Akai Hana - Wilmette

I visit this restaurant a few times a year, so I wouldn't say I'm a regular, but I have been here enough to notice how the menu has changed and remained the same over time. It's a nice, plaza-style eatery. As others have mentioned, parking can be a bit tight (it was even more challenging before the pandemic when the parking lot constantly seemed to be under repair). I'm not an expert on authentic cuisine, but the restaurant definitely leans towards a more classic approach. While there are some unique dishes and rolls, they aren't as outlandish as some modern options elsewhere. We frequently order the bento box for lunch, which offers a generous portion of food that includes soup, crab salad, an entree, and a California roll. I'm also a fan of the udon, which has a more straightforward presentation. I've noticed that service can be inconsistent at times, but I've always been understanding, especially given the challenges of fully staffing a restaurant lately.

We arrived at around 7:45 PM for dinner, not realizing they close at 8 PM on Fridays. Nonetheless, the staff kindly seated us and promptly took our order. They even treated us to complimentary bowls of miso soup. We tried the pork gyoza, which was cooked to perfection, boasting just the right amount of crunch and a delightful chewy texture. I must admit, I typically don’t enjoy sushi, but the food was surprisingly good. I particularly liked the Louisiana roll and the greedy shrimp roll.

Great lunch spot! My husband and I were very happy with the portion sizes for the price, and we appreciated the variety on the menu. The interior could use some updating, though. Also, the sushi bar area is restricted to employees only.

Haven't been here in a long time. This place is still good. The servers and the host are very attentive. There's lotz to choose from on the menu. We went during the week and it wasn't extremely busy. I wanted the sea bass teriyaki but they didn't have any. So I ordered the orange roughy teriyaki combo. It was delicious. Then my b4 ordered the sashimi dinner. We ordered extra pieces of salmon, tuna and uni sushi. They also had toro sushi which is fatty tuna. It was delicious. I'll ordered more of that. I never had uni before so I tried it. It wasn't for me. He loved it so he could eat mine anytime. It's far for us but we will come back when in the area.

Very good lunch specials I have been coming here for years and it's just as good as ever! The bento boxes always come with so many options. We ordered sushi this time and did not disappoint.