24 Best Japanese Restaurants near Waukegan

“I beg my partner to take me here as a treat. Best sushi place to dine in, at Waukegan. I love it here 😭. They have so many different options, and the food is always delicious, the presentation is always there too. The service is always friendly and quick. Things can add up pretty quickly, but I’ll definitely keep coming back for the sushi! The Foxy Roll is my new favorite. I wish they had more desert options though. It’s never hard to find parking but the roads to the parking lot could use repairs.“

“Great food. will definitely recommend“

“Food is always great and their service is amazing. They have an extensive menu with everything from great appetizers to traditional Japanese desserts. Good selection of drinks both regular and adult. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food and service. You can depend on having a great experience!“

“Very fresh and good food.“

“This spot's ideal for a sushi or bento lunch break, dinner date with your partner, group hibachi experiences, or if you're just craving quality japanese food in general 🙇🏻‍♂️❤️‍🔥 Well worth the trip coming from the city for it's cozy vibe and warm, attentive service, and their menu and execution's on point across the board. Don't hesitate to try something new here“

“It was our first time there. There were many tables open but they sat us right by the front door facing the door dash orders to be picked up. Then our server was abrupt and forgot to bring us our drinks until we reminded him. He was nice but almost like we were an inconvenience. Might have been better if we were sitting in the main part of the restaurant. Food was really good which is what made it a decent experience“

“First time here. Will definitely be coming back many times! The Red Miso Ramen was the best I have had in a long time! Cannot wait to come back!“

“Everything was excellent!!!“

“Momo Sushi always serves fresh and delicious food! The service is awesome as well, very quick to help and to give recommendations. I really recommend the Totori Kani , Godzilla, and the Miami Roll, and you can never go wrong with the fried rice (but really everything I've tried here is amazing). 100/10 recommend!“

“I cannot say enough good things about Koya. I was so happy to find this restaurant. Everything we ordered, tempura, tempura udon soup, kids bento boxes, and sushi was incredibly good. Can't wait to go back!

Kid-friendliness: The bento box options for the kids were great! My 2 and 5 year olds loved it.“

“Always great entertainment and food!!!“

“Love it!!!, the food and service was amazing. Would go for it again. 10/10!“

“Food was absolutely delicious!! Highly recommend!!“

“What a great experiences! The food was amazing! The family enjoyed themselves in the beautiful restaurant and wonderful staffs! Definitely reminded my daughters of grandma's cooking! 🫰“

“Very kind gentleman who offered a sample of teriyaki chicken… That what got me to get food here lol. He was quick and piled as much food as humanly possible into the box. They definitely make sure you have enough for lunch AND dinner (if you can’t finish it all in one sitting). Good price for the amount of food you get, definitely recommend.“

“Best sushi. Better than your fancy Chicago spot. It’s the only restaurant we frequent regularly. They have something for everyone including non sushi lovers.“

“We have a typical sushi restaurant that we go to up in Gurnee but last night we decided to try somewhere new which was Umai Sushi. What a pleasant surprise! The place is big, they have a really cool circular bar when you first walk in, and a self serve salad and miso soup bar. Not to mention the cocktails are AWESOME! The absolute best part though was the sushi boat for 2 we got was incredible! The sashimi pieces were thick and the salmon was so buttery and melted in your mouth. The nigiri pieces were massive! I highly recommend coming here, you won’t be disappointed!“

“I wish I got some photos because of how lovely everything was! Best wonton soup in the area hands down, and always pleasant service! We used to come here often enough that the lovely waitress would recognize my boyfriend and ask if he wanted their (fabulous) Thai beer. Wonton soup is garnished with cilantro, green onions, and DELICIOUS fried garlic, had to order some to go! Fresh sushi that is rolled very well with beautiful presentation, delicious drunken noodles, perfect miso soup, and very fresh house salad with crisp red onions (I've never had such a nice house salad like this before, honestly!) Great portions and everything always the perfect temperature!“

“The best tasting thai food i have had in a long time. It is a little gem I will be returning to again. I had the shumai and they were light and delicate, the pad thai was well balanced with the sweet and sour notes from the tamarind even with it being ordered extra spicy, the heat was there but tge flavor of the dish still shined through.“

“Really good place! I was expecting generic Chinese but I was pleasantly surprised. I asked the owner if the egg foo young was made with real eggs, or eggs from a carton. He was kind of shocked at the notion he would use eggs from a carton and assured me it was made with fresh eggs and freshly-made vegetables, like he would not be caught dead doing it any other way. That gave me a good feeling about the place - he clearly had pride in what he does. We had a vegetarian and a celiac in the party and he was very understanding and respectful of their needs. We are picky eaters but were all very happy with our meals, which were really good. Big portions too!“

“I ordered food for takeout. The app was easy to use. My food was ready at the time I requested. I was greeted when I arrived and my food was hot. I really enjoy the chicken bowl and chicken potstickers. It appears they have vegetarian options available for those who prefer that. I also feel they have a good rewards program.“

“I love reviewing and eating Japanese food, and being from Japan, I find it very difficult to come across truly authentic Japanese cuisine. Most American Japanese restaurants barely scratch the surface of what Japanese food really is.

This place not only captured the atmosphere of a real Japanese restaurant, but the food itself was genuinely close to what you’d find in Japan. I had the pleasure of ordering the Zaru Soba Tempura, and I honestly haven’t had authentic tempura in a long time. I’m happy to say it exceeded my expectations, the food was outstanding.

What made the experience even better was that the waiter spoke to us in Japanese, which really showed the restaurant’s respect for the culture and added to the authenticity.

Japanese authenticity rating (if this restaurant were in Japan): 7.8/10
American-Japanese restaurant rating: 8.9/10

Overall, this place is amazing and absolutely worth visiting.“

“My wife and I totally enjoyed their food. We were a bit surprised to see that the AYCE went up to $28.99. We will go back.“

“Stopped by on Wednesday 02/06! And was greeted and attended by Mercedes. She was SUPER kind and attentive with my order! Very grateful she took my needs seriously since I fast on Wednesday's/Friday's & can only eat vegan. She went above & beyond to make sure my needs were meet! & as I was waiting I noticed how clean the area is. & once I got my order it came out so fresh; plan on visiting again! & thank you for the great experience!“