Happy International Sushi Day: Chicago’s Best by Neighborhood

The following is a revised version of an article I wrote in January for Groupon. It has been updated to include additional restaurants as honorable mentions. See the original article here.

In the last ten years, sushi has become as plentiful on the Chicago scene as hot dogs. To be clear, this is a bad thing. There was once a time your average eater didn’t know the difference between maki and sashimi and food snobs preferred it that way. Culinary ignorance kept the raw seafood pool shallow enough to easily weed out the not-so-serious from the meticulously fresh and authentic sushi houses. Today, the market suffers from fishy inflation and it’s growing increasingly difficult to tell the faking flounders from the master sharks.

How do you spot a great sushi restaurant? Three things to look for: Fresh fish, excellent service, and reasonable prices.

Freshness. As a rule of thumb remember that if the smell is bold, the fish is old. This applies best to sashimi, raw fish served without rice. Compared to Maki (sushi rolls), which can be doused in anything from cream cheese to layers of mayonnaise, sashimi is naked, openly exposing the quality of seafood served. If your first whiff is anywhere near offensive, chances are the restaurant isn’t too particular about their quality.

Service. There’s no need to put up with poor service in a town as rich in restaurateurs as Chicago. You should expect a friendly wait staff and chefs who are happy to make recommendations. Nothing less.

Price. At the end of the day, this is raw fish. It shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. If exotic fish varieties are your thing, you already expect to pay more. Otherwise, for tuna, salmon and the like, assume your final bill will in no way compete with next month’s rent.

So which Chicago restaurants excel at the three most necessary elements?

Chicago’s Three Best Sushi Restaurants by Neighborhood

Sunda (Near North Side)

110 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Known for Billy Dec, food, and celebrity regulars (Barbra Streisand, Michelle Williams, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga, etc.) in that order, Sunda is a great place for people watching and date impressing. Apart from the spots lovely dim, romantic atmosphere, its new Asian fare is exceptional.

Suggestion: The crispy Brussels sprouts salad (which I mentioned in our review of AMK). I first ordered this item on a dare. Now, it’s my go-to appetizer. The crispy crunch created with fresh Brussels sprouts and fried shallots, topped with a homemade minced shrimp vinaigrette is more crave worthy than a bag of ruffled potato-chips.

Tip: Avoid the $7 spicy edamame. Grocery stores sell this veggie by the pound for $1.99. I really don’t see the point of buying it in smaller qualities for a much higher price at a place like Sunda. There are better ways to start your meal.

Union Sushi + Barbecue Bar (River North)

230 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Loved equally for its cocktails as it is for its plates, Union Sushi and Bar is a late night diner’s dream, opened till midnight Friday and Saturday. Come for a modern bar atmosphere and dishes that will blow your mind.

Suggestion: In addition to the fresh sashimi, I recommend the Clifton #4 Maki, stuffed with fried calamari, asparagus, and garlic mayo. Healthy? Not so much. Delicious? Absolutely.

Tip: The delicious scallop sashimi is essentially $6 for one small scallop? Swipe it out for a cocktail.

Enso Sushi & Bar (Wicker Park)

1613 North Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647

Where do I begin with Enso? This little black space ship of a restaurant is delightfully quirky. While hand-crafted cocktails are offered, along with an assortment of premium sake, Enso smiles upon patrons who favor bringing their own wine – waiving the first bottle’s corkage fee. In addition to these hospitable touches, the restaurant offers fresh, affordable sashimi, maki, and nigiri dishes.

Suggestion: The Soul of Fire Maki made with tuna, salmon, Sriracha, and Shishito pepper. It’s full of fire and flavor.

Tip: Skip dessert. Sweet tooth calling? Simply walk to the corner where you’ll be met by two of the city’s top doughnut bakeries (Stan’s, Glazed and Infused).