Kyoto serves the best sushi I've had in the Crystal Lake area. Â It isn't the best sushi ever, but it's a good as it gets in these here parts. Â I haven't eaten on the Hibachi side of the restaurant, so please take that into account. Â
Prices: Not cheap, but not crazy expensive. Â Expect to pay about $50-60 for dinner for 2 with drinks. Â Lunch specials are the way to go. Â For $10, you can get a bowl of Miso soup and two orders of rolls.
Ambiance: Â Feels a little like an 80's Japanese disco. Â (Not that I've ever been to one, but that's how I imagine it would be). Â They like black paint and neon lights.
Food/Drinks: The rolls are fresh, and tasty. Â There is a decent selection of cooked and raw sushi. Â The house salad is served with a really tasty ginger dressing. Â My only complaint is that the lettuce always seems excessively wet, which makes the dressing kind of slide off. Â They serve some fun martinis with interesting flavors, and sake of course!
Service: Nothing to complain about, but not much to compliment either. Â Fairly standard.
I hate this restaurant and they have given me many opportunities to hate them. Many years ago (5 or so) I used to go there and order green tea with my meal. Our waitress would NEVER bring me green tea. Ever. And we always got the same awful waitress whenever we went. One time we got a different waitress, I ordered green tea, but before she could bring me the tea, the other waitress took our table and refused to bring me tea. This always happened to me and it became a joke. The waitress was always really rude to me too. Eventually we stopped going there, but then a group of co-workers wanted to go there for a Christmas party two years ago. I protested, but I was told that there were new owners who were supposedly very nice. So I went. Big mistake. I ordered from the same lunch menu as everyone else. They brought me the check, I reviewed it, I gave them my credit card, and then an older waitress brought me back a NEW BILL FOR $10 MORE! $10 dollars more than anyone else at my table paid for lunch. I already had a bill, but they decided to bring me another bill. Everyone at the table was shocked that they would treat a customer this way. No apologies from the owners. This place SUCKS!!!!!!! I will NEVER set foot in this hole again.
Review Source:I had a great time here with a group of 8. Â The food was wonderful the presentation was delightful, and the service was perfect. Â My wife was calibrating her birthday and the waiter came out and took a picture for us with our entire group. Â A treasured memory. Â The price is fair, actually affordable for what you get with the presentation and everything.
Review Source:By far the best SUSHI we have ever tasted apart from the SUSHI we had in Hawaii.
The service is excellent, the Martinis delicious, the hot hand towels a special treat.
Don't forget to tip the SUSHI chefs in their tip boat on their SUSHI bar.
If you are on a budget then go pick up SUSHI at Walmart. You get what you pay for and this is worth every penny !
Fair food, good sushi, although my lobster roll left a LOT to be desired, zero taste. Thought it pricey. DID NOT appreciate feeling like we were being rushed through the meal. There were 8 in our party and everyone said the same after the meal. I would not say it was bad, my wife an I would not return.
Review Source:Food was VERY good but the service was HORRIBLE!!! Â We made reservations weeks in advance for a party of 8 on the hibachi grill. Â Our reservations were for 6 pm and we weren't seated till 9 pm! Â Once again the food was amazing and decently priced but waiting 3 hours for a dinner show wasn't worth it.
Review Source:I've reviewed Kyoto before and given them high marks for their food and service. The sushi is still outstanding and the service is very good....except in one particular area. When I walk into a restaurant, I expect to be greeted and assisted immediately. I don't mind waiting if others before me are being helped, but to not have ANYONE present to assist arriving customers is a huge mistake. There should always be someone present to greet arriving customers....without exception.
Review Source:I have been to the new location about 5 times. The very first time was for hibachi and our group was blown away. The chef was delightful, the food was fresh and had great flavor. Just be sure to bring an empty stomach, I felt like I had to waddle out after eating soo much food. The staff is friendly and very accommodating. I love the decor, it seems like a place that belongs in the city vs the burbs. The other few times my husband and I went for drinks and sushi. It gets packed on weeknights so be sure to make a reservation. The mixed drinks are creative and delicious, they don't skimp on the alcohol in them. Their sushi is fresh, not overly seasoned and easy on the palate. It's great to finally have a great sushi place in Crystal Lake!!!
Review Source:This is a great place if you are a sushi fanatic. Â It is some of the freshest rolls and maki that I have ever had. The prices are a bit higher than your average sushi restaurant but It is definitely worth it in my opinion. The restaurant is also very clean and set up nicely. They have moved into a new location and it suites them very well. I was impressed with the changes and love the new space. I hope to come back very soon.
Review Source:Great sushi! Fresh and authentic. Â Its pretty packed friday saturday nights so be prepared to wait. Â I order food to pick up from here often especially if its on a busy night. Â Their teriyaki chicken is amazing the sauce is perfect I also always order the gyoza for appetizer. Â The new location is nice and also larger.
Review Source:You had me at lobster tails.
And almost lost me when 'tails' turned out to be just 'tail.' I mean, if a menu implies plural lobster tails - you can't really blame a girl for being a bit miffed when the dish comes up short.
Fortunately, this was a case where quality definitely won out over quantity - and I'll take one DELICIOUS lobster tail over two not-so-delicious tails any day. After just a taste, Kyoto was back in my good graces.
My dining companion and I opted for the Hibachi style lobster tail, which is DELICIOUSLY prepared with salt, pepper, and soy sauce - already removed from the shell and separated into small fork-perfect pieces. Extra presentation points for using the hollowed-out shell as a garnish! Â
I should preface this portion of my review by pointing out the fact that I've just recently jumped onto the sushi bandwagon. This probably goes without saying, but as such -- I have yet to cross the line into more adventurous territory.
Translation: I don't eat raw fish (yet).
Thankfully, there are plenty of other fish (and crustaceans!) in the sushi sea - so this hasn't hindered my newfound maki Love one bit. And I'm usually not one to kiss and tell...but between you and me? I've hooked up with more than my share of shrimp tempura rolls. In the process, I've become acquainted with all the little details that equal a tasty roll in my book. (1) A crispiness that is not lost amongst pieces of avocado (I Love me some avocado, but crispy shrimp trumps green mush!); (2) Reasonable roll-to-mouth ratio (because it's just not enjoyable if I have to cut the roll in half); and (3) It's got to be tight! (loosely packed rice and hanging-off seaweed ends need not apply).
Kyoto's shrimp tempura was amazingly crispy - with a surprisingly light batter, and was definitely the star of the roll (take a backseat, avocado!). Also to my delight, the roll was perfectly sized and I easily took it in with just one bite. Alas, If not for the sloppy seaweed ends -- Kyoto would have earned a perfect score from me. But hey, what's a couple presentation points lost when taste and service score near perfect? I'm definitely willing to overlook a couple loose (seaweed) ends, and will continue to roll with Kyoto!
Came in for dinner with some friends last night and had a fantastic time.
First of all, apparently the restaurant was recently moved to a new location, and it was obvious, as the place was clean and the decorations were modern (we loved the green lights in the walls).
The pricing was right on for a Japanese steakhouse, if not more reasonable than many I've seen (and definitely better than Benihana for what we ordered). The menu was much more extensive which was nice, but I'll be honest, I went right to the hibachi section so I don't really remember what was on the rest of it.
If you've never been to a place like this, it's nice because for the price you get a full meal - soup, salad, rice, veggies, meat, and then ice cream for dessert. It was really a TON of food, we waddled away from the table!
I ordered the hibachi filet mignon, and it was the absolute best filet I've ever had at a Japanese steakhouse. The seasoning was delicious - the teriyaki was so good and the meat was tender and moist, cooked perfectly. Every bite was so delicious. The veggies were a nice blend of broccoli, carrots, zucchini, and onions. We also got bean sprouts ("Japanese french fries!" our chef told us).
We also tried the sake sampler, which (while small cups) was small enough to split between two people, that stuff is potent!
The two-year-olds we had with us loved the show our chef put on for us (which is also part of the appeal of coming to a place like this). They had the kids teriyaki chicken and really enjoyed it, that teriyaki sauce was too good! The kids portion was large enough for two two-year-olds to split. But bring cups for the kids, they didn't seem to have any kids cups like most restaurants with a kids menu do.
Expect to spend at least an hour at dinner, since the chef cooking the food is also entertainment, and it all takes time, but they feed you a bit at a time, so it's nice you are eating as you're watching. It's just not a good idea to come to a place like this if you're in a rush.
We loved Kyoto! Delicious food and a fun show to see with friends and kids!
OK, so my girlfriend and I went here last Saturday for dinner place was packed which is always the case on a Saturday, service was great food was awesome prices I thought could be a little bit better but its not that bad was like 120 with two drinks as well so not bad will definitely be going back ohh make sure you have reservations
Review Source:Not impressed at all compared to Rice.
The place was way too crowded- not so much a sign of the good food but of a cramped sitting area. Food presentation was poor and service not attentive at all.
Sushi was small portioned and over priced. Won't visit again and sorry I didn't go to Rice.
Kyoto is our standby sushi restaurant. Â I'll admit, we've never eaten at the hibachi side, and the gonging birthday announcements might possibly cause you to pee your pants due to surprise and volume, but the sushi is quite nice, and good quality. Â If I had my choice I'd go to Kaminari for similar quality, but more style.
Review Source:This place is fantastic! Â It is basically split into 2 restaurants, the one side is the sushi side with the sushi bar you could sit at as well as several smaller tables. Â On the other side is the hibachi grills where you can sit at the grills where chefs are cooking right in front of you! Â I ate on the sushi side but I will definitely have to come back for the hibachi side.
The sushi was great, we tried a couple of the standard maki rolls in the California and the spider and they were just as good if not better than anywhere else I have been. Â What really set this place apart was the chef's special maki rolls we had. Â We tried the green turtle and the crazy monkey, both amazing creations!
Aside from the food, we enjoyed some great Saki from their wide collection and I tried one of their saketinas as well. Â It was very interesting mixing the vodka and the sake together but it was a good cocktail!
This is a neat little place and you could easily drive right by it as it's tucked away in a strip mall on route 14. Â But if you have a craving for sushi in McHenry County, this is the only place to go! Â I do recommend getting a reservation for the weekends as this place fills up with those that know its greatness!
Can't believe I haven't written a review of Kyoto before today! We go out to eat here about once a month- it's a favorite among our social group.
In this area, you basically have two choices for sushi: Kyoto and Bistro Wisabi. Bistro might win out a little bit in ambiance and quality, but they are MUCH more expensive and don't have as much of a selection as Kyoto. (And that's not to say that the quality of the food at Kyoto is sub-par, it's just, say, a 9 while Bistro's a 9.5. Or something.)
To be honest with you, I have only eaten at a hibachi table here once, the the rest of the time we usually sit in the sushi bar and stuff ourselves silly with veggies and raw fish. I brought my family, who doesn't do Japanese cuisine as often as I do, and they enjoyed the "show", found the menu very accessible and the waitstaff very approachable and knowledgeable.
I like that they really seem to take pride in what they do, the owners are around a lot, working the floor and register, and the atmosphere of the whole place is a lot more like a family, night out with friends sort of place, than Bistro, which can feel a little stuffy and formal, especially when you're out with a group.
Have eaten here twice, both on the sushi side (not too big a fan of the fanfare and sharing a table with any hibachi place).
Sushi (nigiri) - 4.5
Tempura - 4.5
Fried rice - 4
Service - 5+
I've given it an overall rating of 4 only because I have not tried the hibachi side and there is no 4.5 option.
The dining area is a bit cramped but I don't mind it, just right for a cozy dinner with your date or your friends. There is also a definite din which you may have to talk over from time to time, but I don't mind that either because I prefer that over having the place too quiet and having everybody hear my conversation.
Something to note:
In all other sushi places I've been to, one order is usually comprised of two pieces of sushi. At Kyoto, one order is one piece, so just make sure you order exactly the number of pieces you'd like.
Since my first review I have had a chance to eat at two other tepanyaki restaurants in the west/northwest suburbs of Chicago. Â This is far and away the best.
I had my favorite combo: Â calamari and garlic shrimp: Â very good. Â The chef (Nate) put on a good show and was attentive to customer requests. Â The staff is very attentive even offering 2 or 3 times to refill some customers' cups of hot tea.
I had a shrimp tempura and some Philadelphia roll from the Sushi chef too. Â The tempura batter was very light. Â The Phila. roll was very fresh tasting with great flavor.
I will certainly go back again. Â True it is a bit pricey: Â $20-$25 for the combo. but worth the price.
I have not eaten here in probably 7-10 years, and for no good reason other than I usually get my Japanese fix when traveling for work. Â I've also since traveled to Tokyo, ordered sushi in a number of higher-end restaurants across the US, and visited a few excellent teppanyaki joints.
So decided to go there last week. Way disappointed. Hibachi chicken was extremely overcooked and everything was drowned in the teriyaki sauce so there really wasn't much if a difference in taste between the meat and vegatables. Â
We also ordered a selection of makimono which was all very bland. Â The spicy mayo was not really spicy and was overloaded on the rolls to the point I could barely taste any of the fish. Â The ginger salad was green lettuce in a soup of ginger 'dressing'. Â No traditional carrots. Â The miso soup tasted like instant stuff I've made at home from miso paste packets. Â The tempura vegetables had a very doughy batter and was not crunchy, plus the batter basically fell off the vegetables when dipping in the tentsuyu. Â
I used to eat here often so I really don't know if over time either the quality has slipped or my standard have gone way up. But either way the next time I want local sushi it's back to Bistro Wasbi (a no-brainer really) and teppanyaki might be Rokbonki.
Another minor issue that was annoying was that the menu did not state any restrictions on ordering the 'kids platter' which was one of the very few non-fish items (chicken + vegie roll) on the menu. Â OK, most places have policies and that's understood, but it wasn't stated on the menu and you'd think that they could make an exception after ordering in some cases, but the 'my manager said no' response tells me the manager doesn't care about repeat business. (The place was packed so I guess they can afford to choose margin over individual experience).
We love Kyoto's! I always get a combination (Fillet & Shrimp or sometimes chicken). I've also ordered Edamame and California Rolls...both were good.
They usually have a "Dinner for Two" option too where you pick appetizer , your drinks (wine options or soft drinks), and your entrees, and it comes with soup, salad and dessert too. Not too bad of a deal.
The chefs are entertaining and fun. Good atmosphere and good food at reasonable prices. The service always exceed expectations too!
This is the perfect place to feed the udon addiction!
I've had various sushi selections from here and they have all been top-notch. Here's a tip for the squeamish who want to try ~something~ sushi-like. Go for the Philadelphia. It tastes just like a bagel with cream cheese and lox. Yummy!!
The udon is what I came for and wasn't disappointed. The beef broth had a hint of veggie and something else, but was still good (Not Sushi Asahi good, but still...) The udon and tempura were delightful and the service was fast and friendly. Great atmosphere in a casual, Japanese lunch-style decor.
We're looking forward to going back for the habachi dinner.
We went here for a birthday dinner with family and everyone had a great time and amazing food!!! A wonderful place to celebrate. It was 20 minutes of a wait for our reservation, but the place was packed to the door with people waiting for tables.
The menu says that the tuna done on the hibachi will melt in your mouth and there is absolutely no false advertising there! It was simply the best cooked tuna I've ever had. The staff is super friendly and we never had to ask for water refills once.
The big hibachi show was alot of fun and our chef was excellent.
Since it was so busy, the dining room did feel crowded, but we were having such a great time being treated so well that we hardly noticed.
We ate in the sushi portion of the restaurant and loved it. We had a few different rolls and pieces.
Everything was fresh and delicious. They had several original rolls on the menu which provided for a nice variety.
One of rolls was on the special menu, the "wonderful" roll, which was unique and unexpected. It had shrimp tempura, avocado, spicy scallop and crunchy things on top.
The "Hawaiian" roll had mango, cucumber, a spicy sauce and a fish that we don't remember all wrapped in rice paper. The mango really stood out in a refreshing way.
The hamachi pieces melted in our mouths and were priced better than we usually find for this quality.
The waitress was very nice and was on top of refilling our water and iced tea.
We had an enjoyable experience and would dine here again.
I simply love this place. Sushi is always fantastic, as is the grill seating.
I have been going here for many years and every time I am excited to see the show the chefs put on. The rice is always moist, the chicken is always tender, the vegetables are always to-die-for, etc.
And don't get me started on the sushi!!! I have been to sushi places in San Diego, the sushi capital, and this place ranks right up there with California. The flavors are intense and I just want to eat more and more. Make sure you get the Crazy Boy and Godzilla.
It will be a pricey bill if you either sit at the sushi bar or the grill--but it will be completely worth it. Save up and go to Kyoto!!
The only teppanyaki restaurant I know of in McHenry County, my first visit involved food sitting at the "normal" table. We ordered the chicken teriyaki and some makis and sushis. The quality for the price is certainly lower than what you can get at Bistro Wasabi (see my other review) and the teriyaki was just so-so. My review may change after trying the teppanyaki, which looked very entertaining, but from first impression, this restaurant was overpriced and just "ok".
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