MY NEW FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT. Â Seriously, the staff at this place is amazing. Â I am a vegetarian and went here with a group of friends (who were all relatively unfamiliar to Japanese cuisine) and our waiter was so helpful in guiding each of our individual tastes and even made some really crazy substitutions for us. Â The food was just as great as the service (get the potato croquettes -- UNREAL.) Â I will absolutely be back!
Review Source:I'm a little hesitant to give this five stars as I've only been there once but this place definitely deserves five if all of my future visits are just as enjoyable as the first.
For appetizers, we ordered the gyoza and potato croquettes, both of which were delicious (albeit a little pricey). My wife had the katsudon (which she says was excellent) while i ordered the saba shioyaki (grilled mackerel) which was amazing. The fish was tender and juicy, a perfect combination of simplicity and flavor.
The staff was very friendly and attentive, even going so far as to give us fresh cups of green tea because they worried that our initial tea might've gone cold.
We will definitely be going back and trying more items on the menu!
I got the potato croquettes and the pork udon. My friend got the curry rice.
The pork udon was steamy-hot and totally perfect for a cold day. It tasted fresh and home-y. However, as another yelper mentions, the pork udon has like 3 tiny pieces of pork ... Common'! They charged me $10 for the whole bowl and pork is not expensive.
Potato croquettes tasted great, but $5 for 2 pieces is definitely on the pricier side.
It's a bit crowded if you go on the weekend - especially if you go in group. I suggest you call beforehand if that's your plan. They offer green tea and free refill.
Overall, very homey. If I ever hang out close by, I might com back.
This place is great !
When you sit down they serve you a hot cup of delicious green tea and the service is really good/friendly.
The potato croquettes are delicious and the Soba noodles (hot) with tempura is SO good. Â They are also nice enough to make the tempura all vegetable for me.
Also - the portions are great!
I would highly recommend going here on a cold night -- the hot soup will definitely cheer you up.
japanese homestlye food. I miss this from my childhood days in Japan so this has a soft spot in my heart. they do good, but its what you would get in an average japanese household, so no bonus points.
favorite dish: shio saba, broiled mackerel with salt. simple, elegant, delicious, highlights the raw ingredients.
Ahh Sunshine Cafe, how I love thee! Let me count the ways! I survived three long winters in Chicago and one of the bright spots during those cold nights was Sunshine Cafe! As a Filipino-American, I'm super picky about my Asian food and part of how I judge a place is to see if that particular ethnic group is eating there! Sunshine Cafe passes that part of the test! Then, I want to see how authentic it is. Well, the potato croquette is the best I have ever tested in my entire my life! And what in the world do they out in that crack sauce, I want to steal the bottle. It the Filipino Catholic guilt won't let me! Hehe...even though I no longer live in Chi-town I visit every year or every other year (scheduled to be there Easter 2013) and I don't have location itineraries when I visit towns I've lived in but I have food itineraries! Sunshine Cafe is on top of my list, even before Giordano's deep dish pizza (which when I lived there I ordered so much they have me a calendar with coupons-so embarrassing!).
Their udon noodles made me close my eyes and just breathe in the broth. It tastes like someone's Momma made it, which unless something happened it's a sweet Japanese lady that makes the food. Her specials can vary depending on her mood and what is fresh.
Plus even the waiter remembers me which is funny! My friend laughs that she goes there all the time and here I am living away and be remembers me and not her! I can be quite loud for a demure looking Asian lady (my friends are laughing that I said demure! Hehe). I miss you Sunshine cafe and will be back soon! Sending my love, your friend always, Michelle. :)
My boyfriend and I were looking for a place that serves some type of hot soup. We were looking for Pho but we don't like the selection here, so we opted for something new. Sunshine is definitely a good find!
The service is great and our server, who we think was probably the owner, was extremely kind and helpful. Â They serve complimentary green tea with every meal, which is perfect for a cold Chicago day. Â
I would recommend getting the potato croquettes as an appetizer and trying their udon. Â The pork cutlets are also great. Â Their portions are quite big, so if you have a small appetite, sharing will probably still be satisfying!
Located between a 7/11 and a church, Sunshine Cafe is easy to miss. Upon entering, don't expect to be impressed with modern decor or mood lighting. Instead, expect to be greeted by the friendliest staff of all time and a cozy, intimate interior.
Sunshine Cafe serves some of the best Japanese food I've had in Chicago. I can barely explain how much I love their Oyako Don. It is the perfect dish for a chilly Fall/Winter day. The combination of rice, chicken, and creamy sauce will cure any cold weather-induced depression.
This is always the first place that I recommend to friends who are looking for a bite to eat in Andersonville. Also, don't forget that it is BYOB!
Went last night for a birthday dinner. Â Loved that the place was flexible and able to accommodate a group of 7 of us. Â Service was extremely friendly, and BYOB is great. Â They reminded me they had my wine we hadn't drank before we left - thanks guys! Â Order a variety of small plates: potato croquettes (just as good as they claim), gyoza, shumai, edamame (served cold - ick!). Â Each person got an individual dish too. Â I ordered the Sukiyaki, a beef ad tofu noodle dish. Â It came with Miso soup, which was nice. Â The Sukiyaki was extremely salty, my tablemate had the same thing and she agreed. Â We wanted to add water to our broth. Â Everyone else at the table enjoyed their plates. Â
I'm on the fence between a 3 - 4 for this review. Â The apps were better than the entrees. Â However, between the great service/patience (we stayed kinda late), and the cheap, byob, final bill (20 bucks a person!!!), I'll go with 4 stars. Â Looking forward to coming back and trying a new entree.
This is kind of the perfect Japanese restaurant. The intimate, cluttered, homey atmosphere makes me feel like I'm in some house/restaurant combination somewhere in the mountains of central Japan. Everything from the green carpeting to the adorable ring on their phone lends itself to this image.
On top of that, the food is distinctive and exceptional. The potato croquette was both creamy and crunchy, and dipped into the "tangy" sauce that had just a hint of horseradish it was just gorgeous (as my British friend would exclaim). My main dish, the katsudon, was flavorful and filling. It was crunchy, savory and eggy with just the right amount of sweetness. My fiancées dish, the sukiyaki, was more overtly sweet and yet it was perfectly proportioned amounts of beef, cabbage, onions and sweet sauce, with a side of fluffy white rice.
Two old men, probably construction workers in their pre-retirement years, were regulars. I want to be just like them when I grow up.
We having been going to Sunshine for around seven years. I was delighted with the simple and excellent home-style cooking, and commented to my wife that this was "Grandma cooking". I got an odd look from the young man who managed the place. He came by later and explained that, in fact, his grandmother DID supervise the kitchen! We later had the pleasure of meeting this tiny, smiling lady on an evening when the waitstaff was short handed.
May she live one hundred years!
Various teriyaki dinner options which are all really good. I usually get the chicken teriyaki, my wife loves their beef teriyaki, and the shrimp/vegetable tempura is pretty good as well. You will get great friendly service, the dining area is small but we have not waited longer than 20 minutes, and I have been coming here for the last 10 years. Good food with reasonable prices.
Review Source:Sunshine Cafe was our compromise when the fella wanted pho and I was feeling like something new. So we went to this Japanese noodle shop to have something new.
If you're looking for friendly service, big portions and udon/soba noodles, this is a good bet. However, I wasn't totally overwhelmed by my tonkatsu (panko fried pork, kinda like Japanese milanesa) or our potstickers (came out a little lukewarm). The seaweed salad was pretty tasty.
The tonkatsu sauce was a little sweet for me, and the pork alone just didn't have very much flavor. The pork comes alongside a standard salad, some pickles and white rice. Anyway, not bad but I don't think I'd order this dish again. My dude's food was a little bit better (he got the katsudon).
Still, one less than perfect meal does not a bad restaurant make, especially when the service was good and a brothy noodle soup will be just what the doctor ordered come wintertime. I'd definitely come here again and try something else.
Delicious! Â I decided to try this place out (though it's a little far from where I live) since it has such great reviews on yelp. Â I have to say I was NOT disappointed and will be coming back for more! Â Although this place doesn't have sushi, their warm dishes are absolutely cooked to perfection. Â I had the Sukiyaki and my boyfriend had the Chicken Teriyaki, plus some gyoza and potato croquettes for the appetizer. Â We had EVERYthing! Â It was so good! Â The waiter was also very friendly.
If you're a fan of japanese food, you must visit this place!
I love going here with my cousins. Their food tastes very authentic Japanese homemade food (not sushi) and the cooked fish they serve to your liking are fresh! This place just brought me back to Sapporo when I visited my friend some time back. I should probably give this place a four-star because they kept running out of homemade green tea and red bean ice cream or maybe it's that good that it disappears by the time I get here.
The server is so funny! I like wit-fencing with him. He's always smiling when you enter and makes you feel right at home. He's also very attentive of everyone. Â I think he has several regular customers or maybe we all end up coming back to become regular customers.
Ok, udon was pretty amazing. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical that I could get a good bowl of udon in a restaurant so I was pleasantly surprised by this. Some places (even in California!) will only give me freshly julienned cucumbers and carrots as vegetables; they wouldn't even be cooked WITH the broth. This place was different, and I was glad for it. I ordered the chicken udon, and the portion of meat, vegetables, noodles, and soup was very generous. SO GOOD!
My friend also ordered some potato croquettes. I like those too.
I will definitely come back to try their other items.
Food: 2
Decor: 3
Service: 4
I came here with my gf for dinner Wednesday around 7pm.
1. Potato croquettes, 4 <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/WRKg8qiv9gv3abTHMR7Viw?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ#1nyv5wMXE4r5IZjuTLI3Hg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Really good. Best koroke I've had.
2. Rice ball with ume, 3 <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/WRKg8qiv9gv3abTHMR7Viw?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ#lTNO__gkDZ6jyMpKQrzxiQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Disappointing. Rice ball wasn't that great, and the ume was too sour.
3. Katsudon, 12 <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/WRKg8qiv9gv3abTHMR7Viw?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ#s6nJ-pvMr6qJ4EZ-rsnlvQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Subpar. Too salty.
4. Soba, 11 <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/WRKg8qiv9gv3abTHMR7Viw?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ#lezE2nSwRyKJDOK_RqE4JQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Disappointing. A ton of noodles and not much on top. Gf said it was loaded with MSG.
I stopped by for dinner on Wednesday night and the place was somewhat packed. I usually never order without consulting Yelp for the best option, but we were in a bit of a rush so I decided to be daring and ordered the hot soba with pork. My bf got the katsudon and a rice ball with ume, plus we split an order of potato croquettes.
I've never had Japanese homestyle food so I was curious to see what it was all about, but I learned that I'm not a fan. Do you notice that you're feeling thirsty after eating dinner here? That's because their dishes (or at the least the ones we sampled) are loaded with msg. My soba broth was bland and didn't taste like anything except else salt and msg (adding the chili pepper helped a little I guess), plus the toppings were sparse. There were maybe 4-5 small pieces of bland pork and a few veggies total, and a heaping ton of noodles. The katsudon was relatively more flavorful, but has the same problem with msg and was also way too salty.
Food quality was average and would usually warrant 3 stars from me, but I had to drop it to 2 for all the salt and msg. Service was great and the food came out fast, but otherwise it's not my cup of tea.
One of my favourite places in Chicago...it's an old school, home style japanese place where they don't usually serve sushi, but just the japanese kitchen food, such as udon, sukiyaki, etc...
As much as i love eating anything raw, I love this place, esp, the fact that the chef is this retired japanese woman who just wants to cook up something yummy in the back! Every time I eat here, I felt like I am eating at a grandma's house, comfortable and yummy home cooked food :)
BYOB is always a plus ;)
I've been eating at Sunshine Cafe for many , many years and still love the place . I love their appetizers and always make a point of eating too many of them so that only eat a little of my entree and so be sure to have leftovers . That's how I roll .
The service is friendly and efficient and I always enjoy seeing the same familiar faces there year after year .
Oh , and the potato croquettes . Effing , unfairly , delicious ! Plus Sunshine Cafe is BYOB and close to several liquor stores and the food is a great bargain quality-wise and portion-wise . I highly recommend Sunshine Cafe to anyone interested in authentic Japanese food and charming service .
I just got a loving hug from the Japanese grandmother I didn't know I had and it came in the form of sukiyaki.
And oh, what a great big hug it was.
Finally, after living in the neighborhood all these years, I managed a visit to Sunshine. This. This is just what I needed.
Our group shared orders of the potato croquettes and tempura. Both were mighty fine, with the potato croquettes being a smash hit. The sukiyaki completed my quest for good Japanese comfort food In Chicago. The broth was perfectly slightly sweet with just the right tang. All of the ingredients were served together in a hot pan in a beautiful medley of soupy broth. If there is one dish you need to try, this is it.
Drink up the green tea, and BYOB, if inclined. Sit back, and enjoy extremely casual dining. This is family joint, even so much that is feels like my [imaginary] Japanese grandmother set up a restaurant in her garage. That's OK, because after you're done eating, you'll feel warm, hugged, and very full. It's going to hard to keep me from going back every week.
I came here for dinner a few months ago with a good friend. I'd walked past the place numerous times and it always looked a little odd from the outside, but having been told it gave truth to the idiom "don't judge a book..." I looked forward to some delicious food.
Not disappointed. Excellent bowl of noodles (can't remember exactly what I ordered but it had noodles, vegetables and broth if that helps). Remarkably tasty without being overly salted. I was full barely halfway through, which only goes to show just how big a serving it was. BYOB is always convenient and good service even more so.
I haven't been back since but I fully intend to rectify that shortly. Possibly when my mother is in town. She does love a good noodle.
My rating is based more on cost as compared to your typical or overpriced Japanese place that says its authentic but only serves sushi. I spent my summer on an internship in Japan for 2 1/2 months and I had been caring some decent Japanese food. I'm also a college student, so I'm looking to be cheap.
Now, to address the whole health department thing. First of all, I didn't care. If you've traveled abroad before you know the places that don't sparkle actually have some of the best food. Plus, I've thought Americans have an absurdly high expectation for cleanliness. I mean, the Chicago health department stopped my college from having a scoop your own ice cream. Anyways. I tried to get a peak back there and it looked like they had some well polished new equipment. I didn't see much, but from what I could see it looked fine now.
I had the ramen with tempura. I also shared some gyoza with friends. The gyoza was good. Wish it could have been a bit more crispy, but its how they make it. The ramen was great and so was the tempura. It was nice that the cost of the green tea was free with a meal. It's far from the best Japanese food I've had (which was in Japan, so that's ok), but it was fantastic for the price. Just as well, the service was quick and super friendly. The owner seated us quickly and it wasn't long till our orders were out. I left Sunshine Cafe stuffed with delicious Japanese food for about $12-13. One thing I loved about the place is that it wasn't trying to be fancy, hip or anything. It was simple and plain. No frills. Just good food for some good prices. Cool thing too, the menu is on foursquare if you wana check it out before going.
I'll be back.
Closed by the Health Department.
Nasty, Nasty, Nasty! Â Do you know how disgusting a kitchen has to be before the Chicago Health Department finally shuts 'em down? Â The list of unforgivable offenses was about a mile long. These tools clearly don't care about their (former) customers. Â I'll never, ever, ever walk through their grease coated doors again.
Nasty!
We eat at Sunshine probably once a week - and when we miss a week, we get pretty down. It has become one of our favorite spots. Dan and the rest of the crew are SO friendly and welcoming - they make you feel right at home!
If you are looking for some swanky, nightcluby sushi spot... Sunshine is NOT it! If, on the other hand, you are looking for consistent, delicious, affordable Japanese comfort food... you will likely become a Sunshine regular.
Highlights that we order all the time: cold edamame, gyoza with great spicy sauce, tempura soba (yummy broth and tempura served on the side so it stays CRISP!), chicken teridon, tonkatsu, nanban yaki,... basically whatever you order will be tasty!
We were devastated when we walked by and saw the "license suspended" sign on the door. We're currently trying to figure out if there is some way we can help Sunshine get open again (very selfish desire on our part!). Once they reopen, we will resume our weekly visits. Can't wait!
Home away from home, that is what Sunshine Cafe is to Andersonville. One of the greatest restaurants in the city, it possess a quality that cannot be purchased.
The first thing my friends and I said when we heard the news of the close was "how can we help?" and we encourage everyone in the neighborhood to do the same.
Can't rate. Just arrived at the front door. Closed. Sign reads "license suspended", posted 12/8/11.
Looks like it failed inspection: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchicago.everyblock.com%2Ffood-inspections%2Fdec08-sun-shine-restaurant-failed-inspection-4524468%2F%3Futm_campaign%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_source%3Drss&s=b8024612b66e99e4fc8846aa50e67e2ab3bf3b5ca72e016d538a4edc46705b26" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://chicago.everybloc…</a>
We usually go for sushi whenever a Japanese craving hits, but sometimes we like to mix it up with hot dishes from the kitchen. I usually find some comfort in a good udon, my boyfriend prefers something over rice.
I wasn't feeling sushi, but I was feeling udon. So he found Sunshine Cafe and reported it had good ratings and a single $ sign, so off we went.
'Twas exactly what I needed. The portion of tempura udon was perfect and comforting. We tried the potato croquettes and weren't impressed, at least not for the price we paid and the portion we got. Bf got their special of a whole rainbow trout with a miso dressing and that was cooked well and was delicious.
The service was friendly and prompt. We felt comfortable from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. Since I live in Bridgeport, it's not likely we'd be able to go too often, but it's great to know that this little place with comfort food is not too far out of reach.
Rule of thumb (or THE FINGER... inside joke) is if Mike K approves then you're good to go. Yes, yes if Mikey likes it...
No joke, it really is Japanese comfort food. At the end of the meal you sit back or roll back (pending the amount you've eaten), scratch your belly and say ahhhhh. The service is so good they might even scratch you belly for you. Seriously, the service is excellent! The manager or owner (??) was making jokes about the size of the bowl (it's HUGE) saying "if you need a bigger bowl just let me know and I'll get more". Also, don't let the look of the building or the decor scare you.
Being a wussy and not knowing what to order I went with Mike K's suggestions. I got the Korokke (potato croquette) which alone is pretty good but with the spicy sweet sauce they provide, it's a knock out. I also went with the vegetable Udon, which I can only compare it to a hearty soup of maybe even Pho. Tender noodles, awesome rejuvenating broth, and some crisp vegetables, this will easy become my go to place for colds and hangovers. I can't wait to go back and try other things. Â
Nice find and in the hood even. Plus BYOB = Cheap hearty dinner!
It's cold and rainy. Â I'm pregnant, he's grumpy. Â No one's cooking tonight.
To Sunshine Cafe we go.
1.) BYOB - helps his mood.
2.) Hot green tea - helps mine.
3.) The food:
Potato croquettes
Shumai
Ten don
Hot soba with pork
Green tea ice cream
Everything was perfect! Â The wasabi mixture that comes with the shumai knocked my socks off initially, but I just needed to do a smaller dip. Â And the sauce that comes in those stock 50's diner syrup containers...well, it was half empty (half full?) by the time we left the table. Â It's delicious on everything!
The potato croquettes and tempura weren't greasy at all - as is the tendency of deep fried foods - and honestly, we have no complaints. Â We had even warmed up so much we shared ice cream at the end of the meal. Â
4.) The staff:
SO NICE. Â Made us feel so welcome. Â
No complaints - try it out!
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