Ive never been inside sea ranch, Ive ordered it for delivery a couple of times. The sushi is pretty decent Ive had the spicy tuna, soft shell crab, and the real crab California. The couple of times that I ordered, the delivery took a really long time, and to me, some of the things on the menu are a little over priced. Sea Ranch is good but Ive had better.
Review Source:I'm a sushi lover living in Evanston and Sea Ranch is a great no fuss quick service place with quality sushi. Been here and tried one of their set meals of ramen and california roll (not my favorite) and have also tried the All You Can Eat. Â The ramen soup base tasted like out of a package and ramen didn't come with any pork/meat which is a must for me. California roll was perfect.
With the way I eat sushi, the All You Can Eat is the best bang for buck. For about $27 (including tax), you get generous rolls with a good amount of fresh fish and not too much rice. Their spicy mayo isn't the spiciest and their miso soup is not consistently good, but the most important - sushi - is.
It's a half grocery store and some seats and table for diners so don't bring a group larger than 4ppl in here. There is one table that can seat 6 but if it gets busy, you'll have to wait.
I tried the AYCE here!!! Â I've NEVER heard of a sushi place that offers IKURA as part of AYCE. Â Heavenly! The $25 AYCE is totally worth it to eat ikura, delicious, delicious ikura. Â They've got a good selection of rolls and nigiri. Â Once again Sea Ranch proves they do sushi right. Â I've heard many times that rice and tamago is how you know whether a sushi place is legit-both take a lot of time to make right and both are very difficult to make properly. Â Sea Ranch has both down. Their rice here is perfect-the right texture and just the right amount of rice vinegar. Â Their tamago is delicious. So soft and sweet, SO FRESH.
yumyumyum.
I like Sea Ranch.
AYCE sushi quality is a bit better than Todoroki's imo, though it's been a while since I've gone for that and I heard they upped the prices again or something. Recently I just don't think I can get the same value I used to.
I really like stopping by for a quick meal of noodle soup though. Their combos end up being almost $10 with 5% NU student discount and tax, but it's very filling and comforting. No meat in the ramen combos though :/ and they just come with a california roll. The soup is likely some sort of powder/mix flavor that I've found at the bottom of my bowl before, but the noodle isn't the dried fried kind and has a good texture. Sometimes worth the value of a comforting meal, other times... meh. The unagi rice + udon is nice too, 3ish pieces of udon and a half serving of noodles.
I like coming here for a very quick, casual meal, and maybe shop around. There's a very limited selection of snacks (2 shelves) and a small freezer of ice cream at a noticeable upcharge, but if you can't travel far this is a good place to get a fix of mochi ice cream, or yanyans or koalas and shrimp crackers and whatevers. There's also a selection of fish (and other premade foods) near the fridge - looks pretty fresh though I've never bought any.
What else what else. Oh! Bad for groups - learned that the hard way. Grubhub does delivery for $3.50 or something like that, and they're pretty quick and package things well separately so they keep.
HEARTHEARTHEARTHEARTHEART!!!
ok, so i admit: i think i am only giving this place 5 stars because i rate places relative to what else is around. i suppose if i found this little gem in LA i may rate it a bit lower, but given that good asian (regardless of which country) food is hard to come by in evanston, Sea Ranch has stolen my heart.
first off: the groceries. where else can i find nori and miso and their awesome home made carrot-ginger salad dressing within a two mile radius of where i live? jewel osco? i don't think so. i love that i am able to make asian dishes at home again because i can find most of what i need here. secondly, the staff. everyone i've encountered working there has been so accommodating and nice. thirdly, the food. granted, i have yet to try the raw fish there, but i can't say i see zarusoba and ramen very often in other japanese restaurants, and they have both here. not the fanciest of dishes, and as another reviewer pointed out, they don't serve chashu with the ramen but it is still tasty nevertheless (to be honest i didn't even realize there was no chashu until i read the said review because they compensate with lots of veggies)!
yes, it is a bit pricier than one would expect, but for me it is worth it because i can't find these things anywhere else. and yes, it is a small and casual place, but it is always clean and tidy so i don't mind.
In the wise words of Patti Stanger, everyone is looking for their chupacabra -- a mythical creature with everything that one had hoped for (though a quick Wikipedia reveals she may be using the wrong fabled animal as a stand in for elusive perfection... but I digress) -- for her, this is a dating thing -- the chupacabra I seek is finding an all you can eat sushi place at which you are not actually afraid to consume the fish -- and in Sea Ranch, this is what you have.
Sure, you can order off the menu as they have a variety of combos (4-5 veggie combos, 6-10 combos w/ fish), and they have probably 6-10 dishes that are more like Japanese peasant food (and I mean that in a wonderful way -- simple flavors, nice veg, good noodle-y soups) -- but really, when you can have as many rolls as you want, why back down (which admittedly, I sometimes do if I have to be polite in front of others)?!
Order at the register, sit and wait 5 min, your sush will arrive -- it takes a few more minutes for the cooked dishes. The fish is pretty solid, though admittedly, it won't be the most mind blowing sush you've ever had, it's tasty and the rice has always been perfection.
The atmosphere is non-existent as it's a storefront/market, but at these prices, who cares? Oh, also, they have a tiny section full of Japanese treats (and Koala Yummies.....?) -- which is always fun to explore. I've never done delivery, but I've heard it's hit or miss -- best just to come in.
If you're going all in, it's $25ish, and I think most combos (which are 3-4 rolls, 6 pieces per roll) are between $9-14. The rolls are nicely sized, but the soups, etc are a bit petite for my American-sized appetite, so I'd get a soup and some rolls for true bliss.
We ordered sushi and miso from Sea Ranch a couple days ago. Â The miso was super salty, practically inedible. Â The sushi was butchered. Â From my humble culinary understand, I know that sushi is all about the delicate art of the cut and precision of proportions. Â Ours was butchered pretty bad. Â Not going to order from here ever again. Â We only tried it because its one of the few places that delivers to us. Â Oh, and did I mention it was late? Â It's sushi and the order was late. Â How does it take an hour and a half to deliver butchered raw fish and salty miso?
Review Source:Oddly enough, the all-you-eat is done before 7. Guess it wasn't meant for dinner.
Ordered the sashimi combo - horrible - tuna and tilapia were chewy and stringy. All three tasted like it was just out of a freezer. Definitely not the soft/melt-in-your mouth goodness it should have been.
Ramen... not sure how they can charge almost $10 and not include meat. The slices of pork are 1/2 the joy of ramen.
They offer a wildcard discount... but only if you mention it within literally 1 second of placing your order. Otherwise... even if they haven't charged you yet, you're out of luck.
Overall, the place looks overpriced for the quality they are offering. There are better places in Evanston for sushi or noodles... and it wouldn't be in a grocery store.
Worst service and overpriced.
We ordered salmon nigiri to go. We received tuna nigiri. The Russian woman working the phone was unable to help and refused to put a manager on the phone.
Prices listed online were not the same as charged.
Do yourself a favor a try any of the other 20 sushi restaurants in the area. For excellent customer service as impeccable sushi try Kunis on Main.
Hidden in an unassuming storefront, Sea Ranch was a pleasant surprise. When you first walk in you immediately think that this is no ordinary sushi restaurant. Sea Ranch is modest, a "mom & pop" kind of place, especially not like the huge, glamorous Japanese restaurants that seem to be popping up everywhere. Situated next to a mini Japanese mart, Sea Ranch's sushi is fresh and authentic. THeir AYCE option is pretty pricey but still affordable compared to the likes of others restaurants with less variety. I recommend the pink lady roll and AYCE sushi when the craving hits.
Review Source:I honestly can't believe the fact that this place has so many good reviews. The prices are not nearly as cheap as everyone on here says. The two times I have been here the service was terrible. The first time they messed up my order and were extremely rude about us still being in the restaurant close to closing time. The second time while waiting for my order of 2 California rolls (which by the way cost $8. Ridiculous!) I was observing them filling to-go orders and they messed up another customer's order and were beyond rude about it. Â They were simply incompetent, and not to mention rude.
If you want fresh fish I highly suggest you go to Lawrence fish market. The fish is way better and the prices are much more reasonable. And without the snarky attitude.
I've been coming to Sea Ranch for years. THE freshest sushi I've ever had: the quality is always consistent. I've never been disappointed. True, I haven't tried a wide variety, but what I typically order there is always top-notch. I've read other reviews saying their prices are a little cheaper than other places, but don't be put off by that. The quality of their product is indisputable!
Review Source:Although the prices aren't the best ever (c'mon, it's sushi... if you're getting a "bargain" it's probably not fresh), this is definitely as good as it gets for Evanston. Â I love that they don't dress this place up - it's literally eating in a little grocery shop - nice and casual. Â The fish here is some of the freshest I've ever had. Â I highly recommend the spicy scallop roll and their specialty rolls. Â I also would suggest that you try their ramen - it's so filling and perfect for cold days.
Recently I just saw a sign there that their AYCE is going to be $25/person, which to me is a bit too much- not sure if it's worth it anymore (unless you're crazy hungry).
I come here for lunch every so often and it's because they have some of the freshest fish in the city. It's seriously so good, I wonder why I even bother to go anywhere else. Mind you, I haven't even got any of their rolls, but I can only imagine those are delicious too.
The place is tiny and it's actually a little grocery too. There's a cooler to where you can buy fresh pieces of egg or fish as well as drinks and plenty of other asian delights.
The service is extremely quick and everyone is very nice. I have to try the AYCE sometime. It's an extremely great price for the excellent quality you are receiving. Try this place.
Okay, the ambiance could use a little work. It feels like you're basically eating in a grocery store because, well, you sort of are.
But the sushi is downright phenomenal. Seriously. Phenomenal. And it's really well priced, too! As a college student, I could care less about the grocery-store setting, the sushi is delicious and cheap.
So don't let the interior scare you off. The sushi is freaky fresh and the service is fast and friendly. Try it out.
I am kind of in love with this place... Just kind of, because otherwise my boyfriend will tease me about my short-term love affairs with just about every new restaurant he introduces me to in Evanston.
Why do I love this place? It's simple.... The AYCE deal including tax is $25.12, and you can order half bowls of ramen (or soba or udon) with it (at no additional cost)! I'm a big fan of noodles... and a big fan of ramen. The ramen here isn't all that special (it lacks chashu!), and I think I was just pleasantly surprised that it can be included in the AYCE deal. Some of the specialty rolls that cost $12 and up are included in this selection as well. I think that's a pretty good price.
I'm not a big fan of rolls, but some of these rolls were quite tasty. I liked the tornado roll that the boyfriend got, and I also liked my Chicago roll (I think that was the name of it?)... They were quite tasty and it wasn't as saucy as some other places (House of Noodles in Chicago comes to mind).
I finally tried All-You-Can-Eat at Sea Ranch today with some of my favorite Evanston Yelpers, and must admit that I almost killed one of them with a half bowl of ramen. (Sorry, Ehow!)
The AYCE deal here is rad. Including tax, the total was $25.12... and considering I huffed at least 2 specialty rolls that usually cost $14 each, you are totally able to get your money's worth. The selections include half bowls of noodles, a variety of nigiri, rolls, and specialty rolls. Nothing too crazy, but if you're in Evanston and want to eat a ton of sushi without breaking the bank, then Sea Ranch is the place to be.
The Tornado roll is SO ridiculously delicious, and they have an awesome spicy shrimp tempura roll. Always (ALWAYS!) opt for a half bowl of shoyu ramen to start off your meal. Sea Ranch also makes some of my favorite inari nigiri.
Just know that if you're going to be doing this at peak eating hours or dining with a big group, things will probably take a while. Get yourself some cold barley tea and relax with your friends. And you'll be eating inside a little Japanese grocery store - I dig it, but not everyone will.
To begin with, this review is totally in the context of Evanston. Â Given that...
I love Sea Ranch. Â The prices are reasonable. Â The sushi is good. Â Not as much variety as a lot of fancy places but that's ok. Â I'd rather have less of a selection of really good food than a great selection that's either extremely americanized (cream cheese, jalapenos, bacon)(not that I dislike those foods, I just have trouble with them in sushi). Â I've never had a problem with freshness, but I almost always modify my order from the listed menu in some way or another (usually no roe). Â I always get it to go, never done the AYCE.
With Sea Ranch's prices, quality and flavor, I find it so surprising that Dozika, right down the street, can even stay in business.
I did see the sea ranch. Not by the sea shore, or with sea shells, but it was still interesting. I note that the dragon rolls and caterpillar rolls in particular have avocado on the rolls - if you're a fan of that (as I am), I think you will enjoy their rolls.
Overall the quality is good and I did want to say I do agree with other reviews commenting on how it's not 80% rice 20% substance like some places tend to do. At $23 or so, I would expect that it'd be of decent quality, and it is.
If you've ever seen sea ranch, the first thing that comes to mind is a grocery store - because it has one inside, essentially. Not necessarily sushi, but that is indeed how they shine.
I did the all you can eat (AYCE) and we tried a soup that was....odd, if not a very unique flavor. I think my wife hated it, to be honest. I think the phrase was something like "Dead hobo soup".
Meanwhile, the options for the sushi menu are pretty good and include decent appetizer options along with noticeably fresh edamame as well. Â Green tea included is also nice. Â I think I will come back here some time to check it out again. There wasn't much too it, so simply put: decent sushi, a little expensive, decent service.
This place is a hidden gem. I have listed things below to try.. the list is long but informative.
If you are ever in need of quick, cheap sushi then you go to Sea Ranch. If you find yourself out of soy sauce or any kind of asian necessity then you go to Sea Ranch. Being Japanese I can not live with out some Japanese items.
Things to look forward to at the Ranch:
- Cheap sushi
- A variety of Ramen & soups
- Bunch of Japanese groceries
- To go sushi lunch packs
Other things most people overlook:
- [Japanese candy]: I have been eating this since I was 5 ... that is why I have a bootay. Anyhooters, you should try the candies that are hanging on hooks... right on the endcaps is where you can find them. They are different colors, come individually wrapped, and have pictures on the outside of what fruit flavor they are, since most of us, including myself do not speak -a- any- Japanese. There are gummies & candies that melt in your mouth & they literally sh#t on gummie bears or any mass-marketed brand name candy.
-[Pocky]: little sticks covered in different flavors. Oh, what kind of flavors you ask? ... Strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, almond, cappacino& the list can vary.
-[Frozen gyoza]: japanese dumplings come in Vegetarian, pork, beef and chicken options.
-[Mocchi]: Â Some sort of Rice cake dough that is wrapped around ice cream. What kind of flavors of fatty-ness do their mocchi selection come in?... green tea, chocolate, strawberry, more fattening flavors.... yadda yadda
-[Japanese Pop]: What kind of Japanese store would this be if Japanese pop was no where to be found? Not, a very authentic one... These bottles come in different fruity flavors and the pictures on the front of the bottle help you decipher which is which. The bottle is weirdly shaped AND that is because when you unwrap the bottle there is a marble preventing your mouth from sucking on that delish thing. You must pop the marble down with your thumb, this will prevent the bottle from over-fizzing. It is said after you are done with the drink you can try to play a game by getting it out.
-[Package Tofu & Miso]: make your own miso soup
-[ Seaweed Flakes]: for your rice and Japanese dishes!
I deduct one star because they are a bit overpriced with their groceries, but Mitsuwa is no where near me so this is my only options for Japanese groceries.
Great little sushi place in Evanston. Â Found it by accident this past Sunday as my fave tapas place was closed until 5pm. Â Anyway, the sushi is very fresh. Â The service is very friendly and the prices are very reasonable. Â You can order off the menu and pay per roll or opt for a buffet (which limits your roll choices) for $22.99 I believe.
It is inside a small Japanese grocery store, so don't expect anything fancy, but it does have a certain charm to it. Â I definitely will be back!
Best sushi in Evanston, but is that really saying much?
I hail from the west coast where fresh fish is a god-given right, so I've been spoiled all my life (especially with my being Japanese). With that said, I realize Evanston isn't a 'seafood town', so I take that into consideration.
The ambiance:
Half convenient store (with mainly Japanese products) and half sit-down sushi bar/restaurant. It's tiny, a bit cozy and intimate, and it's nice. It's a utilitarian setup since they've been able to accommodate a lot of seating in a very small amount of space.
The food:
I've only had the all-you-can-eat (AYCE) for $2X, which wasn't bad. You can order any of their special rolls, which at $10-14 each, you can recoup your AYCE price with a couple orders. I'm not much of a special roll-eater (I'm mainly here for the fish and sushi rice, not so much the fixins and dressings), but they're tasty. You can also order soup and appetizers in the AYCE. I ordered all the Spicy special rolls they had--I think it was the Spicy Chicago that I liked the most. It's been 2 months since I was there, so I might be wrong.
The service:
Nice and friendly. Not much to comment on (which is always good).
I'm not a fan. If you compare the selection/options available at House of Sushi or Sushi Para to this place, it don't compare. There just aren't as many options for the AYCE as those other places (and no included appetizer options either) and yet they charge the same price, plus the service is pretty slow. I came here with a group of friends and we were here for almost 2 hours, but were able to get in maybe two rounds before they were closed.
I guess another thing is that I should stop getting AYCE options when I go out, although this time I didn't have a choice because you can only order that option for the entire table and everyone else wanted it. The sushi itself here is decent. But really, I don't have the urge to eat until I'm bursting inside and until each piece tastes the same as the last.
This is by far the best sushi i have had in Evanston! I absolutely LOVE sushi, and can honestly eat it every hour of everyday. I have been so disappointed since moving to Evanston a couple years ago to not have found "THE" sushi place up here. I have always drove past Sea Ranch and thought it was odd that a grocery-type store would have sushi, so I had been reluctant to try it.
Thank GOD I finally decided to try it tonight! The sushi was so fresh, and unlike most special rolls, you can actually taste the fish! I thought the prices were very decent too. It's also a big plus when the staff is really nice as well.
My only negative about this place is that there aren't any descriptions of all the rolls. I can never remember what is what, and each sushi chef is different, so i like to read what the rolls are. This was hard for me to decide what to eat.
Other than that, really the best place to go to! I cannot wait to go back to try more!!!
A wonderful no frills sushi place in Evanston. I love the casual eat-in/take-out layout that invites you to stay, but allows a quick in-and-out if that's what you're in for. The freshness of their fish is top-notch in my experience and prices are on the low end of what you'll find elsewhere in Evanston and just about anywhere on the north side of the city. Very professional and friendly staff who get the order 100% correct (and double-check) every time!
MUST get back for AYCE some night. Oh, that will be one happy day!
The first time that I stopped here was Friday November 17, 2006. Â (Don't ask.) Â I may recall the date due to reasons unrelated to the restaurant, but my only memory of the food is that the sushi was warm. Â Not warm, but room temperature, which just did not feel right in my mouth. Â The stuff tasted all right but was warm and a little mushy. Â No thank you.
But, a few weeks ago I decided to give them another shot, and was very pleasantly surprised. Â The maki were not warm, and not icebox-cold, but just in that Goldilocks spot in between. Â They weren't mushy at all either; the fish was all top-notch.
They knocked it out of the park with the yellowtail and scallion, a favorite standby, and the spicy sea scallop, something new to me. Â I also liked the shitake, which I use as my sushi dessert. Â They fell a little short on the oshinko, which I treat as sort of a side-dish roll. Â The pickles were nice and crisp but had barely any tang. Â But other than that one, the other three tasted better without any soy-sauce embellishment, which is always preferable.
$14 for all that seemed like a good price. Â They also have numerous specials with various combinations of rolls, rolls and noodles, rolls and sashimi, etc etc. Â They also have an all-you-can-eat noodles and rolls for $19. Â Based on the photos, I want to come back to try a few of the noodle dishes. Â With warm weather approaching, I may have missed my chance for a little while, but when I'm feeling like a light, cool dinner this summer, I will be sure to hit up Sea Ranch.
I think I found my standby for Lawrence Fish Market. Â Sea Ranch has rolls at comparable prices, udon, and other Japanese comfort foods. Â I thought the quality of the sushi was quite good for the price. Â So if I'm in the mood for quick and cheap Japanese comfort food, I'm gonna skip Dozika and walk across the street.
My only complaint is that the grocery items such as mochi ice cream etc, are marked up.
Sea Ranch gets 4 stars from me because they are about the only place that makes an attempt at serving ramen in all of the North Suburbs area. Â (Something they serve in a combo with a california roll for just $8.99)
As for the sushi and makis there isn't anything that sets this place above Sashimi Sashimi up the street on Chicago. Â From what I've read, the Japanese rice candies/cookies, ika (squid) and wakame (seaweed) salads, the cheap prices, and the good quality of the fish are what people love about this place. Â And Sashimi has the exact same products, if not in larger portions and lesser costs, so I don't see what the big deal is. Â In regards to all of its mini mart items .. they pretty much sell everything you could get at H-mart for more $$$ - I guess at your convenience.
I do like the "Sushi deluxe" that they offer here -- it's 10 pieces of assorted nigiri as well as one kappa (cucumber) roll. Â And I definitely agree about the service - VERY cute and friendly.
Since I don't eat seafood, I can eat at any sushi restaurant and need not complain about the quality or freshness of it. I like and only eat vegetarian sushi. I've been to Sashimi Sashimi in downtown Evanston, but Sea Ranch (odd name for a sushi joint) is closer to home, the food comes out faster, and the staff is very polite. The prices are merely cents higher here. They also serve soba and ramen noodle soups, all of which are great for lunch. If you're not in the mood for sushi, they offer Asian goods like Japanese rice, snacks (Super Lemon = the SOUREST candy. Yum.), and drinks for sale.
Unfortunately, every time I've gone to Sea Ranch there are preteens hanging out, talking about themselves (the most important subject matter at that age) and taking up tables. School starts in a week. Hallelujah.
Sea Ranch still rates a 4 1/2 from me. For all the reasons I've mentioned before. But now that we have sampled just about everything on their menu (the website menu - when you actually go in, there are many additional options that go beyond Sushi including noodle dishes, salads and soups - and if you cook - don't forget to look into the fresh fish and seafood - that really are impeccably fresh and yet cost like half of what you'd pay at say, Whole Foods or Burhops.
As of now my two most favorite rolls (in fact I think I might be addicted!) are the Oregon Roll (spicy tuna, avocado and on top of the seaweed wrap - a generous slice of smoked salmon (a bit pricy at $10 for 8 good sized pieces.) It's like a melt-in-your-mouth taste of heaven. I also can't get enough of the Spicy Crawfish Salad (a bargain at $6 - though only six pieces, they are BIG - for my mouth - like three bites per piece) they have a bit of fish roe mixed in which gives it a wonderful "crunch."
I know some of you find this place to be good - but not the best - and I can't argue with that. (I am a Sushi Snob - as my husband would gladly point out.) But it is really good and very reasonably priced.
You like Sushi. You like the atmosphere very simple and you like extraordinarily nice(simple) and Smiling waitstaff. Â This is the place to go. Marcus(sp?!) is awesome, and his smile lights up the restaurant(store, and nearby city block). Â Yes, he and the Sushi Chef are awesome.
All the rolls are deliciously prepared. Â They have green tea complimentary drink for all your orders. They have small shop to buy asian eatables to shop from. Â They have little stash of everything to buy from. Â The prices are affordable. Sizes of meat served are good portions.
Enjoy the food and shopping at the store too. Â Wish they were open little late.
I adore Sea Ranch! No atmosphere to speak of- but wonderful service, flavorful combinations of sushi at great prices. I have dragged everyone who loves sushi to Sea Ranch- explaining before hand that there is no decor and it smells like fish- but they will love the Spicy Tornado roll (seared salmon on top), Spicy Spring roll (shrimp, avacado and spicy mayo) along with seaweed salad (my new fave).
The cashier knows me by name and has been kind enough to make my sushi at 6:59 and hold it until 7:25 when I finally make it into Evanston. I did convince him to change his hours a little- but he just went back 30 minutes to 7:30 sushi bar closing when I would love for it to be 9pm.
Free green tea,ice water and they won't nickle and dime you for spicy mayo- plus a lot of their special combos are in easy to go packs. Enjoy!
Five twinkling stars for the fabulous food; rest assured, you can get some quality sushi here. However, I'm knocking one off for the not-so-convenient hours. The sushi bar closes at 7pm while the store remains open til 7:30pm. Bad news for people like me who eat dinner late.
As for the sushi - you basically have three options:
1. Buy the ready-made nigiri's and maki's. You might want to avoid this unless you're in a rush and can't afford to wait for the fresh ones from the bar.
2. Place your order at the sushi bar. The chefs work quite fast, but you might have to wait around for a while. No big deal, though; you can shop for groceries in the meantime.
3. Buy the fish/sashimi at the counter and make your own delicacies at home. This would be a great option if you know how to flavor the rice. (Mitsukan sushi rice mix powder suffices for me!)
If you're not a fan of raw fish, do me a favor and try their awesome VEGETABLE FUTOMAKI!!  It is my #1 favorite item here...and I'm not even a vegetarian. They also have party trays, which are very reasonably priced for the number of nigiri/maki pieces you get. See here for pics: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.searanchsushi.com%2FCategoryList.aspx%3FisLunch%3Dfalse%26CategoryID%3D4&s=b3c784cc1675f37c5d30a2c320428691e83fab7f306fc39c94bd8f7e5a06beee" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.searanchsushi…</a>
As for the groceries - they have a decent variety of items that are hard to find within the few mile radius. Lots of Japanese snacks and instant foods.
Last few notes: There is a dining area next to the bar, which is great if you can make it before 7pm...and I have never tried it, but apparently you can order online. Oh, and did I mention their awesome VEGETABLE FUTOMAKI??
It's no Mitsuwa, but it's a close second. Â It's part Japanese grocery store and sushi bar, so it's a great place to pick up mochi, pocky, or everybody's questionable favorite: wasabi peas. Â Lots of pre-made sushi chilling in the supermarket-style coolers, but you really want to walk up to the sushi bar and get a Volcano or Crispy Tuna roll.
There's definitely cheaper sushi in Evanston, possibly even better, but this place is a Jack of All Trades where everyone is bound to find something they like.