Cafe Furaibo Sushi Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Soups & Salads
  • Special Maki
  • Entrees
  • Noodles
  • Sushi And Shashimi
  • Side Orders

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Furaibo Sushi

  • Appetizers
  • Soups & Salads
  • Special Maki
  • Entrees
  • Noodles
  • Sushi And Shashimi
  • Side Orders

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  • Julie S.

    We love this sweet, sublimely fresh, traditionally informed, Japanese owned BYOB! The finest shrimp shumai In town, softshell crab appetiser in season now, hibachi shrimp swimming in exquisite soy butter sauce are the appetisers Beyond belief! Next order the tuna avocado salad - delicate, fresh and scrumptious. Next onto the Calamari Ginger roll, Caribbean Secret roll, Fire Drops roll, Atlantis roll, Ommera roll- and the chef's special rolls, dear to make a special request! Owner Omme and partner chef, Aki, make your evening with their attentive and gracious service! Top chef and restauranteur of Girl and the Goat fame, Stephanie Izard acknowledged Cafe Furaibo as her favourite place - and it still holds true!

    (5)
  • Michael C.

    **Note: I never got the chance to eat.** Arrived at 7:45pm on a Friday night. There was one couple in the restaurant finishing up their meal. We ordered drinks, miso soup and sushi about five minutes later. About 15 minutes later, the hostess/server delivered a diet coke. The hostess/server had not returned to our table to let us know about the status. Several delivery orders were fulfilled. Another table had been seated after we ordered and they received salads. By 8:30pm neither soup nor sushi had not arrived. We had to get home to our daughter. We told the server we couldn't wait any longer, gave her $5 for the $1 soda and left. She waved and said with a smile "ok". It was bizarre, even baffling. She didn't say you're food will be ready soon or sorry. She was oddly content. I have never experienced anything like this and never left a restaurant early. I should have read yelp reviews before going. You have been warned.

    (1)
  • Caitlin S.

    I normally am not much of a complainer, but Cafe Furaibo is bad all around, the food and the delivery service. When I placed my order around 9:30pm, there was an expected delivery time of 10:45pm and the food did not arrive until 11:30pm. So that was already kind of unfortunate but once the food finally came, it was like "Hooray!". When I opened the bag, everything I ordered was there, which is a challenge sometimes ordering delivery, and my boyfriend took the first bite of a piece of nigiri and had to spit it out in the garbage because it was so fishy and suspect he could not manage to get it down. On top of the bad fish, the piece of eel was not properly cleaned and my California roll fell apart the moment I grabbed it with my chopsticks. Overall, this was place was terrible and I would normally give a place a second chance but this is definitely not going to be one of those places.

    (1)
  • Amanda L.

    Terrible food terrible service. The two of us were the only people in the entire restaurant. The owner served us and was never around to even refill the water. I asked for low sodium soy sauce and was told what was on my table was. In fact it was not. When I questioned the owner,after pulling teeth, she admitted that it was not low-sodium but wasn't the well-known brand Kikoman. I explained that no matter what brand it is I try to watch my sodium intake and would've appreciated knowing that it was in fact not low-sodium. Do not order hibachi!!!! Tasteless and nondescript. In my opinion run do not walk away from this restaurant. (I was forced to rate this establishment however there isn't an option for zero)

    (1)
  • Lynn L.

    We ordered sushi and got a call that it would be delayed an hour for pick up than originally planned. Then we we got there after 2 hrs of our order bring placed, we ended waiting for about another hour in the restaurant. The hostess was very sincere and apologetic as they had a couple of large parties they had to take care of in front of us. Unfortunately, this has made us a little sad with the outcome of our last visit.

    (2)
  • Wenbo F.

    I ordered takeout from this place through Grubhub. First the restaurant called and claimed one of the appetizers I ordered ran out and asked me to switch. Fine. The food arrived and looked very disappointing for the price they're charging. And next day I got food poisoning from the suspicious maki I ordered. Worst Japanese place I've tried in Lakeview for sure. AVOID THIS PLACE.

    (1)
  • Natalia K.

    After my other disappointing sushi adventures recently, I was super impressed with my rolls here. Clearly, I am not a fancy girl and I like a cute, unassuming place that doesn't try too hard and does simple food, right. And their specialty rolls aren't even that simple, they just don't have all these extra random things stuffed in that leave a bad taste in your mouth. When I walked in at 9 pm, it was empty. The hostess/waitress was nice and welcoming, and I sat myself near the window, enjoyed their blue walls, and got ready to eat. I came with a groupon and was going to order two rolls- until I saw their $10 credit card minimum and realized I didn't have any cash on me. Well, shit, give me a third roll then. I ordered the Dragon, Ommera, and the Tempura Vegetable. Yum. The Dragon was delicious. The Ommera was delicious. They disappeared. The Tempura Vegetable, having sweet potato in it, ended up being dessert. Cleaned my plate. I was actually going to order some green tea ice cream to make sure I had enough to cover the groupon + the $10 minimum but I think it seemed like I ate enough because the hostess came over with the check rather than asking me if I wanted anything else. I was 70 cents short of the $10, but she said it was ok. Bummer? But even though I kinda wanted the ice cream, it was better for my waistline that I didn't. I am sad that I am moving from this neighborhood in a month and did not discover this place sooner because it would have been my go to after work sushi spot.

    (5)
  • Andrew M.

    My husband and I enjoyed a quiet evening at Cafe Furaibo tonight and had the edamame (lightly salted), spicy miso soup (delicious and only $1.50) and three rolls: the spicy tuna (spicer than most rolls I've tried), the salmon avacado and the Donny (with asparagus and a grilled scallop on top). We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and how fresh the ingredients were! We are big fans and will be coming back for more. I don't want to try sushi anywhere else! If people only knew just how good this place was, every table would be packed. We'll have to remember its BYOB next time. Friendly service and family-owned.

    (5)
  • Marcus B.

    Completely unreliable I live two doors down from this place and order at least once a week(I'm lazy and don't wanna go far). They have posted hours of operation, but seem to open just whenever. So when I use an app to order food, and walk over, I'm always angry that they're still closed. Twice this has happened to me at lunch, when I order at noon and they're supposed to be open at 11:30. I get home from work at 5:15, and see them just parking their cars at that time, when they say that they're open at 5:00. Also when I order food is either ready in 20 minutes or 45-55 minutes. Even if they're not busy(they never are). I like the food though, and I think its priced very well. Its just a matter of actually getting the food. I would recommend calling before ordering or showing up, just to make sure the owners felt like working that day. edit: I'm switching my rating to a 3 stars, they were supposed to open 2 hours ago, but are still closed. I've a patient man, but they open late or very very often.

    (3)
  • Aaron P.

    I came here with two friends for the deal that was offered. We all had the miso soup for $1. Nothing special, but I won't complain for $1. We ordered the fried soft shell crab and salmon collar for appetizers. The crab was fried well, but it was lukewarm as if had been sitting instead of just come out of the fryer. It was also a bit oily and salty. The salmon collar was disgusting. It was soaked in oil, too salty, and smelled fishy so I wondered how long the salmon had been waiting in the kitchen. Fortunately, the sushi was very good. Some of the better sushi I've had in Chicago. We had a crazy, fire drops, peachy, and two other rolls. I wasn't disappointed with any of them. Each had generous portions of fish. Service was friendly, if a bit slow for the end of the service on a Saturday with only 4 tables seated. Avoid the appetizers, stick to the sushi, and BYOB. The prices will keep me coming back. Miso- eh, cheap Fried Soft Shell Crab- oily and salty Salmon Collar- AVOID Crazy Roll- delicious Peachy Roll- delicious Fire Drops Roll- delicious

    (3)
  • Alicia M.

    If you want a comfortable place to chat ... and delicious food you have to come to Cafe Furaibo .. kids friendly and awesome customer service ... we love it !!!

    (5)
  • Victoria R.

    I am truly torn writing this review for Café Furaibo (affectionately called Car Wash Sushi by our friends thanks to being literally surrounded by the car wash on the corner of Lincoln and Lakewood). For food I would give them a 4. Their rolls are solid, the tuna avocado salad is one of my favorite foods of life, the prices are really reasonable and it's BYOB. The reason I'm torn is the ambiance (worthy of a 3). It's kind of depressing inside and therefore usually fairly empty. When it's not empty, they are understaffed. The hostess/waitress is really great but when the place is packed it's too much for one person to handle! Because I cannot give a 3.5, I will round up to 4 because I kind of love the car wash sushi and it is great for takeout. And seriously, try the salad, the dressing is amazing!

    (4)
  • Gretchen D.

    This is a delivery review of the food as we Grubhubbed it. The delivery time missed the estimate by a few minutes. No biggie. We had the katsu (son said it was excellent, not tough like they sometimes get). He said the miso was typical. Edamame was typical. Kappa maki was bitter (were the cucumbers turning?) The asparagus/beef was excellent. I had the spicy shrimp maki--again, it was okay but did not blow me away. The wasabi shu mai was nice--and the wasbai did not overwhelm. Nothing really wrong with it, I've just had much better all around. Not sure I would bother calling again.

    (2)
  • Adam L.

    Best kept secret in Lakeview! I've been probaby 4-5 times since moving nearby a few months ago. Delicious food, cheap prices, friendly service. Not sure why every time I'm here, there seems to be no other customers. Would highly recommend!

    (5)
  • Sarah L.

    Tried this place after purchasing a groupon. The sushi was good, but there are better options in Chicago. I would be happy eating here again, but it would not be my personal first choice. They have a few original rolls, but most of them are easy to find at other restaurants.

    (3)
  • Julio H.

    Excellent Service.The owner is very nice. Pretty good food too.

    (5)
  • Haley S.

    The boyfriend wanted non sushi Japanese, and a friend who lived in Japan recommended. I had chicken, which was very tasty, and he had shrimp tempura ramen, and he's extremely picky. He liked the broth, as did I. It's pretty good, and not that far from our place, so we'll be back.

    (4)
  • Kerry S.

    Sooooo delicious! Obviously love the BYOB aspect and the sushi is wonderful! Can't wait to make this one of or regular sushi spots!

    (5)
  • Steve L.

    Cafe Furaibo is the best sushi place you're not eating at that nobody knows about. Not the fanciest interior, but the rolls are delicious. Love this place.

    (5)
  • Sarah Beth B.

    I'm a total novice at sushi, other than a few california rolls and a couple of friends who'd help me order, but dinner the other night at Cafe Furaibo totally put me at ease for my first time really ordering sushi. Being complete sushi dufuses, we spent a few minutes looking at the menu, then a few minutes looking around at what other people were eating. When the awesome waitress came by, we pointed to the table next to ours and asked what they were eating, if it was delicious, and could we have some? Totally without making fun of us, and making us feel completely at ease, she described what they were eating (several rolls and the sashimi platter... or something like that...), made a couple of modifications, and we were on our way. After a few minutes and some delicious miso soup, the sushi came rolling out. It was delicious and very non-intimidating! It was more than plenty for me, though my date might have wanted a little bit more. Next time, I will feel TOTALLY confident in ordering this exact meal again, adn slightly more confident in ordering something similar! I'll be back, now that I'm not terrified of ordering sushi.

    (4)
  • Sam B.

    Ever since we moved to the area about a year ago my fiance and I have been searching for a new sushi place. Our old spot was Kyu Sushi on Ashland, but it's gone downhill since a change of ownership. Furaibo is our favorite so far and we've been here three times since discovering it fairly recently so I guess it's safe to say we've found a replacement. All of the rolls we've tried here are delicious, and they're always put together well. The prices are good, especially if you do the weekday special. My favorite rolls are the spider, O.C., and spicy tuna maki. They are also very accommodating about customizing the rolls (sometimes we order them without mayo) and there's even an option to make your own custom rolls, which is an interesting idea but a little overwhelming. Besides the sushi, the yakitori appetizer and tempura ice cream are also really good and the fact that it's BYOB is a bonus (or maybe more of a requirement). The decor isn't as trendy as many of the sushi places in Lakeview, but it's clean, service is friendly, and on nice days the back windows open up. I also think the food is a lot better than most of the 4-5 star places we've tried. I regret not going here sooner and I hope more people start coming because it's pretty empty most of the time and I want them to stay in business. Don't let the negative reviews dissuade you!

    (5)
  • Laura O.

    I'm new in town, and my roommates and I wanted to try a nearby sushi place. We used the Yelp coupon for a free appetizer, which we were told was edemame. It was great, but no where near enough for 4 people. We all really enjoyed our sushi rolls, and it's only $1 to add miso soup! Luckily, we went on a somewhat cooler summer day, but the place had no AC. Not sure how I would have felt about dining in on a much hotter day!

    (3)
  • Laura K.

    I love this place!!! It's never too crowded, it's BYOB, the sushi is really good, and they have my very favorite salad. I know, who goes to a sushi place and orders a salad? You should! The Tuna Avocado salad is to die for. It comes with a good amount of tuna, avocado and a wasabi dressing that has a great kick to it, but it is not too spicy. I got my friend to order it who doesn't even like wasabi and she too thought it was the best salad she ever had. She even said, "This is so good, I wish I had a fork so I could eat this faster!" The Crazy roll is also really good if you are looking for my recommendation. It is kind of a hole in the wall though, so if you are looking for a fun atmosphere, this is not the place to go. Also a warning - for whatever reason they will give you a hard time about splitting the bill with multiple credit cards, but if you are persistent, they will take as many as you give them.

    (4)
  • Christine D.

    Chirashi was terrible. I ordered extra fish and extra fish eggs. No fish eggs and if that was extra fish I'd hate to see what you get if you don't order extra. My husband liked his ton katsu but that was it. Not a good experience and won't order again.

    (1)
  • Dan C.

    Cute, sleepy little BYOB sushi place on a Lincoln Ave corner. We came because of a Groupon, but the prices were very reasonable even without it. The Crazy roll and the Red Typhoon roll were both terrific, while the Spider and Spicy Shrimp rolls were solid as well. I would definitely return.

    (4)
  • Aminda S.

    Cafe Furaibo, we meet again! This has become one of my favorite neighborhood sushi spots. It's nothing fancy - in fact you've probably walked right past it without even realizing it was there on many occasions as I did when I lived only two blocks away, but boy am I happy I finally paid attention. This was my third visit to Furaibo and I have always left completely satisfied. They have a good selection of specialty rolls in addition to the classics, but the main thing I give them props for is the amount of fish you get in the rolls. The Furaibo maki is my favorite - served with a tiny little asian omelette on top of each piece. I was impressed by the amount of fish and shrimp in the Red Typhoon roll which I tried for the first time. It is now a close second to my beloved Furaibo maki. If you're looking for a BYOB sushi spot without the wait, this could be the place for you. Service can be a little slow at times, but I actually prefer a BYO that isn't rushing its customers out the door.

    (4)
  • Ben K.

    Wow! What an awesome plate of sushi from such an unassuming spot. From the cute Japanese fisherman sign/logo out front to the triangular shaped building interior and slightly-too-loud out of place music ambiance, Cafe Furaibo emanates a quaint charm and really delivers a great meal. Our favorite was the red typhoon roll, topped with delicious red tuna and with an amazing texture and flavor. We almost ordered another on the spot. The Caterpillar and Calamari ginger rolls were also fantastic. In addition to the sushi, their seaweed salad was really top notch, with an amazing and unique ginger dressing. The miso was great (not too salty), and the shrimp shumai was also delicious. Three of us had a few appetizers, three special rolls, a spicy tuna, and were out of there for under $50. Great value! My only complaint is that the place was almost empty and it took almost half an hour to get our sushi. Chalk it up to hand made? Regardless, I'll be back, next time with some BYOB.

    (4)
  • Anya F.

    I ordered delivery today from Furaibo on GrubHub. Here's the rundown: - $20 - and I got sushi, salad, edamame, and miso. - They threw in the edamame for free with my order (a coupon on GrubHub) - I got the lunch special #2, which was a California Maki, and your choice of two other maki from a list. I got Tekkamaki and Negihamachimaki - The Miso was fanastic, made with dashi like it should be. - The edamame was okay. - The sushi was very fresh and delicious!! My tuna smelled a teeeeeny bit fishy at first, but it was only the one piece... Otherwise, delicious! - The seaweed salad was yummy, and it was on top of a green salad with yummy dressing - an unexpected plus! - The were early with my order! It was super awesome and I will definitely order again!

    (5)
  • Cindy R.

    Last minute dinner pick, tried out this tiny joint. It's on a 3-way corner so it's a small and oddly shaped room. Had 4 rolls (spicy tuna, negi hamachi, atlantis & calamari ginger). The last two were more specialty type rolls but I liked that they were not doused in mayo or otherwise overdone. It was a good value - generously sized rolls with plenty of fish at a reasonable price. The ambiance is so-so, I wouldn't recommend the place for a nice date, but for a casual dinner I would definitely go again.

    (3)
  • Deena D.

    This place is a nice little spot close to the Elbo Room where we were going to see our friends band play afterward. BYOB policy which was great and the place wasn't too crowded. Overall pretty good sushi and not too expensive, it's kind of hidden so you almost forget it's there but I would go back if I was in the area again. Next time I need to check out their website for coupons, orrrr they should just do a Yelp Check In deal :)

    (4)
  • Tera D.

    I went here after seeing the Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard named it as her fave sushi spot. Right off the bat you can tell it's nicer than your standard hole-in-the-wall sushi spot, with nice decor and not a hint of dinginess. Yet, the prices were no higher than the standard sushi spot, and it's still BYOB! The sushi was very fresh, and they've got some great lunch combos. I will definitely be back, maybe for a date, since the atmosphere is so nice.

    (4)
  • Carolyn B.

    I live right around the corner from Cafe Furaibo, and I always see their sign for $7 lunch specials, so I thought I'd give it a try. I ordered the Oyako Don Lunch Special which is described as chicken and eggs over rice with salad and miso soup. When I called my order in, I was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. I arrived about 22 minutes later and was told it would be 5 more minutes. Not a huge deal, because I wasn't in any hurry, but the restaurant was completely empty, and I could hear the eggs being whisked in the kitchen when I walked in, so they obviously hadn't started it before I arrived. The miso soup wasn't bad, but miso soup is pretty hard to mess up. The entree itself was actually pretty gross. The eggs were gray and overcooked, and the chicken was also gray and bland. The onions were slimy and cut into long strips, and they were really unappetizing. So basically the dish was dry gray eggs, with gray unseasoned chicken, and slimy onions. No sauce on it, no sauce included on the side, not even soy sauce! The salad wasn't bad, but the dressing was watery. The only reason I would go back would be to try the sushi, because the reviews make the sushi sound good. I'd never get an entree again though.

    (1)
  • Marie C.

    I ordered delivery today from Furaibo on GrubHub and got the tempura vegetables appetizer, two kids of sushi rolls (spicy tuna maki and ommera maki), and tempura ice cream. Because I spent a certain amount, they threw in a salad of some sort gratis. The Ommera Maki is a good, safe bet - especially for those that are new to sushi. The spicy tuna was OK, although not the most amazing thing ever. The tempura vegetables were decent, but I found myself wishing that the veggies were a bit more crisp and flavorful. The tempura ice cream was delicious. Delivery was pretty quick (I think 45 mins or so) but the cost ($40 after delivery/tip) made me knock a star off.

    (4)
  • Kara G.

    Solid sushi. I'm picky, being Hasian (half-asian) and I can honestly say this is some of the best in Chicago. Plus, the prices are totally reasonable! I ordered through Grub Hub for delivery (which is awesome for someone who is stuck at her store and can't ever leave to grab lunch) and got the tuna lunch special (it's just slices of tuna over sushi rice with little shreds of seaweed...yum). It comes with a miso soup (THE BEST MISO EVER) and a little salad (AWESOME SALAD TOO!). It's the perfect amount of food for me, and it is healthy and tastes delicious - what more could you want? My friend Anya likes their food as well, and as a semi-expert on all things Japanese, I took her word for it and was rewarded - so get yourself over there, or order delivery!

    (4)
  • Pinaki S.

    Very good sushi and a nice decor. BYOB! And plus: Waitress was hot and there were lots of hot girls eating there too. Yeah, these things are important.

    (5)
  • Becky C.

    Ordered 4 maki rolls with a friend and liked 2 out of the four. Red Typhoon - Woohoo! Ommera - YEEESSSHHHH! Crazy - okay, alright - too much ginger Spicy tako - ehhhhhhhhhhhh - they fried the octopus so it was too hard and tough to chew Very nice place. Quiet. Interesting. Service was friendly. The food did come out a little slow, but they made up for it with the nicely presented sushi rolls. Fish was very fresh as well. Will come back to try out other rolls and dishes.

    (3)
  • Stephanie C.

    I have never eaten in the restaurant, but have ordered delivery or for pick-up several times and was never disappointed. Their sushi is delicious--I'm a big fan of the spider maki and spicy tuna rolls. Fish tasted fresh and the rice was a good consistency. Their vegetable tempura is also very good. Delivery also was very timely (although I confess I do live across the street, so they don't have to travel very far...). I will continue to order from them!

    (4)
  • Alex F.

    Delicious sushi. I used to believe Toro was the only sushi in Lincoln Park worthy of a 5-star rating, but after trying Furaibo they definitely deserve it. The donkey roll with fried scallop, asparagus and jalepeno is excellent.

    (5)
  • Rebecca S.

    I haven't even gotten my food yet and already writing a review. I placed my order an hour and half ago and it still has not arrived. I called 4 times before someone even answered and when i asked where my order was, i was basically yelled at because apparently I'm out of the delivery area (which was never mentioned when i ordered). So after I complained and asked where my order was, she said it was on its way. There was no apology, no empathy. She did not care at all and made me feel like it was my fault the order was not there yet. I hope the food is better than the service, but who knows if i will ever get to try it because it may just never get here!

    (1)
  • Kristin L.

    I love this place! My boyfriend and I were asked to join another couple for dinner one evening for sushi. We were happy to get out of the house to try someplace new. WOW! I still can't stop talking about how great Cafe Furaibo is and the fact that's a BYOB is great! I love the salad and can't have sushi without Edamame. Then my comes the sushi, always taste fresh and for the cost it really can't be beat! I've been back almost weekly now and don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

    (5)
  • Amanda G.

    Went to Cafe Furaibo over the weekend and I was happy that it was a BYOB sushi place. I was happy with my first experience here and I will definitely be back. I found the fish to be fresh and they let you customize your own rolls, which is not found at many sushi restaurants because many sushi chefs take pride in their creations. I was very happy with the friendly service we received from our waitress and I found the prices per roll to be just right. Dinner for two was just over $40. Not bad! This would be a great spot for a party with a group of friends. One thing, is that I wish it had a sushi bar. All sushi is made in the kitchen. I just like watching sushi rolls being made.

    (4)
  • Jim W.

    In my continuous search for my go-to neighborhood spot, I stumbled upon Furaibo. My feelings... (-) NO A/C. 'nuff said. (-) No separate nigiri/sashimi price list unless "asked for", which leads to (-) Non inexpensive rolls. Double negative you say? Not really expensive per se (although $5 for plain salmon maki is a bit much), but not really cheap. The overall menu is not particularly cheap either... BUT (+) lunch menu is a good deal, decent options if you feel like some rolls (+) the 'dons are cheap at $7, and comes w/miso soup and a nice salad topped with ginger-flavored dressing (+) the lady was nice and provided good service, granted she must have been thrilled to see me since I was the only one there. If you put these all together, you end up at 3 stars. But if you see Furaibo solely as a takeout lunch place for rice bowls, it's a decent option.

    (3)
  • Natasia O.

    I stand by my review below for dine in but avoid the delivery. It took 2.5 hrs for warm sushi to arrive. Not OK and then I had to fight with the woman to get even a little of my $75 refunded.

    (3)
  • Emily K.

    Excellent sushi with reasonable prices. Never busy on weeknights. And it's BYOB! Grab a menu on your way out bc they have coupons on it.

    (5)
  • Jordan M.

    The sushi was good and the prices are cheap.

    (3)
  • Laila C.

    the Tornado roll is delicious, as are the crab croquettes. The gyoza would be better if they weren't still semi-cold. The crunch roll could be much better if there were more fish than the meager half slice they put on each piece of sushi. The yakisoba needed more sauce but it was fine. The fact that it's BYOB and open on a Monday night earns it 3 stars. I have walked by this place many times and wanted to try it. However, I wish I could've went on a night when I wasn't hoping for the more innovative rolls of Kyoto (which only after a 20 minute walk, did we discover they're closed on Mondays).

    (3)
  • Fleming B.

    Nasty, nasty, nasty. I ordered delivery from here a few months ago, and I have to say it was one of the grossest sushi delivery experiences I've had. The edamame was mush, the fish smelled SO FISHY, and the rolls were too spicy without any flavor. They delivered quickly, so drive-time was no excuse for not-fresh fish. Stay away.

    (1)
  • Cindy D.

    Walking into the restaurant I was a bit worried - it was packed and no one had received food yet. So then we said down and I took a look at the menu - again I was worried, I usually love rolls with fresh salmon and white tuna. There was barely any rolls that had those two. It was promonietly tuna and eel. For $70 with tip - we got free miso soup, 4 orders of salmon sashimi, and 4 rolls. The rolls were mediocre, but the service was good. Food came out fast and they kept on apologizing for the noise.

    (4)
  • Sarah S.

    Had sushi with a friend here a while back and am just now getting around to writing my review. This is a lovely little restaurant. We started with an order of the shrimp dumplings. They are steamed, which makes me feel better than eating crab ragoons and egg rolls which I love. They were a very tasty start to our meal. We tried a few of the different sushi rolls: spicy tuna, rainbow, and caterpillar. We enjoyed all of them, but the caterpillar roll stood out to me. I haven't tried many sushi places yet in the city, but I would go here again just because of the pleasant experience I had. They also have coupons you can print off from their website. We used the free appetizer one. You can have it delievered too!

    (4)
  • Mary jane W.

    This is one of my favorite sushi bars. I have to admit, after the first time I ate hear I was hooked. And when I became pregnant, this was my crave spot.

    (5)
  • Christine L.

    Went here for a late dinner with a group last night and was pleasantly surprised! We ordered several rolls including the dragon, rainbow, philly, spicy tuna, spider and crazy maki rolls. The ingredients were fresh and the menu included a wide variety of unique combinations. They also have other fare for those who do not like sushi (who doesn't like sushi though!). Why not 5 stars then? Well, they ran out of rice and we were only able to order 1 additional roll instead of the 3 our table would have enjoyed. Décor is a little lackluster but forgivable since the food was so darn good. Prices were good and it's BYO.Finally, a place to compete with Coast for my taste buds.

    (4)
  • Allison K.

    My friends and I just got back from one of the worst dinners we have ever had in Chicago at this spot - it was such a terrible experience that I am ALREADY writing the review even though we just finished our meal. First off, we made a reservation at 7:30. We arrived at 7:30 and couldn't find a hostess, who actually turned out to be one of the two (yep, total of TWO) servers in the entire restaurant. She told us "5 to 10" minutes. 20 minutes later, we finally were seated. What was interesting, though, was that on our way back to our table NO ONE had any food on their tables. Weird, right? It should have been our red flag... ONE HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES later, we got our appetizers - Miso soup and edamame, which was overcooked and horrible. Nearly two hours and fifteen minutes after we had sat down, we got our sushi. I mean - c'mon now. To quote Mr. Big - "Abso-fuckinglutely" TERRIBLE. At this point, three or four couples had come in near our table of four and waited for 15 or twenty minutes without even getting a menu. A few of them got up and left. It was too late for us, but hey, they saved themselves. Once we did get the sushi - eh. That is about all I can give it. Boo. We then asked our server if there was anything she could do for us in lieu of the green tea ice cream she offered us on the house, she said, "Oh, we'll see what we can do that's the same price." She then proceeded to take off our DRINKS and miso soups, for a total of $6. Not quite making up for an awful experience - not. even. close. There are tons of sushi places in Chicago. I would rather go to any other one than this place - I suggest you do the same.

    (1)
  • Annie G.

    I recently tried this place with my roommate. We had a craving for quick sushi and that's exactly what Cafe Furaibo delivered. The service was great, the Miso soup was one of the best I've ever had and the O.C. roll I ordered was fabulous. They put their house dressing in it which gives it a nice kick. It's also BYOB, which is always a plus, and they don't have a cork fee or anything which is hard to come by.

    (4)
  • Christy S.

    Cafe Furaibo never disappoints! This is my husband and I's go to sushi restaurant in the city. The food is always great and comes out quickly after we order. Great for a group of friends or a date night. The best part is that it's BYOB!

    (4)
  • Meredith P.

    There are so many other sushi places in the city, this is not one I would go to again. I think a big down point for me was that it is definitely out of the way for me, and kind of in the middle of no where so it's not ideal for going to dinner before going out, etc. I did enjoy my rolls, but there weren't too many that I would pick. BYOB is always a plus though!

    (2)
  • Jennifer L.

    Five stars for their Lunch! For the price it was well worth it and a good variety to choose from. Place is on the corner hidden in a car wash? Went on a monday around 1pm, seated immediately. There was a nice asian lady serving us who was prompt and friendly. Food was brought out in a timely manner and drinks refilled. We ordered a scallop roll (~$8) and three lunch specials: a tempura udon, katsu-don, and another something over rice-don ($7). You could choose a sushi special, soup special or rice special and there are a lot of options. Tempura udon was a nice big bowl of udon in plain broth (had the option of having ramen or soba noodles, but I wanted thick and chewy) and a full order of tempura. The tempura was something I would expect to pay $7 for alone, shrimp and vegetables. There was only one shrimp and the batter was a little heavier than I like, but there were at least seven pieces and I liked the variety of vegetables. The katsu don (pork or shrimp served over rice) looked good and came with miso and a salad with ginger dressing, the udon comes with a salad. The scallop roll we ordered was alright, about what I expected for the price. There could have been more scallop, but there was a lot of avacado to make up for it. It sounds like your expirience here really depends on the time you go and what server is working there. Though even if the service was terrible, I had to wait to be seated, etc the food was a good deal, and good deals make me happy.

    (5)
  • Pamela P.

    The waitress/hostess was warm and inviting. She really made us feel welcome. There is a great selection of food and it's tasty. I'm not a big meat eater and I certainly found a lot of tasty vegetarian options and interesting combinations in terms of maki. Highly recommended. A BYOB local, intimate place that really a nice neighborhood gem!

    (4)
  • Dina D.

    -ring ring- "Hello, Furaibo? Do we need a reservation for tonight at 8? No..? Ok, well, I'd like to make one anyway...Yes, 2 at 8pm. Thanks!" Sweet! -walking towards Furaibo- "Is that Santa Claus holding a dead fish by a hook..? What a weird sign." -walk

    (2)
  • Dave S.

    We recently went to Cafe Furaibo and were surprised that it was pretty much empty. Of course, the fact that it was negative 22 outside may have had something to do with that. But the food was excellent. I hadn't been here in about two years and was pleased to see that some of my favorite dishes were still on the menu. The salads, as others have noted, are very good. The secret is the tangy/sweet dressing they use. We had the seaweed salad, which was a generous helping of seaweed with the aforementioned dressing. For sushi, we had a sample of rolls. Here, the menu is a bit mayo/cream cheese heavy for my taste, but I was able to find several healthier options to share. One of the standout rolls features scallops with a nice combination of other items. In short, this is a great neighborhood spot. The fact that it is BYOB is an added draw. We'll definitely come back.

    (4)
  • Marc U.

    Solid joint for good sushi and byob in Lakeview. None of the over-hype, all of peace. Usually not crowded, which is how I like it.

    (5)
  • Sarah Z.

    My friend and I don't venture out to Lakeview very often- once in a blue moon would be stretching it- so in a disoriented haze we stumbled upon Cafe Furaibo. A Coke was only $1...but no refills, and if we had known, we would have brought our own wine (since it is BYOB). The food was reasonable, taste and price. I had the tempura entree, came with miso soup, side of white rice and a mixture of tempura shrimp (3) and two of a variety of veggies. My friend got 3 rolls of vegetarian sushi (8 pieces for avocado and sweet potato, 6 pieces of some other thing with fake krab...ew). The ginger wasn't dyed that weird pink color either... not important but noteworthy. Our waitress was really nice. There was no one in the restaurant, considering this, I thought the service could have been a bit more efficient, although I was glad she didn't hover. Hovering staff make me feel nervous and then I don't like eating. So I was able to eat without feeling like the FBI was going to pop out and steal my food from my mouth. OVERALL- go here if you want a quiet relaxed atmosphere, nice staff and decent sushi.

    (3)
  • Matty O.

    This is good little sushi joint in Lakeview. I went for a BYOB club I'm in. Despite the dinner club just being for two and seemed like a really bad awkward blind date, the place isn't half bad. Service was good. Sushi was good for the price. My partner wasn't much of a sushi fan, so we toned down our selection. No complaints and I'd like to go back with some friends sometime. I'd say the best part of the place that stood out was that they were bumping a Jamiraqui album all night. That's pretty fantastic for a corner sushi joint.

    (3)
  • Daniella B.

    I LOVE FURAIBO. I really do. Yes there are a billion and one sushi places in Chicago. I have been to about a billion ;) They are all very tasty. However, they are also all very pricey. Furaibo is a great bang for your buck. The food is always amazing. My boyfriend and I will order edamame, seaweed salad, and 4 rolls and spend maybe 55 bucks. Plus it's BYOB. You really can't go wrong with that. Yes the decor is only okay, and yes it's a small little neighborhood joint. And yes that blonde server is a crotch bitch. I haven't seen her in a while so hopefully they fired her. Anywho, the owners are darling and the food is fab. SO if you are looking for posh/loud and expensive go to Tank. If you want subtle, cheap and YUMMY go to Furaibo, order the Ommera and the Rainbow, have a bottle of wine and actually be able to hear the person on the other side of the table.

    (5)
  • Mo A.

    Sushi was ok. Udon noodles were not. Wouldn't recommend though.

    (2)
  • Ellen B.

    So in my quest to try ever more sushi spots I finally went to Cafe Furaibo (which is right in my own backyard). And I was pleasantly surprised!! It's BYOB which is one star by itself. However the rolls are fantastic and decently priced. It's got a wonderful atmosphere (aside from this guy sitting next to us trying to lay a guilt trip on his girlfriend--but at least he was doing it over good sushi?), nice staff and it's not too busy. I almost didn't want to review it because it's a hidden gem. As other yelpers have noted the place is hard to find. Don't go in the first door on the corner, go in the middle one (the further one leads to the car wash). The Donny roll is really good, as is the OC. Sashimi is not listed on the menu but is also an option.

    (5)
  • Janette L.

    "You know we are BYOB and there are no liquor stores nearby so you may want to bring lots of drinks." Really?? A BYOB that promotes staying and enjoying all my fabulous TJ wines?? Oh my, Santa finally got my Christmas list. Finding a Japanese BYOB that takes reservations (b/w 5:30 and 9:30)and had no 2 hour wait on a Friday in Chicago proved to be an arduous task. 5 of us came here for dinner. We were running a little past our 8:30 reservation, but sat after a short 10 minute wait. The place was packed and service was slower initially but that could be expected w/ only 3 people working. We ordered 8 rolls and split that amongst the table. All of them were good, but after 5 bottles of wine I don't think we could tell you which were the best. Edamame (not as salty as other places) and green tea ice cream were also good. We stayed until closing and they really did let us enjoy every last drop of wine! Overall the food, service, and atmosphere (not trendy but cozy) were great! And all for only $20 a person (incl. tip). I will defintely be back. *And our apologies for the fellow patrons yesterday night. 5 girls + 5 bottles of wine = LOUD.

    (4)
  • Wahid A.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants of any variety in Chicago. It's quiet, they place cool music, and the owner is as sweet a person as you can find. And the sushi is second to none. You can get great sushi at lots of spots in Chicago but very few have the combination of charm and laid back atmosphere that this restaurant provides.

    (5)
  • keRi M.

    roommate and i were exploring our new neighborhood, and decided we'd just walk into whatever place looked good and was BYOB, since we had a bottle of wine with us. stumbled upon this place - looks very unassuming from the front, and kind of in the middle of not-much location-wise, north on lincoln. i think we walked in on a wednesday night around 8:30 and were seated immediately. we split some edamame, a noodle dish and 2 sushi rolls and were ridiculously happy with the result - they've got some creative roll options too, including some deep fried. plus, we brought our own wine - no corkage fee! it has a more modern, minimalistic feel to the setting, which wasn't what i expected from the front, but i liked it. food was very reasonably priced, too. give this place a shot :)

    (4)
  • Krista O.

    This place is real close walking distance from my apartment. I went there for lunch and really loved the donburi lunch. It's quite a deal for $7.. donburi, salad, miso soup. The lady there was very nice and made me feel very welcome. I've been to Japan and this donburi was great!. I haven't been there for dinner.. but the main reason I did go for lunch was the donburi. If you want a good cheap lunch that will fill you up go for the donburi lunch!. I like this place.. cute decor, nice staff.. good food !

    (5)
  • David W.

    Mike Antis was back from Abu Dhabi and wanted to go for BYOB sushi. I haven't been overly impressed with Coast lately and Toro had an 11 hour wait, so based on some positive Yelps we decided to try Café Furaibo. We chilled a bottle of Gevertztraminer and made our way up north for our 7:30 reservation. The well designed menu offered 20+ rolls including a build your own roll option. Oddly, Furaibo doesn't list their nigiri/sashimi on the menu, but they do offer a decent selection of fish. We started off with the standard Miso Soup ($1), Edamame, and added an order of Asparagus Beef. The Miso Soup was above average as was the Asparagus Beef. For rolls we went with the East Coast Crunch, Caribbean, O.C., Rainbow, Firedrop, Spicy Tuna (2), and a Spider Roll. All of the rolls were tasty, but the East Coast Crunch was easily the table's favorite. In addition to our rolls we went with 8 pieces of Super White, 6 pieces of Tuna, and 4 pieces of Salmon. The Super White, especially our last order, was rich, oily, fresh, and yummy. We finished the evening with an order each of Green Tea Ice Cream and Tempura Ice Cream. The Tempura Ice Cream was a big hit! The restaurant is oddly positioned in the middle of what I think was a car wash. It wouldn't be a stretch to group Furaibo in the "hole in the wall" category. However, the three of us sat at a nice four top right by a large glass sliding door which was perfect for people watching. The service was attentive and genuinely nice. All in all Furaibo offers a good selection of tasty rolls and fresh fish at reasonable prices. 3 Miso Soups 1 Edamame 1 Asparagus Beef Roll 8 Rolls 18 Pieces 2 Desserts --------------------------- $170.00

    (3)
  • Katie B.

    I recently ordered delivery from this place and was very disappointed! When the food arrived it wasn't very warm (which can be expected with delivery), but it also wasn't very tasty! Our entrees were much smaller than expected with little flavor. The tempera plate lacked any crisp and the batter wasn't even completely cooked. We were left with vegetables and mush...maybe it is a good place for dine in, I'm surprised by all of the good reviews but do not order take out!

    (1)
  • Moe f.

    Hit it up for lunch. For $9 you get 2 rolls and miso. It's an OK deal. The rolls and soup were pretty solid. Although the main menu had no ala carte sushi listed and I was thinking about adding on a maguro and sw tuna. Weird.

    (3)
  • Kyle D.

    I live right by Furiabo, so it took me a while to realize exactly how good it was. Initially the convenience of the place was its biggest selling point -- and since I grew up in Central Indiana, I didn't have a lot of sushi experience to compare it to. However I've since tried tons of other places in the city, and none of them beat Furaibo. The maki rolls are fresh and reasonable. BYOB, and we never seem to spend more than $20/person when we're there. Great staff. Carryout is good. Not pretentious. Not much more you could want.

    (5)
  • Kathy L.

    Just discovered this place recently and its a pretty good find. There wasn't much of a crowd and its BYOB and some pretty fresh cuts of fish. I have no complaints except that the service is a little slow. Overall, this place gets 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because its close to my house. Yay for proximity!

    (4)
  • Jack P.

    Check out this place if you ever want to have a nice group prix-fixe dinner. I went there for my first time last night with a foreign language group of 15 or so people. One of the members had pre-arranged a prix-fixe menu of numerous courses. With tax and tip, the tab per person was only $18.00. An incredible value for sushi. Now we did not have sushimi, or standard sushi. We did have a delicious salad of lettuce, raw vegetables, avocado and raw fish, an appetizer of beautifully-presented tofu in a sauce with vegetable garnish, and a series of six platters of three or four varieties of maki, all of which were fresh and bursting with flavor. Deep-fried green tea ice cream was also included for dessert. The restaurant was relatively quiet on a Monday, and the decor/feng shui/layout is a little odd, given it's "on the point" location of a six-way Chicago intersection. But it was great for our group. I noticed upon leaving a nice little open air side room where I would like to sit on the next nice summer evening when I return. Service was efficient, not too fast, but very gracious. It was perfect for a group of people who were there for the camaraderie and conversation and in no particular hurry. Just a flavorful, fresh and reasonable choice when you are craving Japanese.

    (4)
  • PJ T.

    We stopped by for dinner on a Friday evening after a long day at work and it was just great. It was quiet (since we were very late) and not too crowded. Edmame was fresh and we had the tuna avocado salad instead of house salad. The wasabi dressing was delicious and refreshing. We had the crazy roll and for anyone who loves spicy sushi, this is it. yum! We also had salmon and unagi sashimi and both were very fresh and delicious; the spicy shrimp was decent. Big plus its a BYOB !!

    (4)
  • cara r.

    I've been to Furaibo twice and I've come to the conclusion that it's solid, good sushi at a nice low price. The service is frustratingly slow, but bring a bottle of wine and get some miso soup and wait it out until your rolls appear. I'm a huge edamame fan, but theirs is average at best - the soybeans tend to be soggy by the time they come out to you. The OC roll is great and is my favorite of their specialty rolls. It's great if you just want some good basic sushi but if you're looking for somewhere spectacular, I'd try elsewhere. Edited 4/2/07: We went here on Saturday night with a big group for my sister's roommate's birthday. It was the WORST service I have ever had. Honestly. We sat down at 8:00 and ordered soup (which came out right away) and some appetizers (which took almost an hour to roll out a few wasabi pork dumplings). We had to call the waitress over after an hour to order, and then from the time we ordered, it was an hour and a half until we were served. There were no apologies. When we FINALLY were served, it took almost a half hour from the time the first person got his plate to when the last person got hers. It was a MISERABLE experience, and it will be a long time, if ever, that I go back to Furaibo.

    (1)
  • Trixie H.

    I ordered from here off grubhub, I love am a huge fan of sushi but not this place...I got the OC roll, fire drop and a miso soup and it was TERRIBLE! the sushi arrived super warm. lets just say I put my body through a lot of gross food but it could not handle this sushi, the worse.

    (1)
  • Wayne C.

    We tried to go to Ole Lounge for the opening night but their kitchen closed at 9:30. WTF? So we ended up walking to Furaibo. We were really looking forward to sangria so when we found out it was BYOB, we were pretty upset. Besides the fact that there was a god damn high school reunion going on and it was full of people who tormented me throughout the ages of 14-18, we had to wait about 20 minutes to eat. The tables were small and the service was a tad slow. But on the plus side, I got to see how all the popular girls from high school had not aged well. The sushi was only okay. Pretty cheap, though. And they did have a lot of original rolls I haven't seen other places. If I was in the area, I'd probably go back with a few bottles of wine if I was looking for a low-key, cheap night.

    (3)
  • Pam N.

    I'm surprised this place is not more popular. Well, it's not fancy. I mean the rolls - I ordered delivery from Cafe Furaibo, so I can't attest to the restaurant. The rolls are fun and there are a lot of options! I thought they were well sized for the price, and packed full of fish and lots of different stuff. There are a lot of cooked options. This is not for the sushi purist. They don't really do sashimi or nigiri. But yummy when you got that craving for crunchy rolls packed with stuff. Fast delivery and a good price.

    (4)
  • Cristine K.

    I've heard folks rave about this place and I don't get it. It's a decent sushi place but definitely more on the expensive end. BYOB is an added bonus. Cozy atmosphere that's good for smaller groups or a date.

    (3)
  • jiman ..

    OK, what's up with the lost-in-space cooling system? Food aside, this machine is out of the past and doesn't cool the place anyway. They need to loose it and get better ac in the joint! Anyway, hoses aside... the food is awesome. Haven't missed on the menu yet. The maki rolls are big and tasty - pick your favorites from the long list of options. Service is great and its an easy BYOB to bring your fav libation. (Crazy, Ommera and Spicy Shrimp are must haves.) They loose a star for it being warm in the restaurant.

    (4)
  • Melissa T.

    This is my little secret place for sushi & maki rolls! I love it- delivery, carry out and dine in (byob). The rolls are excellant and the presentation is cute and simple, price is VERY reasonable. I highly recommend the tuna- avocado salad to start your meal- fresh, light and tasty! It's my go-to place for a good weekday get together with friends...get the FIRE DROP roll!

    (4)
  • Robin C.

    I really love Furaibo! It's small and not your typical trendy sushi place but it's cozy and the quality of rolls are up there. The rolls are delicious; there are a lot of funky, unique rolls that you would pay double for at other sushi places. BYOB - a couple bottles of wine always makes for a fun time. Insiders tip: Not sure if they openly tell people this, but they have a daily free appetizer that you can ask for when you dine in. Every time we've gone in to eat at the restaurant, we've asked them for it and they give it to you gratis - sometimes it's fried rice, sometimes dumplings! It's like a mixed grab bag at a party. Only better. Come here for a laid back, delcious, nice on your wallet time to get your sushi on.

    (4)
  • Kristy B.

    Great Sushi at an average price, the best part, it isn't over crowded and is sort of hidden. Although it is on Lincoln, the word hasn't quite spread about this tucked away little sushi place. The best part, BYOB. If calling in orders make sure you speak clearly and loudly, sometimes communication is difficult. They only made a mistake on one carry-out order, but they corrected the mistake once we called back. Bonus, free appetizer of the day on call-in orders over $15, with a coupon from their menu.

    (4)
  • Sean K.

    I'd give this place a 3.5 if possible, but it isn't, so I'll round up to four. Because I'm a nice guy like that. I've ordered out from Cafe Furaibo before, and I'm always impressed with the freshness of their ingredients. I'm also impressed with the creativity of their maki. A personal favorite- the calamari tempura ginger maki. The calamari is always fried to perfection, and the ginger adds flavor, and just a little bite. Over the weekend, I actually went to Cafe Furaibo for the first time ever. The food was good, the service was good, and the overall experience was, you guessed it, pretty darned good. So why not more points? Well, it isn't like they're re-inventing the wheel here. The food is good, but not mindblowing. The restaurant itself is quaint, but it's not a place you'll be telling other people stories about. Overall, as I said earlier, a 3.5.

    (4)
  • Stacie K.

    I want to give this place more stars, but my boyfriend's "Hibachi Steak" sucked. It was tasteless, boring, and came with french fries?!?! The sushi, however, was phenomenal, even though they goofed on my order (I ordered a tuna maki, they gave me a spicy tuna maki). The service was great.. our server was attentive and kept my water glass filled. It was dead, though, which made me worry! Just a nice spot to go to have a good conversation with someone.

    (3)
  • Deirdre L.

    This place was alright. It certainly didn't give me the same warm fuzzy in my belly that many other reviewers received. 1stly, the place is outright stark. Decor and lighting is terrible. The tables were way too small for 4 people, and, people, that industrial carpeting is disgusting. There is a way to be cheap, minimal and cool and let me tell you, this place doesn't pull it off. 2ndly, our waitress (I suspect the same blonde other reviewers mentioned) was lackluster. At moments she acted as though we were a horrible inconvenience. Granted, she did seem quite busy with calls for take-out, but she came across as irritable and short and lacked the attentiveness of a good server. 3rdly the food. Was just ok. I can't say that anything was particularly bad, but it wasn't outstanding either. I tried the green monster, just to shake things up a bit, and it was alright and different from most rolls I have had, but it didn't rock my world. I also got the Fire Drop on the waitress' recommendation. Did -not- like it. My friends seemed to enjoy it enough, but there were no 'omg this is so good' reactions. The consensus seemed to be that it was ok. Just ok. I felt it was little more than mere sustenance. Also, last year I ordered delivery from this place. After 90 minutes and no food and being jerked around on the phone that the driver was 'right there' 'any minute' for another 20 minutes - I canceled the order. This place has a long way to go.

    (2)
  • Laura W.

    Quite possibly the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. I didn't know you could overcook edamame but apparently Cafe Furaibo does it well. I also didn't know it took over an hour to serve miso soup, but I learned that at Cafe Furaibo too. It got so bad and we waited so long for our food that we encouraged others to save themselves and leave before it was too late. And it wasn't just our table that received terrible service- a table next to ours had one person's entree served and then waited over 20 minutes for the rest of their meals to arrive. But that's ok because Cafe Furaibo really made it up to us when our bill came- they generously took off our miso soups at a whopping $1 each and all two drinks we had, another $1 each. It was insulting and needless to say, I will never go back to this place and would encourage others to do the same.

    (1)
  • Kara H.

    a few friends and I tried cafe furaibo after is was highly reccomended. I have to admit - I was a bit disapointed. there wasn't much atmosphere and the service was awful. we came in with a bottle of wine. we sat for about 15 minutes before our server walked past our table and tossed a cork screw at us. wtf? the menu was creative and there were alot of choices.. but the sushi was just okay.

    (2)
  • Conrad J.

    I was really just looking for a cell phone store in the area that a guy pointed out to me (I passed it without knowing twice) but it turned out that my stomach was turning from hunger. I saw this place, never went, and then I went. Nobody was really there at 6pm on a Thursday, but that's ok. I saw the menu, which wasn't that extensive, so I asked the waitress for some Tako (octopus) and some Masago (roe of something). She asked the chef and he said that he'd make it for me. Rock and roll. I had that, some Unagi (eel), and some specialty roll that they had. Average prices, like $5-$9 a roll, but it was really fresh in comparison to other places I've been to. The ginger was really sharp, and the octopus was flavor country. Slightly slow on the service later on when more people (2 more) showed up, but my food was already eaten. Anyway, I'd come again, but probably not often only because I'd rather be making my own food anyway. So, it's a winner.

    (4)
  • Molly L.

    After I heard Stephanie Izard name Furaibo as one of her favorite sushi spots in the city, I thought I would check it out. Turns out it is just around the block from my new apartment. Perfect! I have been twice and both times ordered a few of the more interesting roles - if that is your style, then this sushi is for you. They of course have a full list of nigiri and traditional roles, but Furaibo does an excellent job at getting creative. I can't even remember which ones we liked the best, but the one topped with mango was really yummy. And don't forget it's BYOB, which is always a plus.

    (4)
  • Tiffany L.

    Been there a few times since I lived down the street and always had a great time. Sometimes you may be waiting for a while (not as fun when it's freezing outside) but the food is good, atmosphere good and very reasonably priced! Definitely give this place a shot. I'd go more often if I could but I moved so I can't just walk there anymore!!

    (4)
  • Ande L.

    Ok, this was my first sushi experience so it's hard to be a real judge. But what I had was delicious and definitely makes me want to become a sushi connoisseur. I highly recommend the house roll, furaibo. We also had the OC which was pretty tasty and the firedrop, which was spicy and delicious. The miso soup was great. Nice and light. And same with the seafood salad. Not crowded at all on a Wednesday night and our server was great. She was able to recommend just the right amount of food for our party of 3.

    (4)
  • Eric _.

    I've been here a couple times. And found that the sushi is definitely up to par. The service is up to standard. And Ive never had to wait to be seated. The rainbow roll is my personal favorite.

    (4)
  • Carolyn S.

    OK- so we went back on a Saturday night with a reservation for a group of 7. We brought about 7 bottles of wine becasue we were expecting to wait forever for our food. HOLY SCHNIKIES! The service was great and our food came out pretty quickly! Everything was excellent; I guess they fixed their slow service glitch. I am definatly going to make this a regular spot!!

    (4)
  • Jim P.

    I live nearby and the food here is consistently good and fresh. The owner is always there and works the phones. If you do takeout on the weekend be prepared for a longer lead time than on a Monday or Tuesday.

    (5)
  • Paul C.

    My sister and I used to live right next to Furaibo the summer it opened. We used to go there all the time and probably kept it afloat during the opening months when no one seemed to know about this hidden gem. This place has great quality sushi. The chef is creative and really puts together some beautiful entrees. It's BYOB and unlike other sushi places of this caliber, it's actually reasonably priced. It's a great undiscovered hideaway and welcome change from the trendy sushi places downtown. My one complaint is the service tends to be very slow, but if you have time on your hands and want to enjoy a hidden Chicago gem, check this place out for sure

    (5)
  • Carisa A.

    I've often seen driven by Cafe Furaibo and had been wanting to give it a try. It looks like the kind of cute, hole-in-the-wall place that would serve up a great meal at a fair price. Unfortunately it was not! There was only one server taking care of the entire place and she was definitely doing the best she could, but we waited at least a half hour just to put our order in and then at least another hour before any food showed up. The service was forgivable; however, the substandard quality of the fish was not. We ordered the sushi combo (nigiri and sashimi) and the chirashi. The tuna was an unnatural bright pink, rather than a deep red, and both it and the salmon had a mushy, unappetizing texture. My chirashi was a messy hodgepodge of items not normally served in that dish--it basically looked the the chef just took out anything he could find and threw it in there. In all fairness to the roll lovers out there, we did not order any rolls. The quality and freshness of the fish aren't as noticeable when it's being mixed up with mayo and spicy sauce. I have to say that I was surprised by all of the positive reviews for this place. I wanted to like it, but serving poor quality food is just inexcusable in my book. Better alternatives for around the same price and with a sizable roll selection would be Toro or Mastuya. And for the best quality sushi in town, though it's definitely a splurge, you have to try Katsu.

    (1)
  • D F.

    (this is a cross-post from my other review for this same restaurant that appears under a different category). Having lived in NY, LA, and Japan, I consider myself a bit of a Japanese cuisine aficionado (read snob). Chicago is not exactly a haven for Japanese food from my limited experience, but Furaibo is excellent. I would give it 4 stars for the food, and I am bumping it up to 5 for the value and service/ambience. Here's what my fiance and I shared: Seaweed salad--better than average Miso Soup--average Gyoza--EXCELLENT Agedashi Tofu--Excellent Spicy Tuna Roll--Excellent Rainbow Roll--Excellent Salmon Teriyaki--EXCELLENT We were there late on a Sunday night, so there were only a couple other groups there. The owner was our server, and she was very attentive and friendly. Overall, I would highly recommend this place for anyone looking for excellent Japanese food in the $20/person range. (our tab was 47 plus tip, but we ordered a lot).

    (5)
  • Ariel B.

    We love Furaibo. The service can be slow, the food is worth it. We love the fire drop roll especially, I could eat those for days. We also like the ommera and rockn' eel rolls. Who am I kidding, I don't think there is one thing on the sushi menu I don't like.

    (5)
  • Jolie R.

    I went with my boychild and his then-girlfriend to Furaibo's when it first opened a few years ago and loved the place! It's small, which doesn't bother me, we didn't have to wait for a table and we had the most fantastic meal, recommended by my girlchild and her husband who were constant eaters there so much they got to know the owner pretty well. We tried it again a few weeks ago for a family b-day and the service, food and atmosphere were just as wonderful as the first time we tried it. EVERYTHING we ordered was fresh, tasty and eye-appealing. Price was great for the quality and quantity we had. We will be back again! For groups over 4, call ahead for reservations so they can accommodate you. Otherwise, there will be a wait - but it's sure worth it - 5 Yums!

    (5)
  • Collin J.

    Solid sushi. BYOB! The Fire Drop and Crazy rolls are good good good.

    (4)
  • Britta M.

    This is my favorite sushi place in chicago. Great rolls, BYOB and a good atmosphere. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is because the service can be a little slow sometimes. Otherwise, fantastic!

    (4)
  • joanne y.

    We discovered this place when there were no other sushi restaurants opened (at least the ones we wanted to go to). For some reason, many asian restaurants are closed on Mondays. Weird. Even when we were the only ones there, the service was a bit slow. Not annoyingly slow as someone has commented but too slow for not being busy. They have makis that I have never even heard of which is good because it forced me to try something new. I ordered the "rockn' eel" maki and it was rockin'. I've never had a maki with cilantro in it and i loved it. We also ordered a salad with wasabi cream dressing. It was made from fresh ingredients and delicious. The only real gripe that I have is that the miso soup is not included with the maki. I just think that miso soup should be included with sushi/maki. Call me crazy. I will come here again if I am hankering to try something new and because the prices were not so bad.

    (3)
  • Adrienne M.

    Went last night with my roomate. We are both addicted to sushi and have been trying new places. The prices were very good and it's BYOB. We had the Red Typhoon roll, yummy but pretty spicy. We also had the OC roll which was good too. I will def go back, they had such a creative list of rolls that I can't wait to try!

    (3)
  • Mike M.

    Cafe Furaibo is a diamond in the rough. Sushiphiles may scoff at Furaibo's maki-centric menu, but they cannot deny the unique flavors that each roll brings to the table. From the deep-fried goodness of the Peachy roll, to the flavor explosion that is the Firedrop. Come hungry and with a full bottle of wine. It might take a while to get your roll from the kitchen to the table, but the reward is what keeps me coming back.

    (4)
  • Scott B.

    Great little place. Definitely focuses on specialty rolls, of which they have a huge variety. I try something new every time and I've yet to be disappointed. My non-traditional recommendation: Peachy roll, the whole thing is deep fried and its delicious.

    (5)
  • Gretchen V.

    Cafe Furaibo is hands-down my favorite place for sushi. It is definitely not a "see and be seen" place, but it has yummy, fresh sushi (both sashimi and maki) at an amazingly reasonable price. It's also BYOB, which is always a plus. The service can be a bit unpredictable, but if you have a bottle or two of wine - who cares? My favorites are the salmon and white tuna sashimi/nigiri, and as for maki - Firedrop, Crazy, and Donny. I should caveat this review by saying that if you are a sushi purist, you're probably not going to like this place. If you go, you absolutely have to order some of the fusion maki or else you'll miss out.

    (5)
  • Jane N.

    We discovered Cafe Furaibo in 2008 when we moved to Chicago and it's still a consistently good choice for carryout or dine-in. Love the BYOB option and the casual atmosphere. Owner, Omme, is a gem! Best items on the menu are the Ebi Shumai, Carribean Secret roll and OC roll.

    (4)
  • Kat B.

    I love this place. The sushi is delicious, and the setting is small and quiet. So, there's always good service. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.

    (5)
  • Lina V.

    I've been walking past this place for over a year now and finally I've decided to try it! And I wish I had tried this place out sooner! Or maybe I was just a little weirded out that it was right next to this dingy looking car wash. We had great service from the minute we walked in and the minute we left. Our food came out pretty fast. Those rolls were ready for us by the time we were finished with the miso soup and edamame. The miso soup is delicioius. The edamame didn't have a load of salt on it like most places put on. The 4 rolls I had were all nicely arranged on this big plate. The service was quick to refill our water which I like because that means their attentive. 2 misos, edamame, and 4 rolls to about $35 between 2 people? Pretty good, I think so. I will be returning!

    (5)
  • Will G.

    I use to live down the street from this little spot and definately miss it. One story: Two years ago, my girlfriend and I both had surgery right around New Years Eve. We called Furiabo on Dec 31st and asked if they could possibly have a table for us. They said they could put something together and then prepared us a fantastic meal. It was a perfect way to spend NYE on crutches. When you are instead looking for a more relaxed sushi meal and a BYOB spot that is happy to keep your beer cold than this is the spot. Very maki-focused but excellent value and very fresh fish. Wish their delivery zone reached up to Lincoln square.

    (4)
  • Melanie B.

    this place was terrible. the setting is kinda cute, the service was OK, but the food was not good. to start off if you get Nigiri here please be advised they do not serve fresh fish. it tasted like it had just been thawed and was soggy and chewy. the rolls were not made correctly either, the rice was all wrong and the rolls were tiny. the miso soup was very salty-very UN miso like and very unhealthy which is not what miso is supposed to be. but the worst part about all of this was the price, this place is way too expensive for their sushi. don't waste your time or money if you are looking for authentic good sushi.

    (1)
  • Fran K.

    This is my favorite place to eat in all of Lakeview! If you can make it in for lunch, you will get the best tasting sushi for such a cheap price. You can get 3 maki rolls and miso for $10. Seriously, where else can you get that? Nowhere! Since I live in the area, I probably have eaten at this place almost 100 times, if not more. NEVER had a bad experience. I have had almost every roll on the menu and they are all good! Bring a bottle of wine and you are set!

    (5)
  • Dee W.

    A hidden secret - wonderful service, creative rolls & maki - try their Firedrop roll - BYOB and great prices, too!

    (4)
  • Sophie L.

    Do not judge a book by its cover. I used to live in the neighborhood and was confused by the car wash sign next to the front entrance. I wish I would have started going there sooner. The sushi is awesome, one of the best in the city. I highly recommend the Carribean Secret, my all time favorite roll. I've never had to wait for a table and service has always been on point. The only negative thing I've experienced is that appetizers usually take a long time. A couple of times I've gotten edamame at the same time my rolls came.

    (4)
  • Elisabeth A.

    I'm really surprised this place is not more popular. Every time I've been, it's been fairly empty but the food has always been fantastic. They mainly do rolls, and they like to stuff them with things that have been deep-fried and doused in sweet and spicy sauces and smeared with cream cheese. YUM. Not a place for sushi purists, but my unrefined American palate loves it. The portions are huge--3 different rolls are enough to stuff a person to the point of pain.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Cafe Furaibo Sushi

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