Hanakawa Japanese Steakhouse

My girlfriend and I tried this place on a Friday night per a friend's recommendation. The food was superb -- the seafood was fresh and the veggies crisp. We especially enjoyed the at-your-table cooking. Another nice touch was the cook's insistence that he make our fried rice to our particular tastes, even offering semi-cooked samples in order to adjust to preference. To top it all, the service and staff were very attentive and EXTREMELY polite -- a welcome change for those who've experienced the wrath of Tsukasa of Tokyo's (of Vernon Hills) grumpy and inconsistent service. And we had virtually no wait -- also a pleasant departure from Tsukasa's endless delays.\r \r For those familiar with Tsukasa, take note: Hanakawa's offerings are virtually identical, save for Hanakawa's lower prices and far better service. This is clearly a smaller venue than the behemoth Tsukasa, but I think that's what makes it better. You won't be disappointed, and hopefully, like me, you'll never go back to Tsukasa! Pros: Yummy, fresh food; attentive, polite service; an alternative to Tsukasa! Cons: None significant. more

I'm an avid sushi eater...some of the best sushi restaurants tend to be in the city (Chicago). I tried Hanakawa for my first time (carryout) and was very impressed. The host was very helpful and very friendly. The sushi is great here!!! I would recommend it to anyone...even if you don't like sushi...b/c it's a Japanese Steakhouse also. You're bound to find something on the menu that suits your palate. more

Hanakawa was my first experience of sushi. We had an excellent server and the hosts were very friendly too. Another experience I had was take out sushi. The host was very knowledgable and extremely nice. Their food is delicious and it's a fun place to eat! Pros: Awesome food, not too busy Cons: not too close to my house more