Sushi Kame

This is the best sushi restaurant in Champaign, hands-down.  I don't like Yellowfin (inconsistant with freshness), I don't like Sushi Rock or Sushi Avenue (both cheap but neither tastes very good), I definitely don't like Kamakura (bad service and crappy food), I don't like Miso (Urbana...across from Carle??), Oishi is ok (#2 on my list for sushi, but a very distant #2 -- they get points for creativeness and plating) and Kofusion is local but is very over rated ($1 sushi night on Monday is ok, but most selections are cooked and have either cream cheese or something "tempura" worked into it one way or another).  And it still stands that there is no good gyoza in Champaign.... no one pan fries them properly... they're usually very soggy and the filling sucks.  Better off to make your own.

They have bento boxes for about $10-$13 for lunch.  They start you off with a cold noodle dish (very good) and some miso soup.... I had my one year old son with me once, and they brought out more tofu cubes for him.... he gobbled them all down saying, "More cheese! More cheese!!!" (whatever gets him to eat tofu! LOL).   The fish is good -- I mean, it's not the kind of fresh fish that you'd get in Tokyo or NYC, but it is GOOD.  The rice is seasoned well.   The tempura in the box is also very good -- not a heavy breading like other restaurants have.  

I came in the other day at 1pm and it was BUSY.  The busiest I've ever seen.  There was only one waitress.... but the service was OUTSTANDING for it being one service.  She had some sort of system down because she had it down -- no one was left waiting or fuming.  Water glasses were kept filled, food was hot (or room temperature if you ordered sushi), food was prompt, checks were dealt with fast and I was left dumbfounded -- I couldn't believe how wonderful the service was that day -- I mean, I didn't want the waitress chit chatting with me but for the amount of tables she was dealing with, it was excellent.  I tipped her well that day..... and this is why I gave this restaurant five stars today..... usually it would be about a four star.... but her service (and I believe she is either the wife of the owner or at least a long standing waitress) was impeccable.

Lunch Bento set is of good value - the portion is decent and the food tastes great.  The ambience is also good and the restaurant looks clean.

Great place and certainly less crowded than Ko Fusion on a weekend. The service was courteous and I really enjoyed the chirashi I had which is basically sashimi over rice. My friends also had the chicken teriyaki and a couple different rolls. We were all content with our meal and I definitely plan on coming back. This is a much simpler sushi place with more traditional dishes you'll see at a regular sushi place compared to Ko Fusion which has a lot of American sushi rolls and honestly sometimes gimmicks.