Asahi Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Palatine Township

What makes Asahi different from other sushi places, is that its not a factory that makes bazillion of rolls for mass production, instead their chef Sato creates a delicious masterpiece for every customer. I mean it. Since this place is pretty close to my house, I use to visit it quite often, both weekends and weekdays. There was not a single time I saw anyone inside without a smile on their faces. Staff is very friendly, interior is quite authentic (as far as I remember, they've renovated the place like a year ago) and rolls are delicious - that's everything you should know about it. If you'll pick a seat at the bar (where you can observe the entire process of your dinner creation), pay attention to how the fish and produce are stored. These people definitely care about ingredients they use. Moreover, Sato (the owner) offers small complimentary appetizers, which is a nice little touch while you wait. One more little thing, I really like chilled beer glasses... its a nice small idea, that delivers better experience from casual beer. I definitely recommend to try Sexy Roll, which is my favorite, Sweet Potato Roll and Vegetable...

Asahi is certainly not a bad Sushi restaurant, far from it. But, I didn't really see anything spectacular that made it extraordinary. The service at Sushi places tends to be good, as this was.

There were four of us - two ordered entrees from the menu, another had a Sushi Special, and I had spider rolls and spicy tuna rolls. We also had Gyoza and Cucumber Maki rolls for appetizers. I ordered a salad.

The salad dressing had way too much mayonnaise. It is their twist on the standard ginger dressing you get at Japanese restaurants but they add a lot of mayo. It overpowered the ginger taste. The spider roll was okay - the crab was a little overcooked. The spicy tuna was quite good.

Lastly, their green tea was typical for Sushi Restaurants - very good. And, they brought us a complimentary desert - a fried dough with a chocolate sauce. This is not something I eat, but my companions all said it was very good.

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This unassuming sushi restaurant offers incredible sushi and exceptional service.

I always feel welcomed by friendly faces. The servers are highly attentive, noticing when drinks are running low or when plates are finished.

The restaurant itself is casual and small, but offers a cozy environment for a meal in small groups.

There is a nice variety of appetizers. I love the asparagus beef roll, it’s without a doubt the best asparagus negimaki I’ve ever had.

The sushi is high quality and fairly priced. Itamae diligently prepare the sushi from a small counter in the center of the restaurant, welcoming and thanking diners as they enter and leave.

The menu offers a wide variety of maki, from simple California rolls to complex creations like the Sato roll. I keep coming back for the sweet potato roll, with immense flavor despite simplicity, and the delicious spicy tuna crunch roll. These rolls are edible works of art.

Asahi is...