Tricia Mia P.

My friend & I went to snap some pictures by The Bean and Art Institute...and then we had this BAD sushi craving...So we stepped into Hot Woks. It was a pleasant surprise when we opened the menu and prices weren't out of this world (for being on Michigan Ave). The quality of it was great also. Oh and they have awesome Thai Iced Tea and Coffee. Definitely go back when I am in the area.

Marc B.

We were pleasantly surprised when we ducked in here on a frigid cold early February afternoon. We began with some sushi which was fresh and tasty. I ordered the Panang Curry which was enough for two. My wife ordered a bento box with tempura and some simple California rolls. The curry was medium hot and wonderful. Service was a little slow, but friendly. Prices were very reasonable -- we'll be back!

Daniel K.

Don't order takeout from them. Food was bad. They forgot my order so I had to wait almost a hour and a half to get my food. Then they screwed it up somehow and so I was charged $37, but only have $27 on the receipt. Bad food, worse customer service.

Andrew V.

Bleah. Nearly everyone with whom I was dining did not enjoy their respective meals. I should have sensed that lousiness awaited when it appeared we had been seated in the "no-server section". Heck, I should have anticipated as much when the menu stated that one of the dishes in the Thai section used Italian sausage as a primary ingredient. Started with the spring rolls. Maybe I'm crazy but I'm used to spring rolls not overloaded with cream cheese, instead concentrating on the vegetables and/or meat, and with the sauce on the side rather than drowning the rolls like Augustus Gloop tackling a plate of waffles with maple syrup. After a bite, nobody could stomach another piece. Neither the Thai or sushi dishes were a big hit with the group. My nigiri salmon (from the Sushi Silver plate) was so tasty after a couple chews I made sure to share the remainder with my napkin. Maybe we caught them on an off night. But the Thai menu is nowhere in the realm of a Sticky Rice or Spoon and the sushi half left much to be desired. Not gonna be back.

Kate S.

This is my preferred locale for sushi downtown. They always do very well--I *love* the mega vega roll, it is wonderful. The Michigan Ave location is very convenient and the patio is nice in the summer. It is more of a quick lunch or dinner place.

Audre L.

Solid spot - the pad khee mao rice noodles are SUPER WIDE. Really fun to eat.

Jes C.

1. Worst spring rolls EVER... Its like they rolled it in paper towels 2. The Tuna avacado salad was nothing to brag about 3. The Spider and the Tempura shirmp was blahhhhh...1st and last time I eat there.... :'(

Kato t.

A very stylish and hip modern looking restaurant for it's interior design and you really feel like your dining deep in downtown, so that' helps for a fancy atmosphere but it is the food that I found delightful at the sushi bar. The Chef's you know have been doing it for a long time and know what taste's great. I very much enjoyed the food and the environment.

Josh S.

This is pretty much going to be exactly opposite the review of Oysy. The atmosphere was amazing and beautifully setup, you honestly feel like you're in a Japanese sushi bar. The tables are closely sat together the ordering style is simple and service is fast. Now the food is not bad by any means just not spectacular. I would give the food a 3 and atmosphere a 5 hence the 4 star rating.

Deirdre M.

Mmmm yum!! During our first week in Chicago, the roomies and I were in down in Millennium Park and in the mood for sushi, luckily this place was right across the street. We sat outside for some awesome people watching. I got some noodles with chicken, and the roomies got a california roll and the caterpillar roll. The sushi was really good, nice and fresh. The noodles were okay, some of them were a little bit raw, but the chicken was really good. My only complaint would be that the tables were a little bit small to fit all of the food we ordered and the service was a little slow. I would go back to their other locations.

rosa r.

So i guess i can start by saying if your having a craving for sushi and your hanging out at millennium park this is a really convenient place. It right across the street. I went w/ my 2 daughters and boyfriend. The sushi good, we had the assorted pieces and dragon roll and the spider roll. My kids had shrimp in lobster sauce it was okay. I would go back, whenever i go back to the park i wouldn't go out of my way.

Shannon H.

I ate here the other day for lunch on my way to the Art Institute and I have to say that the food here is very good. I loved my food, and I can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes. The prices were also pretty good seeing as how its right on Michigan Ave across from Millenium Park :)

Joe B.

Finally got to try Portage Park's best (only?) sushi restaurant tonight, and will definitely be going back! Nothing absolutely incredible about the place, but a solid 3 star, don't-have-to-travel-far-from-my-house-to-get-­decent-sushi restaurant. Love the comfortable atmosphere--we got to eat upstairs which was a nice open room in what is basically the attic of an old house. They did a great job with the renovation of the building, and everything is modern and clean. BYOB is a delight always--just wish I would have stopped somewhere other than the 7-Eleven on Addison and Pulaski...but oh, well. All of the rolls were extremely fresh and tasty. We had the Mount Fuji, which comes piled high with a Japanese Flag on top (nice touch.) The tempura Asparagus, different than anything I had ever had before and worth the 3.95. The Harujuku which was fantastic with the addition of the cilantro--what a flavor combo! The Salmon skin roll--perfectly crispy and sweet to the finish. Yum. Try the "Unconventional Egg Rolls"--essentially your traditional eggroll, but with the swap of Italian Sausage for the usually bland pork meat you find in other places. Sounds weird, I know, but actually really fantastic. The Panang noodles were the best in town, creamy, spicy, and the perfect amount of fresh basil. My only complaint was the "signature house specialty"--the Hot Woks Noodles. It wasn't a bad dish, per se, but it certainly wasn't something I would put my name on, either. Everything else had a certain flair, and a nice mixture of cultural elements to it, but I found the Hot Woks noodles just fell short. Not every dish can be a winner, I suppose. Solid. Affordable. Yummy.

Stephanie L.

The service was prompt, but not friendly. I split an order of untraditional egg rolls and General Taos Chicken with my dining mate. It was good, but having never had this dish, I had no means of comparison. My dining mate said it was great and compared it to PF Changs...probably the reason I thought it was just okay. The lunch portion was large enough to split, which made the cost bearable. The egg rolls had a ground up mess inside of them, which was different, but not necessarily bad. I wasn't sold on this place, but it was decent.

Anat K.

We ordered a $90 dinner for 4pp. The size of the dishes was really disappointing. The tuna salad costs 7.75 and it was just few greens and 4 pieces of tuna. The rolls were ok, nothing exciting. Bottom line: nice food but pricy for what you get

Lauren P.

been here a few times now, and in my opinion, the wok is better than the roll (ba dump cha!) on the menu you'll find thai, chinese and japanese fare. my only "must order" item is crab rangoon -- HWCS is easily in my top three chicago 'goon-er spots. order it, you won't regret it. the noodle & rice dishes boast huge portions at reasonable prices - surprising considering the location. fresh and flavorful too. as for the sushi, it's just meh. the fish seemed fairly fresh, but we were highly suspicious about our philly roll -- it looked like it was pre-made, and had been sitting for awhile. that's something i would expect from a grocery store, not a restaurant. ears down. when it comes to booze, they have a nice list of beers and sake - specialty drinks too. no complaints about the service. like betty s. mentioned, this place is seriously a meat locker! bring a sweater if you get cold easily. overall: sushi: 2 stars noodles: 4 stars crab rangoon & music (top 40 songs sung lounge-style:) 5 stars

Jenn S.

I went here for lunch and I think this place is great if you're looking for quick sushi that isn't bad. Its not the best, but for lunch by Millennium Park, it will do. The decor is nice and clean. Nothing too crazy or over the top. The staff was also very friendly. The menu is extensive and includes both Thai and sushi. I didn't try any of the Thai dishes so I can't comment on them. I did try the petite egg rolls (which are 6 or 7 miniature rolls), the rainbow roll, and two pieces of namasake. The egg rolls were ok. Nothing spectacular. The rainbow roll was made rather small. It still included the typical 8 pieces, but the thickness of the roll itself could have been bigger. It had more rice than the other ingredients combined. However, I did notice that the tuna was very fresh. Usually sushi places that are on the "cheaper" side have overly fatty tuna, but not here (so far at least). The namasake was good, but again, not something to make me a frequent customer. I would go back to try the Thai dishes and maybe for the sushi (if I'm absolutely craving it and can't make it to any other part of the city). Don't go there expecting Sushi Wabi or Rise quality or you're only disappointing yourself. Its just good, quick, lunchtime quality sushi.

Lindsey G.

Terrible delivery! 1. The "crunchy" spicy tuna roll was soggy and had very little taste, let alone spice. I was also slightly warm because they mixed the warm and cold items in the bag 2. the edemame was luke warm and came with no seasoning at all....not even salt 3. the crab rangoon was just wierd and not good 4. the shrimp and unagi tasted weird after being slightly warmed. no chopsticks or napkins either. I almost wanna call and ask for my money back, terrible.

Corinne G.

IMPRESSED! Much better than my last visit under the name "My Thai." I love the menu, the space, and the way that the food seems to come flying at you as it is ready. I had the out-of-the-ordinary eggroll appetizer, and panang noodles that come with miso soup. The soup came first, then the eggrolls appeared, and just as I was finishing the eggrolls, the noodles arrived. Perfect spacing. The eggrolls were incredible, as were the dipping sauces. The miso soup was fine, the panang noodles were dynamite. Service was quick and friendly. I also love the location, across from Millennium Park. It was a great place to stop and eat before a dance performance at the Harris Theater.

kat c.

So during our loong Tuesday evening walk, we decided to stop for some delish sushi and noodles. I can't complain about the entrees we ordered. It was very good. First to start off with tuna avocado salad which has vinagerette taste appeal to it, next was follow Harajuki roll, and the best noodle is Pad Kee Mao. However, the Pad kee Mao could have used a little more meat. I would only go back for 1/2 price sake bottle and its convenience. Otherwise, I rather check out another. Service was so so and they didn't smile. It appears they might be stressed!

Sa A.

Great place to go, great food and service..

Ingrid R.

Great food. Great service. Six of us came in at luinchtime. The pklace was very busy and we were told 15-20 minutes for a table. Within that time-frame we were seated. We were given water and menus straight away and our order was taken quickly. The food is good. I love me some Sushi and Thai!

TW S.

I was visiting Chicago on a whirl wind visit and was recommended to make sure to check this place out. I really enjoyed the meal, the staff and the atmosphere. I thought that the spring rolls were particularly unique with Italian sausage. I would certainly recommend checking it out.

Mary F.

We did rolls and I had warm saki (a little sweet). A good, light meal before an event at the Art Institute. Next time we'll avoid the caterpilar roll - the little red eggs were hard to eat without spilling them. We like the rainbow roll.

Maybelyn L.

Sashimi was so-so. Hot wok noodle special was too sweet. Beef bento box was super delicious. But service was terrible!!!waitress was extremely rude and the reason is because tip is included in charges,they do not work for it. Would not go back to this place.

Hoang L.

I'll come here for lunch only because there aren't many sushi and Thai options available and it's between where my cousin and I work. The decor has definitely improved, but the portions of food needs some work. Last time I was there, it was too cold inside that I had to keep my jacket on.

Lila G.

We went for the 3-maki lunch special on a weekday. Excellent maki! For once a sushi place that doesn't try to screw their customers out of a good portion of fish! Also I'm a huge fish snob and this place was very impressive. The spicy salmon was huge, more salmon than rice in fact. Delicious too, very smooth and rich. The spicy tuna was good, also a ton of fish with just the right amount of rice. The Alaskan was good too, but not as nice as the other two. I highly recommend this place, we'll be going here again for sure.

Thomas B.

We keep coming back to Hot Woks Cool Sushi because they always get it right! We recently ordered delivery from here and were not disappointed. The food arrived in half the time we expected and prior to their estimate! Couple that with the excellent preparation of their signature rolls and you've got an outstanding dining experience. We've also dined in at the facility on Michigan Avenue on a number of occasions with groups large and small. The service and food preparation has been consistently excellent and without fault. This one's a winner!

Eric G.

Based on other reviews on this place, I was a bit nervous that the sushi would be crap or taste like supermarket sushi. It wasn't. It wasn't fantastic, but it was definitely good. I got a Sushi Silver lunch special which was 5 pieces of sushi and a spicy tuna roll. It was supposed to come with a miso soup but they forgot it. Yeah, the service pretty much sucked throughout my meal. But, the food was decent for the price. Good quick lunch.

Zach C.

Had a craving for Sushi while here on business. Yelped this place and decided to go since it was close to my Hotel. Since I'm from Los Angeles I know good Sushi. This place was excellent. Sat at the bar and talked to a couple of the Chefs. One in particular was very helpful and friendly. He even made a custom roll on the house! That's rare especially since I was a first time customer! But like all good Sushi places, they are richly rewarded when they treat their customers well. Would go back without hesitation. Yum!

Tonia O.

Decent Sushi. Nice atmosphere. Not too hard on the pocket. Fresh and Friendly. I say this is a nice place to stop in during lunch and grab a bite to eat! Especially love the Avacado Maki.

Zak S.

Food quality was amazing, but service was lacking. We were 5 at the table and the miso was excellent. I ordered Salmon Sashimi. It was fresh and tasty. Everyone at the table ordered somethign different, sushi rolls, entrees and vegetarian. They messed up the veggie option, but fixed it rather quickly. I'd go back for some good sushi, but there has to be a place with better service. The decor is also lacking and the prices are rather high.

Terris A.

Do you want REALLY good sushi NOW? Come to this location, you won't be disappointed. I have ordered with them so many times and they have my order done within 15 minutes every time. The staff are friendly, the sushi is good. Their signature rolls are creative and YUUUUUMY.

yolanda y.

I walked by this place several times before finally trying it on a recent trip to Chicago (I live in the San Francisco Bay area). Anyplace with the word "sushi" automatically catches my eye. I just wish I had tried it earlier in my trip so I could have eaten here more than once! Totally 5 star. If this restaurant was near my house, I'd be here all the time. Let me list the reasons why: 1. Harujuku roll is my new favorite sushi roll!! Totally delicious and totally different, with a small sliver of jalapeno and a bit of cilantro with yellowtail, seared albacore, and orange and black tobikko covering the roll. I wasn't so sure the jalapeno/cilantro would work as well with sushi as with mexican food, but it was way better than I would have imagined! Since I live in California, my only complaint is that I'll have to try to replicate it myself to have it again, since I live more than 2000 miles away from the restaurant! 2. A restaurant where I can order tom yum soup with my sushi? Yes, that's as good as it gets! And having the option of ordering pad see ewe (one of my favorite thai noodle dishes) or panang curry just makes it even better. 3. I eat a lot of sushi and there is plenty to choose from around San Francisco. I've gotten to be kind of picky about my sushi. The rolls I got here (harujuku roll, and negi hamachi roll) were fresh and delicious. Even though I've read some other reviews on yelp that were less happy with the sushi, I can only say that my sushi rolls were great. 4. I didn't actually eat in the restaurant, but got take-out and brought it back to my hotel room. A fair amount of the take-out packaging was biodegradable greenware! That totally scored points with me. It actually makes me a little bit sad that this restaurant is so far away from where I live! Ah well. I will just have to wait until the next time I make it to Chicago to eat here again.

Lori L.

I visited this restaurant on Thursday for lunch. The service was prompt and our ood arrived quickly. They have a great lunch menu with prices from 7.95-9.95. You can choose from a list of appetizers and entrees to create a lunch for 7.95 or opt for a bento box combo as I did. It started with miso soup and then the box which contained a california roll, shrimp/vegetable tempura(!), generous amount of cucumber salad, teriyaki chicken and a side of jasmine rice. A lot of food but very light and fresh. My friend had Pad Thai and crab ragoon, both items were good but nothing out of the ordinary. A very good bargain for the price.

Angela D.

The food is always delicious and they send a little tub of their mango pudding to try with delivery. If you're dining in, the restaurant itself is adorable and the staff is great.

Anna K.

Very fresh, good sushi, some inventive rolls, just a bit short of 5 stars.

Rich K.

The portions were way too small. The basic flavors in a normal dish of basil chicken were not there. No heat in the dish. I left hungry.

Mandy G.

My husband and I have recently become sushi fans after a trip to California. The spider roll and the California roll here at Hot Woks Cool Sushi could easily stand up against the ones of California. Cant wait to get back.

Betty S.

I have been here twice with co-workers. This place first off is a bit cold. I know it's hot outside, but it doesn't need to be a freezer inside. I have gotten sushi each time-the one with the sweet potato. It's was good, but nothing special.

Anna Z.

I have gone here more than a dozen times and I have never been disappointed. Even their delivered sushi is great! Their staff is always very nice and organized, even on busy days. I have never been unhappy with my food. I have ordered bento boxes, as well as philly, alaskan, sweet potato, and other rolls. Their Thai Iced Coffee is great as well. Reading the negative views kind of amazes me.. I have never had a negative experience here. I really recommend going to Hot Woks for dinner.

Mishka A.

I heart this place! One of my fav places to dine for lunch. They have chicken bento boxes for $10 (beef slightly more) and sushi maki roll lunch specials for $12. The place is always packed so make a reservation. It's right across the street from millennium park, cute urban decor, speedy service. I think it went under new management / makeover a few years ago and has been amazing ever since! Highly recommend it. $20 for 2 people, and you'll walk out of there stumbling. Plenty of yummy asian cuisine to fill you up.

Kathryn D.

This used to be a restaurant called My Thai, and they really improved the place in the "renovating" of it. The decor, menu, and even service have improved immensely since the last time I went. The place was very crowded, but it was noon on a Tuesday. I had a Bento box, which was a lot of food. The beef was good as was the rice, but I wasn't fond of the fried shrimp and vegetables. The California rolls were also fresh, but rather small which was alright since I had ordered an appetizer. They were also out of mango pudding, which was disappointing.

R T.

Best panang curry I've ever had. Loop spot is cute, I love the big wall hanging with a saying about culture. Service is great, servers are helpful and price it right. Sushi is good, too. They don't stay open very late for dinner, but would be a great early spot for eating outdoors and people-watching on Michigan Avenue.

Elizabeth W.

I'm only a sushi novice, but it's what I wanted for lunch, and I was in the Loop, so naturally I ended up here because there aren't that many places to eat in the Loop. I thought it was pretty good. My husband and I wandered in just before lunch time, so we got seated and served pretty promptly. It seemed like the place was getting busier the longer we were there, but our service didn't really slow down that much. We sat in the front of the restaurant right by the window. It was a fun place to people watch because it's Michigan Ave, there are tons of people. We had three orders of Maki: tempura shrimp, Philly, and Alaskan. They were all pretty good to me. I liked to the shrimp the best. Like I said I'm no sushi expert, but I think I'd know if it was bad.

Chanita S.

Flavorless Woks Average Sushi? I wrote a review for this restaurant earlier during the year but for their other location in Portage Park around where I live. When I first started working in the South Loop, every lunch break I'd explore places where I could rest my belly and stumbled across Hot Woks Cool Sushi on Michigan Ave. right across from Millenium Park. I didn't even know that they had a second location as I had only eaten at their other one where I had a better experience at. After months of hesitation to try out this location, I finally gave in after my co-worker had informed me that they have an awesome lunch special where 3 rolls of sushi will only cost my wallet $12. I said, hell fuckin' yes. Who could possibly pass up on that deal? I went in and was greeted right away. Saw the lady owner who is always beyond friendly and chatty--she was an instant mood lifter. I really do love her. I immediately got sat and was handed the talk-of-the-town lunch menu. All in all I wasn't too impressed. The 3 rolls for $12 sushi consisted of typical rolls--nothing special. I debated between getting that or the bento box, and opted for the latter one which basically consisted of beef teriyaki and mushrooms, wasabi salad, 3 pieces of sushi, and tempura veggies. Everything came in very small portions which didn't leave me anything to brag about. The bento box option comes with a complimentary miso soup that was as bland as the teriyaki beef. I had to add so much soy sauce to it. If it weren't for the fact that they have good customer service and the owner is one of the nicest people I have ever met, I would have given this place 1.5-2 stars.

Mark S.

Meh. The sushi was 4 stars, but appetizer was only 2 -- too syrupy on the sauce. Service was 2-3 stars.

Cathy B.

Not great, but doesn't make me want to run screaming, or slap someone silly, either. I work one block away from this place, and so find myself there for work-related lunches about once a month. Everyone raved about the curry, so I have tried the curry. It comes out drenched - DRENCHED - in sauce. Sure, it's delicious! (Delicious in a way that Tater Tots are also delicious, but not necessarily tasty.) But, that's because it's drenched in curry-paste infused coconut milk. Does any one human need 14.5 ounces of coconut milk in one serving? For lunch? I'm thinking it's not the healthiest of choices, but that is also why it tastes so good. Today, I steered clear of the curry and tried their cashew chicken, with the chicken replaced with tofu. Nothing special here, folks. And, in fact, several mistakes were made -- including, cashews that were past their prime, and 2 pieces of chicken in my tofu dish. But, it was also not offensive. They do a good job on presentation and the service is friendly and fast. They also don't screw you too much on the price, especially considering their location. But, if you're looking for quality (or for atmosphere), this is not the place.

Kiki A.

This place gave me and my best friend AWFUL FOOD POISONING!! I ate the tempura udon and my friend ate veggie sushi. Some time after we ate, we started feeling sick. Then later that night, I had terrible diarrhea and then threw up for 3 hours straight. The next morning, I was too sick to eat anything. Knocked me out for an entire weekend. My friend had the same experience. This place sucks, I'm never coming back again. I've talked to some other people who have experienced the same thing from this restaurant, so I know my friend and I aren't the only ones. Don't eat there.

Jennifer F.

This place surprised me. Being in a very touristy area, as well as being a small chain, I've never had a particular inclination to stop in. But I was at the art institute with some friends when hunger struck, and someone insisted on Hot Woks because it's proximity. Ugh. Ok, fine. We'll go. I guess. The interior of the restaurant is very clean and dark, but other than that, entirely forgettable. However, we were seated promptly and waited on immediately. Whenever I try a new sushi place, I always order spicy tuna and a salmon skin roll. I don't know why, but those are my standards for determining if I like a place. I suppose because there are so many ways both of those rolls could go wrong. The tuna could not be spicy at all, it could be oily, it could have that tartare texture; and the salmon skin could be soggy. And either of them could be rolled poorly. However, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised. Salmon skin was crispy. Tuna was spicy. The wasabi was hot. And the ginger was white. All good things. The only reason I was somewhat displeased was because of the texture of the tuna--I hate when it feels like someone has chewed up my tuna and put it into a roll. If only they had kept it a little bit chunkier... I don't know what I would make a point to go back, but I suppose if I was REALLY craving sushi and I happened to be at the Art Institute, I might consider it.

Ted K.

On my quest to sample every local restaurant, I chose this restaurant as a half-way point for meeting up with a friend for lunch. It was busy, but not crowded and the service was quick - all good signs for lunch in the city on a weekday. They had a 2 and 3 roll lunch special, so I opted for the 2 roll with Spicy Tuna and Unagi Cucumber rolls. Both were highly scrumptious. The rice was properly cooked (sticky but not mushy), the fish was fresh and flavorful and they were on the ready with Sriracha on the side (by request). The green tea was a very lovely addition on a blistering Chicago winter day. I'm looking forward to trying their sashimi (the true test of a sushi restaurant) and their Thai Iced Tea and Coffee. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that for me, a sushi place has to really blow me away and provide a deeply profound culinary experience to meet that level. That being said, everything was delicious, the service was excellent and the pricing was very reasonable. While Hot Wok Cool Sushi wasn't mind blowing, it was very solid and will definitely find a place in my regular rotion of loop/Streeterville eateries.

Christopher L.

My friend and I were a little hesitant to eat Asian food in Chicago and it ended up being not such a good idea =[ spring rolls were weird because it's sliced like sushi and over dressed with sauce. The mongolian noodles were not really noodles at all, it just has deep fried rice noodle as garnish on top, but comes with rice instead. The Akira roll was the only decent thing, but even then, it was just OK. I would not return.

Ariana C.

Ahhhhhhhmmmaaaazzzziiiinnnngggg! Mega Vega roll.

Kevin K.

Not the cheapest Chinese place you'll ever go to, but not bad considering it is right across the street from millennium park. Got a huge serving of general tso's and rice for around $10. Wasn't the best general tso's I've ever had, but it was still pretty good. I'd definitely recommend it if you're in the area.

Tracy T.

Super fast delivery, great presentation and great taste. Sushi was delicious and packaged well.

Tuyen T.

My supervisor and coworker took me out to lunch here on my last day - we were expecting to go to My Thai, but the new owners bought them out (and I happen to know the new owners too! small world) They still have some of the Thai dishes because the same cooks are there. They just added the sushi part. We got the chicken satay as an appetizer as well as the Obama-nami (of course who could pass that up right?) to share. Chicken satay was good, their peanut sauce is great. The Obama-nami was about $13 and wasn't that special - avocado, spicy salmon, and sprinkled roe. Oh and an American flag... I could almost hear Hail to the Chief playing in the background..... They have a lunch special menu, so I got the chicken teriyaki bento box (~$9) Not bad for potato salad, tempura, california roll, and chicken teriyaki. My supervisor got the salmon teriyaki bento box (which is not a lunch special, but it's about $13?) and my coworker got the beef teriyaki (~$10 for lunch special) Cons: It gets REALLY loud in here. And our server was pretty slow. (just the little things ... like lemon and extra sauce took a while for him to bring out, but at least he didn't forget it)

Sarah H.

Horrible layout for the restaurant. Food is alright. Fairly cheap, which is nice. The food takes forever to make. Ever been to Joy Yees? Pad Thai should take less than 5 minutes to come out. It took us 20 minutes to get our food and we even told them 3 times we needed it ASAP. Not enough waitstaff. Asked three different waiters for boxes. In the end I went up to the register to make sure they gave us our check quickly. The lighting is terrible, it's very dark. Food is mediocre, but the pricing is alright.

Elly M.

For the price - this place is great for lunch if you crave Asian food. The sushi rolls are HUGE - 12 pieces! The chicken wings appetizer was delicious.

Jen B.

I wasn't blown away by Hot Woks, but it gets points for being a solid lunch option in the otherwise desolate sushi wasteland that is the Loop. I split about a dozen rolls with 5 coworkers and it seemed like the right amount of food. The megavega and the akira were both really good - not mindblowing but good flavors and texture. I also liked the simple philly roll and the salmon and tuna sashimi. The plain fish is decent; not the biggest or prettiest cuts but tasted fresh. I wanted to get the sashimi silver platter but didn't want to upset the roll-happy group, so I will probably be back for that. I am also excited to come back with my dog and kick it on the patio.

Matthew S.

3 and half stars This was the second time I went to Hot Woks and I think I could have ordered something better. I asked the waitress what was the spiciest chicken dish they had and she suggested the cashew chicken. It was bland and didn't have hardly any spice. I think this place is better for their Sushi options. The service was quick and they did a great job of keeping all 8 of our waters full. When I come back I will order their sushi. I found out that they still had the Fukudome roll on the menu still. Shouldn't that roll be in Cleveland now?

Renee E.

In between shopping and the Modern Wing, there was hunger. And that hunger was begging for Thai. Never having been here before, but under the advice of my companion, this was a non-fancy but functional Thai restaurant. When we got to Hot Wok, my companion realized this was not at all the same restaurant that used to inhabit the space...Sushi? Huh? But, loving both sushi and Thai and having the option to choose one or the other seemed particularly appealing. After a quick browse of the menu, we went with Thai. I got the Pad Khee Mao with tofu, the way I always do and my companion got the Panang Chicken and because our eyes were so much bigger than our stomachs, we split an order of Spring Rolls. I don't recall ever having cream cheese in a spring roll before, but I guess there's a first time for everything...they weren't bad, I just would've preferred none. My Pad Khee Mao had oodles of tofu, which made me happy. I tested the Panang sauce, which was nice and thick and flavorful. Then, after working our way into a Thai food coma, we waddled slowly to the Modern Wing. Since it's only a few blocks from work, I might consider popping in for lunch some time to check out the sushi.

Sophie A.

::::***Crunch***::: What the....is that a large piece of jagged hard plastic in my soup?!? Why, Yes! The staff quickly took the food away and removed the item from my bill, but the shock of biting down on some hard plastic has surely scared me away from this place....I'm just glad it was a big enough piece for me to notice....

Elizabeth C.

If you like sushi, this is not good sushi. (Also, after messing up our order, they brought us the "correct" roll - but it was 90% rice, with barely any fish inside. Maybe as a punishment for having to redo an order that they themselves had messed up? Anyway, a pretty unsatisfactory experience.)

Linda K.

Ive been here a couple of times. The pad se ew is very flavorful. Ive also had a couple of the sushi rolls, but the rainbow roll is my favorite. And the lychee martini is soo good!

Kelly O.

Thank you again Yelp for helping me find a good sushi delivery place when I'm in need. I checked into my hotel (The Silversmith Hotel) and their room service is closed on Sunday night (not sure how I feel about that, but I digress) so I checked the reviews here and ordered online. I got my order delivered in 30 minutes- packed very well- including hot tea and soups! The spicy tuna roll- as others reviewed here, is good and SPICIER than most! LOVED! miso soup is a big serving (to-go) and the green tea is good. I got the dragon roll too- good, not spectacular but good. Overall, I'd say this is a GOOD sushi place. Not dreamy but heck, it delivers and it's quality. I'd use them again for sure.

Tim W.

So far the best sushi I've found in the area. (Not that I've found a lot either.) I dined here in early October, and found everything to be great, and I'll be sure to come back again. I had the untraditional egg rolls and two sushi rolls, a dragon and a rainbow. I figured I'd go more mainstream to help me benchmark the product. The untraditional egg rolls were good. I liked having the peanut sauce, but it conflicted with the sweet and sour and wasabi mayo sauces served with the rolls. I think I'd rather not have the peanut sauce in the rolls, and that is saying a lot for me!! Both sushi roll were very good. They weren't the best I've had, and I've had far worse. I'd like to say that there must be better in the area (I'm on foot, staying in downtown, so I'm not going too far), but this is the best I've found so far.

Beth A.

whooooooooooooooa...i tried sushi (mega vega!!!) it was a veggie deal with ginger and avocado and sweet potatoes? i dunno i cant find it on their online menu but umm yea...someone may need to take me on a date here so i can have it again...YUM!!!

Suzanne V.

I am a sushi fanatic, and this place didn't disappoint. The place is a lot bigger inside than it seems, and the service was quick. My sushi was fresh and delicious. Not much more to say about this place other than order the dragon roll!

Deon C.

Visited here twice with friends within a week and absolutely enjoyed it. Had the pad see-ewe and the California maki on the first visit and then switched out the California roll out for the shrimp tempura on the second visit. On the second visit the pad see-ewe was a bit salty, but still enjoyable. Both times we arrived at about 1:30 and were seated immediately. After being seated we had some of the most friendly customer service I've ever experienced, as well as some of the speediest service. In the end we didn't spend much more than $30 all together. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys Thai or Japanese.

Susie C.

My boyfriend and I came here during our lunch hour. The prices for the sushi lunch menu was a good deal! We ordered few rolls from the lunch menu along with some of their signature rolls. Sushi is decent but I love paying the price I did. The atmosphere is pretty hip. We found few of our neighbor's paintings hung on the wall. Service was quick - although we went around 1:30pm so there weren't that many people there but it was on Michigan AVe right across from Millennium Park so it is expected to be busy. I like it!

Peter T.

Came here after craving sushi on a Saturday night. The restaurant wasn't full, but wasn't empty either. My friend and I were seated instantly, which was great. We only had the sushi rolls, so I can't speak for anything else, but the rolls were good and didn't take too long to get here. We had single-piece sushi/sashimi, which was $2.25 a piece (unagi and seared white tuna). Pricey for one piece, but it was very good. Perhaps not worth $2.25, but I don't feel ripped off either. The dragon roll, crispy (crunchy?) spicy tuna roll was good and not really spicy, and the caterpillar roll were all very good. The dragon roll was especially good, and I'd recommend it to others. Our bill came out to $20 a person, and if it weren't for the 2 single-piece orders, it would have been $16, which is a great price for such good sushi. I wouldn't rate this 5 stars, because the service was a bit lacking (but only a bit), and I've had better sushi for the same price. I'd still definitely recommend this place to others though.

Rachelle G.

Pretty good for sushi in the loop. I haven't dined in but carried out instead. They were quick. Rolls are good but nothing out of this world. I will say that their chunks of avocado are huge compared to the fish. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Vanitha S.

I veered away from my typical tofu pad kee mao dish that I get whenever I come out for thai and tried Firecracker shrimp the second time. Bad choice. The shrimp was literally soaked in some kind of sweet and sour sauce and it was too overpowering for me. I wouldn't write off coming back here though as the pad kee mao that I did try the first time was delicious and a pretty big heaping of it too for a great price. The location is great, service friendly and some pretty cute ambiance in there.

Sandra D.

Their food is good, prices are high.

Val B.

So, the name is really lame, and it's not the most authentic place on the planet - but damn, this is fast and tasty delivery. Granted, they're about 2 blocks from me so the delivery guy probably strolls it over, but it's amazing to get sushi delivered in what feels like less time than it takes to order at a restaurant. I almost always order a dragon roll and spicy tuna. The spicy tuna is actually spicy, and the dragon roll is super tasty. Also, miso soup is like $2, and hits the spot when you need something warm. Whenever I start to get annoyed with the spread-outed-ness of the city, or nastiness of the subway, I remind myself that I live in a real city, the kind that has sushi delivery, and that makes me happy.

R D.

The low rating is for the lack of quality, quantity while being grossly over priced at the same time. I've been here at least once every other month with coworkers because of their cravings for the bento boxes. Tonight, I had a taste for the salad that comes with the bento boxes so I called to see if I could purchase that by itself. The lady on the phone assured me that their house salad was exactly the salad in the bento but it has lychee on top. Seeing that the price was $6.95 for a salad, I assumed it would be a decent size. NOT so! When I opened my salad, it was the equivalent to the side salad in the bento box. There were less than a handful of spinach leaves with a sprinkle of chow mein noodles and dried cranberries. Along with the small mixture, there were maybe 5 half pieces of cheap canned lychee. The whole salad took less than $1.20 to make (being VERY generous with my estimates) and yet they charge $6.95. The worse part was that the "dressing" didn't even match the one in the bento box. It was just syrup from the canned lychee. I really thought they had made a mistake so I called them to verify. What the lady told me was...."Yes. The salad is supposed to be very small.....like a side salad." After that, I didn't see a point in arguing that the quality and taste didn't match the one in the bento box either. Unfortunately, I also ordered a California roll for $5.95. The quality and price matched what you would find in the basement food court of Macy's or your local grocery store BUT they give you two rolls. I find sushi from those places VERY UNAPPEALING. So would I come back to eat horrible quality food at the high end sushi prices? No thanks. Just in case you were wondering....my little side salad and 6 pieces of bad sushi cost $13.70. On top of everything else, I'm starting to feel a little queasy with some abdominal pain. I hope I don't get sick from this meal because I purposefully picked "safe to eat while pregnant" foods. I think next time, I'll walk a couple more blocks and go to Osaka Express...my other coworkers like them better anyway.

Hutch P.

Quirky name; but upscale interior. friendly light vibe. Ordered Gyoza, a Craft beer, and Akira roll. Sushi was sensational. delicious and perfect play with textures. fantastic

J. K.

I used to love running into this place to grab a nice, fresh sushi roll and be on my way. However, the last time I was here, I got hard, old so-called Rainbow sushi roll, which in all reality was a glob of hard rice stuffed with cucumbers, and paper thin and super small pieces of fish on top. I think all ingredients must have set in the fridge for way too long, it was just not fresh and falling apart as it used to be. It stuck in my throat and would not digest. Disappointed.

hsueh y.

We ordered crab rangoon and they were tasty. Then we ordered 3 sushi rolls and they're the worst sushi I have had for a long time. They were very heavy on the rice and the rice were on the mushy side. That made the sushi texture caky. At the same time the rolls were poorly made that they fell apart easily. The flavor profile were mediocre at best. Go for the Thai food if you have to go there.

Huan z.

Quick service and cheap lunch! Right on Michigan ave and close to the Millennium park. I ordered a Teriyaki chicken lunch box. Lunch box includes soup, sushi, rice, chicken, veggie and fried vege and shrimp. A lot of food for little money. Most food are well made and delicious.

Changman X.

It is a OK place for me.Ok flavor,and price is acceptable.And salmon rice is good.Worth trying.

Wei H.

Can't say I am a fan overall because my friend and I only had their Japanese cuisine but I am definitely going back for lunch! The location on Michigan Ave is right across from the Millenium park so if you sit outside the view is fabulous. Lunch specials have can't be beat prices - bento boxes: beef around $10 and chicken around $9. And they are GOOD and COMPLETE bento boxes with at least 5 pieces of tempura veggies/shrimp, three california rolls, the meat, a small salad and a miso soup. My carnivore friend, which eats a lot, said that it was a very filling lunch. I had the two maki rolls special and chose Smoked Salmon and Unagi cucumber. The salmon was OK, very smoked and salty and a bit too chewy. The Unagi on the other hand won my heart. It was not as complicated as many other special rolls you get at other sushi places but the amount of sauce and flavors were just enough for a light lunch on a summer day. For only around $12, I got 12 sushi and walked away with a full stomach :) Service was what you would expect on a weekday in the Loop. Our waiter seemed to really want us to get done early although there were still available tables in the restaurant... It wasn't such a big deal though as our dining experience overall was very pleasant. Highly recommended for a quick lunch if you work in downtown or when you want to get energized before hitting all the stores on Michigan Ave.

D. T.

Over the last 30+ years that I have lived in Chicago, restaurants serving/delivering just plain delicious Asian cuisine i.e. Chinese, Japanese, Thai etc. have slowly disappeared. The simple, clean, fresh food that we used to get from our local Chinese take out. Fresh turned into battered, fried, canned vegetables packed into containers of tasteless entrees floating in grease. Rice you could use for caulk and appetizers that were only edible at 3:00am after a long night on the town. Okay, you get what I'm talking about. My first delivery from Hot Woks Michigan Ave location and I'm in heaven! Easy online ordering, fast delivery and absolutely clean, fresh, delicious food. I ordered a lot and it's getting cold so I can't give you a detailed run down, just know you won't be disappointed.

Melinda K.

I would love to give Hot Woks 5 stars, but the fact that they never give you enough rice to go with the Panang Curry and they charge $2 for a small bowl of rice. The food is delicious, but the overpriced rice really ruined it for me. Also, the sushi is just OK. I would stick with their entree dishes, which are usually quite excellent, except for the fact they don't give you enough rice on the side for a huge curry dish.

Jessica L.

Hot Woks Cool Sushi is one of my reliable lunch spots in the loop. It is actually located right across the street from Millennium Park and very close to the Art Institute as well. They serve a variety of Thai and Chinese dishes along with a selection of Sushi. I have tried their California Roll which is just fine - fresh and cold - the way it should be. I have also had their veggie rolls which are quite refreshing on a hot summer day. However, I am not a huge sushi person and I mainly stick to the Thai and Chinese dishes on their menu. Here is a summary of the dishes I order most often: Cashew Chicken - hard to go wrong here: Bell Peppers, Pineapple, Cashews, Chicken in a tasty sauce. I always order it "Extra Spicy" as I like it to have a bit of a kick. I often will add some of the hot sauce to this as well just to give it that extra umph! Garlic Chicken - do you like Baby Corn?? I know I do, and this is chock full of those delectable young corns. The sauce is a light brown color and it isn't as "Garlicky" as one might think based on the name. This is not a spicy dish at all but is tasty nonetheless. It also comes garnished with fresh, lightly steamed broccoli. Hot Woks Fried Rice - this might be my favorite. It is a spicy basil fried rice complete with Italian sausage and pineapples. Because of my love for spice, I always order this extra spicy as well and will also add some of their hot sauce to make it extra delicious in my mouth of fire. Panang Curry - Great for a cold winter day. This is a curry dish served in a rich coconut gravy with chicken, bell peppers, carrots and basil leaves. Very filling - enough to share! Note, it does get crowded at lunch time and they would not take a reservation for a group smaller than 4 - so keep this in mind when going. They do have a small outdoor patio section which is lovely for people watching. You can order take out online and every 5th order you place online, you get $5 off - a very nice perk.

Christy L.

Me and my friend went to there for dinner, the food is not so good and the service is so terrible ,her name is vivien lee. I konw someing about sushi, cause i worked in sushi resaurant also, i order a tom yum soup, it's too salty and sour,the chicken tastes like rotten(i order this many times in another place ),cause i don't want to be a picky customer so i try to drink some,but this is i never have the most salty soup. The service said:''do u want some hot water with it? what?? i said u can take it away ....... she lookes like impatient and never takecare us.when i asking change for twenty she give me all singles and tone really rude said this is all we have,and put it on the table. Anyway, the sushi is ok,but the service is too bad,i think i will never come again.

B L.

You know, I like this place. The appetizers were good, the meal I had was good. The servers were nice. I really like the desserts a lot. Check it out for a nice time. Expect Michigan Avenue prices.

Susan F.

Cheap and has an outdoor patio. Good lunch specials and typical asian cuisine. Pad thai was really good, but not spicy at all--might want to have options on how spicy to make it, just a suggestion. Sushi looked good and fresh, perhaps I will try it at a later time. Noodles took a long while to come out, not sure if it was super busy, but everyone else's sushi came out super fast. Waiter also forgot to bring spicy sauce, but oh well, what can ya do?

Cecilia T.

I always pass this Michigan Ave eatery but I assumed it would be very commercialized and not great/overly priced Japanese Restaurant. I was pleasantly suprised! First of all, it's Asian Fusion so it has Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Food. The atmosphere is modern and creative right down to the cute citrus colored placemats! I ordered the Tempura Udon and thought it was a good deal!. The dish was low cost and came with several pieces of tempera shrimp and veggies. My husband's dish was especially good - a basic chinese stir fry but the meat was cooked tender and the flavor was just right - not too salty or bland. Definitely will be coming back here for casual asian dining!

Nicky J.

If you know good Thai food don't bother. However, the service was good and the outdoor seating was comfortable. Food was just average and the Mai Tai I ordered tasted like cheap liquor. The filling in the "untraditional" egg roll had an odd mushy texture. My boyfriend's HOT WOKS noodles came with soggy spinach noodles (not authentic Thai) and lacked any real flavor. Ingredients in the Obama-nami sushi roll were fresh and presented a nice flavor combination but the pieces were so large it was hard to eat. I appreciate the value in having a large sushi roll but it is nice to be able to taste the flavors in each individual bite rather than have it fall apart. The decor is fun and the service is good so as long as you stick to the basics the food might be OK.

Corina M.

Excellent - great lunch specials, lots of yummy food for the price. Stef had sushi, i had the bento box special, both were very good and we were STUFFED. Close to downtown hotels and kitty-corner from the Art Institute, if you're visiting town. Lots of people there for lunch, but they move them through pretty smoothly. Nice atmosphere, comfy little tables. And extra thanks to the diner who came up to let me know my skirt was in disarray and helped me straighten it out before I left the restaurant - Chicagoans rule! ;)

Fausto I.

Service is terrible. Tried to substitute the California roll in the bento box with something else. Waiter said he needed to ask the chef if it was ok to substitute. The chef said it was fine. But then 5 minutes later, the waiter comes back and says the manager disallowed the substitution. Great strategy dude, you saved your dollar of margin but guaranteed that I will never come back again. Had to take the chopsticks from another table (they didn't bring us any). The plate they brought me was dirty. And I don't mean like a little spot. I mean DIRTY. I told the waiter and I'm pretty sure he just want back and tried to wipe down the same plate and give it back to me. I ended up just taking a new plate from another table. Gets an extra star because the food was ok.

Kevin D.

Sit outside! It's beautiful in the summer! Good sushi as well and not that expensive!

Takelya W.

I'm primarily commenting on the Thai Ice Tea. The sushi is good, too, but I am a sucker for a good glass of that creamy goodness -- that's what she said. I highly suggest the Thai Ice Tea to all. It'll run you about $3 but it's well worth it and the size is pretty reasonable.

Anthony S.

Like others have commented, I avoided this place just based on the outside appearance, but when The Gage had an hour wait I decided to check it out as a back-up. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to a very modern looking establishment with a genial atmosphere and plenty of people (the most important detail of all). My expectations had now been lifted by the surprising aesthetics of the inside, so now I was ready to delve into the menu. The pricing for dinner time seemed more or less on par with most sushi places. Expect to pay around $6-$8 for maki and $11 or more for their special rolls. I started off with Miso soup to begin, it's usually a safe bet too, which it was. For my sushi I ordered one maki (Spicy Tuna) and one special roll (Oceano). The spicy tuna was very typical of most sushi places, although I'd say this one was perhaps a tad bit spicier than what I'm used to, but nevertheless not bad. For the Oceano I had higher expectations, but was ultimately disappointed. I really really REALLY like cilantro, which is one of the reasons I ordered this roll, sadly the combination of white tuna, cilantro and (I believe?) octopus was completely drowned out by the dallop of their spicy mayonnaise concoction planted just to the side of the sushi and the sushi by itself wasn't particularly flavorful either. Still, I've had worse. I probably won't be rushing back here soon, but if I'm in the area and have no patience it's an acceptable plan B.

Jackie P.

Four stars seems sufficient since there are only so many decent places to eat in the loop. You'd think that since the loop is a hustling during the week someone would catch on and do something about it. I mean I can only eat at Potbelly's or Corner Bakery so many times before I'd rather poke my eyes out with a spork. Because of this I've graduated to taking my lunch to work almost everyday. Besides it is healthier for you. However, there is the rare occasion that I do go out for lunch. Hot Woks was a surprising find and one that I"m very glad about. Those who know me know I'm a sushi whore and the sushi here is pretty darn good. It's really nothing special but it's good. The rolls are solid and filled with yummy goodness, the waitstaff is quick and for the most part on top of things. Also the prices are decent for the area. That's the other bad thing about lunch in the loop. It's hard to find a decent meal for under $10 and most days I don't want to spend more than that. on lunch. Occasionally though I'll splurge and if I do I want good food. Drop in and order some sushi but if you do call me, email me, text me, whatever so that I can join you.

Kevin And Gerlynne C.

We loved it! We went to the Michigan Ave. location. It is a busy area, but if you can wait, go! It perfectly satisfied our Asian food craving after walking around. Even though it was busy, we were seated right away.There were three of us and we had ordered: Spicy Tuna Roll, Salmon Skin Roll, Pepper Steak (spicy), Rama Chicken, and Seared Ahi. It was all delicious. We are coming back for more!

Katie M.

I was really surprised to find out how affordable this place is. Being on Michigan Avenue near the museum and the CSO, I had anticipated an over-priced meal. I'd say they're right on par with the rest of the pan-asian-fusion places all over the city. I liked that the menu had some of the old-faithful sort of foods (pad see eiw, etc.), but also had some interesting twists like italian sausage in the spring rolls and spinach noodles in the hot wok noodle. Okay, so the place didn't wow my pants off by any means, but I was delighted to find an affordable asian place within walking distance of my main hang out, so I don't have to head way up north or way down south to get some decent noodles at a reasonable price.

Gin Y.

So, my sister and I came here for dinner after an event, and were pleasantly surprised with their food. For appetizers, the gyoza and tom yum soup were great. Both had great flavor. The soup can be split between 2 or 3 people. Love the lemongrass aroma and taste! The spicy tuna sushi was also pretty good. As for our entree, we had a great waiter who told us the best option. My sis initially wanted to order their house noodle dish, but the waiter suggested Pad Kee Mao, which was right on. It was definitely a flavorful dish. I had the Pad Thai, dish, which was still pretty good. I must say, I think I detected a hint of ketchup in their sauce. It was a little sweeter than most Pad Thais I've tried. And I like mine a little more on the sour side. Overall, given the location, this place is great when you need your Thai and Sushi food fix! I will come back here again.

Allison E.

So there are only so many decent food options in the Loop. I was in the park and got hungry and this place just happened to be right there. They have a varied menu. More Pan Asian then just sushi. My dining companion had a couple of the veggie rolls which he seemed to enjoy. I decided to go all cheesy and political and get the Obama roll, which even came out with a little American flag. The roll was tasty. I didn't totally love the contents. It seemed a bit heavy and mushy fillings and light on the fish and veggies. I even got one piece that seemed to be filled almost entirely with spicy mayo. Still, I suspect this just means I ought to try something else. I was continually frustrated with my roll as it was not exactly rolled tightly and I could barely get a piece into my mouth without having it fall apart. I even managed to have one disintegrate completely, dropping into my dish of soy sauce. Not the most dignified way to eat dinner, especially on date! Fortunately my date appeared to be more amused by my struggle then horrified so it all worked out in the end. The restaurant itself is cute. Warm inviting decor, and a lot bigger then it looks from the street. Our service was great and the bill didn't break the bank. Overall, I was solidly satisfied, if a bit underwhelmed. I may find myself here again, but I have sushi spots I love more.

Laura W.

Nothing beats HWCS for lunchtime! I work on the same block as them and I never ate there when it was the old My Thai. But now that the restaurant has been remodeled with nicer tables, chairs, and decor it's a much better environment to eat in. I have been here so much over the past two months, the servers and managers recognize me and my lunch pals and greet us with smiles and hellos. I used to get the bento box special but decided to branch out. My new obsession is the Udon Tempura. Their udon soup is the best I have had in a long time. It is served in a giant piping hot bowl with a large side of shrimp, broccoli, zucchini, and sweet potato tempura. All for $8.50! The pieces of sushi/sashimi are also very tasty. I usually order 1-2 to tide me over before the udon arrives. The best part about HWCS is that on Tuesday nights they have half off all sake bottles. My friend and I stopped in there the first night they had the special to learn about sake. I don't know much and the server was fairly knowledgeable in the different kinds and shared her recommendations. We ended up getting two bottles and split an appetizer. I had a hard time making my way home on the train after dinner but it was worth it.

Jessica S.

It's not often that a maki roll blows me away anymore. Hence, why I stick to Kyoto and a few other local LP spots for sushi because I know what's good there and I don't like to waste money on average overpriced rolls. But last night, dinner with a friend who goes to Roosevelt brought us to HWCS and I have to say...the Fukudome roll is superb. Not only is gigantic (10 very large pieces) but it was such a treat for my taste buds. Yes, it's American, overstuffed, and nothing traditional but damn does it taste good. Minus one star, however, for serving sodas out of cans and kicking us out before 10. This is Chicago - aren't you supposed to be open later than that?!

Nancy H.

This trendy little place right on Michigan Ave didn't look to me like sushi was really their specialty since there was a lot of other asian food on the menu also. Turns out I was right. The SUSHI was nothing special, nothing impressive. Also, I have never seen a smaller spider roll in my entire life! The spider must be shy or something and hiding in the rice because that was a pretty sad looking spider roll. I also ordered the AVOCADO-TUNA SASHIMI SALAD which popped out of the kitchen immediately. It was very small so I regretted choosing it UNTIL i tried it and really enjoyed the flavor of the dressing and the fresh tuna! Delish. If I ever go back, I'd like to try the Hot Wok Noodles (green noodles!) which looked kind of tasty.

C P.

Amazing chicken fried rice and good service.

R A.

Had panang curry. It was delicious spicy, sweet and rich flavored. Large portions and all for under $10. Wasn't expecting such a good deal in downtown Chicago!

Leslie P.

We stumbled upon this place on Friday night after being told it was a 90 minute wait at Gage. This place looks a little cheesy from the outside, but we were starving and decided to take our chances. It was well worth it. The interior decor looked great and not cheesy at all like it's exterior. We started with edamame and crab rangoon. The crab rangoon was very good, but the edamame was sub-par. I think it was overcooked; it was kind of gummy. I tried a couple of tuna maki rolls, which were very delicious. Although the edamame left something to be desired, we enjoyed the rest of our meal very much. I'll definitely be back and may just try one of the other locations.

Dustin H.

Great lunchtime sushi place... great $10 special for two rolls.

Tania H.

This was not bad at all I would say... I did walk by a few times, but honestly the name and logo felt like cheap asian cuisine.. but then the reviews here encouraged me to give it a try. I had the edamame and a couple of rolls Akira and Alaskan, the portions were large and i left half of it behind... Everything tasted fresh, the rolls were flavorful although the menu for that could have been a little more original... I would go back try something else..

Lauren K.

I love an Asian restaurant open in the loop on the weekends and past 5pm on weekdays. I also love one that serves beer and cocktails. Oh, and well, yummy food of course. The good part: They will substitute any meat for tofu if you want! There is a large sushi menu as well. It's very cute inside, and larger than you would expect. Friendly staff. Check it out!

Sara M.

Went to dinner here the other night w/some friends & eh...wasn't amazing and wasn't disgusting. Just so-so. I got the Alaskan Roll which was actually pretty good & the spider roll which was the opposite.... the miso soup was also pretty good but then again, if you mess that up you seriously should not be in business. I'd give it another try if someone recommended it but that's about it.

Uyen D.

I've walked by this place a gazillion times and have completely dismissed it. Judging a book by its cover, I thought this place would be totally Americanized and no good. Come this last Friday night, when I was looking for ANY food after Lady Gaga at Lollapalooza. Luckily we were one of the earlier groups to arrive and snag a table. I was quite impressed and surprised at how large this place was! There were 5 of us but it seemed we ordered enough for 10. No idea we would get so much food for each of the portions. Miso soup Tom Yum soup - huge portion! Easily shared between 3 Penang noodles - yummy coconut-y flavor Pad Kee Mao - delicious - so authentic Spicy scallop roll - not spicy Spider roll - good staple Alaska roll - too much fake crab Akira - yum mega roll Tempura udon - huge portion as well, yum A great place at a great location to get your asian food fix with very decent authenticity. Open late - what a plus.

Amanda C.

Went here for lunch and got the bento box- SUCH A GREAT DEAL! It is $8.95 for the chicken teriyaki and comes with miso soup, a coleslaw salad, 3 California roll pieces, a bowl of rice, and shrimp and vegetable tempura. I couldn't even eat it all! I have been before for sushi at night- they have a good variety of specialty rolls. The service today was excellent; the staff were very attentive and the boxes came out very quickly. If you are going during prime lunchtime, make a reservation because there was a line.

Jim L.

Boy what a disappointment. I ordered a spicy scallop role and got a plain roll with scallop and avocado with tiny dot of spicy mayo on the plate. I asked for extra spicy mayo for that and again for very plain imitation crab California role and WAS CHARGED AN EXTRA DOLLAR. How cheap. I got the salmon terriyaki Bento box. Instead a nice piece of grilled salmon I got some mush of sauce with flecks of mushrooms and salmon. The staff was courteous but cold

Desiree Anne A.

HWCS has variety of pan Asian dishes. I had the hot wok noodles and I thought it was pretty good. It was a mix of chicken and shrimp in this creamy peanut sauce and green noodle (don't know what kind of noodle) It was interesting and the portion was about right. This place is packed during the lunch hour and very loud and a little dim. Great location on Michigan Ave.

Gayatri D.

They have a good sushi and maki selection. The asparagus and tempura maki is delicious. My husband absolutely loved his penang noodles too. But... I couldn't finish my 'Vegetarian Delight' and so I took it home. And I found a bone in it!! IF I ever go back, I'll stick to the sushi and maki

Jims L.

THANK YOU Asian restaurant in the Loop, on Michigan Ave, that is open on the weekends, and past 5:00 PM on the weekdays. Your better than average Thai, Chinese (what are they, anyway?) selections at really great prices. THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOU.

Tara M.

A great option for Thai or sushi in the loop! Their panang curry is awesome, and their rice is perfectly sticky. The sushi is good, particularly for the Loop. I would never rave about it, but it's all relative. Their lunch specials could use some work, but I'm not really a lunch special girl anyway. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is cute--clean, fairly modern, and I LOVE the orange napkins! My only gripe: I live less than a mile north and they don't deliver to me. I'm hoping/assuming that this will change in the future but for now I'm pretty bitter about it.

Shayna N.

We chose this down town sushi spot for a pre-theater meal. The service was very attentive and prompt. Sushi was average. Namasake nigiri was kinda chewy Hamachi was fishy tasting The spider roll was good. Miso was fine. I did't like it enough to return

Amit K.

I've never felt the need to actually write a Yelp review from the venue, but today's experience certainly warranted one. This is the 3rd time I've been here. The first two times the food was ok at best, but today's order of sashimi was a big mistake. First off, it's literally impossible to get a greeting from anyone that works there...at least more than a nod of the head. Now let's get to the sashimi. This was the thinnest slice of sashimi I have EVER seen. The salmon was so thin, it looked like a garnish. The tuna certainly did not taste fresh, and if I had to guess, I would say it was at least 1-2 days old. While I understand sashimi is not supposed to completely fill your appetite, I never thought I'd be leaving a restaurant hungrier than when I entered. $20 for the sashimi gold platter was a complete waste of money. I've given this restaurant 3 chances...I'm done. Overall, indifferent service and poor plate size is the best way to describe this venue.

Shanti N.

Have been frequenting this place since it was My Thai. During a lull on Friday evening when I was in to pick up takeout, the owner's wife mentioned that they bought out this particular location of My Thai (though the other outposts are still intact, I believe). To their credit, the new owners have made some capital improvements (lighting, upgraded bar seating, etc.) to up the overall ambiance, thus making it better suited to the location. I have been here twice, so far, and have found the sushi fresh and inventive. The Sushi Silver, especially, is a steal.

Susan C.

There aren't a lot of sushi options in the East Loop area, so I thought I'd give this a try, given the 4-star reviews on Yelp. Maybe their other food is good, but the sushi I had was mediocre at best. And the service wasn't good either. My friend and I arrived at 11:50 to beat the lunch rush, which we thought we did. There were only 2 other full tables where we were seated, in an area with about 20 tables total. I ordered the Silver Sushi Lunch special, which came with miso soup, assorted sashimi (tuna, salmon, yellow tail, shrimp, unagi), and a spicy tuna maki roll (you could also get a California roll). The miso soup came 30 minutes after we ordered, with an acknowledgment from our waiter about 2 minutes prior that it was taking so long. We'd tried to catch his attention many times throughout that half hour, as tables around us - seated after us - were receiving their food. 10 minutes after the miso came, we received another apology about the wait, and the waiter asked if he could bring the entrees separately, to which we said yes because we never thought our food would come. I received my sashimi and maki, which I shared with my friend who still hadn't received anything. The maki was orange mush, unrecognizable as spicy tuna, poorly rolled in boring rice. Most of the sashimi were not good. Sure, they looked the part, but they were mostly fishy and rubbery, the yellowtail being the only exception. 5 minutes later she received her pad see ewe with tofu. She said it was fine, but had it wrapped up after taking a few bites because she had to rush back to work for a meeting. In total we waited 45 minutes for our food, which honestly should have taken no more than 10 minutes, especially since we ordered before the rush. And while our waiter was eventually apologetic, we received no offer of a discount or to have anything taken off the bill. Given the awful wait time and poor quality sushi, I probably won't be back. While there aren't many places in the Loop to get sushi or Thai food, I will certainly choose one of those over Hot Woks Cool Sushi.

Jasmine C.

It's lunch hour or maybe you have two hours before your next class. You work or go to school in the Loop, and you know exactly what it feels like to feel this way. Cosi, Potbelly, Under 55, Caffe Baci, Subway... they're so.... so... SO last Tuesday. You think to yourself, "Mmm, it's sushi time." Well, I've got news for you. Sushi is never outstanding in the Loop. I don't care what anybody tries to tell you; believe me. Decent, edible, and just okay is the best downtown can do when it comes to sushi. This place is no different. The spicy tuna maki was good enough for my sushi fix, but really, that's all it's good for. Nothing to write home about. I do appreciate being able to have both sushi and a nicely sized bowl of perfectly sour tom yum soup in one sitting, though.

Annie W.

Hot Woks always makes me happy! The downtown location is just as good (if not as convenient) as the Iriving Park location. Love it!

Nadina D.

yay! Finally a thai/sushi place in the loop. My friend and I went here for lunch. They have great sushi combos and bento boxes for lunch ($9-$13). Noodles dishes avg. $7 - $8. I had the pad see ewe with tofu, super white tuna creamy roll and my friend had the chicken teriyaki bento. Good all around! The bento box looked amazing except they only have beef and chicken options - no veggie :( The bento box includes a wasabi potato salad, tempura, maki, miso soup, and the teriyaki. alot of food. This space was formerly My Thai, the new owners have revamped the space with new paint and decor - much appreciated. The food came out fast - so great place if you need to make it in and out for lunch hour. Overall, i give this place 5 stars relative to the options in the loop. Nothing mind blowing, but definitely above average for the neighborhood. I will update when i have tried their specialty maki...it sounded good!

Chris K.

I've dined here several times in the last few years and have always enjoyed it. I think the food is great, the drinks are always tasty, and I enjoy relaxing with friends & family in a cool part of the city.

Y B.

I've been a fan of hot woks since my beauty school days from their northside location @ Irving Park/Pulaski. Not all their dishes are great, some are so-so, but I will rate the fukodome roll and their bento boxes...def try. Husband and I enjoy it here and with our kids occasionally.

Lourdes A.

This was one of the most blah dining experiences I've had in a long time. I had the General Tao Chicken and the batter was rather flavorless as was the entire dish. The atmosphere and the service were mediocre as was my whole dining experience. One good thing was that the service was quick, which was good because this is not a place that inspires you to linger.

Angela J.

Great lunch bento box special. Lots of food and very reasonably priced. Nothing spectacular or memorable though, but a good place if you're looking for a non-sandwich lunch.

Emily B.

I stumbled upon this place after a long day of walking around the art museum and Millennium Park with my boyfriend. We were starving, with plenty of time to kill before we had to catch a train back home. I wanted to go to a relaxing sit-down restaurant; however, we only had about $30 between the two of us. I spotted Hot Woks Cool Sushi from across the street, but, after peering through the window, the restaurant looked too nice to be within our $30 budget. We were definitely surprised and delighted when, after looking at the menu, we discovered that each meal (excluding the sushi) was only around $10! The interior of Hot Woks Cool Sushi is relaxing, modern, and chic. I particularly enjoyed looking at the dishes the other patrons had ordered, especially the sushi. The dishes looked very pretty on the plates, and the sushi looks intricate and authentic. Although I did not order the sushi, I was definitely very curious and tempted to try some. The menu was quite extensive, offering both new dishes that I have never heard of before, and old favorites such as Kung Pao Chicken and Miso Soup. I ended up ordering the Pad Thai, as it is one of my favorite dishes. And I was not disappointed! It was definitely the best Pad Thai I've ever had. The sauce was slightly sweet and tangy, and it was served with the typical eggs, bean sprouts, and peanuts. The portion was a very good size--not too huge, but not too small either. There was definitely enough to take home (to my delight). While my dish tasted excellent and filling, my favorite thing about Hot Woks Cool Sushi is the bento box. My boyfriend ordered it, but I ended up tasting everything in it. I would definitely order this if you are curious about Japanese food and want to sample everything, or can't decide on just one item to get. The box included vegetable tempura, miso soup, sushi, and chicken teriyaki. It was plated nicely, and offered a colorful, diverse combination of food. I absolutely loved Hot Woks Cool Sushi, and am so glad that we happened upon it. Next time I go to the city, I am definitely dropping in again to order the sushi!

Scott L.

The food is decent. Decor is fairly nice. We thought the wait staff was nice. This is a good place to come for a quick meal that is well priced for the city.

Bris M.

Convenient location, clumsy americanized asian fusion flavors, and affordable prices. Come in hungry and you will leave satisfied. The meal will not exactly inspire you to return until you are hungry, on a budget, and standing right in front of it again.

R F.

This place was okay. Friendly waitress and reasonably tasty food. We saw online that it was gluten-free-friendly, but this really was not the case. This isn't the restaurant's fault though, the internet led us astray. While they do have gluten-free soy sauce, they had only one gluten-free appetizer (edamame) and were only able to tell us one entree that could be prepared gluten free (pad se ewe, made with the gluten free soy).

Denise H.

I'm a long time fan of HWCS and was going here back when it was My Thai. The food is really good and I love the crab rangoon and chicken panang curry. Thai iced tea is awesome. Fun little spot.

Lynnda P.

Ok, Michigan Avenue sushi, I was skeptical, but pleasantly surprised. The fatty white tuna sashimi was melt in your mouth perfection, and the tuna salad had a nice flower of tuna on top, lots of really fresh greens and sesame ginger dressing that was outstanding. My co-worker and I enjoyed it so much we ate there the next night also. I work across the street and will definitely be back and also recommend it to others. Sushi-tastic!!!

Ken L.

Over here in this restaurant you would find the typical Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes. There are also some unconventional dishes here and there. The Obama roll comes with a tiny American flag and its not bad. Yet I have no idea why it is named after the president. The portions for the entres are big. I rarely see orange chicken served with snow peas, peppers and onions, but it is very good... just a little bit too sweet even for my taste. My friend ordered the Firecracker Shrimp in a rush without reading the fine print and it was unexpectedly too sweet instead of spicy as well. Overall it still a good meal and I'll definitely come back.

Blake H.

While I am not a sushi (or even Asian food expert) I thoroughly enjoy HWCS. We work one block over and we find ourselves there at least once a week, if not more. I always enjoy what I order and I have my few standbys that I always order. The other great thing is that we always get in and out in under an hour, usually with about 20 minutes to spare, which is great during lunch. The staff is super friendly & helpful. It is now so much nicer than before the makeover. They used to do half-price sake on Tuesday evenings (which was really fun) but haven't been back to do that in a while so I am not sure if it is still around.

Lala S.

I order from here pretty frequently only because it's close and they are fast. I'm not impressed but it fills me up when I'm hungry. Baby egg rolls--great! Reg. egg rolls (w/ a "twist")- blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Noodle dishes -- sweet and gross Seaweed salad---think I got food poisoning from. I don't recommend it for that mere fact, but also because you might get a sodium-induced coma. Tuna Avocado salad--salty (and I eat very tasty) Maki's--ok if you're really hungry shrimp w/ lobster sauce--should be a desert. It's just that sweet.

Jeff F.

Sung by yesterday for lunch. Sushi Silver is a steal here, but one of the biggest complaints the table had was that the sushi was not served cold. Might be a good spot for cheap sushi, but I wouldn't come back.

Rahshonda K.

I had lunch today at Hot Woks and was very impressed with the Maki specials they offered. 3 maki rolls for 10.95 is great. The service was quick and the atmosphere was trendy. I ordered the Spicy tuna, Philly, and Avocado rolls. All the rolls were fresh and came to our table quick. It was plenty to take home for dinner which I did. My co worker order the Unagi and said it was Awesome! I will definitely check them out again if I am in the area. A cheap eat to be across the street from Millennium Park

Gina S.

Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous seating arrangement. They WON'T let you sit down unless your ENTIRE company is at the restaurant. The food is mediocre, and yes definitely overpriced for quality.

Cordoba D.

This place leaves a lot to be desired. I went there with my friend and was very disappointed. Our server seemed disconnected and almost stressed at lunch hour. He took my menu away twice even after I asked to leave one on the table because I wasn't done ordering and I had more people joining. The food was good, sushi..not so much. Average at best. When I told the bus boys to wrap my leftover they threw away most of it!! I asked the sever what happened to my food, so he said he will fix it..but then then just put more salad on top instead of my leftovers. I had ordered a small sake bottle, and was only able to drink about a half of it. So I put it in my to go bag. I accidentally forgot the stuff on the table, so I called them (4 minutes later) and they couldn't find it. I spoke to 3 different people on the phone, trying to explain I was coming back for my stuff, then the hostess informed me I was not able to take my Sake with because of their permit (they don't have one for taking alcohol) Wow, I wish my server would have bother to tell me that before I ordered my Sake. I will never come back to this place, they are amateurs at best.

Sarah B.

I went there with my family and ordered several different types of specialty rolls for family style eating. Of course we were in Chicago so we had to get the Obama-mami roll that was very patriotic, a little too creative (I'm not sure that bell peppers really belong in sushi), but still tasty. We also had the sweet and sour soup that was delicious. Overall good location, good food.

Guess W.

The sushi was prepared properly and priced right. ordered the Spider a soft shell crab tempura cooked to light golden crunchy crust served with a ponzu sauce and crab Rangoon a golden fried dumpling containing crab, chives and cream cheese. the service was good the restroom was clean as well as the floors.

Padma A.

The first nice spring day in Chicago, went to lunch with my girl friends. We ordered the Mega Vega Sushi roll, liked it so much we ordered a second and the tofu in garlic sauce which was recommended by our polite/ Sweet server Julie. I eat so much that i ended skipping dinner. Its a great place to grab a quick bite in the loop with good seating and quick service.

Ashwin R.

Worst service! When we came in, the waitress made a face taking us to the table. Even after waiting for 10 mins, we did not even get a glass of water. We just got up and left.

Tom M.

Nice place to have a lunch, especially with lunch combo. There is nothing outstanding but everything is generally good. The sushis are fresh and tasty. The eel sushi is really smooth for example, while the makis are well balanced. The special egg roll is weird, filled with a lot of undistinctive things. The ramens are fine, going with tempuras a bit rough. The service is very efficient even during the rush time.

Alan L.

Solid meal - convenient location. We were looking for an early dinner near the NFL Draft venue. The food was tasty - not the best - but each of us enjoyed each dish. The appetizers were delicious. If you're looking for a reasonably priced meal in the area, this is certainly as restaurant to consider.

Karen C.

We wanted a quick dinner near Symphony Center one night, and decided to give Hot Woks a chance. It was pretty decent, not the best sushi I've ever had but not the worst, either. I just wasn't in the mood for fish, so I ordered the Mega Vega roll, it was really tasty, and a good size. I also had the Miso soup, which was your standard bowl of Miso, but the miso seemed like it was extra chunky instead of more blended into the broth, if that makes any sense. The restaurant is huge, I had no idea how far back the dining room went, and every table was full. Service was fine, as well. For a quick bite that isn't a Panera, Panda Express, etc., this is a decent option in the location.

Aaron M.

Quality sushi with fresh ingredients!. A warm cozy atmosphere with the feel that captures the big city!! Will come again in back in Chicago!

Erik L.

The yellowtail and Unagi were excellent. The hot sake left something to be desired. The service was not the best, but not enough to ding the fantastic sashimi.

Dave D.

I love sushi, so I wasn't really disappointed leaving here, but it's pretty average sushi for a bit more than you'll pay most places. Mostly plain rolls and average quality fish. Underwhelming sushi experience.

Daniel S.

solid sushi place, went at lunch and it wasnt too crowded, i got the chicken teriyaki bento box, which was a good deal, got a wide variety of food for a reasonable amount of money, id recommend going that route, it's a better deal then just getting one roll, im no sushi expert but it all tasted fine to me

Tingting D.

Food tastes good and the price is reasonable. We had lunch bento (beef and chicken). Both are good. Crowded during lunch hours but the food comes fast.

Dave S.

It use to be good. Haven't eaten here for a month. Something happened. Pad Thai was bland with very little rubbery chicken. Sushi falling apart before u can pick it up. Tom yum soup order was supposed to be large, got a small. Cucumber salad supposed to be cold not warm. Not sure what to think but probably won't order for a while.

Susan A.

I absolutely love this place! The sushi is delicious! The waiter is really nice I don't remember her name. The outside sitting is very relaxed and away from too much commotion. I recommend

Kedy S.

This place sucked. The service was slow and the food was below average. Really the only thing this place has going for it is a good location and decent dining room. Pretty short review... don't go here unless you're famished and nothing else is closer.

Samantha S.

Great patio seating on one for the cutest corners in Roscoe ! Thai Tea is amazing and refreshing. We started with crab Rangoon which was prepared surprisingly well... Not the standard sloppy pastry puff... Nicely folded, perfect pouches of deliciousness. We got the Pad Thai which was served as just the right amount (not the classic overwhelming heap of noodles in a bowl). Subtle sweetness and even a side of crushed peanuts comes along for you to add. Others I dined with enjoyed sushi which they loved as well. I would absolutely go back!

Eric H.

This place has a lot of variety, and really good sushi rolls. They're quick and it's great for easy take out. I've only been in here at sat for lunch once, usually I just get take out. I call ahead and they have my order ready in less than 10 minutes. The service is always great and friendly. Their dragon rolls and spider rolls are both really great. It's right on Michigan avenue, and it's a great downtown lunch spot.

Racquel D.

Good food and good service, but they didn't have the menu I was used to at the Adams location. (womp womp). They get 3 out of 5 stars because they carried the same general food. A kinda weird thing that happened during my visit here with my sister was that the hostess seated us by the window and then warned us that people have had their stuff stolen. .... I think that's weird. Thank you for the warning, but why did you seat us there in the first place? Needless to say, we asked to be seated further from the door. Great food nonetheless, but I wish they would carry a full menu. I couldn't get my shrimp in lobster sauce!

Bill M.

This Hot Woks Cool Sushi is staked at a prime location near attractions like Millennium Park and the Art Institute. I've been here a couple of times and it is a good place to have a fairly quick sitdown meal while downtown, for workers and friends and dates and tourists alike. Yes the restaurant is long and narrow (from the front entrance, you walk a looooong way to the washrooms in the back), and you can get pretty close to your adjacent table mates, but HWCS is still a solid downtown dining choice for me. The menu is pretty straightforward, with noodle and rice dishes, and a variety of sushi. The drink list is pretty good too, with some fine Asian beers and an impressive drink called Mango Madness garnished with a couple of orange slices. For some reason our drinks came out after all of our food was served, but we let it slide this time. I always order the "untraditional" egg rolls as an appetizer, as they somehow taste like my father's egg rolls despite the "untraditional" ingredients used here (including Italian sausage and caramelized onions - sounds bizarre but hey it works). The taste and the presentation of the noodle dishes are fine if not super exciting, and there are just enough selections here for vegetarian and vegan diners. Tonight I had the pad see ewe with beef, and I would say that the pad thai with chicken I ate the previous time was better.

Donald H.

I really loved my spicy tuna role. I was here back in 2010 and it was good enough for me return 4 years later. The back could be a bit cleaner. The walk way is creepy.

Alex J.

I can't say this place blows my mind, but I can't say it's bad, either. The sushi is pretty average - relatively fresh but certainly not super memorable. I know they're not going to have Jiro back there turning rice, seaweed, and seafood into round, spiritual experiences, so I'm not upset about it. For this price point and the location, it's exactly what you'd expect it to be: polished, doable, a little fun, but not the culinary visit for you to tell your grandkids about (although, they do say that sushi is an aphrodisiac - thoughts?) If you stop by for lunch, grab one of the bento boxes. It comes with soup, the weird grainy ginger salad, and your typical meat/rice/fake crab cali roll combo. Here's my point: if you're on Michigan Ave showing company around and taking selfies in the bean, and suddenly NEED to have sushi, you're in luck; HWCS is waiting across the street for you to munch on its hot and cold things.

Hannah C.

Went here with a large group for once and we all ordered Thai dishes. They handled the large group at rush time well, and our food came quickly. It looks very elegant, but unfortunately low on taste. The cashew chicken tasted mostly of pineapple, wasn't spicy at all, and didn't have the ingredient I requested added. The sushi looked like a pretty large portion, so perhaps try that instead.

Amanda K.

I don't why this place doesn't get better reviews. the food here was great! i had the chicken teriyaki bento box, and everythign was delicious. it was also a great deal, a lot of food for the money. I could hardly finish everything! The california roll was tasty, the chicken was well seasoned/sauced, and the tempura vegetables were perfect. in summary: yum.

Sally M.

Decent delivery. I've tried it both in October and November, while staying at a hotel. The Pad Thai was pretty good. House salad was OK. Veggie Fried Rice was OK. The Mandarin Orange Chicken was not very good. I haven't dined in the restaurant (only delivery), nor have I tried their sushi.

Andre W.

Decent sushi right on Mich Ave across from Millennium Park. I have always thought the signage here was pretty lame and made you not want to even check it out, but I was craving sushi and this was nearby. The inside is bigger than what I thought it would be as it is very spacious. The spicy tuna was pretty good as well as the rainbow roll and The Fukudome roll The highlight of the meal was the Lucky Buddha Beer which came in a cool buddha-like bottle. Very light, crisp and refreshing beer. Service was really good

Harshingar P.

Great place with fast service. The staff is good. Ample space for a large group, have been there in small group as well as a large group of 15 people. The service and food is good. A definite try if you are in the vicinity and like oriental cuisine. Not too pricey.

Jasmine S.

Very very tasty sushi! Very high quality and fresh ingredients. Pretty pricey but what do you expect when you're getting good sushi.

A R.

Love this place! The food is delicious and the staff is generally friendly - my personal favorite is the Fukudome roll. My only complaint is that a few times my sushi came out a little warm which isn't ideal when it comes to sushi. Plenty of other options for people who don't like sushi, the teriyaki is pretty good!

Michaela D.

Love this place for lunch breaks at work. Great for ordering online and picking up, or eating in the restaurant too. Great thai dishes (garlic chicken, pad thai, cashew chicken) and pretty decent sushi for the loop!

Cindi P.

Just ordered maki and a couple of signature rolls for delivery to my hotel room on a Sunday night. It came in 30 minutes and is delicious. My only complaint is that they could have given me a little more soy sauce, so ask for extra if you want enough to get through three rolls. Is is the best sushi I've ever had? I don't know, but it's awfully good, and definitely the best sushi I've ever had delivered on a Sunday night in downtown Chicago. I'd order it again.

Mary P.

The sushi is okay, really fishy, falls apart, and cold. The waitresses are okay. Not really friendly.

Shyam S.

This is the common, pan-Asian, "one size fits all" Asian restaurant that has become all too common in the United States. If you want one restaurant where you can eat Japanese, Chinese and Thai food then this place is for you. While the sushi may be good, authenticity is not a priority at this place, so if you are a foodie, you probably have to go elsewhere. This is definitely a tourist trap, but my Dad and I needed something quick to eat that was near the Art Institute, so this looked promising. We really liked the "Unconventional Eggrolls", but my Tom Yum soup was way too big and also had way too much green peppers, which I honestly have never seen in this soup before. All in all, the food is okay, but not stellar, and you might want to move away from Michigan Avenue and back into the Loop if you want more authentic fare.

Sara D.

Bento boxes are a pretty solid deal. Food is fine enough if you're in the loop. Drinks are Awful. Bitter Berry wasn't even drinkable. Friend's lychee mimosa was fine, nothing special.

Kimberley M.

Great little place! I had the pad thai, which is probably not the norm here, but I was really impressed with the size and the presentation, not to mention the taste, too. Service is fast, and the quality of the rest of the plates of sushi were wonderful. I think I would return here for sure. Prices are also extremely reasonable.

Mimi H.

Although our appetizers came out pretty slow, the rest of the food came out timely. We has the spring rolls and cucumber salad. Light and fresh and tasty. the food and atmosphere is perfect for outside seating on Michigan avenue. Bento box filled me up. Good variety and lots of food. Salad dressing was a bit too tangy for me. We ordered the spider roll and spicy shrimp roll. Both very good!

Dr R.

Great hole in the wall lunch spot. Inexpensive sushi & bento boxes. Above average tom yum soup....huge serving for $6.95. There may be other places w more elaborate presentations and option, but 5* for the combination of cost, quality, and overall taste.

Aarushi G.

We had the drunken noodles and avocado maki rolls. The rolls were delicious, and the drunken noodles were also very good. They also had a beautifully-decorated birthday dessert which was very good as well!

Andrew S.

Good prices for Michigan ave. good food too, and fast. A little heavy on the sauce with my basil chicken, but my wife's chicken Rama was perfect. Nice alternative to all the over-priced cafes nearby.

Changsong G.

No clue what some of these other reviews are talking about. Came out of the art institute around 5pm hungry. Saw this place and sat down. Service was very fast and nice and accommodating. Sushi was excellent, the Chinese stuff was so-so, but sushi was best I have ever had in the states. The prices are cheaper many small towns or cities i have been. Two of us spent 60 bucks we each ordered two rolls drinks and appetizers. Easily 120 bucks in NYC for less food. Presentation was amazing, very clean fresh rice and ingredients, many mid range sushi places don't know how to cook the rice, theses guy knew what they were doing. Got spicy tuna roll (was average), sweet potato roll (excellent), dragon roll (excellent), salmon skin roll (amazing) Hands down I would recommend to anyone and I would come back in a heartbeat.

Rachel S.

Was in Chicago for work and swung into this place as it was near my hotel and one of the only places open. Sushi was good, service was good. Nothing to write home about. Location is great.

Chris B.

At 8:00 pm of the most gorgeous Sunday of the Memorial Day Weekend, this place had run the staff ragged, and despite this, the speed of being seated, the frantic but still smiling service, and decent but not great sushi, was welcome and appreciated. We got an outdoor table and wondered if the foot and street traffic of Michigan Avenue would be bothersome, but at this hour neither was annoying. I could see that during the day, the pedestrians coming and going to Millenium Park and the Art Institute across the street might be a bit much. As it turned out, there were few buses and just a bit of amusing people-watching on the sidewalk. We ordered Green Tea, Seaweed Salad, and the Gold (8 piece) Sushi Platter for two and received the tea very quickly, followed by the salad and at an appropriate interval, the Sushi Platter. We were given a moment to dig in and then asked if everything was alright. I have read some negative reviews about this place, but I have to say that my experience was very positive, especially given the holiday crowd that had overwhelmed the place most of the day. I didn't go in expecting a 5 star experience or knock-my-socks off food. It was fine.

Jacob A.

The place to be for bad sushi! If you like bad service along with your poor excuse for sushi come check this place out! We have given this place 3 different chances and every time it gets worse. I don't like posting 1 star reviews and I suppose that is why I go back, just to give them another shot. This is the last straw. Avoid this place unless you like punishing yourself which in that case please frequent the place!

Liana L.

Sad is thing is that the mango pudding on their menu is non-existent. I continued to try to order it for a few months but they never had it available. Then finally I asked if they would ever have it available, and they kind of gave me an answer saying they weren't planning on making it anymore. Noodles are delicious. I would recommend pad kee mao- thick rice noodles. Their sushi is good for the most part. Tom yum soup is yum. Gyoza weren't the best. Also I wouldn't order chicken in dishes.. Very frankenmeaty, chopped too large, and chewy... Misc. their music is great!! All pop song covers hahaha Also tip - if you are eating in a group, you have to wait for everyone to be there before they seat you.

Mahsa T.

The good: the chicken chow mein is fantastic, best noodles ever. The shitake mushrooms, peapods and bean sprouts were all so fresh and delicious, the chicken was a bit on the dry side, but those noodles more than made up for it...can't stress how good the noodles are. The edamame was good as was the miso soup (better than I've tasted at other places). The bad: extremely tight and cramped dining space, especially if you go during peak times (like lunch time). The space is long and narrow. You will be cramped in the front waiting for a table. Though it was crowded when we went, it only took about 10 minutes for us to get a table. It's not a place where people linger, they go in, sit down, get their food quick, and get out quick. Service was also quick (and a bit rushed), but decent.

JoannA K.

Not only is it expensive but horrible sushi and soup. I had the blackhawks and sour spicy chicken soup. Definitely not coming back here again. Service/environment was okay, only convenient thing is that it's across millennium park.

Christian P.

Tom yum soup was served hot but tasted unbalanced, too salty and I could therefore not finish it... which really means a lot. Stirfry was lukewarm, not very tasty and meat on the low par in terms of quality, Bento box was no more than ok. With many other (sometimes better) places to eat around, you are warned.

Tim V.

Solid 4 stars. I has the gold sashimi plate. Was ok portion fish was ok Service was pretty good So worth a try.

Natasha R.

I love this restaurant, the location, the food and the prices! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I've been here three times now, and each time did not disappoint. I had my first date here with my boyfriend (second time around... and this time lasting ;) ) so it brings back those warm, fuzzy feelings. There are not that many great restaurants right off of Michigan Ave, so this place really stands out for me. The entire place has great seating, but we always try to sit by the tables right near the door/outside patio because where else can you have such great people watching than on Michigan Ave? :) My boyfriend always gets the bento boxes here which is A LOT of food for the price it is. This last time around, I went with a DELICIOUS Pina Colada that had an adorable umbrella to top it off (see picture) and the Sushi Silver Combo - 5 pieces of sushi and a spicy tuna roll. Though I didn't get any specialty rolls, everything I ate was fresh with great quality. The service is good, nothing too crazy, but have no complaints. It's a touristy spot just because it's right across from Millennium Park and in between all the souvenir shops. But I would recommend it for anyone - tourist or local. I will def be back for my fourth time hopefully sooner than later!

Marielise J.

Consistently a great option-- clean restaurant, pleasant atmosphere and good food at a good price point. Perfect balance that is not so common in the downtown area. And, most importantly, one of my favorite vegetarian rolls (Mega Vega)!

Catherine Z.

We ordered 4 dishes for the three of us; each of us ended up having to pay ~$15. At 2:30 on a cold, drizzly Saturday afternoon, the place had attracted a small crowd. It housed a variety of people, as I would expect...this place is smack dab in one of the busiest parts of town, Millenium Park. The Thai Iced Coffee I ordered was just iced coffee mixed with cream and sugar. For $2.50, I'm not sure it was worth it at all. It was delicious and rejuvenating, but I could have made it for far less. The crab rangoon appetizer ($5.75 for 5 pieces) was piping hot and arrived in ~5 minutes. Though it was delicious, the price barely justifies the decent portions. The entrees arrived ~7 minutes after our appetizer was brought to the table. 1) Pad Thai ($8.50) - a well-cooked rice noodle dish that was lacking in chicken, and tossed in a slightly overpowering tangy sauce. The kitchen left the toppings (peanuts, a lime wedge, shredded carrot and cabbage) in the corners of the dish so that they wouldn't get soggy. Comforting and filling. 2) The beef mushroom teriyaki bento box was meh...it supposedly came with veggie tempura, a Japanese salad, rice, California maki sushi, and beef and mushroom teriyaki. Yes, it did come with all of those things, the portion sizes were quite small. For one, the 6-piece sushi roll was smaller and far more bland than the caterpillar roll we ordered. The teriyaki was drowning in sauce and had only small bits and pieces of beef and mushroom. The veggie tempura was delicious, but I wish I had more; there was only one piece of each deep-fried veggie (sweet potato, broccoli, zuchini, etc) and one shrimp tempura. 2) The caterpillar roll (8 pieces for $10.95) was well worth it, as it was one of the better presented sushi rolls I've ever had. My weakness is eel and eel sauce, but I was also wowed by the presentation. Look at that sauce work! Look at the red and black tobiko ("roe", or fish eggs)! The menu itself offers lots of generic Japanese foods. The appetizers are pretty common (crab rangoon, gyoza, edamame, tempura), but I wish I'd tried the untraditional egg roll, because it comes stuffed with an Italian vegetable blend! Talk about fusion! The salads sound interesting but way over-priced. $6.95 for lychee and cranberries? I might sooner be able to make it myself, for a fraction of the cost. They dressed lots of their salads with miso dressing, which is common, but not as common as the ginger dressing that every Japanese restaurant I've ate at so far has had. The miso-dressing in the bento box was potent but quite delicious. Props to you! This place is a great place to go if you're looking for somewhere to dine in, carry out, and have food delivered. It's extremely conveniently located, and pretty inexpensive considering how much people near Millenium Park could charge. Read the full review on my food blog! wp.me/p4GjLH-46

Kimberly R.

Hot Woks Cool Sushi is a very good spot to go! Have dined in and order to go and the food is always tasty! The staff is very kind! Highly recomend!

Samantha H.

I have been looking for a good Thai place in the loop. I am happy to say I found one. The pad Thai is perfect and the thia iced tea gives you an energy boost like no other!

Jake H.

Sashimi was at about a 5/10 on the freshness scale and the service was a 4/10... Our server was very inhospitable and not too nice It's worth trying as long as you're ready for both those things

FatmanStan F.

Good good and good. This place is what you look for when you want good sush for basically rock bottom prices, had the miso, hamachi and spicy crunchy tuna. Was really good, fast, and nice staff with a seat by the window. I'll definitely be back when I'm at the AIC.

Nineveh O.

Other than location, this place is not the best. The sushi I got was something with an octopus, which I normally like, but it was too rubbery and the taste was awful. The Obama roll was soggy and just tasted like it was dipped in mayo. Prices were way to high for the product. If I went to House of Sushi and Noodle I would have paid a couple dollars more for all you can eat sushi that's AMAZING. Again location is convenient and setting was nice, that's all you're paying for though.

Natasha P.

My husband and I went to meet a friend who works around this area, so we decided to try Hot Woks Cool Sushi for lunch with her. We made a reservation, and were seated immediately. We got there at noon, and the restaurant had several empty tables, by 12:15 pm however, there was not a single empty table. We both ordered a green tea, and waited for my friend who was running a little late. The waiter came upto us once and asked if we would like to order something. We told him we were waiting for someone. As soon as my friend arrived and sat down, the waiter swooped in and asked us if we would like to order again. I was impressed that he was keeping an eye on us, despite being very busy with all the other tables. My husband ordered the Hot Woks Fried Rice, which was tasty but nothing great and did not really have much of a basil flavor. I ordered the Spicy Basil, which was tasty, had a more basil flavor than the fried rice, but wasn't anything to write home about. All in all, this is a decent place for a quick lunch, but since it's Michigan Avenue, I'd try a whole lot of other places before coming back.

Sabrina K.

We were very unimpressed with this place. I had the tempura udon and my boyfriend had the Orange chicken. I got 2 pieces of each tempura: broccoli, zucchini, sweet potato, and shrimp. The tempura was very bland with too much breading. And the udon broth was okay - nothing special. My boyfriend had a similar experience with his orange chicken - too much breading, the sauce wasn't very good, and there was way too little chicken and sauce. We were very disappointed with our meal.

Wicker Q.

Their sushi is great, flavorful and fresh. The customer service is nice and they put care into the food and packaging, too (if you get delivery). I have eaten here three days in a row. I ate the spicy tuna maki, sweet potato tempura maki and thai tea. I love thai tea and the one here is perfect. I just love the food here. The waiters are okay (sitting around, talking in Chinese about some useless matter and when you motion them for help they act like you were interrupting such an important conversation; and another one didn't give me my change), but I guess I can overlook that because the food is so good. When I ordered my food for takeout, the sushi was packaged below the soy sauce which was in little cups in a tied plastic wrap. The thai tea was put in a rice box so that it wouldn't spill. I will eat here again. The location is also nice, you can people watch if you get close to the window.

Sarah S.

I've been here a couple of times because of the convenient location when showing tourists around and it was great for a quick, fast bite while I was on jury duty at the Daley Center. It's decently good and the prices are nice & cheap, as well. I went for dinner last night and got a philly roll. It was just $6 which was nice, but the strange thing is there was no avocado...since when do Philly rolls not have avocado!? The fish was super fresh and bountiful in this 6 pc well rolled maki. I really enjoyed this roll. I've tried some of their other dishes here that were just okay, so I think I'm now going to stick with the amazing Philly roll! I tried my friend's salmon skin roll which I enjoyed but my friend thought was a bit too salty. I was surprised at how crunchy the salmon skin was. They have a pretty decent sake selection and we ended up getting a very delicious cold sake for the table...loved it! Service this particular night was quite slow but at lunch time it's always been pretty fast. Don't go out of your way to eat here, but if you're in the area, you could do worse! Open until 1030!

Melissa L.

Let me start by saying I love sushi. Like an unhealthy amount. My friend and I went to the Art Institute and agreed that Hot Wok's sounded good and decided to give it a try. In order to be able to do some more sampling we ordered multiple items to split. We got beef something, but the really good one was the Pad Kee Mau. It had some kick and was absolutely phenomenal! Unfortunately my friend was not willing to split some sushi so I guess I'm saving that for my next trip. :) All in all, the food was great and we were promptly seated, and while our server was nice she was not very attentive and often did not understand our English. Also skip the jasmine iced tea. Really really sweet to the point it's not drinkable but they nicely took it off our bill. I'd recommend coming in here for a great meal at a reasonable price (about $7-10 per noodle and rice dish) but don't get your hopes up on the service and remember to be patient.

Faithful R.

I'm a huge fan of sushi, and since I moved to Chicago this past May Hot Woks is by far one of the best sushi restaurants around. The food is fresh, and really good! Had my dinner there tonight ;)

Meg W.

Delicious sushi!! Very accommodating of my avocado allergy. Tried the crab rangoons and various rolls. So very full and happy.

Helen S.

I came here once for a quick dinner date, because it was summertime and we wanted to catch the Millennium Park concert on Monday evening. We ordered three rolls among two people, and I can't remember the other two but I do remember the Obama roll. It came out with masago dyed red, and a little American flag sticking out the top of it. I couldn't stop laughing for a good five minutes. Overall, the food was alright. I really liked the Obama roll, but nothing else was notable and I probably wouldn't come back.

Bianca Y.

I visited this place just tonight with my sister!! She ordered the mandarin orange chicken and I got the Hot Wok Noodles. Omg.. absolutely amazing!!! Our server was so friendly and the food was delicious. I was very impressed with how quickly we were served and the food was piping hot and delicious. My new fav spot!!!

Ralf I.

Stopped in with my wife and teenage son and daughter while strolling Michigan Avenue. Unexpectedly fantastic food for very low price, especially considering the great location. Superb service, quaint outdoor space with unbeatable view...very nice dining space indoors.

Chanelle H.

I came with a club from my university and had never heard of this place until they mentioned we eat here. It's a fairly small sized restaurant on Mich. Ave and a little hard to miss if you aren't paying attention. Anyway, the first thing I noticed was a sign stating they were currently accepting cash only at the time. Great. How many people are conveniently carrying cash while strolling through the downtown area? Not me (or half of the people in my group of 12). So after we hunt down a Chase ATM, we joined the remainder of our group. As I first walked through the front of the restaurant, it seemed a bit cramped between a row of tables and a counter. Also inside is dimly light with a bunch of candles on each table. For dinner, I ordered a chicken teriyaki bento box. What it came with was decent for the price I paid, which included the chicken, a small salad, tempura mix (a piece of shrimp and three vegetables), six(?) sushi rolls, a side of rice, and miso soup. Overall, the food was okay. But to be honest, in my head I was comparing this food with one served at another Japanese restaurant in the suburbs. Hot Wok's isn't as good, but again, it was just okay and slightly cheaper. Now for the bad part. Our waiter didn't do a good job catering to our table. Although he seemed nice and responsive when we sat down, he neglected us after the food was served. A friend and I were wondering why we hadn't seen him in a while. Well he was giving all his attention to another party sitting next to us. Not on the other side of the restaurant...-next- to us. Another employee had to take our money, otherwise I don't think he would have noticed if we didn't pay! Maybe I'll come back if my club wants to go again, but I can't see myself traveling down here on own.

La Tonya G.

I would have given this place a 5 star but the last time I was there and I go here often the waitress was so rude. I couldn't believe it, I had never had a bad experience here before but she made me feel Iike I should order my food and go. I ended up sitting in the back and that wasn't a problem I mean this time it was only me and the place was packed and I had errands to run. Anywho back on the food...It was fresh and fast...I love it!!! I think they have great lunch specials, and when my daughter took me here for my birthday the waiter brought out a dessert and sang happy birthday to me...I thought that was so cute. Just writing this review makes me know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow!!! Some great sushi...Yum!

Steffanie F.

Great prices and great sushi! I came here last time I was in Chicago and loved it, now that I am back in the city, I made sure to go out of my way to eat here. The shrimp tempura maki is my favorite by far. The chicken teriyaki bento box is a ton of bang for your buck. And the Thai iced tea is great if you're looking to cool off!

Robert N.

I thought the food was OK, the portions were OK, and the service was OK. I certainly have nothing to complain about but nothing to brag about either. I thought the price, while not overly expensive, merited a better meal and a better experience. I wouldn't go out of my way either to return or stay away.

Mathew N.

Usually a great spot!! Today was very disappointed. We had a reservation, but waited 15min to get seated. Waited another 10min for a waitress. Then one at my table didn't get her entree and we had to ask for it...20min later it finally came out. To top off the crapfest...see nice the 2 shrimps that come with the Hot Wok Noodles (pic attached)...awful!!!

Martha S.

Got stranded an extra night in Chicago with some friends. We all used to live in the city, and apparently this spot was a favorite of one of my friends. He suggested it for lunch and we weren't disappointed-- though not blown away. If you want Americanized Asian food-- from Chinese to Thai to Japanese-- this is a good spot. Husband and I had an order of "Untraditional Egg Rolls," the cucumber salad, and I had the Pad See Ew noodle dish. Egg rolls were okay-- the coating seemed a bit heavy, filling was okay, but could have been more flavorful. The cucumber salad was light and refreshing, nice and crisp-- perfect on such a hot and humid day. The Pad See Ew was good-- but not great. I've had worse, for sure, so that's why I can recommend Hot Woks'. Service was efficient and accomodating-- all in all a nice lunch, though nothing special.

Jerel T.

Sushi and entrees are very average. We had the Pad Thai and Panang Beef, as well as some assorted sushi rolls.

Jolene M.

The food was excellent, but the service was so-so. We never got our drinks & needed to ask to have them removed when we got our bill. We originally wanted to go to the Adams St location. We got there and it was closed & had to walk over to this location.

Jackie G.

The worst service ever! It took us almost 10 minutes before we were asked what we wanted to drink! We ordered edamame and a few sushi rolls. The sushi was extremely average and in my opinion tasted like sushi I've gotten from a Whole Foods. The pieces were uneven and fell apart when you picked them up. I've never been so disappointed and I feel the reviews steered me in the wrong direction.

Hanan P.

Came here for a friends birthday and this place is pretty nice for a small gathering. It reminds me more of a suburban sushi bar if anything although. Food: 7.5/10 There online menu is really outdated and it gave me a bit of disappointment. Location 9/10 If you are traveling there isn't much room to park any where, but it stands on Michigan so that's cool. Service 7/10 Patient and respectful waitress, but nothing special to say.

Brooke B.

If you work in the Loop and want a tad more than a grab-n-go spot for sushi...Hot Woks Cool Sushi is a great option. They have a really inexpensive lunch menu that definitely fills you up. No matter how packed the place looks, there's always a seat, so if they tell you that you need to wait a couple minutes...it shouldn't be longer than that. The sushi is fresh, the service is quick and the price is right. If you have an hour lunch break, this is perfect for a nice break in the day.

Jessica B.

Really great sushi for the price. I normally don't care much for miso soup, but theirs was amazing. My partner has so far disliked every place's tom yum, but this was finally a place that he enjoyed. Waitresses were very patient with us, and didn't seem to mind me pointing at the menu. I was just afraid of butchering the names, and appearing offensive. Casual sushi, reasonably priced.

Shakila M.

I got take out on my way home from an event at the Art Institute. The wait wasn't bad, considering how many diners were there. Everything was packaged well and the sushi was fresh. I'll definitely give their dine-in service a try.

Bianca P.

I am so impressed with how consistently good this place is. A few of my favorite things: Crab Rangoon Chinese Fried Rice Spicy Basil with Beef My boyfriend and I order from and eat at this place semi-regularly and we have never been disappointed.

Bea S.

Already tried a lot of places in the neighborhood for lunch. This one is really great! Food is always fresh, staff is welcoming, helpful and polite. Miso soup is just perfect and veggie maki delicious. In the past tried Hot Woks in different location and was really disappointed by the quality of the food so this one cut me by total surprise:-)

Tracy N.

I'm a huge fan of sushi, so of course when my company sends me somewhere, I'm going to hit up every sushi joint around my hotel. My coworker and I stopped by on a Wednesday evening for a bite. It's a pretty neat little place in a great location on Michigan. The feel was more hip and classier than the sushi joint down the block (although Osaka Express is much cheaper for pretty darn good sushi). We ordered miso soup and a couple of rolls. I stayed more traditional with the rainbow and spicy salmon. The fish was fresh and something about the salmon roll made me love this place. I'm pretty sure it had to do with the way they prepared the salmon roll. Normally, in spicy tuna or salmon rolls, the fish is minced, but Hot Woks left a large, juicy, and fresh chunks in my roll. Definitely got my happy share of protein in the salmon and rainbow roll. The miso soup was pretty standard, nothing special, but still good. It's a quality sushi place to stop by with a friend or two. They also have a cute patio outside so you can see Buckingham Fountain and the savvy (and occasionally homeless) of Chicago walking by if you like to people watch. If I stay around the area, I will definitely go back.

Frank S.

I love this restaurant! They have great sushi at great prices with great service. Whether it's eat in, delivery or take out, it's always fast, efficient and delicious!

Maryanne C.

After walking around the city all day we ended up here. We were starving and this was the first restaurant we stumbled upon. I've never been a fan of fusion asian food. If I want sushi I'll go to a Japanese place. If I want pad thai I'll go to a thai restaurant. Back home in LA, I could never go to a place that tried to serve dishes from different asian countries. Maybe I'm spoiled by the sushi from LA, but I wasn't that impressed with Hot Woks Cool Sushi. Sure, the sushi rolls were very inventive and creative, but the taste was just blah. And their miso soup, omg, I'm certain its not made from scratch. It was really salty and reeked of msg.

Rudy W.

check out this link facebook.com/home.php#/a… these are pictures of the sushi that you don't see in the menu.

Maggie S.

I love sushi, have little patience and am easily grossed out, which is why I decided to write a review. I love this place and after reading abt the terrible service and the dirty plate, I'm pretty sure id never try it. Okay, so I have never been here for lunch. But at dinner, the ser ice is good. In fact it was so fast, my husband thought they might be trying to push us out of there. I got basic rolls, but I always do and they were great, comparable to the same basic rolls vie gotten at much higher end places. My husband did get a special roll- I can't remember the name- but it was excellent! One thing I'm just wondering- why don't ANY sushi

Victoria h.

Yeah..so I really really wanted to like this place. really. It's close to my work, they have thai and sushi, and it's a nice decor inside. Unfortunately, the food really sucked. I ordered one of the most basic dishes - Pad See Ew. The noodles were overcooked and the tofu was just gross. I have never ever had bad tofu, until now. It tasted weird and had a strange/gross consistency.

Michael M.

My wife and I needed a place to eat before a show a couple weeks ago. We originally intended to go to Bennigan's for something quick and due to the fact that it is one of the only Bennigan's left. After waiting forever and bad treatment from the waitstaff, we left Bennigan's with no food and no idea where to go with the time we had left. Then we saw Hot Woks Cool Sushi and looked at the menu in the window. We thought it was kind of strange that they served sushi with Thai food, but we both love asian food so we decided to try it. I am really glad we did. We had an excellent meal with a couple different tuna rolls and an order of their Panang Curry. The service was excellent and the prices were just right for us. This place really saved us from a bad evening.

Mopsie B.

Despite the stupid name, this restaurant is actually very good. It's conveniently located, the service is quick and there is a wide range of Asian dishes. They were also very receptive to making my order vegetarian and I LOVE the fact that they have cucumber salad! The only drawback to my mind is that I did not see Singha being offered, which is a grave oversight. A Thai beer is necessary! None of that Sapporo Light crap, ok Hot Woks?

Bob S.

I generally stay at the Palmer House when in Chicago, and am always looking for good places for take-out. (Somehow eating alone in a hotel restaurant is a never a fun experience.) This place is an easy walk. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised and found the sushi to be fresh and very tasty. I would definitely go back.

Katie P.

I rarely, rarely, write one-star reviews but this place just pushed me right up to the very edge of my patience. I understand that we were there during the busy lunch rush and the place was packed but the service was just so sketch that I can't be okay with the place. When we placed our order one of my co-workers ordered a coke and another one ordered a Thai iced tea. The Thai iced tea came but the other girl sat there sans beverage. When our order came out three of four entrées arrived... about six minutes later the last plate showed up. None of us are without manners so we didn't touch our lunch until the last plate arrived. By then the top of my lunch was completely cold. The interior was warmish but the whole thing left a lot to be desired. As we were all finishing up my coworker's coke showed up. The server didn't bother to apologize and she didn't bother to ask if she still even wanted the beverage. She cracked that puppy open and poured it into a cup without a second thought. Last, but not least... when it came time for the bill we gave her one credit card and lots of cash. We told her what to put on the card and that we needed the bills to be broken. She returned with a charge to the card and had used cash for the bills minus $20.00. I stopped her right away and told her it was incorrect. The twenty was returned but had we not stopped her immediately I'm not sure that we would have gotten it back. Horribly unimpressed with this place and I cannot see ever giving it a second chance.

Bill S.

Great sushi, let the chefs decide what to make for you, you won't be disappointed.

This was previously a Thai-themed restaurant but seems to be more "Asian fusion" inspired. The location is great (right across from Millennium Park!) and their prices are quite reasonable. Potions are decent and they have a selection of mixed drinks and beer as well.

Natasha M.

Convenient location and and acceptable food. My boyfriend and I went their on July 3 before the fireworks. The place was packed, but they were still pretty fast for preparing the carry-out. This is a great place for budget visitors and for people who want to grab something and go secure your spot for Millennium Park events. The dishes are a hit or a miss. The Chinese and Japanese cuisine here is much better than the Thai selections. The sushi is pretty fresh. Orange chicken is an average choice, not good not bad. There are not many mid-level budget restaurants around the area (they are either too expensive or not too great), so this is your best bet if you are running out of time.

Kenta Y.

Work near it so I have been there a couple of times. It is what you expect from a Korean/Japanese restaurant, above average food all around. They do have a nice 3 roll lunch combo for about 10 dollars and you can choose many types of rolls. I have also tried the chicken curry and it was ok.

Renato G.

My friend and I enjoy this place. The makis are good, service is good too. Atmosphere is loud but cool. Overall a good place for lunch. Food is fast and the place is clean.

Bob S.

Service is great, lots of menu choices. Prices are reasonable. Love the atmosphere.

Christalena S.

I used to be a regular at this place, never had a bad experience until the last two times I went in. Usually the staff is very attentive and the food is excellent but this last time, it took them 15 minutes after they seated me to even bring me a water. Then another ten to take my order, when I finally got my food a half an hour later it was the wrong order. Then when the girl(who must be new cause ive never seen her before) brought me my check I gave her a twenty and she brought me back change for a ten. When I pointed out I had given her a twenty she snapped back no, no you didnt. I argued with her for a few moments and finally a lady came over and said that when they balance their register if its off theyll correct the problem. Well they said it wasnt off when I stopped in the next day, needless to say the next time i went in with a friend i put my name on the twenty dollar bill. We ended up having the same girl, she tried to pull the same crap and I told another lady go see if you have a twenty with my name on it in the register. Sure enough they did. Scammers I tell you. That was the last time I'll ever go to this place

A S.

The food is nice and also the staff, but am not amazed by the taste.

Julia T.

I don't know how to feel about this place because it is so inconsistent. I have had excellent service and delicious food but I have also had horrible service and eh food. I guess what keeps me coming here are the awesome crab rangoons.

Stan M.

high-quality food at reasonable prices despite being located in a touristy hot spot! i usually get tempura udon. sushi is great here, too. good selection of sakes. simple but clean and nice decor. you knew there's a catch, right? the catch is the SALAD: they keep serving rotting greens! this is true both for the seaweed salad (which has regular greens in it) and the salad parts of the bento boxes... i order from them regularly, so learn from my mistakes. no salad for you.

Bob C.

Great downtown spot for a very reasonable lunch. Service is extremely friendly and the food is very tasty. It's one of my favorite spots to go after a visit to the Art Institute. Try the jumbo rolls.

Alina V.

I have been here 3 times since it opened and I am a little perplexed. The first 2 times I ate at the restaurant and everything was great. I had the sashimi which was amazing. The second time I had one of the Bento boxes. It's a great value and the food is fantastic. The service was great both times. It does get crowded at lunch time, but they are always able to get you a table fast. The third time however I chose to get takeout because I did not have enough time for a sit down lunch and was disappointed. The soup was kinda cold and the sushi was not up to par. The food was definitely better when I ate at the restaurant. This is a great place for a sit down lunch but I would however not recommend takeout.

Kate s.

I finally got here after walk pass by so many times. My first time here is in the lunchtime. I saw some face who used to work at My Thai (the former place). I ordered spicy basil chicken. It wasn't the right taste for the dish, but not that real bad, chicken was a bit drier than it's supposed to be. Their lunch special sounds very interesting: bento box and two or three rolls for special price. I'll try it next time. I went back again another night with a friend, wanted to try their sushi. We order sushi and rolls (Akira, Dragon, and Salmon avocado). All are great with affordable prices. It's gonna be my fave sushi place in the loop for sure. Service was very fast and friendly. Our server return to our table often to ask if we want some more ginger since our ginger gone so fast every time she brought it..lol I give them 5 stars for having a sushi place with affordable price in the area, nice ambiance, and very friendly staffs.

Carolyn C.

I would go back to this place in a heartbeat. The food and alcohol was very reasonably priced. I had sushi rolls and my husband had panang noodles. We were both happy with our meals, but I agree with another review that the sushi was not cold. The atmosphere was very pleasant. It was clean and looked newly done. The service was actually extremely fast getting the food out, but then they didn't revisit the table. The place was pretty busy at 9:30 pm which is a good sign and some of the other dishes I saw coming out of the sushi bar looked very elegant. Three stars on actual food quality and service, but 4 stars on the price tag.

tbird M.

I don't care for the wok part - love the sushi......they have kind of a limited number of veggie rolls, but the mega vega is outstanding!

Ceyda E.

The food was very mediocre. They attract to tourists more than residents, so I'm guessing they don't pay too much attention to trying to get customers back. The sushi looked good, but I had one of their non-sushi items, which was unfortunately bleak.

Frederica B.

I was puzzled by the fact that in the review highlights people say "service is quick". The service was more like non-existent. First, we walked in the bar tender/server/bus boy ignored us for a while. Then he sat us down and asked probably 7 minutes later if we wanted anything to drink. After ordering 2 Thai iced teas and a Thai ice coffee we waited. And waited. I decided to be patient since I knew these drinks took a little longer to make then just getting pop from a fountain. Our appetizers came to the table and still no drinks. After receiving our entrees our table gave up on the drinks. The food was okay. Nothing phenomenal and nothing really bad.The yakisoba didn't seem like it was made with soba noodle. Presentation was sloppy and made me not want to eat the food. When our bill came the staff had the nerve to charge us for the drinks we NEVER received! I pointed this out and they apologized and took it off the tab. I was angered by this because many people are shy and are afraid to speak up, especially if they are with a group of people. Luckily, I am not like that or I would have been ripped off.

Terry M.

I joined a few coworkers here for sushi and some wine. The decor is comfortable and the service was very good. We ordered several different varieties and found most to be delicious. I didn't really care for the imitation crab used in two (alaskan and california). I did love the spicy tuna and the dragon rolls and can't wait to go back.

P P.

Great place in downtown to grab sushi or some thai food. I normally go for their vegetarian thai dishes. Tends to get extremely busy during lunch hours on the weekdays. However, their staff members are extremely attentive and the owners are great. By far, my favorite asian food spot in the loop. Not too expensive either.

Charlie A.

I went to this place because it was convenient to get to and the menu looked decent. Once inside I was served lukewarm green tea and placed at table next to the kitchen. The edamame was tasty. The sushi was edible. The service was okay. I wouldn't go to Hot Woks a second time.

L K.

It used to be some scummy thai place where you left wondering if you had worms. But this place rocked. We did the sushi and it was fresh and wonderful. The service was excellent. However, we did go on a very slow day so maybe that's why. I read the bad reviews and I don't get it. We would definately come again.

Morgan O.

Wow, for such a reasonable price, you can get really incredible sushi and curry. I am a huge fan! Hot Wok Cool Sushi is the perfect place to go for someone who is sick of overpriced "fancy" restaurants with crappy food. Let's hear it for quality cuisine at reasonable prices!

Jamie I.

My colleagues and I discovered this gem unexpectedly in the buzzing city. We were doing an early evening stroll and stumbled upon this place. The patio decor certainly intrigued us to go in. Once we stepped inside we were in complete awe of how big the restaurant really was. The saying is true, "don't judge a book it's cover" because this place definitely appeared small and quaint from the outside but had a modern and trendy vibe to it from the inside. We were seated pretty quickly and were impressed that the menu was quite extensive. The food options ranged from popular Thai dishes, sushi and even Chinese delacacies. We all ordered various sushi rolls (The Black Dragon, South of the Border and Maki). The portion sizes were perfect and we were all pretty full at the end of our meals. Though we had no waiting time to get seated a took a while to get our food but hey what's there to complain about if our food was yummy, which it was. We definitely appreciated finding a restaurant with super delicious sushi which we had no initial intentions of dining at.

Nikki C.

After traveling to Chicago on a bus trip with the Taste of Chicago as the main focus, the only thing that caught my eye was Hot Woks Cool Sushi as soon as I stepped off the bus. Carole H. and I made a beeline for HWCS and I ordered a rainbow roll and crab Rangoon. The crab rangoon pieces were nice & big and served with a nice duck sauce (I think... or sweet sauce of some sort). The rainbow roll was nice and big and really hit the spot for that afternoon's sushi craving. I'm so glad we stopped in there and it was such a convenient location. The service was nice... the hostess and waitresses were very attentive and accommodating.

Sarah G.

For the area I would give this place 4 stars in that if I was hungry and around here and really needed to eat, this is definitely one of the more affordable options around the park. That said, the food was really just okay I thought, but it was affordable which sometimes can trump the wowing taste factor! We got their tempura appetizer to share to start and it was pretty solid actually. Their menu has a mix of Japanese, Chinese and Thai for the most part so there is at least a lot of variety across their menu but it can actually make it a little hard to commit to one type of food when you are ordering! I ended up getting a curry dish that was pretty good but wasn't as spicy as I like it or requested it, and I am a big curry person. But it was super filling because their coconut milk was clearly not light in any way shape or form. So I definitely left here extra full! Other people got their egg rolls and crab rangoons and those were pretty good but again nothing truly amazing. The sushi rolls were also just so so, but again for the price and this location it really is a decent spot to check out. I also noticed a ton of people ordering to go/pick up so I think that could be a good option to check out too!

Pranitha P.

Average food and quick service close to Millennium Park. Not the most phenomenal roll I've ever had, but the veggie roll is packed with goodies. You can also opt for black rice which is a nice option. Good place to stop if you're wanting this while on a lunch break for work or touring the city.

Erin D.

Tired after touring around D.C. in the morning/early afternoon, hopping on a plane and taking the L train into downtown, I was pretty beat and hungry. I walked a couple of blocks from my hotel, glanced at the menu on the podium, looked at the Yelp overall rating, and thought, "It can't be too bad, right?" Right! I studied the Japanese language and culture for about ten years. Obentoo (lunch box) is the way to go when you want a cheaper option and a meal that contains a little of everything. I was definitely sold on obentoo when I saw it came with miso soup. It's such a simple soup, but comforting, especially after a long day of travel. I ordered a size of gyoza (pot stickers), which were okay. I prefer mine to be a little crispier, but I've definitely had worse elsewhere. I chose the beef teriyaki with mushrooms obentoo. Frankly, I think it was Americanized teriyaki because it was very soupy. In some ways, that portion of the meal was reminiscent of Chinese cooking, and this is evident by the waitresses speaking Cantonese. Nevertheless, the flavors were good. My initial reaction was that there wasn't enough rice, especially for an Asian. The rice bowl was TINY compared to some Chinese restaurants. But, I couldn't finish the meal anyway, so I suppose it's a moot point. The tempura was not bad. I hadn't had tempura in a long time. If you have a child who hates vegetables, this is a great way to get him/her to eat them. Tempura is basically deep fat fried vegetables using a specific tempura batter. In this case, the veggies were broccoli, eggplant, and yam. I wish there had been more dipping sauce. I also think adding some panko (Japanese bread crumbs) would've been nice for added texture. I didn't touch the salad because I tasted a little bit of the salad dressing (some sort of peanut sauce, I think), and it did not taste good. At all. The California sushi (only contained cucumber and carrot) was mundane. I suppose one shouldn't complain too much when the obentoo includes all the above mentioned items (except the gyoza). Overall the food was A-OK, hence my three star rating. The meal cost about $21 including tax, which isn't bad considering the obentoo was only $13, and a lot of Houston places would probably charge $20-$25 for the same lunch box. It's a lot of food, and I was sorry that much went to waste since I was staying at a hotel (only had a little bit of everything or else would've given to a homeless person). I also think the price of the meal wasn't too bad considering the restaurant's directly off of Michigan Avenue and right across from the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (annual jazz festival was going on last weekend). Do I have to absolutely positively return to this place to eat? No. Would I object to returning? No. Three stars it is!

Anamaria H.

Came here again because it was the closest sushi place to the Grant Park Music Festival and my friend needed to take a train out of Ogilvie. Ordered the Harajuku sushi and was sadly disappointed. It had jalapeños in it, which should've stopped me from ordering it because what kind of sushi place has jalapeños? It just was sad. I don't know how else to describe it. The worst part of this place is that it's advertised as a sushi place but the sushi is so bland. And all their "spicy" options are mostly flavorless or have jalapeños in it.

Naomi M.

Decided to go here because I was in the area and really wanted sushi and was very surprised. I heard great things but I honestly don't think I would've enjoyed the experience without my friend. I ordered the Black Dragon, which was really good. The unagi on top was great. My friend had The Confusion and wasn't too pleased. She also had the crunchy tuna which didn't really have a crunch to it. The crab ragoon was ok but I would pass on that because it was fried a little too hard. I wanted to order dessert but it was very unsettling to have the waiters constantly asking if we were done. I felt as if they were rushing us to eat. When we first sat down the waitress kept asking if were ready to order and we hadn't even looked through the menu yet. She also came and rudely interrupted and said "you have to order lunch now because the lunch special time is coming up" and we had no intention of getting the lunch special. I've been to many places that have very polite wait staff who inform you of specials and the time frame once you are seated. The decor and food selection is nice but I probably would not go back here because of the service. If you don't mind going, it's just an "ok" place for sushi.

Joel C.

Terrible!!! Imitation crab? Horrible customer service!! 75% of the customers were NOT eating sushi and I can now understand why, I had a rainbow roll, miso soup, tuna Alvarado roll, and the tuna was a grey off colored fish, should be a vibrant red color. The imitation crab was still frozen!? I would never eat here again even if it was free for life!! No thanks!

Jonathan C.

Great food, but it seems like a small family has took on a tourist district. Great food at the prices and the market they cater to "THEBIGGS" that are in da area. ****(This place needs da middle man to say dis is what we like we want this for it.nolessnomorejustexperirncemyfamily, well livin and good) eat her cause you like it.

Vicky L.

It is hard to find a restaurant served Japanese food, Thai food and Chinese food at the same time and they are doing not bad. Hot woks succeeds! I tried Tom Yum soup and sashimi. Considering the price and location (near art institute), they are doing above average. The only downside is the service. No waiters or waitress answered my request for a long time.

Jane R.

The restaurant has a very trendy and modern vibe. The service was quick and the food came out quick as well. I have been here twice. The first time was for Japanese food. It was okay, but to be honest, I had chicken teriyaki. It is really difficult to mess that up. My friends' sushi "Mount Fuji" was eh-okay. She expected it to be a bit spicier because of the waiter's description. The second time, I got their spicy basil and Pad Kee Mao. I really liked their Thai dishes. They were very tasty and full of flavor. The price was reasonable. The portion was big for the Thai dishes. It is a great place to go to after work.

Beth H.

Thai/Sushi/Japanese place. I stopped in for lunch. Ordered Tom Yum Soup, pork gyoza, and Silver sushi lunch special with salmon roll. Soup - I would pass on next time. I thought it was a coconut milk base with mushrooms. It wasn't. No mushrooms or milk, but it was a large bowl, with lots of bell pepper, heat and a rich lime cilantro broth. The silver sushi special was a nice plate of sushi. Fresh and well prepared. The best part of this visit was the dumplings or gyoza. They were AMAZING!!!! Smoky flavor, pan fried with a nice ponzu dipping sauce. I can't get over the smoky flavor.

Alfreda D.

I've had take-out and delivery experiences mostly with this place. I LOVE the spicy basil entree from here. I've gotten it numerous times at this point, with chicken and/or shrimp, extra spicy or just regular. The dish has good each time I've ordered it and I appreciate that they don't skimp out on the shrimp portions. However, I love my food spicy and the first (and last) time I ordered it regular without the extra spicy request it was just okay, but not great. I think the extra kick is what does it for me. I've also ordered Thai iced tea which was really good. I usually get take out on the way home from work since it's nearby but one day I was craving it and wanted delivery at home. I was bummed when they said I was outside of their delivery zone. I pleaded since it was too far by just half a block. They eventually said yes and upped the delivery charge from $2.50 to $3. As if 50 cents was going to change my decision of wanting the yummy extra spicy basil! I've gotten delivery another time since then and had to remind them that they agreed to it once before... it wasn't a problem at all and I wasn't even charged the extra 50 cents! Ha.

Amanda M.

Swung by early Friday evening as a group of three and was seated promptly. Service was super quick. Our waitress was too quick, giving us no time for anything. We clearly weren't ready to order yet, so she came back again, but almost immediately after. After saying we needed more time yet again, then of course she was no where to be found. Anyways, I got a spicy tuna maki and a negi hamachi maki. Food came out an appropriate time. It was nice to see that there wasn't too much rice on the rolls. Overall, it was standard, but since it's right on Mich ave, prices probably were a little jacked up. Waters were constantly refilled which was nice, but my friend barely grabbed her last piece of her roll, and her plate was immediately scooped up. Guess I'd rather have fast than slow service, but felt like we were rushed and they wanted people in and out. Not a bad place to go but certainly not amazing either.

Aisyah S.

Fresh and tasty food, with very very reasonable price. No need to go to Chinatown to have delicious Asian meals! We can't complain! All of the menu we tried were above par! - Beef mushroom teriyaki bento box - Panang chicken curry and rice - Tempura udon - Panang chicken noodles (peanut-based sauce) My only critique will be for their California Maki served within their Bento Box, as it was not too special at all. But overall, it was great meal and I will definitely come back!

Paula H.

One star because: 1. The price they charged me inside was 3% higher than the price advertised outside. See my picture for proof. 2. The sushi was very expensive for what it was. Local grocery stores make sushi that is so much better. 3. The restroom was very dirty. Most of the patrons were tourists. That should have clued me and I should have walked away.

Chris W.

Great sushi without having to spend a ton of money. I'm allergic to shell fish which makes it difficult to find rolls at some places. This place had tons of options for me which was great. I only have good things to say about this place.

Vaishnavi S.

A good place to grab some Thai food while in Downtown Chicago. On our visit we had an order of: Vegetable Tofu soup - Comforting but could have done with more seasoning Chicken Panang Curry - Creamy but more sweetish in taste, a bit more spice could have helped Tuna-Avocado Maki - This was really good, fresh and crunchy! Veggie Hot Woks Fried Rice - Flavorful but again very low on the spice Also we were very pleased with the promptness in service considering that the place was pretty packed. Not bad overall..

Amey K.

Not good anymore. I have been going to this restaurant since last six years every time i go to city and crave for Thai Chinese food. I see this restaurant degrading in service greatly. Food had not very much though. I'm surely considering another Thai restaurant next time I'm in city. Bye bye to old customer and good luck with business

Brenda C.

I love their miso soup. Their rolls are pretty awesome.

Kaizen V.

Didnt like the food! Food tastes bland n mediocre - we ordered hot wok special fried rice but totally dissappointed with the flavor n taste - prices are ok when considering its located in top spot if downtown

Cassidy L.

First and foremost, the location is great! The restaurant is located right across the street from millenium park-one of Chicago's biggest tourist attractions. In addition to the great location, I must say that the restaurant decor was classy and modern. Now, to the food...my sister ordered chicken yakisoba and loved it. She couldn't finish it all as the portion was very large. I ordered the FUKUDOME roll and ate every bite of it!! One of the best sushi rolls I've had in a long time. Also, the prices are reasonable...for four people each with an entree and 2 appetizers to start, the bill hovered around 58. That's not too bad at all. Bottom Line: If you are in the area and in the mood for Asian, I would highly recommend!

Karl M.

Great place in downtown at a great price. The atmosphere was very pleasant, and the service was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Right across from Millennium park and the Art Institute. We came with 8 people at 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and we got a table very quickly.

Kim L.

Really solid spot for quick sushi in the loop. We took advantage of the lunch combo specials and got 5 maki rolls for about $24 (2 for $10.95 and 3 for $12.95). We got the spicy tuna (really nice big cuts of tuna), Alaskan roll, california roll, spicy shrimp (kinda weird) and salmon and avocado. Somewhat spotty service (server originally gave us the wrong rolls) but we'll be back.

Joel G.

Where to begin well first thing I found a tiny spider crawling on the table in front of me not sure where it came from...after that the food didn't come to the table fast when the food did arrive the sushi wasn't up to par it tasted as the rice that covered my roll wasn't fresh. the prices were so so and the size of the plates were good for the price over all it was a okay experience and with it being so close to mil park it would be a quick bite choice

Steve J.

Although I've never eaten in here, we order take-out frequently (once a month or so). This is not only the most consistent neighborhood Thai food but delivery food in general. Food is always good quality and the same every time. Always shows up within an hour and they're polite on the phone and at my door. Sushi isn't too bad either.

K W.

Great place to have sushi. Can be a little crowded during lunch hour but worth it. Great staff and food always arrives quick.

Vrati D.

The sushi was bland, but you get what you pay for. $12 for 3 rolls! The soy wrapper was not good and had a gross after taste. The service was also mediocre, which could have been because it was lunch time. Wouldn't go again.

Caspar C.

Great food at a wonderful location! This is fabulous when you can find a Asian restaurant!

Marina E.

Food was alright (nothing special), horrible costumer service. They were vacuuming the vent during our meal and we could not hear each other. I was charged extra for a little sauce without being told. I'm sure there are better sushi places around, this place is just convenient due to its location by millennium park.

Chad W.

Was not impressed with the sushi here at all. Quality was okay but forgettable at best. They also serve Thai; maybe that's a better option here, but unless you're against walking, you should probably check out one of the other places in the area. The "Gold" sashimi combo (their "best") was $20 and came with 1 shrimp, 1 octopus, 3x tuna, 3x white tuna, 3x yellow tail, and 2x salmon. I also picked up an Oceano roll, which they hit with a blowtorch WAY too close, making it acrid and damned near inedible. I don't think I'll be back.

Arthur C.

Decent sushi but the chinese food is great here. They make it with good quality meat and I love coming here with family once in a while because we all love this place. I would recommend you check it out.

Chevy R.

Food is delicious and spicy does mean spicy (spicy basil)! Good customer service! Great date place, ambience is really nice! My first time but not my last!

Wes W.

I'm by no means an expert, but I've had lots of sushi at other restaurants. The sushi I ordered here was absolutely delicious. The smoked salmon was fresh, tender, and wonderfully flavored. The Fukudome was also delicious and well presented. For the price alone I would recommend this place, but the food was excellent too. The service was helpful, and the atmosphere was friendly and clean. I would definitely eat here again.

Jessika M.

I'm usually wary of places that offer more than one type of cuisine, but since this place was open and nearby, I checked it out. I did honestly cringe a bit at the name, though. I was seated quickly and the service was nice and fast, even though it was quite busy as Sunday after St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The menu selection was varied but I stuck to just sushi. Unfortunately, they were out of rasberry jasmine iced tea so water it is. I ordered a miso soup, a caterpillar roll, crunchy spicy tuna and a softshell crab. The fish itself was not super fresh, but still good. I hadn't read the description of ther caterpillar roll so I was surprised to see it covered in tobiko, which I think is kind of an unnecessary add on. It seemed like they were just trying to revive a classic roll that didn't need it. I didn't try any of their specialty rolls - they all seemed to be over-reaching and over done, like a lot of trendy places try to do. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience but not the best sushi place there is.

Travis L.

This place was absolutely probably one of the best Asian spots or there that I've ever tasted! There sushi is awesome and the toppings are amazing! I got there pad Thai and I love there spices, noodles, and sauce! There misi soup for appetizer options is truly define! We even had to order more! This place is defenintly an A plus!

Porscha M.

I loved the sushi at this restaurant. I was definitely the best I've ever had. However, the yelp overview of the restaurant is incorrect. There is outside seating, catering, and the attire is more semi-casual. Overall Hot Woks Cool Sushi is delicious and I am visiting again.

Jenny J.

I've been here 3x and every time the sushi is soooooooooooo good. It's very affordable too. My server is always nice and the hostess greets you as soon as you walk in the door so you feel welcomed

Daphne M.

The blandest, most flavorless sushi (rainbow roll, salmon avacado), Tom yum gai, gyoza, fresh sping rolls. Damn. Not cheap and tasteless. The miniature egg rolls were ok. Dont waste your time or money

Ramya P.

Decent place to eat in one of the most touristy areas of Chicago! I have been here quite a few times when I'm being a tour guide to friends and relatives from out of town. This is one of my go-to spots to cool off with Sushi when hunger strikes from all the roaming around. The sushi is fresh and the wasabi, nice and spicy. But as for the hot dishes, the flavors are americanized asian fusion. The prices are very affordable and you will leave satisfied at the end of the meal.

Kaitlin M.

This is a great place to pop into for good sushi with quick service during the week. It can get a bit crazy on the weekends with tourists so I would go somewhere else as a local. My favorite roll is their vegetarian specialty.

Cara L.

On a gorgeous, sunny Chicago day, there's nothing quite like grabbing lunch and enjoying it in Millennium Park. And Hot Woks Cool Sushi is a perfect place to grab said lunch on the go! First off, the hustle and bustle of Michigan Ave on a warm, spring day is just an amazing thing to experience. It's a wonderful mix of business folk running around and tourists taking in the sites. Hot Woks Cool Sushi picked a perfect location for their restaurant. I watched person after person walk by and check out the menu. Their outdoor patio, although small, is pretty hard to resist. As I waited inside for my lunch guest to arrive, I watched as this place got busier and busier. The service started off great, but started to teeter the busier they got. This is understandable, but I will say ordering take-out once my friend did get there was super awkward. This could be remedied by calling in your to-go order ahead, which it looked like a lot of people did. Our 4 maki rolls took about 15 minutes to prepare, so we waited outside and chatted about life. Once we grabbed our meals and a picnic table by the Bean, it was clear this sushi wasn't going to last long. It was delicious, fresh and the perfect, easy lunch on a gorgeous day out! I literally scarfed the rolls and thoroughly enjoyed the lots of extra ginger they gave us. My only major complaint was that they didn't send us with any wasabi. Other than that, the fish was fresh, tasty and light. I'd definitely come back for a quick lunch on the go or even a nice, relaxing dine-in lunch!

Sierra G.

Sushi and Thai food...they actually seem to do both very well. I was a bit skeptical of the name and the fact that they lump two Asian cuisines into one restaurant concept, but this place is great and I have been back several times. This place is right on Michigan Ave, but seems to have a mix of locals and tourists. The servers are on a mission here and it always seems to be crowded. The food comes out FAST, so be prepared. The menu is nice and big, so there will be something for everyone, including vegetarians. The speciality rolls are a bit pricey, but they are more than enough for a meal. I asked for my sushi to be light on the rice and they were happy to accomodate. It came out perfect with the right ratio of sushi inners to rice, which apparently is important to me.

Gino W.

I remember when Mai Thai used to be in the place of the current Hot Woks Cool Sushi restaurant. Thinking that I would try some Mai Thai along with a friend, we walked into Hot Woks Cool Sushi and decided to see what they had on the menu. Panang curry chicken. Sigh. And that is a sigh of complete satisfaction. Hearty the way I like it and spicy without me having to ask. That is not a common thing in restaurants on Michigan Avenue, as they have more of a flair for toning down spices so those of the common palate would not complain. The tom yum shrimp soup never disappoints. The crab rangoons never leave me in a tiff. The edamame, albeit pedestrian, is never less than filling. Happiness per wok or sushi chef knife, I say.

Stephanie G.

yum yum and yum!!! I had their crab ragoon and pad thai. I have just recently started to eat pad thai, and I will definitely come back to Hot Woks again for it!! Delicious food, cute restaurant, and fast service for a lunch break. Can't wait to return!

Tristion M.

Good lunch for a decent price in downtown chicago . I'm a huge fan of their panang curry. I must warn you if you try it, you will love it. Although I must say their sushi is less than desirable. Must go for the hot wok but I would avoid the cool sushi.

Jarell H.

Awersome Sushi in downtown Chicago!!! Great menu and also great drinks!!! Get there early because it's always packed!

Rick B.

One of the best Pad Se-ew dinners I've ever had (got it with chicken instead of beef). Also tried some avocado maki (sushi) and it was perfect. Don't let the dinky sign out front scare you away; this is upscale Asian, but with very reasonable prices and really nice decor.

Bob A.

BEWARE the website address on this Yelp site!!!!! This is a link to a fake website that is not related to the restaurant. We are visiting from out of town and unwittingly placed an online order without t problem only to get a call a few minutes later saying that the restaurant would not take the online order. When I called the restaurant they were very pleasant, the order was ready in minutes and it was everything we wanted. But they insisted they have nothing to do with the company sponsoring the online ordering service. So Beware! also they are open on Sundays! the four stars are for the restaurant not the link.

Greg S.

Crowded at lunch. Service & food are very good. Pricing is very reasonable for Mich. Ave

Ali C.

Average sushi - not very fresh. The seaweed salad was full of lettuce which was interesting and astounding. The restaurant seems dated and their servers did not have the best of attitudes. Not sure I will visit again.

Oliver M.

Had pad thai and udon noodle soup. Pad thai: Tasted really good, only the tofu which I had them replace the chicken with was a bit bland. Tempura udon noodle soup: Disappointing, rather bland as well as the tempura that came with it. Service: Good. Fast, attentive and friendly. Price: Was ok, considering the location. If you're in the vicinity, looking for an affordable asian meal and not knowing of any alternative, the Hot Woks may be a place to go.

Jennifer L.

If anyone can recommend a good sit down sushi place in the Loop for lunch - let me know! The search is still on for me! I thought I found it at Hot Woks. I dined there once for a co-workers birthday and the food was good. I got the spicy tuna roll and sweet potato roll and enjoyed those very much. The service was good and our wait time was pretty reasonable saying that we had about 8 people in our party. However, my love for this place decreased the second time around. A group of five co-workers and I went here for lunch on a Friday around noon, which may have been the issue. The front staff/hostesses seemed disorganized and in my opinion, weren't giving people the right answers about wait times. Diners had to write their names down, which is fine. I heard a woman tell a customer that she didn't know how long the wait would be. That's a huge issue because people need to know especially if they have a limited amount of time for lunch. The wait time caused two of our party to drop out. I saw another party leave the restaurant as well. The waiting area totally pissed me off as well. It is just way too small and gets crowded very quickly. There is outdoor seating and that would have alleviated the wait had it not been too cold outside. People, including myself, had no idea where to stand and the wait staff had to pass through us to get to the people seated by the windows. Also, the bar area is super useless since no one can sit there during the lunch hour anyway. The food is good. We had crab rangoons to start and those were super yummy. A co-worker and I shared the spicy tuna, spicy scallop and sweet potato roll and those tasted very yummy. While this is one of the better sushi places I have been to in the Loop for lunch, it's really not worth the wait especially if I'm going to blow my allotted lunch hour to wait for it. Maybe next time I shall just place an order for take out and save myself the wait.

Ermelinda C.

We went here for dinner last night with another couple and it was an OK dining experience. The place was quiet and we set down immediately, which was great. The sushi was very good, but not spectacular. I did not try the sashimi but my husband and the other couple we were dining with seemed to enjoy it. The service was OK and the hot sake certainly added to our experience :-)

Kris M.

Two of us for a weekday lunch, the restaurant was busy but not packed. Edamame arrived 15 minutes after ordering, just warmer than room temperature. Gyoza arrived 20 minutes after ordering, just warmer than cold and tasted like sterno gas. I finally flagged a server to reheat. Servers were pleasant but non-attentive. Sushi was delicious! Overall, we were in the restaurant for almost 90 minutes. Way too long.

Kelly D.

I've been here a few times, mainly with friends. Probably isn't worth the price for the quality of the fish. I have worked at several Japanese restaurants, and it's just not that fresh. It's in the center of tourism, so it's not great for a small restaurant. The service is kind of mediocre, but the food comes out fast. There are better places, just travel outside of the loop.

Anthony R.

I've eaten here three times now, so why the low rating? My wife and I had sushi here twice. The sushi was good as was the seaweed salad. Neither were special, just good, fresh sushi. No complaints, but not five stars. The service is friendly and courteous, if a bit slow to respond. It was busy the first time, so I thought nothing of it. The second time, however, we were literally the first customers in for lunch. Four or five staff standing around and still a little slow to respond. I probably would not have returned, but during a business meeting at Aon Center a few colleagues wanted to try it for themselves. Admittedly, the sushi is good, so I told them so. I made the mistake of ordering from the Thai menu, however. The Pad See Ew was flavorless with soggy noodles and a single, unhappy and embarrassed broccoli floret. I ordered "Thai spicy" which resulted in a level of spice that would be mildly flavorful to a palate accustomed to warm milk and Tums. So, three stars, rounded up from 2.5. 4 stars for the sushi, 1 for the Thai food (the service was excellent this time, which pulled up the score from -1).

Rob C.

Wanted a light dinner before Book of Mormon and this was perfect. Food great service flawless. Vegetarian Mega roll was fabulous.

Sruts A.

Surprisingly good food. I wasn't expecting the sushi or noodles or anything else to be great here, but it is! It's nice for groups or just by yourself; don't be fooled by the small-ish bar area, there's a lot space in the back. Most of the food here is good. When it says 'spicy' it actually IS spicy! The bowl of edamame could be larger, but otherwise everything else is decent enough.

Betty H.

I am not a fan of raw sushi, but my hubby loves it!!! This is a place for both of us to really enjoy...by far, the best place to order panang chicken and tofu pad thai, each dish is very flavorful. Love their sweet potato maki roll as well.

Chris W.

Decent prices for a downtown location. Beer could have been a bit colder but overall not bad. My two biggest complaints are that they use krab stick in the rolls. If you cannot use fresh crab then keep it off the menu. Also the rolls were rolled a bit weak and tended to fall apart as we picked them up. You don't have to cut it in 10 pieces. Six or seven would be fine and the sushi rolls would retain their shape. Nothing inspiring but I would go in a pinch.

Carolyn T.

I met up with a party of eight for dinner here tonight. We were seated immediately because we had reservations; the place was hopping with people at 6 PM, which I took as a good sign. I decided on the pad thai with tofu and, boy, was it good! This may possibly be the best pad thai I have ever tasted, which is definitely not what I expected from an Asian fusion restaurant like this one. The tofu was cooked really well; it was substantial and flavorful and firm. Toppings (carrots, peanuts) were on the side, so I spread them on top. Really, this dish was mouth-watering and just the right amount of sweet and savory. The other pad thai dishes I have had in the past seem flavorless in comparison, which is a feat considering this one was not spicy at all. Our waiter stopped by to bring water, to take orders, to bring food, to refill waters, to take away plates, and to bring checks--perfect. I dislike it when staff are overly attentive because it detracts from the dining experience for me, which is visiting with friends. Something small that irked me a little was that my plate was never taken away even though we stayed a while after we were done eating. Two people got their leftovers to go but one of my companions and I declined. As delicious as my pad thai was, there was not enough left to justify leftovers; my friend, on the other hand, only ate a quarter of her noodle dish because it was "meh." The waiter asked us twice if we wanted the rest of our food to go. Everyone else completely cleared their plates, so maybe they kept expecting/wishing we would finish off our plates, too. In any case, it does not really matter; I just found it a little odd. And I spent way too much time talking about it considering how much I enjoyed my meal. Overall, I was very impressed with my pad thai and I plan to return to try out the sushi!

Megan C.

Pretty good sushi. Yummy chicken fries rice. We were delightfully surprised with this restaurant. It had 50/50 reviews. But I liked it. It has good company. Great service. Good food. Not Extraordinary. But good prices. And pretty good food. We enjoyed out meal. It's in a more quiet part of town (across from millennium park) and the people here are very nice. It's a great place for family. Or just an easy night.

Pam D.

I tried the HOT WOK Noodles which is the "house specialty". Stir-fry with chicken, shrimp, spinach noodles & mixed vegetables in sweet/tangy sauce. I asked them to leave off the jalapeno peppers. The plate came out quickly and hot. The chicken was perfect- still juicy, which I didn't even know was possible with asian dishes. Usually it's dry and/or chewy. As for the shrimp, it was pretty tasteless, but there was only 2 on the whole plate so it wasn't that big of a deal. The best part about the dish was that everything was fresh. The vegetables had a satisfying crunch indicating their freshness. For $14.95 (which was the dish plus a beer) I was satisfied.

Amena K.

Good.

Meridith E.

Being a Chicago girl for the past 6 years, it is REALLY hard for me to be so excited about a sushi restaurant off Michigan Ave in the heart of tourist'ville. But I am. I went with a few friends and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. We made reservations to avoid a line, which was helpful. But what I didn't appreciate was the child next to us that kept leaning over the booth into my friend's personal space and the lackadaisical parents who did nothing....but that's a whole other story. The mini eggroll & crab rangoon appetizers were good. I have to say the spicy tuna was my favorite of the rolls we got. (WARNING: We tried the South of the Border roll. Mole sauce on top of a roll might sound creative, but it tasted like poo to us.) If you're not drinking, get the raspberry thai iced tea! SO REFRESHING, and not too sweet. I wouldn't mind going there again. I'd just ask for a table with no kids throwing rice and invading our dining area, but that's what you get sometimes on Mag Mile.

James C.

Food was fantastic. Service was great. Can't wait to go back. We had the bento box. I had beef. My wife had chicken. Both was great. Lots if food for 11.95. Lunch menu.

Kyle H.

Hot Woks/Cool Sushi specializes in Chinese dishes and Sushi and Maki. This was my first visit to any of their locations, and this one has a small outdoor seating area right on Michigan Ave. The inside dining room has potential, but bellying up to the modern "bar" would probably be best. This is a nice change of pace near Millennium Park, the Art Institute, Symphony Center. It's nice enough for a pre-show date on the casual side, but also cheap enough if you're just looking for something different in the area. They do an Obama-Nami roll, which is kind of goofy, but fun. They have a few specialty rolls that looked good, and I went with the Akira roll, which was good, although sometimes a bit bland. I hear the Panang Curry is good, and it's nice that they offer the Chinese/Japanese combo here in a touristy area. Service was very polite and very quick! And I know this is the Dairy Queen Brazier song, but I kept thinking about it: Hot Woks, Cool Sushi...We treat you right!

Chris R.

Wanted to charge an astronomical amount to substitute one fish for another in roll. Both fish were similarly priced on their nigiri menu, so not sure why they wanted to do this other than greed. I guess making money for nothing is more important than pleasing the customer. What dumb management.

amber t.

My Vegetable Delight tasted amazing last night. Unfortunately, it gave me violent food poisoning.

Vincent Y.

Honestly, I don't like these fusion places. But the food was comparable to what I would get in the Bay Area--good but not fantastic and although I would take off another point for the prices, the restaurant was very clean.

Ginny D.

I've been here a bunch of times for work and with clients and am just getting around to writing a review after my visit today. I work just around the corner and this place is a great little gem but often gets jam packed over the lunch hour. The only star I take away is for the front door gal that I always seem to catch in a bad mood - don't sit there, this section's closed, scowl. But aside from that today's experience was exquisite as it was the first time I had a chance to get in early and actually discuss the menu with any of the wait staff. If you have the time - definitely ask questions and take the recommendations! Wonderfully helpful waitress and waiter - there were three in our party and one was quite indecisive so the advice of our excellent waitress was VERY appreciated! We ordered a spicy tuna maki and the tasting platter to start - lovely presentation and very very good. The spicy tuna was not really spicy but our waitress had mentioned that prior to our order - they tend to not do too spicy unless requested since most people tend to be sensitive - if you want it spicy - let them know. For lunch we enjoyed the chardonnay chicken (deliciously garlicy), hot woks noodles (with spinach noodles and bit of a kick) and the firecracker shrimp (lovely but sweeter than the other dishes and with pineapple). I typically just stick to the bento box which is always good but all of our dishes were wonderful. The appetizers were great and the portions are so generous that you'll need a doggie bag. It was a special send off lunch so we did dessert too at the recommendation of one of the waiters and the mango pudding is not to be missed! Deliciously fresh with mango pieces, fresh strawberry and whipped cream - in a word - Amazing! So good that my healthnut of a sister ordered a second serving for us to share. Oh and get out of your comfort zone here - we tried the raspberry iced tea - awesome, the thai iced tea - awesome and the iced coffee which was way better than Starbucks. Also, one person in our party was allergic to fish and as soon as i mentioned it to the staff they made sure that there was no cross contamination (which was impressive considering we ordered a bit of sushi right off the bat for the non-allergic). Thank you Hot Woks Cool Sushi - I'll be back. Again and again and again.

Elaine M.

Hot Woks Cool Sushi is wonderful! I love going there and ordering some sushi and udon noodles and splitting it. It is the perfect meal. I love that they serve various tempura vegetables, they are the perfect thing to dip into the broth of the soup. I've tried a decent amount of rolls and always loved my choices. Seriously, go there is you want some tasty sushi at a good price. Yum!

Renee F.

The sushi is pretty good, and the service is the same. It's dependable and will cure a craving, but it's nothing awe inspiring! Great for grab and go or a quick lunch with coworkers!

Sterling A.

Loved it. Affordable for the value!

Michelle T.

At 8:30pm on a Thursday night down at the loop, Hot Woks was one of the few places still open and still bustling! It's a standard fusion japanese joint with some thai dishes. Nothing special but decent edible affordable food. Warning: My judgement may be a little cloudy due to hunger and just having completed a freezing 5k race at 8:30pm. Chicken Teriyaki bento box - For $13, a pretty standard deal. You get a hot bowl of miso soup, a big bowl of rice, and your bento box. It includes 6 small pieces of california roll + hot chicken teriyaki + 4 pieces of tempura veggies + a too-salty soggy salad. overall, too much salt in the dishes, but everything tasted good. I ate it all. Pad Kee Mao - The sauce is killer good. Standard, but if you're a fan of pad see yew, this is totally the dish for you. I have to say, those fat chewy noodles may have been a little too thick and the dish looks too haphazardly thrown together, but messy food is the funnest food to eat. We ordered 2 rolls - Volcano + caterpillar i believe. Both tasted yummy and very flavorful, but if you're looking for high quality crab meat, you won't find it in Hot Wok's rolls. I'd come back for a hearty, casual later-evening weekday meal. Nice dark atmosphere also for a casual date.

Guido P.

Best maki I've ever had! Make sure you pop in for the lunch specials. Highly recommended.

Kate L.

Best Crab Rangoon I've found in the city (although the search continues...). I also really enjoy their Panang Curry. It is flavorful with a good amount of spice and usually what I order when I go to/order from HWCS. Be aware that the carry-out portion is larger than the dine-in portion. I've had better sushi, but it will do when you need a quick sushi fix. Last night, I wasn't in the mood for fish so I had the avocado maki. The avocado was quite fresh. The waitress forgot to bring one of our rolls, but by the time we had eaten everything else, we didn't need it or ask for it. My friend requested containers for soy sauce, but the waitress only brought one container. Rating of 3.5.

Lola K P.

Others can turn their noses up at this place for being part of a mini-chain (4 locations), being in the middle of tourist central (across from the Bean), blah, blah, blah. Bottom line is that this is a great place when you're in the area and want some upscale casual Asian-like food without an attitude and reasonable prices (for the area). Most importantly, it doesn't feel like a tourist circus. Hubby and I've been here several times for dinner after visiting the museum, where we just wanted a couple rolls and a girlie drink for me, and it's satisfied with decent solid sushi and tempura every time. I've also had a girls' night out here, and everyone loved it. We all split rolls and everyone thought the Obama roll was a hoot. The one woman who ordered a cooked dish, the firecracker shrimp, said it was delicious, but I thought it was seriously swimming in sauce. Still tasty. It is Americanized Japanese/Chinese/Thai/Fill-in-the-blank Fusion. Deal with it. It's all good for what it is. FYI - this is being written by a Chinese chick. We'll happily continue to visit.

Melissa S.

This location is not as good as the Hot Woks on Pulaski, where I've eaten or ordered delivery at least once a month for the past 6 years. The rolls were edible, but just a little bit not right. Some of them were loosely rolled and falling apart on the ends, and the presentation was not the same as what I've received at the other location. I seem to remember a very fun looking caterpillar roll, but what we received was not that. Our spicy scallop was missing sauce so the server had to take it back. It returned with just straight-up sriracha squirted on top in little dollops (the menu said spicy mayo, trust me I know what sriracha tastes like). My order of tuna sashimi was one teeny, tiny, meek, little, pathetic scrap of fish, approximately one square inch. Definitely the smallest and most scraggly bite of food I've ever paid $3 for. I found myself wondering if they had a new hire in the kitchen who just didn't know what was up. Service was good. The decor is fine. Prices are typical. The hike back to the bathroom gives you an unpolished view of the kitchen, and I tried not to think about the minor health code violations I saw. If I were them, I would seriously clean and tidy up in the back area, since customers walk right by. Oh, and the bathroom was dirty. The good news is, they have a bar at this location.

Vivian P.

I came here the other night with my friend, who is a vegetarian, and we both enjoyed the meal! To start: I asked for green tea and he asked for coffee. The tea was lukewarm, but perfect in taste for me. He didn't like the fact that the coffee was instant coffee, but come on, who orders coffee at 8 pm?? I ordered the spider and dragon roll, he (after I pointed it out!) ordered the only vegetarian roll. He loved how they brought the roll out, he called it a caterpillar hahaha :) My rolls were fantastic! The shrimp and crab tasted fresh, I couldn't stop the drool!!! I swear I still looked classy. The place looks small from the outside, but it's quite spacious inside. Our server was very helpful, we found a table quickly, and we were able to ice skate afterwords! All in all, a great place to check out :)

Erin C.

Come to this Asian fusion restaurant for a low-lighting dining experience that won't break your wallet. The sushi is nothing remarkable - it satisfies a craving - however, be prepared if you want to order anything else for Americanized Asian food. If you like your food smothered in sauce, you'll probably enjoy this place quite a bit. They have a good selection of noodle and rice dishes, from Panang noodles (chicken, peppers, in a coconut curry sauce over thick rice noodles) to General Tso's chicken (batter fried chicken pieces stir fried with vegetables and covered in a tangy soy sauce). We also tried the Spicy Basil rice dish and Hot Wok noodles and had the same experience - the first bite was good, but trying to finish your plate became a chore since the flavors are really one-dimensional and overpowering. I've been here one other time for lunch - there's usually a rush, and they have a better sushi deal then. You might consider this a pit stop if you want to get away from the summer sun - they have the air on blast and their glasses of water are huge - but for food I'd rather save a few bucks and walk the block over to Panda Express.

Jenn D.

This was one of the two places suggested to me for delivery from my hotel's front desk person. The people working at Hot Woks at the time I ordered were unfamiliar with the hotel, so perhaps they don't get many delivery orders from there. Either way they were patient on the phone as I scrambled to find the address, the delivery came fast, and the food was expertly packaged. Petite Egg Rolls: not a fan. I didn't like the taste at all, and frankly wanted a real egg roll with all the yummy vegetables. Maybe if the small ones tasted closer to real egg rolls I would have enjoyed them. They did come with a sweet thai chili sauce, which made them edible. Cucumber Salad: total yum. Tastes just like a cucumber salad should. The cucumbers are cut chunky, but tasty. An excellent and refreshing choice. Panang Curry: the flavors and spice were right on, served with bell peppers and carrots (it worked). Amercian style curries are always extra creamy, and this curry was very creamy. Creamy usually goes with sweet, but this panang was not too sweet and heavy on the basil. Total solid unfamiliar city delivery, but I don't think it would ever become a favorite.

Julie T.

Great little place with a perfect location. If you sit next to the window, you can see a view of Millennium Park. The sushi was okay, it's not as high grade as I'd like, but the sizes of their rolls are perfect (capable of one bite with being about to breathe). I got the eel roll that had the perfect amount of eel and eel sauce and I also got the rainbow roll and it was pretty good. It almost reminds me of supermarket sushi (or Publix made) because of the lower grade/less fresh taste. My boyfriend had his first pad-thai here and it he said he would come back here for it. I would highly recommend it. Overall the service was nice, the restaurant is narrow with a big dining room and a very nice atmosphere.

Yoie L.

I really want to like this place. It's conveniently located on Michigan Avenue, it's kind of on the way home, and they serve a variety of Thai and Japanese food. But after visiting this place twice, I am not wowed by any means. First time I ordered a spicy tuna roll and pad thai. I would say the spicy tuna roll here is solid. Very spicy to my liking. The pad thai was not memorable but I remember the dish being huge. The other day I came after work and it was hopping on a week night. I had the Bento Box with teriyaki chicken. If you are super hungry, Bento Box is the way to go. But the California rolls were so dry I had to soak it in teriyaki sauce to make it tasty. I would go back here if I'm on Michigan Ave again, but definitely won't order the Bento Box.

Dawoomi H.

So unhappy here. My wife has an allergy to cucumber and I told the server that. However they bring cucumber in my dish and they don't think it's serious. So, if you have any allergy, please avoid this place to save your life.

Kam X.

A tourist to Millenium park? Love sushi? Then this will be it! Just right across from the park. It has great service and nice interior. You can also eat outside too! And it does serve alcohol beverages too!

Jessica Y.

Never go to this place if you have a food allergy. I told them what allergy I have, but they completely ignored and brought two dishes with that particular vegetable. They brought the new dish, but I think the cook did not change the glove or washed hands. I know somebody touched the veggie I am allergic to because I had to take the allergy medicine after that.

Shradha A.

Absolutely obnoxious service! Our server messed up the order, after clarifying to her a couple of time while placing the order, and then makes it sound like she's doing us a huge favor by going and getting us the right sushi, the ones her notes said and she herself re-read to realize it was different. Place is too loud and high traffic and terrible to talk and catch-up. I guess what people might call a tourist tap..

Taylor L.

On a day of sightseeing, I stopped by here in search of a break from steak and pizza. It's right off of Millennium park, which is convenient for those who were hungry, like myself, after seeing Cloud Gate. The menu has a pretty wide range of sushi rolls, soups, salads, sashimi, noodle dishes. One of the sushi rolls was named "Obamanami", which I thought was kitschy and it made me laugh - fitting for a Chicago sushi spot though. Since I was eating for one, I only got one roll and that was the Fukodome ($13) which is shrimp tempura, mayo, masago, avocado, chili sauce, red tobikko, cream cheese, scallion with tempura crumbs on top. It was honestly a really good roll, and I wished that I could have tried more food. The service was fast and friendly, and the restaurant was clean. Overall, it was pretty decent.

Lawrence L.

Great service. Very nice chicken salad- basically larb gai. Following the Thai theme my basil chicken was fantastic - recommend ordering it with the fun (fat) noodles! All up a perfect lunch spot if you are in the mood for Asian food. Sushi looked fresh but I didn't eat it this trip. Next time.

Andrea R.

My fellow pregnant sushi addicts can rejoice...best veggie roll ever. The hubby and I were taking the pup for a long walk the other night...and we were starving. What else is new? My husband suggested Hot Woks Cool Sushi. I usually steer clear of sushi restaurants I haven't heard of, especially when pregnant, but he insisted he'd eaten there a few times and it was pretty good. And even better...we scored a table on their little patio so the pup could join us! Now back to the best veggie roll ever. This was so good that I may order it even after this baby pops out! I can't remember what it was called, but it was filled to the max with sweet potato tempura, beets, broccoli, avocado and even more veggies. The roll was so huge it took about 3 bites to fit it all in my mouth. I had worried 1 veggie roll wouldn't be enough so I had also ordered a side of sushi rice, but I would have been plenty full without the rice (even though I ate it). The hubby was thrilled with his "real" sushi too, but I wasn't too jealous thanks to my awesome veggie roll. I later learned from the all knowing Chicago Yelp King, Johnny T, that Hot Woks has 2 other locations in Chicago. Another reason to rejoice!

Patrick L.

Et tu, Yelp? I saw 3 1/2 stars and thought, ok not bad. Right next to Millenium Park. Go for a stroll after dinner... I've heard good things, too. So I first walked into this place, and there was a "line" to the door, so I thought, ok this place was bumpin and popular. My date and I had to wait, but... when we were able to look into the dining area, there clearly were open tables. I lamented, "You know, we could just sit there at that open table..." And lo and behold, we were finally sat a few moments later AT ONE OF THOSE OPEN TABLES. Maybe they were deciding on what server to take us, but that wait was unneccessary. Strike one. The napkins did warn me. Though the decor was pretty throughout the restaurant, the napkins were... paper napkins. Not even fancy paper napkins -- these ones fall apart at the slightest touch with moisture. God forbid you want to wipe your mouth on one of these things, lest you get napkin bits on your lips. Which totally happened, by the way. Anyway, nice conglomeration of hot and cold food, hence the name of the place. Went for an appetizer item what the menu called, "Spring Rolls (12)". My date and I assumed, 12 spring rolls is quite a deal. But no -- when it came out, it was 2 regular sized spring rolls cut up into 12 pieces (like sushi-size). That was false advertising, or not advertised clearly enough. I mean, who thinks that one count of a spring roll is a little sushi roll size? This place, apparently. Strike two. Oh, and the main entree. Apparently "the most popular dish" is General Tso's Chicken. The breading was super soft and soggy and falling off the chicken, and the chicken did not taste fresh. It was dry. Sauce desperately trying to compensate like a not-so-well-endowed man and a Hummer. Strike three. I didn't think it warranted complaining to management anymore. I didn't want to try any more. But in staying to chat with my date, our waitress kept asking us, "Are you done?" They apparently really wanted us out of there, because another woman who wasn't our waitress also asked us if we were done. Yeah... we were done alright. Never coming back. Strike...... four? Hence the 1-star rating. The napkins did warn me. UPDATE - I've updated this to a 2-star rating since they did offer to make things right, give 'em another chance and all. I do appreciate good customer service, even after the fact.

Amy W.

If I'm in downtown Chicago with some friends and we're looking for a cheap, quick bite to eat, Hot Woks Cool Sushi is always what I suggest. Service is good, and I usually get seated near the front -- I love the tables right next to the window facing Millennium Park. The food is pretty good as well, typical Thai and Japanese. I love the Hot Woks noodles and the pad see ew. You really can't beat the price and the location!

T V.

My go-to sushi place! I've gone here more than once after running around Mich Ave (the art institute is right across the street). It's the perfect place to pop into after a long day, have a saki or three and relax. Their prices are very reasonable (!) for BIG rolls which always gets good ratings in my book, and super tasty. The sake is decently priced, could be cheaper, but that can be overlooked. The last time I was there I had the mega vega... omg, surprisingly delicious for a veggie roll. I also had the rainbow which was good as well. Definitely recommend this place for a late lunch after being downtown all day. Charming, good prices and yum sushi.

Christina P.

All right, hot woks, you get one star for being clean (and I suppose, therefore, edible) and another star for situating yourself right across the street from Millenium Park. But that's all! Why? Let's start with the "12 fresh spring rolls": Not 12, but 2 rolls, cut into 12 pieces. Also, not that fresh, bland, and utterly unfulfilling A waitress recommended the "most popular item on the menu" which turned out to be the most heavily breaded, greased up and oversauced General Tso's Chicken I've ever had. Oh Tso, if you had actually existed and made chicken, you'd roll over in your grave... The noodles were okay, but I'm still not sure if they were decently good, or just not bad enough to warrant complaint in comparison with the other dishes. And to top it all off, the wait staff seemed to think that we would just polish off our greasy food in an instant, based on the way they constantly came over to ask, "Are you done?" No, I'm still trying to stomach this stuff! It's not as if there's a line waiting outside to enjoy your delicacies :-p

Esther K.

My co-workers and I have ordered sushi for pick up from Hot Woks several times, but I can't speak to the experience of dining in. However, I can say that we have been really pleased with each take out order. We've gotten 10+ rolls at a time (ranging from the spicy tuna and salmon to dragon to unagi), and our order has always been ready within 15-20 minutes (around 4-4:30p on Fridays). The fish is fresh, the rolls big, and it isn't too pricey. And, a small detail, but they itemize our separate orders on a shared bill, which is always helpful. Not the best sushi I've had but not bad, and it's become our go-to spot (admittedly for convenience as well as taste) for Sushi Fridays!

Brandon B.

Now that this is right up the street, a good pretty cheap alternative to most of the fast food/chain places on Michigan Ave. Very quick and attentive service, pretty big menu with a lot of sushi but also just regular noodle/chicken dishes. In my infinite laziness and fatigue I got the orange chicken (original I know) and it was a big different than the usual with the sauce being on the bottom and not being particularly orangy...but I thought it was a nice variation. More food than me or my 2 friends could eat, and a decent price, good standby for a decent meal!

M M.

I love this sushi restaurant!! It's one of my favorites. I can't speak for the seafood since I'm vegetarian, but the vegetarian sushi rolls are all delicious!!! I highly recommend this restaurant. It's cozy and a great location.

Melissa F.

Right around the corner from my place, so it's somewhere I like to go sit outside on a cool night, have a beer and eat some yummy panang curry. Right across the street from Millennium Park, so if you're visiting the city and want some good Thai food, I recommend this place.

Kathy L.

Pretty, comfortable space. Delicious seaweed salad! Service was FAST and no nonsense!

Mickey A.

Of course there would be an Asian restaurant with decent sushi closer to my old job. Wait. Let me re-think. That might not be such a good thing as I would have become such a lunch regular here. Not wanting to do anything but veg out in my pjs and watch DVDs, I stopped in for some sushi take-out. Like most Michigan Ave. restaurants, this place was hopping with the after-work crowd and tourists. The employees seemed to be on their game bustling about greeting everyone who came in and making sure the diners got their food and drinks, etc. Speaking of food...I came in for sushi but ended up getting one sushi order (one of my favorites: sweet potato tempura maki) and an order of rama chicken (peanut flavored sauce with broccoli). I can't say the sweet potato roll was bad; it was delicious. But really, how hard is it to mess up (not that I can make it or anything)? Since my favorite Thai place to get rama chicken recently closed, I am on the search for a runner-up. This one? Well, it was just ok. The sauce was a little watered down but perhaps that was due to traveling. Broccoli managed to stay fresh and crisp and good to the very last bite. Side notes: - In addition to carryout, they also do delivery & catering. For an early & busy Friday night, I did not have to wait more then 20 min. Also, I clocked in some people watching time on Mich. Ave. - Crushed peanuts topped the rama chicken. I'm not a fan of this but am willing to overlook/scrape off to eat everything else. - Prices seem reasonable. I'm definitely coming back to try their other rolls and dishes.

Kammie G.

Typical thai food place - the food is good, just like everywhere else. The sushi was pretty good too. Nothing spectacular but it's hard to make a typical thai dish into something remarkable, they are all similar lol. We sat by the window and I didn't realize how big this place actually was until I went to the bathroom in the back. So THAT'S why we got seated so quickly on a Saturday late lunch time. Anyways, the service is good. The waiters are very nice and pleasant.

Steve J.

My wife and I ha entrees for lunch. I had a chicken with peanut sauce. It was really good and flavorful, however a bit too sweet for meal. I would go again but try something with more spice to it. Service was really good as well.

Robert M.

Expensive but for a tourist area the food was great. The fish tasted fresh. The dunplings where great.

Gloria A.

Honestly, I got sashimi that wasn't as cold as it should have been. Sashimi should be cold and crisp and fresh. That was disappointing. I did have other rolls that were enjoyable, so I may be back.

Tracy L.

Boyfriend took me here for a birthday dinner before we went to see The Book of Mormon. Really good sushi, and very nice servers. The atmosphere is great for a date. Sushi is not cheaper than other places but not more expensive than the usual. Also, this location is right by Millennium Park and other attractions.

Jennifer J.

They only had one fun veg sushi roll option, but it was awesome. My omni friends loved it too. The Mega Vega is a giant roll with sweet potato tempura, cucumber, carrot, avocado, and beet with a wasabi mayo drizzle. I could easily have eaten the whole thing myself. I also got a veggie/tofu tom yum. Didn't ask if there was fish sauce...I was on vacation...sorry fish. The broth was delicious. The veggies and tofu were pretty disappointing, just thrown in there basically raw, which I wasn't expecting. And the tofu was just big chunks of plain old silken. Pretty dull. We also started with a just fine edamame. Overall the meal was fun and the sake was yummy and the service was pretty quick and knowledgeable.

Fatima H.

This place is awesome! We have had lunch and dinner here many times and this place is one of my favourite in Chicago. Let me try to remember the sushi I have had here: We have had their tuna, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, negi-hamachi and unagi rolls and from their signature rolls, we have had Akira and Dragon. Everything was delicious! Crab Rangoon for appetizer is very tasty and if you order tea for beverage, they keep on coming by giving you free refills throughout your meal (so good in the winter)! Definitely eat here if you haven't already!

Thomas G.

Great sushi for great price! Just be careful! Their portions are big! I also loved the atmosphere and friendliness of the staff.

Heather M.

I know that I live in the good food wasteland that is downtown but it's really insane that there's no good thai anywhere around here. Thai food is the first sign of gentrification in any NY neighborhood, so if the developers are really trying to get the ball rolling on "Lakeshore east," it will probably serve them well to get some decent Pad See Ewe within delivery distance of the high rises. The version out of this place is pretty bad. It was sweet... why? And the meat was really questionable. I picked it out. One star for an abundance of steamed broccoli, even though I'm used to sauteed Chinese broccoli in this dish. The "non-traditional" spring rolls were awful. Store bought chewy wrappers. Gross. One more star for the broth of the Tom Yum, which wasn't great... but relatively okay, all else considered. The rest of the soup was pretty bad. That said, I'm not even sure there's another option for Thai delivery in the area, so if you need to do it... I guess go ahead.

Rae-Lyn F.

We were seated immediately. The menu was easy to read. The atmosphere was nice. The selection was good. I loved that they had plastic chopsticks and I could get a bento box for dinner. The soft drinks are $1.75 and all it is is a can of soda, and a glass with ice. The only real problem we had was we ordered two eel nigiri and was brought two eel rolls, which was a bad misunderstanding, and a bad price difference.

Heather L.

We had a couple of the makis here. Overall, the sushi isn't anything special - but decent enough to fall into the still-enjoyable profile. On the other hand, the "Hot Wok" aspect of this place is worth noting. The Spicy Basil and the Hot Wok Noodles are pretty darn good. I guess the whole concept of sushi OR an entree isn't new, but this is one of the few places in Chicago that has made it work.

Angela Z.

Cute appetizers. Sushi was decent. Not so mindblowing on the fish quality, but good.

Barb S.

The absolute BEST sushi place I have ever been to. Beautiful and delicious food and wonderful service even though it was incredibly busy. Ate there two times during our four day stay in Chicago. We had gyoza and crab rangoon apps which were awesome. The dragon roll and the california roll were especially yummy. Everything tasted fresh and was so delightfully presented. Our group of four ate until we were stuffed and it was only $75 plus tip. Cheapest meals we had during our vacation and by far the best. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Tony M.

Awesome fresh sushi recommended! Tea is fantastic here! If you are next to millenium park, this place is spectacular for lunch and dinner!

Christina L.

I tried Pad Thai here (w/o peanuts since i'm allergic) and I am going tomorrow again to eat! The sauce kind of tastes like Ketchup (pretty interesting combination), but i really liked it. The waitress was really polite and nice too. I sat outside on a perfect weather. RECOMMEND! :D

David S.

I'm in Chicago all week. After walking around millennium park, I happened to be walking by this place so I stopped in. I ordered the sushi silver combo and the spicy basil. Sushi was fine, nothing special. Though I did really like the wasabi-relish like condiment they serve with their sushi. I am a huge basil fan so I was excited to try the spicy basil. Though the basil flavor was there, it was completely overpowered by the copious amount of jalapenos they put in the dish. I love jalapenos as much as anyone else...but after a few bites, you couldn't taste anything but. I was going to give it 3 stars based on the food...but the waitstaff earns them an extra star. . When I ordered, the waitress asked if I was sure b/c it was going to be a lot of food. And throughout the meal, they checked on me regularly....but their approach and attitude was what stood out. It came across as they genuinely cared about making sure I had a nice experience.

Samantha R.

Came here for the first time with some friends a while ago and decided to revisit for New Year's Eve with some friends. The staff was amazing and gave us free champagne for the occasion. The food was a little more expensive than I usually pay for sushi, but still not bad. Between the four of us, we all got lots of rolls and everything was delicious and fresh! They had great appetizers, too. It was a really good time and a fun atmosphere to be in. I am going to Columbia college in the Fall, and I'm so excited to be so close to this place!

Aaron N.

Came here for lunch and it was freaking slamming. I got the Unagi (that's eel for the sushi illiterate) and the spicy salmon (that's spicy salmon) rolls and they were delicious. The lunch special made everything come to around 10 bucks which is a deal if I've ever seen one. Definitely a great lunch spot, but it gets pretty packed so try and come either early or late afternoon so you can get a seat. I've heard it's great for dinner too, so if you are looking for sushi downtown, this is great spot. Hot Woks Cool Sushi...good work. Boom (that means it's good).

Elizabeth H.

Delicious, tasty food. Efficient, friendly service. Uncommonly affordable--even with a bottle of sake. If you love sushi but your date doesn't, you don't have to settle for one of those second-rate places--as they do curries, stir fry and sushi all quite well. The interior is alluring with original art and good lighting, though admittedly the plastic sign outside the door makes it look cheap to passersby. Come for dinner and then go for a walk around the park afterwards--you won't regret your evening!

Corey W.

We enjoy a good sushi and you can't beat the sushi for the price here. The delivery guys knows me by name which is great and will ask how my wife is. On one occasion we ordered online and something happened with their system which caused a long delay. We called and the woman on the phone was so nice and credited the price of our meal. We weren't looking for that but they did it anyway. Again, great place, you can't go wrong.

Kaleb H.

The food was fantastic. Some of the best Sushi I've ever had. However, the service was kind of shotty. A server was yelled at for around three minutes by his manager right behind our table. It was awkward and hard to tune out. They never once refilled our drinks. Despite all of this, I'd eat there again, because the food was out of this world.

Dan R.

We decided to stop at this place once we were at Michigan Ave. Our first impression was that the place was really small and we were not very confident about what kinda food we were going to find there (other than sushi of course) . But entering the restaurant we could see that there is actually a lot of space on the back, and the seating is very comfortable and cozy. I like the menu, extensive variety, and good stuff to choose. I ended up ordering a Bento Box for the first time, and personally i think this is one of the coolest inventions ever! You can have a taste of many different things in your plate, and i thought it was very satisfying. The boys ordered something else from the Thai menu. I noticed that they have some items in their bar, but I wasn't interested about alcohol - just giving you a fyi in case you're thinking about drinking with your dinner. Service was good, facility is good too. I though my food was very yumi, and I am happy I tried this place! :)

Jaime G.

Really good place for a sushi fix. Not the best sushi but it's priced right and good if your dying for sushi. Their Thai menu is extensive and very tasty, like the Tom Yum soup. Good beer and wine list although I do prefer to bring my own at their Irvin park location. Have to give them cred for how they handled my last order from them. Ordered a ton of food for the office. They ended up giving me a few wrong orders and delivered it a bit late. I sent a note to then thru imenu (where I ordered from) and they promptly called with an apology and $10 gift cert. Not much but def appreciated. They get 4 stars because of it. This place is def a must try.

Kristin R.

Geyser Peak sauvignon blanc? Yes please! Oh, and their pad thai was pretty frickin' amazing. I love how thick and perfectly cooked the tofu was. They weren't tiny little pathetic pieces, or super square pieces, or horribly fried/overcooked pieces, but just really beautiful pieces of tofu. It was love at first sight. I ate the entire bowl. And the prices are totes reasonable. Not to mention they have wine. Oh wine!!!!! I love wine. Did I mention Geyser Peak? Oh and beer and I noticed a piece of cheesecake. If I had not already gorged myself in a sea of pad thai noodles, I would have ordered the blueberry (or was it raspberry?) cheesecake. Now an excuse to return! I might have to come to the one on Roscoe next time. I'm in a horribly bizarre mood. I think the pain in my calves is turning me into a nutcase. Help! Whoever actually reads my shit reviews, I need a soft tissue massage ASAP. Sorry this review is painstakingly useless, but I do give props to the pad thai.

Pavithra M.

After an eventful and wet hour at Millennium Park, we headed to Hot Woks Cool Sushi for lunch. Three adults and two cranky toddlers do not good dining make, but we still managed to stuff our faces with the tasty maki and fried rice. We ordered the Harajuku (Jumbo Roll: Yellow Tail, seared albacore, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro with orange and black tobikko outer covering), Spicy Salmon (Fresh salmon & spicy mayo ) and Crunchy Spicy Tuna (Spicy tuna w. tempura crumb outside) rolls. To assuage the rest of our hunger, we got an order of Chicken Fried Rice. All except the Harajuku met or exceeded our expectations. The fried rice was exceptionally flavorful. The Harajuku was average...the flavors of jalapeño and cilantro did not come together like we expected. All in all a cost effective, satisfying meal, if one ignores the somewhat snippy waitress, who seemed as though she did not really want to serve us. While the place is geared to being child-friendly and there were other families dining there, we still got some looks when the kids were intermittently loud. Oh, and the Thai Iced Coffee was the icing on the cake. On a hot day like today, it was the perfect blend of coffee and cool condensed milk. I would definitely go back.

Colin E.

Stupid name, great sushi. I've been many times and always had consistently excellent fish. The color, texture, taste, freshness have always been exceptional. Great location, decor is nice, it's a little darker and more comfortable than most sushi restaurants--which I like. I'm a happy regular.

Stina T.

I've been going to and ordering from Hot Woks Cool Sushi for a few years now - it's become one of my favorite places to get Thai and sushi from. Their prices are fair for being in the Loop, not too expensive. Furthermore, they only charge $2.50 for delivery. The food itself is really tasty - the portions are large enough to share or bring home for leftovers. Their Pad Thai is one of my favorites and their Crab Rangoon is one of the best I've ever had! The staff is also helpful and their delivery guy, Paul, is really friendly. The ambiance is also really nice in the restaurant - comfortable, but a little bit trendy with an Asian flare. If you're looking for a good Thai or sushi restaurant, you really can't go wrong with Hot Woks Cool Sushi. I have yet to be disappointed, finding their food and service consistent every time I go there or order from them.

Ann L.

We ate here after checking out Millennium Park. We got hungry again. It's across the street so very convenient. Food isn't very good, but close to Millennium Park & The Art Institute. I got 3 rolls. I can't remember the names - spicy tuna roll maybe, creamy white tuna roll, salmon & avocado roll. Just ok, nothing special. B. got some nasty peanut butter like goopy sauce with noodle - it looked awful. I didn't try it, but he didn't like it much either. Miso soup- small bowl $2.50. Boring. If you want hot tea it's Extra! Crazy. Only eat here if you have to.

Hernan T.

I've been to this location twice before with my girlfriend and I'd usually give it 4 stars for budget friendly sushi that's pretty good. Today is another story. I decided to eat here for lunch because the location is a block away from my job. I placed my order online for some gyoza and a spider maki roll. Total was over $14. But this is sushi that I don't eat too often so what the hey. I loved the spider maki last time. This time, the soft shell crab was fried beyond belief. It was dry and tough, left a nasty aftertaste, and the way they attempted to make it look nice by randomly leaving fat avocado wedges and cucumber pieces sticking out made it apparent that this was a very rushed and half-assed attempt at sushi. At least the gyoza was good but I paid extra for sushi and was treated to something that I wouldn't wish on my enemies. Well, actually, yes I would.

Jessica S.

This review is based solely on the Pad Thai with tofu. I have yet to try anything else here since the Pad Thai is so good, especially for a place in the Loop. Hot Woks would definitely not be my go to Thai restaurant in my neighborhood, but it definitely is in the Loop. I've been a handful of times and the service has always been quick and attentive. Portions are good, and the location right on Michigan Ave. can't be beat. I'll definitely be back for a yummy Thai lunch, and will maybe one day try the sushi.

Jamison E.

Great place. It is a small restaurant across the street from the park with the cloud gate and a couple of blocks from the Palmer House. It looks pretty fancy when you walk in but everything on the menu is very reasonably priced. I love the vegetarian tofu soup. It is a big bowl that is very fresh and packed with lots of vegetables. It is the reason I return during the chilly Chicago evenings. I have gotten several different sushi rolls and all have been good.

Ashley C.

I've been here twice since it had opened - they were two very different experiences, the latter prompting this review. The first time around, I would have given a good three stars. The good was decent, quick service, and the perfect lunch working spot when you'd like a cheaper sit-down lunch without the wait. The biggest problem: service. Maybe it was a bad day, but that along with only ok food is enough for me not to recommend this place again. We needed a unique place on Michigan Ave so I suggested here (I think my recommendations are seriously being reevaluated). It was not busy at all during lunch time, but the waiter was no where in sight. We sat for ten minutes without so much as a glance from anyone. Just when we were going to walk out, the waiter comes. Was he apologetic? No. Even friendly? No. We didn't really know what to order because nothing on the menu really stood out and the waiter was not helpful at all. Just said, "it is all good." We probably should have walked at this point but our stomachs told us. We both got Pad Thai - one regular and one spicy. It was ok, edible, but nothing to rave about. Did we see our server? No. It took a while to get the check too! The service was enough to damper anything good about this place.

Emily C.

Fresh Sushi: Nori was very fresh Rolls are huge, really good and nicely made: Akira and Harajuki are a must. Seaweed salad is delish and enough for two people. You get your food super quick. The prices are typical for other sushi places in the area but sort of less expensive than other restaurants on Michigan Ave. The place: Sort of a respite from the craziness of Michigan Ave And it's deceptive, when you walk in the place is actually pretty huge. Show up early for lunch, this place fills up pretty quickly. One draw back: the tables are super close together, almost feels like you are sitting at a communal table which isn't so bad. Nice to be that close so you can see what others are eating (those around us had some cooked stir fry options which looked great and also the Bento Box which looked good. Also you can eaves drop on conversations of neighboring tables. Who doesn't love that.)

Roberta M.

Reasonable prices, hearty portions, delicious food, nice ambiance, Michigan Avenue location convenient to Symphony Center, Art Institute, Millennium Park, Cultural Center. Our favorite downtown restaurant!

Dan N.

Great location, better prices. In a neighborhood that everything mediocre or not has sky high prices this is a great find. Very good food at excellent prices. We started with the Petite Egg Rolls ...no complaints, love the sauce. Moved on to Pad Thai and Beef and Broccoli, my wife though it was the best Beef and Broccoli she ever had. Nice pieces of tenderloin and crisp Broccoli lightly sauced. The Pad Thai was good I would prefer a little more charred wok hei on the noodles but the flavor was excellent. It was a busy Friday night and the service was smooth maybe a little slow but thats to be expected at the time we went.

Jamie I.

My colleagues and I discovered this gem unexpectedly in the buzzing city. We were doing an early evening stroll and stumbled upon this place. The patio decor certainly intrigued us to go in. Once we stepped inside we were in complete awe of how big the restaurant really was. The saying is true, "don't judge a book it's cover" because this place definitely appeared small and quaint from the outside but had a modern and trendy vibe to it from the inside. We were seated pretty quickly and were impressed that the menu was quite extensive. The food options ranged from popular Thai dishes, sushi and even Chinese delacacies. We all ordered various sushi rolls (The Black Dragon, South of the Border and Maki). The portion sizes were perfect and we were all pretty full at the end of our meals. Though we had no waiting time to get seated a took a while to get our food but hey what's there to complain about if our food was yummy, which it was. We definitely appreciated finding a restaurant with super delicious sushi which we had no initial intentions of dining at.

Nikki C.

After traveling to Chicago on a bus trip with the Taste of Chicago as the main focus, the only thing that caught my eye was Hot Woks Cool Sushi as soon as I stepped off the bus. Carole H. and I made a beeline for HWCS and I ordered a rainbow roll and crab Rangoon. The crab rangoon pieces were nice & big and served with a nice duck sauce (I think... or sweet sauce of some sort). The rainbow roll was nice and big and really hit the spot for that afternoon's sushi craving. I'm so glad we stopped in there and it was such a convenient location. The service was nice... the hostess and waitresses were very attentive and accommodating.

Sarah G.

For the area I would give this place 4 stars in that if I was hungry and around here and really needed to eat, this is definitely one of the more affordable options around the park. That said, the food was really just okay I thought, but it was affordable which sometimes can trump the wowing taste factor! We got their tempura appetizer to share to start and it was pretty solid actually. Their menu has a mix of Japanese, Chinese and Thai for the most part so there is at least a lot of variety across their menu but it can actually make it a little hard to commit to one type of food when you are ordering! I ended up getting a curry dish that was pretty good but wasn't as spicy as I like it or requested it, and I am a big curry person. But it was super filling because their coconut milk was clearly not light in any way shape or form. So I definitely left here extra full! Other people got their egg rolls and crab rangoons and those were pretty good but again nothing truly amazing. The sushi rolls were also just so so, but again for the price and this location it really is a decent spot to check out. I also noticed a ton of people ordering to go/pick up so I think that could be a good option to check out too!

Pranitha P.

Average food and quick service close to Millennium Park. Not the most phenomenal roll I've ever had, but the veggie roll is packed with goodies. You can also opt for black rice which is a nice option. Good place to stop if you're wanting this while on a lunch break for work or touring the city.

Erin D.

Tired after touring around D.C. in the morning/early afternoon, hopping on a plane and taking the L train into downtown, I was pretty beat and hungry. I walked a couple of blocks from my hotel, glanced at the menu on the podium, looked at the Yelp overall rating, and thought, "It can't be too bad, right?" Right! I studied the Japanese language and culture for about ten years. Obentoo (lunch box) is the way to go when you want a cheaper option and a meal that contains a little of everything. I was definitely sold on obentoo when I saw it came with miso soup. It's such a simple soup, but comforting, especially after a long day of travel. I ordered a size of gyoza (pot stickers), which were okay. I prefer mine to be a little crispier, but I've definitely had worse elsewhere. I chose the beef teriyaki with mushrooms obentoo. Frankly, I think it was Americanized teriyaki because it was very soupy. In some ways, that portion of the meal was reminiscent of Chinese cooking, and this is evident by the waitresses speaking Cantonese. Nevertheless, the flavors were good. My initial reaction was that there wasn't enough rice, especially for an Asian. The rice bowl was TINY compared to some Chinese restaurants. But, I couldn't finish the meal anyway, so I suppose it's a moot point. The tempura was not bad. I hadn't had tempura in a long time. If you have a child who hates vegetables, this is a great way to get him/her to eat them. Tempura is basically deep fat fried vegetables using a specific tempura batter. In this case, the veggies were broccoli, eggplant, and yam. I wish there had been more dipping sauce. I also think adding some panko (Japanese bread crumbs) would've been nice for added texture. I didn't touch the salad because I tasted a little bit of the salad dressing (some sort of peanut sauce, I think), and it did not taste good. At all. The California sushi (only contained cucumber and carrot) was mundane. I suppose one shouldn't complain too much when the obentoo includes all the above mentioned items (except the gyoza). Overall the food was A-OK, hence my three star rating. The meal cost about $21 including tax, which isn't bad considering the obentoo was only $13, and a lot of Houston places would probably charge $20-$25 for the same lunch box. It's a lot of food, and I was sorry that much went to waste since I was staying at a hotel (only had a little bit of everything or else would've given to a homeless person). I also think the price of the meal wasn't too bad considering the restaurant's directly off of Michigan Avenue and right across from the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (annual jazz festival was going on last weekend). Do I have to absolutely positively return to this place to eat? No. Would I object to returning? No. Three stars it is!

Anamaria H.

Came here again because it was the closest sushi place to the Grant Park Music Festival and my friend needed to take a train out of Ogilvie. Ordered the Harajuku sushi and was sadly disappointed. It had jalapeños in it, which should've stopped me from ordering it because what kind of sushi place has jalapeños? It just was sad. I don't know how else to describe it. The worst part of this place is that it's advertised as a sushi place but the sushi is so bland. And all their "spicy" options are mostly flavorless or have jalapeños in it.

Ceyda E.

The food was very mediocre. They attract to tourists more than residents, so I'm guessing they don't pay too much attention to trying to get customers back. The sushi looked good, but I had one of their non-sushi items, which was unfortunately bleak.

Naomi M.

Decided to go here because I was in the area and really wanted sushi and was very surprised. I heard great things but I honestly don't think I would've enjoyed the experience without my friend. I ordered the Black Dragon, which was really good. The unagi on top was great. My friend had The Confusion and wasn't too pleased. She also had the crunchy tuna which didn't really have a crunch to it. The crab ragoon was ok but I would pass on that because it was fried a little too hard. I wanted to order dessert but it was very unsettling to have the waiters constantly asking if we were done. I felt as if they were rushing us to eat. When we first sat down the waitress kept asking if were ready to order and we hadn't even looked through the menu yet. She also came and rudely interrupted and said "you have to order lunch now because the lunch special time is coming up" and we had no intention of getting the lunch special. I've been to many places that have very polite wait staff who inform you of specials and the time frame once you are seated. The decor and food selection is nice but I probably would not go back here because of the service. If you don't mind going, it's just an "ok" place for sushi.

Joel C.

Terrible!!! Imitation crab? Horrible customer service!! 75% of the customers were NOT eating sushi and I can now understand why, I had a rainbow roll, miso soup, tuna Alvarado roll, and the tuna was a grey off colored fish, should be a vibrant red color. The imitation crab was still frozen!? I would never eat here again even if it was free for life!! No thanks!

Jonathan C.

Great food, but it seems like a small family has took on a tourist district. Great food at the prices and the market they cater to "THEBIGGS" that are in da area. ****(This place needs da middle man to say dis is what we like we want this for it.nolessnomorejustexperirncemyfamily, well livin and good) eat her cause you like it.

Vicky L.

It is hard to find a restaurant served Japanese food, Thai food and Chinese food at the same time and they are doing not bad. Hot woks succeeds! I tried Tom Yum soup and sashimi. Considering the price and location (near art institute), they are doing above average. The only downside is the service. No waiters or waitress answered my request for a long time.

Jane R.

The restaurant has a very trendy and modern vibe. The service was quick and the food came out quick as well. I have been here twice. The first time was for Japanese food. It was okay, but to be honest, I had chicken teriyaki. It is really difficult to mess that up. My friends' sushi "Mount Fuji" was eh-okay. She expected it to be a bit spicier because of the waiter's description. The second time, I got their spicy basil and Pad Kee Mao. I really liked their Thai dishes. They were very tasty and full of flavor. The price was reasonable. The portion was big for the Thai dishes. It is a great place to go to after work.

Beth H.

Thai/Sushi/Japanese place. I stopped in for lunch. Ordered Tom Yum Soup, pork gyoza, and Silver sushi lunch special with salmon roll. Soup - I would pass on next time. I thought it was a coconut milk base with mushrooms. It wasn't. No mushrooms or milk, but it was a large bowl, with lots of bell pepper, heat and a rich lime cilantro broth. The silver sushi special was a nice plate of sushi. Fresh and well prepared. The best part of this visit was the dumplings or gyoza. They were AMAZING!!!! Smoky flavor, pan fried with a nice ponzu dipping sauce. I can't get over the smoky flavor.

Alfreda D.

I've had take-out and delivery experiences mostly with this place. I LOVE the spicy basil entree from here. I've gotten it numerous times at this point, with chicken and/or shrimp, extra spicy or just regular. The dish has good each time I've ordered it and I appreciate that they don't skimp out on the shrimp portions. However, I love my food spicy and the first (and last) time I ordered it regular without the extra spicy request it was just okay, but not great. I think the extra kick is what does it for me. I've also ordered Thai iced tea which was really good. I usually get take out on the way home from work since it's nearby but one day I was craving it and wanted delivery at home. I was bummed when they said I was outside of their delivery zone. I pleaded since it was too far by just half a block. They eventually said yes and upped the delivery charge from $2.50 to $3. As if 50 cents was going to change my decision of wanting the yummy extra spicy basil! I've gotten delivery another time since then and had to remind them that they agreed to it once before... it wasn't a problem at all and I wasn't even charged the extra 50 cents! Ha.

Kim L.

Really solid spot for quick sushi in the loop. We took advantage of the lunch combo specials and got 5 maki rolls for about $24 (2 for $10.95 and 3 for $12.95). We got the spicy tuna (really nice big cuts of tuna), Alaskan roll, california roll, spicy shrimp (kinda weird) and salmon and avocado. Somewhat spotty service (server originally gave us the wrong rolls) but we'll be back.

Joel G.

Where to begin well first thing I found a tiny spider crawling on the table in front of me not sure where it came from...after that the food didn't come to the table fast when the food did arrive the sushi wasn't up to par it tasted as the rice that covered my roll wasn't fresh. the prices were so so and the size of the plates were good for the price over all it was a okay experience and with it being so close to mil park it would be a quick bite choice

Steve J.

Although I've never eaten in here, we order take-out frequently (once a month or so). This is not only the most consistent neighborhood Thai food but delivery food in general. Food is always good quality and the same every time. Always shows up within an hour and they're polite on the phone and at my door. Sushi isn't too bad either.

K W.

Great place to have sushi. Can be a little crowded during lunch hour but worth it. Great staff and food always arrives quick.

Vrati D.

The sushi was bland, but you get what you pay for. $12 for 3 rolls! The soy wrapper was not good and had a gross after taste. The service was also mediocre, which could have been because it was lunch time. Wouldn't go again.

Caspar C.

Great food at a wonderful location! This is fabulous when you can find a Asian restaurant!

Marina E.

Food was alright (nothing special), horrible costumer service. They were vacuuming the vent during our meal and we could not hear each other. I was charged extra for a little sauce without being told. I'm sure there are better sushi places around, this place is just convenient due to its location by millennium park.

Chad W.

Was not impressed with the sushi here at all. Quality was okay but forgettable at best. They also serve Thai; maybe that's a better option here, but unless you're against walking, you should probably check out one of the other places in the area. The "Gold" sashimi combo (their "best") was $20 and came with 1 shrimp, 1 octopus, 3x tuna, 3x white tuna, 3x yellow tail, and 2x salmon. I also picked up an Oceano roll, which they hit with a blowtorch WAY too close, making it acrid and damned near inedible. I don't think I'll be back.

Arthur C.

Decent sushi but the chinese food is great here. They make it with good quality meat and I love coming here with family once in a while because we all love this place. I would recommend you check it out.

Chevy R.

Food is delicious and spicy does mean spicy (spicy basil)! Good customer service! Great date place, ambience is really nice! My first time but not my last!

Wes W.

I'm by no means an expert, but I've had lots of sushi at other restaurants. The sushi I ordered here was absolutely delicious. The smoked salmon was fresh, tender, and wonderfully flavored. The Fukudome was also delicious and well presented. For the price alone I would recommend this place, but the food was excellent too. The service was helpful, and the atmosphere was friendly and clean. I would definitely eat here again.

Tom M.

Nice place to have a lunch, especially with lunch combo. There is nothing outstanding but everything is generally good. The sushis are fresh and tasty. The eel sushi is really smooth for example, while the makis are well balanced. The special egg roll is weird, filled with a lot of undistinctive things. The ramens are fine, going with tempuras a bit rough. The service is very efficient even during the rush time.

Alan L.

Solid meal - convenient location. We were looking for an early dinner near the NFL Draft venue. The food was tasty - not the best - but each of us enjoyed each dish. The appetizers were delicious. If you're looking for a reasonably priced meal in the area, this is certainly as restaurant to consider.

Jessika M.

I'm usually wary of places that offer more than one type of cuisine, but since this place was open and nearby, I checked it out. I did honestly cringe a bit at the name, though. I was seated quickly and the service was nice and fast, even though it was quite busy as Sunday after St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The menu selection was varied but I stuck to just sushi. Unfortunately, they were out of rasberry jasmine iced tea so water it is. I ordered a miso soup, a caterpillar roll, crunchy spicy tuna and a softshell crab. The fish itself was not super fresh, but still good. I hadn't read the description of ther caterpillar roll so I was surprised to see it covered in tobiko, which I think is kind of an unnecessary add on. It seemed like they were just trying to revive a classic roll that didn't need it. I didn't try any of their specialty rolls - they all seemed to be over-reaching and over done, like a lot of trendy places try to do. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience but not the best sushi place there is.

Travis L.

This place was absolutely probably one of the best Asian spots or there that I've ever tasted! There sushi is awesome and the toppings are amazing! I got there pad Thai and I love there spices, noodles, and sauce! There misi soup for appetizer options is truly define! We even had to order more! This place is defenintly an A plus!

Porscha M.

I loved the sushi at this restaurant. I was definitely the best I've ever had. However, the yelp overview of the restaurant is incorrect. There is outside seating, catering, and the attire is more semi-casual. Overall Hot Woks Cool Sushi is delicious and I am visiting again.

Jenny J.

I've been here 3x and every time the sushi is soooooooooooo good. It's very affordable too. My server is always nice and the hostess greets you as soon as you walk in the door so you feel welcomed

Daphne M.

The blandest, most flavorless sushi (rainbow roll, salmon avacado), Tom yum gai, gyoza, fresh sping rolls. Damn. Not cheap and tasteless. The miniature egg rolls were ok. Dont waste your time or money

Guess W.

The sushi was prepared properly and priced right. ordered the Spider a soft shell crab tempura cooked to light golden crunchy crust served with a ponzu sauce and crab Rangoon a golden fried dumpling containing crab, chives and cream cheese. the service was good the restroom was clean as well as the floors.

Padma A.

The first nice spring day in Chicago, went to lunch with my girl friends. We ordered the Mega Vega Sushi roll, liked it so much we ordered a second and the tofu in garlic sauce which was recommended by our polite/ Sweet server Julie. I eat so much that i ended skipping dinner. Its a great place to grab a quick bite in the loop with good seating and quick service.

Ashwin R.

Worst service! When we came in, the waitress made a face taking us to the table. Even after waiting for 10 mins, we did not even get a glass of water. We just got up and left.

Karen C.

We wanted a quick dinner near Symphony Center one night, and decided to give Hot Woks a chance. It was pretty decent, not the best sushi I've ever had but not the worst, either. I just wasn't in the mood for fish, so I ordered the Mega Vega roll, it was really tasty, and a good size. I also had the Miso soup, which was your standard bowl of Miso, but the miso seemed like it was extra chunky instead of more blended into the broth, if that makes any sense. The restaurant is huge, I had no idea how far back the dining room went, and every table was full. Service was fine, as well. For a quick bite that isn't a Panera, Panda Express, etc., this is a decent option in the location.

Aaron M.

Quality sushi with fresh ingredients!. A warm cozy atmosphere with the feel that captures the big city!! Will come again in back in Chicago!

Erik L.

The yellowtail and Unagi were excellent. The hot sake left something to be desired. The service was not the best, but not enough to ding the fantastic sashimi.

Dave D.

I love sushi, so I wasn't really disappointed leaving here, but it's pretty average sushi for a bit more than you'll pay most places. Mostly plain rolls and average quality fish. Underwhelming sushi experience.

Daniel S.

solid sushi place, went at lunch and it wasnt too crowded, i got the chicken teriyaki bento box, which was a good deal, got a wide variety of food for a reasonable amount of money, id recommend going that route, it's a better deal then just getting one roll, im no sushi expert but it all tasted fine to me

Tingting D.

Food tastes good and the price is reasonable. We had lunch bento (beef and chicken). Both are good. Crowded during lunch hours but the food comes fast.

Dave S.

It use to be good. Haven't eaten here for a month. Something happened. Pad Thai was bland with very little rubbery chicken. Sushi falling apart before u can pick it up. Tom yum soup order was supposed to be large, got a small. Cucumber salad supposed to be cold not warm. Not sure what to think but probably won't order for a while.

Susan A.

I absolutely love this place! The sushi is delicious! The waiter is really nice I don't remember her name. The outside sitting is very relaxed and away from too much commotion. I recommend

Kedy S.

This place sucked. The service was slow and the food was below average. Really the only thing this place has going for it is a good location and decent dining room. Pretty short review... don't go here unless you're famished and nothing else is closer.

Samantha S.

Great patio seating on one for the cutest corners in Roscoe ! Thai Tea is amazing and refreshing. We started with crab Rangoon which was prepared surprisingly well... Not the standard sloppy pastry puff... Nicely folded, perfect pouches of deliciousness. We got the Pad Thai which was served as just the right amount (not the classic overwhelming heap of noodles in a bowl). Subtle sweetness and even a side of crushed peanuts comes along for you to add. Others I dined with enjoyed sushi which they loved as well. I would absolutely go back!

Bill M.

This Hot Woks Cool Sushi is staked at a prime location near attractions like Millennium Park and the Art Institute. I've been here a couple of times and it is a good place to have a fairly quick sitdown meal while downtown, for workers and friends and dates and tourists alike. Yes the restaurant is long and narrow (from the front entrance, you walk a looooong way to the washrooms in the back), and you can get pretty close to your adjacent table mates, but HWCS is still a solid downtown dining choice for me. The menu is pretty straightforward, with noodle and rice dishes, and a variety of sushi. The drink list is pretty good too, with some fine Asian beers and an impressive drink called Mango Madness garnished with a couple of orange slices. For some reason our drinks came out after all of our food was served, but we let it slide this time. I always order the "untraditional" egg rolls as an appetizer, as they somehow taste like my father's egg rolls despite the "untraditional" ingredients used here (including Italian sausage and caramelized onions - sounds bizarre but hey it works). The taste and the presentation of the noodle dishes are fine if not super exciting, and there are just enough selections here for vegetarian and vegan diners. Tonight I had the pad see ewe with beef, and I would say that the pad thai with chicken I ate the previous time was better.

Donald H.

I really loved my spicy tuna role. I was here back in 2010 and it was good enough for me return 4 years later. The back could be a bit cleaner. The walk way is creepy.

Alex J.

I can't say this place blows my mind, but I can't say it's bad, either. The sushi is pretty average - relatively fresh but certainly not super memorable. I know they're not going to have Jiro back there turning rice, seaweed, and seafood into round, spiritual experiences, so I'm not upset about it. For this price point and the location, it's exactly what you'd expect it to be: polished, doable, a little fun, but not the culinary visit for you to tell your grandkids about (although, they do say that sushi is an aphrodisiac - thoughts?) If you stop by for lunch, grab one of the bento boxes. It comes with soup, the weird grainy ginger salad, and your typical meat/rice/fake crab cali roll combo. Here's my point: if you're on Michigan Ave showing company around and taking selfies in the bean, and suddenly NEED to have sushi, you're in luck; HWCS is waiting across the street for you to munch on its hot and cold things.

Hannah C.

Went here with a large group for once and we all ordered Thai dishes. They handled the large group at rush time well, and our food came quickly. It looks very elegant, but unfortunately low on taste. The cashew chicken tasted mostly of pineapple, wasn't spicy at all, and didn't have the ingredient I requested added. The sushi looked like a pretty large portion, so perhaps try that instead.

Amanda K.

I don't why this place doesn't get better reviews. the food here was great! i had the chicken teriyaki bento box, and everythign was delicious. it was also a great deal, a lot of food for the money. I could hardly finish everything! The california roll was tasty, the chicken was well seasoned/sauced, and the tempura vegetables were perfect. in summary: yum.

Eric H.

This place has a lot of variety, and really good sushi rolls. They're quick and it's great for easy take out. I've only been in here at sat for lunch once, usually I just get take out. I call ahead and they have my order ready in less than 10 minutes. The service is always great and friendly. Their dragon rolls and spider rolls are both really great. It's right on Michigan avenue, and it's a great downtown lunch spot.

Racquel D.

Good food and good service, but they didn't have the menu I was used to at the Adams location. (womp womp). They get 3 out of 5 stars because they carried the same general food. A kinda weird thing that happened during my visit here with my sister was that the hostess seated us by the window and then warned us that people have had their stuff stolen. .... I think that's weird. Thank you for the warning, but why did you seat us there in the first place? Needless to say, we asked to be seated further from the door. Great food nonetheless, but I wish they would carry a full menu. I couldn't get my shrimp in lobster sauce!

Sally M.

Decent delivery. I've tried it both in October and November, while staying at a hotel. The Pad Thai was pretty good. House salad was OK. Veggie Fried Rice was OK. The Mandarin Orange Chicken was not very good. I haven't dined in the restaurant (only delivery), nor have I tried their sushi.

Andre W.

Decent sushi right on Mich Ave across from Millennium Park. I have always thought the signage here was pretty lame and made you not want to even check it out, but I was craving sushi and this was nearby. The inside is bigger than what I thought it would be as it is very spacious. The spicy tuna was pretty good as well as the rainbow roll and The Fukudome roll The highlight of the meal was the Lucky Buddha Beer which came in a cool buddha-like bottle. Very light, crisp and refreshing beer. Service was really good

Harshingar P.

Great place with fast service. The staff is good. Ample space for a large group, have been there in small group as well as a large group of 15 people. The service and food is good. A definite try if you are in the vicinity and like oriental cuisine. Not too pricey.

Jasmine S.

Very very tasty sushi! Very high quality and fresh ingredients. Pretty pricey but what do you expect when you're getting good sushi.

A R.

Love this place! The food is delicious and the staff is generally friendly - my personal favorite is the Fukudome roll. My only complaint is that a few times my sushi came out a little warm which isn't ideal when it comes to sushi. Plenty of other options for people who don't like sushi, the teriyaki is pretty good!

Michaela D.

Love this place for lunch breaks at work. Great for ordering online and picking up, or eating in the restaurant too. Great thai dishes (garlic chicken, pad thai, cashew chicken) and pretty decent sushi for the loop!

Cindi P.

Just ordered maki and a couple of signature rolls for delivery to my hotel room on a Sunday night. It came in 30 minutes and is delicious. My only complaint is that they could have given me a little more soy sauce, so ask for extra if you want enough to get through three rolls. Is is the best sushi I've ever had? I don't know, but it's awfully good, and definitely the best sushi I've ever had delivered on a Sunday night in downtown Chicago. I'd order it again.

Mary P.

The sushi is okay, really fishy, falls apart, and cold. The waitresses are okay. Not really friendly.

Shyam S.

This is the common, pan-Asian, "one size fits all" Asian restaurant that has become all too common in the United States. If you want one restaurant where you can eat Japanese, Chinese and Thai food then this place is for you. While the sushi may be good, authenticity is not a priority at this place, so if you are a foodie, you probably have to go elsewhere. This is definitely a tourist trap, but my Dad and I needed something quick to eat that was near the Art Institute, so this looked promising. We really liked the "Unconventional Eggrolls", but my Tom Yum soup was way too big and also had way too much green peppers, which I honestly have never seen in this soup before. All in all, the food is okay, but not stellar, and you might want to move away from Michigan Avenue and back into the Loop if you want more authentic fare.

Sara D.

Bento boxes are a pretty solid deal. Food is fine enough if you're in the loop. Drinks are Awful. Bitter Berry wasn't even drinkable. Friend's lychee mimosa was fine, nothing special.

Kimberley M.

Great little place! I had the pad thai, which is probably not the norm here, but I was really impressed with the size and the presentation, not to mention the taste, too. Service is fast, and the quality of the rest of the plates of sushi were wonderful. I think I would return here for sure. Prices are also extremely reasonable.

Mimi H.

Although our appetizers came out pretty slow, the rest of the food came out timely. We has the spring rolls and cucumber salad. Light and fresh and tasty. the food and atmosphere is perfect for outside seating on Michigan avenue. Bento box filled me up. Good variety and lots of food. Salad dressing was a bit too tangy for me. We ordered the spider roll and spicy shrimp roll. Both very good!

Amanda M.

Swung by early Friday evening as a group of three and was seated promptly. Service was super quick. Our waitress was too quick, giving us no time for anything. We clearly weren't ready to order yet, so she came back again, but almost immediately after. After saying we needed more time yet again, then of course she was no where to be found. Anyways, I got a spicy tuna maki and a negi hamachi maki. Food came out an appropriate time. It was nice to see that there wasn't too much rice on the rolls. Overall, it was standard, but since it's right on Mich ave, prices probably were a little jacked up. Waters were constantly refilled which was nice, but my friend barely grabbed her last piece of her roll, and her plate was immediately scooped up. Guess I'd rather have fast than slow service, but felt like we were rushed and they wanted people in and out. Not a bad place to go but certainly not amazing either.

Aisyah S.

Fresh and tasty food, with very very reasonable price. No need to go to Chinatown to have delicious Asian meals! We can't complain! All of the menu we tried were above par! - Beef mushroom teriyaki bento box - Panang chicken curry and rice - Tempura udon - Panang chicken noodles (peanut-based sauce) My only critique will be for their California Maki served within their Bento Box, as it was not too special at all. But overall, it was great meal and I will definitely come back!

Paula H.

One star because: 1. The price they charged me inside was 3% higher than the price advertised outside. See my picture for proof. 2. The sushi was very expensive for what it was. Local grocery stores make sushi that is so much better. 3. The restroom was very dirty. Most of the patrons were tourists. That should have clued me and I should have walked away.

Chris W.

Great sushi without having to spend a ton of money. I'm allergic to shell fish which makes it difficult to find rolls at some places. This place had tons of options for me which was great. I only have good things to say about this place.

Vaishnavi S.

A good place to grab some Thai food while in Downtown Chicago. On our visit we had an order of: Vegetable Tofu soup - Comforting but could have done with more seasoning Chicken Panang Curry - Creamy but more sweetish in taste, a bit more spice could have helped Tuna-Avocado Maki - This was really good, fresh and crunchy! Veggie Hot Woks Fried Rice - Flavorful but again very low on the spice Also we were very pleased with the promptness in service considering that the place was pretty packed. Not bad overall..

Amey K.

Not good anymore. I have been going to this restaurant since last six years every time i go to city and crave for Thai Chinese food. I see this restaurant degrading in service greatly. Food had not very much though. I'm surely considering another Thai restaurant next time I'm in city. Bye bye to old customer and good luck with business

Brenda C.

I love their miso soup. Their rolls are pretty awesome.

Kaizen V.

Didnt like the food! Food tastes bland n mediocre - we ordered hot wok special fried rice but totally dissappointed with the flavor n taste - prices are ok when considering its located in top spot if downtown

Cassidy L.

First and foremost, the location is great! The restaurant is located right across the street from millenium park-one of Chicago's biggest tourist attractions. In addition to the great location, I must say that the restaurant decor was classy and modern. Now, to the food...my sister ordered chicken yakisoba and loved it. She couldn't finish it all as the portion was very large. I ordered the FUKUDOME roll and ate every bite of it!! One of the best sushi rolls I've had in a long time. Also, the prices are reasonable...for four people each with an entree and 2 appetizers to start, the bill hovered around 58. That's not too bad at all. Bottom Line: If you are in the area and in the mood for Asian, I would highly recommend!

Karl M.

Great place in downtown at a great price. The atmosphere was very pleasant, and the service was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Right across from Millennium park and the Art Institute. We came with 8 people at 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and we got a table very quickly.

Jacob A.

The place to be for bad sushi! If you like bad service along with your poor excuse for sushi come check this place out! We have given this place 3 different chances and every time it gets worse. I don't like posting 1 star reviews and I suppose that is why I go back, just to give them another shot. This is the last straw. Avoid this place unless you like punishing yourself which in that case please frequent the place!

Liana L.

Sad is thing is that the mango pudding on their menu is non-existent. I continued to try to order it for a few months but they never had it available. Then finally I asked if they would ever have it available, and they kind of gave me an answer saying they weren't planning on making it anymore. Noodles are delicious. I would recommend pad kee mao- thick rice noodles. Their sushi is good for the most part. Tom yum soup is yum. Gyoza weren't the best. Also I wouldn't order chicken in dishes.. Very frankenmeaty, chopped too large, and chewy... Misc. their music is great!! All pop song covers hahaha Also tip - if you are eating in a group, you have to wait for everyone to be there before they seat you.

Mahsa T.

The good: the chicken chow mein is fantastic, best noodles ever. The shitake mushrooms, peapods and bean sprouts were all so fresh and delicious, the chicken was a bit on the dry side, but those noodles more than made up for it...can't stress how good the noodles are. The edamame was good as was the miso soup (better than I've tasted at other places). The bad: extremely tight and cramped dining space, especially if you go during peak times (like lunch time). The space is long and narrow. You will be cramped in the front waiting for a table. Though it was crowded when we went, it only took about 10 minutes for us to get a table. It's not a place where people linger, they go in, sit down, get their food quick, and get out quick. Service was also quick (and a bit rushed), but decent.

JoannA K.

Not only is it expensive but horrible sushi and soup. I had the blackhawks and sour spicy chicken soup. Definitely not coming back here again. Service/environment was okay, only convenient thing is that it's across millennium park.

Christian P.

Tom yum soup was served hot but tasted unbalanced, too salty and I could therefore not finish it... which really means a lot. Stirfry was lukewarm, not very tasty and meat on the low par in terms of quality, Bento box was no more than ok. With many other (sometimes better) places to eat around, you are warned.

Tim V.

Solid 4 stars. I has the gold sashimi plate. Was ok portion fish was ok Service was pretty good So worth a try.

Natasha R.

I love this restaurant, the location, the food and the prices! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I've been here three times now, and each time did not disappoint. I had my first date here with my boyfriend (second time around... and this time lasting ;) ) so it brings back those warm, fuzzy feelings. There are not that many great restaurants right off of Michigan Ave, so this place really stands out for me. The entire place has great seating, but we always try to sit by the tables right near the door/outside patio because where else can you have such great people watching than on Michigan Ave? :) My boyfriend always gets the bento boxes here which is A LOT of food for the price it is. This last time around, I went with a DELICIOUS Pina Colada that had an adorable umbrella to top it off (see picture) and the Sushi Silver Combo - 5 pieces of sushi and a spicy tuna roll. Though I didn't get any specialty rolls, everything I ate was fresh with great quality. The service is good, nothing too crazy, but have no complaints. It's a touristy spot just because it's right across from Millennium Park and in between all the souvenir shops. But I would recommend it for anyone - tourist or local. I will def be back for my fourth time hopefully sooner than later!

Marielise J.

Consistently a great option-- clean restaurant, pleasant atmosphere and good food at a good price point. Perfect balance that is not so common in the downtown area. And, most importantly, one of my favorite vegetarian rolls (Mega Vega)!

Catherine Z.

We ordered 4 dishes for the three of us; each of us ended up having to pay ~$15. At 2:30 on a cold, drizzly Saturday afternoon, the place had attracted a small crowd. It housed a variety of people, as I would expect...this place is smack dab in one of the busiest parts of town, Millenium Park. The Thai Iced Coffee I ordered was just iced coffee mixed with cream and sugar. For $2.50, I'm not sure it was worth it at all. It was delicious and rejuvenating, but I could have made it for far less. The crab rangoon appetizer ($5.75 for 5 pieces) was piping hot and arrived in ~5 minutes. Though it was delicious, the price barely justifies the decent portions. The entrees arrived ~7 minutes after our appetizer was brought to the table. 1) Pad Thai ($8.50) - a well-cooked rice noodle dish that was lacking in chicken, and tossed in a slightly overpowering tangy sauce. The kitchen left the toppings (peanuts, a lime wedge, shredded carrot and cabbage) in the corners of the dish so that they wouldn't get soggy. Comforting and filling. 2) The beef mushroom teriyaki bento box was meh...it supposedly came with veggie tempura, a Japanese salad, rice, California maki sushi, and beef and mushroom teriyaki. Yes, it did come with all of those things, the portion sizes were quite small. For one, the 6-piece sushi roll was smaller and far more bland than the caterpillar roll we ordered. The teriyaki was drowning in sauce and had only small bits and pieces of beef and mushroom. The veggie tempura was delicious, but I wish I had more; there was only one piece of each deep-fried veggie (sweet potato, broccoli, zuchini, etc) and one shrimp tempura. 2) The caterpillar roll (8 pieces for $10.95) was well worth it, as it was one of the better presented sushi rolls I've ever had. My weakness is eel and eel sauce, but I was also wowed by the presentation. Look at that sauce work! Look at the red and black tobiko ("roe", or fish eggs)! The menu itself offers lots of generic Japanese foods. The appetizers are pretty common (crab rangoon, gyoza, edamame, tempura), but I wish I'd tried the untraditional egg roll, because it comes stuffed with an Italian vegetable blend! Talk about fusion! The salads sound interesting but way over-priced. $6.95 for lychee and cranberries? I might sooner be able to make it myself, for a fraction of the cost. They dressed lots of their salads with miso dressing, which is common, but not as common as the ginger dressing that every Japanese restaurant I've ate at so far has had. The miso-dressing in the bento box was potent but quite delicious. Props to you! This place is a great place to go if you're looking for somewhere to dine in, carry out, and have food delivered. It's extremely conveniently located, and pretty inexpensive considering how much people near Millenium Park could charge. Read the full review on my food blog! wp.me/p4GjLH-46

Kimberly R.

Hot Woks Cool Sushi is a very good spot to go! Have dined in and order to go and the food is always tasty! The staff is very kind! Highly recomend!

Samantha H.

I have been looking for a good Thai place in the loop. I am happy to say I found one. The pad Thai is perfect and the thia iced tea gives you an energy boost like no other!

Jake H.

Sashimi was at about a 5/10 on the freshness scale and the service was a 4/10... Our server was very inhospitable and not too nice It's worth trying as long as you're ready for both those things

FatmanStan F.

Good good and good. This place is what you look for when you want good sush for basically rock bottom prices, had the miso, hamachi and spicy crunchy tuna. Was really good, fast, and nice staff with a seat by the window. I'll definitely be back when I'm at the AIC.

Nineveh O.

Other than location, this place is not the best. The sushi I got was something with an octopus, which I normally like, but it was too rubbery and the taste was awful. The Obama roll was soggy and just tasted like it was dipped in mayo. Prices were way to high for the product. If I went to House of Sushi and Noodle I would have paid a couple dollars more for all you can eat sushi that's AMAZING. Again location is convenient and setting was nice, that's all you're paying for though.

Natasha P.

My husband and I went to meet a friend who works around this area, so we decided to try Hot Woks Cool Sushi for lunch with her. We made a reservation, and were seated immediately. We got there at noon, and the restaurant had several empty tables, by 12:15 pm however, there was not a single empty table. We both ordered a green tea, and waited for my friend who was running a little late. The waiter came upto us once and asked if we would like to order something. We told him we were waiting for someone. As soon as my friend arrived and sat down, the waiter swooped in and asked us if we would like to order again. I was impressed that he was keeping an eye on us, despite being very busy with all the other tables. My husband ordered the Hot Woks Fried Rice, which was tasty but nothing great and did not really have much of a basil flavor. I ordered the Spicy Basil, which was tasty, had a more basil flavor than the fried rice, but wasn't anything to write home about. All in all, this is a decent place for a quick lunch, but since it's Michigan Avenue, I'd try a whole lot of other places before coming back.

Sabrina K.

We were very unimpressed with this place. I had the tempura udon and my boyfriend had the Orange chicken. I got 2 pieces of each tempura: broccoli, zucchini, sweet potato, and shrimp. The tempura was very bland with too much breading. And the udon broth was okay - nothing special. My boyfriend had a similar experience with his orange chicken - too much breading, the sauce wasn't very good, and there was way too little chicken and sauce. We were very disappointed with our meal.

Wicker Q.

Their sushi is great, flavorful and fresh. The customer service is nice and they put care into the food and packaging, too (if you get delivery). I have eaten here three days in a row. I ate the spicy tuna maki, sweet potato tempura maki and thai tea. I love thai tea and the one here is perfect. I just love the food here. The waiters are okay (sitting around, talking in Chinese about some useless matter and when you motion them for help they act like you were interrupting such an important conversation; and another one didn't give me my change), but I guess I can overlook that because the food is so good. When I ordered my food for takeout, the sushi was packaged below the soy sauce which was in little cups in a tied plastic wrap. The thai tea was put in a rice box so that it wouldn't spill. I will eat here again. The location is also nice, you can people watch if you get close to the window.

Sarah S.

I've been here a couple of times because of the convenient location when showing tourists around and it was great for a quick, fast bite while I was on jury duty at the Daley Center. It's decently good and the prices are nice & cheap, as well. I went for dinner last night and got a philly roll. It was just $6 which was nice, but the strange thing is there was no avocado...since when do Philly rolls not have avocado!? The fish was super fresh and bountiful in this 6 pc well rolled maki. I really enjoyed this roll. I've tried some of their other dishes here that were just okay, so I think I'm now going to stick with the amazing Philly roll! I tried my friend's salmon skin roll which I enjoyed but my friend thought was a bit too salty. I was surprised at how crunchy the salmon skin was. They have a pretty decent sake selection and we ended up getting a very delicious cold sake for the table...loved it! Service this particular night was quite slow but at lunch time it's always been pretty fast. Don't go out of your way to eat here, but if you're in the area, you could do worse! Open until 1030!

Melissa L.

Let me start by saying I love sushi. Like an unhealthy amount. My friend and I went to the Art Institute and agreed that Hot Wok's sounded good and decided to give it a try. In order to be able to do some more sampling we ordered multiple items to split. We got beef something, but the really good one was the Pad Kee Mau. It had some kick and was absolutely phenomenal! Unfortunately my friend was not willing to split some sushi so I guess I'm saving that for my next trip. :) All in all, the food was great and we were promptly seated, and while our server was nice she was not very attentive and often did not understand our English. Also skip the jasmine iced tea. Really really sweet to the point it's not drinkable but they nicely took it off our bill. I'd recommend coming in here for a great meal at a reasonable price (about $7-10 per noodle and rice dish) but don't get your hopes up on the service and remember to be patient.

Faithful R.

I'm a huge fan of sushi, and since I moved to Chicago this past May Hot Woks is by far one of the best sushi restaurants around. The food is fresh, and really good! Had my dinner there tonight ;)

Meg W.

Delicious sushi!! Very accommodating of my avocado allergy. Tried the crab rangoons and various rolls. So very full and happy.

Helen S.

I came here once for a quick dinner date, because it was summertime and we wanted to catch the Millennium Park concert on Monday evening. We ordered three rolls among two people, and I can't remember the other two but I do remember the Obama roll. It came out with masago dyed red, and a little American flag sticking out the top of it. I couldn't stop laughing for a good five minutes. Overall, the food was alright. I really liked the Obama roll, but nothing else was notable and I probably wouldn't come back.

Bianca Y.

I visited this place just tonight with my sister!! She ordered the mandarin orange chicken and I got the Hot Wok Noodles. Omg.. absolutely amazing!!! Our server was so friendly and the food was delicious. I was very impressed with how quickly we were served and the food was piping hot and delicious. My new fav spot!!!

Ralf I.

Stopped in with my wife and teenage son and daughter while strolling Michigan Avenue. Unexpectedly fantastic food for very low price, especially considering the great location. Superb service, quaint outdoor space with unbeatable view...very nice dining space indoors.

Chanelle H.

I came with a club from my university and had never heard of this place until they mentioned we eat here. It's a fairly small sized restaurant on Mich. Ave and a little hard to miss if you aren't paying attention. Anyway, the first thing I noticed was a sign stating they were currently accepting cash only at the time. Great. How many people are conveniently carrying cash while strolling through the downtown area? Not me (or half of the people in my group of 12). So after we hunt down a Chase ATM, we joined the remainder of our group. As I first walked through the front of the restaurant, it seemed a bit cramped between a row of tables and a counter. Also inside is dimly light with a bunch of candles on each table. For dinner, I ordered a chicken teriyaki bento box. What it came with was decent for the price I paid, which included the chicken, a small salad, tempura mix (a piece of shrimp and three vegetables), six(?) sushi rolls, a side of rice, and miso soup. Overall, the food was okay. But to be honest, in my head I was comparing this food with one served at another Japanese restaurant in the suburbs. Hot Wok's isn't as good, but again, it was just okay and slightly cheaper. Now for the bad part. Our waiter didn't do a good job catering to our table. Although he seemed nice and responsive when we sat down, he neglected us after the food was served. A friend and I were wondering why we hadn't seen him in a while. Well he was giving all his attention to another party sitting next to us. Not on the other side of the restaurant...-next- to us. Another employee had to take our money, otherwise I don't think he would have noticed if we didn't pay! Maybe I'll come back if my club wants to go again, but I can't see myself traveling down here on own.

La Tonya G.

I would have given this place a 5 star but the last time I was there and I go here often the waitress was so rude. I couldn't believe it, I had never had a bad experience here before but she made me feel Iike I should order my food and go. I ended up sitting in the back and that wasn't a problem I mean this time it was only me and the place was packed and I had errands to run. Anywho back on the food...It was fresh and fast...I love it!!! I think they have great lunch specials, and when my daughter took me here for my birthday the waiter brought out a dessert and sang happy birthday to me...I thought that was so cute. Just writing this review makes me know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow!!! Some great sushi...Yum!

Steffanie F.

Great prices and great sushi! I came here last time I was in Chicago and loved it, now that I am back in the city, I made sure to go out of my way to eat here. The shrimp tempura maki is my favorite by far. The chicken teriyaki bento box is a ton of bang for your buck. And the Thai iced tea is great if you're looking to cool off!

Robert N.

I thought the food was OK, the portions were OK, and the service was OK. I certainly have nothing to complain about but nothing to brag about either. I thought the price, while not overly expensive, merited a better meal and a better experience. I wouldn't go out of my way either to return or stay away.

Mathew N.

Usually a great spot!! Today was very disappointed. We had a reservation, but waited 15min to get seated. Waited another 10min for a waitress. Then one at my table didn't get her entree and we had to ask for it...20min later it finally came out. To top off the crapfest...see nice the 2 shrimps that come with the Hot Wok Noodles (pic attached)...awful!!!

Martha S.

Got stranded an extra night in Chicago with some friends. We all used to live in the city, and apparently this spot was a favorite of one of my friends. He suggested it for lunch and we weren't disappointed-- though not blown away. If you want Americanized Asian food-- from Chinese to Thai to Japanese-- this is a good spot. Husband and I had an order of "Untraditional Egg Rolls," the cucumber salad, and I had the Pad See Ew noodle dish. Egg rolls were okay-- the coating seemed a bit heavy, filling was okay, but could have been more flavorful. The cucumber salad was light and refreshing, nice and crisp-- perfect on such a hot and humid day. The Pad See Ew was good-- but not great. I've had worse, for sure, so that's why I can recommend Hot Woks'. Service was efficient and accomodating-- all in all a nice lunch, though nothing special.

Jerel T.

Sushi and entrees are very average. We had the Pad Thai and Panang Beef, as well as some assorted sushi rolls.

Jolene M.

The food was excellent, but the service was so-so. We never got our drinks & needed to ask to have them removed when we got our bill. We originally wanted to go to the Adams St location. We got there and it was closed & had to walk over to this location.

Jackie G.

The worst service ever! It took us almost 10 minutes before we were asked what we wanted to drink! We ordered edamame and a few sushi rolls. The sushi was extremely average and in my opinion tasted like sushi I've gotten from a Whole Foods. The pieces were uneven and fell apart when you picked them up. I've never been so disappointed and I feel the reviews steered me in the wrong direction.

Hanan P.

Came here for a friends birthday and this place is pretty nice for a small gathering. It reminds me more of a suburban sushi bar if anything although. Food: 7.5/10 There online menu is really outdated and it gave me a bit of disappointment. Location 9/10 If you are traveling there isn't much room to park any where, but it stands on Michigan so that's cool. Service 7/10 Patient and respectful waitress, but nothing special to say.

Brooke B.

If you work in the Loop and want a tad more than a grab-n-go spot for sushi...Hot Woks Cool Sushi is a great option. They have a really inexpensive lunch menu that definitely fills you up. No matter how packed the place looks, there's always a seat, so if they tell you that you need to wait a couple minutes...it shouldn't be longer than that. The sushi is fresh, the service is quick and the price is right. If you have an hour lunch break, this is perfect for a nice break in the day.

Jessica B.

Really great sushi for the price. I normally don't care much for miso soup, but theirs was amazing. My partner has so far disliked every place's tom yum, but this was finally a place that he enjoyed. Waitresses were very patient with us, and didn't seem to mind me pointing at the menu. I was just afraid of butchering the names, and appearing offensive. Casual sushi, reasonably priced.

Shakila M.

I got take out on my way home from an event at the Art Institute. The wait wasn't bad, considering how many diners were there. Everything was packaged well and the sushi was fresh. I'll definitely give their dine-in service a try.

Bianca P.

I am so impressed with how consistently good this place is. A few of my favorite things: Crab Rangoon Chinese Fried Rice Spicy Basil with Beef My boyfriend and I order from and eat at this place semi-regularly and we have never been disappointed.

Bea S.

Already tried a lot of places in the neighborhood for lunch. This one is really great! Food is always fresh, staff is welcoming, helpful and polite. Miso soup is just perfect and veggie maki delicious. In the past tried Hot Woks in different location and was really disappointed by the quality of the food so this one cut me by total surprise:-)

Tracy N.

I'm a huge fan of sushi, so of course when my company sends me somewhere, I'm going to hit up every sushi joint around my hotel. My coworker and I stopped by on a Wednesday evening for a bite. It's a pretty neat little place in a great location on Michigan. The feel was more hip and classier than the sushi joint down the block (although Osaka Express is much cheaper for pretty darn good sushi). We ordered miso soup and a couple of rolls. I stayed more traditional with the rainbow and spicy salmon. The fish was fresh and something about the salmon roll made me love this place. I'm pretty sure it had to do with the way they prepared the salmon roll. Normally, in spicy tuna or salmon rolls, the fish is minced, but Hot Woks left a large, juicy, and fresh chunks in my roll. Definitely got my happy share of protein in the salmon and rainbow roll. The miso soup was pretty standard, nothing special, but still good. It's a quality sushi place to stop by with a friend or two. They also have a cute patio outside so you can see Buckingham Fountain and the savvy (and occasionally homeless) of Chicago walking by if you like to people watch. If I stay around the area, I will definitely go back.

Dr R.

Great hole in the wall lunch spot. Inexpensive sushi & bento boxes. Above average tom yum soup....huge serving for $6.95. There may be other places w more elaborate presentations and option, but 5* for the combination of cost, quality, and overall taste.

Aarushi G.

We had the drunken noodles and avocado maki rolls. The rolls were delicious, and the drunken noodles were also very good. They also had a beautifully-decorated birthday dessert which was very good as well!

Andrew S.

Good prices for Michigan ave. good food too, and fast. A little heavy on the sauce with my basil chicken, but my wife's chicken Rama was perfect. Nice alternative to all the over-priced cafes nearby.

Changsong G.

No clue what some of these other reviews are talking about. Came out of the art institute around 5pm hungry. Saw this place and sat down. Service was very fast and nice and accommodating. Sushi was excellent, the Chinese stuff was so-so, but sushi was best I have ever had in the states. The prices are cheaper many small towns or cities i have been. Two of us spent 60 bucks we each ordered two rolls drinks and appetizers. Easily 120 bucks in NYC for less food. Presentation was amazing, very clean fresh rice and ingredients, many mid range sushi places don't know how to cook the rice, theses guy knew what they were doing. Got spicy tuna roll (was average), sweet potato roll (excellent), dragon roll (excellent), salmon skin roll (amazing) Hands down I would recommend to anyone and I would come back in a heartbeat.

Rachel S.

Was in Chicago for work and swung into this place as it was near my hotel and one of the only places open. Sushi was good, service was good. Nothing to write home about. Location is great.

Chris B.

At 8:00 pm of the most gorgeous Sunday of the Memorial Day Weekend, this place had run the staff ragged, and despite this, the speed of being seated, the frantic but still smiling service, and decent but not great sushi, was welcome and appreciated. We got an outdoor table and wondered if the foot and street traffic of Michigan Avenue would be bothersome, but at this hour neither was annoying. I could see that during the day, the pedestrians coming and going to Millenium Park and the Art Institute across the street might be a bit much. As it turned out, there were few buses and just a bit of amusing people-watching on the sidewalk. We ordered Green Tea, Seaweed Salad, and the Gold (8 piece) Sushi Platter for two and received the tea very quickly, followed by the salad and at an appropriate interval, the Sushi Platter. We were given a moment to dig in and then asked if everything was alright. I have read some negative reviews about this place, but I have to say that my experience was very positive, especially given the holiday crowd that had overwhelmed the place most of the day. I didn't go in expecting a 5 star experience or knock-my-socks off food. It was fine.

Ramya P.

Decent place to eat in one of the most touristy areas of Chicago! I have been here quite a few times when I'm being a tour guide to friends and relatives from out of town. This is one of my go-to spots to cool off with Sushi when hunger strikes from all the roaming around. The sushi is fresh and the wasabi, nice and spicy. But as for the hot dishes, the flavors are americanized asian fusion. The prices are very affordable and you will leave satisfied at the end of the meal.

Kaitlin M.

This is a great place to pop into for good sushi with quick service during the week. It can get a bit crazy on the weekends with tourists so I would go somewhere else as a local. My favorite roll is their vegetarian specialty.

Cara L.

On a gorgeous, sunny Chicago day, there's nothing quite like grabbing lunch and enjoying it in Millennium Park. And Hot Woks Cool Sushi is a perfect place to grab said lunch on the go! First off, the hustle and bustle of Michigan Ave on a warm, spring day is just an amazing thing to experience. It's a wonderful mix of business folk running around and tourists taking in the sites. Hot Woks Cool Sushi picked a perfect location for their restaurant. I watched person after person walk by and check out the menu. Their outdoor patio, although small, is pretty hard to resist. As I waited inside for my lunch guest to arrive, I watched as this place got busier and busier. The service started off great, but started to teeter the busier they got. This is understandable, but I will say ordering take-out once my friend did get there was super awkward. This could be remedied by calling in your to-go order ahead, which it looked like a lot of people did. Our 4 maki rolls took about 15 minutes to prepare, so we waited outside and chatted about life. Once we grabbed our meals and a picnic table by the Bean, it was clear this sushi wasn't going to last long. It was delicious, fresh and the perfect, easy lunch on a gorgeous day out! I literally scarfed the rolls and thoroughly enjoyed the lots of extra ginger they gave us. My only major complaint was that they didn't send us with any wasabi. Other than that, the fish was fresh, tasty and light. I'd definitely come back for a quick lunch on the go or even a nice, relaxing dine-in lunch!

Sierra G.

Sushi and Thai food...they actually seem to do both very well. I was a bit skeptical of the name and the fact that they lump two Asian cuisines into one restaurant concept, but this place is great and I have been back several times. This place is right on Michigan Ave, but seems to have a mix of locals and tourists. The servers are on a mission here and it always seems to be crowded. The food comes out FAST, so be prepared. The menu is nice and big, so there will be something for everyone, including vegetarians. The speciality rolls are a bit pricey, but they are more than enough for a meal. I asked for my sushi to be light on the rice and they were happy to accomodate. It came out perfect with the right ratio of sushi inners to rice, which apparently is important to me.

Gino W.

I remember when Mai Thai used to be in the place of the current Hot Woks Cool Sushi restaurant. Thinking that I would try some Mai Thai along with a friend, we walked into Hot Woks Cool Sushi and decided to see what they had on the menu. Panang curry chicken. Sigh. And that is a sigh of complete satisfaction. Hearty the way I like it and spicy without me having to ask. That is not a common thing in restaurants on Michigan Avenue, as they have more of a flair for toning down spices so those of the common palate would not complain. The tom yum shrimp soup never disappoints. The crab rangoons never leave me in a tiff. The edamame, albeit pedestrian, is never less than filling. Happiness per wok or sushi chef knife, I say.

Stephanie G.

yum yum and yum!!! I had their crab ragoon and pad thai. I have just recently started to eat pad thai, and I will definitely come back to Hot Woks again for it!! Delicious food, cute restaurant, and fast service for a lunch break. Can't wait to return!

Tristion M.

Good lunch for a decent price in downtown chicago . I'm a huge fan of their panang curry. I must warn you if you try it, you will love it. Although I must say their sushi is less than desirable. Must go for the hot wok but I would avoid the cool sushi.

Jarell H.

Awersome Sushi in downtown Chicago!!! Great menu and also great drinks!!! Get there early because it's always packed!

Rick B.

One of the best Pad Se-ew dinners I've ever had (got it with chicken instead of beef). Also tried some avocado maki (sushi) and it was perfect. Don't let the dinky sign out front scare you away; this is upscale Asian, but with very reasonable prices and really nice decor.

Bob A.

BEWARE the website address on this Yelp site!!!!! This is a link to a fake website that is not related to the restaurant. We are visiting from out of town and unwittingly placed an online order without t problem only to get a call a few minutes later saying that the restaurant would not take the online order. When I called the restaurant they were very pleasant, the order was ready in minutes and it was everything we wanted. But they insisted they have nothing to do with the company sponsoring the online ordering service. So Beware! also they are open on Sundays! the four stars are for the restaurant not the link.

Greg S.

Crowded at lunch. Service & food are very good. Pricing is very reasonable for Mich. Ave

Ali C.

Average sushi - not very fresh. The seaweed salad was full of lettuce which was interesting and astounding. The restaurant seems dated and their servers did not have the best of attitudes. Not sure I will visit again.

Oliver M.

Had pad thai and udon noodle soup. Pad thai: Tasted really good, only the tofu which I had them replace the chicken with was a bit bland. Tempura udon noodle soup: Disappointing, rather bland as well as the tempura that came with it. Service: Good. Fast, attentive and friendly. Price: Was ok, considering the location. If you're in the vicinity, looking for an affordable asian meal and not knowing of any alternative, the Hot Woks may be a place to go.

Jennifer L.

If anyone can recommend a good sit down sushi place in the Loop for lunch - let me know! The search is still on for me! I thought I found it at Hot Woks. I dined there once for a co-workers birthday and the food was good. I got the spicy tuna roll and sweet potato roll and enjoyed those very much. The service was good and our wait time was pretty reasonable saying that we had about 8 people in our party. However, my love for this place decreased the second time around. A group of five co-workers and I went here for lunch on a Friday around noon, which may have been the issue. The front staff/hostesses seemed disorganized and in my opinion, weren't giving people the right answers about wait times. Diners had to write their names down, which is fine. I heard a woman tell a customer that she didn't know how long the wait would be. That's a huge issue because people need to know especially if they have a limited amount of time for lunch. The wait time caused two of our party to drop out. I saw another party leave the restaurant as well. The waiting area totally pissed me off as well. It is just way too small and gets crowded very quickly. There is outdoor seating and that would have alleviated the wait had it not been too cold outside. People, including myself, had no idea where to stand and the wait staff had to pass through us to get to the people seated by the windows. Also, the bar area is super useless since no one can sit there during the lunch hour anyway. The food is good. We had crab rangoons to start and those were super yummy. A co-worker and I shared the spicy tuna, spicy scallop and sweet potato roll and those tasted very yummy. While this is one of the better sushi places I have been to in the Loop for lunch, it's really not worth the wait especially if I'm going to blow my allotted lunch hour to wait for it. Maybe next time I shall just place an order for take out and save myself the wait.

Ermelinda C.

We went here for dinner last night with another couple and it was an OK dining experience. The place was quiet and we set down immediately, which was great. The sushi was very good, but not spectacular. I did not try the sashimi but my husband and the other couple we were dining with seemed to enjoy it. The service was OK and the hot sake certainly added to our experience :-)

Kris M.

Two of us for a weekday lunch, the restaurant was busy but not packed. Edamame arrived 15 minutes after ordering, just warmer than room temperature. Gyoza arrived 20 minutes after ordering, just warmer than cold and tasted like sterno gas. I finally flagged a server to reheat. Servers were pleasant but non-attentive. Sushi was delicious! Overall, we were in the restaurant for almost 90 minutes. Way too long.

Kelly D.

I've been here a few times, mainly with friends. Probably isn't worth the price for the quality of the fish. I have worked at several Japanese restaurants, and it's just not that fresh. It's in the center of tourism, so it's not great for a small restaurant. The service is kind of mediocre, but the food comes out fast. There are better places, just travel outside of the loop.

Anthony R.

I've eaten here three times now, so why the low rating? My wife and I had sushi here twice. The sushi was good as was the seaweed salad. Neither were special, just good, fresh sushi. No complaints, but not five stars. The service is friendly and courteous, if a bit slow to respond. It was busy the first time, so I thought nothing of it. The second time, however, we were literally the first customers in for lunch. Four or five staff standing around and still a little slow to respond. I probably would not have returned, but during a business meeting at Aon Center a few colleagues wanted to try it for themselves. Admittedly, the sushi is good, so I told them so. I made the mistake of ordering from the Thai menu, however. The Pad See Ew was flavorless with soggy noodles and a single, unhappy and embarrassed broccoli floret. I ordered "Thai spicy" which resulted in a level of spice that would be mildly flavorful to a palate accustomed to warm milk and Tums. So, three stars, rounded up from 2.5. 4 stars for the sushi, 1 for the Thai food (the service was excellent this time, which pulled up the score from -1).

Rob C.

Wanted a light dinner before Book of Mormon and this was perfect. Food great service flawless. Vegetarian Mega roll was fabulous.

Sruts A.

Surprisingly good food. I wasn't expecting the sushi or noodles or anything else to be great here, but it is! It's nice for groups or just by yourself; don't be fooled by the small-ish bar area, there's a lot space in the back. Most of the food here is good. When it says 'spicy' it actually IS spicy! The bowl of edamame could be larger, but otherwise everything else is decent enough.

Betty H.

I am not a fan of raw sushi, but my hubby loves it!!! This is a place for both of us to really enjoy...by far, the best place to order panang chicken and tofu pad thai, each dish is very flavorful. Love their sweet potato maki roll as well.

Lawrence L.

Great service. Very nice chicken salad- basically larb gai. Following the Thai theme my basil chicken was fantastic - recommend ordering it with the fun (fat) noodles! All up a perfect lunch spot if you are in the mood for Asian food. Sushi looked fresh but I didn't eat it this trip. Next time.

Carolyn T.

I met up with a party of eight for dinner here tonight. We were seated immediately because we had reservations; the place was hopping with people at 6 PM, which I took as a good sign. I decided on the pad thai with tofu and, boy, was it good! This may possibly be the best pad thai I have ever tasted, which is definitely not what I expected from an Asian fusion restaurant like this one. The tofu was cooked really well; it was substantial and flavorful and firm. Toppings (carrots, peanuts) were on the side, so I spread them on top. Really, this dish was mouth-watering and just the right amount of sweet and savory. The other pad thai dishes I have had in the past seem flavorless in comparison, which is a feat considering this one was not spicy at all. Our waiter stopped by to bring water, to take orders, to bring food, to refill waters, to take away plates, and to bring checks--perfect. I dislike it when staff are overly attentive because it detracts from the dining experience for me, which is visiting with friends. Something small that irked me a little was that my plate was never taken away even though we stayed a while after we were done eating. Two people got their leftovers to go but one of my companions and I declined. As delicious as my pad thai was, there was not enough left to justify leftovers; my friend, on the other hand, only ate a quarter of her noodle dish because it was "meh." The waiter asked us twice if we wanted the rest of our food to go. Everyone else completely cleared their plates, so maybe they kept expecting/wishing we would finish off our plates, too. In any case, it does not really matter; I just found it a little odd. And I spent way too much time talking about it considering how much I enjoyed my meal. Overall, I was very impressed with my pad thai and I plan to return to try out the sushi!

Megan C.

Pretty good sushi. Yummy chicken fries rice. We were delightfully surprised with this restaurant. It had 50/50 reviews. But I liked it. It has good company. Great service. Good food. Not Extraordinary. But good prices. And pretty good food. We enjoyed out meal. It's in a more quiet part of town (across from millennium park) and the people here are very nice. It's a great place for family. Or just an easy night.

Pam D.

I tried the HOT WOK Noodles which is the "house specialty". Stir-fry with chicken, shrimp, spinach noodles & mixed vegetables in sweet/tangy sauce. I asked them to leave off the jalapeno peppers. The plate came out quickly and hot. The chicken was perfect- still juicy, which I didn't even know was possible with asian dishes. Usually it's dry and/or chewy. As for the shrimp, it was pretty tasteless, but there was only 2 on the whole plate so it wasn't that big of a deal. The best part about the dish was that everything was fresh. The vegetables had a satisfying crunch indicating their freshness. For $14.95 (which was the dish plus a beer) I was satisfied.

Amena K.

Good.

Meridith E.

Being a Chicago girl for the past 6 years, it is REALLY hard for me to be so excited about a sushi restaurant off Michigan Ave in the heart of tourist'ville. But I am. I went with a few friends and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. We made reservations to avoid a line, which was helpful. But what I didn't appreciate was the child next to us that kept leaning over the booth into my friend's personal space and the lackadaisical parents who did nothing....but that's a whole other story. The mini eggroll & crab rangoon appetizers were good. I have to say the spicy tuna was my favorite of the rolls we got. (WARNING: We tried the South of the Border roll. Mole sauce on top of a roll might sound creative, but it tasted like poo to us.) If you're not drinking, get the raspberry thai iced tea! SO REFRESHING, and not too sweet. I wouldn't mind going there again. I'd just ask for a table with no kids throwing rice and invading our dining area, but that's what you get sometimes on Mag Mile.

James C.

Food was fantastic. Service was great. Can't wait to go back. We had the bento box. I had beef. My wife had chicken. Both was great. Lots if food for 11.95. Lunch menu.

Kyle H.

Hot Woks/Cool Sushi specializes in Chinese dishes and Sushi and Maki. This was my first visit to any of their locations, and this one has a small outdoor seating area right on Michigan Ave. The inside dining room has potential, but bellying up to the modern "bar" would probably be best. This is a nice change of pace near Millennium Park, the Art Institute, Symphony Center. It's nice enough for a pre-show date on the casual side, but also cheap enough if you're just looking for something different in the area. They do an Obama-Nami roll, which is kind of goofy, but fun. They have a few specialty rolls that looked good, and I went with the Akira roll, which was good, although sometimes a bit bland. I hear the Panang Curry is good, and it's nice that they offer the Chinese/Japanese combo here in a touristy area. Service was very polite and very quick! And I know this is the Dairy Queen Brazier song, but I kept thinking about it: Hot Woks, Cool Sushi...We treat you right!

Chris R.

Wanted to charge an astronomical amount to substitute one fish for another in roll. Both fish were similarly priced on their nigiri menu, so not sure why they wanted to do this other than greed. I guess making money for nothing is more important than pleasing the customer. What dumb management.

amber t.

My Vegetable Delight tasted amazing last night. Unfortunately, it gave me violent food poisoning.

Amy W.

If I'm in downtown Chicago with some friends and we're looking for a cheap, quick bite to eat, Hot Woks Cool Sushi is always what I suggest. Service is good, and I usually get seated near the front -- I love the tables right next to the window facing Millennium Park. The food is pretty good as well, typical Thai and Japanese. I love the Hot Woks noodles and the pad see ew. You really can't beat the price and the location!

Ginny D.

I've been here a bunch of times for work and with clients and am just getting around to writing a review after my visit today. I work just around the corner and this place is a great little gem but often gets jam packed over the lunch hour. The only star I take away is for the front door gal that I always seem to catch in a bad mood - don't sit there, this section's closed, scowl. But aside from that today's experience was exquisite as it was the first time I had a chance to get in early and actually discuss the menu with any of the wait staff. If you have the time - definitely ask questions and take the recommendations! Wonderfully helpful waitress and waiter - there were three in our party and one was quite indecisive so the advice of our excellent waitress was VERY appreciated! We ordered a spicy tuna maki and the tasting platter to start - lovely presentation and very very good. The spicy tuna was not really spicy but our waitress had mentioned that prior to our order - they tend to not do too spicy unless requested since most people tend to be sensitive - if you want it spicy - let them know. For lunch we enjoyed the chardonnay chicken (deliciously garlicy), hot woks noodles (with spinach noodles and bit of a kick) and the firecracker shrimp (lovely but sweeter than the other dishes and with pineapple). I typically just stick to the bento box which is always good but all of our dishes were wonderful. The appetizers were great and the portions are so generous that you'll need a doggie bag. It was a special send off lunch so we did dessert too at the recommendation of one of the waiters and the mango pudding is not to be missed! Deliciously fresh with mango pieces, fresh strawberry and whipped cream - in a word - Amazing! So good that my healthnut of a sister ordered a second serving for us to share. Oh and get out of your comfort zone here - we tried the raspberry iced tea - awesome, the thai iced tea - awesome and the iced coffee which was way better than Starbucks. Also, one person in our party was allergic to fish and as soon as i mentioned it to the staff they made sure that there was no cross contamination (which was impressive considering we ordered a bit of sushi right off the bat for the non-allergic). Thank you Hot Woks Cool Sushi - I'll be back. Again and again and again.

Elaine M.

Hot Woks Cool Sushi is wonderful! I love going there and ordering some sushi and udon noodles and splitting it. It is the perfect meal. I love that they serve various tempura vegetables, they are the perfect thing to dip into the broth of the soup. I've tried a decent amount of rolls and always loved my choices. Seriously, go there is you want some tasty sushi at a good price. Yum!

Renee F.

The sushi is pretty good, and the service is the same. It's dependable and will cure a craving, but it's nothing awe inspiring! Great for grab and go or a quick lunch with coworkers!

Sterling A.

Loved it. Affordable for the value!

Michelle T.

At 8:30pm on a Thursday night down at the loop, Hot Woks was one of the few places still open and still bustling! It's a standard fusion japanese joint with some thai dishes. Nothing special but decent edible affordable food. Warning: My judgement may be a little cloudy due to hunger and just having completed a freezing 5k race at 8:30pm. Chicken Teriyaki bento box - For $13, a pretty standard deal. You get a hot bowl of miso soup, a big bowl of rice, and your bento box. It includes 6 small pieces of california roll + hot chicken teriyaki + 4 pieces of tempura veggies + a too-salty soggy salad. overall, too much salt in the dishes, but everything tasted good. I ate it all. Pad Kee Mao - The sauce is killer good. Standard, but if you're a fan of pad see yew, this is totally the dish for you. I have to say, those fat chewy noodles may have been a little too thick and the dish looks too haphazardly thrown together, but messy food is the funnest food to eat. We ordered 2 rolls - Volcano + caterpillar i believe. Both tasted yummy and very flavorful, but if you're looking for high quality crab meat, you won't find it in Hot Wok's rolls. I'd come back for a hearty, casual later-evening weekday meal. Nice dark atmosphere also for a casual date.

Guido P.

Best maki I've ever had! Make sure you pop in for the lunch specials. Highly recommended.

Kate L.

Best Crab Rangoon I've found in the city (although the search continues...). I also really enjoy their Panang Curry. It is flavorful with a good amount of spice and usually what I order when I go to/order from HWCS. Be aware that the carry-out portion is larger than the dine-in portion. I've had better sushi, but it will do when you need a quick sushi fix. Last night, I wasn't in the mood for fish so I had the avocado maki. The avocado was quite fresh. The waitress forgot to bring one of our rolls, but by the time we had eaten everything else, we didn't need it or ask for it. My friend requested containers for soy sauce, but the waitress only brought one container. Rating of 3.5.

Lola K P.

Others can turn their noses up at this place for being part of a mini-chain (4 locations), being in the middle of tourist central (across from the Bean), blah, blah, blah. Bottom line is that this is a great place when you're in the area and want some upscale casual Asian-like food without an attitude and reasonable prices (for the area). Most importantly, it doesn't feel like a tourist circus. Hubby and I've been here several times for dinner after visiting the museum, where we just wanted a couple rolls and a girlie drink for me, and it's satisfied with decent solid sushi and tempura every time. I've also had a girls' night out here, and everyone loved it. We all split rolls and everyone thought the Obama roll was a hoot. The one woman who ordered a cooked dish, the firecracker shrimp, said it was delicious, but I thought it was seriously swimming in sauce. Still tasty. It is Americanized Japanese/Chinese/Thai/Fill-in-the-blank Fusion. Deal with it. It's all good for what it is. FYI - this is being written by a Chinese chick. We'll happily continue to visit.

Melissa S.

This location is not as good as the Hot Woks on Pulaski, where I've eaten or ordered delivery at least once a month for the past 6 years. The rolls were edible, but just a little bit not right. Some of them were loosely rolled and falling apart on the ends, and the presentation was not the same as what I've received at the other location. I seem to remember a very fun looking caterpillar roll, but what we received was not that. Our spicy scallop was missing sauce so the server had to take it back. It returned with just straight-up sriracha squirted on top in little dollops (the menu said spicy mayo, trust me I know what sriracha tastes like). My order of tuna sashimi was one teeny, tiny, meek, little, pathetic scrap of fish, approximately one square inch. Definitely the smallest and most scraggly bite of food I've ever paid $3 for. I found myself wondering if they had a new hire in the kitchen who just didn't know what was up. Service was good. The decor is fine. Prices are typical. The hike back to the bathroom gives you an unpolished view of the kitchen, and I tried not to think about the minor health code violations I saw. If I were them, I would seriously clean and tidy up in the back area, since customers walk right by. Oh, and the bathroom was dirty. The good news is, they have a bar at this location.

Vivian P.

I came here the other night with my friend, who is a vegetarian, and we both enjoyed the meal! To start: I asked for green tea and he asked for coffee. The tea was lukewarm, but perfect in taste for me. He didn't like the fact that the coffee was instant coffee, but come on, who orders coffee at 8 pm?? I ordered the spider and dragon roll, he (after I pointed it out!) ordered the only vegetarian roll. He loved how they brought the roll out, he called it a caterpillar hahaha :) My rolls were fantastic! The shrimp and crab tasted fresh, I couldn't stop the drool!!! I swear I still looked classy. The place looks small from the outside, but it's quite spacious inside. Our server was very helpful, we found a table quickly, and we were able to ice skate afterwords! All in all, a great place to check out :)

Julie T.

Great little place with a perfect location. If you sit next to the window, you can see a view of Millennium Park. The sushi was okay, it's not as high grade as I'd like, but the sizes of their rolls are perfect (capable of one bite with being about to breathe). I got the eel roll that had the perfect amount of eel and eel sauce and I also got the rainbow roll and it was pretty good. It almost reminds me of supermarket sushi (or Publix made) because of the lower grade/less fresh taste. My boyfriend had his first pad-thai here and it he said he would come back here for it. I would highly recommend it. Overall the service was nice, the restaurant is narrow with a big dining room and a very nice atmosphere.

Yoie L.

I really want to like this place. It's conveniently located on Michigan Avenue, it's kind of on the way home, and they serve a variety of Thai and Japanese food. But after visiting this place twice, I am not wowed by any means. First time I ordered a spicy tuna roll and pad thai. I would say the spicy tuna roll here is solid. Very spicy to my liking. The pad thai was not memorable but I remember the dish being huge. The other day I came after work and it was hopping on a week night. I had the Bento Box with teriyaki chicken. If you are super hungry, Bento Box is the way to go. But the California rolls were so dry I had to soak it in teriyaki sauce to make it tasty. I would go back here if I'm on Michigan Ave again, but definitely won't order the Bento Box.

Dawoomi H.

So unhappy here. My wife has an allergy to cucumber and I told the server that. However they bring cucumber in my dish and they don't think it's serious. So, if you have any allergy, please avoid this place to save your life.

Kam X.

A tourist to Millenium park? Love sushi? Then this will be it! Just right across from the park. It has great service and nice interior. You can also eat outside too! And it does serve alcohol beverages too!

Jessica Y.

Never go to this place if you have a food allergy. I told them what allergy I have, but they completely ignored and brought two dishes with that particular vegetable. They brought the new dish, but I think the cook did not change the glove or washed hands. I know somebody touched the veggie I am allergic to because I had to take the allergy medicine after that.

Shradha A.

Absolutely obnoxious service! Our server messed up the order, after clarifying to her a couple of time while placing the order, and then makes it sound like she's doing us a huge favor by going and getting us the right sushi, the ones her notes said and she herself re-read to realize it was different. Place is too loud and high traffic and terrible to talk and catch-up. I guess what people might call a tourist tap..

Taylor L.

On a day of sightseeing, I stopped by here in search of a break from steak and pizza. It's right off of Millennium park, which is convenient for those who were hungry, like myself, after seeing Cloud Gate. The menu has a pretty wide range of sushi rolls, soups, salads, sashimi, noodle dishes. One of the sushi rolls was named "Obamanami", which I thought was kitschy and it made me laugh - fitting for a Chicago sushi spot though. Since I was eating for one, I only got one roll and that was the Fukodome ($13) which is shrimp tempura, mayo, masago, avocado, chili sauce, red tobikko, cream cheese, scallion with tempura crumbs on top. It was honestly a really good roll, and I wished that I could have tried more food. The service was fast and friendly, and the restaurant was clean. Overall, it was pretty decent.

Andrea R.

My fellow pregnant sushi addicts can rejoice...best veggie roll ever. The hubby and I were taking the pup for a long walk the other night...and we were starving. What else is new? My husband suggested Hot Woks Cool Sushi. I usually steer clear of sushi restaurants I haven't heard of, especially when pregnant, but he insisted he'd eaten there a few times and it was pretty good. And even better...we scored a table on their little patio so the pup could join us! Now back to the best veggie roll ever. This was so good that I may order it even after this baby pops out! I can't remember what it was called, but it was filled to the max with sweet potato tempura, beets, broccoli, avocado and even more veggies. The roll was so huge it took about 3 bites to fit it all in my mouth. I had worried 1 veggie roll wouldn't be enough so I had also ordered a side of sushi rice, but I would have been plenty full without the rice (even though I ate it). The hubby was thrilled with his "real" sushi too, but I wasn't too jealous thanks to my awesome veggie roll. I later learned from the all knowing Chicago Yelp King, Johnny T, that Hot Woks has 2 other locations in Chicago. Another reason to rejoice!

Patrick L.

Et tu, Yelp? I saw 3 1/2 stars and thought, ok not bad. Right next to Millenium Park. Go for a stroll after dinner... I've heard good things, too. So I first walked into this place, and there was a "line" to the door, so I thought, ok this place was bumpin and popular. My date and I had to wait, but... when we were able to look into the dining area, there clearly were open tables. I lamented, "You know, we could just sit there at that open table..." And lo and behold, we were finally sat a few moments later AT ONE OF THOSE OPEN TABLES. Maybe they were deciding on what server to take us, but that wait was unneccessary. Strike one. The napkins did warn me. Though the decor was pretty throughout the restaurant, the napkins were... paper napkins. Not even fancy paper napkins -- these ones fall apart at the slightest touch with moisture. God forbid you want to wipe your mouth on one of these things, lest you get napkin bits on your lips. Which totally happened, by the way. Anyway, nice conglomeration of hot and cold food, hence the name of the place. Went for an appetizer item what the menu called, "Spring Rolls (12)". My date and I assumed, 12 spring rolls is quite a deal. But no -- when it came out, it was 2 regular sized spring rolls cut up into 12 pieces (like sushi-size). That was false advertising, or not advertised clearly enough. I mean, who thinks that one count of a spring roll is a little sushi roll size? This place, apparently. Strike two. Oh, and the main entree. Apparently "the most popular dish" is General Tso's Chicken. The breading was super soft and soggy and falling off the chicken, and the chicken did not taste fresh. It was dry. Sauce desperately trying to compensate like a not-so-well-endowed man and a Hummer. Strike three. I didn't think it warranted complaining to management anymore. I didn't want to try any more. But in staying to chat with my date, our waitress kept asking us, "Are you done?" They apparently really wanted us out of there, because another woman who wasn't our waitress also asked us if we were done. Yeah... we were done alright. Never coming back. Strike...... four? Hence the 1-star rating. The napkins did warn me. UPDATE - I've updated this to a 2-star rating since they did offer to make things right, give 'em another chance and all. I do appreciate good customer service, even after the fact.