Tensuke Market and Food Court

Perfect alternative to the crowds, chaos and gimmicks at Mitsuwa. The locals know: the food court is excellent and has all of your favorite Japanese dishes. My katsu curry arrived 2 minutes after I ordered and was hot, tender, and the best I’ve had outside of Japan. The grocery and liquor sections are fully stocked with lots of seasonal deals. Don’t miss this one and please don’t let TikTok influencers ruin it.

Well stocked shelves at their new location and the food court has a lovely contemporary airport lounge vibe. Plenty of seating and handicapped accessible. Counter or kiosk service w pagers for food pick up and the miso soup and cutlery station is kept clean .

New location right next to the old one. Opened for about 2 weeks. Clean and bright inside, with a large dining area. I’d come back for sushi and prepackaged food, but other items in the market are too pricey for me.

Fun little Japanese Grocery Store and Food Court. While not as big as the Mitsuwa marketplace nearby, the Tensuke had a more friendly atmosphere and vibe compared to Mitsuawa.

The fish was super fresh. I recommend coming here for sushi/sashimi or buying the ingredients to take home. There is a sushi bar and food court at the back of the grocery store.

Tensuke is an excellent Japanese restaurant with consistently delicious food and great quality. Everything tastes fresh and authentic, and you can really tell they care about ingredients and preparation. The restaurant is very clean and well-organized, which makes dining here comfortable and enjoyable. The staff is friendly and efficient, and service is fast, even when the place is busy. Food comes out quickly and beautifully prepared, and every dish I’ve tried has been flavorful and satisfying. Whether you’re dining in or ordering to go, the experience is always smooth and reliable. Overall, Tensuke is a top-notch Japanese restaurant that I highly recommend to anyone who loves great food, cleanliness, and quick service.

I found Heaven, and it’s just a bit west of Chicago. I love this place! Excellent sake selection, fun Japanese selections of candy and food. It also has an authentic restaurant with excellent, really excellent, food.

We went to the other bigger Japanese supermarket but were not impressed by the attitude of staff, cleanliness, and prices. So we did not buy anything there. This store has better sushi (definitely not as good or cheap as in Japan, we just got back from a visit there), bigger portions of food court items, it’s cleaner, and less crowded than mitsuwa. Our Raman noodle sauce was virtually non existent, however. Remember to SHOW YOUR POINT CARD before you start scanning.

Love this food court and the grocery store sushi! Price point is lower than mitsuwa and better. It feels more like a local small grocery store vs mitsuwa is very commercial. So glad they expanded the food court. Fish is so good here and they always and good specials!

This place has a true hidden gem! It's a lovely Japanese grocery store with a nice selection of foods, snacks, and misc items for the home (chopsticks, bowls, cups, trinkets, etc.). The service is so friendly from the grocery/store staff. It's warm and welcoming for sure! The hidden gem is what's in the back of the store! There's a restaurant in the back where you can get delicious sushi, bento boxes, and even ramen noodles! It's all sooooooo good! It's counter service so you order at the counter, find yourself a nice comfortable spot to sit, and wait for your order to be called. The staff at the restaurant is super sweet and friendly. They're happy to make suggestions and depending on how busy they are, they'll offer to help you if you have a lot to carry (if they're incredibly busy, you can safely leave part of your order and go back for it). Definitely don't miss this gem of a place.

11/26/24 - I was out in Arlington Heights so I thought I would swing by Tensuke in Elk Grove Village and grab a bite. I picked up a few other items as I don't get out this way to often. FYI - They are doing construction just the north of Tensuke. I was concerned that Tensuke would be no more but fear not they plan to move into the building when completed . After that the mall will be demolished to make room for the future development tat is the VUE. I was happy to hear that Tensuke will remain as I have been a long time client of Tensuke

Just a note: this is a review for the food court, not the market. I know this place has a lot of recommendations, but I just don't get it. The fish on the sushi is thin, and they give way too much rice. The chirashi sushi is the same. Overall it feels about the same quality as average supermarket sushi. Personally, I think Mitsuwa does it better.

The Mitsuwa Food Court offers an impressive variety of food, making it a must-visit for food lovers. I tried the matcha soft serve ice cream, which was wonderfully refreshing. The texture of the matcha blended perfectly with the creamy soft serve, creating a smooth and satisfying treat. I also grabbed a soft shell crab roll from the ready-made section to go, and it didn't disappoint. The food court's wide range of offerings and quality make it a fantastic spot for both quick bites and indulgent treats. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

Cute little Japanese market with specialty products! I went in to look for a specific noodle and left with a bunch of pick up items for lunch! The sushi was so fresh and the variety is surprising for a grocery store. I also had their steam bun which was so comforting. The staff was so friendly and kind. Limited menu at the food court but very good quality sushi and cannot beat the price. Fresh produce is limited but if you're looking for specific Japanese products this is your place.

I love this place. It's less busy than Mitsuwa and has all the necessary ingredients when we're cooking Japanese cuisine. They have parking and it's not very loud. The people working here are so nice to us. The food court has a good selection of food as well. There's a pretty large section for seating.

A great local cozy Japanese grocery store & food court. Their fish here is so fresh and affordable! I always purchase my sashimi here, so I can make my own chirashi bowl at home! They have some Japanese beer, sake, and wine that you can grab quickly. Their food court food is amazing! A great spot to grab a quick bite! All the employees here are friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable!My go-to spot for Japanese food and drinks!

This Japanese market will meet all of your Japanese needs. They have various ramen, seafood, snacks, and more. They even have a sushi counter inside. The employees don't really interact with anyone inside other than the register. The inside is kept clean. It's a nice place to visit if you visit the market area.

Tensuke Market is a great alternative to try, when you just don't feel like going to Mitsuwa, which is down the street. Tensuke Market has your staple Japanese groceries, although with a smaller selection. In terms of the food area, you can order from the kiosk, if you're feeling antisocial, or just want to spend a few minutes perusing the menu. The food area seating is definitely smaller than Mitsuwa, but the few times I've went, it's easy to find a seat. We came here at 7PM on a Saturday evening, and the place was winding down. Hours of Tensuke Market shows it's open until 8PM. Unfortunately several items on the menu were sold out so I got the salmon teriyaki bento box, which included tempura, miso soup, couple of spring rolls, edamame, tempura shrimp and vegetables, and a small slice of salmon with teriyaki sauce. Food was decent. Edamame were overcooked, most of the veggies were potatoes, and the amount of salmon was probably about 4oz. Food came out quick too. There are cauldrons of free miso soup, but apparently the staff were ready to party on a Saturday night because by then, 3 out of the 4 cauldrons were being emptied out, and the last one didn't even have a handle to scoop out the soup. By the time we got our food, at 730PM, they were already setting the chairs upside down on top of most of the tables. I didn't like the fact that they were cleaning out most of the dining area, 30-45min prior to closing. I get we all want to leave work, and I generally don't come this "close" to closing time, although I don't think an hr before closing time is "close", I wasn't a fan of that. One less star for the experience.

This is the perfect alternative to Mitsuwa. It's a smaller Japanese grocery store/bakery shop and there's a restaurant inside. I wouldn't call it a food court since a food court typically involves multiple restaurants in one area. The bakery selection has different buns wrapped for easy convenience. I tried a few and they're delicious. They're perfect for snacks and breakfast on the go. I came here specifically for the restaurant. You can order from the kiosk (2 screens on the right) or you can order from the cashier. Prices are very cheap. They give you a number, you find a table, and wait. If you go on a weekend, you have to give them some slack because it does get busy. I went on a Wed night and surprisingly it was busy for a week night. They called out my number, gave us our order, two styrofoam cups for drinks, and a few styrofoam cups with lids for the miso soup. Portions were very generous for the price. Everything was made fresh and quality was exceptional. They have plenty of seating. -katsu don 5 - pork cutlet was a good size for sharing, moist, and tender. It comes with a salad. -miso soup 5 - you'll find two pots with miso. It's all you can eat. Make sure you get some tofu in your soup. -unaju set 5 - I love eel so I was elated to see a more than adequate amount of eel in here. It was perfectly tender and melts in your mouth. -king of salmon set 5 - I wasn't expecting much quality wise but this surpassed my expectations. Salmon to rice ratio was above par.

We stopped by for a quick bite for lunch on a Sunday and was pleasantly surprised! Ordering at the food "court" (just one bar with ordering kiosk) was very efficient. I got the chirashi bowl which comes with miso soup. The quality of the tuna and salmon in the bowl was high, and the rice was fluffy and flavorful. For $14, I thought it was quite reasonable. I paired the bowl with a yuzu drink from the market area. I will definitely come again if in the area!

This Japanese supermarket store has a food court that folks I know speak highly about. I want to give it a shot it since it's nearby. I started with their takoyaki, which came in six balls. The texture wasn't rubbery, the batter is slightly crunchy, and the filling is starchy with a small bit of octopus. The takoyaki was topped with aonori (dried seaweed flakes), mayonnaise, and tonkatsu sauce. I really enjoyed having it for the first time, so I wouldn't mind getting another one. My main course was the katsu don. It's a widely consumed rice dish in Japan. The pork loin is moist and lean. The breading on the pork loin is well coated. The pork loin was exposed to wetness and wasn't crispy because it was cooked with egg and onion. As garnish, pickled daikon radish, aonori, and red pickled ginger were placed on top. It's a satisfying comfort food that tastes good. I purchased something from the grocery store's sweet area because the food court doesn't serve dessert. I purchased a milk bun and a grape-flavored Japanese soda. The soda has a little grape flavor. The soda had a mild carbonation and was pleasant. The milk bun was light. I enjoyed the delicate texture and the moderate sweetness of the bun. It would be better if it were warm.

Great market to have lunch and do some grocery shopping, as well as pick up some fresh bakery pastries! In the back of the market is one eatery- food court with a great Japanese food selections. Miso soup, sushi, poke bowls, pork or chicken katsu, sashimi, bento boxes and much more! The grocery store has a wide assortment of sushi,seafood, frozen goods, pastries, beers and wines and more!! If you buy perishables, they offer free quart bags of ice. This can be found by the cashiers. Easy and free parking lot.

For the price/value, can't beat this place! Literally is in the back of the Japanese market, has all the basic Japanese food (Ramen/sushi/katsudon) and also has salads and endless miso that comes with entrees You order your own food through a digital monitor (like in Japan), seat and get your own drinks and bus your tables No nonsense place and surprise find in Chicano Suburbs (Arlington Heights)

I've been working around this area for about a year now and can't believe that I just found this place! It's the perfect place to go and pick up or eat in a quick sushi lunch and also a great place to stop for groceries on the way home. I have now done the pick up route and eat in route and had great success with both!

The market is exciting and I thought it would be super fresh fish but for the price I'd rather go to a real sushi restaurant. It's a great quick bite but they don't put a ton of fish in the dishes so it's mostly rice with a side of fish

I am here for the food court. It's amazing and my Japanese family members exclusively go here for their sushi. It's simple, delicious, and at an excellent price point. And their hot food never disappoints either. From ramen to bento. It's all good. This is also my go to spot for sushi platters which is great quality. This place is great because it's unpretentious, but still has legit food. Moreover, you can go to the market and buy Asian snacks, which are my fave, and of course groceries.

The sashimi here is always fresh and delicious, and the store is consistently clean and well-organized. Their grocery prices are much more affordable than Mitsuwa Marketplace, and they frequently have great sales and deals. Plus, they now offer a rewards card, making it even easier to save money while grocery shopping. The staff are always friendly and helpful, which makes every visit a pleasant experience.

We just happened to see this places sign as we passed by on our way to Mitsuwa while we were visiting Chicago, now we can't stop thinking about it! Amazing store and the restaurant in the back has the most amazing Japanese food and sushi for really good prices! From Now on we will be passing Mitsuwa as we head to Tensuke market! We went back again the next day! Quick service and very nice people we felt comfortable and at home there! Thank you for a great experience we only wish we found it sooner!

This is our usual stop when doing Asian grocery in IL since there isn't any good ones in WI. Tried their food court for the hand rolls, not bad but too much rice and could use more protein. Service was ok as it took more than 10 minutes to queue up for orders and another 10 minutes for the food to arrive. Free miso soup is included. Lots of goodies including breads in the grocery side. They got a reward program too; sign up if you wil be shopping there regularly.

This food stall is hidden behind a small grocery store. While convenient and cozy on a cold winter day, it is a solid 3 star based on quality and taste of the foods I tried. Perhaps the fact that there is not many other options for Japanese food in the area has something to do with the overall boosted rating but the food is below average. The sushi was especially stale looking and the fish was unusually chewy. Just not very good quality. There is a free miso soup station so that's a plus! Wanted to like this place so much better but overall it has room for improvement, starting from sourcing fish from a better supplier.

My last review was a year ago, so it only seems right to update it! I could go on and on about Tensuke. This is hands down the BEST Japanese food court and market in the burbs, I said what I said. Their ready-to-go sushi and meals are always a 10/10 and super fresh (also usually under $10 for the sushi rolls). They have the freshest fish and best spicy mayo around. I recommend their spicy salmon roll and Canadian roll. Their food court in the back is DELICIOUS and there's a lot of seating, more than before since they constructed it pretty recently. It's all affordable and they don't skimp on the meals - it's a big portion of sushi, soup, or whatever entree you get. The pricing here is very reasonable, the food is fresh, they carry the best Asian products, the staff is so courteous always, and it's located in a perfect strip mall with plenty of parking outside. Needless to say, I love this market so much! Highly recommend!

An absolutely gem in Elk Grove Village! My doctor's office is out there and after my appointment, I wanted some delicious sushi without breaking the bank and boy oh boy this was a treat! It's a supermarket and a cafeteria all in one. You walk up to the counter and order your food and it was quick and efficient. Then they call you number and voila! You get your own chopsticks, napkins and little soy sauce plate and the best part is all you can drink Miso Soup! Yum yum!!! Area is pretty big so you have plenty of seating room and it was so good we went back again the next month!

TL;DR Mitsuwa typically gets all the glory but I think this place is the true hidden gem of the area. Unbelievably fresh delicious sushi at an unbeatable price. The market (although much smaller than Mitsuwa) has far better prepared Japanese food in my opinion. Def try some kinpira gobo or snag an onigiri for a perfect snack. Ambiance: There's nothing particularly special about the exterior or the interior, it's a small market in a tiny unassuming strip mall. However, don't let that fool you, this little spot punches way above its weight. The sushi and market is clean and very organized and considering the amount of fish being handled has 0 fishy smell which is remarkable. Service: Fast and efficient is the best way to describe it. This market is here for locals to get their ingredients and have a quick and delicious affordable meal. I didn't interact enough to really judge the service but everyone seemed polite from what little I spoke to them. Food: This is where they shine. We had the hand roll sets. The portions of fish were VERY generous and that perfectly soft and delicious texture you dream about in Temaki. Each set comes with miso soup. We both left utterly stuffed and wandered the market aisles in a euphoric haze. I also tried the gyudon, which was surprisingly just OK. However the temaki were so damn good I'm not even gonna dock a star for it. I wish this place was closer to me, however I would likely weight about 20lbs more. I can't wait to come back.

It's honestly amazing here. A total hidden gem of a local grocery store. Parking is plenty full, the carts are clean and organized, the store is very clean. They have a lot of Japanese and Korean hard to find ingredients and supplies. They're obviously not a mitsuwa or a Hmart but it's very robust. The bread section is super nice. So much variety of Japanese breads. So much sushi grade fish. The food court is pretty nice! They do close between lunch and dinner but they literally manage to serve everyone within 40-30 min of like them opening service with a long line of people. The pricing is pretty good for the amount of food. Most sets come with miso and or is a cheap add on. They also have water cups which is nice! I would come here regardless of it if was only grocery or food court.

Well I was going to go to mitsuya and this is an update but I noticed mitsuya doesn't show or have as much fresh sushi despite having other vendors at their food court other than that had to make a comeback here well a lot has changed and the sushi is much more pressure versus when I came back last and then I missed the folded. Very busy service was pretty quick ambience had that very busy Outlook but it's been such a long time since I didn't hear between their rival mitsuwa marketplace and here other than that. It's an underrated Japanese grocery store

Spotted this unassuming grocery store on the way to the airport, and stopping by was a super lucky and happy choice! I love perusing grocery aisles, but Tensuke also had grab-n-go meals like sushi, kaarage (fried chicken), rice bowls, and sandwiches, not to mention a food court! There was even a small bakery section with a 50% clearance off some of the breads :D We ended up buying some sushi and sandwich packs to eat on the plane. The sushi fish quality was surprisingly fresh and delicious for grocery store sushi! The tonkatsu sandwiches were tantalizingly flavorful and tart, and the meat wasn't dry at all sandwiched between two slices of milk bread, mmmm~ My dad gave a pass on their fresh nikuman (pork bun), as it wasn't as juicy or flavorful as it looked. Overall, a great haul! And also cheaper than buying food at the airport. The grocery is small, clean, and no-frills. The produce and seafood/meat selection looked fresh, the pantry aisles well stocked, and an impressive alcohol selection as well. I had to muster a lot of self control to not buy all the cute plates and dinnerware offered! I could see this being a great spot to pick up weekly groceries. The cashier who checked us out was super nice and friendly, and the parking lot is enormous. Check this place out if you're in the area! I'm definitely visiting again if I'm near O'Hare airport! :)

Manager is unprofessional. Lacks customer service . Hot prepared food is cold and does not taste fresh. Quality has gone down in the passed few years.

Nice selection. Clean. Lots of parking. Fresh looking meats and don't forget to grab something to eat.

Tensuke Market just gets better and better. Seriously, don't sleep on this smaller store in favor of the larger Mitsuwa nearby. Despite its size, it has great selection, the freshest fish, and since their renovations, a sizeable area to sit and eat if you order from the food court. There's a Daiso products area, a respectable liquor selection, stationary and kitchenware, and also a refrigerator of ready to go takeout items. Staff are also really nice. Check out the sales; there's always a deal on something!

Very cool marketplace, my favorite part walked in, had an idea of what I wanted (chili sesame oil seasoning) it was ridiculously easy to find they had an s&b end cap I didn't have to wander aimlessly and play ispy or accidently grab the wrong stuff because ‍ chili oil and chili oil seasoning are two different thing you don't want to know why I know that. Anyways, if you're in the area, it's definitely worth a stop it feels very local which is kind of cool.

Our go to sushi spot!!! Freshest sushi! Yes, it's a grocery store with a restaurant in the back of the store. Get your sushi fix, and then shop at their small Daiso store and get your Asian groceries done all in one location! Love it!

The sushi top notch! We wanted to pick up and we were pleasantly pleased with the quality of fish! Very good, we will definitely be back

If I ever want fresh trustworthy good quality raw sushi. This is the place to go. This should be #1 sushi in the Midwest. I usually take it to go though

Found this place scrolling on my Tiktok feed, so I had to come check it out! The market itself is small but has all the essentials, and definitely a quicker stop than Mitsuwa. I mostly checked out the food court, but I will be back to see what items they carry in the actual grocery store. -I tried 3 onigiris, salmon, chicken karage, and tuna mayo. All 3 were delicious and honestly filled me up, so I would definitely recommend for a quick bite! Personally, I liked the chicken karage better as it had more flavor, but all were fresh and light, and I'll definitely be back for these! -We also tried the pork bun. This was very soft and fluffy but I felt like it could have been more flavorful, my boyfriend loved it though! - For food items, we tried the Tiger sushi roll and Katsu Don. The sushi was extremely fresh but roll as a whole didn't stick out to me. I would say the same for the Katsu Don, it was very filling but less flavorful that anticipated. I'm hoping to come back soon and try some of the other items such as the udon or katsu sandwiches. Overall, would recommend stopping in to try their food items if you are in the area or shopping for groceries! :)

I did not try the food, having just come from breakfast. This Japanese market is just down the road from Mitsuwa but I wanted to stop in and compare. I'm sorry to say I prefer the grandeur and expansive offerings of the former. There is a very limited selection of produce although the meat and fish section, though small, looked fresh and impressive. There are the usual snack selections, sauces and condiments, toys and housewares. I have to say, everything I was looking for I found here. I just prefer the madness and pandemonium that is Mitsuwa. There were quite a lot of people partaking of food in the eating area. If I am in the area and I just need a few things I will stop in but I don't think I would make a special trip unless I am eating in the food court.

I have been coming here for years and most recently visited after most of the renovations were done but most specifically when the food court or restaurant space was finally open. The menu is pretty basic which is fine but they have a lot of the traditional staples and expected food items including sushi. Portions are on the smaller side and considering that the competition to them is only a few short miles away I do believe they need to do something to step it up and distinguish themselves in an elevated manner considering it is a food court. I do like the place a service is super nice a space looks so much better but competition is stiff in the area especially with these prices. Separately I've always come here to pick up some really hard to find grocery items and I still do and that space has also opened up a little bit as well.

Fantastic and fresh sushi. Cute market with lots of of variety of Japanese food items.

This is a wonderful restaurant and store You can go in and find prepackaged fresh, fresh sushi and other items They will have a selection of fresh vegetables and fruit already prepackaged for an easy quick meal They also have some pre-hot meals you can pick up. Very reasonably priced You can also eat at the restaurant A wonderful experience. Great people. Great food

The store is not as big as I thought it would be! I like the part when you enter, they have automatic doors so you don't have to touch any door handles! (Especially during the pandemic) There is a nice selection of groceries and ready made items to choose from, price is reasonable! I brought an onigiri salmon which had too much rice and not much salmon, the salmon is cooked not raw! There's really not much taste in this onigiri salmon piece! As you walked further in, there's a food court to order your food and they also have an area for you to eat the food you ordered!

COCKROACH INFESTED!!! I saw dead cockroaches inside the store. When I told the employee, she was not even apologetic. DISGUSTING!!! The food court was bad quality. NEVER go there!!

Tensuke is an amazing place! I've had the pleasure of watching it expand over the years, providing the community with another destination for delicious food. The food court is now three times its original size, offering a variety of tasty options on the menu.

Great selection and food! Enjoy shopping or the food court with courteous staff and cold beer. Sushi is good, miso is tasty, give this place a try!

I've been eating and ordering sushi from here for years. The sushi is always good and the food court has a wide variety of options. I've never had a bad meal here nor a bad experience. Food is consistently good. The staff are kind and attentive. I would say this is one of the best sushi places in the suburbs.

It's a great market with an excellent restaurant in the back. Delicious food and quick service.

Great take out on the fly. Sushi is as fresh as can be for the Midwest. Don't arrive there before closing time as they will rush you out of there..

Seriously great fresh tasty sushi!! Super affordable as well!! I loved it can't wait to go back!! Also unlimited miso soup!!!

I have to downgrade my rating by 1 star. Tensuke is now under new ownership and has gone through some renovations. It is a little less cozy now, and the food court has changed quite a bit. Ordering kiosks are now the way to buy food at the food court, and prices have increased significantly for nigiri. Maki has also gone up, but their maki are quite large, so it is still a good value. Overall quality seems close to what it was, but I must reemphasize, I really miss the old "feel" of this place. It is starting to feel more like a Mitsuwa, and a lot less like the great "mom and pop" it once was. Fish quality in the market area still seems good, but prices are quite high. I will still come here, but not as often as I used to.