Sushi Kushi Toyo
Sushi Kushi Toyo — reliable japanese in Lake Forest. Old-school in the best sense, with zero pretense. The kind of cooking that doesn't need to explain itself. Cassie H: "The chicken katsu was fried perfectly, crisp on the outside and juicy chicken on the inside" [$$]
What 497 diners keep saying
What 497 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Sushi Kushi Toyo in Lake Forest always makes me feel like I’m back in Japan. The atmosphere is warm and authentic, the food is always delicious, and the staff are very friendly. One of the best Japanese restaurant experiences I’ve had in the U.S. ❤️ Thank you”

“I’ve never dined here but carry out at least 50 times. For the most part, the food is always ready on time and the staff is responsive and professional. The food is great and a staple if you’re looking for a good carryout sushi spot.”

“Sushi kushi remains the best and most authentic sushi and Japanese cuisine in the northern suburbs. I have been eating here a long time, but decided to update my review. The menu is very extensive. I still probably haven’t tried half the items. The sushi rolls are creative without being crazy. Sushi kushi is one of the few places that will have fish far beyond the usual tuna and salmon and eel. We also like the skewers though I still have no idea why they call them kushi instead of yakitori. Service is good and patient with explaining all the dishes and specials.”

“Most authentic Japanese cuisine in the Chicagoland area.”

“I love visiting this place once a week have great quality and flavor Indo recomend the vento box it is very complete meal and tasty usually a safe choice of flavor😋 only down side I didn’t like the wasabi this time was too artificial. Thats the only reason I am nor rating 5 star.”

“Food and service was great. Nice little place hidden away. Pic is of the bento box.”

“Our family has been coming here for over a decade; at least a couple of times/month. Every single time the food has been consistently great and the sushi is fresh. The staff know exactly who I am when I am there and always get the “Red Carpet” treatment.”

“We have been to Sushi Kushi Toyo a number of times. The Avocado Salad is to die for! We keep our bowls for entire meal so we can use that sauce on everything! Great selection of rolls and quality is always very good. Only reason I rated the atmosphere a 4 was that the dining area had a very strong smell of cleaner/disinfectant. While I appreciate things being clean, the strong scent was off-putting, especially to someone like me who is sensitive to some fragrances.”

“My recent visit to Sushi Kushi Toyo was okay overall, but it didn’t quite live up to the quality I’ve experienced in the past. The sushi, which is usually the highlight, wasn’t as fresh or flavorful this time around. It wasn’t bad, just noticeably below their usual standard. There’s definitely room for improvement, and I’m hoping future visits return to the level of quality I’ve come to expect.”

“Our server Lucy was PHENOMENAL! She is on point with service and is a great asset to Sushi Kushi. My friends loved their dishes, me personally I ordered the Veggie Udon (pictured) and it severely lacked flavor. It took loads and loads of soy sauce to make it edible. But, can’t complain about the price. Exceptional dining experience, just wish I ordered something different.”

“Ordered 2 of the Uni shooters to start with at $12.50 each. They had about 1/5 of one piece of Uni in each one, barely enough to cover the bottom of the shot glass. What a joke. I sent them back. Then got the sashimi that I ordered. Octopus size was a little bit bigger than my thumb nail. Service was poor only had 1 waiter during lunch hour. Tables were sticky. Used to be the real deal with Japanese sushi chefs. Now you don’t see any chefs. All portions have been heavily downsized. Went from a 10 out of 10 to a 3 out of 10. My guess is maybe new owners…”
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