Hey Sushi

05/23/08

User-friendly sushi spot offers maki rolls for the masses.

by Contributor at Citysearch

Blonde wood tables, stainless-steel accents, and touches of blue neon give this open space a sleek, modern feel. Park yourself at the bar and grab fresh nigiri or rolls from the kaiten (conveyor belt), or wait to be seated and peruse the menu. Club music throbs at a reasonable level; in the side bar, patrons toss back martinis and sake cocktails. Newcomers to sushi will delight in Hey Sushi's Americanized menu, which features lots of tempura, teriyaki, and cooked combo rolls. Everything's fresh and reasonably priced. You'll find standard spider rolls and dragon rolls, plus a spicy tuna tempura roll served with a swirl of sweet Thai sauce. Hard-core sushi fans will find more than 20 kinds of nigiri, a standard selection ranging from suzuki (sea bass) to hamachi (yellowtail).

High Marks
"...a good place for people who need to fill that sushi craving but has a friend who loves Asian dishes only." (bleucandy, Citysearch user)

"The bar is a popular spot for young Lincoln Park professionals, serving an extensive list of specialty cocktails, martinis and sake." (schan 12, Citysearch user)

"The basics were nicely fresh, and the more unusual items were interesting and tasty." (jriehm, Citysearch user)

Low Marks
"...more of a sushi & danceclub place than a restaurant." (vegitoboi, Citysearch user)

"The place seemed too big... when I think sushi, I think intimate little places where you can watch the chef put together your meal." (absolutkira, Citysearch user)

"...the portions served on the rolls was wimpy (covered only 1/4 of the roll) in comparison with other sushi places." (borisloth, Citysearch user)

• Pros: good if you're squeamishspacious roomgood sake selection
• Cons: not for true sushi lovers

08/20/07

Is this a club or a restaurant?

by vegitoboi at Citysearch

Here's a place I heard about from one of those Food Network shows. I had high expectations about this place, especially when they had a sushi bar that "rotates" in a full circle and you pay by the number of plates you take off the rotating conveyor belt (it's something you have to see to believe). I've never seen something like that since my trip to Japan in 05. Anyway, I guess the best way to describe the place is that it's a hodgepodge trying to be 2 things in 1. Keep in mind, I checked out this place on a Sunday (8/19) around 2PM and the place was empty. When getting there, I felt like this was supposed to be a nighclub, hense the canopy entrance and the Eurodance music playing. On the left by the window are plush blue and purple couches with a DJ booth and lights hanging above the place. The far left there is table seating. The center is the rotating sushi bar that had low "almost kiddie seats" chairs. To the right in the next room is an low stocked bar. Although the athmosphere was akward for a Japanese restaurant, the place was spacious enough. The waitress was very polite (and cute), but also lacked the knowledge of the menu and the sake they had to offer. But onto the food. For a sushi place in Lakeview, I was disappointed. the pieces were small and expensive; I can get more for my money at Akai Hana in Wilmette. Although, I was impressed they had White Toro (White Fatty Tuna) and their rolls were one of a kind (i.e. Caviar Roll (which is more like smelt eggs on top of a cucumber roll, not real caviar)). Also, although the waitress was not knowledgeable about sake, the "sake flight" (4 different shots of sake) was an interesting experience ranging from the "cheap" sake to the "top shelf" served hot or cold. So, what's the bottom line? I would probably go at night and see if there is a difference to what I wrote. I'm convinced this place is more of a sushi & danceclub place than a restaurant. Go and give it a try, if you can find parking.

• Pros: Good list of sake, sushi selections you won't find anywhere else (i.e. caviar roll), plating
• Cons: NO PARKING!!!, proportions are small, Club or Restaurant?, staff not very knowledgable, overpriced

11/17/06

Decent prices, decent sushi

by absolutkira at Citysearch

Sushi is moderately priced and I would say, only okay. The fish seemed mostly fresh, but I didn't think that the rolls were outstanding. I liked the conveyor belt idea, but overall, the place seemed too big... when I think sushi I think intimate little places where you can watch the chef put together your meal. Unfortunately, you lose some of that at Hey Sushi. A good place for sushi beginners, friendly helpful staff. But if you know your stuff, you should probably head elsewhere.

• Pros: friendly staff

08/03/06

BEST Sushi in Chicago by far!!!

by happygirl05 at Citysearch

I walk by this place all the time. Sometimes its empty and sometimes they have a line out the door. Kinda strange, but I decided to try it anyway with my friends. I love thew clean lines of the interior and the openness of the space. Most sushi places are tiny and feel crampt. We tried their area 51 martinis and some tropical ones as well to start. Great drink menu by the way. Next we tried the nanami maguro appetizer which was a bit spicy but melted in our mouths. They introduced some new rolls lately and a sushi pizza. I hioghly recommend the godzilla and buddha rolls. Overall the service and food were excellent. I definitely recommend trying this place!!!

07/26/06

Hey awful sushi

by amandabolton80 at Citysearch

I was passing by and the beautiful, full menu in the window caught my eye. I was also impressed by the awards hanging next to it. Great, I thought, finally a sushi place I can go to. But I was wrong. I walked in and found three diners in the entire place, and though that should have been a warning sign, I shook it off and proceeded. I got my to go order promptly and walked home. My anticipation was mounting and it was at full effect when I took my first taste. It was awful. I had three different roles and all were terrible. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT. At all.

• Pros: It's close to where I live
• Cons: Everything that a restaurant should be

05/05/06

Yum

by carolineburd at Citysearch

I really enjoyed the food and drinks, and the service was kickin'. The only turn-off is that the place is never full. There's usually only a couple of people in there and the place is just so huge that it can look abondoned. Other than that it's great. The atmosphere was modern and clean, and you can smoke at the bar. Now that's rare for a sushi joint.

03/28/06

A yummy Asian fusion place :-)

by bleucandy at Citysearch

I love sushi but my boyfriend isn't the biggest fan. I went with my boyfriend and some friends that are sushi lovers and not sushi lovers (the ones that stick to california rolls only). After tasting dishes from the sushi and non-sushi menu, we all agreed that Hey Sushi had excellent chefs! My boyfriend usually shies away from raw fish but wolfed down the volcano roll which has jalapenos and tuna and barely left me a piece! The Bi Bim Bop with Bul Go Gi had the right amount of sweet and spicy flavors. Another friend ordered the Garlic Steak and was impressed its quality and taste.

Hey Sushi is a great combo of sushi and Asian dishes. I definitely recommend this place to people who need to fill that sushi craving but has a friend who loves Asian dishes only. That way, everyone can eat happy.

• Pros: creative sushi rolls, ambience, design
• Cons: parking

01/14/06

hey sushi

by schan125 at Citysearch

If you are looking for a trendy place to have mouth-watering sushi that your wallet can handle,try HEY SUSHI. The atmosphere is very upbeat with blue glow lights and great music in the background. You can choose to sit at their bar, tables or their cozy couches. No matter if you are a first time sushi eater or a veteran of tasting sushi, the menu will have just the thing for you. If you still cant decide or need some visual guides, you can relax at the sushi bar and grab fresh nigiri and rolls from their rotating conveyor belt. Prefer your things fully cooked? Not a problem! There is a sizable menu of beef, pork, chicken, vegetarian and seafood dishes that you can choose from. And drinks? Sure! The bar is a popular spot for young Lincoln Park professionals, serving an extensive list of specialty cocktails, martinis and sake.

• Pros: couches, atmosphere, menu
• Cons: parking

12/07/05

BEST Birthday EVER

by patrick_mcphearson at Citysearch

I had my birthday party here sunday night and I knew I was in for a long night when the waiter said all liquor was half off. Lemme tell ya the martin list is GINOURMAS I cant tell you which I liked best but all the chocolate ones kicked but. We ordered a huge boat LITTERALY a little wooden boat full rolls. The tuna roll they tempura was the best. Atmosphere was great and we were practically dancing in our seats to the dance music they play. I LOVE IT GUYS ROCK ON...see ya soon

• Pros: reasonable price, fast service, MuCHO maRTINIS
• Cons: parking can be tough

11/22/05

so sad

by skinny_hungry at Citysearch

I brought my boyfriend here to try sushi for the first time. It was so bad-falling apart, tasteless wasabi, questionable eel, - that I asked him not to try it. Really. I wanted the first time to be special. I was actually nervous that the food was going to make me sick but it didn't. It was creepy in the giant space without any other diners. I had hopes for this place. It reminded me of the uber-cute bubble-tea houses in Toronto. This place is not uber-cute, it is a mom in her teen's clothes, it reminds me of a mid-life crisis.

• Pros: circusy
• Cons: bad sushi