02/25/09

GREAT Sushi, wonderful atmosphere

by joanbob

This is the perfect place to go if you want to have an authentic sushi experience... The food is amazing and the help is very kind. The atmosphere is very authentic, not like your average Chicago sushi restaurant. The waiters/waitresses speak limited english, but the experience is worth the food. It is some of the best sushi I have tasted.

11/22/08

itto sushi the worst sushi in chicago

by rocko1027

I recently tried sushi at itto sushi for the first time, and it was not worth the trip nor the low price they claimed. I went with a friend and we order miso soup which was the only thing that was good. we also ordered the seaweed salad which can be bought from any asian mart for way cheaper and a bunch of maki's, the chef's suprise, dragon roll, shrimp tempura,tuna avocado, spicy tuna. the fish did not taste fresh, almost immitation. Their rice was dry and there were no taste to it at all. The shrimp tempura was not fried properly, it lack the "tempura" and the spicy tuna and tuna avocado were super slim and all unevenly cut, it all lacked presentation. We also ordered an appetizer of deep fried white fish with steak leaves, that tasted like something off the floor, it was not worst $8.00 for an appetizer. The service on the other hand was not so great, the waitstaff did not know no more than a few words of english and the chef was too busy talking to a friend than to make our order. Over all expeirence of itto sushi is the smell when you walk in, it was very difficult to describe, just weird. Never again will we ever go there.

• Cons: thumbs down the worst experience

01/28/08

Best Service

by jwhipkey1288

The sushi is wonderful and the service is great. My boyfriend and I have been there several times and the service has continued to impress us, along with the food. A waitress greets you at the door and asks where you would like to sit (depending on how many tables are available). Almost immediately after being seated a drink order can be taken and menus are placed on the table. The staff is efficient and kind. This restaurant is highly recommended.

11/21/07

It is over priced

by leoulas

First time there with my girlfriend and two of her friends we found it just ok. not worth it for the amount that we paid. will not go back, more for your money else where.

08/31/07

Itto veterans

by fredsox49

My wife and I have been eating at Itto Sushi since it was on Clark Street. It is the only sushi restaurant we patronize on a regular basis, which is notable because we can't walk there since we moved 9 years ago (o.k., the free parking helps).

The food is always fresh and varies with what's in season. The head man has been there for years (yes, even back to Clark Street). I always order the Spanish mackeral when it's available and also end each meal with an uni. The beer selection is excellent. Service is fast and courteous and the price is reasonable, especially if you're a Rewards Network member.

We never been disappointed, and I doubt that you will be either. Autographed menus by Michael Jordan, Ichiro, Shingo Takatsu and Tadihito Iguchi prove that you don't have to be glitzy to attract both the famous and local favorites.

• Pros: Excellent food and service. Free parking.

10/26/06

Not the best in IL but certainly best in Lakeview and Lincoln Park area

by cardnexus

Itto sushi is the best sushi house in the Lakeview and Lincoln Park area.

It is probably the third best sushi house in IL besides two Sakuras in the west.

Therere tons of Japanese restaurants on Halsted and Broadway but, the truth may hurt you, none of them are good.

Itto sushi isnt for general American customers. It is for customers who know at least a little bit Japanese food/culture.

For instance, the knowledge of knowing if a Nigiri is in the right shape, if the firmness of the rice is right and if the chef is taking extra steps to finish a Nigiri.

So if you think one of the dishes you ordered from one of the Japanese sushi house in that area owned by Thai or Korea which you cant tell and who drizzles soy sauce on top of the sushi is very cool, then dont even step in Itto sushi.

Having said that, Itto is not the best in IL, they are struggling with some dishes. They have problem with the presentation and the freshness of the fish is not always satisfied.

So avoid dishes other than Sushi and Nigiri coz its not their strong side.

• Pros: Not the best in IL but certainly best in Lakeview and Lincoln Park area
• Cons: There's Sakura

06/01/04

Fresh and generous cuts of fish have made this a neighborhood favorite since the early '90s.

by Peter Behle

The Scene
Seating-wise you can sit up front the counter, or grab a table in the quieter back room. This is a family-run affair where the chefs run the show, the waitresses welcome regulars as soon as the front door opens, and everybody swivels to watch TV. It's like eating in your living room, only with buttoned-down young professionals for company and a top-notch crew preparing the trays. And free parking--a shocker in Lincoln Park--in the back. Drop in before 7pm and expect to find a good number of families with kids chowing down on tempura and pot-stickers.

The Food
A unique appetizer is the generically named grilled scallops. When the dish arrives at your table, however, you'll be wowed by the healthy portion of plump scallops and green onions in a mild soy-garlic sauce, kept warm by a magic flame that burns out just as you finish the dish. Try the spicy tuna rolls (with the Tabasco-drenched mayonnaise) or the chef's special rolls--which change nightly according to what's fresh available, but your server will be happy to describe.

08/07/03

Average, at best

by clueless1

Having eaten sushi at most places in Chicago, and at many places in the world (including Japan), I can't rate Itto Sushi very highly. I have eaten here twice, and in each instance, was amazed at the sushi-san's demeanor and lack of skill.

They claim to have the freshest fish, but since every sushi place (except for one that I know of) buys their fish from Rainbow (the Moonie operation that has cornered the market), it's a false claim. The fish was adequate...some had been sitting around too long, the rice was sticky and somewhat pasty, and the sushi-san was completely inattentive to what the sushi bar patrons (including my Japanese companion) were asking for.

Furthermore, on both occasions, they were out of many fish. And despite my continued asking about kani (ie, crab) and being assured that they did have it, they still served me the fake crab! Arrrghh.

• Pros: attentive waitress
• Cons: poor fish selection, aloof sushi chef, poor value

07/29/03

Authentic Japanese for a change

by duke851

Itto is by far the best authentic Japanese Sushi restaurant in the city. Maybe due to the fact that it is one of the few true Japanese owned and operated Sushi restaurants. I have been a regular customer for 5 years and have always been very happy with the food and service. It reminds me a lot of the Sushi I ate when I was posted in Japan unlike most of the other places I have tried in Chicago which tend to have a very Korean flare. It can be very busy on the weekends but you can always hang out at the bar and talk to Michi the bartender who will keep you entertained.

If you want real Japanese style Sushi and great service then Itto is the place for you!

• Pros: authentic, friendly, great food
• Cons: crowded on weekends

02/07/03

Average sushi, nice restaurant

by shcmaster

It has a nice sushi bar, and plenty of chefs. But for the price it's not that worthy. They may boast daily fish flown in, but the freshness is about the same as other sushi places. There are many waitresses.

Saba (mackerel) was not so good, much better at Cafe Sushi on Wells.