Absolutely Obsessed with My Favorite Chicago Suburb Izakaya! 🏮

Sharing my beloved suburban izakaya with you all! First visit: friend was still in Chicago. Last visit: baby was in my belly — and their cooked dishes are amazing too! What kind of food leaves such a lasting impression? After putting the kiddo to sleep, our no-kids food adventure began: 🌟 Sashimi & Nigiri – We ordered the Sashimi Platter. Fish was fresh, not fishy at all. My picky eater praised the squid (wrapped with nori), describing it as “glutinous.” Sweet shrimp, chewy octopus leg, rich salmon and tuna, buttery hamachi, smooth white fish, and cured mackerel — so satisfying. Also tried Uni Nigiri — sweet and fresh, though had a bit too much wasabi on top (easy to scrape off). 🌟 Grilled Fish – This time only had Shishamo (grilled smelt with roe) — crunchy and delicious. Their other grilled fish are great too, just didn’t have room this visit. 🌟 Grilled Meat Skewers – Ranked by preference: Ton Toro (pork cheek) – Crispy, amazing texture. A squeeze of lemon, could eat two orders easily! Kuro Buta Sausage (black pork sausage) – Juicy burst in every bite. Gyu Tan (beef tongue) – Tender, served with sesame oil salt — fragrant! Tsukune (chicken meatball) – Well-seasoned. Tori Kawa Kushi (chicken skin) – Good, but I prefer Daruma’s crispier version. Suna Gimo & Yakitori (gizzard & chicken) – By the time we got to these, they weren’t hot enough, so texture suffered. 🌟 Chawan-Mushi (steamed egg custard) – Served in pairs, baby-friendly! Packed with mushrooms, veggies, chicken, and two big shrimp — so homely and comforting. (Note: remove ginkgo nuts if serving to kids — choking hazard.) 🌟 Sushi Rolls – Massive rolls, as thick as my forearm! Could only finish one each — took the rest home, still delicious the next day. ⚠️ They have traditional Japanese seating — worth experiencing. We seriously over-ordered; this could easily feed 3–4 people. 🏮 Sankyu Sushi Japanese Restaurant 📍 1176 Elmhurst Rd, Mt Prospect, IL 60056 #ChicagoEats #JapaneseIzakaya #LocalFavorites #JapaneseFood #ExploreChicago #ChicagoLife