Sushi Nova - Lincoln Park — Restaurant in Chicago

Rolling into a Perfectly Wonderful Sushi Evening

Real food is the best kind of food—the kind that makes every bite feel like pure joy! It’s not always easy to find a restaurant that serves fresh, nourishing food that also creates a great experience. But sushi? Sushi is special. It brings people together, makes you excited to try new things, and keeps you coming back for more. And this sushi spot? It’s exactly that kind of place! Get ready because this review will make you hungry!

The moment I walked into the restaurant, I felt happy. The dim lighting gave the place a warm, cozy glow, and the wooden tables made it feel extra inviting. A tiny waving lucky cat sat on the counter, adding a fun touch to the peaceful atmosphere. Soft conversation filled the air, blending with the gentle clinking of chopsticks against plates. I found a table right in the center—the perfect spot to take it all in. Around me, couples laughed and chatted, and the restaurant had the perfect balance of energy and calmness.

When it was time to order, I went all out! A California roll, a Godzilla roll, and a cucumber roll—because why choose just one? The sushi arrived on a sleek wooden platter, looking almost too beautiful to eat. Thin slices of pickled ginger curled neatly on the side, and a small, bright green mound of wasabi sat ready to add some heat. The presentation made the meal feel even more special. I hesitated for a second—almost feeling guilty for ruining the display—but that didn’t last long!

The California roll was soft, creamy, and melted in my mouth with its perfect mix of avocado and fresh crab. The Godzilla roll was a flavor explosion—the crispy outer layer gave a satisfying crunch, while the spicy sriracha added just the right amount of heat. The cucumber roll was simple, refreshing, and had a great crunch. Every bite felt like a little adventure, making me excited for the next one!

The service? Absolutely fantastic! The wait time was only five minutes, which was way faster than most places I’ve been to. The staff was friendly, always around if I needed anything, and super polite. I truly appreciated their kindness and efficiency. If I had one small complaint, it would be that the TVs were a bit too loud, which took away from the calm vibe. But honestly? That’s a tiny thing compared to how amazing everything else was.

I went for the Never-Ending Meal, and let me tell you—it’s 100% worth it! Affordable, unlimited sushi, and totally delicious. By the time I finished, I was completely full and completely happy. This place nailed it—amazing food, great atmosphere, and top-notch service.

If you ever find yourself near Lincoln Park, do yourself a favor and stop by this sushi spot. Grab some fresh rolls, soak in the cozy vibe, and enjoy every bite. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss!

Thanks for reading! And remember: if it’s not real food, it’s not...

I got the AYCE deal. Most of the sushi was delicious but there was one roll that was fried and overcooked. Anything you don’t eat you pay for so I got charged extra literally because the food came out wrong. The server seemed annoyed with me despite us having VERY little interaction at all. He rarely came to my table. This is just speculation bc I used to be a server and have heard other servers firsthand say they give worse service to black customers because they don’t expect them to tip well. This seemed like that kind of service. This seemed like that situation. It wasn’t super busy at all and I could visibly see my service was not as pleasant as others. The lights went out during my meal and then I had to wait almost an hour to pay because all of their tech was down. Eventually I just told them to take down my card info so I wouldn’t be late for my flight. Imagine paying for a pricy meal where the staff is rude to you, the lights go out, there’s a up charge for food that came out wrong, and then you have to sit there for an extra hour just waiting to pay. Not a great experience to...

We tried out Sushi Nova in Lincoln park, which this is their first location in chicago. It’s $23 AYCE for lunch , so you know I was about to rinse them and get my money’s worth. We got some crab rangoons which were really that packed, which was a bummer, but still tasty and nice to try. Now for our first round of AYCE, we got salmon, tuna, yellowtail, mackerel, and red snapper nigiri. The cuts of fish here are fair, and a good ratio between the rice. I thought each one was standard, except the salmon was very buttery, legit the best one from the list, and the mackerel is my favorite thing to get at AYCE, its cured in vinegar and salt. The rolls were solid too, the green turtle had a good crunch, the crispy spicy tuna roll had a good kick and was refreshing as well. The next round I got more salmon nigiri, as well as smoked salmon and a sweet potato roll. I personally wouldve liked the roll more if it didnt have unagi sauce on it, but still good and a good amount of sweet potato overall. The staff are friendly, and I will 100% come back and get...