never tried Kuma's until recommended by Yelp.
We got there pretty late on a Saturday night and were seated immediately. The staff was friendly and attentive. I liked the decor; modern yet warm and classy, but not overly upscale - pretty much the epitome of Naperville. Four of us split the Latna Drunken Noodles, Fiery Saigon, and Chicken and Sausage Fusion Paella. I was definitely surprised to see paella on the menu of an Asian restaurant, but was so glad I gave it a try - it was flavorful and delicious. The other two dishes did not disappoint either. Definitely try the Fiery Saigon, lightly battered Vietnamese fish in a spicy sauce. The dishes were a little on the pricey side, but not overly so. Would return once or twice.
Our neighbors finally drug us to Kuma's last night. On our way out, I apologized to the owners (Kuma is the wife/chef) for not giving them a try long ago. Firstly, it's a great sign when the owners are present and working. I ordered the Korean dish (can't recall the name) that is served in a hot pot. It was one of the most delicious concoctions I have ever tasted. You keep stirring it throughout the meal as it continues to cook. The average price of a main course was about $14, and where else in Naperville can you snag a $6 martini? That's right six bucks! The atmosphere is nice, the bar is extensive, the service was good, the food was outstanding and the prices......It was a complete value. Kumas is currently in first place on our short list of favorites.
My neighbor frequently takes customers here as there is always a private place to talk and the service is impeccable. It's also a great place for a party.
Amazing Asian fusion restaurant in our local area. I love the appetizers and soups, and hot pots, and ... everything. Great adult libations. Smiling happy staff.
We've found a table quickly each time we've come, so that's a bonus. The dining room seems split into the bar area and the dining area. Great window seats for people watching.
Great location for dates, engagements, family outings, or a fancy drink. Nice bar area, roomy dining room.
The stylish, minimalist and modern decor, friendly staff, and amazingly delish food are all reasons to come back again and again. Can't beat a pot of dolsot bibimbap or bowl of pho on a chilly day. MMM.
I had dinner here last weekend. Â It was all very good, everything was just a bit different from what you would find in most Chinese restaurants... Like the eggrolls had ground chicken in them... Â The spicy chicken small plate dish we had was just awesomely spicy and tasty. Â The main course was also very yummy (wish I could recall the name of it, spicy chicken from the chef's specials list...). Â Our waiter was great, very attentive and helpful and the ambiance is very nice with tin tiling on the ceiling and that nice old building style without being overdone... Â The owner (I assume Kuma, was also walking around and checking on her customers, which was also really nice to see.
Review Source:So happy I listened to the recommendations of others on this one. This place met and exceeded my expectations on all levels. Great atmosphere, with service that matches the best (owner walks around with a smile and a vibe of appreciation). The food could carry this Asian delight on its own as I tried the Fiery Saigon and it kept me licking my chops to the point I twice made sales calls in the area of Kumas just as an excuse to stop in. This is the type of restaurant you can make a destination by driving 30 minutes or more...it is that good! Big question now, which Kuma's named eatery is the best?
Review Source:Kuma's has a vegan menu! I'm disappointed that they couldn't figure out how to have a single vegan appetizer (other than edamame which doesn't count in my book), but they didn't disappoint on the entrees. I got the veggie hibachi and it was excellent. Great place to bring a mixed crowd of omnivores / vegans / pescetarians / wevatarians.
Review Source:I went here on a saturday for a girls night out and it was amazing. Â I wanted to try it because it was new and it didn't disapoint. Â Although we had to wait for an hour because it was a saturday night and they only take reservations of 6 or more, it was worth it. Â I had the Pho and my sister had a dish where the noodles were made out of sweet potatoes and they were both delicious! Â I can't wait to go back and try something else!
Review Source:We decided upon this place based on the reviews here, so kudos to you Yelpers =)
It was a Friday at 7PM and we were immediately seated right by the hostess counter and front entrance... perhaps not my favorite spot in restaurants, but I noticed a steady stream of customers coming in and no one having to wait for a table. It ranged from families, to friends out on a town to couples on a date night. Pretty far range of customers.
We opted for the Sake flights ($18), something I haven't seen before. All nearly tasted the same; the potency itself was different. My favorite was the Nigori Junmai, the only white colored sake in the flight. My husband's tastebuds preferred the Haiku Special and the Horin Junmai. We both agreed on the Gekkeikan sake. It was pretty mild next to the other 4.
For main entrees, we shared the Korean BBQ Beef (Bulgogi) and the Honey Walnut Chicken, and the food came out pretty quickly. The bulgogi is served on a hot platter with a wooden "plate" underneath. I carelessly and accidentally touched it a few times as I was putting down my chopsticks, and it was still pretty warm even as I got about halfway through the dish, so just be mindful of that. Flavor was good and went well with the kimchi and radish. The green beans that came with the chicken were fresh and crispy and an appropriate side for the lighter flavorings of the chicken.
Kuma was present there that evening and made her way to all the tables to make sure everything was coming out right. From our short conversation, she's a sweet lady.
Will have to come back to try other menu items!
This one of my favorite places to eat... I can't go wrong here and I love the simple decorations on the wall... they are not to distracting. Â
The food is wonderful and I don't want to give it away but go there and just pick something, I can't imagine you wouldn't like it!
Forever a customer!
Kuma's Asian Bistro provided my wife and me with a wonderful dining experience. Â It's located on Washington St. in energetic downtown Naperville, just a short walk from one of the municipal parking garages.
We dined a bit early so the restaurant was not crowded. Â Our waitress was pleasant and attentive, but not overbearing. After placing our order, the waitress brought out a couple of complimentary crab cake balls with a tempura sauce. Â They were delicate and the sauce was nicely seasoned. Â We started our dinner with egg rolls. Â They were light, not oily, and the pineapple sweet sauce was flavorful. Â My wife had the Teriyaki Bowl with Beef and I had the Hibachi Teriyaki Chicken. Â Both dishes were very good. Â The menu includes a variety of Asian dishes of Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Korean origin along with some Spanish-Korean fusion.
Kuma's web site states that they are dedicated to providing great taste, excellent service, and a memorable experience. Â They provided all three and I am happy to recommend this very nice restaurant to others.
Excellent! Â We went for an early dinner with another couple and we loved the service, the look of the place, the drinks and the food. Â Kuma also visited our table too, which was a very nice touch.
We had for drinks the Jon Daly and the Asian Persuasian, both excellent!
For appetizers we all shared the crab rangoon, pot stickers, hot wings, small plate of red hot chili shrimp and the crispy green beans. Â All of them were delicious.
For dinner we shared the kyochun chicken which was delicious.
Great experience, we will be back for sure.
I went to Kuma's with my cousin and her family when I was visiting the Midwest. We wanted something vegan-friendly that was in downtown Naperville, and this came up in my Yelp search.
If you're a veg-head like me, be sure to ask for the menu that lists the vegetarian and vegan items before you order. Do note that the menu is incorrect in it's vegetarian listings, as it assumes that vegetarians can eat fish and oyster sauce. I'd ordered the tofu lettuce wraps thinking that they were safe, but the server was kind enough to cancel that order when I realized they weren't veggie-friendly (though I guess you can order them without the oyster sauce). Actually, there are quite a few items that you'd think are veggie-friendly but really aren't (the veggie eggrolls for instance had fish sauce). But at least the veggie guide is really helpful at helping you navigate your way through the menu.
I'd ordered Bangkok Blazing Noodles with tofu spicy, and the noodles were really delicious and spicy. I really enjoyed the meal. My cousin and her husband both had chicken dishes, and the green tea ice cream and brownie with ice cream for dessert. They also had calamari as an appetizer, which was coated with curry powder, which they hadn't expected.
The owner stopped by to ask us about our meal, which I really appreciated. It was a nice, personal touch to the meal. We were there for a pretty early dinner (since my cousin's daughter has an early bedtime!), and it wasn't too crowded.
I definitely wouldn't mind going back to try another vegan-friendly dish the next time I'm in town. I just wish that more of their veggie-sounding appetizers were really veggie-friendly!
We dropped in for a weekend lunch. Â Nice place and great location. Â It was quiet, but that was just fine by us, and we got to to chat a little with Kuma. Â By popular demand, she opened this place and still has her Rockford location going after 6 years. Â We had lunch menu servings of:
Bulgogi
Fiery Saigon - battered basa fish
Koshi beef
All  were $9 and nicely done.  The only little comment  might be that the basa fish dish (nicely presented as it looked like a sweet and sour pork) could have used a little veggie adder on the side.  We'll be back.
I finally tried Kuma's after reading reviews and looking at the menu. Â This turned out to be a great dining experience. Â
I thought going on a Saturday evening around 6:30 would have meant a wait-it didn't as we were one of about six tables being occupied. Â It picked up as the evening went on.
The menu has a little of everything from an Asian food standpoint and the size of the plates-appetizers to small plates to entreees-lets you share with the rest of your table (if you want to). Â Pot stickers, Korean BBQ beef, and honey walnut shrimp were all exceptional, while the Singapore side street noodles were very good. Â I liked the menu's descriptions, which for this item actually said, "Slightly Spicy", and that's what it was.
Nice touch with the owner talking to each table and actually listening to the customers-not just making an appearance. Â Service was decent-our server was admittedly "clumsy" and kinda all over us the first 10 minutes we were there to order appetizers.
Overall a place I'm sure I'll visit again in the near future and highly recommend to others with the many different cuisines represented and everything we tried was something that we'd order again.
This was my first visit to Kuma's. I love all things Asian and my boyfriend spent several years in Korea, so we were excited to try a pan Asian place.
The atmosphere: pretty chill. Got loud later though, so don't go here for a romantic evening!
The Food: the potstickers were really good! I had Kung Pao chicken over noodles. Noodles were good, chicken a little too spicy and pretty sparse amongst the vegetables.
The service: It was admittedlly a Saturday night in Naperville, but it pretty much sucked. Our waitress was so scarce we had to go to the bar and order drinks.
Also, make note they won't split checks for parties over 6 and they add 18% gratuity. When it wasn't worth the standard 15%, that is a big negative.
Overall, I probably won't go back. But it was worth the first time to try something new.
I need to point out, first, that I love the whole early 20th century look with the tiled floors and nice wooden tables and everything. It has nothing to do with Asian food but it's awesome.
As is the food. My girlfriend and I love the unauthentic fried cream cheesiness (with just a hint of seafood) of crab rangoons and we tend to get them as appetizers at every restaurant that has them, Kuma's being no exception. Â The ones here were solid, although I am not sure how much I liked the sauce. Maybe it was a little too sweet or fruity. Â My main dish was the Dolsot Bibim Bap and it was maybe one of the biggest bowls of bibimbap I've ever had. Coming out in a stone bowl so hot that I still burned my tongue on bites at the END of the meal, the enormous bowl was filled with steamed rice, fresh vegetables and wonderfully marinated meat. It was fantastic and filling and I know there's a million more things on the menu but I think I would get the bibimbap again. Â Make sure to ask for kimchi!
The service, unfortunately, was quite slow, so much in fact that I was pretty sure they had forgotten to put our food order in and had to get assurances from the waiter that they had. Besides that though, the food is very well done, which is particularly impressive when you realize that the chef is working with at least 7 different cuisines.
My husband and I REALLY like this restaurant. Â We went the 1st week it was open and have been happy to see it busier and busier every time we come back.
The food at Kuma's, in our opinion, is a 5. Â Everything we have ever had has been delicious (especially the lettuce wraps). Â The food and drinks are also very reasonably priced ($6.00 for a martini?!...yes please!) Â We also appreciate that every time we have been there Kuma has come out and personally asked us how we are enjoying the food.
The reason we gave Kuma's 4 stars is because when our appetizer came it was brought out without plates. Â The server stated that he would go grab us some plates and be right back. Â 5 minutes later, still no plates. Â I had to ask for plates when the server came to ask how the food was. Â Also, there was a sauce that came with the lettuce wraps that was INCREDIBLY hot and spicy. Â It would have been nice to have a warning from the server about how hot it was, my husband loaded his lettuce wrap with it and was uncomfortable for the rest of the meal after taking a bite.
Food - .5 stars
Service - 2 stars
My thoughts and break down of experience:
When I googled and yelped this place I was excited that it has 4 stars, and thought that maybe this restaurant would actually be pretty good. I skimmed over the menu on their website and it looked interesting and what not.
So I finally was able to try out the food today. I went during an empty time. 2 pm in the afternoon of a Saturday day. The place was empty. The Manager, or a man who stood at the bar who looked like the manager seemed pretty bored actually. Like he didn't care about his job or didn't know what his job was suppose to be... but I guess yelp isn't the place to talk about that stuff....
So the food: I ordered walnut shrimp as an appetizer. When I received the food It looked amazing. As if it was actually going to taste good; but as I looked more closely I could tell right off the bat that my garnish of broccoli florets weren't even cooked. which totally ruined that dish. I mean seriously, they say "people complain about the broccoli being too mushy" so instead of cooking it, they don't even cook it and put some raw pieces of broccoli on the plate. Really? No I'm not making this stuff up, I had witnesses! The shrimp was good, sauce was good, walnuts actually looked pleasant. It was just those dumb broccoli florets that ruined the dish. I always want to tell the server how they can improve their food, but sometimes I just think they don't even bother telling the cooks, so why should I bother right?
My second dish: I got the Drunken Noodle with shrimp.
It was those fat flat noodles that looked to be partially pan fried tossed with slices and whole pieces of green onions (scallions; for those that don't know green onions are scallions) and shrimp. The garnish was julienned red cabbage, with a 2 super small hairs of carrots. (not really hair, but like they just wanted to add red and orange to the plate so it actually looks more appetizing but failed at that too.) I wanted to tell the waiter how they can improve that dish as well, but I bet the waiter would have thought I was being a bad customer. The actually dish was decent, It got really boring really quickly. After 3 to 4 bites I just wanted to stop eating it because it was mono-flavored. It didn't have anything exciting in the dish.
I was thinking about getting dessert, but after asking the server if they make any of their desserts I wasn't so interested in getting any of it. First off They have brownies and lava cake on their dessert menu. First off Brownies are American, and lava cake is French, actually the guy who made it is French, but was made in America. Some restaurant in New York discovered it. Anyways yeah I don't think it would have been appetizing. It like hearing how Panera Bread doesn't make their breads fresh in their stores anymore. They get their bread frozen, and all they have to do is defrost their doughs and "stretch it" But then again talking about another business for another restaurant shouldn't be talked about either right?
So, I still in the journey to find a decently good restaurant in Naperville. that is fairly priced and has actually good food, but after the 4 restaurants I have tried this year, all of them are either over priced, or fairly priced but food quality isn't as high as I expect it to be.
Actually I was thinking I giving this restaurant 1 star, but since it was better than the other restaurant I gave 1 star to, I guess I should have a little scale for myself instead of giving every restaurant 1 star. I mean seriously, if you go the the city of Chicago, there's places like Hot Doug's, Urban Belly, Belly Shack, Slurping Turtle, Province, Girl and the Goat, and so on and so on that has average price point of 30-40 dollars like this restaurant, and serves better food. OK I guess I've gone too far on this one. I should stop.... ranting...
I've been debating opening a Yelp account for years, but this restaurant experience finally pushed me over the edge. After told there would be a 45 minute wait, we said - no problem. It was busy and Friday, so we expected this. 45 minutes slowly passed. We finally sneaked a seat at the bar. At this point, I would still give Kuma's the benefit of the doubt . Afterwards:
Food came out separately by a period of over 10 minutes (there were only four of us)
Food came out wrong (mistakes within standard dish, no special order)
Manager offered free dessert, which we declined due to time, but no other value off (she was also aware of our long wait.)
So that's it 1st yelp! Hurray!
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't good.
Everything was a hit here, except for the food. Â Atmosphere was chill, service was friendly, and menu was quite expansive and interesting. Â But this is a place I like to call, mediocre food on pretty plates.
It was about 9:00 p.m. on a Friday night and the place will still buzzing...mostly folks that have been hanging out since the main dinner rush time. Â Yelp led me to Kuma's for a very late dinner after a visit to the hospital.
We ordered several items...we were hungry. Â The crab rangoon, Fiery Saigon, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and Crispy Green beans. Â
Crab Rangoon - Good and tasted as they were made there. Â Best dish out of the 4.
Fiery Saigon - Tasted like fish (which was decent in quality, drenched in sriracha sauce. Â That's pretty much all there is to it.
Honey Walnut Shrimp - Shrimp in oily mayo (which it is...btw). Â It was decent but seriously, I can get this in any other Chinese restaurant for half the price. Â On that note, this spot is way overpriced but I guess Naperville does that to you.
Crispy Green Beans - There was nothing crispy or green about these. Â They were way overcooked to the point most of them were shriveled up. Â And the sauce was again, a very basic "Chinese" sauce.
With all this being said, I can see how people like this spot. Â It's chill and it's "ethnic". Â But really, for the price you pay, if you're looking to eat just to eat, go somewhere else and save your $.
Nice trendy place! I couldn't find anything to complain about (for once!).
The usual things I look for (service, food quality, price) were satisfied and they didn't rush us out when we were lingering near closing time. If you get here just before seven, you can clear the parking ban on Washington and score a good spot in front.
Lunch was on my mind rolling into Naperville, and I was waffling between sushi and unlimited meat in a bowl. The latter is not a good thing to have in your stomach when you're biking 30 miles, so I went with Kuma's.
Their lunch specials are all chicken dishes for $7 each, and I went with something simple: sweet and spicy chicken. It was excellent! At its worst, sweet and spicy anything is more sweet than anything, but the sauce here has a goodly amount of complex heat. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and the ingredients (there weren't many - scallions, brown rice, and bok choy, I believe) were cooked just right.
I also had the Thai iced tea on the side, which was nice and creamy. Almost like sweet tea with cream. Yeah, healthy stuff. :-D
Kuma's is an excellent lunch choice, and I look forward to the next time when I can have dinner there.
The dude and I decided to enjoy a date night in downtown Naperville. I had a Kuma's Groupon burning a hole in my pocket and I was eager to check out what this place has to offer. Based on the online menu, I knew I was in for a treat.
We started by sharing the crab rangoon. I was impressed. The lumps of crab meat were huge and tasted very, very fresh. My boyfriend ordered the hibachi vegetable dinner and was blown away by how good it was. I was able to sneak a few bites off his plate and loved everything I tasted. I especially enjoyed the ginger salad dressing, the zucchini and the wasabi mustard dipping sauce. Yum! He paid his dinner the ultimate hibachi compliment: "It's even better than Benihana!"
I ordered the pad thai with tofu and asked them to make it extra spicy. While it was seasoned perfectly and, again, tasted very fresh, I wish the noodles had been a bit crispier (that's a personal preference). There was also an taste that I couldn't quite place - almost a wheatiness. I'm sure it was from the rice noodles, which I'm used to have little to no flavor. It's not my favorite pad thai, but it was solid.
We'll definitely be back!
I absolutely love this place. It's actually one of two of my mom's and my favorite places to go for mother-daugher night once a week.
As far as asian fusion, this place has it nailed. They offer everything you could want that is asian. Literally.
First of all, it's really really cute inside. Great bar, modern feel, trendy.
I have never had bad food here once. Everything is always fresh and STEAMING HOT. Actually be careful because they cook with stone bowls and plates on a lot of their dishes which keeps your meal hot the entire time you eat. They have a great wine list that pairs well with their menu. They do a wine tasting on the second Wednesday of every month which is a fun way to get to try some different wines with different asian foods.
Kuma always comes out to ask how everything was, which is for me, as a former industry worker, is awesome. I know how busy the chef can get, and she's also the owner. The fact that she takes the time to go to her tables and express her gratitude is taking it above an beyond.
As far as recommendations go definitely try the bi bim bop or the hibachi. Any of them are great!!! They both are served in stone ware which is so authentic and I just love that my food is piping hot the whole way through dinner. OH and green tea ice cream, need I say more?
The last thing I want to say is that this place actually has an entire vegetarian menu and they will customize any dish to meat a vegetarian's needs.
The bottom line is that if you want amazing fresh, tastey, asian food do not go anywhere else other than Kuma's!
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