Kuro Bistro — Restaurant in Lake Forest

If you live in Lake Forest or the North Shore, I envy you! You have in your proximity one of my favorite Japanese/ Sushi restaurants of all time. Chef Hiroshi is a terrific, veteran sushi chef with great skill! You may know him from his last venture, Mizuki in Highland Park. Hiroshi has an eye for the one thing that differentiates a great sushi chef from the non hackers, an eye for fresh fish! All the fish is top-notch! After making the long trek from the South Side to Lake Forest, I walked up to the sushi bar disguised with my pandemic mask. He asked if he could help me and I greeted him in Japanese. After he responded, I removed my mask and revealed my true identity, that of an old customer. He was so happy to see me for the first time since he opened Kuro Bistro, he greeted me with great enthusiasm, like an old friend! Having emerged from pandemic seclusion and exchanging greetings, I had one word for him: "Omakase." As you know, this was telling the chef I was putting myself in his hands to serve me the negari of his choice. In the style of a true sushi chef, he laid out a thick wooden plate with a progression of fish from light to dark and red. There was grouper, sea bream, and two kinds of tuna! All fresh, all delicious! The highlight of highlights was the sea bream; a coveted fish to anyone of Greek ethnicity like myself, and this was the best I have ever eaten! Hiroshi explained to me how he sources each individual type of fish, and we had a great time conversing with lots of laughs! While Hiroshi runs the sushi bar and kitchen, his very friendly wife, Nami, runs the front of the house and is a remarkable hostess! By the way, if you are not a fan of sushi or sashimi, there is a full menu of Japanese and Pan-Asian favorites, and a selection of French influenced items, ect. If you value fresh sushi, great food, customer service, and a wonderfully comfortable dining room, then go to...

5-Star Birthday Dinner at Kuro Bistro – A Must-Try Sushi Experience in Lake County!

I recently celebrated my birthday dinner at Kuro Bistro, and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, the staff was warm and welcoming, greeting us promptly and seating us at a clean, well-set table with quality glassware that set the tone for the evening.

The star of the show was undoubtedly the fish quality – hands down the best I’ve had in Lake County. Every bite was fresh, flavorful, and expertly prepared. We decided to splurge on the sea urchin nigiri at $14 per piece, and it was worth every penny. The richness and briny sweetness of the uni were unparalleled, making it a must-try for any sushi enthusiast.

For appetizers, we had the calamari, and it was a standout. The batter was perfectly crisp and light, without being greasy – a rare find! As for the rolls, the classic spicy tuna roll and the Alaskan roll were both delicious, but the signature rolls truly stole the show. The Crazy Salmon Signature Roll was bursting with flavor, and the seared salmon was an absolute hit at our table. Each roll was beautifully presented and packed with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

What impressed me most was the balance of creativity and tradition in their dishes. The flavors were bold yet refined, and every bite felt like a celebration. The ambiance, service, and food quality all came together to make my birthday dinner truly special.

I can’t recommend Kuro Bistro enough – whether you’re a sushi lover or just looking for an exceptional dining experience, this place delivers. We’ll...

Kuro Bistro is one of the newer Japanese restaurants out there. It has a nice contemporary designed interior. The food is good, the drink selection is good too.

The main issue why it isn't five stars was the fact that I was assured that the sushi did not have allergins. I had a terrible stomach meldown the next day, so I think there might be some sortof allergin contamination at work. I have both a gluten and dairy intolerance. (sad face) They are very accommodating about the gluten allergins, not as much the dairy allergins. The staff does not know much about what has dairy in it. This is excellent for those who are gluten restricted, but an issue for those who has an allergy to anything else. Plus there is barely any signature Maki that can be made gluten free without ditching the unagi sauce. I wished there was gluten-free unagi especially at a nice place like this. I shouldn't complain too much because they try unlike most Japanese cuisines I visited.

The Maki tasted very good though. I, like most places, try the tuna, and spicy scallops, and I tried the Fire Tuna without the glutainous unagi sauce. I wished I could try out their American Japanese fusion foods (burgers, fries, etc), but I wasn't taking a chance with the intolerances.

The drinks were pretty good. I ordered the Otokoyama Tokubestu Junmai sake. It was smooth.

Overall, it is a pleasurable experience that is good to attend to. Intolerances are pretty constraining like at most Japanese restaurants. But at least they try to accommodate GF...