13 Best Japanese Restaurants near Arnold

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (12 STARS IF I COULD) Sushi Ai in Arnold is hands down one of my favorite places to go. I’ve taken my girlfriend here multiple times and every single visit has been consistently amazing. The service is always fast, friendly, and on point. The staff moves like they’re running a well-oiled sushi machine but still make you feel welcome and taken care of. Last night we were on a waitlist for 45 minutes, and honestly? That just proves how good this place is. You don’t wait almost an hour for mediocre food. When a restaurant is that packed, that consistently, it tells you everything you need to know. People want it. And once you sit down, you understand why. The food is absolutely delicious. Fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented every time. Whether it’s classic rolls or specialty creations, everything tastes like it was made with care. It’s one of those spots where you finish eating and immediately start talking about what you’re ordering next time. I genuinely hope nothing changes because they’ve nailed it. Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. It’s a perfect date night spot and one of the best sushi experiences in the area. The only downside, and this has nothing to do with Sushi Ai itself, is walking through the cloud from the pizza place next door where people tend to hang out. That part can be… aromatic. But once you step inside Sushi Ai, it’s a completely different world. Keep doing exactly what you’re doing. Arnold is lucky to have this place. 🍣🔥“

“We came here tonight.and the food is always fabulous .kennan our server are awesome .hes so respectful,and very polite .keep up the goodwork Kennan .“

“Amazing food, friendlg service, and generous portions for leftovers the next day. I would eat here everyday if I could!“

“Love the North Riverside location they’re always delicious and the customer service is friendly and welcoming to say the least.“

“Oh man this was so good. Better than the other local all you can eat that has multiple locations around the area. I had some hibachi and sushi as well as miso soup. They may not have as many varieties of sushi rolls as the other place, but each roll is much tastier. A miso soup was also extremely good, not watery or sweet and weird. The cost is excellent under$20 lunch in 2025. There were probably 20 or so tables. The server was attentive. I hope to go back as soon as possible.“

“Okay, I do want to say that with all the 5 star reviews, I had high expectations. I don't think those were met. The crab rangoon was pretty good, the sushi was slightly above average. It filled my stomach and scratched an itch. The presentation was nice.

I just really wish the sushi had more flavor. More sauces, more combinations. I also wish it had come with Miso.

My final complaint is that the service was a little slow.

The pineapple at the end was cute!“

“Would recommend it’s very good“

“Absolutely love this place!“

“Wonderful food. Elegantly presented sashimi, sushi, takoyaki, gyoza, udon, don buri (bowls of food), and other Japanese options. Many many types of sushi rolls. In total, there is not only more than standard Japanese fare, but it is also delicious, high quality, and beautifully presented. Many different sakes, mixed drinks, and Japanese beers along with international Gin, bourbon, tequila, rum options. They even have Japanese soda pop. Friendly and helpful staff. Lovely decor with exquisite hand painted scenes. I had been there once before and couldn’t wait to go back for seconds to show my adult son who also, this day enjoyed his food immensely.“

“Loved the food, wished they would have given more than one crab raggoon! Will so definitely go back!“

“Stop what you’re doing right now, and give this place a try. I’m not even joking, this was the best sushi restaurant I have tried in quite some time. Let me give you the run down on our experience:

My Dad and I have been looking for a good sushi spot for quite some time now. Tokyo Sushi is about a 10 minute drive for both of us, so we decided to stop in for dinner last night. This is a lovely restaurant inside, very clean and lots of comfortable seating.

Our server was phenomenal. He was prompt, attentive, and very friendly. We got started with some Gyoza, and also split a Philly Roll. We also decided to add on some Chicken Fried Rice incase those 2 weren’t sufficient in filling us up. Everything was bursting with flavor and tasted extremely fresh.

The Gyoza were soft and flavorful and the Philly Roll was super light and fresh, but the best item by a long shot was the Chicken Fried Rice. It tasted like something a luxury hibachi restaurant would whip up. The chicken was nice and crispy and the rice was browned and salty like it should be.

We will be back SOON to try more delicious menu items. Can’t believe this place has been flying under our radar for so long!“

“DELICIOUS!!! The food looked beautiful and tasted even better!! The absolute best Beef Fried Rice I have ever had! The crab Rangoon was absolutely scrumptious! The chicken teriyaki was sooooo good, the chicken was cooked perfectly. The rice was cooked to perfection! If you have never had Boba Tea or love Boba Tea, this is the best I have ever tried!!! I seriously cannot say enough great things about this place. The owners were so kind and welcoming. If you have not been here, go! You will become a regular!!“

“This is one of my favorite restaurants. It has a wonderful Mongolian barbecue along with an incredible assortment of Asian foods. Their hot and sour soup is one of the best I’ve ever had. The sushi is very good and the service is always been polite and very attentive to clear plates. I have never been rushed as I enjoy talking endlessly to friends while eating here. The bathrooms are elegant and very clean however, I think the bathroom doors are very heavy. I believe that is why they are usually blocked open. They also have very quiet hand dryers. The lobby is also elegant , the doors are hard to open because there is a very strong air handling system that keeps fresh air circulated I enjoy bringing friends here For a relaxing meal and conversation. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a good place to eat.“