Chicago Suburbs — Torizen, Still a Favorite After All 🍣

Torizen is in Schaumburg, about an hour’s drive from Chicago. Many people have recommended this spot — after my first visit, I even wrote a whole post dedicated to their fried items! They’re still super popular — 5:30 opening and already a line. This time I tried some new dishes. 🐟 Bluefin Tuna First time I went, bluefin was still on the special menu — not always available. Menu updated since, and now it’s on the regular sashimi menu — still market price. This time: $20 for 4 slices. Melt-in-your-mouth texture, incredible flavor. Still thinking about it. 🧀 Cream Croquette — still highly recommend My favorite appetizer at Torizen — can’t skip it. What makes it special: crispy exterior, soft and creamy inside. Filled with snow crab leg + mushroom — two generous round croquettes, so satisfying. Comes with a tangy mustard dip to cut through the richness. Most Japanese restaurants do potato-based croquettes, but this one uses Japanese white sauce cream croquette — unforgettable. 🦀 Softshell Crab Another new fried dish I tried — softshell crab. Pretty decent size, crab meat + roe + light crispy shell — tasty. Dipping sauce was tangy-salty, with scallions as the finishing touch. But for fried softshell crab, I still think the black softshell crab tacos at that Mexican spot I tried had more technique — crispier. 🔥 Hamachi Kama (Yellowtail Collar) Grilled yellowtail collar — just a touch of salt. Pure fish flavor, charred fragrance, tender meat with some collagen texture. Takes patience to grill, hard to replicate at home. If you love fish, go for it. If you prefer complex, bold flavors, maybe skip? 🍷 Special Menu: Red Wine Beef Tongue — curious how Japanese does beef tongue. Not recommended. Tongue was tender, good quality, but the sweet-tangy sauce just didn’t match. Very underwhelming. 🍜 Ramen as main — depends on the day’s special. Average, a bit salty. 💡 My take: Torizen’s fried items are the highlight. So I recommend ordering more fun appetizers and fried-rice mains. Like their classic, amazing tonkatsu/beef katsu rice bowl, paired with their delicious miso eggplant to go with rice. Haven’t tried their sushi yet, but I bet quality is solid. Sashimi is worth ordering too. Only downside: the drive. Once a year to Torizen — see you next year! #ChicagoEats #JapaneseFood #Torizen #CroquetteLove #FriedFoodHeaven #Sashimi 🍣