Friends Sushi Reviews

While visiting Chicago for a work conference I dined at Friends Sushi for an early dinner after reading other reviews. The rolls I had were delicious, fresh, and different from what I have had elsewhere. I had the friend roll and crunchy spicy tuna. The miso soup was really good as well. It is very small inside with tables close together. I can see how it would fill up fast.

Fresh and tasty. Good wine and cocktails selection. Service was good and not a long wait for food to be served. If planning to go, make reservations ahead, it's always packed.

This place is not what it was. It used to be packed because it was excellent. Today it had no fresh off menu fish. The available nigiri was limited and about grocery store quality. This place used to be fantastic. Service ok.

Came here because it was close to my hotel. The wait was not long for a table. The place is very small and they do a lot of take-out for the locals. The service was good but seemed a bit rushed. The sushi was good. The gyoza is not your traditional Japanese style. The wraps are thicker and harder. It was good but not what I was anticipating. The sushi was good but nothing that would make me want to return.

Great lunch. Best teriyaki ever. Awesome service and good sushi too. Comfortable environment to relax

Went here last week and we both has Sushi and it was very fresh. When it comes to raw fish our biggest concern is the freshness of the fish and I can confirm that the fish was very fresh.

Takeaway experience of sushi. The presentation was great, even for a take away option. The freshness was evident and the taste wonderful. Definitely a repeater in my opinion. You will not be disappointed.

First time here since our usual sushi spot in the city closed. Very happy we came here and will definitely come back. Rolls we had were spicy tuna, Manhattan, big friends, and fujiyama plus 2 pieces of tuna. All were good but we liked the fujiyama the least which was a surprise to us since we like all the ingredients. The tempura was thick and hard inside the roll. Flavor was fresh in all the rolls. Staff were very friendly!

Was next to a meeting location and loved this small sushi spot. Well done rolls and sashimi in a relaxing atmosphere. Pretty good wines by the glass for a small sushi restaurant. Attentive service.

The food is consistently wonderful. They also offer delivery, which is a plus when it is snowy and cold outside!

Came for lunch and the nigiri toro, sake and hamachi were some of the freshest I've had in the states. Beautiful confections I almost didn't want to disturb, with subtle, absolutely clean finishes. Highly recommended. Sleek, compact, but intimate atmosphere. Great service.

Went to dinner here with my husband and daughter. They were sweet enough to accommodate my daughter's request. Good food, service was initially slow but picked up and was great after that. Value was fine. If the atmosphere/restaurant decor is addressed, it has great potential to become something way better!

We went here for the first time as a group of 8. The place is small, intimate, and a great setting. Service was excellent. Food and drinks came fast! We had a LOT of sushi. Like 2 large platters of sashimi, 15 rolls, and some Nigiri. Toss in some sake, beer, wine, and other beverages. Plenty to fill us full. Grand total? $400. With tip! Great sushi and we'd go back in a heartbeat!

We were craving sushi and found Friends Sushi on TA. Took the advice of other reviewers and made reservations. We got same day reservations no problem. I thought the inside was fun and very modern. They had fun music playing. The place is small but they utilize their space well. The sushi was great and we ended up ordering more. Service was excellent. Price is very typical of most sushi restaurants. Will be adding this place to my "must go while in Chicago" list!

Love this place. Every time I’m in town we return for lunch. Really nice rolls Very highly recommend. Check it out.

This place is great - it is convenient, casual, service is FAST, and the sushi is absolutely delicious! Totally up there with the "finer"/classier sushi establishments of the world. We had four different rolls with plenty of different fish, and NOTHING smelled fishy. The sushi was packed with the good stuff and thin on the rice. And the appetizers killed it. The shumai, although popular amongst most Japanese restaurants, was still so unique. It was way more shrimp filling than dough with so much flavor packed in. Their ginger dressing was not traditional and orange, but still so yummy. I would definitely, definitely, recommend this place for any occasion, big or small!

Thank goodness for trip advisor rating for Friends Sushi, otherwise never would have gone in as it looks very unassuming from the outside. It is small but hip vibe with all white tables and swivel chairs. Food was amazing and would come back for sure. We had the sashimi platter, sushi platter, spicy Tuna, and Big Friends sushi. All wow factor. Service was A++ too. So thrilled we went.

The sushi was very good. We ordered four different types of rolls, but the Friends Maki rolls were the most delicious. They had an ample amount of cream cheese and all the ingredients together made for a delicious roll. It was quite busy for a Wednesday evening and even though the tables are quite close together, the servers do an excellent job of maneuvering around the restaurant. The atmosphere is very cosmopolitan and the service was adequate. Overall, the restaurant was small but quaint, and the rolls were delicious.

I would even go on to say that this place may have the best sushi in Chicago. It's a small place, but the sushi/rolls are absolute perfection. The combination of ingredients and sauces make it so delicious. Anything you get from their signature rolls menu will be amazing. The crispy creamy roll is my favorite. I also got their miso soup which was very good. I would go here again and again!

A little hole in the wall that was very surprising! The cocktails were amazing (highly suggest the French pear martini and the lychee martini). Tons of sushi to choose from on the menu and wasn’t over the top expensive. Just off of the Mag Mile, within walking distance from our accommodation near Navy Pier.

This was one of the worst sushi I've had. The fish was not fresh, grainy, flavorless and one of the smallest servings I've seen. The salad was large but the sushi and sashimi was done without care. Spicy salmon maki had no spice, the salmon skin roll didn't have much flavor and was grainy, dry and hard, the rainbow roll was tiny, and the sashimi sampler with frozen and defrosted cucumber was not good. With tax and $10 tip (this was take-out) it came to $106 for lunch. I cannot recommend this place.

The sushi was fresh and tasty and the menu is impressive. Inside is very small, so make a reservation (even if OpenTable shows many slots are available). We sat outside on a very windy evening, but the malt liquor helped keep me warm.

Was recommended this restaurant by the concierge in our hotel & it didn't disappoint- although we did get of to a bad start when there wasn't a table free at the time we'd booked & we had to wait for one to become free. I guess the upside of this is that it's an extremely popular place which is always reassuring. The room is very narrow & white but was decorated out for Halloween which was fun. Service was quick & the sushi & sashimi were excellent. Would recommend giving it a try if you're a lover of Japanese food .

Love this place. Every time I’m in town we return for lunch. Really nice maki. Good service. Very highly recommend. Check it out.

This little place is a hidden gem on Rush Street. It's very small, but the sushi is very good! Since it's small, reservations are a good idea. Their wine list is very good as well. Very convenient to the Miracle Mile.

Needed a place for a very quick lunch while in town for a business trip. The chicken teriyaki bento box was perfect - quick and easy. The restaurant is tiny and food was fine. Didn't get to try the sushi.

Enjoyed this place and the sushi - we have had better elsewhere but overall we liked everything. Spicy miso soup was great, as was the tiger eye roll. Sashimi and nigiri all decent. Glass of wine was a very stingy serving however. Friendly service.

Awesome food and atmosphere. Wide range of sushi and making. Definitely worth trying if your in town.

Was in town on business and did not want the hotel food. I looked to trusty TripAdvisor and of course it paid off. Cute small place and perfect small tables for solo diners. It is a hip cool lounge feel and the food was amazing. It was a little pricey but it is in a great location... The sushi was fresh and the service was awesome. I will be back!

Craving sushi and this came up as one of the closest spots on Google. We decided to give it a try and we are extremely glad we did! 5's all around for Friends! Service was outstanding, the rolls were fantastic, and the location convenient!

Some of the most interesting and tasty sushi I've ever had. We had Friends, Crazy Winter and Can you Handle It. The Can You Handle It was definitely spicy (faces turned red and a little sweaty) but we handled it & ate the whole thing because it was so good. Service was prompt and attentive without being overly so. Decor was kind 60s funky. And who doesn't like a TV in the bathroom? ;-)

Food was delicious. Staff was very friendly. Restaurant is very small and tables were almost on top each other - but cute atmosphere.

Close to my hotel, and open at 3:45 pm for lunch made it a must stop. I had the Firecracker appetizer which was a combination of fish, wasabi cream and avocado, yum, that was followed by a Sushi Combination which was also good. The fit out is a little funky styled, and the staff very friendly.

Its a nice place for trying sushi , delicious food, excellent service ..The place is not spacious but its comfortable and good atmosphere..You get nice rolls too here so i recommend you all to check out this place

I was super impressed with this place! The food was great! We had two rolls, and they were a good size! We also had the spicy miso soup and regular miso soup. They were also really great. We shared a couple bottles of saki and they were delicious. The service was great. The prices we really good considering we were in Chicago!

Lots of seating for such a small space, but it didn’t feel overcrowded. Staff was friendly, attentive, and available as needed without hovering. The house salad is huge and worth the $6, try the Wasabi Shumai, the hit of heat is amazing. I played the range with the specialty rolls by selecting the “Can You Handle It” and “Friends Roll”. One was a punch of heat with spicy mayo, pepper oil, fresh jalapeño, and parlance’s with mango to cut the heat. The Friend’s Roll was mild, but delicious. I love soft shell crab and this roll did not disappoint. Quick lunches or longer dinners, you’ll enjoy this space and it’s mellow music. Check it out!

The portions are HUGE! Consider sharing!!! VERY reasonable prices for Chicago and very good. Nice place for a simple catch up lunch with friends.

This restaurant is a small and clean place for sushi and other Japanese food. The portions of food is good and they have very friendly servers.

This reviewer has lived in Japan and lives currently in Michigan and eats Japanese food perhaps once a week. We were looking for quality Japanese fare during our brief stay in Chicago and noted the four stars on Trip Advisor. My partner and I frequently order sashimi and did so the evening of this visit. In addition, I ordered a beer which was delivered without a glass. When I asked for a glass, I was given a short wide glass not meant for beer which already was disappointing. The sashimi when it arrived was crammed onto a relatively smaller plate and not artfully presented. While the assortment was decent the pieces were relatively small and the small bit of shrimp was cooked. The wasabi did not taste particularly fresh. The Miso soup that was served with (no salad/alternative dish) was good and sufficient.

This place was pretty disappointing. I had some squid maki where the squid was super chewy - a sure sign of it not being fresh. I left 4 out of 6 pieces. And then the beef in my noodle dish was also very chewy and the dish overall seemed like it was bulked out with a lot of cabbage and carrots.

Eaten a lot of sushi, and this was fantastic. Ended up eating there 3 times. Good menu, great service

We stopped her for a quick lunch. The place decoration took me back to the 70's. We took the lunch menu of misu soup, 2 sushi and 2 maki. The food was good and it more than enough for lunch. We ended up paying 32 USD broke fire tax and service.

Quaint. Friendly. Close to Michigan Ave. Great food. Excellent service. Huge menu. I would go back again and again.

Its a cute, small place just a few blocks off Michigan Ave. The menu had a great variety but I thought the sushi was average.

You will probably need to book a table because the place is not big. We arrived there 20min before closing time and fortunately they let us order inmediately. The food is really good even if you are not a sushi fan, like my self.

It was an impromptu visit. We were lucky enough to get a table without booking at busy time. Otherwise we were willing to take the bar table. We were really surprised how fast the service was. The food was delicious and we were well looked after. Mid range price! Must say it’s a hidden gem! For dessert I will suggest you to try out the mango Mochi 😁. It’s worth a try.

This restaurant caters "younger generation" people. It's small and dark. It's very modern with comfy seats but smaller tables. It's very clean, mostly painted white. The food is good though. Their servings are big too. Also, their maki rolls are long. I like it that you can order rolls in "skinny" version meaning less rice. The servers are very friendly. Overall, it's a good place to hang out for youngsters.

Ordered tonight through Uber eat. Salmon crispy rice appetazier was decent but the salmon itself was not prime quality and neither was the avocado. Taste wasn't there. Ordered 2 special makos. Again, wasn't floored. Doesn't hold a candle to what you can find in, say, nyc. And might I add - requesting $1 extra/roll for sauces, when rolls already do cost 17-18$ apiece + tax/tip is a bit obscene.

Had I not gotten sick, I would have given this place a four or five. The sushi was good - not the "best in my lifetime" or near it but very good. Clean, a bit dark atmosphere. There is no ability to sit at the sushi bar which I really missed. We ordered and I would give the thumbs up on the sweet potato tempura roll and the friends roll. Obviously the friends roll ingredients made us sick - my colleague had another roll with the same ingredients and a different flare. Food poisoning. Straight out. We are on a business trip and we ate nowhere else together so this had to be it. I think it was a one off based on the fact other colleagues of mine have eaten here a few times without problems and the reviews are great. I would be torn on going here again. We did not report it - probably should have but honestly have not had a food poisoning experience for over two decades.

I was surprised how good the sushi was! It's a tiny place, decorated like a space ship but the sushi was yummy!

My son, husband and I enjoyed this chic little sushi joint. It’s got cool, all-white lounge decor and was jam packed on a Friday night. The sushi was plentiful and affordable. We especially enjoyed the waiter-recommended summer roll with cilantro and jalapeño. It was very fresh.

A little tuck away by the Mag Mile. This place had great music, tasty cocktail and the sushi was amazing. Service was on spot and the establishment clean and crisp. Well worth s visit.

I Got off the Red line and walked right in.We ordered from the menu it took a little while, however, it was authentic. I would order Sushi or the soups.

This is a place that has solid sushi and sashimi, but lives off the location and tourists, not off he quality of food. Good, but not great.

Delicious Sushi in Chicago! My son had a Yakisoba with Shrimp and it was so good!If you have kids like us that can help. We ordered some Sushis and all were delicious, I think the Spider and the Friends were great choices. Service was great too! Nice place to sit outside is a plus! We will for sure come again!

Came here without any expectation and was faced with a hole in the wall type of restaurant, small and packed. I opted for the counter since I was not willing to wait for a table. The waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful, making me feel comfortable despite the fact that I had a constant stream of people walking behind me to tables and waiters delivering food. The menu has just about anything you can think of in terms of sushi, sashimi and rolls. Everything I had was delicious and worth having it again. The service was very good despite the rush and how busy everybody was. I saw the preparation of many dishes while sitting at the counter and my mouth watered with every selection I saw. Again, my waiter was patient and kind enough to bear with all the questions I had over what I saw. Despite being full, I did not feel at any time rushed to finish my meal so that others could come in. I took my sweet time enjoying a few of their japanese whiskies, which capped the night for me.

Great sushi, would recommend the Umi maki. Great quality fish. Price for two with sodas, 3 appetizers and 5 main courses was 84usd with tax (before tip). Might go again. I would advice against the gyoza appetizer.. was not as good as the other food there.

We come to this place regularly, and it consistently has excellent sushi. This is a different location than the one on State Street, and the menu is completely different. This is a more traditional sushi place where as, the one on State Street is more of a Peruvian/Japanese/sushi restaurant. Consistently good.

We came here for dinner for two. We made reservations via Open Table and the hostess saw our reservation when we arrived. The establishment is very narrow with tables very close. You can literally reach over to the next table over and eat their food off their plate! Other than that, the place is great. We started off with two house salads which were decently portioned. We initially ordered four rolls (King California, Devils tuna, salmon avocado, and Summer Maki with yellow tail). The rolls were delicious, but portions were light. We ended up ordering another roll, the Uni and we left feeling great! I recommend ordering 2-3 rolls per person if you're hungry! Enjoy!

I took my 11 year old here on a girls trip. We are from TX and have our favorite sushi spots...but this one took the cake. It was pretty amazing. Fast and friendly service. Loved the Shumai appetizer.

The entire restaurant is not very big and the tables are close together, but it just adds to the relaxing atmosphere. Had the chef's sashimi choice with soup and it did not disappoint. The only thing I would change is the wasabi. It was not mixed thoroughly and therefore was grainy. I finished dinner with a nice spider roll. Reasonably priced, it is a place I would recommend.

We brought the entire family. My wives family is Japanese. We were disappointed with the wait and also the food. The sushi passed muster but nothing else. It is very popular so I would call ahead.

Really excellent sushi at very reasonable prices. A number of unusual combinations that give you a chance to try something different. They had a number of vegetarian options, which is not always the norm. Place is small and pretty tightly packed. Modern decor and techno music and a pretty young crowd. Oh, and a nice selection of cocktails.

Great sushi, enjoyed very much the Jazz roll, very busy place with great decor and staff as well as reasonable cost.

Wasn't a fan of the ambience and layout of this cozy sushi place on Rush. However, there's a good variety of sushi and, from what I could tell, all very tasty. Good value on the lunch special (rolls and sushi for just about $10) which runs until 3pm. I also tried the Crunch & Cream rolls (2nd pic) which were also quite yummy. With so many good sushi places in Chicago, I picked this one because of its proximity to my hotel but not sure if I would return.

I'm a sushi novice but this was so delish. The Friends maki roll was the best roll I've ever had - friendly service and sweet outdoor seating. Try this place!

Good food, more towards traditional japanese cuisine, well presented, a bit crowded and loud, lacked proper champagne glasses! Good wine

Stopped in here on a whim as I was in the area at lunchtime. All of the staff were very friendly and the manager checked in with me a couple times to ask how the food was. The inside is very cozy and inviting. The sushi was fresh and tasty. I highly recommend this place!

Meh....Meh... I’ve eaten sushi all over the city since the 90s and was excited to try friends as it appeared to be the number one rated sushi restaurant in the city with a decent size sample set of almost 100 reviews The people can’t be wrong? right? Wrong. It wasn’t great it wasn’t bad it was just good Exactly, good 3 out of five stars is a perfect rating for this restaurant and it is vastly overrated , Hachi in Lincoln park in old town on Wells is a full star higher in rank somewhere in the 20s- as an example of a better sushi restaurant Average service average atmosphere average sushi Not disappointing just calling it like it is Keeping it real.

Very good price/quality and very nice atmosphere. Sushi are really good, and served in large portion for an affordable price. Would go back!

After looking at all of our restaurant options for dinner, we landed on sushi. Only a few blocks from our hotel on the Mag Mile, we were seated promptly during the dinner rush (around 7:30 PM) on a Saturday night. The dining room is pretty tiny but chic with comfortable chairs at small tables. Our server was friendly and attentive weaving in and out of the tight seating arrangement. We ordered miso soup, the dumplings, and several different rolls. All of the food was awesome - so fresh and tasty - some of the best sushi I've had. One of the rolls - Summer - has cilantro in it and is absolutely divine - try it! Such a cool little place with great sushi. Worth the visit and pricier menu.

Friends on N. Rush is one of regular go-to restaurants. Tasty and not snooty. Friendly, efficient service. Dependable Japanese fare. We started with Edamame and Hot Green Tea. The Sake Don was very nice (but served slightly differently each time we visited). The Tempura Udon warm and filling. We will be back soon.

I used to buy sushi at this place every Thursday for the last 4 months. The prices are high, but the food is good and it’s close to where I live. One day I bought a roll that had eel, which my spouse and I totally dislike. It was not listed in the main selection display in the app. I called them to let them know, so they could amend it. The lady at the reception said that she couldn’t do anything and she called the manager. I was very friendly and the manager was upset from the beginning. I explained her what happened and she refused to understand. She could have just said that they would amend their site, but when I told her that with her reaction she would lose a permanent customer she responded “that’s ok” and she hung up. I still can’t believe such a bad reaction when I was trying just to be friendly. Needless to say that we never went back to this place. Food is important, but customer service is also equally important. A big disappointment.

This charming Japanese eatery seems to be always buzzing with activity but does not feel overcrowded. Centrally located in the Magnificent Mile district, it is within walking distance from the hotels in the area. The service is remarkably friendly and attentive and one does not feel rushed at all while enjoying the wide variety of offerings in the menu. The Fish is extremely fresh and all the rolls expertly prepared. The Tempura, vegetable and shrimp, is quite copious and easily shared with a crunchy and tasty batter. The Japanese beers are excellent. If you like a classic Japanese fare this is a place not to miss in your next visit to Chicago.

Small cosy restaurant. Ordered a shashimi plate. It came with a cup of miso soup. Soup was pretty good. Generous 12 large pieces of sashimi. 5 types of fish, reasonably priced. Slightly weird addition was the inclusion of some rice with the sashimi plate.

The restaurant is not large, so better make reservation. There are lots of selection, food taste good, high quality Maki.

My son graduated from Navy bootcamp and was craving sushi on a day trip into Chicago. We accidentally found this place on Trip Advisor......it’s fantastic!!!! Every single rolls we ordered was DELICIOUS!!!! And the service is even BETTER!!!!

The sushi here was good, not great. I didn't like to have a pushy waiter who wanted to clear the table. The overall experience was good and the food reasonably priced. The fish felt fresh. Maybe having a place a bit less cramped would help.

When we asked our hotel concierge for sushi recommendations, he gave us a few that we realized were pretty expensive, very trendy, and not within walking distance. Fortunately, after a few searches on our own, we found Friends Sushi, which was more our style and what we were looking for. At around 7:15 pm on a Friday night, we were able to get a table immediately without a reservation. The menu is expansive and affordable. While the ambiance is nice, it's not pretentious or elitist like some upscale sushi places. We had a great dinner with good service.

Not a bad place for lunch, if you're up for a sushi splurge. The restaurant is located right above a Thai restaurant where I ate last time I was in town. Since Niu Sushi didn't provide us the necessary sushi fix we had sought the night before, we decided to give it another try here after walking the Magnificent Mile. As usual, my wife went for the salmon teriyaki, this time in a Bento box. Amazingly, the salmon portion was even smaller than what she had received at dinner the night before, but whatever she got was delicious. Still, I don't think the Bento box was worth $15 for a lunch time meal. My daughter and I each selected the sushi set of two rolls and two sushis -- specifically, tako, unagi, negihamachi, tekka, and maguro, nama sake, negihamachi, spicy tuna. The waitress seemed harried at first, as if she was on edge. She rushed us to order and delivered napkin, silverware, and food as if she had just had an argument with the chef. Later though, when I showed her that one of my negihamachi rolls had a long sliver of fish cartilage; she apologized and brought me another roll and couple pieces of eel sushi on the house. As luck would have it, my new negihamachi also had a piece of cartilage -- this time shorter and wider, but I didn't bother to mention it. It does speak to the food preparation though. What are the chances that back to back sushi rolls would have a 'foreign' substance? Friends Sushi definitely satisfied our sushi cravings though. It was a good fun place to eat, not exactly inexpensive, but worth checking out if in the neighborhood. I didn't see any other Japanese restaurants in the immediate vicinity.

Craving for Japanese? Look no further. You'll find excellent sushi at this tiny restaurant. The entrance is a bit uninviting and upon entering you might be taken a little aback when you see the cramped up space, but the Asian staff is very sweet and efficient. And after all, it's the food that counts, isn't it? Try one of the signature rolls, you won't be disappointed.

For the last couple of months I have ordered sushi from this place every Thursday. The food is good, but it is overpriced. Today I ordered an extra roll and in the ingredients it did not mention eel, which my spouse and I dislike. When I came home I realized that a roll has eel on top. I called the restaurant and the lady on the phone was trying to help, but insisted that her manager could see that eel was listed in the list. I just asked if it could be replaced or reimbursed and she asked me to talk to her manager. The manager was a very unfriendly lady that did not care about the eel not being listed in the description of the roll. Thinking that this could be an easy fix I asked her what can you do? I mentioned that I was a regular customer and that I hoped she would do something, since it is not nice to pay 19 USD plus tax for a roll I would not eat. She insisted that eel was listed (See pic that confirms it was not) . I said, then you will lose a regular customer. She responded “I don’t care” and she hung up. Needless to say that I will never go back to this place. Food is important, but customer service is as important when rating a place. I want to highlight that the personnel is friendly, this bad rating is a reflection of the bad management.

It looked like a place only the locals know about, but we had a great dinner of sashimi and a noodle bowl with seafood. Will definitely keep coming back here on our returns to the city.

Cute establishment. Friendly greeter at the door. The sashimi was cut a little too thick for my taste (some of the texture was a bit too chewy) The presentation of my platter was messy. The sushi was average, I had expected better as the hotel I stayed at made the recommendation. I may return with FRIENDS next time, as I do consider myself a sushi snob. My server seemed to be having a bad day, that shouldn't necessarily show.

To much rice and various kind of mayo, and too little fish. Only one kind of Japanese beer. This was not a real Sushi restaurant for real Sushi lovers.

Friends was recommended by my hotel's concierge as a quick and casual place to get good sushi. Food and drinks were excellent (try the lychee martini- yum!), service was fast and staff was very welcoming. Did not feel out of place eating at the sushi bar along. Will definitely return!

The food was great, but the service was a little bizarre. We first go served food that was not ours. We then seem to have missed food we had ordered. The waiter then came and removed our plates, so we thought the next course was coming. We were then presented with the check. No question about desert etc. as i say bizarre, but the food we had tasted good.

Cool atmosphere. After a day of biz, this was a nice relax calm cool place for dinner. Great sushi and hospitable service.

Friends roll is something that would normally not be my type of sushi but I ordered it off a recommendation, and it was really good. Spicy tuna was solid too.

Very good sushi, but the service was a bit rushed. Since the tables and chairs are so tiny and cramped together you really don't want to stay too long anyway. Did I mention dark? I had to use my phone to read the menu. I would eat here again, but maybe for lunch - not when I want a special night out.

I am a "newer" sushi lover. The beef and asparagus as well as the squid and cilantro rolls are so delicious!! The dining room is very small and seating tight, but the service and sushi are so wonderful you won't mind!!

Excellent sushi. Wonderful staff and decent value. Definitely a great place to have sushi in Chicago.

First visit for Sunday lunch. Small dimly lit spot in an old townhouse. Pleasant service and a full compliment of chefs. Ordered two rolls and then a repeat of the "big friends" with soft shell crab. Very pleased with quality.

I had originally made reservations at another restaurant (Japanese BBQ) and found out when we got there that our dining companions preferred sushi. The hostess at the BBQ restaurant graciously recommended Friends that was nearby. Friends is located in a townhouse up a set of stairs. The room is attractive though the space is somewhat narrow and may give diners a tight feeling. Our starters were very good -- grilled squid, gyoza. The edamame was standard and what one is generally served -- how many different ways can you present edamame? The sushi was just average in our opinion. I ordered the sashimi -- and the pieces were very thick and came off flat in flavor. For example, you had the hint of a salmon taste but not the sublime flavoring of an excellent piece. The combination rolls appeared to be showy but again didn't move the taste buds. The prices were moderate for a Japanese restaurant. But given the quality of the sushi and sashimi, I would place it in the lower range of value.

This place is a bit of a hidden gem. Love the interior and the menu was fairly robust. We always start with Gyoza and end up with some variation of a soft shell crab roll. Everything was certainly delicious! It's sushi and it's in River North, so not the cheapest in the world, but if you live in the area or are visiting I would check it out if a sushi urge hits you.

Friend’s sushi has been a great go-to for us over the years. The sushi is very good and the staff couldn’t be nicer. It is not byob, so you will have to go to another place for outdoor sushi with your own drinks. The unagi and spicy tuna are on point.

Probably not the worst Sushi I have eaten in Chicago, but it is close. This place has it all - -high prices, bad food, ugly place, and bad service. The Sushi here is about twice the cost of other comparable places in Chicago. The place smells of cooking grease, has white cushions on the walls, and everyone is jammed into a tiny space. Our waitress forgot my beer, and ignored my wife's request that the Unagi have no sauce and be warm. The Miso soup had cold Tofu (meaning they are cutting corners here). We will never be back.

Excellent sushi, we started with the miso soup, a crispy tofu salad and veggie tempura the appetizer course was flavorful and interesting, The rest of our rolls were primarily veggie: avocado, asparagus, and sweet potato, they were fresh and tasty. The Hidden Crush Chardonnay was tasty and reasonably priced. The service was fast and cheerful, we ate on the side walk patio which was festive and fun.

Disclosure: we go to Friends Sushi on Rush St. every Saturday for lunch. The fish selection varies according to freshness. They prepare the fish on site. We've seen whole fresh fish arrive at the Sushi Counter and watched the chefs prepare it for serving. You can't get fresher. They always have the Maguro, Hamachi, Unagi, ... that is expected, but ask if they have fresh O-Toro or Uni off the menu. Do not order from the kitchen. They offer Teriyaki and Yakisoba but their kitchen is as big as a walk-in closet and is basically a prep station for the Sushi bar. Do not confuse the Rush Street location with the State Street location. The State Street location is pricey. Don't ask why, I don't know. Dragon Roll at Rush St. is wonderful uses white sushi rice, shrimp tempura and cucumber (8 pieces $16), Dragon Roll at State St. uses black rice, shrimp tempura and cream cheese. (4 pieces $10). Both locations use cream cheese in some of their maki which is non-Japanese. Friends also has a new Shabu-Shabu restaurant on State Street which is very gimmicky and needs its own review.

Very bad decor, very difficult to distinguish staff from the customers. All the staff were different attire. I had Tako yaki and Ramen. Tako yaki was terrible ... a small piece of octopus coated in a big ball of some sort of batter. Ramen had shrimp in it... very strange. Check was brought to me even before I am done with my ramen.

While working in Chicago, I stumbled upon this gem with a coworker. We had the Tako Yaki, Can You Handle it Roll, Ticky Tacky, and wine. It was so good that we've both returned to get the same things over and over. The Tako Yaki comes out very hot on a bed of greens. My advice is to admire it for a few minutes as you sip you drink before taking a bite. They really do come out that hot, but they are delicious. My absolute favorite roll is the Ticky Tacky. I know...I ate octopus in a completely land locked location. How dare I?! But I have to seek out that roll every time I'm in Chicago, which is at least once a month at my current work travel rate. The octopus is sliced thin and placed on top of the king crab sushi with a wonderful wasabi mayo. It's so good, that I often eat it without adding any additional wasabi, ginger or soy sauce. It has a slightly sweet satisfying flavor that keeps me coming back for more. My coworker is hooked on the Can You Handle it Roll. Part of it is the challenge of the rolls name and the other part is that it has a nice flavor to it. I like spicy things and should state that I can still add wasabi to this roll. It has jalapeno in it, but I don't find it uncomfortably hot. Just spicy for sushi. All in all, I had second thoughts about reviewing this place because I love it that much and it's already busy, but they deserve a good review. Please do them a favor and reserve a seat ahead of time as they do get very busy during peak times and their space is rather small.

After picking through the (far too) comprehensive menu I selected the fire cracker starter, edemame, shrimp tempura, crispy spicy tuna maki and deluxe sashimi combo (plus an extra miso soup) for my wife and I. It was all great, and the sashimi was absolutely terrific - particularly the salmon. The only way the selection could be better was if they did toro and yellow tail jalepeno sashimi - two favourites of mine that were missing from the menu.

Yes, a small restaurant. Yes, service was slightly disjointed. But everybody friendly (of course) and most important - food was very nicely prepared and presented. Regarding the prime directive: the sushi and tempura were great. Udon quite good as well. Best Japanese food in the Streeterville area.

Doesn’t look like much but WOW. very fresh fish. Nice spring mix salad with a nice hint of ginger. Service was excellent. Friendly and homey. I do like sitting at a sushi bar and this place lacks that but it okay. Must go.

Is a small, chic restaurant. Very attentive staff and the sushi was great. My daughter and I enjoyed it very much.

We are particular about eating sushi unless well recommended by those who have been to the restaurant, and Friend was picked from the web. Packed full on a Friday night and noisy. Outdoor seating was not on because of rain. The sushi, sashimi and maki made up for all else. I am no exert but the warm house sake went fine with what i ate, Certainly recommend a visit

Stopped here a couple years ago for a quick taste of shrimp tempura. Spent a little more time testing the menu. Really great tasting morsels here. The chefs can speak just enough English. The music is a bit more techno than most places, but the general area has a bit to do with that. At the corner of Chicago & Rush St. it's not unusual to see a Lambo or Ferrari driving by. For a Tuesday night there's quite a crowd. Very diverse. Once you step inside you totally forget it's built in an old apartment house. Quite a transition. Going to have to loosen the belt a notch!

I was walking up and down a number of streets and had a hard time finding a Sushi Restaurant that served lunch. I then found Friends with the help of a cab driver. I was by myself, my wife does not like sushi. It could not have been a better selection. It is a small restaurant, but they had at least 4 Sushi chefs working when I went in. The sushi was excellent and I would definitely go back

We went on a late Sunday afternoon, the place was under a quarter full -- table right away and super fast and friendly service. We started with a Wasabi Shumai starter (dumplings with shrimp); wife also had spicy miso soup, and then we split two rolls -- Crunch and Cream and a Summer roll. All the flavors were great; we weren't rushed, and it was a very enjoyable meal. I'd go back any time I'm in town!

Service is great, the sushi is very good and not very expensive. The place is very nice, please order the salmon zen is delicious!

Came across Friends Sushi on Open Table and so glad I did! Delicious fresh fish, creative rolls, awesome cocktails. The restaurant is a little small, so make a resy!

It’s possible that you could walk by and not even see this place- it’s so small and tucked away. We enjoyed sitting outside but noticed the interior was super modern and funky. Our server gave us some great recommendations and was very helpful. We had 3 rolls- the umi, crispy creamy, and pink spring. My husband loved the cilantro and jalapeño flavors of the pink spring and I loved the uniqueness of the Parmesan cheese in the crispy creamy. Good stuff!!

Hello again fellow Advisors... Had the opportunity to visit this sushi spot. Of course with 200+ reviews and 4.5 stars it makes your craving for sushi easy to satisfy. It's right downtown near all. Don't walk too fast though, you may miss it. Small spot but once inside it has a cool white decor. Service was good. I saw a pic of this plate with a dragon and I really tried to get it, but the chef was too busy. So, note to self, if I ever go again make sure I'm there when the place opens. We ordered a few rolls that were delish. The Yakuza and the Can you handle it were my favs. Given the chance I'll definitely visit again. Hope this helps...

I really liked this place, and the food tastes great.. Their sushi portions are generous and the price is not bad based on quality of food.. If you're a sushi lover I very much recommend this place.. It's a chilled out environment inside.. Everything I tried was great.. Recommended!

We were walking around a lot and got hungry for some sushi. Stumbled upon this place...would not have noticed it or heard of it without Google maps. Tiny narrow place, very small, Cosmo, and quaint. Wonderful service! Excellent food!!! Looking forward to returning to this place!

We were visiting my daughter and her husband. We eat sushi once a week so always look for sushi when traveling. The tempura was fresh and good. The sushi rolls were nothing spectacular. But it was fresh fish and it was a fun night. We'd probably try sobering different next time we visit.

Looking for an intimate and friendly place to eat, then this is it. Everything we ate was well prepared and presented and for me, just right to take in one bite! Definitely right for a return dinner.

We decided to take the family to Friends Sushi, and it was an enjoyable experience overall! The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, perfect for a casual outing. The sushi was fresh and flavorful, but we found some rolls a bit too adventurous for our kids' taste. Service was friendly, though it took a while for our orders to arrive. Still, we had a great time trying new dishes together. If you're looking for a fun spot to enjoy sushi with loved ones, this place is worth a visit!

We ordered sushi based off the recommendation of one of the doormen, we were not disappointed! They had a great menu and it tasted great! I don't remember what we ordered but it arrived very quickly and was still warm when we ate it! We were a little nervous about eating sushi from an unknown place, but DONT BE! You will not be disappointed!

Working in Chicago this week so took to the internet for a sushi lunch. Trip Advisor guided me to Friends Sushi. I had the sushi set lunch which was $17 for 4 pieces of sushi and a maki roll. The fish and service was awesome but I thought $17 was a few bucks too many.

the sushi is so good. nice outdoor dining area. take out available. so many unique sushi options to choose from. would love to go back

This is an amazing sushi restaurant. Great hidden little gem. Fast, reasonably priced sushi. We loved the tofu app, salmon sashimi, the friends sushi roll, lots of great choices and selections. Great drink selections. Hip vibe. Don’t go if looking for a quiet place for date night. Do go if you are ok with fun, high energy, great drinks and food. Also great service!!

We dined here and had a so so experience. Sushi was meh and didn't seem so fresh. Service fine. Convenient location.

Very good nigiris and beers. The only "bad" thing about this place is that the tables are to close one to another.

Good sushi choice close to Michigan Ave. Small close interior. Food was very good and price was reasonable. Good choice if you are looking for a well presented, quality meal. Two Japanese beer choices - Sapporo and Kirin. Both in bottles. Nice intimate place for a quiet night out. Some outdoor dining too on a kind-of quiet street.

Simple but elegant and varied meal - crispy calamari followed by curried soft shell crabs and accompanied by fresh coconut juice in the coconut proper!

Small, easy to find location, but seated right away. Service was great and the sushi was amazing. Affordable place to eat out in a bit city! Great martini and cold beer. Would recommend no matter the occasion!

We came back to Chicago and had to come back to Friends. Great sushi! We will come back here every time we come to Chicago, definetly!

Unusual venue, with very small tables fairly close together. Lots of interesting choices on the menu, and the waitress gave us good advice. Definitely want to go back again to try more unusual items.

It was our last night in Chicago and my husband and I had been eating our way around the city. I found this little place close to our hotel and we decided to give it a try. Loved it! There was definitely something for everyone, even picky sushi eaters - I even stepped out of my comfort zone a little. Yes, the tables are kind of on top of each other, but it doesn't necessarily feel like it. It just feels like you're in a buzzy, interesting place. Loved it!

We had all kind of sushi and everyone was really good. Good plate presentation,very good service. The restaurant even if it is not big is nice with a good atmosphere, I really enjoyed had dinner here

We were here for a conference and trunk new restaurants for lunch and dinner daily. Two of us were on this visit and each had a traditional roll and house salad. Our respective tabs with tip were about $25.

Perfect fresh sushi. Nice people. Hip shiny white interior. Mid range priced! No waiting line. There was some house music but they was no problem for us

Really cute place with fun music playing. The menu is amazing. Our server was lovely and super efficient. It's def a 5 star restaurant for me, the only problem I have with it is that it is really dark (especially where we're sitting). I ordered 4 very different rolls and they all came on the same plate. It was so dark I couldn't see which was which. Part of the appeal of sushi is its beauty so I kind of felt like I was missing out, but that's just me. But they tasted delicious so it's all good.

Great sushi but it was a little dark for my taste. Service was a little slow but that seemed to be the norm in Chicago so we dismissed it. Very reasonably priced for how much we got!

Friends Sushi has an interesting interior with all white tables and chairs, but the food was just average. The grills octopus balls were unique, the sushi rolls were good, but nothing spectacular to write home about.

Nice athmospere, modern. Maybe the tables are a bit to close and there is no intimacy. The menu is rather impressive, and the preparation is very well done. Prices are correct.

Really enjoyed our visit and from a food perspective it is an easy recommendation for any sushi lover. I had the Jazz Roll and the Summer 9. The first being for a more complex palate. Featuring salmon, avocado, masago, and topped with King crab. Delicious and surprisingly light. The summer 9 roll used yellowtail cilantro and lime in a refreshing combination. My husband had the Friends Roll which was by far my favorite. My daughter said it was the best Salmon Teriyaki she has ever tasted and cleaned her plate. The menu is fabulous and we struggled to make our choices. The establishment was quite small but had a very nice trendy and modern feel to it although very cramped and intimate. Definitely an better for couples and not groups. The staff was professional and attentive in their service. We definitely enjoyed our family dinner.

The sushi was awesome and we enjoyed the night out there. The place is very cramped so having reservations will help. I believe the tables outside were theirs so I would do that on a good weather day.

Excellent new concept of Peruvian and Japanese cuisine mixing both in a unique way. We really enjoyed the Purple Summer and the Lavender as well as the Nama Sake Ceviche. The decor is outstanding with an all white modern look. Staff was courteous and helpful. Prices are moderate and really will be coming back again.

We ordered soup broth which was perfect with fresh greens. The poke was amazing with seafood sprinkles. The kale salad was one of the most creative salads with fresh ingredients and crispy veggies and a mango dressing that was spectacular. The rolls are all good we had a purple beer roll with tuna and hamachi. Highly recommend.

After reading some reviews and asking around the city we got varying suggestions but this one came up a few times from locals, so we tried it. It's not super fancy and is small but has a fun eclectic look to it and the prices are reasonable for the city. It's a couple blocks off Mich Ave on a quiet part of Rush St. Only complaint was some of the rolls were so big they are hard to eat! Overall good sushi and a fair price!

During a stay of one week in Chicago I visited Friends Sushi three times. Sushi is always fresh and served at the right temperature. Friendly service. The Pinot Grigio is a perfect accompaniment to Sushi. Our favorites: Sashimi Combo, Big Friends (soft shell crab tempura) Devils' Tuna (Spicy Tuna) Crispy Spicy Tuna.

Excellent Sushi - Really good choices - Very Fresh. Good service - Very accommodating for any special request. Is a bit tight on tables / seating.

This is not average sushi place, it has very interesting menu with strange but good taste. naturally there are all normal portions, but on top of that more exotic also. But i loved it. We were there with colleagues and had several portions we shared and all were delicious. For me that white decor including those inconvenient white chairs was strange, but don´t mind that as all food is great :)

For us, sushi is the choice when we are not sure what we want to eat. We saw Friends Sushi on Tripadvisor and the pictures sold us. The place is small but hip. The service was really good. We ordered a spicy tuna roll, the Fujiyama, and the Friends Maki. All of it was wonderful. They used real crab instead of imitation crab. It was a little pricey, but the sushi was excellent.

We were in Chicago for business and decided that after our meeting we needed a good sushi lunch. I had previously checked out where sushi restaurants were and Friends Sushi was just around the corner from where we had our meeting. Perfect!! We started out with Sapporo Beer, then a really tasty miso soup. We then moved to the spicy edamame which was so so good that we ate every last one. We then had the main dishes - the eel (unagi roll) and the Fire Wing Roll. Both were so delicious. Overall it was a great experience and we highly recommend Friends Sushi for when you are in Chicago.

Reservations recommended. Very busy place and the space is small. Not an intimate atmosphere since it's busy and a packed area with the tables very close together. Service was great. Food was even better! We got two bottles of sake (pictured). For appetizers, we got shumai and firecracker. Fire cracker was REALLY good (picture with 4 chip cups). We got sashimi deluxe, friends roll and assorted nigiri. All really spectacular and the quality of the fish was high. The friends roll is one of the best speciality rolls I've had in a while. The bill was around $165, with tip, it ended to be a $200 dinner for four people. Not bad at all. Definitely affordable like advertised on the website. Will definitely be back here!

We have passed by Friends many times. This time we went in. Not pretentious. Not stuffy. Just very good Japanese food and attentive, friendly service. And the prices are very reasonable. Sake don, yakisoba tofu were excellent.

By far the best sushi I have ever had. The ambiance of the dining area was pretty cool. Very modern furniture to a classic cuisine. The service was pretty efficient. I recommend the friends sushi roll. Pricing is fairly agreeable for area and cuisine.

I loved this place. Warm welcome with genuine charm. Restaurant was pretty full at lunch and the fish seemed very good quality (not fatty) Excellent Sashimi and great ura-maki flavors and ingredients . Possibly a hidden secret ? 50usd a head no wine. Recommended.

We found Friends Sushi on Trip Advisor…and so glad we did! The sushi was delicious, and the restaurant has a great vibe! Highly recommend!

Fun little spot. The restaurant was nice. It had a fun vibe. The food was decent. I would probably not go back on my own, but wouldn't say no if someone invited me.

Had some takeout from here couple of time while staying for business next door. Really tasty sushi, with a nice price tag. Quick service

Better than downstairs thai place. cuter and same price range but a broader menu so you spend a little more cause you will share and proably have a drink

We have walked by Friends Sushi for years but never eaten there, and will definitely go back. The restaurant is small and very cozy so is great for a date night or very small group (max of 4). The food is fresh and the service very efficient.

Lunch At Friend's Sushi, having their first combination 4 Niggiri Sushi of your choice and the 3 fish Roll was very good. The Niggiri choice to take from was good, including higher quality fish like Hamashi, the portions were generous and the fish very fresh The ratio quality/price was perfect. I had diner there too, same high quality but at diner it was the usual price for fresh sushi

We got to this place based on tripadvisor comments and found that food is so so good!! We ordered sashimi, edamame, miso soup and vegetable tempura, everything was excellent. Good music around. Very good choice!!!

A good sushi restaurant, with solid offerings, but not a traditional old school sushi restaurant if that is what you seek. Good food.

I got a to-go order to eat back in my hotel room. The restaurant was small, but jam packed to the rafters. I thought this was a good sign. Sadly, I found the food itself to be mediocre. I've had much better Japanese food elsewhere. Maybe their sushi is spectacular, but I wouldn't know as I only ordered staples (but if you can't get those right, then...). I had the house salad, steamed edamame and miso soup. The dressing was just a small container of oil. The miso was just okay. The edamame lacked salt.

We tried this place after seeing it rated on TripAdvisor. It is very good. The sushi was fresh and delicious, the gyoza was awesome too! Highly recommend

My daughter and I were shopping on the Magnificent Mile and really wanted sushi. This restaurant came up and we thought we’d give it a shot. So glad we did. It is a little ways from the mile (didn’t know that we started walking to it)but worth the walk. The staff is so friendly and the sushi was delicious and fresh. You won’t be disappointed!! It is tiny though and I imagine can get crowded but while we we’re there for lunch, it was great.

We were in town for our first trip and a friend recommended this place. The food was good and we had very quick service. My husband doesn’t love sushi, so he ordered steak and chicken with rice, but they said they couldn’t add one to the other. We do this all the time at our restaurant back home. So here, we paid an extra 15$ for my husband to get chicken. Not a huge deal, just an inconvenience.

This restaurant was highly rated on another website. Coming in from the cold the restaurant was stifling hot. The service was fast but not friendly, only when we left. We ate dinner there and left hungry. The food was ok but overpriced. The tables were very close together and uncomfortable. Would not return or recommend.

A return visit to sample more of "Friends". The Sake Don was delicious and beautifully presented. The Yakisoba Tofu has a very pleasant and exotic flavor. Both highly recommended.