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  • 0

    This place is incredible. My family started going on a nearly weekly basis when our favorite sushi spot closed. The atmosphere is cozy and warm (even romantic if that's what you're aiming for), the service is top notch and the food is fresh and delicious.

    Highly recommend the oyster shooters (biggest oysters EVER!), jalapeno hamachi and sashimi (so fresh). As far as maki you really can't go wrong. Also, the price is totally reasonable for the quality of food. You will not be disappointed!

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  • 0

    This was hands down some of the best sushi I have ever had (and I travel across the country for business). The Ahi Poke app was incredible, the escolar, salmon and yellowtail sashimi were fresh and quite tasty.

    Definitely check this place out if you ever get a chance!

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  • 0

    Absolutely love sushi, however the sushi here is absolutely Amazing!!!! I have not had better sushi!!!! Fresh and delicious all the time!!!!

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  • 0

    Okay, I finally cracked the code to great sushi at Sai.

    1. Go on a cold night (most orders are take-out)
    2. Go during a weeknight
            (obviously, both #1 and #2 allow you to have a more intimate, less busy experience)
    3. SIT AT THE SUSHI BAR. Holy crap the Chef is an artist - both with food and with humor. He had us laughing as soon as we sat down. Great guy.

    I think because my date and I were having such a great time, the Chef enjoyed our company and definitely put the extra effort into my sashimi requests.

    That night last week completely changed my mind about Sai and I am so happy that I gave it another try.  What a treat.

    You can ensure that I will be back for more fun and delicious sashimi, but I will be sure to dine in from now on. :)

    Until we eat again,

    Jill

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  • 0

    Cute spot, right next to the Armitage brown line. The sushi is pretty solid and the edamame was great. I had the Rainbow Maki. It was really good.  Nice spot for a date. I'm definitely coming back.

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  • 0

    Haven't been there for long while, and i think not as good as before, and not as busy as before too, this place used to be very busy, but i went there Tuesday, only have few table. The service is just so so, the waitress was not very nice and the udon noodles have a piece of plastic in the soup, they said that's from the crab meat, anyway, i get little disappoint about it

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  • 0

    It's easy for us to get to this place, but even if we didn't live nearby we'd still come here for great sushi!  We've pretty much stopped going anywhere else.

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  • 0

    My favorite sushi place in Chicago. Rolls are fresh and delicious, they never skimp on fish, and prices are absolutely reasonable. Best rolls are the Salmon/Avocado and the Spicy White Tuna crunch. These in handrolls are fantastic too!

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  • 0

    The volcano maki and pasta dishes were very good.  I strongly dislike crab stick and imitation crab... 70% of Sai Cafe's rolls have "crab stick" as a main ingredient.

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  • 0

    I heart Sai Cafe. I'm actually surprised by some of the sub par reviews. Sai was my favorite sushi joint in 2001... Stopped going because it was just mad crazy busy. And came back early last year and LOVE this place. This place has been open since the mid-80s and doing sushi right.

    I'm a sashimi and nigiri fan that loves sitting at the bar. The sushi chefs are awesome! When I've gone I haven't noticed any pre-sliced fish going on my plate.
    My favorites - fresh salmon and salmon belly sashimi, uni tempura, uni, amaebi (raw sweet shrimp) and the tempura shrimp head, creamy spicy scallop hand rolls, tuna poke app, hamachi jalapeño app, agedashi tofu... And I always ask the sushi chef for specials or recommendations. I do enjoy their salmon sashimi dinner and when I'm lucky I get it served in one of a few ice bowls available.

    Service is great... The owner is really nice and love the sushi chefs!!!

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  • 0

    Sadly, Sai Cafe is now serving pre-cut fish in their nigiri, sashimi and maki rolls.  Even worse, they don't display the pre-cut pieces at the sushi bar, retrieving them from bins below - perhaps to create the illusion they are preparing the fish per order to casual inspection.  

    Sitting at the bar, I watched them slamming out sashimi orders in minutes that should take 20 minutes of preparation to get to your table.  Pre-cut sushi oxidizes in the fridge, and tastes more and more bland the longer it's in there.  I expect this at Dominick's, not a sushi restaurant - unfortunately the practice has afflicted even renowned establishments like Sai Cafe.

    On the plus side, some of the more exotic slices like saba, ikura and ama ebi were all very fresh - perhaps because they are so infrequently ordered. So the mega-popular cuts are stale, and the slices rarely ordered are fresh - makes a lot of sense, no?  Tuna rolls were also generous and well seasoned.

    I think it would be amusing to start a sushi restaurant near some of these famous places and put a sign in my window saying "only fresh cut sushi" and see how quickly all the other places abandoned the practice.  Pre-cut fish is no better than a steak someone heats to rare in the morning, then reheats for dinner hours later.

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  • 0

    Really enjoy this cozy cafe in Lincoln Park, the sushi quality is very good.  I usually order an assortment of sushi and sashimi, including Tuna, Salmon, Hamachi, and Toro when available.

    Prices are pretty reasonable.  All in all one of my favorite sushi places in Lincoln Park.  Suggest you go here if you are nearby or live in the neighborhood.   If you want to venture a bit further out, and don't mind paying a bit more then Mirai, Macku and (my favorite) Katsu are better options.

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  • 0

    So I finally had the opportunity to visit Sai Cafe! I have lived within walking distance of the joint for about 2 years and have been meaning to go, but never found the time. After many recommendations, I decided to go on a Thursday evening with some friends.

    We were seated immediately in the corner booth, which was very comfortable for three people. The inside is quaint and comfortable, through there was a small draft by the window. I had the crazy maki and the spicy tuna maki. The crazy maki was so large it was impossible to eat without making a mess and causing a scene. Maybe the name of the roll should be changed to the "messy maki". However, the roll was very good and had a lot of fish for the money. The tuna roll was solid, nothing special. My other friends had the volcano roll which they enjoyed and a vegetable noodle dish. The sushi rolls arrived way before the hot dish which made the meal awkward as one person was waiting for their meal while we were practically finished.

    All in all I enjoyed the meal and would be willing to give it another shot. Maybe next time I will try carrying out.

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  • 0

    Absolutely loved this little place. I made reservations here after reading reviews on yelp and wanting to try something new in the Lincoln Park area. The atmosphere is very friendly and accomodating.  We made reservations for a Friday night but they probably weren't needed.  If you do decide to make reservations, request one of the booths by the window (there are only two).  They are cozy and it is fun to people watch from these seats.  There are also available seats at the sushi bar to watch the sushi being prepared.  

    The appetizers were great and they were followed by a few sushi rolls and the Chirashi which was EXCELLENT and would recommend this to everyone.  Sai Cafe was priced great for the food that we got.  Can't wait to go back again, this is definitely my favorite sushi spot in Chicago.

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  • 0

    Love this place.  The Halloween maki is my favorite.  We get sushi delivery at least once a week from here, and they never disappoint.

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  • 0

    Go here.  

    I really don't need to say anymore BUT if you want to know why, because the sushi is delicious - fresh and generous portions. Even better than the food is the staff - hands down best customer service around.  Everyone is friendly and professional. I have been here countless times and have never had one complaint and YES, they know my order when I walk in the door.

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  • 0

    Sai Cafe is hands down my favorite Sushi place! Eating there is an experience--not just a dinner. The sushi is artfully prepared and it tastes as good as it looks.

    My favorite part of the experience though are the sushi chefs! When my boyfriend and I go we eat at the sushi bar so we can talk to the chefs. They are friendly, informative and love to tell you about the sushi you are eating. Every time I go, I learn something new about sushi, and try a new piece. If you want a new experience, a different kind of date, or are new to sushi, I definitely recommend asking for a seat at the bar.

    Sai Cafe might just be my favorite place in Chicago!

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  • 0

    I can't say enough good things about Sai Cafe. I am lucky enough to live 1 block away and eat here or get take out at least once a month. My favorite rolls are the Volcano Roll (spicy lobster roll) and the Spicy White Tuna Crunch (only $7 - seriously amazing). Their staff is amazing, the owner is there a lot and he always checks in to make sure everything is good - even if you're just getting take out. Love this place!

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  • 0

    Came here once with another couple and had an overall pleasant experience. The place is trendy and the location is great in a nice part of Lincoln Park. I know they've expanded since we've gone but it was pretty big (area wise) when we were there. The service was pretty good and the rolls came out fast and I don't know how they are, but I would have to say, the rolls were HUGE, and by huge, I mean, I think the Chicago maki was probably one of the BIGGEST rolls we've ever had, I literally couldn't put the pieces in my mouth, and half of it would fall out, yeah talk about a classy rice falling out of my mouth look. Not so much. I guess you get your money's worth because the rolls are decently priced and the rolls are big and there was definitely a lot of fish in them which I always prefer, but I guess I am complaining that if you're on a first date, it is not a very sexy look having to shove that huge roll in your mouth, so that did not impress us.

    Overall, would I come again? Maybe if I was in the area because the sushi was decent, I would just ask the server for suggestions for smaller sized rolls next time, and hope that I would end up happy with my selection. The place has a cute, dim-lit ambiance and fun for a group of friends you feel really comfortable with. Sai, we shall see if if we see you soon for some stellar sushi. (alliteration baby!).

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  • 0

    Heard about this place when Zagat released the article "Chicago's 5 Best Sushi Restaurants" yesterday (7/31/12) and decided to check it out today.

    The Good:
    Spicy Creamy Tako Maki- The flavor was subtle but still bold & good. Flying fish egg & scallions, 2 of my favorites for sushi and they did it well.  
    Pacific Oyster Shooter- Spicy & good sized. They were delicious. If you're feeling frisky mix a vodka shot with it. Very good.
    Quick friendly service. Almost too much time at the table on our servers part, but truly can't complain about that!

    The Bad:
    Volcano Maki- Not recommended. Waay too strong of a taste with the creamy lobster, kind of taste like miracle whip which was very off putting.
    Yaki Tori- Burnt, two tiny skewers, and the tiny veggie cuts have a weird bitterness to them. Chicken was bland.

    The Ugly:
    Soft Shell Crab- Ew. Actually repulsive. Couldn't even finish it and could barely chew it. This is one of those things you can barely describe, it wasn't bland, it wasn't bitter, it was just....a gross injustice.
    Drinks were waay overpriced and the selection was very small.

    Overall the bill for all that, without drinks, was $55. Not too bad a price but I would not come here again for sushi. Definitely nowhere near the sushi I've had at other places. If this really does rank top 5 for Chicago area then Chicago is in desperate need of a sushi makeover.

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  • 0

    I had a bunch of friends recently tell me that this place was the BEST sushi in town, and I can safely say that is not the case for me. I've lived in NYC and SF and this sushi just doesn't stack up. First off, the wasabi was the wrong color, which was a real turn off, but even moreso was the lack of freshness in the food. The seaweed salad was good but how can you do that wrong? Service was good and setting is nice, but cmon people - you need to get more fresh food.

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  • 0

    Some of the best sushi in Chicago? Check. Good prices? Check. Convenient location? Check.  6pm on my first day back in Chicago? I'm there.  The order?  Dragon Roll, Futomaki, Volcano Roll, Seared Scallops, Nabe Yaki Udon Noodles, and Mochi Ice-cream.    

    The crispiness of the freshwater eel in the dragon roll encapsulated my taste buds.  Despite being doused in a little too much sauce, this was hands down the best dragon roll I ever had.  Then came the volcano roll, layered bottom heavy and sprinkled with fish roe and could-be-a-bit-more-crispy tempura crumbs to imitate a real volcano.  Though the pieces were small in size, they were generous in flavor: rich, creamy mayo that lifts the surprisingly fresh lobster pieces, spelling delectable on my palette.  The savory (but at the same time a tad too sweet) broth filled with chewy udon noodles and fresh seafood creates a good, but not phenomenal experience.  Beware, both the scallops in the Udon and the too-lemony seared scallops themselves have sand in them.  

    But the mochi ice-cream glorified the night.  One of the biggest mistakes in mochi  
    is getting the skin to ice-cream ratio wrong.  With a thin, floury layer of rice flour mixture playing the opening before the major (and oh-so-fresh-and-creamy) main ice-cream arrived, the mochi was perfect.  

    Service was impeccable.  The owner actually took the time to stop by our table and speak with us, making us feel like a regular.  Making us feel like we were home away from home.

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  • 0

    Gosh, I just wish every restaurant could be like Sai Cafe.  I used to live nearby, and I would go pretty frequently.  I still find myself on the Brown Line wondering if I have time to get off at Armitage for a quick bite at Sai.  

    The service is impeccable.  Hosts, wait staff, bussers, and star sushi chefs are incredibly friendly and consistently great.  When I sit at the sushi bar, Dave, one of the sushi chefs, seems to know everyone else sitting at the bar with me!  

    The sushi is great and always incredibly fresh.  The maki selection is plentiful and isn't too cream-cheese-centric (a serious problem I have with lots of sushi places).  Don't pass up the other food, though! The miso grilled cod is killer, and you certainly can't go wrong with some tempura udon.

    I can't recommend this place highly enough.  Such solid quality across the board is a rare treat.

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  • 0

    My husband and I really love this place. We stumbled upon it when we had an intense craving for sushi one night and this was the only place open until late. It's located in a cute neighborhood and we call it our hidden gem because the food here is GREAT and it's become our definite date night spots. Prices are okay but it's worth it for the delicious food and romantic ambiance that you experience here. The wait staff is friendly and we've never had problems with them.

    I'd rate it 5 stars just because of its location, great food and the fact that when you go here you really can just experience great food with someone you enjoy being with. I never feel like it's too loud, it's just a romantic experience for me and my husband and we love spending time here. And best of all, it's open late!

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  • 0

    The maki and special rolls are great, but really I'd recommend going here most if you are a sashimi lover.  Some of the best quality fish around.  On a similar level as Macku Sushi, but without the trendy presentation and decor (plus it's a little less costly).  Also, if you've never had fresh ground wasabi give it a try here, they do it well.  

    I'd request to sit up front if possible, especially if you're making reservations for a date.  

    Note to the management - on a cold night there is a hefty draft by the window in room 2.

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  • 0

    Cute place, great for dates, great service.  Definitely do a good job and I would give 3.5 stars if I could.  Live right in the neighborhood so I know I'll be back.  The sushi just wasn't the best I have ever had so I cannot give it a higher rating.  

    1st the edamame was served cold which I hate.  Next time I'll def ask for it steamed.  The rolls were good & fresh but I can name a few other places that are better.  Def good, but just not the best sushi experience I have ever had.  Rather basic and ordinary.  

    But I think next time I will order some customer fav's like the poke and the spicy white tuna crunch roll.  I think my group was a bit basic with the rolls hence not getting the wow factor.  

    Def will return for another chance.

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  • 0

    If your in the mood for a trendy date night, this is not the place. If your in the mood for a family/casual night, this is right for you.
    Sushi is nothing to brag about, just OK.

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  • 0

    Moved to Chicago this past summer and been to few different hip, highly recommended sushi places around town and extremely disappointed that it is so hard to find a GOOD japanese restaurant with simply great, fresh fish without a thick layer of cover up sauce to balance the tasteless fish.  I think I have finally found the one that is really worth going for the second time.

    My husband and I ordered the following for dinner:
    Soft shell crab - good, but nothing special($10)

    Toro tartar - NOT available except weekends!! disappointed :( will try next time

    Chirashi - very average compared to what I am used to and expecting, but the best out of 3 other places that serve this rice bowl which I have been to so far.  It has one or two pieces of the following:  white tuna, salmon, tuna, yellowtail, cooked shrimp, and i think something else...fish is fresh but not the greatest cut, wouldn't ordered again. ($21)

    Hamachi-Don - Excellent!!! most likely will be my must-have from now on.  Much better cut than the chirashi, but than this is also more expensive.  I think it has about 7 or 8 big pieces of hamachi ($26)

    Uni - i have had better, but it is still nice and tasty and best in chicago so far, good when I have a craving for it ($5 a la carte)

    Ama abi - Excellent!!! The shrimp is very very fresh and most definitely sweet. The fried shrimp head in the vingear sauce is declicious.

    One small beer.

    Total with 20% tip is about $100.

    Service is very attentive, but waitress needs to be careful of almost touching my food with her finger when she puts the plates down.

    Portion is a bit small, so it is a bit pricey for the price we paid.  BUT at least they serve you FRESH stuff.

    We sat in the dinning room with the sushi bar, it is nicely decorated, very comfortable atmosphere.  But I would still come back again even if it was just a hole in the wall ;)

    So I think I normally would give this place a three star for the good, above average food and everything else, but since it is in Chicago,  I think it deserves a 4-star if others have such low standards.  Good sushi is so hard to find in Chicago!!!!  

    Keep it up Sai Cafe! Dont let me down when I come back to try the omakase ($70) next time :)

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  • 0

    Consistently great sushi.  Nice atmosphere.  Friendly service.

    I have been dining at the Sai for the better part of ten years now and I have yet to find a better sushi place.  The Sai has been through several renovations over the years, its latest incarnation is rather modern with clean lines.  Overall I like it, though I don't know if the bar fits the rest of the place.

    The food is always good, whether you have traditional sushi or sashimi or try some of the Sai's specialty rolls.  I would recommend the Dragon and the Halloween Makis.  I have had several of the entrees as well and have never had a bad experience.  The thing that stands out most about the Sai is that the fish is always fresh.  I find myself comparing every other Sushi place I visit to the Sai and they generally come up wanting in the freshness of their fish.  

    The wait staff is very attentive and courteous, often with multiple waitresses attending to your needs.  The guys behind the sushi bar are also always good for a laugh and very affable.

    The Sai is just a great neighborhood sushi place that's a good place to go before a night out on the town or just to do takeout on a night after work.

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  • 0

    I want to give this restaurant five stars, but I can't.  I can't, because if you can't fit one piece of maki in your mouth, the maki is too big.  I don't want to bite maki, and get all of the cucumber and none of the crab stick or tempura shrimp.  And then you eat the next bite, and it's all of the fishy items and none of the veggies.  
    That said, the food all tasted really, really great.  I loved each roll I ate, and the nigiri was nicely priced and very, very fresh.  (Escolar, FTW!)  I really did enjoy my meal here, and I'd be more than happy to eat at Sai again.  We're on an austerity budget save for special occasions, but someday I'll be able to come back.

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  • 0

    So all of my friends were out of town, sick, or busy on a lonely Friday night, but did I let that stop me? No!
    I wanted sushi and a martini and I was going to get sushi and a martini.
    Everyone talks about Toro which is of course why I went to Sai - I always like to give the underdogs a chance.
    I had a wonderful evening. I sat at the sushi bar which is a cool experience. I got a 007 martini which was delicious (for those of you who don't know it's just a half and half of vodka and gin)
    The octopus salad - delicious - tender octopus (not chewy at all) and a wonderful dressing.
    The sushi was fresh fresh fresh and so good. I had a roll and some individual pieces. I was not disappointed and I have eaten a lot of sushi in my past.
    I would recommend this place to anyone.

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  • 0

    Jason and I along with a few friends came here on Friday to celebrate his 23rd birthday. He'd heard great things and also a good friend's girlfriend is the hostess and she promised he would love it. Definitely have to agree with this one.

    The atmosphere to this place was very cool. There are booth like seats near the window with a modern twist to them. Service was pretty quick here considering it was dinner time and they had a full house. Jason and I ordered the spicy white tuna crunch, rainbow maki, and volcano maki. Let me tell you, this place has some of the freshest fish I've ever had. The sushi was very flavorful and well-made. I enjoyed the spicy white tuna crunch and volcano maki the most just because they have tempura-like shavings on them. I'm a sucker for those. Later on, Jason also ordered a shrimp and scallop hand roll but I didn't eat any of it. Overall, we were very satisfied with our food. Very impressed.

    My mouth is watering right now just thinking of it... mmmm

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  • 0

    Sushi, great. Teriyaki chicken, excellent.

    I used to frequent this place before I moved here. It's just really good, fresh, well-prepared food. The service is nothing special, not bad.

    If you drive, be prepared to drive in circles for a spot. Otherwise, the el is right there. Probably a better bet.

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  • 0

    Great local spot tucked away from the hustle and bustle. The first time I went to Sai Cafe was on a date and he couldn't have picked a better place. I couldn't believe that I had lived in the neighborhood for so long and not known about Sai.

    It's very small, but quite and intimate (just the way I like it). Even though we dined on a Friday night, it was busy but never overcrowded. We sat in the back dining room area away from the front door and the kitchen which was nice.

    The service was nothing special, but I rarely find the servers in sushi restaurants to be friendly. Our waters were always filled but there were quite a few times when I was looking around for our waitress when I needed a glass of wine.

    We started off with the Veggie Tempura which was very good. We tried a variety of rolls. The Crazy Maki, Unagi Maki, Fashion Maki, and Negi Hamachi Maki. Of course it was too much and we had to take some home but everything was fabulous and very fresh.

    I give them an A for presentation, service was a C+ at best and the food is A+ for sure. I really loved the ambiance of this cute little spot and I can't wait to take my family, being as they are avid sushi lovers.

    Bottom line. Nicki says check Sai Cafe out.

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  • 0

    No wait on a Saturday night...good service, tasty sushi. There were lots of options and everything I tasted was good. The restaurant seemed huge and  the tables were nicely spaced. I'm a huge fan of having lots of space and room to talk at a restaurant. Hearing other conversations (unless they are really juicy, and even that has its limits) is one of my main irritants.

    I don't know if I would go rushing back as I'd go broke pretty quickly.

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  • 0

    Being Japanese I was a bit skeptical about Sai, but if they have been in business for 22 years and some chicago chefs frequent Sai, then they must be doing something right.  

    One thing I like about the menu is they have some conventional items as well some nontraditional items that the chef has made his own.  I decided to partake in his signature dishes such as the ahi poke, toro tartare, and tora no me (baked salmon wrapped in squid).  Although interesting and exciting in concept, none of these dishes really pulled me in.  I have had better poke in Hawaii.  The toro tartare was the standout, but I still prefer the texture of biting into a slab of toro sashimi.  The "tiger eyes" was great in concept but a bit bland.  I also ordered a salmon avocado maki to test out the sushi, and no doubt, it was fresh and recommendable.  

    Service is mixed for me.  The hostess was sweet and friendly.  The chef made his rounds through the dining room.  The sushi chefs thanked us in unison on the way out.  However, I didn't particularly care for our waitress.  Her service was leaning more towards Chinatown service which was rushed with plates clanking the table.  One thing she has to understand about Japanese restaurants is there is a certain delicacy, warmth, and cheerfullness.  I'm not sure if Sai wants to be regarded as culturally authentic Japanese, but if they do, the waitress has to adopt certain mentality and idiocyncrasies.

    The hostess gave me a 20% off appreciation card, so next time I will probably stick to the sashimi and sushi.  I give 3 stars for the appetizers and 4 stars for the sushi.

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  • 0

    I can't believe I haven't been here before!!!  After walking in I immediately noticed the quaint, comfortable, and intimate setting inside, such a nice contrast to the mega sushi joints that seem to be everywhere in Chicago!!

    For my meal I started w/ miso soup (which btw was a bit too salty... is it really that hard to mess up miso soup!???) and threw in some maki rolls for fun, the Unagi (fresh water eel w/ cucumber), Soft shell crab (crab, avocado, mayo, fish egg, and cucumber), and the Rainbow (tuna, yellowtail, fresh salmon & avocado), with the entire meal topped off w/ a large bottle of Kirin.  The food was spectacular and fish incredibly fresh!  The rolls were also pretty substantial in size, I could barely finish my meal!!

    One of my friends had the chillean sea bass which looked flaky and delicious.  Next time I go back I definitely want to try some of the hot and cold appetizers, as well as the udon and hot entrees!  As you can tell, I'll be back here in a hearbeat!

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  • 0

    I can't believe this was the first time I had been to Sai Cafe but it probably won't be my last. This is one cute little sushi restaurant that really seems to pull in it's regulars. I could tell that the staff had a good rapport with alot of the customers that night. One table was even discussing with one of the staff about having their child's first birthday there in a few weeks. Umm...not exactly the type of place I would expect for a kids first birthday but..what do I know?

    I ordered the Teriyaki Salmon which came along with a salad and Miso soup. I thought it might have been a little too hot outside to be drinking such a warm soup but mm it was good. Salty with just the perfect texture and size of tofu..yum. The Salmon was cooked perfectly and was accompanied by a bowl of white rice. As the appetizer we ordered the Hamachi Jalapeno which was the belly part of the yellowtail with a slice of jalapeno and served with soy sauce. the fish practically melted in my mouth it was so light and fresh.

    I'll definitely go back but next time I might request sitting in the second room. The first room seemed to be filled with kids and on a nice Friday night out I am so not into that....okay...I'm never into that kind of scene but especially on a Friday night!

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  • 0

    This might be the best Japanese restaurant in Chicagoland.
    (Beats Japonais, and oh, definitely Kaze, hands down)
    I stumbled upon it walking in our new neighborhood and walked right into the freshest sushi that could possibly be found in these parts of America.
    Owners are Taiwanese-Korean who have a loyal set of customers they know by name, and have been running Sai FOR 22 YEARS.
    The fact that people keep coming back says a whole lot about this place.
    Me? I'm at my 3rd time, and counting.
    Best bets are:
    1. Toro Tartar (orgasmic!)
    2. Salmon & Hamachi sashimi (if you are adventurous, ask what they have really fresh)
    3. Sukiyaki (The only place in Chicago I've found that serves this- a sweet Japanese beef noodle soup that hits the spot in winter)
    Tip: Sit by the sushi bar if its your first time and you just might get unexpected treats (freshly grated wasabi, anyone?)

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    I think I can.... I think I can... I think I can....  (keep a review short and sweet that is). Let's see shall we?** ***

    So Sai Cafe was one of the first sushi joints I ever tried in Chicago. I lived down the street, it was convenient and the sushi was surprisingly good. You'd never know it from the interior since it hasn't been updated since the early 90's. But the Halloween maki rocks, the Baby Salmon Sashimi is melt-in-your-mouth good and the Kani-su with huge real alaskan king crab is ahhmazing!

    Confucius Say: good fresh sushi in ugly surroundings much better than bad sushi on fancy lucite stool.

    **Ok, so I would have left my review at that and amply succeeded with my goal but a quick peek at their website has left me thinking they may have undergone a renovation recently since it doesn't look the same old Sai Cafe. Pretty back-lighting and geometric ceiling decor. Huh?? They are also touting a new location in Logan Square called Hachi's Kitchen which must have shiny new interiors since its, well, new. So maybe those are the pics I saw. I will research and update, but in the meantime you still won't go wrong with their sushi offerings so give it a try.

    ***I'm a complete failure.

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