Daruma Restaurant

I’ve been to Daruma many times — one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the Chicago area. Worth driving from downtown. Big portions and reasonable prices. Authentic and great Japanese food every time.

I visited here on a certain day in August 2025. It was at 11:25 am. They were already open. My wife ordered a "KAKI FRY LUNCH". And I ordered a "TONKATSU LUNCH" "TONKATSU" was very huge ! and juicy. The tomato spaghetti served alongside the "TONKATSU" was also good. They were very kind and explained about the foods politely.

UGH!! This place. I wish I could afford it more often. It was so delicious. The sashimi melted in my mouth. It was so fresh. The maki rolls were also so yummy. Rice perfectly seasoned with not too many sauces. I’ve been craving the soba ever since I’ve had it. The teriyaki chicken was also so yummy. Buttery, rich, delicious. Not too sweet and cooked perfectly without being burned. The servers were all super attentive and nice. Accommodated perfectly without bothering us. It’s an amazing place for special occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, etc. not your everyday easy dinner though.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, with authentic designs, and even a Koi pond. The service was quick and attentive throughout. All of the amazing waiters and waitresses were very kind and were always keeping our glasses filled. The food itself was spectacular. Truly amazing and authentic tasting dishes with American sized portions! Someone may argue that the pricing is a little high, but when you see the plate in front of you, you definitely know that you’ll be getting some leftovers. Overall, I highly recommend this place. I’m glad that they were able to maintain a high-level of quality staff and maintain the excellent atmosphere throughout the years.

Nice, quiet atmosphere, beautiful Japanese interior. The staff are very polite and friendly. I ordered the Katsu pork rice bowl. It was a huge serving! The pork was tender, juicy, and tasty. We also had the fried baby octopus for appetizer and it was delicious. There were lots of Asian customers in the restaurant so it could be a good sign that the food is good and authentic.

A hidden gem! Daruma is fast, fresh, and generous with portions. I got the Daruma Bowl, which came loaded with three salmon sashimi, two yellowtail, three tuna sashimi, 🍣 plus a mountain of sushi rice, pickled ginger, and miso soup - all for a great price! My friend’s lunch special 🍱 looked just as amazing. Bonus tip! You’re served hot tea 🍵 as soon as you sit down. Highly recommend, it’s delicious!!!

Authentic Japanese food, Big portions, server was nice and attentive. I recommend getting the zaru soba. It is a cold noodle with dipping sauce. It is flavorful. We also got chicken teriyaki combo. It’s huge. It’s good for 2 people sharing. Also, Tonkotsu dinner is very big too. I love Agedashi tofu, so I always order from every Japanese restaurant I that go. I also ordered from here. I think the tempura batter here isn’t my style but dipping sauce was ok. My least favorite is Buta Nira Moyashi. There is too much bean sprouts. We ended up packing a lot of food home. So, don’t over order. Most of the main dishes and entrees are good for sharing.

My Japanese coworker told me about this place, saying it was more authentic than other sushi spots, and I totally agree about the food. The sushi rolls had tons of fish, and everything tasted amazing. The service was awesome too. My only complaint is the inside and how it looks. The place seems really old and needs a serious makeover. Even the signs on the windows look like a 9-year-old drew them. All in all, great food and service, but I wish the inside was more modern to make the whole dining experience feel fancier.

Authentic food, admirable service, and astounding ambiance! Daruma Restaurant has such lovely, homey interior that makes you feel as though you traveled to the heart of Japan. The waiters went above and beyond to make sure that my brother's birthday was special. We made a reservation to sit Horigotatsu style on tatami floors. I highly recommend making a reservation for this private seating since it's wonderful to fully immerse yourself into the culture. For appetizers, we ordered the Beef Tataki and Chicken Karaage. Although a bit on the pricier side, the Beef Tataki is a must-try when you come visit this restaurant. The ponzu sauce complimented the beef very well. The Chicken Karaage was the perfect temperature and crunch. Although I would have much preferred a dipping sauce on the side, the cold mashed potatoes were surprisingly refreshing. Now for the main star of the show-- the entrees. The waitress was incredibly kind, helping provide information on the portion sizes for the sushi menu. We ended up ordering the Daruma Sushi Assortment, half a Crazy Roll, Spicy Scallop Roll, Hon Maguro Taku Maki Roll, and Tempura Udon. With such a wide selection of dishes, each one of them was a showstopper in their own way. The Hon Maguro Taku Maki was one of their specials, recommended by the waitress, and ended up being our favorite dish of the night. The nigiri slices were more than generous and the quality of the fish was excellent. We ended the near-perfect night with a complimentary Matcha Tiramisu to celebrate my brother's birthday. It tasted good, but I think adding more matcha powder to the top would have elevated the flavor a lot more. However, the dessert was very much appreciated. I will leave here with a few notes: 1. Jump out of your comfort zone and try some more authentic Japanese dishes here 2. Reserve the Horigotatsu seating 3. Thank me later

Daruma has been a tried and true family favorite for consistently high-quality Japanese food including teishoku (combo plates / bento boxes consisting of rice, miso soup, and a main dish such as grilled pork ginger, etc.) and my personal favorite, chirashi-sushi. The prices have gone up over the years. The appetizer neapolitan spaghetti is a classic Japanese-Western dish served on a cast iron plate - piping hot. It's priced attractively. I usually trek out to the suburbs so I can enjoy some sushi. I usually get the chirashi sushi here which costs over $35. My mom got their teriyaki chicken plate which was generously portioned with enough for leftovers.

I really wanted to like Daruma since a friend is a regular here and there are so many good reviews. We came here on a weekday evening for dinner and were promptly seated but also came around the time they opened for the evening. The restaurant was pretty busy by the time we were done eating. We shared a kani (crab) croquette (2 pieces) and chicken karaage. We ordered a Japanese spaghetti for our toddler since there is no kids menu. I had the tempura soba while hubby had the black tonkotsu ramen (pork bone based ramen noodle soup with burnt garlic oil, topped with chashu, egg, woodear, bamboo shoots, and green onions). The croquette were decent but they were pretty small and slightly overcooked. The chicken karaage was pretty standard. However, I did not care for the Japanese spaghetti and although the description did mention that it is made with ketchup it just mostly only tasted like ketchup to me. The tempura soba was pretty bland and the tempura had so much batter but was undercooked. Service was good and everyone was kind. One of the waiters even prepared a "kid's chopstick" for my toddler by using a rubber band and the chopstick wrapper. Maybe we ordered the wrong things but had a pretty forgettable experience.

I tried both spider rolls and rainbow rolls, although they were both exceptionally tasty, I thought the rainbow roll had a superior flavor and texture. They had an amazing tonkatsu meal. Even though the dish was large, I can't believe I finished it all.

Nice food always with very fresh sashimi! We also ordered curry tonkatsu. Very tasty and smell so good.

Highly recommend! Make sure to call ahead and make a reservation just in case! Sometimes it could get crowded and there could be a long wait. Check their hours ahead of time before calling though bc they have a break between lunch and dinner. The food is great! Huge plate of sizzling spaghetti for such a great price. Fish has always been fresh every time. The takoyaki is always amazing!! Nice presentation, servers are kind. You won't be disappointed! Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because the tables and floors are kinda sticky. But they always provide hand wipes and I just use that to wipe down my side of the table :)

I wanted to add 3 additional items that are worth ordering. Beef tataki, soft shell crab, and tonkatsu dinner. Tokatsu dinner you get a nice big piece of pork loin. It's crunchy and moist. 5/5. Soft shell crab is not overly fried it's just right. Tastes great with that ponzu sauce. 5/5. Beef tataki has great quality NY strip meat. Make sure you eat it with the garlic, green onions, and ponzu sauce. Those components will amplify the taste

Okay since this review 7 years ago, my palate has since grown and matured haha We ordered the ramen and sashimi. I still love the ramen. It's rich, yet light and full of flavor. When they bring it out, there's a strong garlic scent that draws you in. The char sui is tender and flavorful. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Overall over pleased with how this has not changed. The sashimi was a huge surprise. Since the last review, I've ventured away from makis and cooked rolls. I've had omakase and sashimi at numerous restaurants. None of which serves their sashimi pieces as big as here. It was intimidating actually. I feel like they could have slice it's again and it would be a much more pleasant bite. The fish itself were fresh and delicious. I actually liked the tuna they served, and normally I would prefer something else over regular tuna. I ordered the fatty hamachi just to try because I didn't know hamachi came as fatty? Again, the piece was huge and I had to take like 3 bites. It was okay, didn't felt like it was "fatty" I would prefer regular hamachi. We also ordered the coconut milk Panna cotta and I'm so glad I did because that was AMAZING. The panda cotta itself was creamy and lightly sweetened. The mango purée was an excellent compliment to the richness because it was tangy.

I have changed the rating to 5 stars as this restaurant always hits the spot. Everything melts in my mouth here... :) Tip: I'd recommend making a reservation or calling ahead if you want to do walk in to ensure there isn't a long wait. It can get pretty busy. Parking: parking lot available Food Takoyaki: The texture and taste is just perfect. Best to eat when it comes out as it is still warm. Kuro Tonkatsu Ramen ($13.95): A good portion to be shared if eating other items. Otherwise, a good portion for 1 person. Toro Taku Maki ($13.95): the fatty tuna melts in your mouth. They didn't have fatty tuna at the time we went so it was replaced with tuna but I've had their fatty tuna before and it was delish. Spicy Tuna Roll: I love how they have more tuna vs rice ratio and it just melts in your mouth. I'll be back when I'm craving Japanese food!

I had a great experience at Daruma! Started with Takoyaki as an appetizer, which was a good balance of crispy exterior and tender octopus filling, bursting with flavor. The Nabeyaki Udon was great in portion size and showcased the authentic taste of Japanese cuisine. The Soba noodles had a delightful firmness, while the Nabeyaki Udon boasted a rich and aromatic broth that complemented the tender noodles and tempura perfectly. Of course, no visit to Daruma would be complete without sampling their sushi rolls. The Crazy Roll, a tantalizing combination of tuna, salmon, avocado, and a touch of spicy mayo, was an absolute delight. The Scallop Maki, with its sweet and buttery scallops wrapped in seaweed and sushi rice, was a true highlight. Each piece was meticulously crafted and showcased the skill and artistry of the sushi chefs. Overall, Daruma proved to be a gem that exceeded my expectations. The portions were generous, the flavors were exquisite, and the staff provided exceptional service. If you're looking for a Japanese culinary experience that will leave you satisfied and wanting more, I highly recommend checking out this place.

My friend told me about this place saying it's very cute and good. I decided to bring my family here on the weekend. I called at like 5:30 pm for a reservation on the day of and was told they could only seat us at 7pm which was fine. Everything was so good and fresh. The steak freaking melts in your mouth here. The tonkatsu entree was freaking huge! Honestly, you can pretty much share each entree with at least 2 people. I was stuffed after eating half of the tonkatsu. The sashimi were ginormous and fresh. The tako wasabi was so good! I will definitely be back next time. Price is super reasonable for the amount of food you get as well as the quality is ON POINT! Come here if you're in the area for some Japanese food. It's so hard to find both quality and quantity these days with the crazy inflation prices!

When I first moved out to Schaumburg This was the first Japanese Restaurant I went to and thinking about how good the quality was when I first came here Now a days I'm not sure if there are different owners or why the quality seems to have gone down. Everything was cooked properly but none of the dishes just had any wow factor to it. Inflation definitely feels like a factor here as all the dishes just don't match up to the quality

I went to Daruma with a friend and did it make reservation. The wait was a bit since the place was very packed! The food was amazing! I really liked it a lot! The quality and taste make me think of Japan! The service was okay. The ambiance was great I liked the layout of inside of the restaurant! I highly highly recommend DR to anyone who wants high quality food!

Finally got to eat in the tatame room and it did not disappoint. We had Chirashi dinner, steak dinner, sushi set, sashimi set, tonkatsu, nabeyaki udon, tempura udon, kani koroke, kimchi cheese appetizer, many rolls. Amazing and comfortable dinner. Service was just right- not overbearing but we got what we needed.

I had high expectations for this place and was slightly underwhelmed. The inside was clean but seemed slightly fallen into disrepair. I had the udon which cane in a big cast iron pot which was interesting but tasted not out the ordinary. The staff was attentive! Things came out quickly and came out hot. They even brought out a tiny little cheesecake for my brother since it was his birthday. Some people in the party got sushi- it was about standard nothing crazy delicious nothing bad. Very middle of the road. This place wasn't bad at all by any means, but I don't think I would journey back.

Very good food. Enjoyed the zoushi very much since not many places have this. The ramen was flavorful and very good as well. Definitely a good place for good Japanese food

Always a wonderful meal with the freshest fish. Owner is from Hiroshima and knows his stuff. We always start with many appetizers --and you can't go wrong, try something new! Then a sashimi offering after warming miso soup. Lovely!

The food is so tasty! Went here with my coworker because our coworker told us about this place. If you are going to come during their lunch hours, expect to wait a bit. We waited about 20-25 min but the wait before getting our lunch was so worth it!! Fish tastes fresh and the tonkatsu was so good! Coming to this restaurant reminded me of the good times I had in Japan. Prices are decent too!

Daruma has excellent food although the restaurant could probably benefit from a refresh. That said, it probably wouldn't matter as they don't suffer from a lack of business.In fact you would be disappointed if you didn't make reservations. Most of the clientele are Japanese which is always a good sign. They also offer Horigotatsu seating which is a private room with a low table and a well beneath it for your legs: you are seated on the floor on tatami mats. You leave your shoes at the entrance to the room. The prices are a little high compared to others but Daruma offers a more authentic experience where the quality of the fish stands out rather than being smothered by mayo based drizzles. The cuts of fish, chirashi as an example, are too large for one bite and it was a challenge for my wife and I to finish: I had chirashi and my wife had salmon and tuna don. We will return and tell our friends to come has well as long as they make reservations first.

Probably the best sushi place I have been to in the burbs. The service is super friendly and welcoming! The fish was so fresh and so tasty. I had the edamame for an appetizer and it was fire. I had only 1/2 of the seafood salad but it was plenty. Again, so fresh and delicious. The rolls were pretty big and enjoyed every one of them. Would recommend 100%.

Super yum! Very cute and authentic Japanese restaurant. Great selection and fairly priced. Of the three dishes we tried my favorite was the bento box. I loved that they used chicken thighs and kept the skin on and cooked it so it was super crispy! The vegetable tempura had a great variety of vegetables and I loved the sauce it came with. Would recommend the bento box for sure! But probably can't go wrong with anything here.

Call for reservations or sit at the sushi bar. Fantastic authentic dishes. We will definitely be back.

Yelp brought us to here , and Daruma's high quality sushi and service will have us coming back. Continuing the day of celebrating my birthday we went out for sushi. We were up in Schaumburg so I did the customary Yelp search. Daruma had over 300 ratings and was 4.5 stars. Yelp is right again. We started off with the sake harasu nanban zuke ( marinated salmon belly in onions and carrots in a sweet vinaigrette ) . That was outstanding. We also order fatty tuna and fatty salmon sushi and the crazy roll , yellowtail roll, Boston roll, and the salmon roll . All of the charts in freshness and flavor. We couldn't even finish what we ordered . As I mentioned , staff was very friendly and helpful. We look forward to our next visit here

I came with my family and the server was very hard to understand since it was our first time here. He gave us pencils and paper and we ordered and I remember he pointed at a sign that said endless sushi but he couldn't explain since we didn't understand what he saying. Our bill was pretty high but the sushi was good just not for that price

Love this place! They're known among the Asian community for being one of the best Japanese restaurants around and I have to agree. I don't get the sushi when I come here to be honest because their other authentic Japanese dishes are just too good. If you can, you HAVE to try the Japanese Spaghetti, I swear they have to be adding something super addictive to it, it's so good even though I thought I would hate it. Their ramen is super solid too, so I recommend any ramen addicts to give it a shot here. So creamy and delicious. I wish I still ate pork sometimes because of this dish. The service is always solid too, so why not give it a shot? I promise you will not regret it!

Fantastic food! Sushi is pricier than most sushi restaurants but for good reason. The amount of fish you get per piece is 2-3 times more than most restaurants and the quality is fantastic. Literally the best sushi I've ever had. Also highly recommend the other menu items like the Tonkatsu dinner!

Excellent Authentic Japanese Cuisine. Fine service with accuracy. The Ambiance was quite lovely by the Tea Houses surrounded by the Koi ponds. Just Fine Decor as you go through the dining areas of the restaurant.

Was looking for a place in the burbs to have an early dinner with the fam, and found Daruma. When I was in Tokyo I fell in love with all the Japanese cuisine that isn't just sushi and ramen, and I've longed to find a good place with stuff like Japanese curry. Daruma seemed to fit the bill, and we got to reserve a private tatami room (I read for fewer than four people there's a fee for it, so be aware). The don't have a website but will take reservations over the phone. I was a little cautious as despite being Asian, my parents aren't the most adventurous eaters. They left it to me to order, so I went for a big variety of things - fried oysters, beef croquettes, potato salad, takoyaki, yakitori, chicken karage, and a bowl of ramen to share. I loved everything, and I really want to come back for their lunch specials since that's when they seem to serve curry. Everything tasted the fresh, the potato salad had a nice pop of bacon, that takoyaki wasn't a molten ball of lava in my mouth - it's exactly what I've been missing. The room was perfect for a little celebration as my family took pics and I put my little Bowser Jr. toy from my sister on the table to pose with us. Our server was terrific and entertained my dad's attempts at speaking Japanese. My wife and I agreed it felt like being back in Tokyo, but with a lot more space. My parents, who'd never had ramen even after the big ramen explosion in the Chicagoland area a few years back, enjoyed it. They saw it as a kind of Japanese dum sum, and I'm excited to be able to try and expand their palates even more...dare I say, maybe even sushi?? Either way, Daruma is great and I can see why it was so busy even at 5pm.

I am frequent customer at Daruma. The menu I always order to go is Chirashi. First of all thick sashimi tastes good and gives full in mouth. It is fresh too. Yesterday I prdered and picked up chirashi and found at home wasabi(MUSTARD) missing. During the last three years this is first time to see wasabi missing in it. So I called and talked to manager there. Kindly enough she asked my address and delivered 4 pack of Wasabi to my home. I appreciate her service. I felt sorry for her to come to my home with Wasabi. Great food and great service. I like to give 6 stars.

Came here with a group as my friend stated this is the best Japanese food in town. We were not disappointed!! The portion is generous and the food is super flavorful and delicious. We ordered the tonkatsu, cha soba, and the Japanese spaghetti for mains. The spaghetti has a hint of sweetness to it and made me wanted to have more and more! We went right into the food and didn't take many pictures. Also had grilled saba and agedashi tofu for appetizers and again lovely flavors

My roommate introduced me to this restaurant and it was amazing. The waiters were very nice and even though it was busy when we arrived, they made sure to sit us down at a table as soon as they could. The food was prepared really fast and the presentation of it all was really nice. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of price, it is quite a lot so this restaurant is more of an occasion than anything. Regardless, I would come here daily if I won the lottery, because the food is an easy 10/10

Great food, friendly staff. Hope to be able to visit again when back in the Chicago area

I had a very uncomfortable memory at this restaurant I visited this restaurant with my family and I have to wait some time because I didn't make reservation. around 10mins later, receptionist said us that they don't have table for us. there were many empty tables, and one server said to other server that they can give us bar seats. However after talking to each other in Japanese, they said to us that they don't have a table for us. It was a very infuriating experience and I feel like I was discriminated because I am not Japanese because of the fact that there were many empty seats and we weren't seated.

I haven't been back here in nearly a decade. Not sure if it's due to the pandemic but their menu shrunk, I mean literally the whole menu lost at least half of its items. The service was great and the food was good overall, but just surprised at the lack of options ranging from sushi section to the al la carte menu.

The place is super cute and the food was really authentically Japanese. I had some sushi, and sashimi and a salad. Everything was fresh and tasted great. I live outside of the USA and have travelled a lot, super happy to find a little Japanese place I can order from that's near my while I visit.

Feels like Japan with all the lovely decor, including mini pond and fountain with koi fish swimming. Very good variety in lunch specials, and large servings. Not as tasty as Kamehachi in Old Towne, but then, not as salty (high sodium), either. Friendly staff and quick service. Had I checked out the restrooms and found them well maintained, I would rate them 5 stars. So next time maybe. It was a good find! Thanks, Yelp!

We ordered the Black Tonkotsu Ramen. The portion size was smaller then usual but very tasty. The black burnt garlic oil was a bit much, it was all stuck in my teeth when I was done eating, not sure why it is added to the soup. Each table had a white paper tablecloth that was changed in between customers. Each table also had a sanitizer bottle and two sheets of instructions on mask wearing.

Wow. Such good food. If you pay attention when you're inside, there are A TON of native Japanese folks speaking in Japanese. Good sign that it's legit.

This is the best, most authentic Japanese food in the area. I've been going for years and they have the freshest, most delicious food. Every single dish is great, their fish is fresh and they are generous with the portions. Be sure to try their specials of the day.

Love their sushi!! It's bigger and more flavorful. It's not your typical sushi/asian restaurant. It's a soothing delectable place to eat. I highly recommend eating in the huts where you're sitting with your legs crossed around the outside of the round table with your party . It's away from people and it's like eating at home.

Quality of the sushi is very good. As good as Tokyo. Many Japanese patrons--always a good sign.

Really good and bigger than normal sushi rolls and nice atmosphere though I feel it can be better. Nice little side rooms but you have to reserve way in advance for them I think this is a place that people rate higher than normal for the atmosphere. The food is decent, flavorful and I did get "full" off it, which is rare for me with sushi

This is my family's favorite Japanese restaurant in Chicagoland area. Everything dish is authentic, not "Americanized". The Mrs. is from Japan, so she knows!

Everything here is good. Sushi is tasty and fresh, ramen is one of my must-order item every time I visit.

Very authentic Japanese restaurant. Ramen and spaghetti are great. You know it's authentic when most servers are Japanese.

Tonkatsu dinner: deep fried pork loin, breading was crispy but pork was so dry. You have to dip lots of sauce to make it more comfortable to chew. The side dish came with dinner ( tomato pasta and mashed potato) was fantastic. Stir fried beef tongue was flavorful and sushi was fresh. Service is always great. Hope they can improve the quality of Tonkatsu.

Sushi is great here the only thing was when I came our waiter didn't speak English and it was very hard to understand and I'm not trying to be rude. He haves is a pencil and a sheet and pointed at a sign on the table. I had a roll and so did my mom and my dad and brother didn't eat. My brother tried a piece and then we got the bill and it was $99 bucks for two rolls and we asked why but like I said we couldn't understand what he was saying it was really hard too. So we just paid and never came back.

Delicious food and great service. Very helpful for those who aren't very knowledgeable about the menu too.

Authentic Japanese restaurant and sushi chefs. Every dish ordered was fresh, good and with presentation! Reasonably priced. They have several wait staff. All friendly and timely. One disappointment on this visit was the delay in getting our fried shrimp head appetizer. Other than that, everything was on point. Try to arrive by 6:30pm, otherwise, expect to wait for seating on weekends. Located in an older strip mall. Free parking, although the park spaces are very narrow. So pick your parking spot with thought and cautiously- to avoid and door dings from others. Take a look at the photos! Yum.

Sushi, ramen, tempura, spaghetti; oh my! Yup, you read that...I mentioned spaghetti in a review for a Japanese restaurant! You must keep reading! Daruma is tucked away in a strip mall of sorts. The restaurant is inviting and has a nice ambiance. The service is good, we were greeted by some smiling faces and our servers were awesome as well! My husband always comes here and he had some great suggestions for me. Daruma offers sushi, sashimi, ramen, udon, tempura, rice bowls, katsu, and Japanese spaghetti...what?! SO, my husband loves the Japanese spaghetti that they offer. I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but was excited to try it. And I have to say it was REALLY yummy. They called it Japanese comfort food, and comforting it definitely was! I really enjoyed it and would totally get it again. Only critique on that is that it was slightly greasy. For my main entree, I went with the tempura udon. It was sooooo good!!!! I love soup and I actually crave this now. My husband went with a katsu rice bowl, which I know is one of his go-to's. With great service and tasty food, I will definitely be back!