SAKANA AYCE Japanese Cuisine

Premium AYCE is a great deal! One of the best AYCE places I’ve been to. They have 10 pieces of sashimi per person, special appetizers, ramen, udon, katsu, and more that other places don’t typically offer. The service was fast and the food was fresh. Highly recommend!!!

Heard great things about a new AYCE in the neighborhood so I had to check it out. The 10pc sashimi per person is really what drew me to this place. The quality was decent but pieces seemed quite small, which I guess is fair since it is at an AYCE. Nigiri was disappointing as fish to rice ratio was not great. Seemed like 90% rice and 10% fish.. and that varied depending on the fish. The salmon was probably the best fish on their menu. Ordered one of everything from their premium selections except the avocado salad. They’re alright. Nothing impressive. I also tried the soups: miso, udon, and ramen. Miso and ramen were good, but udon lacked flavor. Same goes for the stir fried udon. The bacon emojis was really good! Greasy but good. Tempura was decent. Wings were so disappointing. They were not marinated and bland, and the batter was bland as well.. I guess that’s why they give you sauce to eat it with. The star of the show tonight was their teriyaki beef. Omg the meat was sooo tender and flavorful. Like am I really at an AYCE sushi place or a regular Japanese restaurant? We ordered 3 more after we tasted the first round. The salmon and squid teriyaki was good too! Overall, I’d come back for the sashimi, ramen, and teriyaki.

I came here for the all you can eat menu and the staff was absolutely incredible. They were so kind, attentive, and quick with everything. We ordered Veggie Gyoza, Veggie Harumaki, Vegetable Fried Udon Noodle, Veggie Tempura, Edamame, Miso Eggplant, and a variety of veggie sushi. For veggie sushi I felt like there were not too many variations. A lot of them tasted very similar. The ones I enjoyed the most were the Tempura Veggie Roll, Peanut Avocado Roll, and the Tempura Sweet Potato Roll. Those three were definitely my favorites. The real star was the Miso Eggplant. I would come back here any day just for that dish. It was unbelievably delicious. I could not stop eating it. Overall this is a great spot for all you can eat, especially if you love appetizers and hot dishes. Amazing service and great experience.

Sakana is a South Loop gem! I came here on a cold December afternoon for all you can eat (ayce) sushi. The environment is chill, waitstaff very attentive and kind (Mariah and Lulu are the best). The best surprises are anything with salmon, the bagel roll (warm, savory, sweet) and bacon-wrapped enoki. They also had free red bean ice cream at the end, without the whipped cream that so many places are too fond of adding. Excellent place to enjoy a great meal!

4 stars, but I'd give it 3.5 due to service went got AYCE on a Friday evening AYCE: -iPad ordering system -90 minute seating; starts once first order is put in (we were done in about 70 min and food came out fairly fast) -once an order has been sent to the kitchen, can't order again for another 10 min -sashimi up to 10 pcs per paying adult Tried variety of appetizers, sushi, rolls, noodle soup & sashimi. -when ordering, be sure to read the description because it says (1pc). For example, I'm used to shumai comes in 4 pieces but in order to get 4 pieces, you need to put in how many pieces you want. -cooked meat selections are good: beef teriyaki, salmon, calamari are all approved. However, they come together on one place, so when you are sharing with people, be aware that they are served on one plate. -udon & ramen sizes are small so it's good to try out - nigiri pieces are packed with rice; don’t let the small size fool you. It is super squished together. -dessert options weren't on the iPad. Server asked if we wanted ice cream at the end, but we had decided to go out for dessert because we didn't know ice cream was available, so we skipped it. We would go back if we are in the area. People who brought out food was nice; the server was not too friendly.

Opened on Sep 27, 2025, this new place is welcomed into South Loop. Currently priced at $32.99 for dinner/weekends, Sakana isn't just an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant; it's a culinary marathon of premium quality and staggering variety. If you're looking for an AYCE experience that delivers true value and leaves you completely and utterly satisfied, this is the place. The selection here is truly next-level. We started off with the premium salad, which was a vibrant, refreshing palate cleanser, followed by a delicious premium appetizer that tasted like it belonged on a high-end à la carte menu. Beyond those standouts, the menu boasts a massive range of standard appetizers and fried foods, making it easy to build a feast before you even touch the raw fish. For the sushi aficionados, prepare to be impressed. The limit of 10 pieces of sashimi per guest is incredibly generous and the fish quality is excellent—fresh, well-cut, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. We had our fill of classic nigiri, perfectly crafted maki rolls, and some seriously creative and decadent signature rolls. The options are so numerous that you could eat here a dozen times and still not try every combination. And for those who love their hot dishes, Sakana does not disappoint. The 8 oz ramen bowl is a substantial, savory hit, offering the perfect warm counterpoint to the sushi. They also offer loads of options for stir fry udon, allowing you to customize your noodles with endless choices of proteins, vegetables, and sauces. The value here is unbeatable. While drinks and desserts are not included, they are thankfully very inexpensive, making the final bill completely reasonable. I can guarantee one thing: you will leave full. This is a five-star experience that elevates the all-you-can-eat standard. Go hungry!

We recently had the pleasure of dining at SAKANA with my wife, newborn baby, friends and was thoroughly impressed with the overall experience. After a pediatric appointment, we craved Japanese food and were delighted to discover this all-you-can-eat (AYCE) restaurant nearby. We opted for the Dinner Special, which was only around $10 more than the Lunch Special, and were pleased with the upgrade. The Dinner Special offered premium items and an extensive menu with numerous options. Our server was accommodating, and we appreciated the attentive service, including the thoughtful gesture of opening the door for us with our stroller. Highlights of our meal included: • Rich and flavorful miso soup • Refreshing seafood soup • Delicious Hawaiian salad with a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors • Savory teriyaki beef and salmon • Interesting texture combination of bacon enoki (the mushroom is soft and tender while the bacon is flavorful and crispy) • Fresh and peppery pepper tuna with a little bit of sweetness from the sauce • Authentic unagi nigiri with a deep umami flavor • Fresh and delicious salmon and mackerel nigiri • Crunchy and beautiful tempura • Hearty beef ramen The ambiance was welcoming, with a moderate noise level that was suitable for a family with a newborn. Overall, our experience was exceptional, and we have already recommended this gem to friends and family. We look forward to returning soon.

Found this AYCE sushi while scrolling on tiktok and it looked amazing with high raves and decided to try it out. Turns out this was the old restaurant called “my place”that me and my family comes all the time. Parking here is a bit tricky and hard to find. We walked in and was greeted and seated right away. We ordered the sushi nigiri, beef teriyaki, beef udon, shrimp tempura, and some ramen. The food was such a disappointment. The shrimp tempura have too much breading like I was eating straight bread crumbs. The fish was not fresh and the worst was the fish to rice ratio it completely off. Way too much for a small piece of fish. The beef udon was bland and putting carrots, Napa cabbage and beansprout in is a crime. Don’t come here, with the price you can find better quality and variety ayce sushi.

came here for $25 lunch ayce w 3 friends! the best thing about this place is the portion size is literally one piece for the apps/sushi/entrees so you can try some of everything without getting too full! fish quality was also very good, I absolutely loved the yellowtail! there could be a little more variety w the signature rolls and a little less rice on the sushi, but honestly everything was fair given the price and we had a good time!!

4 stars, but I'd give it 3.5 due to service went got AYCE on a Friday evening AYCE: -iPad ordering system -90 minute seating; starts once first order is put in (we were done in about 70 min and food came out fairly fast) -once an order has been sent to the kitchen, can't order again for another 10 min -sashimi up to 10 pcs per paying adult Tried variety of appetizers, sushi, rolls, noodle soup & sashimi. -when ordering, be sure to read the description because it says (1pc). For example, I'm used to shumai comes in 4 pieces but in order to get 4 pieces, you need to put in how many pieces you want. -cooked meat selections are good: beef teriyaki, salmon, calamari are all approved. However, they come together on one place, so when you are sharing with people, be aware that they are served on one plate. -udon & ramen sizes are small so it's good to try out -nigiri pieces are packed with rice; don't let the small size fool you. It is super squished together. -dessert options weren't on the iPad. Server asked if we wanted ice cream at the end, but we had decided to go out for dessert because we didn't know ice cream was available, so we skipped it. We would go back if we are in the area. People who brought out food was nice; the server was not too friendly.

I came here for the all you can eat menu and the staff was absolutely incredible. They were so kind, attentive, and quick with everything. We ordered Veggie Gyoza, Veggie Harumaki, Vegetable Fried Udon Noodle, Veggie Tempura, Edamame, Miso Eggplant, and a variety of veggie sushi. For veggie sushi I felt like there were not too many variations. A lot of them tasted very similar. The ones I enjoyed the most were the Tempura Veggie Roll, Peanut Avocado Roll, and the Tempura Sweet Potato Roll. Those three were definitely my favorites. The real star was the Miso Eggplant. I would come back here any day just for that dish. It was unbelievably delicious. I could not stop eating it. Overall this is a great spot for all you can eat, especially if you love appetizers and hot dishes. Amazing service and great experience.

Came here during lunchtime and it's honestly such a great deal! The sushi was solid, especially considering the variety they offer, everything from fresh fish options to appetizers. I really liked the range of sashimi and rolls. The Kani salad was decent, though it could be a little better. The gyoza was tasty, and I loved that they even had bubble tea options included. The ambiance and service were great, very friendly and clean setup. Overall, Sakana is definitely worth coming to if you're craving all-you-can-eat sushi without breaking the bank. Would come back!

I've been here twice already, so I think it's safe to say I can write an honest review. We came for lunch both times, so this review is based on their lunch menu and service. Food - For an all-you-can-eat spot, Sakana offers a solid variety of sushi rolls, nigiri, and other dishes. I'm a bit of a raw fish snob--if it's not fresh, I get nauseous easily--and I can confidently say their fish is fresh. Price - The lunch AYCE price is about the same as other similar places. They charge 50% of the regular price for kids, which is great. My kids were thrilled to have unlimited nigiri Ambiance - The place looks beautiful. I remember what it looked like before, and they clearly did a lot of renovation--it's stunning inside. Service - Minimal interaction with servers, which I actually appreciate. You just order everything from the iPad, and they bring it to your table--super convenient. Overall - Great lunch spot with fresh sushi, a nice vibe, and easy ordering. We'll definitely be back!

We had an early week night reservation. We got a few rolls, tempura, and the gyoza. The Sexy girl roll, dragon roll, and spicy salmon were all good. Nothing over the top, extravagant, or particularly unique. The rolls were average in size. The tempura was nicely fried, the sweet potato tempura was my favorite but the shrimp was very good too. And the gyoza was what you'd expect- not disappointing at all. They coursed out the meal, so the soups and salads and gyoza came first. Then the rolls, then the tempura. I wouldve preferred for the rolls and tempura to come out together. It's fun to taste a variety of things, otherwise it gets a little monotonus. I didn't love ending the meal with a bunch of fried food. The service was very very friendly, they all seemed genuinely kind. They were very nice to our 2 year old and even had a small Lego play area. I'd definitely come back and want to try a few more rolls.

We ordered take out while spending a weekend in chicago. Great quality especially for take out. The veggie roll has beautiful presentation with thin layers of avocado on top. Teriyaki tofu stir fry was also great, will ask for no onions next time as there were a lot. Edamame and veggie gyoza were great apps too with yummy accompanying sauces. Good option for fast take out!

My friends and I decided to come here on a random Tuesday night at 6PM. We were immediately greeted by the host and seated at a booth. The ordering is very simple using a tablet. The server just put that we have three people so that the tablet knows to limit the premium dishes since it is per person at the table then we were good to go on our own ordering whatever we want. We immediately ordered all the premium salads(3) and appetizers (3) just to get it out of the way which included the sashimi (30) as well. We can each order one premium salad, one appetizer, and 10 pieces of sashimi. Then afterwards we went for the nigiri's. The rice actually came out warm and flavorful, which is actually pretty good for an all you can eat sushi buffet. I think the fish to rice ratio is where I feel like it's lacking. You can definitely feel that you're eating way more rice than the fish itself. I also feel like the salmon nigiri's looked different every time we ordered it. I didn't like the fact that we had to wait 10 minutes in between each order we send to the kitchen. Their wasabi is straight up, not spicy at all. I actually took a good chunk of wasabi and put it in my mouth just to prove to my friends it is not spicy at all/no sharp burn. Usually, you will feel the sharp burn and your eyes will become watery, but at this place it actually tastes really bad that you will want to spit it back out. The wasabi here is worse than the wasabi packets you would get from Mariano's because at least those you would feel a slight burn. Overall, I can't say I'll return because I've had better ayce sushi and can get better quality sushi ordering à la carte somewhere else.

Great sushi quality and had great service. Went in the first month that it opened and almost everything we tried was tasty as expected. The menu has good variety with a lot of unique choices that you get to pick one of within their all you can eat menu. Our group of four tried many of the items and loved everything except for the udon noodles as it had too much sauce / oil / was too salty. They were very accommodating to allergies and did their best to separate the orders for that person! The restaurant itself looks remodeled from the old restaurant it used to be and it looks great. Would go again.

My husband and I came here with our two year old and all we can say is Wow! The ambiance is unreal and the food is delicious! We decided to not to the all you can eat this time, but will try it soon! We ordered the gyoza, hibachi steak, spicy tuna roll and shrimp tempura. Everything was delicious and we will be back soon!

Yummy! They offer more than just sushi rolls, they have sashimi, soup, udon, and grilled option as well! You can submit an order every 10 minutes on the ipad, and the food comes out quickly! Very clean and elevated space indoors. Make sure to get the fried chicken and beef!

Opened on Sep 27, 2025, this new place is welcomed into South Loop. Currently priced at $32.99 for dinner/weekends, Sakana isn't just an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant; it's a culinary marathon of premium quality and staggering variety. If you're looking for an AYCE experience that delivers true value and leaves you completely and utterly satisfied, this is the place. The selection here is truly next-level. We started off with the premium salad, which was a vibrant, refreshing palate cleanser, followed by a delicious premium appetizer that tasted like it belonged on a high-end à la carte menu. Beyond those standouts, the menu boasts a massive range of standard appetizers and fried foods, making it easy to build a feast before you even touch the raw fish. For the sushi aficionados, prepare to be impressed. The limit of 10 pieces of sashimi per guest is incredibly generous and the fish quality is excellent--fresh, well-cut, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. We had our fill of classic nigiri, perfectly crafted maki rolls, and some seriously creative and decadent signature rolls. The options are so numerous that you could eat here a dozen times and still not try every combination. And for those who love their hot dishes, Sakana does not disappoint. The 8 oz ramen bowl is a substantial, savory hit, offering the perfect warm counterpoint to the sushi. They also offer loads of options for stir fry udon, allowing you to customize your noodles with endless choices of proteins, vegetables, and sauces. The value here is unbeatable. While drinks and desserts are not included, they are thankfully very inexpensive, making the final bill completely reasonable. I can guarantee one thing: you will leave full. This is a five-star experience that elevates the all-you-can-eat standard. Go hungry!

We picked up our daughter for dinner last night with plans to go to Chinatown, but while driving down Michigan Avenue, we saw this restaurant. We thought, 'We can have a Japanese steak dinner right here,' so we decided to stop. The restaurant has a quiet, pleasant atmosphere, with the sushi bar situated in the middle, where we saw staff busy preparing sushi. It's a new place, open for only a month, and they don't have a liquor license yet, so no drinks are available--though they're allowing you to bring your own bottle, which I find a bit different. We all ordered different dishes: I had hibachi shrimp and scallops, my wife had hibachi shrimp with salmon, and our daughter had pork udon noodles. All meals were delicious, and the service was friendly. The young server was new, which was a bit amusing because he was still learning. The ambiance was nice and quiet, despite the bustling crowd, and everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves. Overall, it was a great experience, and I recommend trying Sakana Sushi and Japanese Restaurant.

A wonderful addition to the neighborhood! The AYCE offerings go above the typical nigiri, sushi, and specialty rolls, but also the various noodle soup and teriyaki options are EXPANSIVE. The service was great and I loved the ability to order off the tablet. I will definitely be returning!!

Extremely welcome addition to the South Loop. You order through an iPad but service was friendly and effective. The AYCE menu has a subset of items on a limit, but that was worth it for getting quality fish and items you don't typically see on AYCE menus like sashimi. The nigiri and maki were tasty and came out quickly, and my personal favorite was a FAT spicy salmon sushi cone (hand roll) that was packed all the way down with fish.

Pretty good! $32 for AYCE dinner and weekends. Super high quality fish and really nice ambience. Not too busy because it's new, so the service was really nice and fast! Would recommend :) comparable to Mira and sushi taku imo. Be wary of finding parking

I live next to Sakana and had been genuinely excited for their grand opening. My boyfriend and I even went shortly after they opened and had a great experience. Today, on the first snowfall of the season, I was walking my dog. She really needed to pee, so she did so in front of our building--on the street. To my surprise, the manager popped his head out of the restaurant door and yelled at me to "pick up after my dog." I turned around, confused, thinking he must have been talking to someone else, but he was addressing me. I approached the door, which was locked, and when he opened it I asked him to repeat what he said. He again scolded me to "pick up after my dog." I explained that she had only peed--and that it's unreasonable to expect someone to pick up urine. He then slammed the door in my face. I knocked again and told him I deserved an apology, because even if I had done something wrong, no customer or neighbor should be yelled at by an employee of the establishment. He dismissed me, saying it wasn't a big deal and essentially told me to go away. I'm truly disappointed. I've recommended this restaurant to so many people, but if this is how the manager treats neighbors, I'm not sure if I will be returning. How you treat your community says everything about you and your business. Even the poor hostess behind him looked mortified--I can only imagine how he speaks to his staff.

Great bottomless option! Highly recommend anyone in the area give it a try. Excellent variety and quality across all types of dishes (sushi, dumplings, noodle dishes, salads, etc). The service was fast, both delivering dishes and bussing plates. They also checked how we were doing often to make sure everything was going well. Also loved that my whole section was all booths.

an amazing restaurant...not only was the food exceptional but the staff was very friendly and professional..starting with Mariah when I first came in Seems like everyone really enjoys working there and wants to make sure the customers are satisfied definitely a winning combination! I would highly recommend!!

Great service, food is delicious and portions are perfect. They allow time for you to pick a variety of things without getting full on the same dish

Great place & great vibes! A south loop must - look no further - THIS is the dinner decision.

Service is amazing! All the servers are so nice, helpful, and attentive. However, the food was a big disappointment. The appetizers were good--I can't deny that--but the sushi and rolls were really underwhelming. The fish didn't look anything like the pictures, especially the tuna, which appeared low-quality just from the color. Overall, the all-you-can-eat option isn't worth it, especially with the limitations on sashimi and special dishes. I truly hope the quality improves, but unfortunately, I won't be coming back. Also, an 18% tip is automatically added to your bill regardless of your party size.

The ambiance and service was very good, but we had a different experience with the sushi itself. Firstly when we arrived our little dipping plates for soy sauce were both dirty with debris and stains so we had to ask our waitress to exchange them for new ones. We ordered a variety of dishes on the tablet and found it very convenient. Some of our favorites were the beef teriyaki, the stir fried udon, and the green tea ice cream. We did not like the sushi. The rice came out warm and bland, underseasoned. The bagel roll was mushy. The quality of fish was good but because the rice was so underseasoned it threw everything off. For our last round we ordered 3 pieces of salmon nigiri and the rice was actually overseasoned. It seems like they have an issue with consistency. But overall we preferred the nigiri and appetizers over the sushi. They also charge a 18% gratituity which we were not aware of until we arrived. Sumi Sushi down the street is way better and for a lower cost.

Service and food is great. Shoutout to our waitress Mia who was so sweet and attentive. Not super loud inside and the lighting is very cool. Once the bar is open it will be a great place to come get a drink and appetizer. Anyways i recommend the AYCE, one of the best places in Chicago. Also very allergy friendly, i have a gluten and egg allergy and they were very accommodating and attentive to make sure all the food I ordered was made correctly.

The all-you-can-eat meal was okay. The appetizers were pretty good. However, the sushi was quite sub-par. They are a new restaurant in the neighborhood, so I'm hoping they can work out the kinks with the sushi. Service was pretty good, the wait staff visited pretty frequently to grab our orders and empty plates.