4. Restaurants

South Coast Sushi

1700 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60616
  • (312) 662-1700
  • Store is closed

South Coast Sushi Menu

  • Cold Appetizers
  • Hot Appetizers
  • Signature Maki
  • Vegetable Maki
  • Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for South Coast Sushi

  • Cold Appetizers
  • Hot Appetizers
  • Signature Maki
  • Vegetable Maki
  • Desserts

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Amy H.

    I really enjoyed this place!! Saw the reviews online and we decided to come in!! We did a whole bunch of apps but the rock shrimp and beef wrapped asparagus were on point! I'd come back just for the beef!! We did several rolls ranging from tuna, to rainbow to the scallop roll all were great! The portions were a tad smaller than most sushi places but really good!!!

    (4)

  • Andre W.

    This awesome sushi place has been on my Yelp bookmark list since 2009 and I finally got my butt over to 1700 S Michigan to try out the raw here. Free parking across the street if you are driving so you don't have to fool around with the meters and they offer 5% off of your meal if you pay in cash. We started out with their complimentary fried seaweed which was decent. We then got their off the menu specialty appetizer, the super white tataki which was nice...the big cucumber at the bottom made it quite the challenge to pick up with the chopsticks but we managed. LOL I have to say, the sushi here is exactly what everyone says it is...very good! We figured 3 rolls would be enough so we went with the following: Salmon Poke - remarkable Rainbow - pretty damn good White Dragon - off the damn charts They make the best pear martini here as well! The people that work here are quite conversational and good at letting you know whats worth getting especially our server Koi and the girl behind the bar. The 24 Knots wine was a good choice to go with the maki rolls.

    (5)

  • Garvin W.

    Service was awesome. Hostess and server was very friendly and free appetizer starter! (a piece of tuna sashimi) Nice interior design with dim lights. A little chilly inside and the music was different (some EDM type of music) Was a bit disappointed with the sushi. Ordered a few specials such as dragon rock maki and south scallop maki, then had a dragon and spider roll. The spider roll and dragon rock maki was okay, the other two was a no. The eel on the dragon roll was too crisp and burnt as if it was in the oven for too long. While the south scallop maki was similar to a sushi sandwich and I didnt taste anything special about that. Comes with only 4 pieces as well. Probably will not be trying this place again on my next trip to Chicago.

    (2)

  • Angela H.

    This is the cutest lil spot for a lunch me and my boo came here for. A cocktail and decided to eat after smelling the heavenly smell of fresh seafood oh my the bartender was great

    (5)

  • Zoe D.

    White tuna is tasty which make u feel so happiness! While, one thing I can hardly understand is a sushi bar offered this kind of Gari!!! Please make sure to Ask for FRESH Gari! Or they will offer u overdue ginger which taste yucky and even hard to eat one piece of sushi! I can hardly believe that a good restaurant with all reserved table will offer overdue food!!! Btw, the chair at sushi bar is reallllllllly uncomfortable!!!! I will leave right away if I went there by myself, no matter how tasty the food is! Please have a seat and try if u r a customer and think about if u wanna stay on the chair for a dinner! The recommendation is only because of the food here is ok, please do not ruin reputation because of the small but important things!

    (3)

  • misbah s.

    When you live at 1720 South Michigan for over a year, and have family in the South Loop, this is your go-to local and phenomenal sushi joint. Come Wednesdays, when the amazing mixed drinks are half off, and walk out full with some amazing rolls. They switch up their menu a little, always give you a few starters from the chef (free) and you keep working on their phenomenal rolls. I've been here over a dozen times. There is no other comparison in downtown Chicago, so don't spend too much on pricey downtown sushi, when you can get a parking spot, without having to pay 20 bucks to go back and forth from downtown to your apartment in the South Loop. Great for dates, large parties, girl's nites, best friend's nites, quick walk-ins, and in-need-sushi-fixes. Tables are always available even if you don't book a reservation. That isn't to say that it's a bad place. No, don't think that. It's not "popular" to head to the South Loop which is good, we don't need any Streeterille losers here anyway. Look no further, South Coast is the place to hit up. Thank me later.

    (4)

  • Leslie W.

    Very cool ambiance in this place. Came here with a group of girlfriends on a friday night and everything was delicious. Make sure you try the jello sake! Mmmmm! The seaweed appetizer was also quite delicious;). I'll definitely be back to try some of the other menu options.

    (4)

  • Brittany P.

    Great experience here! Staff is super friendly and knowledgable of menu items...we had trouble figuring out what to order and the waitress knew right away what to recommend/ answer our questions. 100% recommend getting the white dragon roll (I could eat like 5 or these!) Great interior as well

    (4)

  • roy b.

    Great food great service!!! Spicy misu soup was spicy and sushi was amazing!!! Thank you!

    (5)

  • N G.

    The food was good, but for the price was expecting a little more. The ambiance was great. The wait staff was nice, but took a bit to get to us and serve. It was not that busy.

    (3)

  • Mark N.

    My favorite place for sushi in the city (at least the area of the city I live in). Very nice ambience, friendly and courteous staff. The sushi is always Excellent! Its not cheap, but not that expensive. I feel it's a pretty fair deal for the quality of sushi you get. The cocktails are usually very good too, but might be a bit on the weak side for alcohol. 5% discount for cash payment is nice!

    (5)

  • Stephanie K.

    Overpriced, average sushi. I have mixed feelings because we went here 2 years ago and enjoyed it a lot. We all agreed that the rolls were tasty and fresh, although still slightly more expensive than what you could get in the area(and not as good as the original Coast sushi). However, I liked the ambiance and they had good cocktails. Maybe things have changed? Or maybe things are different in the delivery world. I just ordered delivery and was disappointed. The popper roll was $15 and was smaller than any California roll I've ever seen. I didn't even realize there was fish in it until I examined it closely. The unagi roll was meh. Sloopers, I would stick with Kai sushi or Umai instead.

    (2)

  • leah b.

    Food was awesome, very nice atmosphere. Decent prices. Great location in south loop. I recommend the Appetizer yellow with jalapeño. It melts in your mouth.

    (5)

  • Diana S.

    Fish quality was good but paying $1 per small sushi piece is not satisfying. There is a Tuesday deal that's $30 for an appetizer , 2 rolls and a scoop of ice cream and they won't let just 1 individual have the deal, everyone at the table must get it as well - bs. Thought it was a good deal but the menu doesn't specify how tiny the rolls are. 4 basic rolls (22 pieces) for 40$... We are leaving to go get actual dinner somewhere else. Also service was slow and extra sauce was $2. No thanks

    (2)

  • ashleigh p.

    Fantastic experience. We had a group of 6, and called ahead for a reservation. We were promptly seated when we arrived, and drink orders taken. They took a bit to get to us but were DELICIOUS (orange blossom martini was my fave). Complimentary tempura seaweed was given to us, and our food orders were all correct and brought out in a timely fashion. Again, delicious. Atmosphere was great. Small, cozy, temperature was great. Servers very attentive and kind. Give it a shot!

    (5)

  • Carm P.

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    (3)

  • Kadee D.

    I was quite impressed with this place .... It was decently priced and the atmosphere was great! My friend and I were in a rush and the service was fantastic at taking that into note. We ordered the spicy crab hot appetizer (which was to die for) and their new special tuna/jalapeño maki roll and spider roll. The spider roll was not bad (I'm not a fan of what's in it) but the special was awesome - such a burst of flavor and great twist, think jalapeño popper chilled with spicy sweet accent and super white tuna! The only draw back was they do not have soy paper as an option but I would have to say their seaweed wrap was not raunchy like most places.... We also got crunchy seaweed fries as a complimentary appetizer which were light and perfect for an appetizer!

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    Go here quite frequently due to proximity. There's never a wait, which is a huge positive and the place is very welcoming, and nicely decorated. The service is normally pretty good, except for one or two exceptions where it was slow or once when the server was just kind of...strange. They always give out a compliment appetizer of fried seaweed with two different sauces, mustard I believe, and wasabi. The sauces are very good. The sushi is great here - it's always fresh and they have a pretty big variety. It's a little expensive but in terms of sushi places pretty comparable with the rest.

    (4)

  • Michelle G.

    This place rocks! The sushi always tastes fresh and flavorful. The atomsphere is laidback, a little dark, probably best for a date night. Our servers have all been really nice, and the service is fast and efficient. I only wish they had a few more rolls on their menu that didn't have tempura or cream cheese in them. But otherwise, definitely check out if you're in the area.

    (4)

  • Bridgette L.

    A fantastic experience.my first time at South Coast sushi The food was awesome, and the drinks was on time.The food was awesome and the Host was very attentive and polite. The atmosphere was very cozy with nice music playing in the background. This is definitely a place that I would recommend to other friends and family.

    (5)

  • Simeen A.

    So interesting to read about people having sub-par experiences here- I've been twice and LOVED everything about south coast. The first time we went because we had spent the day at Shedd and needed some dinner on our way home- found this place and were so surprised at how good it was. The ambiance is def a little loungy so you can dress cute. There are parking spots across the street in a lot- free parking?! Who can complain? Service was on point, sushi was fantastic and fresh, and they have fresh wasabi which is a must. Both visits were exceptional on all counts. My only downside is I live in Lincoln Park and I wish this place was closer. Otherwise? Literally nothing bad to say.

    (5)

  • Amy H.

    I went here with my friend and I didn't like it. The parking lot across the street is tiny. I had to adjust a couple of times. The place is classy looking but not to the point where it can justify its expensive menu. I ordered yet sushi and was planning on sharing. I remember feeling disappointed at the portion and then being annoyed at my bill. I was expecting the standard 8 piece per roll. It's another one of those times where I feel gipped.

    (1)

  • Kari N.

    Absolutely LOVE this place everything is phenomenal!! Dragon Maki is amazing & only love it from here!

    (5)

  • Alfreda D.

    I had the white dragon maki for $13. Eh, it was just ok, nothing spectacular. They bring tempura seaweed to the table while you wait which was a nice touch. The ginger sauce wasn't good but the other one... oddly I can't recall the type of sauce, was much better. They had drinks "specials" for $9... that's a deal? Eh. I didn't have one so I can't comment on whether it was worth it or not. My friend liked hers okay but I don't think was super excited about it or anything. On a more positive note, the venue is sexy. It looks very unassuming from the outside which is probably why I've never been moved to check it out. The bar area is fly and there is a lot of space in the center for dancing... it could/should be a part time lounge. Note to self: check out the rental rate for special events. The staff is friendly. There are a few free parking spots in the lot across the street starting at 6pm. I didn't know the timing until after I pulled in at 5:30. It's a tight lot so it was hard to maneuver and back out once I realized it was too early for me. I called the restaurant to confirm and the hostess was very sweet. She said I could risk it because they usually get a call before someone gets towed and she can see the lot from the front door, but ummm, I wasn't down for that when street parking on Michigan is $2/hour. It was nice of her though. Overall, it was fine, but it's far from overriding my go-to sushi spot.

    (3)

  • Jessie B.

    Sushi is good but the service is horrible. We waited 30 minutes for edemame! Which never came. Our food came after 35 and the waitress didn't even notice we never got our edemame. Dessert was good, but we had to wait 15 minutes after we were done to get a check. I would order takeout from here, but probably won't be back for a sit down meal.

    (3)

  • Eben A.

    Came in today (Sunday) for lunch, there was one server for the entire dining room; she said "Sundays are usually slow so we only have one person on." The phone literally didn't stop ringing (apparently this was also her job but she definitely didn't have time to answer it), and people were noticeably getting annoyed after a while. She did her best though and we weren't in a rush. Two stars though because we were charged $24 for Chirashi when the lunch menu had it for $18, and the lunch menu version included "sheets of seaweed on the side so you can make your own handrolls." When I asked about it, she said she thought we ordered the $24 version, which didn't include the seaweed... but that sheets of Nori were available for $1 for two sheets. I did find that kind of nickel-and-diming pretty stupid, given the patience we were asked to exhibit. Best of luck to you, South Coast!

    (2)

  • Kirsten A.

    My initial 5 star review was for dining in, which you should definitely do! Delicious sushi, attentive service, varied drink menu, and nice decor. It's in the $25 entree price range, but the sashimi entree I had was delicious and full of unique flavors. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the South Loop. Better sushi variety on the menu here than at Uami. Delivery? Hot. Mess. Skip it. There is no presentation what-so-ever! Things are just shoved in aluminum boxes, nothing is labeled and even though we ordered two sashimi entrees, we received sushi entrees instead. And things just didn't quite taste as good as they did in the restaurant. Would never order delivery or takeout from here again.

    (3)

  • Sarah E.

    Pro tip: Check your order before your delivery guy leaves. If you call the restaurant to say it was wrong, they will explain that your rolls look alike and that the order was packed by a manager. No apologies, no offers at remediation. Very rude girl on the phone declined my offer to see a photo of my order. She offered to label my rolls in the future. No future, but thanks?

    (2)

  • Abhishek M.

    I had always been to Coast in the past primarily since it is BYO, but since we recently moved to the area we also tried S. Coast. In a nutshell, this is a great date spot with your not so typical run of the mill sushi restaurant ambience; fish is fresh but be prepared to spend a LOT! Fish cuts are smaller than average, and more expensive and drinks aren't cheap either. 4 stars for food but 3 stars overall once you factor in the price, specially with the multitude of Good sushi options in Chicago.

    (3)

  • Tiffany R.

    Pretty decent sushi and more economically priced than japonais. Bobbie at the bar is great. For dinner you always get a free appetizer which is nice. The servers are good. I especially like Natalie. Sushi is very fresh. Nice clean location.

    (4)

  • Sallie S.

    Interesting ware-housey atmosphere, outfitted with cool tables, booths, a sitting area, plants, bar, etc. that break up the space and give it a trendy feel. The house music helps the trendiness too. Standouts: The free appetizer: Tempura seaweed strips with two dipping sauces - the wasabi mayo is yummy. The ginger salad: Unlike any other ginger salad I've had at a Japanese restaurant. It's a good-sized salad, composed of real mixed greens (including some Asian greens I think..? I couldn't tell, I ate it too quickly to contemplate), and the perfect amount of a very light ginger dressing that had a tiny spicy kick to it! Not your typical orange dressing. The sushi: I always order a mix of straight-up ngiri and sashimi, which gives me a good idea of the quality of the food. It was all excellent! I actually went in with low expectations, unsure if Chicago could pull off good Japanese, and I was pleasantly surprised. The rolls: I typically steer clear of maki, since I don't want too many sauces masking the flavor of the fish, but I tried a couple - south scallop maki (pan-fried scallop sandwiched in a dynamite roll), and the spring maki. These seem good if you like maki, but the true stars of the night were the ngiri and sashimi. Definitely going back!

    (4)

  • Syretta H.

    Came here with a close friend, who had been there on a date previously. Prior to her date she had never had sushi before but she raved about this place, and rightfully so! OMG- if you've never had sushi before but want to give it a shot, this might be your place to go. Awesome ambience, sort of upscale but not so much where you feel like you need to dress up or anything. As far as the menu, our waitress was really helpful when we asked questions. Its been about a year since my visit but I remember having some sort of fried seaweed chips, I know I had a roll with crab and cucumber, and I also had a roll with salmon. The superstar of the night? The banana maki fo dessert.....enough said.. Cannot wait to go back- my only gripe with a lot of sushi is why mayo? I despise mayo and it seems like 80% of all sushi in some way, shape or form, has mayo..eeeewwwww.....

    (5)

  • Valerie H.

    The food is good, but not anything to write home about. I really enjoyed my pear martini which included pear vodka... Something else, and St. Germain liquor. Exquisite aroma, delicious taste. The steamed shrimp dumpling appetizer is simple and pleasurable. Each dumpling features one whole shrimp in the center. We ordered two rolls off the specialties and two standard rolls. Spring (speciality) roll was my favorite. I would return. Would like to try their toro sashimi!

    (3)

  • Sarah B.

    I've ordered delivery from here twice, and both times my sushi was scrumptious and the fish fresh. I've only ordered rolls, so I can speak about the entrees or other dishes. I also have never dined in, but my delivery orders are always accurate. I'll keep ordering from this place, I like it.

    (3)

  • Sylvia C.

    I came on a Sunday night and it was fairly empty. I started off with the cocktail with Makers and ginger liquor. It was quite delicious. I had 3 of them and the bartender made them slightly inconsistently, but I still enjoyed them. Appetizers: Soft Shell crab- this was so good. Perfectly fried, right amount of batter, great crabby flavor. I could've eaten 10 of them. Sesame Scallops-who knew that scallops and sesame seeds worked? Scallops were cooked properly. Not rubbery at all, and was soft like butter. Delicious. Entrees: I had the seared Toro special. I prefer it raw. There were some veins that harden when cooked and I didn't like it. Toro is better raw, I learned. Sashimi entree - this was really fresh and had a great variety of fish in a pretty presentation in a silver boat. I really enjoyed this. You can taste the freshness and full flavor of each piece. Dessert: Banana Maki - yum. You have to like banana to enjoy this. This is battered and fried, which was a plus. I did like it. Not spectacular, but yummy. Irish Whiskey - bartender tried this for the first time. It was good because he didn't load it with sugar. I think he just added baileys and whiskey, which makes it boozey, but it was fine by me. I like my drinks like that.

    (4)

  • Amelia B.

    Sashimi was fresh and flavorful, service was spotty. Price point is pretty high for the area, but you are going to pay out the nose for raw fish in Chicago wherever you go, I guess. Lots of roll options, but it seemed like everything either had cream cheese or mayo. I get that Americans like their white, blubbery substances, but yeesh. Never understood why you would destroy great fish and rice with questionable substances. I'm normally fine sitting at the sushi bar - in fact, I love it. But the hot blows directly out in your face here (probably cooling off the displays in front of you). It was uncomfortable, and kinda disgusting. Because the South Loop doesn't have a lot of sushi options, this place will always be busy and do fairly well. But I'd choose to get out of the neighborhood and go elsewhere for my sushi fix. There is a parking lot across the street - can't remember if it was free or pay...

    (3)

  • Jacqueline M.

    Great atmosphere! Relaxing ambient trance plays in an open dining room with many earth tones, dark wood flooring, and environmental sculptures from artful chandeliers made from tree branches to serving bowls made from coral. Signature Maki is fun and inventive with white dragon (shrimp tempura, wasabi tobiko, cream cheese, avocado, scallion, spicy sauce with wasabi mayo, eel sauce - yummy!) and the popper (smoked salmon, cream cheese, jalapeño, cilantro fried nori roll avocado, spicy sauce). We tried the specials as well and the Blackhawk Maki was amazing! It was two pieces of Nama sake nigiri (buttery and smooth) topped with wasabi mayo and black tobiko and a soy paper roll of daikon masago, red tuna maki, and topped with black tobiko. Best sushi I have had in a long time! Aside from sushi rolls there are entrees such as Chilean sea bass and Yakisoba, as well as vegetarian (marinated shitake mushrooms, sweet potatoe tempura, and sweet gourd). It is absolutely a sushi destination for future Chicago trips!

    (4)

  • Megan S.

    I love this place! The sushi is always fresh and carry out orders are always quickly available. The restaurant is beautiful-- it carries an ambiance with its low lighting. Excellent service!

    (5)

  • Danielle S.

    Honestly the best sushi I've ever had. The Dragon roll is an absolute must have! My boyfriend and I finished our rolls in 6 minutes because they were so good. The price was decent. I don't know why everyone on yelp said it was expensive. My roll was $13 and had rolls as low as $8. Decor was classy, and the service was over the top. We took a random trip to Chicago from Michigan and came here for lunch... And we will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    If Kai is my go to South Loop Sushi, this place is my splurge. Incredible ambiance. The restaurant is so intimate and beautiful and the outdoor seating space is just great. The service was great and they were so open to questions and suggestions that I easily came out of my comfort zone and played around with their specials. We started with rounds of Sake bombs served with quail egg, incredible. I look forward to coming back!

    (5)

  • Monique B.

    I've passed by this place a million times, but never felt compelled to go in, based on the outside. A friend of mine and I finally decided to check it out, since it is sushi in the neighborhood. We were both disappointed. They gave us seaweed salad while we waited, and I ordered some edimame. The edimame was good, but how do you mess that up? I don't like seaweed salad much, but my friend seemed to enjoy it. I had the special spicy crunchy tuna roll with 3 different types of tuna. When my roll came out it wasn't big enough to justify the price, and to top it off, there was no spice in the roll. I hate having to be that person who dunks their sushi into a bunch of wasabi and soy sauce, but this roll needed it. They also had a drink special, for $9, which to me is not a special, but I suppose compared to their usual New York prices of $13 per drink it's a good price. I had the lychee martini and while it was alright it wasn't strong or taste like anything special. I will acknowledge that I was wrong about the ambiance inside the restaurant. It was cute and cozy and classy, but casual. Unfortunately, we got a brand new waiter who didn't know anything, so wasn't able to ask any of our questions about the menu. He wasn't that attentive either. They do have a special 5% off for customers who pay in cash, so stop by the ATM before you come by, although I don't recommend coming by. Overall, everything was meh, for an expensive price. If you're looking for good Sushi in the south loop, go to Kai Sushi on State & 13th St. The ambiance there isn't as nice, but the quality and flavor of the sushi and the service is much better. Stop by Jewel ahead of time for much cheaper drinks than a $9 martini.

    (2)

  • Tan L.

    Never had a bad experience here. The food is decent but more than anything they treat you so well you d want to keep coming back here. To me it s not just about the food, it s a total experience when the service is fast and people are pleasant. Highly recommended !

    (5)

  • Mark H.

    Had a great first time dinner. Fish quality is high for Chicago. Spicy miso was great good service and right across the street. I'm so glad we gave it a try

    (5)

  • Irem Cansu Y.

    My cousins took me to this amazing place, when I come to the city for a couple weeks. I am definetely not an expert of Sushi, but also I actually don't love Sushi too. I am not a fan of sea weed, that's why I never prefer sushi. But, this place was sooo different! And, you would not gonna believe - my favourite thing was about this place - fried seaweed ! They brought it while we were waiting for our dinner, they were so delicious ! And we ordered a huge portion of sushi - including white dragon and california rolls. After that, we ordered california king maki - lastly. They all were delicious. I should add- the cocktails was so good too. So, that's the place - which changed my whole idea about sushi !

    (5)

  • Danielle D.

    A great go to sushi spot!

    (5)

  • Amanda H.

    Not sure if the food's worth the price. The food was tasty, but everything was a few dollars more than it should've been. My friend and I ordered take-out: miso soup, two rolls, and the fried tofu appetizer. Maybe it was because it was a to-go order, but I thought it was pretty egregious for the restaurant to give us 6 small/normal pieces of tofu for a $7 appetizer. More than $1/piece of tofu??!! I'd try someplace else in the future or stick to the rolls (which, although a tad overpriced, were quite delicious).

    (3)

  • Jessica Q.

    Went on Tuesday.The sushi was delicious! They all had the perfect mixes of texture. It seems like It's a very chill atmosphere. Over all I see it turning into my go to Sushi spot in the SL.

    (5)

  • Dave M.

    South Loop gem. Best sushi we've had in the city. Always fresh, more fish than rice, great service, stylish but not pretentious and clubby like some places dowtown. We've been there dozens of times and never had less than a five star experience.

    (5)

  • Jade W.

    I've dined here plenty of times and always say I'm going to Yelp but then I just forget until I come back. The food is fabulous and fresh...the issue is the service. It is very very very slow! it takes forever to get served. I've learned to order as soon as the server approaches the table, but that is not always a guarantee that you will get anything in a timely fashion. They bring out an amuse bouche, as they should because it takes FOREVER to get your food. They have at least (4) sushi chefs working back behind the counter...just not sure what takes them soooo long to prepare (2-3) rolls and sashimi? My last visit we ordered edamame as soon as the server greeted us, and that took about 15 min? I will continue to dine here because it's a block from my house, but you would think after being in the hood for as long as they have been they could pick up the pace with service.

    (3)

  • A R.

    I've lived in the south loop neighborhood for a little over a year and never went into this place because from the outside it looks tiny and empty. I was wrong... It's much bigger than you'd expect inside, very modern, friendly staff and DELICIOUS sushi. They even give you a complimentary appetizer of fried seaweed with dips which is fantastic. My favorite is the White Dragon roll but all the rolls I've tried have been great! The ambiance is a little fancy compared to most sushi restaurants but a great date spot. They even play an awkward techno version of "sexual healing" haha! It's almost always packed for dinner when I go, this place is well worth stopping in!

    (5)

  • Jackie R.

    My thoughts, in descending star order: 5 stars Decor- its perfect. I think the girls and I stayed at our table for like 3 and 1/2 hours chatting and enjoying the place 4 stars Service- our waitress didn't even act pissed that we were there all night 3 stars Food- um, yea its sushi. Ive had better though. Wasn't bad, just not memorable. 2 stars Price- its nice that it is a byob, but they tack on $5 uncorking fee for wine and $1 per bottle for beer. kinda crazy to me, especially if you have a bigger group. And the price for food alone is above most other sushi places, that serve better sushi...imo

    (3)

  • Christian P.

    sadly no longer a BYOB spot, but that's really the only bad news about this place. Restaurant itself was decorated in dark woods with large chandeliers. Valet parking was available out front and the staff was attentive and very helpful We went for dinner on friday night, called about an hour before we were going to show up and got a table without much of an issue. The rolls here were all really good. We started with spicy tuna and spicy scallop, both of which were very tasty. Our favorite roll of the night however was the Dragon rock roll. Super flavorful, crispy and we'll definitely order at least two of them next time we go. The last roll we had was the spicy creamy, which was also delicious from what i remember, although by that point i had gorged on sushi and sake so some things are blurry.

    (5)

  • Naomi L.

    This place is too excessive- it is too large and too much! The service is not as good as its sister restaurant. The Sushi isn't that top notch. Allot of work is needed before this place matches its sister

    (3)

  • Jen D.

    We had a fabulous meal at South Coast a couple weeks ago when visiting Chicago for a conference. It was a looong day, and we thought sushi would be a good reward. We walked up from the conference center, looked horrible, had our bags of conference crap, no reservations - and they were happy to seat us, and did so right away. Score. First of all, the service was fabulous. Very attentive but not overly so, the waitress came right when she was needed, and all of our food was timed perfectly. And the water - oh my god my water never made it under 1/4 empty (I mean 3/4 full I guess). Seriously - I love water, and he filled the glass constantly. It was kind of funny - I'd drink a few sips and would say "I'll get more water any second now", and was not disappointed. Anyway, the food was excellent, and a couple of things were rather amazing. Appetizer - Miso tuna. Seared tuna with red miso and this carrot stuff on top. The carrots were the stand-out part (and this is not due to the tuna not being great... it was. It was just those carrots were freaking amazing). I've never had anything like those carrots, and when you dip them a bit in the vinegary dressing they were like heaven. And I never use that word usually because it sounds so lame. But they were amazing. A couple weeks later and I totally remember those darn things. 5/5. Rolls: Crispy - a unique roll that was very enjoyable, particularly due to the crispy bits on top and Spring - mint and the soybean paper on the outside made this one really nice an unique. Moo - our favorite roll of the lot. Especially the end pieces where the rice seemed to almost melt into everything else, and it was just this amazing taste. Not my favorite roll of all time (that currently goes to Futo Krispy from Moshi Moshi in SF), but those end pieces come pretty damn close. Husband also had one with salmon and cream cheese - only tasted one piece, but it was super-fresh and tasty. Very light on the cream cheese, but I was OK with this. Sashimi taster: Good, but definitely overpriced. The fish was fresh (not the freshest I've had, but definitely fine) and very tasty, but only 6 pieces that weren't huge... so it felt very expensive for what we got. I had the iced green tea, which was very tasty with some splenda. All in all, a very fine meal with excellent service. Atmosphere was great - the restaurant is beautiful (of particular note were beautiful and really unique chandeliers, woodbeams on the ceiling, and a great color use in general). It was very expensive for the two of us ($44 each), thank goodness for a per diem.

    (5)

  • Kate L.

    I liked South Coast. Very relaxed, trendy atmosphere. The sushi was good, nothing completely amazing but very fresh and good quality. The prices were very reasonable.

    (4)

  • Double L.

    Have heard great things about this spot, so we finally checked it out a few weeks ago and we are not sure what all the hype is about. We will definitely be back but most likely because it is a 5 minute walk from our house. The fish is fresh but to me that is expected at a decent Sushi place. The prices are average but verging on pricy, hence, the fish better be fresh. The menu options are average and we didn't really see any interesting or unique signature rolls. Everything was good for the most part and the presentation was very nice but compared to other higher end spots it was underwhelming. The atmosphere was really nice. The lighting was pretty cool and I like the chairs they have. The staff was nice but a little overbearing. Maybe it was because they were dead and there were twice as many staff as customers. The BYOB is a bit misleading. I think it is BS to be BYOB and still charge a $5 corkage fee and a fee for bringing your own can of Sapporo. I thought that was disingenuous. Overall, I feel like you can get the same quality for better prices elsewhere or better quality for the same price elsewhere. However, considering it is one of the only spots in the South Loop they sort of have a monopoly and don't do anything wrong just don't do anything to put it over the top. South Coast, almost. RrL

    (3)

  • Brad D.

    Superb dishes Superior service Very, very fresh sushi. I can't describe how fresh and clean it was. I tried sushi here that I have never seen on menus before. As a matter of fact, I tried so many I can't remember the names of them. I do remember that they all tasted good and fresh. Feel free to be adventurous in your selection of fish, this place is safe. The environment is traditional Japanese bistro? If that is possible. Needless to say it is very clean and modern contemporary. The wait staff is extremely friendly and is helpful in your selection of fish as well. Overall, a must visit for any sushi lover. My enthusiasm while visiting this place lent me a large bill, but I didn't feel guilty at all. INDULGE

    (5)

  • Keirstin L.

    This restaurant sparked my love affair with sushi. The signature rolls are exceptionally tasty. Granted they are a bit pricey, but the quality is high. The interior is modern and kinda sexy - great date joint. They also deliver!

    (4)

  • Katherine R.

    Sushi oh glorious Sushi. South Coast, being the sister to Coast, this place is just as good. The menus are pretty much the same, with a few unique maki rolls to choose from. I can't say much for this place, seeing as the menu is pretty much the same. The service was good and the interior of this South Loop spot is awesome! I have thought about doing something similar to my place.... Not as busy as Coast, so if you are really craving Coast and don't want to wait long for a table, head down here for the same satification. **It's also BYOB...you know how sister's always have to copy each other!

    (5)

  • Lauren H.

    I love having a delicious sushi restaurant right next door to my house. The also do take out and delivery. Monday is half-priced bottles of wine night. Yum! Its not on the menu but I've had the snow white roll. Its amazing! Also, try the toasted scallop appetizer....its to die for. They also have insane desserts. Service is wonderful too!

    (5)

  • Jennifer R.

    This place is so good. Came here for dinner on Wed and they had 1/2 price cocktails. Who can resist a pear martini? Certainly not me. The tuna ponzu appetizer was to die for. I don't know where that tuna came from, but it was perfection. We ordered the Coast Crab, Dragon, Cali, Spicy Salon and Spicy Tuna. Yum. I've never been a fan of the Cali, but the other seemed to like it. Service was fantastic too. The only thing that is not a plus is that it's too far from my house and it's too dark in there. I like to see my menu and the people I'm dining with.

    (5)

  • Andrea N.

    Best sushi in the city! And they let us call ahead and put our name on the wait list. By the time we made it down there, we were seated right away. (I didn't even know that was an option in Chicago!!) Corkage fee is slightly annoying but I probably only noticed because the times I've been there, we brought a bottle a piece! I definitely recommend this place if you want amazing sushi and can't make your plans a week in advance to get reservations at the bucktown location!

    (5)

  • Brad F.

    I love coming here for sushi. I think they have excellent rolls. The white dragon is by far my favorite. I could go there and eat 5 of them and be good for the night. I like the bucktown location a little bit better but this place def hits the spot

    (5)

  • Deirdre L.

    Sushi: Excellent, especially since its not outrageously expensive. Edamame was undercooked. Miso was good. Service: Water was full (it was almost ridiculous how many times they refilled our water. I take a sip, set down the glass, the guy rushes over to refill it. It was a little much, but shouldn't really complain.) Waitress was pleasant and made good recommendations. Annoyances: $2.00 for a side of spicy mayo (outrageous, considering we ordered a side of it when it was accidentally omitted from the roll it was supposed to be on) $3.00 for a diet Coke - no refills. Corkage fee. Overall, its nice atmosphere, BYO, the sushi is very good/fresh/tasty, service is almost too attentive, they gouge you on the little things, so just beware. It would have been 5 stars but the crazy cost of coke, too crunchy edamame, corkage fee and the fact that we were charged for the mayo.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    This is my favorite "dine in" sushi place in the city.\ The decor is perfect and the employees are great. I've been a regular diner at the coast on north damen for years but I will go out of my way to eat here when I want to sit down. They have a dessert similar to Bananas Foster and it is excellent, and I am not a huge dessert person. I hold sushi restaurants to a higher standard than most businesses and this place passes with flying colors (whatever the hell "flying colors" are).

    (5)

  • David W.

    We've been to Coast and South Coast a bunch of times and have always considered it one of our favorites. This designation came partly because the sushi is good and partly because it's byob. So when Mike finally came back from Abu Dhabi the four of us decided to head over to South Coast. The table spilt an order of edamame and we each had miso soup. After our standard teaser we got down to business by ordering 8 rolls, 11 pieces of nigiri, and 8 pieces of sashimi for the table. That sounds like enough food right? Wrong! I will admit we are big eaters (not Audrey), but 2 rolls per person plus, edamame, plus miso, plus pieces should get your tummy full. What really disappointed me was that all of the specialty rolls were very small. "Specialty Roll" means two things to me: 1. The roll is special (Duh!). 2. The roll is large. South Coast nailed #1, but failed miserably on #2. I'm sorry, but I'm looking for mouth busting pieces out of a $13 roll. Okay, enough on that rant. Aside from their itsy bitsy-ness all of the rolls were yummy. The standouts were the Spring Roll, Volcano Roll, and the Coast Crab. All of the pieces were extremely fresh and tasty as well. At the end of our meal both Mike and I need to reorder. The interior is warm, modern, and open. However, I'm beginning to get the feeling that would be sushi restaurateurs are all buying the same "Instant Sushi Restaurant Design in a Box" kit. Don't they all look the same? I do love that fact that every table isn't sandwiched between another. Our server was great and overall the service has always been on point. All in all a good experience. However, I think Coast needs to care less about their margins and more about their patrons tummys. 9 rolls 12 pieces of nigiri 8 pieces of sushi 1 edamame 4 miso soups 1 corkage ------------------------------- $210.00

    (3)

  • Sunny H.

    my girlfriend and I were looking for a good sushi place for our anniversary and we decided on this place because it was relatively close to my place. the food was pretty good and the portions were the right size. I recommend the crunch roll and the volcano roll. my ONLY neg about this place was our waiter. He was brand new and had NO idea what was on the menu or if anything was good or not. I expect the person serving me to have some idea what is good and what isn't. Also, another bad bar experience, the drink I ordered was not made well at all. I would def try this place again, hopefully with a better waiter.

    (4)

  • Dude Q.

    This is where the worst kind of white people go to get their spicy mayo and unagi sauce fix. Are you a first class douche-bag clad entirely in North Face black fleece? Do you have a fit if you can't have your Ketel martini? This place is for you! Now go have eight more babies.

    (1)

  • Stephanie G.

    Simply my favorite place for sushi in Chicago. Great food. Great atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Carole C.

    The first time I went the bar wasn't open and I still loved this place. On recent visits, the bar opened, the drinks were phenomenal and quite expected because the sushi and sashimi are first rate! Everything is lovingly prepared, the service is attentive without being cloying, and the seafood is primo fresh! The sauces are well thought out, complex and inspiring. Can't say enough about it!

    (4)

  • Ayca M.

    I tried this place a couple of years ago and really liked it, however I never got around to going back since I live on the north side and rarely venture out from my *usual* restaurants. A girlfriend and I decided to have dinner here last week, and boy am I glad we did! The decor is super awesome, and the ambiance is fantastic as well. Our waitress, Ning, was so incredibly helpful and sweet. It's refreshing to have someone helping you who is genuinely excited about being there. We ordered a special called Snow White maki, as well as a couple other rolls that were so delicious. I decided to skip on the banana maki, but after reading all the other reviews about it, I'm going to have to go back and try it!

    (5)

  • Kimberly K.

    This is by far my favorite Sushi. This is one of the best places in the South Loop. Their fish has a great fresh taste. Their vegetable sushi is also really good. My favorites are the Spicy Creamy, Sweet Potato Tempura, Spicy Miso soup, Futo Maki, and the topper, Banana Maki for dessert. Wow! Definitely spring for the fresh Wasabi. The decor and ambiance is great. It's very trendy, with a black and white colors scheme. I usually prefer a more casual place, but I like all of the interesting touches at South Coast. They do have a full bar now, so it is no longer BYOB. It's a little pricey, but absolutely worth it!

    (5)

  • Jessica T.

    Until Tuesday night, I had only ordered delivery from South Coast. I would give their delivery service about 7 stars on a scale of 1-5. It's really fast. Maybe because I live 3 blocks away. But anyway, it's great. Tuesday night, I dined in at South Coast for the first time. I would give that experience 2.5 stars. First of all, the service was not that great. Our waitress, while friendly, was MIA most of the time and the dining room wasn't even that busy. Also, there was a $20 uncorking fee for the wine, which was kind of annoying. At least the server told us about it ahead of time so there was no surprise when the bill arrived. We decided to order drinks off the menu. I guess the high fee is due to the fact that they are having some issues with their liquor license. But the food was amazing as always, and the decor and music are nice. I have tried most of the rolls on the menu and have yet to find one that isn't absolutely mouthwatering. In conclusion, delivery: hell yes; dining in: meh.

    (4)

  • Melissa B.

    I will have to say the two stars goes to the service. Everyone was very nice and friendly, and accomodating to our loud little group. The boy and I are big fans of basic sushi. Why muck it up with cream cheese and tempura flakes? Every now and then I'll get one of those types of maki, but usually with my favorite salmon and avocado also. This place is not the one to go to for simple sushi. Looking at the menu, I think I stopped breathing. No thank you. Everything was about THREE TIMES the amount I usually pay for sushi. The ambiance is just too much for me. I'm not a big fan of the ooncha-ooncha music and I felt very out of place there. I guess I'm just not cool enough for this place.

    (2)

  • Christine S.

    I have been going to South Coast for several months now and can't believe I haven't yelped about it yet! I go every Wednesday night for Awesome, Fresh, Sushi and $5 drinks. All mixed drinks made with top shelf liquor only $5!! This includes all their Martinis as well. Brandy is the Bartender there and she is awesome, the service is always good and I've never had a bad meal there. It's my favorite neighborhood spot!

    (5)

  • Chanita S.

    The only sushi place in Chicago that I have given 5 full stars to was Blu Coral and that was ages ago. I have finally found a place that matches its quality and awesomeness. Go figure for yourself. I came here with my friend after a rained out concert at Soldier Field. Needed a pick me up moment and what better way than to go blow $100 on sushi, right? This place was close by, and we needed a roof over our wet heads. After much hype from someone who works there, I finally caved in with high expectations as I always do. This place exceeded all of my high hopes and demands, and I am almost mad to have found such discovery because now my wallet will be broke because of it! The lychee champagne drink kept me happy and sane on a gloomy rainy day. I told the waiter to keep them coming because I honestly was not going to get tired of it anytime soon. They gave us a complimentary appetizer which resembled something of thin, small, green tortilla chips with a spicy mayo dip. I'm sure I'm way off the actual ingredients but I was too hungry to remember the name of the dish. Nonetheless, it was so kind of them! We ordered the crunchy roll which was absolutely delightful! I couldn't get enough of them considering they were a tad small. We ordered a few other rolls that I couldn't remember and some sashami. It was the sashimi that made me realize how fresh their fish really is! The white tuna simply melted in my mouth and the salmon had me craving for more. Dessert time came around and we ordered mochi which was almost as typical as every other place that I've tried except they have a variety of flavors to choose from such as chocolate chip and tiramisu.....who would have know! Yum Yum Yum.....I really adore this place overall. The food is to die for. It's a little bit on the pricey side but consider pampering yourself on payday or whatever floats your boat. You'll regret not giving this place try.

    (5)

  • Norman C.

    Since I've dissed Japonais & Sushi Wabi, I tried this restaurant a few weeks back with some friends and was pleasantly surprised. First, the look and feel of the place was amazing! I was a little worried as the hostess seemed a bit aloof but we had a great waitress who was really attentive but not pushy. As for the food, it was awesome, the best sushi I've had in Chicago and much better than the Bucktown location which I tried last week and found rather weak. The hot food, sushi and apps were great and the BYOB is a plus. I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for reasonably priced sushi and a hip environment.

    (5)

  • Cindy D.

    I used to think Coast was my favorite sushi place. After this visit to South Coast and a recent visit to Coast (north side), I've realized they have become too pretencious. The sashimi was delish and the rolls were mediocre. But the prices from about a year or two ago has went up and the amount has gone down. I know about inflation so I suspect prices would go up, but not quantity as well! Also, the ambience was great however, it's was really cold in the restaurant plus the waitress was too attentive. Would stop by often and push maki, drinks, appetizers, desserts while my bf and I were in mid-conversation. She just needed to back off a little bit. Another sad point, my bf and I went home and we weren't feeling so hot. Can't say I would go again and now I need to find another fav. sushi spot.

    (2)

  • Jeanine H.

    I'm a huge fan of both Coast & South Coast. Great sushi, prices are decent, sexy music & even sexier rolls, if that's possible! BUT....I think I love this place a little bit more than it's sister restaurant because of the mod interiors & it's 5 minutes away from my home!

    (5)

  • Luis C.

    Sexy atmosphere with dim lighting. The service was excellent when I was there. They do place the napkin on your lap like others say. I had some sake that was very good and my friend had a martini something with pears in it. She loved it and apparently its a very popular drink. Our server brought out a complimentary app that was basically seaweed tempura. It was not bad but just about anything fried is good. We had the dragon rock and the coast roll. Both were excellent. This is a solid place, good service, fresh food and very good drinks. If you are on a first date, i recommend it.

    (4)

  • Matthew A.

    Upsate 11/22/08 Dined in again with my wife and her friend. Arrived at 6:45pm, no reservation, was told that there would be a wait, looked around, saw about 5 or 6 tables open, was told they were all reserved. Decided to sit at the sushi bar. We were served at the bar just as if we were at a table, which was odd. The place seems to have become a bit pretentious since they got their liquor license. There was still one or two open tables byt the time we left, which means they don't know how to manage their reservations. I guess next time we'll make a reservation. Downgrading my rating to 3 stars because of overall experiences. Update 3/15/08 Not much has changed in 6 months. I actually dined in with some friends on a Saturday night at around 8, had no problem getting a table (though it was right by the door). Still BYOB, still $5/bottle, but they do "service" that bottle for your $5. (fresh glasses, keeping refrigerated, etc...) Still expensive (just dropped $200 for 4 people). I think the sushi is top notch though... Also- FIX YOUR WEBSITE!!!! Original 9/20/07 4 stars based on takeout only so far -good maki options +1 -good taste/flavors +1 -good presentation +1 -good decor (i waited at the bar and was served water) +1 -Decent pricing +/-0 -website doesn't work (At least put up a copy of your menu! Contact me! I will do it for free so that others don't have to suffer!) -1 -no proper takeout/delivery menu, which is why i had to go there, order and wait -1 -I hear the corkage fee is a bit high -1 Will update this review after i dine in.

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    The sushi here is nothing short of amazing. There are plenty of great sushi restaurants out there and when you get down to it, sushi can only get so fresh. But what separates this restaurant from all the rest is the perfect balance of ingredients they put into their rolls. You'll pay more here but it's sooooo worth it. I've been to all 50 states and eat out a ton, this is hands down the best sushi restaurant I've ever been to. It makes you ask yourself what everyone else is doing wrong. Try the White Dragon Roll and fresh ground wasabi. You won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Abby T.

    ummm........DELICIOUS! the sushi was sooo delicious. We started out w/ the kani ceviche.....yummy. then we ordered about 6 rolls, the white dragon, the poke, the crunch and few other rolls that we just awesome. you absolutely MUST try the banana maki for dessert! it is amazing. I always order extra ice cream. : ) this gem is ALSO byob....... cannot wait to return!

    (5)

  • Nisha E.

    Came here for my birthday just a bit ago.... and I LOVED it! The sushi was great, the decor was amazing and the waiter was attentive. They had a lot of great options to choose from and everything was tasty! It has been a WHILE since I had sushi this good! I've been living in the South Loop for about 3 years, and my options have been limited to : Triad (was not impressed), Tatsu (good, cheap, and they deliver :), and Whole Foods (convenient). South Coast was YUMMY!!! I was impressed, it's cheap (for sushi), no need for delivery since I live a block away, and so that makes it convenient too! That very same week I dined-in, I ordered sushi to go... and... YUMMY yet again! Since their website doesn't work [yet], you can goto Coast's website to check out their menu, and order take-out from that menu: Their menu items are about the same at both locations.

    (4)

  • Lady L.

    Absolutely lovely.. and BYOB. South Coast is like Coast, with no fuss. The space is much roomier, and it's much easier to get a reservation (or pop in during the week with no wait at all). Last night, I had the Fatty Hamachi, Super White Tuna, and the Dragon Roll which were all heavenly. Go here if you like Coast but can't handle the scene, or if you are looking for the best sushi in the South Loop.

    (4)

  • AR F.

    What can't I say about this place as an avid sushi eater since the age of 11, I absolutely love the taste and vibe in this trendy spot. The staff is amazing and attentive not to mention very sensitive in regards to making the right suggestion depending the level of sushi familiarity. And what's not to love about a BYOB spot? I am dedicated fan!

    (4)

  • Marina G.

    I love this place! Their maki rolls are out of this world! The south scallop and angry salmon are my favorite items on the menu. I recommend this place to everyone I know. My only complaint is that they don't have a wide selection of wines but other than that, best sushi place in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Richard L.

    Upon walking in, I initially liked the decor. Then I saw the back wall and didn't like the contrast between the orange and dark gray. The orange wall looked like this urban outfitters canvas painting with white trees. The chandeliers were kind of hideous - looked like white christmas tree branches, but they matched the white chairs. Since they're not packing it in like the other location yet, the tables are spread far apart from each other. For one long bench, there were only 3 tables evenly spaced. The hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly. It was too early to go eat at 5:40, so we opened my bottle of wine at home and had a couple glasses before going. Since our bottle was 80% full, our waiter only charged a $3 corkage fee. I thought that was nice of him to do so. We started with the Hamachi Carpaccio, which I highly recommend. The Dragon Rock was also very good. The last four signature rolls on the menu are the same as the other location; the first 6 are new. I had ordered the South Scallop, but our waiter must have misheard and gave us the spicy scallop maki which was very good with avocado. We ordered the spicy hamachi (new menu item) which wasn't so spicy at all. Our waiter was very attentive because there weren't many people there. Definitely try this place. I take one star off for the orange wall, having a corkage fee which I guess is warranted considering the location, and giving us the spicy scallop instead of the south scallop.

    (4)

  • Kate A.

    Great place and great service- always remember us and give us the best service they can. Wish it was still BYOB, but drinks are really good there now too.

    (5)

  • Melissa B.

    A solid 4 stars. I dined in the other night with a co-worker. We were rewarding ourselves for working some serious overtime. We are both fans of the original Coast and went in with a few favorites. We had 4 rolls, the coast crab, salmon poke, shitake maki and spicy crunchy tuna. We also shared the asparagus beef appetizer-which was actually a bit disappointing on this occasion. I've had it before and it's usually a favorite. On this particular night it was very chewy and the asparagus was not easy to bite-I kind of had to deconstruct it to eat it-but I did still eat it. The fish was fresh, the rolls were a good size and the service was great. Side note-The water comment is soo true, they are on top of that water like you would not believe. Very attentive service!

    (4)

  • Andy R.

    Great Sushi in the South Loop! The Wifey and I went there yesterday (Sunday) for an early dinner. The service was fantastic and the food was great. We are so happy to have good sushi in the South Loop. The other places just weren't cutting it.

    (5)

  • Vaishali P.

    The sushi is incredible and the prices are reasonable. What I wasn't expecting was the amazing dessert! We had the special and it was to die for. The staff is attentive and BYOB seals the deal. What are you waiting for? Check it out!

    (5)

  • Matthew S.

    Updating my review, which is long overdue. This place is awesome, and my #1 sushi spot in Chicago. That doesn't mean the best (although it's excellent), or the greatest value (it's a bit pricy), but the atmosphere, service, and BYOB-ness make it great. Also doesn't hurt that I live across the street :) Definitely a more intimate feel (dark decor and low lighting) than most South Loop locations. Reminded me of the vibe in Gioco, actually. They have glass doors all along the front that have been mostly wide open during the warmer weather, which at least gives you a inside/out dining feel. The sushi was excellent, actually a little better from memory than their big brother Coast up north. The Hamachi and Super White Tuna are must-trys. It was a little pricier than I would have thought, but not outrageous by any stretch. Good sushi often = $$. I will of course stay loyal to my other South Loop sushi spot (Triad), which is the place to go for a friendly atmosphere, great service and good sushi. Pull up the bar and introduce yourself - they will remember you there. South Coast is certainly the choice for a date or group of friends, though...

    (4)

  • Linda C.

    I've only been to this restaurant twice since it's opened. Each experience was gratifying. I love the ambience at this location. And the food is delicious.

    (3)

  • QB Chicago B.

    Can't believe I neglected to write about this place! This is a weekly spot for me and my girlfriends. Definately a cute place, good music with an upbeat vibe. The sushi is so fresh and priced right. Not to mention the impeccable service. Drinks are a yum too! Can't go wrong! Must have dish is the Dragon Roll!

    (4)

  • Sassy P.

    AMAZING! When I first arrived, I was really amazed with the decor of the restaurant. Simple colors painted the walls and the design and atmosphere was relaxing. Service was really great here as well. Our waitress was super friendly and suggested some food to us. We just went with the edamame and miso spicy soup to start. Both were really good. Then we ordered 2 veggie maki, which were the best! We had the shitake tempura rolls and sweet potato tempura. Both were crunch and had a lot of flavor. We also tried the Salmon, Eel, and shrimp tempura. They were delicious as well but I recommend getting cucumber with the eel instead. They have fresh wasabi which is more refreshing than the powdered version. Try it for sure! I don't know what else to say about South coast but that i highly recommend it, and can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Patricia P.

    Great place to experience modern Japanese cuisine, or just enjoy fresh raw fish. They are consistent, they offer excellent service and the restaurant looks really nice at all times, very cool decor. Great ceviches, nigiris, try the corny tuna and the banana maki for dessert! Yum!

    (4)

  • Wealtz Z.

    The place is sleek, very modern decorations with open window seating (towards the front only) in the summer. It can get very dark inside, going through the menu can get a bit difficult. Food is a-ok, very small portions therefore a tad too expensive than other sushi houses. When we went, they charged for "fresh wasabi"... I haven't heard of that before. For me it tasted the same as your regular one. I'll be convinced to try it again.

    (2)

  • Galdadoo G.

    Decent sushi, but everything was smothered in a very sweet sauce.

    (2)

  • Jessica M.

    Great sushi, great service, great ambience. Go here. A few things: 1. They do exist, even though their website, as of this writing, does not. 2. I think the nearest place to buy beer and wine is the Jewel on Wabash and Roosevelt, which is about a 10 minute walk, so factor that in if you're planning on BYOB. 3. The crunch roll is really really good. 4. It's true that you can get in no problem. My friend and I walked in (no reservation) at 7:30 on a Thursday night. No wait. (But not empty either.) I loved it and will be back for sure!

    (5)

  • A. C.

    I was relatively impressed with this place. For a start, I liked its dark decor and lighting, made it feel like a nice respite from the warm day it had been. Also, I found the servers to be very professional, which is always a good thing. We stuck to the nigiri and rolls and found them to be tasty. One thing that struck me was that (a) they didn't make them too massive as many other places do, and (b) they didn't over-embellish them by trying to pack in too many different ingredients, another common problem with some sushi places. I wouldn't say the fish was bland by any means, instead it was effective and simple, however none of it blew me away. Instead, we got what I consider to be fresh, subtle sushi, and that's by no means a bad thing. One thing I didn't particularly like was the way the unagi was positively swimming in sauce... that didn't sit well with the subtlety of the rest of the rolls and nigiri we'd chosen. Prices were quite high, the bill was a little 'up there' considering we didn't even have alcohol, but it seemed about on par with Oysy, though Oysy's rolls and nigiri pieces are a bit larger. However, I don't think the service or ambiance is as good at Oysy (which is not terrible by any means), even though I love their sushi. However, I've only been to South Coast once as I write this, and I'm definitely coming back again! As someone mentioned in another review though, the banana maki dessert was awesome.

    (4)

  • Erica M.

    I love the fact that this place is close to the southside! On top of that, it has great ambiance, so if you want to take that special someone out for a sexy sushi evening, South Coast is your place. The rolls are a lot smaller than what I've had at other restaurants, but it's fine. Several of the rolls have cream cheese in them, which I am not a fan of but you can always order without. Our waitress on the last visit had to have been the most serious little woman that I've ever seen serve food - no warmth at all. I found myself trying to lighten her up and that's not too cool. But other than that, the dessert (fried banana maki) is lovely! I will be there this evening as a matter of fact. :)

    (4)

  • Marti G.

    I was recommended to check this place out because on Wednesday's they have $5 cocktails and that they have great sushi! So, yes the decor and ambiance were fabulous and the $5 cocktails were great but the sushi was ok. Not bad, but ok. I have had better I guess and when you just get back from Hawaii and have amazing sushi there it's hard to come back and think of the sushi in Chicago to be amazing. So yes, I would go back but I think the sushi was just ok.

    (4)

  • Sashi M.

    Overall good quality. The sushi sliders were awesome (however this was a special). The spicy miso soup was tasty (assuming you like spice). Spicy tuna was also good, but not spectacular.

    (4)

  • Aileen C.

    I love the sushi here, but I recently found out this place is no longer BYOB. Such a big disappointment, the best thing about this place, besides its fresh sushi was that its BYOB!

    (3)

  • Amy N.

    So not impressed by this place. I used to like Coast up north, but since we just moved into south loop, I was looking forward to try South Coast. I was bummed that the place is no longer BYOB. I thought the rolls were quite ordinary, nigiri were on the small side. After $100, our party of 2 were still hungry. :-(

    (3)

  • Cason M.

    The sushi was fresh, delicious and very reasonably priced. The atmosphere was great and I have been here 2 times. The chef even treated us to a little crunchy seaweed surprise on both occasions. It's wonderful and i live right next door. I have also tried Oysy which is delicious but South Coast Sushi was deliciously comparable rival. I suggest the spicy miso for soup!

    (5)

  • Haute H.

    I've been here twice and the first time was good but maybe this is because that night was slow. Last night I went with a party of 10 which is apparently too many people to get good service. Of course we all ordered specialty drinks but the time it took to get them close to 20 minutes. Way too long.Then we ordered appetizers and not a lot and that took even longer. The restaurant was not busy only moderate. Our server was clearly overwhelmed. The sushi was okay but all I can remember are the wait times.

    (2)

  • dan l.

    Loved it. Have been to Coast in bucktown a few times, closer to where I live, but I tend to stay away b/c of the crowds - just too much...Here I would go back in a heart beat, however. I really like the setup - place is very well put together, very cool, and you can actually hear the other people at your table. Service was very good last night. Shared the tuna carpaccio (excellent), shrimp dumplings (good, nothign special), and salad (always consistent), and my mom had the seafood soup which she really liked. Compimentary seaweed tempura with dipping sauces was a nice offer to start. Fish was great - I am more a nigiri man myself, though can enjoy some maki. For me the true test is a good piece of nigiri/sashimi, and they passed on all fronts. The banana maki to top it off left half our table speechless (or just numb to its goodness). A+ experience and will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    One of the top 5 sushi places in Chicago. It's pricey but worth it. I highly recommend the angry salmon appetizer.

    (4)

  • Jen M.

    I went here for the first time last night and it was really great. I just moved into the area and I've passed this place many times. The decor is very modern and comfortable. The food was even better! We ordered a few specialty makis and they were delicious. The rolls were new & innovative and the fish was very fresh. I also didn't think the prices were unreasonable for good sushi. The regular makis were around $7 and the specialty were from $12-$15. I am a fan and I'm glad that I can conveniently walk to this great sushi restaurant in my neighborhood!

    (5)

  • Jeanette J.

    I am so excited to have a great sushi place within 100 feet of my front door! Welcome to the South Loop, South Coast!!! We tried a variety of their specialty rolls and loved each of them. The sushi chef made us a sampling of the hamachi carpaccio and it was delicious. The menu is on the pricey side but the quality is deserving. Currently, they are offering a BYOB (awaiting the license) and accepting cash only.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    I loved my food here...especially the Ginger salad - DELICIOUS! Whenever I go to a sushi/Japanese restaurant, I always get a salad with the ginger dressing, and this is BY FAR my absolute favorite compared to other restaurants! Never realized it could be so good. My friends enjoyed the sushi; I happened to get chicken teriyaki that day and it was good - decent sized portion (not large). $5 corkage fee per bottle...annoying! I'm going back for the salad! Personally I didn't really like the chairs...they sink in and you feel kinda low compared to the table. My friend kept thinking her chair was going to break until she switched chairs...so maybe her first chair was defective. In any case, newer and more comfortable chairs would be nice. :P In summary: Food - good! especially the ginger salad! Service - our server was super nice and friendly, very attentive Parking - street parking Value - decent - except for the undesirable corkage fee

    (4)

  • Hayley F.

    Love to come here on dates! Great food and decor. Service is always excellent. Especially a fan of the Popper roll! YUM!

    (4)

  • Bethany J.

    The atmosphere is beautiful inside and the wait staff is very friendly and attentive. Service is quick and the food is delicious. The moo was a great vegetarian roll, enough to make me highly recommend this restaurant to others. My friends swear that the white dragon is the most amazing roll ever, and it is what keeps them coming back.

    (4)

  • Gina T.

    yum! The fresh wasabi (you have to absolutely get this!), the lychee martinis, the uni shooter were all so very good! Service was great as well. I'll be back! Didn't give a five because there's something about the decor...dark and minimal, needs more warmth.

    (4)

  • Zach W.

    Excellent sushi and excellent service! The sushi and service were both top notch. The sashimi was excellent as well. The manager there is very nice and she runs an excellent place =) I was traveling when I stopped by South Coast Sushi Bar, so I've only been to there once, but the next time I'm in Chicago this place is definitely on my list of places to eat.

    (5)

  • Julio B.

    I've been here many times, especially since I moved right next to the darn place. Service: To me its the most important thing, From the Host, Waiter, Busboy were awesome!!! I never experienced being rushed. Food: YUMMY!!! The Crunch Maki is soooo yummy!!!! I've tried most of their Maki selections and they're all great! Liquor licence lacks at South Coast, so its BYOB and a $5 cork cost, so use your teeth to pry it open..... Pretty lame if you ask me... Don't know, maybe its their way of saving for their liquor licence. **** If you decide on going to this place and want to drink it up, there's a Wine store about a block away: The Wine Cellar southloopwinecellar.com 2255 S Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60616 Owner is so helpful and she'll even deliver it to you!:) How lazy can you get? Carry outs: are fast but I may be little bias because I live right next door so use your common sense if you're going to carry out:) Oh more thing, if you order the Banana Spring rolls their just like the ones at P.F. Chang's, so what I do I ask them to switch out the vanilla ice cream and replace it with green tea ice cream. I also ask them NOT to put the chocolate razzle dazzle over the rolls and ice cream. I'm pritty picky about my desserts so I usually like to switch it up. Hope you like it! :)

    (4)

  • Liliana S.

    Yum. I had one of the most orgasmic dinners here. No seriously. I adore the white dragon roll. The rainbow was delectable. Service was great. I love Coast and now South Coast mainly because the decor is fabulous but not pretentious, very feng shui, and its byob which is a great perk. The dessert my friend and I tried was a banana maki roll with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. OMG, I think I almost fainted. It was delicious.

    (4)

  • Amy D.

    Pretty tasty. Service was very attentive, the ambiance was great. The rolls were somewhat inventive, not great though. The pieces were AWESOME. $5 corkage fee. WHAT?! Anyways, would like to try some of the other rolls.

    (4)

  • Irina I.

    I have been going to Coast for years...it is our standard sushi place...so when we tried South Coast we were pleasantly surprised that they were just as good(yes they have same owner but you never know). The do have a few rolls that Coast doesn't have which are now some of my favorites! The plus about this place is that they are never too busy yet and still BYOB. We can actually get a table any evening. We have been here a few times already and plan on coming back often. They are very fresh and consistent!

    (5)

  • Carrypotato W.

    nice interior n food

    (4)

  • Bob L.

    Service is so/ so and the food is sometimes hit or miss. My wife and I live in the South Loop and our choices are limited. We are still big fans of the original Coast and go there instead whenever we can.

    (2)

  • James W.

    A little pricey but very good food. I hade the white dragon and spicy tuna. I'm a fan and plan on going back.

    (4)

  • Kimberle S.

    there's no other sushi place in chicago that would get this rating from me. i don't know where else you eat your sushi or why you would bother with anyplace other than this. friendly staff, superbly fresh fish. every. single. time. my only complaint is that they aren't open for lunch!

    (5)

  • Melissa W.

    I should preface by saying that we've never eaten AT the restaurant, we've just gotten delivery. We do really enjoy South Coast! I know that some of the rolls are over the top, but that can be helpful for someone who is just starting to try sushi. I know will eat nigiri, but for a long time, I would only eat maki, and the maki had to have a lot of stuff to hide the fish because I was nervous about the texture, etc. So, South Coast has a lot of options for people who are in the same boat. And to be honest, the flavors are great! The volcano roll is yummy! But, now that I eat nigiri, I still really like it. Some days are better than others, to be honest. But, the fatty salmon (when they're not out of it) is delicious!

    (4)

  • Julia T.

    I've been here twice now and have had the same experience. The first time I was disappointed with the food so we decided to try again, same disappointment. The food isn't anything special and it is way over priced. The sushi here is not quality and their appetizers are nothing special. The service is great and the atmosphere is relaxing but it is not the place to go for sushi.

    (2)

  • xiaochen l.

    It is an amazing sushi bar!!! Every food I had here surprised me. It is gorgeous! The banana dessert is good. one of The signature maki called white dragon is so delicious! I have to order it every time. What's more, on Mon, the wine in bottle is half price off. Order the plum wine! you will lov it!!!!

    (5)

  • Tony C.

    Great little spot, honestly the prices were pretty good. Around $100 for two people with two bottles of Saki, Rolls, Nigiri, App and Dessert. Fresh Wasabi and Very Fresh Toro make the spot

    (4)

  • Anooj T.

    Looking for some of the best sushi in the City of Chicago? Look no further, this is your place. The signature sushi rolls are amazing. Be sure to ask for the fresh wasabi, which is made fresh daily. Its worth the extra $1.50. The sashimi is also very good. My wife and I really enjoy the spicy miso soup. The place used to be BYOB, which made the dining experience much more affordable. Alas, this is no longer so...therefore the 4 star rating. By the way, the banana maki dessert is off the hook!

    (4)

  • Harpreet K.

    Excellent sushi (although a little heavy on the wasabi mayo drizzle), good prices, nice decor - check, check, check. One MAJOR star deduction for too-cool-for-school waiter. I don't usually feel the need to shit on the wait-staff because lord knows it ain't easy, but, for the record, please don't: 1) Examine the label on my bottle of wine and smirk. Now, that shit may be budget, but that's a solid Napa Valley Cab, and I'm poor, so kiss my pretty brown ass; 2) LAG LAG LAG, and then roll-up an hour later only to chit-chat about your new hair-style ("I change it all the time") with the ladies next to us. That's cool homie, lookin' good, now where the f*ck is my spicey miso soup? (which, when it finally came, HOT DAMN, that's what I'm talkin' bout!!); 3) Look at me like I'm a damn fool when I ask if the "Mochi" listed on the menu is mochi ice cream or just plain mochi. Flip hair, smirk squared, "Mochi IS mochi ice cream. That's what mochi is." - WRONG BITCH. MOCHI IS MOCHI; the shit that's ALL rice ball, the shit you can choke on. Mochi Ice Cream is mochi + ice cream, invented in the early 1980s, another outstanding example of japanese ingenuity, and your menu's not clear, so forgive a sister for asking. That's all. Other than that, the lady at the front desk was super friendly, everyone else was great, we were seated right away, and I will be back. Oh yeah, and that banana maki dessert = happy ending. **** EDIT: I stand corrected. I went again tonight and the service was stellar!! The Volcano and Popper rolls are fantastic.

    (4)

  • Kara H.

    I was really impressed with South Coast. all the amazing sushi and the great atmosphere you'd get at Coast in Bucktown - but with much, much better service and less attitude.

    (5)

  • Bob S.

    This place is great. The ambiance is pretty neat, nice and quiet with romantic lighting. The staff are very low key and pleasant. I have been here several times now and always try something different. Everything I have tried has been delicious and the presentation is always cool. You really can't beat the quality of the sushi here for the price. I recommend the Dragon, Volcano and spicy Salmon. You really must try this place if you like sushi!

    (5)

  • Bridget F.

    Freshest sushi I've had in a long time, maybe ever. Service is very attentive; at times it can be a bit much (I can refill my own wine glass...but that's just me). Corkage fee is a little annoying, but you forget about it once you eat one of the best sushi meals you've ever had. The fresh salmon is like nothing I've had anywhere else and I really like that the tables are spread out to where you're not sitting on top of the people next to you. Would give it 4.5 stars if I could.

    (4)

  • aneel u.

    So excited that this place is in my neighborhood...but so sad it's taken me this long to visit! Went here on Friday night with my husband..we didn't have reservations, but we were promptly seated at the sushi bar (which is more fun, anyway). The service was a *little* on the slow side, but our waitress was super-sweet, and we kind of liked not being rushed. We started off with cocktails (him: dry martini, me: malbec), and were presented with complimentary seaweed tempura (very tasty!). We began with miso soup (good, not great), and the sushi was just dynamite. We had the Coast Crab, the special Scallop roll (my absolute favorite of the night...and probably my favorite roll ever), the California, the Hamachi J (yellowtail with jalapeno..super tasty), and a piece of king crab nigiri. Unbelievable all around. We'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Diana S.

    We brought a little flask of whiskey to dinner with us. The waitress asked, what is in the bottle and we said whiskey. She said for whiskey there is a $5 corkage fee. I didn't understand why there was a fee for something that didn't need her service. It's not like she needed to open the bottle for us or anything like that. I thought corkage fee was for service and also for lost revenue for not selling a drink from their list. They don't have a liquor license, so obviously there is no drink list. Why should they make money off of the fact that they don't have a liquor license? Furthermore there was no uncorking service. We left before even eating. What a disappointment.

    (1)

  • LeeAnn R.

    Not at all on par to the original. The taste, quality etc. I will say that the service is better, but that is probably because they are so slow. I would not return because you can get amazing sushi at the damen location for a fraction of the price.. Ugh. Not at all happy tonight

    (2)

  • Scott C.

    Very good sushi. Not my favorite place in chicago, but it's #2 right now (sushi wabi being #1). It's in kind of a weird place, stuck between two halves of an apt building still under construction. But the ambiance and decoration are great. Waiter was very attentive and nice. We had to have the banana maki based on all the reviews here, and it did not disappoint. It wasn't super fancy, but it was delicious. They had toro (fatty tuna), which my fiancee loves, but not many places have. It was amazing. Definitely worth going back.

    (4)

  • Regina F.

    This place is really dark and intimate and private, which I personally like sometimes, depending on the occasion. It's good for smaller groups. The sushi isn't bad, pretty good. Service was good. Street parking.

    (4)

  • I K.

    Love their sushi. My husband's family are Japanese so when they say sushi is good you have to believe :) Atmosphere is calm and service is great. Going to order some right now!

    (5)

  • Christel D.

    I've only gone once, but my impression was this is the best sushi in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Masanori T.

    My rating is more like 4.5 stars, but I had such a pleasant experience (they have REAL, FRESH WASABI - which is so hard to find unless you go to super high end sushi joints in, say, NYC), so I'm being extra generous here. This is a really good find in South Loop. Modern, sleek, spacious restaurant with great service. My friend & I went here for a dinner on Sunday. It wasn't too crowded, but still moderately busy. We were bummed to find out that this location no longer is BYOB (unlike the other Coast in Bucktown, which still is BYOB), but then we were pleased to find out about the half-off bottles of wine, sake, etc. (not sure if that's just Sunday nights?) Anyway, we tried a bunch or rolls, bunch of nigiri (tuna, yellowtail, mackerel, salmon), and all the ingredients were super fresh. Our server was pretty comfortable recommending what drinks would go well with what we were ordering, etc. (ended up with a bottle of white wine). I would definitely go back here next time I'm in Chicago.

    (5)

  • J. N.

    We had an excellent expirence here - and it's BYOB! Our served was really friendly, helpful, and competent. She did a great job helping us pick out some new things but was never pushy of annoying. The sushi was great, so were the Mochi.... the Kona Coffee one was amazing. Can't wait to back.

    (5)

  • Leslee C.

    Love love love this place!! Hip decor, amazing food. The banana dessert rocks the house! Is going to be getting their liquor license though. :-( Parking can be hard sometimes.

    (5)

  • Courtney L.

    Good service and great sushi!

    (4)

  • Nycole H.

    Ok so I am a Coast fan so I figured I would check out South Coast and its closer to my friends house so we could just meet in between! We both had a huge SUSHI CRAVING!! I don't think this place is too expensive it's moderately priced. I really like the Ebi Tempura...I'm a huge shrimp fan. I was suprised it was only 4 rolls but when it came out the rolls were huge!! We got about 4-6 rolls and shared the different kinds. Had leftovers to take home...which I don't know how to feel about leftover sushi. I ended up getting rid of it cause it had sat in the car anyhow! I also really liked the Philly Roll, and Seaweed Salad. If you like spicy I recommend the Angry Salmon...very tasty and very spicy (for me anyhow)! I was excited to see that we wouldn't be seated in one of those settings where you are basically sitting right on top of your neighbor. You have room to breathe and have your own conversation! The decor is really cute, simple but cute!! It's really funny I saw one comment on here about always having lots of water and it's refilled all the time. I don't think I would have ever noticed it unless I read that post before going. But they filled up my friend and my glass each about 5 times. I didn't find it annoying because they were kind of in and out without me really paying attention.

    (4)

  • L B.

    By far the best sushi! Have never had anything bad except the seaweed salad (was really fishy). The sushi is always fresh as can be and all the specialty rolls are spectacular. Sad it is not BYOB anymore - I know its been a long time since it was but still miss it! At least the wine is very fairly priced!

    (5)

  • Robin D.

    The place is modern and swanky and the sushi is really fresh. The server was attentive. I really have nothing negative to say about it and even my bf likes this place. We are sushi lovers and would definitely be back at this place. I tried the Volcano and I really wasnt wowed with it. They have other creative concoctions which I would like to try next time. If you want sushi with the same quality but cheaper, OYSY is a place that we are regular customers of.

    (4)

  • Craig H.

    I really like the atmosphere. The staff is always friendly and the sushi is very good. Great local place, if you live in South Loop

    (4)

  • Alexis H.

    Sushi? Yes, please. South Coast (known to me as Coast #2) is a great choice if you are looking for sushi somewhere in the South Loop. Just like its namesake, S. Coast gives reservations for 50% of the space, and saves the other half for walk-in diners. I highly recommend making a reservation or arriving before the dinner rush. Otherwise it may be difficult to get a table. S. Coast's menu is similar to that of Coast, except while Coast has a rotation of special menu items, S. Coast has these items available on their regular menu. Bonus star for S. Coast. I highly recommend the Crunchy Spicy Tuna, Ebi Tempura, and Volcano maki. For nigiri or sashimi, I had the albacore, tako, and unagi and they were all fresh and flavorful. Finally, I love the gomaae (boiled spinach with sesame sauce) for an appetizer, and the mochi for desert. Also, definitely get some of their fresh wasabi. It's well worth the $2 and you'll never eat regular wasabi again! One thing that drives me nuts: there is a $5 corkage fee for each bottle of wine, and unlike Coast, they do not waive it even if you spend a lot of money on dinner. Maybe I'm just picky, but if my party is going to spend $200 on dinner, the least the restaurant can do is waive the corkage fee.

    (5)

  • Robert Q.

    Standard sushi restaurant that is sort of the same as the entire south loop area around it. I don't want to offend anyone here, but south coast is the home of cookie cutter. The condos are all the same style, "exposed" concrete loft urban feel to them. South coast basically gives off the same vibe. It strives for an urban contemporary ambiance and it delivers. However, the food is rather bland and nothing really stood out to me. -1 star for charging $1 PER beer corkage charge. Thats pretty steep for 1 beer that I paid for already. In a nutshell in a neighborhood are condos that are essentially carbon copies of themselves, South Coast fits right in. It tries to be Sushi Wabi but only delivers on the ambiance not the food. One note, they offer free parking if you can find parking on the first 5 spots on the parking lot directly across Mich Ave from them.

    (3)

  • Stephen G.

    Finally! Top Notch Sushi, finally fine food in the south loop! So excited and welcome South Coast Sushi to the south Loop!

    (4)

  • Ian S.

    South Coast is going into the front of my growing quiver of sushi joints. The service was wonderful and the fish was even better. Our chinese waitress took care of my family as I introduced a couple of them to their first "real" sushi meal. Since sake is pretty darn cheap, paying a corkage fee for booze isn't too bad. I only hope that the quality doesn't suffer as the place gets more and more popular.

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Amazing place! Great appetizers and fantastic rolls. The fish seemed very good and the prices were pretty reasonable. I am very sad to hear it's not BYOB anymore, as I do not know if I would venture down there. I suppose I will have to stick with Coast.

    (5)

  • Geoff M.

    3.5 stars Dropped in on a lazy evening and we were pleasantly surprised, especially never having been to the original Coast. The decor is minimalist with dark walls and lots of white accents. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and efficient. The food was very good but not great. The seaweed salad was outstanding but the portions were a bit small. Our favorite for the night was the crunchy roll - spicy tuna, avocado covered with tempura crumbs. We definitely wish we had known about the BYOB before coming. Overall, very good sushi but perhaps a little pricier than other places that serve comparable tasting fish such as oysy.

    (4)

  • Tom C.

    South Coast is an awesome sushi bar in the heart of the upcoming Near South neighborhood. The food is as good as the sister sushi bar Coast in Bucktown. The Crunchy Tuna and Coast Crab rolls are amazing. The atmosphere is great and it's BYOB. One caveat is that unlike Coast, South Coast has a corking fee. It's not much but you should beware. It's a great place for a group or a date, but please don't tell anyone else about it because it's not nearly as hard to get a table as the original Coast.

    (5)

  • Jon H.

    I won't comment on anything specific I've had, as I've been here several times. But I will say that despite their menu being pricier than most sushi joints, there is a clear distinction in quality and flavor. I typically order maki rolls and everything I've had here has always been accented by some ingredients to really accentuate the flavor. This is the type of restaurant that, no matter how hungry you are, you take your time eating because its so good.

    (4)

  • Nolan C.

    Average sushi, pricey and not japanese owned (nothing wrong with that but not properly prepared sushi). If your dying for sushi and this is the only place to go, then i suggest it. But so many other better sushi joints around the city.

    (2)

  • Monica J.

    A delightful south loop spot! Went on a summer weeknight and had an awesome time. The place looks exactly like it's Wicker Park sister and the food is equally delicious. I love that they bring out the amuse bouche at the beginning of the meal. What a little treat! I am not a huge sushi fan (because i'm mostly a vegetarian) but this place is still fun and has an awesome tempura veggie roll. I also loved the spicy miso...great nuance to the traditional soup at most sushi places. The only disappointment was the lack of BYOB...we came with a bottle of our own and ended up payin extra for a corkage fee. Otherwise, service and atmosphere were still fantastic. Who knew the south loop could be so sexy.

    (4)

  • Jessica G.

    i really like this place.... i've been to most of the more upscale sushi places in the city and there is just something about s coast that i love... i think it's the decor.. ha..... but serioulsy i need them to make their tempura rolls smaller because it's not so hot to try to shove that huge peice in my mouth .. then try another tatic like biting it in half and having it fall on the table... yeeeeeeaaaaaaah.

    (4)

  • Angie C.

    Fabulous sushi, great atmosphere, and perfect for a date or fun night out with friends (and 2 bottles of wine). Beware of corking fee! This place is definitely a favorite.

    (5)

  • Eva S.

    I don't eat sushi, but I was invited by some friends. The restaurant is very modern, service was great. I ordered a ginger salad and rib eye steak. That was the best rib eye steak I ever had. The only reason I gave this restaurant 3 stars was because I did not have any sushi, so I can not comment on it, but I give a 5 star to what I did order.

    (3)

  • Phoebe Z.

    Meh. A little dated. Generally good quality seafood, though.

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    South Coast is everybit as good as it's Bucktown counter-part. Especially, for dates. Recently my life partner and I, Tom, had a wonderful sushi extravaganza one weekend not too long ago. The best part is that it's BYOB. So bring a bottle of wine or 3 for that matter!

    (4)

  • Paul R.

    I hope you like mayonaisse, because that's what you're in for when you order from here. Ok, ok that's probably not entirely true, but it does seem that an unusually large percentage of their rolls are created with mayo and I'm just not a fan of that. They do deliver, though, which is a positive when you're looking for dinner options when nobody is around. Ok, I'm lying, I have no friends. If you're looking for sushi options in South Loop, I'd start with Oysy.

    (2)

  • Nicole S.

    South Coast Sushi is great. I have been here on 4 different occasions. Twice with girlfriends and twice on a date. The decor is very simple but elaborate and the lighting is dim which puts you in a very relaxing mood. The sushi was always fresh and the service was good. They also have great vegtables. The staff there is actually knowledgable about the food not like some places where they have no idea what's in each of the menu items. Mystery sushi is not an option. They also have this GREAT banana desert that just bursts in your mouth. I don't even like banana's that much but I love this dessert. The other thing I love about South Coast is that its BYOB w/ a corking fee of $5. I think corking fees are silly but hey.... Parking is also decent in this area. It's nice not to have to pay $20 bucks for parking before you even have a sip of water.

    (5)

  • Silas D.

    Yes, I'm a South Looper too. I'm also 100 feet from South Coast's doorstep. As with most new South Loop establishments, South Coast goes for a high-class feel, and delivers the goods. Yes, they're still BYOB, but the paperwork is going through the City Machine (according to the owner who was serving me at the sushi bar one slow Tuesday night.) There's a comfy little bar across the room ready to don the framed liquor license. Two recommendations: order the optional fresh wasabi and the Spring specialty maki if you'll appreciate a summery Vietnamese flavor. I also had uni for the first time, prepared by the owner himself. I wouldn't take such a step in most of the other sushi joints I frequent. That is to say, South Coast runs a tight ship (the place is spotless, cozy and well designed), the food and preparation are impeccable, and the service is top notch.

    (5)

  • Chris O.

    Decent but overpriced for what you get, trendy yet not refined, sushi is competent but not memorable. This place does well since the southern edge of the south loop is severly lacking retail and restaurant wise, and there are a ton of young people looking for a modern place to eat sushi on a regular basis. As for me I'd rather drive out a bit further and go to bob san or Ai for simply, better sushi for the same prices as coast...

    (2)

  • B N.

    Excellent sushi, in a really amazing environment that the owner designed herself. Come support this new location and a local, talented chef. The sushi is incredibly fresh with rolls that creatively play on this using ingredients that leave you feeling excellent instead of weighted down. They have not quite got all the nuts and bolts worked out yet, but I am sure that given a couple more months, the restaurant will be running smoothly. Only complaints-first you have to pay for the fresh wasabi, which I suppose I am accustomed to receiving as part of the general sushi price, and second the mochi, while tasty seem pricey for what you get.

    (4)

  • Rockstar R.

    Nice, trendy atmosphere with good food and strong drinks, but not worth the price especially considering the area (not the most happening area in the city). Had the sashimi tasting of white tuna, yellow tail and salmon - maybe I'm just not a fan of sashimi all that much, but my friend said she could taste the difference in freshness and billed it as one of the better plates she's had. The complimentary seaweed app was phenomenal, especially with the wasabi and ginger dipping sauces. The seaweed salad was standard, but the spicy crab in the crispy wonton was delicious. But at 4 bite sized pieces for $17? Too much. Rock shrimp - could've done without. The ginger glaze was great and the tiny shrimp was just the right amount of crispy, but it just didn't go with our meal. The spicy salmon maki - bland. The dragon rock maki was very tasty, as was the crunchy maki, but nothing stood out as "the best I've ever had." Appetizers were better! Ordered lychee martinis, very strong and just the right amount of sweet. Overall, good atmosphere, good service, and good food, but not great. For the amount we spent on two people - $107 for 3 appetizers, 3 maki rolls and 2 drinks - I expected a whole lot better.

    (3)

  • Judie S.

    Bug in my salad. Spicy tuna roll that I had to spit out because it was so fishy and disgusting. $8.00 shrimp dumplings? There are three and they consist of a single overlooked shrimp wrapped in a wonton wrapper. I will NOT be ordering from them again.

    (1)

  • Nekia N.

    I'm in LOVVVVE with this place. I've been here several times and they never disappoint. Awesome & strong drinks. Some of the freshest sushi I've had. They're a little on the pricy side but it's worth it. The ambiance just sets this place off along with your scrumptious meal. If you're looking for a place on the Southside to get some extraordinary sushi-- this is your spot. I'll be coming back for more! Yum yum!

    (5)

  • May Y.

    My favorite Japanese restaurant in the South Loop! The flavor and the presentation of the food at South Coast were amazing. I particularly love the grilled sweet potato with ginger sauce. The ginger sauce definitely brought out the flavor of the sweet potato. I would rank South Coast's sweet potato the first among all the Japanese restaurants in Chicago, before Roka and Yuzu. I also liked the banana maki at South Coast, which was nicely decorated. However I prefer the ones at Sushi Taiyo and P.F. Chang, which are crunchy. Moreover, while gomae (spinach) was nicely decorated, it was not that fresh. Not enough sauce was given to make up the dish's lack of flavor. Finally, the tamagoyaki was thick, but it lacked flavor. The portions at South Coast are relatively small. Moreover, the to-go bag is also not user-friendly. I was given a transparent plastic bag to carry my leftovers, which made it slightly awkward. The waiter also forgot to give me napkins. If you are looking for authentic Japanese food, go to Itto or Kamehachi. However, South Coast Sushi Bar is a great restaurant that serves Asian fusion cuisine. I would definitely come back to South Coast Sushi to try out the seaweed tempura and the agedashi tofu. Food: 4 Service: 4 Decor: 4

    (3)

  • Lola K P.

    I've been here twice, both times for dinner, and while the first visit was great, the second time the service stunk, but we were a very large group, and the place was packed. I was averaging to a 3 star, but the overall experience and the food being so good, I'll cut them some slack. The interior is cool, very modern and darkly decorated to impart some intimate ambiance. The waiting area at the front was like someone's very chic living room, very comfortable while we were waiting for the rest of the party. The food both times were very delicious. The first visit we had the most friendly helpful waitress, very prompt, suggested drinks, and suggested we let the chef make some rolls off the menu for us, and they were just great. The place was 2/3 full, I think. The second time was troublesome. We had a large party of 10, and the place was packed on a Friday night. The food was just as good. I don't know if they were just short-staffed, or if this is a regular occurrence when they're at capacity, but our service slowed to a crawl. It took a long time to take our orders, a long time to get our orders, and -25- minutes to return our credit cards to us. If I hadn't been in there before I would have given them a 2-3. This is a good addition to a nascent restaurant scene on this part of Michigan, and one I encourage, since it still all looks kinda barren in this area.

    (4)

  • Shan D.

    Great sushi spot in the south loop. I Always order more than I can eat. Not sure if it's still BYOB, but that was a major plus because the sushi is pretty expensive.

    (4)

  • Joel R.

    Sushi is excellent. Tuna on top is perfect. Prices are a downfall. Yes you can find cheaper sushi elsewhere, but taken a chance is not worth it.

    (4)

  • Christian W.

    Just as great as their location on Damen. Witholding the fifth star because the Damen location is BYOB, but the South Loop location is not. Otherwise, it's fantastic!

    (4)

  • Nidhi S.

    Outstanding! I went here with a friend and we were blown away by both the ambiance & the food! Highly recommend!!

    (5)

  • Colleen R.

    A long time favorite that I am finally taking the time to review. The sushi is high quality, creative, and above all-delicious! The decor is trendy and fun. The staff is warm and go above and beyond for their diners. They were so welcoming when my husband and I dined with our 8 month old. My only request is that they should have a changing table in the restroom.

    (5)

  • De L.

    The sushi at South Coast is serviceable, I've gotten take out from South Coast on roughly half a dozen occasions, primarily because it is close and convenient. As such I've sampled a good portion of the menu, including the majority of the specialty maki rolls and sashimi, nothing has stood out in particular as a stand out dish that I would go out of my way to eat. The quality is solid (which is pretty relative for sushi joints at this price point) and consistent, but in my opinion there are better sushi places in the city at a comparable dime. I recommend Juno on the North side and Nabuki of you happen to be out in the western burbs (Hinsdale).

    (3)

  • Steve S.

    I really wanted to love this place and make it our favorite sushi restaurant in the city but our first visit just did not go as perfect as I had hoped. We had 6:30 reservations and were seated immediately. Place was about half full but it filled up as the night went on. Our server was very good and she won extra points later in the dinner. They seemed a bit short staffed so drinks took a while. Not a big deal. We received the complimentary tempura seaweed/kale thing. it was tasty but you really can't go with wrong with anything that's been "tempured". We started off with the Tuna Tartare, Volcano and Spring Maki. The tartare was good but, just like Hub51, they serve it with a Styrofoam like sesame chip. House made won ton chips are the ONLY way to serve tuna tartare or poke, people! The Volcano was good but the snow drift like tempura crumbs added nothing to the dish. The spring maki was just okay. Our 2nd round was the spicy tuna, crunch maki and super white tuna and Toro Nigiri. For the first time for me, I liked the nigiri better than the maki. The toro was excellent and was the star of the meal. The super white was also good. The maki kind of feel flat and didn't have enough taste. Then came the biggest misstep of the night. We were drinking Belvedere martinis, straight up with a twist. Our 2nd round of drinks were taking a long time. Our waitress finally brought our martinis to the table and apologized. No problem and we took our first sip and my partner and I just looked at each other. Is there Sprite in this we both asked? It might've been tonic but the vodka was carbonated and sweet. It's bad when you go in for your first sip of a drink and taste something totally unexpected. We flagged our waitress down and told her the drinks weren't right. She apologized and then shot death looks at the bartenders. I'm guessing she had previous problems with them that night. She apologized and said she would take these back and make the new ones herself. Great move! She came back with our new drinks and they were perfect. Maybe we needed to go out of our comfort zone with the maki and try some new stuff. Maybe they were short staffed or the room was "star struck" since Blackhawks Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were dining right behind us. Who knows. I wanted to be "wowed' and I was just "content" by my meal.

    (3)

  • Neema P.

    I wouldn't say this is the best sushi I've ever had. I've had better and waiting over an hour for my 2 rolls of sushi def made me deduct stars. Hopefully I'll be able to done in and my review change.

    (3)

  • April M.

    First time coming to this place. Food was good - they have huge California King maki rolls and they are delicious! Service good. Dinner environment is between casual and dressy with dime lights and candle lit on table. Overall it's good and I'd come back again.

    (5)

  • FoodLover Z.

    Ordered delivery from South Coast Sushi today. The rolls were hit and miss. The Tuna Crunch roll was awesome, while the Dragon role was terrible. The Kani Ceviche was also lacking in flavor. Next time, I'll order the more basic roles like Spicy Tuna and Spicy Salmon.

    (3)

  • Maddy S.

    My boyfriend lives in the same building as south coast sushi. We went down and got a couple of rolls from there and they were excellent! Fish was fresh and tasty! Also like how late they are open. We will be going back!

    (5)

  • Alice H.

    I like this place for a weekday night. I'm a really big fan of the BYOB original Coast sushi in Wicker Park, but this place is closer to where I live. I think the sushi overall is pretty fresh. It's not the best sushi I've ever had, but it's pretty good for what I've had in Chicago. Like most sushi restaurants, I do think that the proportion of much rice to fish is a bit high so sometimes the flavors get lost with all the rice. The other thing I don't love is that the temperature of this restaurant always seems to be ice cold. I think that the way the restaurant is constructed, every time the door opens, a huge draft flows through the place. And in the summer time, they always seem to have the AC blasting. But the one thing I do like is that I've never really had to wait for a table, and the service is pretty quick. They also often give a complimentary appetizer/salad with a miso dressing, and a seared fish on top, which is really nice.

    (3)

  • Kay K.

    Great south loop sushi bar! A little pricier, but the ambiance is wonderful, the food is delicious, & the service is good, too! Even love the drinks and desert! And they are constantly giving complimentary starter plates!

    (5)

  • Olga B.

    I just went here yesterday and am still thinking about how good it was! I got the rainbow roll and my friend got nigiri; we were both very happy with the quality of the fish. They also gave us a complimentary appetizer of seaweed tempura with two delicious dipping sauces, a horseradish one and a chipotle (I think) one. It was a perfect starter. I got a lychee martini and I am in love. It was perfect. Not too sweet, very aromatic and a hint of tartness. Yum!! I am definitely coming back!! Also the atmosphere was very elegant; great for a nice night out with friends or a date. Just an update a year later.. still love this place! My favorite sushi (and martini) in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Kristin H.

    I went to South Coast while visiting Chicago. The staff was super-friendly, food was excellent, great atmosphere and all at a reasonable price. The sake bomb with quail egg was very tasty!! We'll be back soon on our next visit!

    (4)

  • Morgan C.

    Love the food here! Sushi is fresh and delicious. Great miso soup! The decor is also really cute and cozy

    (5)

  • Adi O.

    I went last night. The sushi was just okay. The service was ok. They DID NOT have AC. However they did have 3 fans. Honestly I think they need to change some of the menu items. There was not enough variety and pizzazz. The decor needs a little tweaking. This place has so much potential but for now it's just okay.

    (3)

  • Lo S.

    Been here several times since its in the neighborhood! Let me preface this by mentioning again that I am a vegetarian! With that in mind the veggie white dragon roll I think was awesome! The veggie Snow White was okay! I also had a tofu dish it was also okay! However my hubby really likes their sushi and he is a carnivore !! Nice interior quiet usually when we go it's not crowded. Prices aren't the cheapest but still standard! Definitely worth a visit!

    (3)

  • Marisa A.

    South Coast was better than I expected in a lot of ways. Yelp was making me think that this place was just whatever, but it's not. It's pretty chic inside, with dark wood decor and artsy chandeliers. Their dinnerware (can't believe I just said that) is modern and trendy, and their plating is thought out. It's like your neighborhood sushi bar, turned up a notch or two. I think it would be a great place for a date-- nice enough to feel special but not stuffy enough to feel awkward. I went with a group of three girls. We all got martinis and all of them were simple and good. Don't expect any crazy mixology. The seaweed salad we got to start was everything you'd want in that dish: super fresh, a little acidic. It came with a little cucumber, too. The tuna tartare was great as well. The tuna was diced and mixed with ginger and white soy, then served with a crispy sesame cracker. The waitress also brought us a complimentary appetizer-- I think it was deep fried seaweed. It came with two super yummy and fatty mayo dips that we ended up dipping everything in. We had two maki rolls, the Crunchy and the Dragon Rock. The Crunchy roll left a little to be desired. It was covered in tempura crumbs but lacked the texture you'd expect from them. The Dragon Rock roll was savory goodness, but I'm not sure how you can go wrong with a deep fried roll filled with shrimp, avocado, jalapeno, and spicy mayo. I also had a piece of tuna nigiri (my first nigiri!) and I really enjoyed being able to taste the freshness of the fish by itself. That wasn't enough to fill us up so we ordered another round of food. Whoops. I felt kind of dumb ordering the chicken teriyaki but it was worth it. Super tender slices of chicken covered in a tasty sauce that had just the right of tang and sweetness. We also had miso soup and a side of asparagus (pretty generous portion). The waitress noticed that I was opening a birthday gift from my friend and was nice enough to bring out a little birthday dessert with fried bananas and a candle.

    (4)

  • Paula M.

    I've been going to Southcoast sushi for over a year now and I have to say that it's my favorite sushi place in Chicago. The décor is very nice and I always enjoy seating at the bar. My favorite rolls are the South Scallop and the tuna on top. When you dine in, they give you seaweed tempura with two different sauces which is a nice touch. My only complaint is that there is a big turnover of wait stuff. Every month it looks like there are new people in the front and at the tables.

    (4)

  • Bernice R.

    Got the works... Apps, Drinks, A Couple Rolls, and Dessert. I don't usually do this but it was special night since good friend from California was in town. And heck, Yelp doesn't lie about awesome restaurants such as this, so I went all in! My cocktail was light and refreshing, but surely if I had a few, it would due me in! Our complimentary app, tempura fried seaweed strips with two dipping sauces, was very good and got our taste buds ready and eager for our entrees! I had the White Dragon and Spicy Hamachi rolls. Both were fresh and outlandishly fantastic! I could have eaten 5 more rolls of those alone but I saved some room for dessert: banana maki and their special cake for the night. PERFECT way to end the meal. The service was top notch... especially the water guy... he was on every table like white on rice! My water cup never went dry. Good job sir, good job! Further, the wait staff was very attentive and the hostesses were very nice. I'd definitely come back for another special night on the town!

    (5)

  • Olivia K.

    I ordered take-out. Sashimi was thinly sliced, hamachi don was 24 dollars for a TINY amount of hamachi and the sushi rice didn't even taste like how sushi rice is supposed to. My a la cart sushi was very small. I ordered 70 dollars worth of food and feel like I got ripped off. The quality of the fish is good though. Definitely not going here again, I normally order from Yuzu sushi who always has thick slices and high quality fish.

    (2)

  • Selena L.

    Service was kind of slow considering there were only 6 of us in the restaurant at the time we were there. Although she was slow, our server was very nice. The restaurant itself is nice and roomy with a parking lot across the street! I'd probably return due to the convenience of parking.

    (4)

  • Carla S.

    Brought my sis here for her birthday - she eats sushi, I don't. Star #1: Open on the 4th of July Star #2: Free parking in the lot across the street Star #3: Moody, funky, cool decor Star #4: We had to bring my 8.5 month old baby girl - the place was spacious - easy to use provided high-chair or even a stroller if necessary. Baby was entranced by the light fixtures and super cute and funny that the waiter voluntarily brought her own little cup of water with a lid and straw. Star #5: HOLY SHRIMP TERIYAKI! Seriously - best teriyaki sauce I've ever had. Go there.

    (5)

  • Ted H.

    This was a delivery order, so it may be the reason for a 3 instead of 4 star review, but it is what it is. In general the food was pretty good. We got one regular maki roll, one signature maki roll, and a sushi dinner. The only issues we had were that the fish/rice proportions on the nigiri are way off and that the tempura batter on the signature Dragon Rock Tempura roll made the whole thing pretty greasy. There was just WAY too much fish for the amount of rice given on each piece. Normally I would be happy about something like this, but this was so much more fish than rice that it was basically sashimi. The other problem could just be related to the fact that fried food doesn't travel that well. Overall pretty good sushi with just a couple little flaws. I'm planning to try out their dining room next week so this review may get changed.

    (3)

  • Mia S.

    This is my new favorite sushi place in the city. I work at a sushi restaurant and am always looking for menus that set themselves apart, and SouthCoast Sushi's definitely has that. We came on a Monday and took advantage of their half off bottle special. Loved the complimentary appetizer bite they gave us & everything we had was fresh and high in quality. We ordered a philly roll, the South scallop maki, the white dragon maki, and a spicy shrimp roll. Everything was delicious, but the south scallop maki and the white dragon maki were TO DIE FOR. We even went ahead and ordered seconds of the south scallop. I will definitely be returning!

    (5)

  • Saina B.

    Bc of all these positive reviews, i wanted to give it a try, so I had beef yakisoba, a few rolls. The yakisoba was very oily and the noodle was mushy. The rolls were so so. Nice atmosphere but bad food, service was good. Not sure if i am going back.

    (3)

  • Jayme C.

    Been here twice for lunch on the weekends. Service is perfect, everyone is friendly. Sushi is super fresh. Not pretentious at all. Sit at the sushi bar.

    (5)

  • J. C.

    Nice vibe. Good music. I would give it four stars, but I don't eat sushi and there are not many non-sushi items on the menu. Nevertheless, everything I had was very good.

    (3)

  • Jacqueline C.

    Yummy! I dined here twice during the same trip. They even had great cocktails. 5% discount if you pay in cash. Friendly service. Delish sushi and maki!

    (4)

  • Leticia L.

    My husband and I have been here twice and I have to say both times have been great. They have so many different choices that sometimes it becomes hard to decide. The wait staff have been extremely informative and gave us some great recommendations though to help with the process. We received complementary fried seeweed which was a nice surprise both times. The strawberry mojito was excellent, not overly sweet or drenched in alcohol. We order the ceviche, which is fresh and spicy. Both times we have ordered the specials. The first the special was a tuna roll and it was heavenly fatty tuna. The second time it was also fatty tuna but a sashimi. I didn't really care for it as much as my husband. For me it didn't have enough district characteristics, it seemed bland, but my husband liked that it wasn't overpowered by other elements and that you could actually taste the tuna.

    (4)

  • Ali A.

    Really enjoyed my meal. I started with the Ginger Salad and Oyako (in an attempt to get out of my comfort zone). I must say that the soup was excellent - sort of like a chicken egg drop Chinese soup of sorts. The salad was also great, with just the right amount of dressing (not too much, which is usually the case in many restaurants). Finally, I finished with the Spicy Tuna - hard to go wrong with this one. Next time I plan to dry a different roll. Overall, high quality in a decent atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Linda L.

    I don't know what happened to this place or if its because its Wednesday, but it was awful. One star for atmosphere and another is for drinks. Food was not that great. Sushi was blan, their signature dishes were a 4/10 at best and service was slow. I was here a month ago and it was good. Not sure why they had to make all my sushi at once and made us wait 40 minutes to just get a piece of food. If you do go here, tell them to bring out each dish as they get made, not wait till the entire order is done. This way you'll be able to eat. Oh, don't order the seafood soup, its salty. Basically watered down cold soy sauce with scallop, mushrooms, and shrimp. Never going back.

    (2)

  • Daniel R.

    Nice chill, sexy atmosphere. Had the hamachi and soft shell crab apps, white dragon and another role and capped it with the banana maki. Drinks were as good as the food. Music a tad too loud and not memorable and waitress great but so so quiet. Overall very nice night.

    (4)

  • Lance R.

    Really 3.5 stars but I could not find the half mark. Good solid sushi, good solid menu for both sushi as well as sake. But I am a sushi snob and tend to like quality over quantity and I while I will eat any good sushi, I would only rave about great sushi. This sushi is like, no hana, akihana, oysi and many other main stream sushi. By way of comparison 5 stars for me would be eating at NOBU off his omikashi menu or eating at L2O here in Chicago or Japanase here in Chicago. HERE IS FIVE STARS TO ME: FISH: It goes without saying that top sushi is fresh fresh fresh. A good indicator of whether a place has FRESH fish is to order a single nigiri piece of snapper. Snapper tends to get chewy and rubbery before any other more robust fish like salmon or tuna and it also tends to be used less often and so is a good gage of the turn over on the stock in the resturant. If the snapper is chewy leave. If it melts in your mouth - stay. Ask the chef what he believes are his "best cuts" for the day - never imply that something is not fresh. If you think it is not fresh just leave. By the way any place that precuts the fish before marrying it to the rice is an instant 4 star or below no matter how good their fish and rice. Cutting the fish in advance starts the oxidation process so beware. TEMPERATURE: This demonstrates if the chef a) knows what he is doing, b) is the one running the show as opposed to corporate, and c) demonstrates a very good turn over of fish. I am looking for sushi no colder than 65 degrees and rice no hotter than 75 degrees. Where the warmth of the rice is just enough to bring out the oil in the fish which was recently refrigerated and the fish is so fresh that it melts in your mouth. Another way of putting it is that the temperature at the time you eat the fish should be around room temperature. CUT: The cut of the fish should be small - not these gapping slabs of fish which americanized sushi resturants pump out to please the masses. A good sushi chef will not cater to the customer but will make the customer recognize his talent. Or as I have heard it from inovative chefs before the customer must submit to the food not the other way around. RICE: Probably the most important characteristic for great sushi and most overlooked by americans looking for slabs of fish on a dot of rice. Assuming the freshness, temperature and cut of the fish are all present, now comes the aspect of nigiri that seperates the men from the boys. The rice should be seasoned with the right balance of vinegar, mirin, sugar, and sake. Yes, these are all standards with good rice. The word sushi means vinegared rice and it is the rice that really makes the differnce if you assume that the fish is super fresh and the chef knows how to cut the fish and keep it at the correct temperature before serving it. That is what to me means 4.5 stars. To get to the last level, one has to be inovative with the nigiri. I have seen it at Nobu, I have seen it with Mike who works at Oyse on Michigan Avenue, I have seen it with some chefs at Japanese. Basically with all the above taken care of, the chef departs from the familiar and adds a twist to his nigiri. Say for example white truffle oil on the maguro. Minced msuhrooms on Toro. chopped shaved fennel soaked in lemon atop fresh salmon. I have several dozen more equally interesting example. Inovative rolls are nice, but once you have had the roll, you can always go to your favorite sushi place and have them whip up the same combo. To me Nigiri is the measure of a great sushi place. This fish earns 3.5 because while it does have inovative rolls, the chefs in the back are not inovative on the nigiri and the fish seems a bit cold and the cuts are a big large. As for rice, it is 7 out of 10 but not the best I have had. Finally as an aside, I await the return of a long missing star on the sushi scene, the one who trained all the best chefs in chicago, ITO SAN who used to work at many of the different places I have seen over the years. His reliability was laking and I am sure he was difficult to work with - but man what a genius with a knife and maintaing super quality where he worked.

    (3)

  • Brookes M.

    Visited South Coast on a slow Sunday night and had a great experience! Our waiter was hilarious and very attentive. The decor is really beautiful - lots of raw wood and diy-looking chandeliers. I loved it. I'm a vegetarian and enjoyed the miso soup (nothing to write home about, but tasty), ginger salad (the lettuce was very green and leafy but the dressing was a bit too spicy and not your typical ginger dressing), and several veggie rolls - one of which was not on the menu but was recommended my our waiter. They were both good and reasonably priced. Overall - I'd say it's a slightly better than average sushi place (for someone who doesn't eat fish) with fantastic ambiance and great service. Because of that, I would recommend going IN to eat and not ordering out - you're paying for the experience on-site at this place. They also have half-price wine specials on certain nights so that's the next time I'll be there!

    (4)

  • DeWitt K.

    When the Yelp "powers that be" denied my plea to be consider "elite" I decided to punish them (and you) by ceasing my rantings. However, upon exiting South Coast I new I would have to get back on the internets and post something to Yelp.. My wife and I have been all over for Sushi... The typical places have been good, LA, Seattle etc. Some others have been surprisingly good like Denver, and Salt Lake. That said, South Coast has to be in the top 5. The atmosphere, the staff, the quality, the freshness was all perfect. I wish I could find the receipt to recall what was best but I can recommend the spicy Miso, the White Dragon Roll and Spicy Scallop roll.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    First visit and I enjoyed the atmosphere, loved the sushi. Extremely fresh and tasty. Can't wait to get back! I ordered the fresh philly and I don't remember what else. I finished both rolls, a first for me!!

    (4)

  • Bethany H.

    My husband and I went in on a cold, wet and slushy Sunday afternoon after going to Field Museum. I suspect this place is jammin' during the week, but it was very quiet that day (not a complaint). We were seated immediately and enjoyed the sleek and modern decor. Our server was very sweet and helpful. We thought it was the best sushi we have had so far in Chicago. We started with a Seaweed Su, and it was so good, I wish we got two! We got two signature maki rolls and 4 regular maki rolls. As the name and price would lead you to believe, we enjoyed the signature maki rolls more than the regular, although all of it was delicious. Our favorite out of all of them was the Popper maki, which was smoked salmon, cream cheese, jalapeno, cilantro, fried nori roll with an avocado hot sauce. The only roll that was a little unmemorable was the Crunchy maki, which was tuna, spicy mayo, scallion, avocado, cucumber, tempura crumb. It just didn't leave much of an impression for us, personally. There is lots to choose from, so we will probably try many others next time. Great saki options. We definitely will be back!

    (4)

  • Jeanne L.

    A 3rd review of this place is needed to remind people of how awesome this place is. It was 8:30 on a Saturday evening and we were craving sushi. We were driving around Wicker Park and realizing what idiots we were because of the terrible lack of parking.... that, and Coast had a 2 hour wait. Ew. So.... off to it's sister restaurant we go! There was plenty of street parking, and we only had to pay for a few minutes of parking, since the meters only run til 9 pm. (Don't pay $10 for the valet!) I ordered the nama don, super white tuna sashimi, and oysters. Still delicious and awesomely fresh. (This super white tuna is the beeeest!)

    (5)

  • Iris L.

    My friend and I came to South Coast Sushi Bar recently. She had been here before, but it was my first time. Disclaimer: we are both vegetarians, so I unfortunately can't speak to the nigiri or sashimi. The staff was very friendly, and we were given a free appetizer (tempura fried seaweed or something? it was tasty). We were pleased to find a whole section of veg maki. We ordered shiitake maki, sweet potato tempura maki, and moo maki. The moo maki (tempura roll with baby greens, avocado, cucumber, asparagus, shiitake, topped with ginger dressing) was definitely the star of dinner. I highly recommend it, and I say this as I am drooling. Seriously tasty. Pay cash, because you get 5% off the bill. I will definitely be returning soon. The service was friendly, attentive, and prompt. While the other 2 maki we ordered was average, the moo maki was well worth it.

    (4)

  • Galina M.

    Ok, first of all I'd have to preface this with - omg this place is SO much better than Coast in Wicker Park!!!!! Unbelievably fresh sushi!!! We go here about once a week because we live not too far from it. I absolutely love this place and it has not once disappointed me in any way (food, service, wait time, quality, etc.). Now, here are some of my recommendations from the menu: South Scallop roll - if you love scallop, this is a MUST for you! White Dragon roll - really good, even though i don't usually like cream cheese in my sushi, this one is PRETTY good! Angry Salmon - in appetizers - amazing!!! for all salmon lovers - i HIGHLY recommend!!!! the soup, with the chicken - i always forget the name - but it is REALLY good. it's not miso...but you will know when you look at the menu. Salmon - maki, hand roll, nigiri, sashimi - in whatever form, every time i've ordered salmon from them, it has been so fresh, it knocked my socks off! ;) The other stuff is also very very good - the ones I've listed our just our favorites! Please give it a try and don't discount it due to its location. It is worth it! The vibe is also very cool, it's half dim, so kind of romantic - but also good for groups of people. It's not uber expensive but kind of. An average special roll there is $15, which I think isn't very bad, esp cuz they're very tasty! Lots of meter parking outside, make reservations on weekends, this place gets packed!

    (5)

  • Melly M.

    This place is super weak. We came to celebrate an engagement so we had a party of about 10 or more. Our service was awful. The food was not anything to be excited about. Actually we all were disappointed. Don't do it.

    (1)

  • Brooke B.

    My boyfriend and I went here for our first date and celebrated our engagement here too! South Coast is much different than Coast up north. It's quieter, they serve liquor (quite a few clever drinks) and I think the interior is cooler. I would always pick this one over the one up north. Here's why. Since this place has opened, it's IMPROVED! I was nervous about their location, as a lot of South Loop restaurants have struggled since coming in...but this place seems to be quite popular, regardless of the day of week. This last visit, I noticed that the front had been turned into more of a lounge area...and with the cool white branch chandeliers, trendy wall art and comfy decor...if the food doesn't live up to the look, they'd have been in trouble. But it does. They have inventive maki rolls, and always have specials to offer that aren't on the menu (most of the time REALLY spicy tho). Presentation has improved since this place has first opened, as has the service. I'll keep going back for more, that's for sure!

    (4)

  • Shannon S.

    I went to South Coast on a Wednesday night where I had prompt seating with ample room to move around. I showed up about 30 minutes earlier than my date but they gave me my table right away anyway and I had a drink and read my book while I waited. The space is very beautiful with a minimalistic approach to elegance. It's dark enough to make everyone appear a bit more sexy but not so dark that you can't see your food on the table or your dining partners across from you. Ladies, you can feel totally comfortable putting on your night face for this dinner (no one wants to get caught in bright lighting with their night makeup on). The waiter was really attentive and knowledgeable without being overbearing. He brought us out some complimentary appetizers while we were considering what to order and made some pretty decent recommendations. I had the spicy miso soup to start which was every bit as good as the other reviewers have said. Then we had the Dragon Rock, Salmon Poke, spicy tuna roll, the white tuna avo and a few individual pieces of sashimi. Everything was really fresh and totally hit the spot for my sushi craving. I probably could have used a dolly for my boyfriend to wheel me out to the car. The only thing negative is that I didn't find any of the sushi mind blowing or super memorable. It was all very good and I devoured it but I didn't eat anything that made me have a foodgasm. I am constantly in search of the foodgasm. I'm hoping something on this menu has what it takes. The beers are all $5 and on Wednesday all of their cocktails are $7. Dinner for two ended up around $70 with two drinks each which is really reasonable in comparison to what we've paid elsewhere. The restaurant is very accessible by public transportation and has easy street parking for all of you drivers. I will definitely be back to South Coast to overindulge and try the rest of the menu (and I mean ALL of it).

    (4)

  • Abasin S.

    I had to create an account to review this, and I would give it 0 stars if I could. The waitress came maybe every 30 minutes and we had to wait over 30 minutes to put in our order. We had a group of 7, and before we ordered we were told separate checks would not be a problem, but it still took the waitress 35 minutes to figure it out and get our checks back to us. I'm sure she didn't care since she got her 18% gratuity from our group (they charge 18% for a group 5 instead of the normal group of 8, maybe they are anticipating their shitty service).

    (1)

  • Bella B.

    Two nights ago my boyfriend and I decided to try this place. A friend recommended South Coast a while ago and it turned out to be just as good as they said it would be. When we first walked in I was amazed at the decor. It's a really intimate place for a date night or first date. I saw a group of women there too but mainly couples dinned in that night. The waitress was from Thailand which made the experience even more familiar and intimate. She offered a special martini that had hibiscus, pomegranate, and lemon juice. It was AMAZING and also healthy as she pointed out. My boyfriend enjoyed the tempura combination for an appetizer. I was pleased with the small spinach salad w/ sesame dressing. For an entree he ordered the shrimp teriyaki which was delicious! And I got the fried tofu yakisoba. It was a little dry but tasty. We also got the Crunchy Maki which was spicy with tuna, we loved it. We both agree to return maybe this summer. The special martini did the trick. Thank you waitress from Thailand ;-) Price: $$$ Food: 8 Parking: 6 (we were lucky to find a spot on the weekday but still had to pay the meter) Service: 9 Atmosphere: 10 (cant wait for summer to go back)

    (4)

  • Carly G.

    Totally have experienced better. Think Japonais, Marai, Bob Chin's, and my fav of all time Kamehachi. All are reasonably priced and portions are great. The inside of the place is very eye appealing, however the food is not. Now everything was fresh and tasty, but for a $15 roll I expect a bigger size piece than a quarter. And a $6 seaweed salad It was one spoonful, and I mean like your average soup spoon you find in your drawer. I live right by here, but I would rather make the hike to any of the other ones I just mentioned to get more for the mighty dollar.

    (2)

  • Sarah R.

    Not only did the staff bring me out an excellent dessert for my birthday, they all wrote in a card! Don't get me wrong. The service was good. The food taste great... but, come on! They gave me a personalized card for my birthday. It doesn't get much better than that. Go there. Go there now.

    (5)

  • K B.

    Another South Loop sushi dinner. This place was decent, but not my favorite in walking distance. We had the South Scallop Maki, twice. I thought it was good but the flavor emphasis was on the rice, so while unique, not worth 2 orders if you are in the mood for sushi! Everyone else totally loved it, for what it's worth. We also had the special roll, which had tuna, cream cheese and jalapeno. This was my favorite, as the cream cheese wasn't overwhelming. Lastly, we had the Salmon Poke Maki, which was decent enough.

    (3)

  • Kelly K.

    This is hands down one of my favorite sushi places in Chicago. Considering we're fairly land-locked (Lake Michigan does not count when it comes to sushi), it's easy to get not-so-fresh fish at sushi joints. We split so many rolls that I lost track of what we ate. There wasn't a roll I didn't enjoy and the freshness was overwhelming! They also have a great selection of sake.

    (5)

  • Samantha H.

    I really wanted to like this place more than I did. I live down the block and since my husband isn't a sushi fan, I thought what great opportunity when he's out of town to get take out from South Coast! Upon arrival I absolutely loved the decor. It was also fairly quiet, which I liked. While I waited for my food, I grabbed a drink at the bar. Generous pours (they do quartinos instead of glass pours). Kim Crawford for $10? Yes, please. Usually that's $12 by the glass for the standard 6 oz. So far, so good! My food came out pretty quickly so I had to down my sauv blanc, and I headed home. Now onto the food. I got the volcano roll. I disagree with people stating anything about the size or price of the roll. It's definitely in line with what I'd expect. My criticism is that, while it was spicy (which I like) unfortunately I got nothing else. I really didn't taste the tuna at all. And while I prefer my sushi to have some bite (think el Topo roll at Sushi Samba), it's really about the fish. So I wasn't too impressed with the maki. I also got the gyoza at the recommendation from the hostess, who said she didn't care for the pork dumplings. I found this pretty bland and not memorable as well. I suppose while the ambiance and bar area are cool, the food was average when compared with other upscale sushi spots. When the peers for South Coast are Sushi Samba and Sunda, they've gotta come up with some better tastes to go along with their great atmosphere. When Ma and I is a few blocks down, and while not as upscale, is really good for the price point, I'd rather go there.

    (3)

  • Lawrence Y.

    This is a perfect sushi restaurant - and easily one of my top favs! If you are looking for fine-dining sushi, and not a hole-in-the-wall... come here! We went on a Thursday night (no reservation) - the hostess asked us if we made one, but luckily enough it wasn't that crowded. We were seated toward the back and it was very spacious (one of the things that irk me at restaurants is being cramped when I eat). At any rate, we actually had two servers come up to us. They brought out complimentary seaweed tempura (though you can get a plate of these) - first place I've ever had this and it is soooo deliciously addicting (think popcorn)! As for our main bites, we ordered 4 rolls but the two I especially remember were: + Spicy hamachi (yellowtail, scallion, spicy mayo) - both of our favorites for the night... I think I'm in love with scallion now! + Spicy tako (octopus, scallion, spicy mayo, roe) - also delicious Also had a couple glasses of wine (Riesling) with our meal. The bill can get a bit pricey, but in my opinion is balanced with the quality of food, service and ambiance.

    (5)

  • Roberto H.

    Definitely one of my favorite sushi places in Chicago. Cool interior, smooth background music and, mostly importantly, good variety of rolls and sashimi. One tip: keep an eye on your dishes because some of the servers may grab your places or drinks before you're done. That said, the servers and cooks at the sushi bar are very courteous. If you're from New England or the NY Metro area and have been disappointed by other sushi joints in the Chicagoland area, give South Coast a shot.

    (5)

  • Alma C.

    This place is probably in my top 3 for Chicago sushi right now since Sushi Wabi closed (RIP). I like its cute space, energetic vibe, very delicious cocktails, long sake list and no hassle service. I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Christopher H.

    Best sushi in the south loop. The staff is professional, friendly and knowledgable! The decor fits the Sloop vibe. It's must visit but if you do, you will be hooked!

    (5)

  • Emily B.

    This is probably my favorite sushi in the city. I absolutely love coming here and sitting at the sushi bar. The service is phenomenal. They recognize their regulars and treat them like gold. Not to mention, we tend to come in on the later side (10:30 on a Friday) and they still welcome us with open arms. You can't go wrong with any of their specialty rolls and do be afraid to joke around and have a little fun with your server!

    (4)

  • K J.

    The BEST sushi I've EVER put in my mouth! South Coast is incredible and highly recommend it to everyone I know! First time there was in June and I've been back over 20 times!! The place is gorgeous,clean and just enough lighting! A beautiful ambiance!! I love South Coast!! Yes, staff is wonderful as well..Opps, and prices are INCREDIBLE!! 5 stars!!!

    (5)

  • Z K.

    Just another Mariano's but best part is, it is just as good as the rest of them. Love the service, abundance of fresh seafood and baked goods...sushi bar, gourmet drinks...Iove it!

    (5)

  • Suzi G.

    Uni shooters - spicy !!!! Fresh fish, great service (my cups were never empty) accommodates large groups, extensive roll selection with plenty of tempura flakes (for those of you that like crunchy sushi).

    (4)

  • Carol K.

    What a great find for sushi on this side of town! And with an ambiance that made me want to sit and linger for awhile. Way to go South Coast! We arrived around 9:30 on a Saturday night. This section of Michigan Ave offers plenty of street parking which was a plus right off the bat. But when we pulled open the door and saw the stylish ambiance (dark brown walls, cool chandeliers, sushi counter in the back and windows that open to Michigan Ave) we were hooked. We were promptly seated in a modern banquette along the wall opposite the bar. The menu has a wide range of items. Sushi, of course, but there were also cold and hot starters, salads, and entrees. There is also a separate list of their beers, wines and signature drinks. Knowing that they close at 11, we quickly placed our order and waited for our feast to begin. It started with complimentary tempura battered seaweed with two types of sauce. Perfect for munching on until our edamame showed up. I liked the serving dish for this- a classy two sided wood platter so much nicer than the ceramic bowl most places plop down. And finally- the sushi. We ordered 3 of their signature rolls and one regular roll. They came, as expected, artfully arranged on a tray. Wow! Know before you go that their spicy items are just that . .SPICY! So much more than my regular sushi place. But delicious! Service on this night was good - quite a feat given it was our server's first night on the job. And dinner for two ran about $79 including drinks. South Coast is a stylish, contemporary place to get your sushi fix in the South Loop. You can bet I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Jelena Z.

    A walk in sushi splendor. I came in not only ravenous at 9:30pm, but also with a craving for sushi so big, I didn't know if anyone could successfully fill the gaping hole in my maki-lovin' heart. It had been... gasp!... a good 6 months since I last had sushi. A food crime punishable by a tribunal somewhere, I'm sure! South Coast boasts an amazingly complete menu. Cold apps, hot apps, soup, salads, signature maki, entrees, desserts and an impressive cocktail and wine menu. I started with the spicy miso soup. As I was eating it, I really exclaimed, "THIS is the best miso I've ever had!" The addition of jalapeno and a spicy broth made an old standby bold. For our other appetizers, we tried edamame, soft shell crab and the corny tuna. All delicious! I admit, it was really difficult settling on a few maki rolls. In a perfect world, I would've ordered 1 roll each among a dozen specialties, but 4 had to do. We ordered up a sushi storm including the White Dragon (by far, my favorite!), Spider, Negi Hamachi and the White Tuna Avocado. All delivered fresh, vibrant flavors. Tip: if you love Godzilla rolls elsewhere, the White Dragon is it! Service was friendly and efficient, and done with a smile. I can't wait to come back! And hopefully this time, it won't be 6 months.

    (5)

  • Colleen C.

    Spot on. Lychee Champagne cocktail? Beauteous. And of course I popped those sweet little fruit-type thingies into my mouth covertly. They've been swiming in champagne for 30 minutes, how much more perfect could they be? Indeed. The service was stellar...very poilte server that recommended several good appetizers (soft shell crab is a winner), and sushi order arrived at rapid fire speed, much to the delight of my hungry dining companions. And me, obviously. Sushi was fresh and well-plated. The ambience is still decidedly upscale and trendy, yet has a casual vibe. Don't feel too weird coming in jeans...great place for a low-key date, dinner with gal pals, etc. The restaurant is pretty roomy, so I'd guess they could accommodate larger parties, which is a nice attribute. Total for 3 (with drinks, copious apps and a lot of sushi): $132. Would opt for this over Bucktown Coast any day of the week, fo sho. Best sushi option in the Sloop. And, get the lychee champagne cocktail, of course. *Important note: They are obviously no longer BYOB. Did I really write that review in 2007!? Insanity.

    (5)

  • Janet E.

    Service here was great, but the food was only okay. I came with my friend who is a total food snob and knows what good authentic Japanese and fresh sushi is all about. One taste of ONE sushi and my friend opted to try the scallop dish instead. Apparently their sushi was not up to par. I'm not a raw fish person so I couldn't say if it was actually passable or not to someone with a less mature palate. I did however order a cooked sushi roll (the spider roll). It was only okay. The fried soft shell crab was cold so I could tell they had not just fried it upon ordering. The roll was four LARGE pieces that I could not shove into my mouth in one bite. It was one of the more difficult sushi rolls I've eaten. It was actually a bit messy. I would have preferred a smaller roll cut into more pieces. Their miso soup was good though. Our waitress was really nice to us. She gave us a complimentary fried seaweed appetizer and made sure we enjoyed our meal despite our disappointment in the food. Ambiance is great for a date, but the place gets a bit loud for conversation. And its very dimly lit here. The table next to us had to pull out their cell phone in order to read the menu. Parking was easier for us to find on Wabash rather than Michigan.

    (3)

  • M K.

    Love this place. As a vegetarian, the waiter suggested many regular rolls that could be made into veggie rolls. In addition, the veg section of rolls was good. The decor makes you feel like you are in a NYC lounge. Bummer...there is no outdoor seating, wine/drink list is pricey, and cork fee is $20. also, they need more veggie friendly entrees Overall...have gone back twice and will continue to do so.

    (4)

  • Samson P.

    I was really looking forward to eating here because I heard they had very fresh sushi and a nice decor. After my experience there, I would say I agree to both but want to add that the service was rather disappointing and we did not get to fully enjoy the ambiance there. Let me explain why.... First as we entered the restaurant, the server told us to wait 5 minutes at the bar while our tables were being set up. Glancing around it had a cozy, classy, modern look with dim lighting and relaxing ambiance. The sushi bar was a unique arrangement. 5 minutes turned into 45 minutes and we were still waiting for our table. Apparently the previous customers decided to take their time. Unfortunately we were in a rush and decided to order take out instead. We ordered a rainbow roll, salmon poke roll, and sashimi platter The Rainbow Roll was standard consisting of salmon, tuna, smelt roe and yellow tail. The Salmon Poke had scallions and salmon. The salmon was fresh. The sashimi platter had Salmon, yellowtail, tuna, and surf clam. They were delicious. Verdict: Although I didn't get to experience the food inside the restaurant. The food made up for that. Their fish is really fresh and they give big portions although it can get a little pricey. They do have Tuesday dinner specials that are a good deal.

    (4)

  • Pauline D.

    There are two kind of sushi restaurants, the type you go to when you're craving: 1) Sushi -- the more, the better! -- for cheap. 2) A gastronomical adventure; where nothing but the freshest fish --prepared with the utmost care and delicately balanced with luxurious ingredients -- will do. If you're looking for the latter, you're looking for South Coast Sushi. Located in the South Loop in the most beautiful space, be sure to take your "keeper" dates here! It's modern and cozy, but not stuffy. Full bar, delicious food, excellent service... you'll be well taken care of. It ain't cheap, but it's worth every penny. The Spring signature maki with super white tuna? Life-changing. I still think about it even though I'm over 2000 miles away.

    (5)

  • Tracy P.

    Delicious special order veggie sushi, great service and atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Kaitlin M.

    Wow... I absolutely loved this place. They had very fresh sushi, a good amount of drink choices and nice service. The Salmon Poke under their Signature Maki rolls was amazing. I also had an assortment of nigiri, all of which was very fresh and a fair amount of fish. Each person in my party had drinks and dinner for $40... which is perfect. I will definitely be back anytime I am in the area!

    (5)

  • Sanjay S.

    Love this place. Great food with a nice ambiance. Never too busy, easy to get a table. The Maine lobster roll and Dragon rock are awesome!

    (5)

  • Chumby D.

    Twenty minutes ago, we walked away from what may have been the worst sushi experience. Ever. In my life. As residents of the South Loop, we really wanted to love this place. So in support of another local business, we stopped in tonight to finally give it a try. Eeek. DECOR: At first glance, the restaurant looks great...nice ambiance, with a beautiful & stylish decor. But "you can't judge a book by it's cover"...and the trendy outer shell of this place only goes skin deep. SERVICE: I'm still struggling to figure out how our server could have been any less attentive. And it's not like we came in during the dinner rush time: It was later in the evening, and the table to my right (as well as a few others) were now vacant. But there we sat...drink menus still in hand, hoping to order cocktails, yet nothing to sip on but the warm water in a spotty glass after 20 minutes. So then our server finally takes our drink order...which was a simple request of a beer for me and tonight's drink special for my wife. Shouldn't have been too hard to remember, but apparently we were forgotten about. Tick...tock...tick...tock. I'm out of water, and at this point, can't even get a refill to quench the thirst...So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt...maybe they're really slammed tonight? Perhaps the bar is backed up? Uh, no. I look over at the bar to my left, and there are two bartenders and what looks like a manager, yacking it up and having a good time like it's grade school recess time. After another 15 minutes, we look at each other and begin to think that getting up and making a graceful exit would be a good way to end this unpleasant service experience. But just as we were getting up and putting on our coats, our server magically appeared with our drinks. I can only assume that the bottle opener for my beer was somehow missing and this is the reason why it took so painfully long. I should have ordered something with a twist top... Finally...we get to order food. My wife selects the ceviche appetizer, the sushi entree consisting of assorted fish, and their namesake roll...the Coast Crab roll. At long last, with drinks in hand, we settled in for what we hoped would be great food. But little did we know that the worst was yet to come... FOOD: We should have walked out when we had the chance. Each of the items that we ordered lacked any imagination...lacked any visual appeal or presentation...and most egregiously...lacked any form of taste. Starting with the ceviche...below average at best. Imagine a soggy leaf of red cabbage, with unidentifiable chunks of leftover seafood stacked on top, then drizzled with a few teaspoons of lime that tasted like it came from one of those plastic green limes from the Jewel supermarket nearby. All of this flanked by an asian sesame cracker that was nuked in a microwave a minute too long. There were also bits of corn mixed in, but they tasted like they came from a tin can, probably bought at the same time while they were at Jewel. Blah. On to the sushi entree...which was an overpriced yet very amateurish effort. Oddly, it looked like someone used a spoon to cut these pieces of fish...and then slapped these sad, jaggedly looking morsels over the top of a wad of rice. Not surprising, it tasted about as good as it looked. Last and certainly least...the proud namesake: the South Coast Crab roll. This may have been the biggest tragedy of the entire meal...and this was from the "Signature Maki" section of their menu. It's as if they were still at that Jewel supermarket, and they happen to stroll by the deli and picked up a prepackaged California roll in one of those a clear plastic disposable containers. Then after taking it out and slapping it on an aluminum cafeteria serving tray, they sprinkled a little red tabiko on top just for an exciting visual effect. Lastly, to make sure it's "garnished", they dump a generous handful of stale panko bread crumbs on top. This could have been the most flavorless, uninspired roll I've every tasted. Ever. In my life. Heck, somebody probably could have sprinkled tabiko & panko over the top of a #2 pencil and I would not have known the difference if this were a blind taste test. Don't just take my word for it...please take a peek at some of the pictures other Yelpers have posted...and if you still dare to sample these sad looking morsels, be sure to smother it in wasabi soy sauce if you're looking to enjoy any form of taste. "How is your dinner? Is everything good?" our server asks cheerfully. Speechless is my only response. After another lengthy wait for the check, we submit to the fleecing of our wallets and savor the flavor of buyers remorse as we finally put our jackets back on. We should have left long ago when we had the chance... We really wanted to love you guys. We really did. Oh well. Maybe we'll see each other again over at Jewel.

    (1)

  • Stephanie L.

    Meh...I secretly want to give it two stars, but I wont. We ordered a pinot noir...they brought out champagne?? Weird...not even in the same category. Maybe they should stick to BYOB.... We had the sesame scallops to start. I thought they were ok. Then we ordered the volcano (meh), rainbow (standard), popper (not bad, I had never had this roll and it was probably the best one), and spicy hamachi (standard). Nothing was really that good...maybe we ordered wrong... Service was obviously just ok. Server was just awkward...maybe it was his first night. If I was in the area...I may stop in, but I definitely wouldnt go out of my way to come back here. Not a fan

    (3)

  • Sid S.

    Awesome Place, Had a great Vegetarian spread and amazing food and service. The Sushi's, especially the tempura roll was as good as it gets. Also its great value for money, and its definitely easy on the pocket. Highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Tiffany W.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! It is a little pricey, but worth every penny!

    (4)

  • Kyle H.

    The service is a little impersonal and the space is a little cold. However, I do enjoy the comfortable front waiting area - although I've never had to wait in it, because I've always been sat immediately, which is nice. That being said, the sushi is amazing. Very fresh tasting and I like that there is an assortment of what I call "white people sushi" (lots of tempura crunchies, spicy mayo, etc) and more authentic, simpler sushi, to keep everyone happy. While I prefer simple maki rolls, I always like to throw in one that is deep fried or full of cream cheese or something just for the fun of it. I've been a couple times and I'm sure I'll be back. It's definitely some of the best sushi that is moderately close to my neighborhood, although the south loop is a terrible, grey, unfriendly place that has almost as much parking as The Crotch on a Friday night.

    (4)

  • Heather M.

    Great little place for a nice night out. Decent prices for some really great sushi. Went to Coast with girlfriends in high school and had to go back more recently to take my fiance. One tip for first time customers - there is a free parking lot across the street on Michigan ave. in case there is no street parking open.

    (4)

  • Luke D.

    This place is acceptable but hardly exceptional. It is in the same price category as Macku and Mirai but is not close to the quality of either of those places. Given that Yuzu Sushi is about half the price but much better, South Coast is overpriced. I question whether these 5 star reviewers have ever really had amazing sushi (doubtful). I will say the special Snow White roll is quite good and was easily the night's highlight. Oddly, the waitress didn't tell us about it until we were done ordering ("oh yeah, there's some specials I forgot..."). Service overall was adequate, but I'm not sure our server was really paying attention to what she was doing. Given the availability of superior alternatives, I don't see any reason to return unless I happened to be in the neighborhood.

    (3)

  • James H.

    I'd say the sushi here was average. It has been a couple weeks since I ate here so I can't exactly recall what I ordered but I don't remember anything wowing me. I do remember the bill. It was a bit pricy for what it was. I've paid much less for better sushi.

    (3)

  • Jennifer R.

    Disclaimer: This review is based on service only...not food. My sister, a girlfriend and I came here last night prior to the Justin/Jay Z concert at Soldier Field to grab a drink and maybe a couple rolls before the show. We were lucky enough to grab a few seats at a small table near the patio which we shared with another group of girls. I'd say that is where our luck ended. It was busy and crowded (most likely due to the concert), but to say the service was horrendous is an understatement. No one came over to us (not even a bus boy) for 40 MINUTES. We asked one waiter to take our drink order, and she told us she was not our server. We asked another waiter to take our order and he said the same and by that point, my girlfriend told him which wine we wanted and that was that. It took him another 15 minutes to come back to our table and tell us that there were no clean wine glasses in the restaurant and they were trying to find some for us. After another 10 minutes of waiting, I finally went up to the host stand and voiced my complaint and utter shock of how terrible the service was. The hostess did manage to get us our bottle of wine (after another 5 minutes) and three champagne flutes...since there were no wine glasses. There were also no water glasses left, so we did not even get water during this entire time. No one even dare ask us if we wanted to order food and by that point, I just wanted to finish our wine and get out of there. I had to go back up to the host stand to ask for the check (my sister and girlfriend wanted to leave without even paying-but since I've worked in the hospitality business before, I didn't want to do that). After waiting another 10ish minutes for a check, I was at a total loss. We threw down some cash and walked out, without seeing our server, the hostess or anyone of any sort of managerial role. There are no words for how awful the service was here. I would be embarrassed if I was South Coast. There is no excuse for what happened on a crazy Saturday night, let alone a Monday early evening.

    (1)

  • Raquel D.

    Most def better than their sister bucktown - yay for kinda living next to both (mom's in bucktown where I grew up and me here!) The menu is slightly different and the service is great! I haven't been here for awhile so hopefully it's still BYOB. And the sleek interior is sexy. Anything with white tuna and unagi is a winner to me and they got it right for sure! The sushi is very tasty and fresh and they deliver to me :) YAY!

    (4)

  • Vee E.

    South Coast is one of my South Loop favorites. I often get cravings for the the tempura starter and spicy miso soup. Even though I love sushi, I usually order the yakisoba because its hard to find it done well. The bartenders are friendly and really mix a good drink.

    (5)

  • Sabrina M.

    Tried placing a takeout order for which I was put on hold five times. After the fifth time (and I still hadn't completed my order!) I hung up. There was no confirmation of my order, no credit card transaction, nothing. Do you know they sent somebody to my place and tried to make me pay for that food? WTH?! If there's no transaction, no exchange of credit card information and, frankly, not even a chance to finish my order, there's NO deal. We have no business to complete. I could not imagine who was my the door, because I'd already ordered food from another restaurant, went and picked it up, and had finished eating it! Lo and behold, it's the delivery dude from South Coast. Trying to make me pay for a a transaction that wasn't. I had to very politely tell him: GTFOHWTBS! I'm sure the food at South Coast is still very good. But they won't be getting anymore of my money. Fortunately there are many, many other good and efficiently operated sushi joints for me to patronize.

    (3)

  • Jaime S.

    I love sushi and find South Coast is my closest option. While the sushi isn't BAD, the signature rolls are nothing special and the ceviche can be skipped. I'll still order from here, but I like Triad better.

    (3)

  • Aja M.

    I like the moo (a maki roll I believe) and they usually serve deep fried sea weed chips with a nice dipping sauce. Honestly, I really enjoyed all the fried fare (tempura, moo, etc.) It's hot, crunchy and goes well with all the sauces they bring out. I really like a lo mein-type dish they serve with with beef and noodles. The music is a little loud, but the crowd is chill and the service is usually nice. Ambiance is trendy, yet unpretentious. Have been here a lot and plan to keep going....

    (4)

  • Gin Y.

    Love this place! Very chic, and great if you're going for a romantic dinner. I went with my sister for dinner after a long work day. We started with their spicy miso soup, which was clean and delicious. Then, we continued on to their sushi options: spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and Unakyu (basically eel). All were so fresh and full of flavor! Definitely would recommend this place to anyone looking for great sushi and terrific atmosphere! Will come again, but not too often as to break the bank! =)

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    I admit, any time I walk into a space with beautiful, dark, brocade wallpaper, I'm already a little biased to love it. I can't help it. And those chandeliers in the back? I'll take two. Thankfully, design aesthetics aside, South Coast kept the hits coming. We got there at about 7 on Friday night, got seated right away. By the time we left, there was a significant amount of people waiting. The rolls were fresh & delicious (not to mention very reasonably priced), the cocktails were amazing, and the service was prompt & friendly... the waitress answered all of our questions and was very helpful. I'm so glad I left my usual Lakeview neighborhood bubble and ventured to the South Loop for a change... definitely give this place a try!

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    Menu and service were great! Even provided an app that was on the house and just enough to get us to order others! I would suggest giving them a try!

    (4)

  • Linda H.

    Wow, I love this place! Ok, I know I hand out the 5-star ratings pretty liberally, but this place hits all the right notes...it really, really deserves it. I'm not a huge sushi eater, just to try somewhere different, we decided to check it out. The pleasant experience begins the second you walk in . BF and I both commented how nice the place *smells* inside....it was like a subtle watermelon or cucumber or flowery or something smell, but whatever it was, it was very nice (you certainly don't want to smell fish when you walk in a sushi joint). The decor is so inviting and nice to look at. This place has been feng shui-ed and yin/yan-ed so well that I could feel my Chi energized just by being there. We were led to the banquette seating, which I'm not a huge fan of, but there was such ample space between all the tables that it was totally comfortable (not sure if they put more tables in on the weekends, but it seems as though that could be possible). Service and food were impeccable throughout. We each started with a salad, the warm shrimp, and baby spinach. Both were fresh and excellent...the sesame dressing just lightly coating the spinach was just perfect, and the sweet corn tempura with the shrimp was a great combination. They have an extensive cocktail list, and I'm sure the drinks are great. We both got sparkling juice (pomegranate, and blood orange) along with some acai hot tea...all went nicely with the food. We got two maki rolls, the "Tuna on Top" (I think that's what it was called) was a special, and the Dragon Rock...both beautifully presented and delicious. There were a ton of other things on the menu that I wanted to try, but we decided on dessert instead. The Japanese ice cream sampler was way bigger than a "sampling" of ginger, green tea, and red bean ice creams, but rather full-sized scoops (who knew red bean was so tasty!). We got the Mochi as well, mango and chocolate...yum! I've never heard of Mochi but I loved them...little ice cream thingys encased in a rice flour coating (not a good description, but trust me, they are tasty and fun). Again, the service was perfect throughout, and plates were whisked away quickly (if not a bit overzealously, as we had to swat his hand away once, which I hate having to do), and water was filled continuously. So yeah, we were stuffed and totally impressed, and we will be back very soon.

    (5)

  • Adoley J.

    Had dinner at South Coast and really enjoyed myself. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. We got a starter salad on the house and its those little things that really make a place stand out. I ordered the crunchy roll and spicy scallops. Both were delicious. My friend got the spicy tuna and dragon roll. The spicy tuna was the best that I have had in a long time. Very fresh with just the right amount of kick. The dragon roll was also very good. Great service and fresh delicious sushi!

    (5)

  • Elan H.

    Great sushi. FANTASTIC service. Fabulous decor. Reasonable sushi prices. Went here on a double date for my friend's birthday. We were seated promptly and served promptly. The menu was fantastic with a nice selection of legitimate appetizers and sushi entrees. There was even a complimentary seaweed appetizer while we waited. I don't even drink and the drink menu looked fantastic as well. In addition to GREAT food, South Coast Sushi had fantastic service. EVERYONE spoke to us as we left, which I take as a sign of great customer appreciation. Also, did I mention, you get 5% off if you pay with cash? Definite return visit. Great sushi place south of downtown.

    (4)

  • Peter D.

    I was hesitant to review this since I designed the restaurant, but now that it has 122 reviews... I seriously think this is the best sushi in Chicago, hands down, and not just because the owners are my clients and are wonderful people. I have been to several of the other higher end sushi restaurants like Japonais, Sushi Wabi and Oyse, and I like Coast and SouthCoast better because they are different - not only is the fish unbelievably good, but there is this great spicy/Thai flair to the food which is both unique and delicious. If I really want to show off, I take my clients here.

    (5)

  • Kristen D.

    The south loop scallop roll is a must. I think I'm in love. The rolls are all delicious and the cocktails are terrific. This is definitely the best spot for sushi in the loop.

    (5)

  • Andrea A.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! In fact, one positive in moving to my current place is that it is only 2 blocks down from South Coast... I have only had wonderful experiences here, and every person I take love their dishes and drinks. Every ingredient is so fresh and prepared perfectly. Recommended appetizers are the shrimp dumplings, toasted scallops (my fave!), and gyoza. Recommended rolls are the coast crab, dragon rock, south scallop (be hungry-it's huge!), moo (great vegetarian choice), and spicy sweet potato. I have also had the yakisoba dish (type of stir fry) and banana maki dessert- both delicious! The Lychee martini is my fave drink. All of their drinks taste delicious while being pleasantly strong. The interior is beautiful and romantic with perfectly dimmed lighting. The service has always been impeccable and the servers are super friendly and knowledgeable. Also, some reviewers had problems with the wait, but I have never had that issue. When there has been a wait (and many times when there isn't one), the servers have brought out complimentary appetizers to munch on.

    (5)

  • Dusty K.

    South Loop sushi at its finest. I've ordered takeout from here several times over the last couple years. Even during my short stays, the service is always phenomenal. Generally you'll find 2 people working the front desk who are always attentive and helpful. Their to-go bags have a cardboard liner in the bottom so your food lays flat. They also tape the bag shut, an extra step that does not go unnoticed. These may seem like small things but make a huge difference when carrying your food home. No spillage or bags tipping over on a rough turn. Also, they give you real chop sticks and not those crappy kind that split apart only to end up with wood shavings in your food. They even threw in an extra set for me knowing the food was for one person. The prices are a bit higher but I've never had anything bad from South Coast. My recent trip landed me the edamame, California king roll, and the popper roll. The California roll was loaded with so many tasty little things. The popper had a nice crunch to it and was a tiny bit spicy; something I really enjoyed. I'll stick with my to-go orders for now but would happily dine here. Seems like a nice little date spot.

    (5)

  • Helen C.

    I was pretty spoilt by my first visit to a Chicago restaurant, because South Coast was really great. From the decor (dark, minimal, oriental; check, check check) to the sushi to the wine. It was a pleasant surprise that wine was half price on a Monday, and we got to taste a couple before picking our bottle for the evening. The staff knew the people I was with extremely well - they're regulars - so obviously we enjoyed friendly service, but I can't imagine you'd ever get bad service here. And the sushi was very tasy. Really delicious eel, good spicy (properly spicy) salmon and nice edamame. The white tuna stuff is new to me, I've never had it back home or in Japan but it was delicious, especially wrapped in spicy mayo and covered in tempura bits. Oh and you get a HUGE pile of pickled ginger which I could eat all day (though that would probably kill you). I'd like to go back to try some of the other dishes - we stuck to maki.

    (4)

  • sarah l.

    New to the whole sushi thing, but checked out this place as I've heard good things about it. Walked in and loved the decor - great colors and very funky! Got a free appetizer, seaweed tempura, with some yummy dipping sauces. Husband and I each ordered a roll, spider and dragon. Both were very fresh and tasty. Will definately be back to try more!

    (4)

  • Janice L.

    It was an early wednesday evening, I only stopped in for a drink to wait for my friend but we ended up eating there... I like how spacious the place is, ppl can be chatting louder but you don't feel like you are forced to eavesdrop (esp on those awkward first date conversations) I asked the waitor what's their most popular tasty martini. I did not go for the usual Lychee and went with Pear, definitely of the stronger variety. The Acai one had a limey twist to it, not bad. Their fish specials were fatty salmon and hamachi. Literally melts in your mouth!! The creamy avocado scallop was new to me, we ordered second rounds. They also serve fresh wasabi (not from the powder but I suppose it costs more so we went w/ the normal one) Pricing: rolls go for $9 to $12, a bit on the pricey side for your standard makis but they are generous with the fish. I forgot to check the price on the sushi we had. They should really consider doing happy hour specials... Lastly for the ladies, the waitor is SUPER cute, I didn't want to be inappropriate and rude to my friend so I only stole glances off the corner of my eyes. yes a tad creepy but hey you'd be looking too ;)

    (4)

  • Mike Y.

    Solid, solid sushi place in the South Loop. Not "as good as it gets" as a Yelp 5-star review is supposed to be, but solid nonetheless. Went there a couple of weekends ago with co-workers of mine. It was a great experience. Sushi was good. The Niko and Oyako soup were fantasic. Spicy miso soup is also a good alternative to the traditional miso - it tasted like a spicy Korean soup I've had. We hit up probably 90% of the signature maki list and of that, I would say about 85% of them were pretty good. Why four stars? Service is slow. Being in the south loop and with not that much foot traffic, the staff that they have often get overwhelmed. So if you're wanting to have good conversation and are able to wait a little for your food, this is the place for you.

    (4)

  • Alexis M.

    Love this place!! The decor and atmosphere is so great...one of those places you can go dressed up or casual. The sushi is incredible and the service is even better. I live less than a mile from their bucktown Coast location but my husband and I always drive to South Coast instead.

    (5)

  • Jill W.

    OMG. One of the worst dining experiences of my life. I went there last night with my boyfriend and some of his friends. We were celebrating the birthday of a guest from out of town. It was a huge disappointment. The service was absurdly slow and much of the food was awful. We arrived at 7:30 and were seated around 8. That's OK for a Friday night. We eventually got some water and placed drink orders. When the drinks came, the server spilled a drink on me and the diner next to me. And it got worse. Others in our party ordered the softshell crab and promptly sent it back. It was mushy, not crunchy. The excuse we got was, there is sauce in the crab, that's why it's not crunchy. According to the diners that ate it, there was no evidence of sauce. it was probably mushy because it had been sitting around in the kitchen before it was served. We were comped an odd appetizer: seaweed tempura. Or maybe it was deep fried lawn clippings, that's about how big the pieces were. One member of our party ordered sweet shrimp. She held it up by the base of the tail and it drooped sadly over to one side. It was flaccid. It needed Viagra. Food slowly appeared with no particular rhyme or reason. Other diners had their food while my BF and I waited for our small order, some sushi and one roll. We sat and sat, all we had was miso soup, water and tea while everyone else got food. Finally, after we complained to the manager, an hour and fifteen minutes after being seated, we got our dinner. My BF complained that his eel was overcooked, crunchy, not tender. I had a dragon roll that was small and unremarkable. We got some sort of roll for the table, something with scallops. Yuck. The roll tasted awful. It looked like they took one scallop, sliced it in thirds and somehow treated it so it was like a tiny rubbery hockey puck. Oh, did I mention the music? It was some sort of repetitive electronic something or other. Now don't think I don't like electronic music, I do. I like loud, abrasive industrial rock. But this was just repetitive. The beat of the music matched the throbbing in my head that developed as the evening went on. So I Ieft with a headache and a feeling of slight nausea. Not how you want to feel after leaving a restaurant. Bleah. It was awful and I'm never ever going there again.

    (1)

  • Ernesto D.

    I've been the Coast up in Bucktown, but I feel the sushi here is better. A friend has gotten take-out from here and I've loved everything I've tried. I went over yesterday after work and couldn't get enough of everything I've tasted. My favorite is the volcano; it's spicy and right on. The lychee martinis do go down a little too easy. :) I also love that fact that I don't have go go up north for a good sushi place. I'll definitely be back and bringing friends.

    (4)

  • Carly O.

    Horrible service. I went before a concert at Solider Field and was seated in the lounge area with two girlfriends. It took us 40 miunutes to get one bottle of wine. Apparently they had no clean glasses. Of course our white wine cam without a chiller because they were out of that too.

    (1)

  • Sonia C.

    Good food, but sneakily expensive. The bill, with tax and tip came out to $140 for the two of us, and it was nowhere near worth it. We started with a lychee drink each - both good. My friend's lychee martini was very good, sweet but strong. My sparkling lychee was easy to down too, and I enjoyed the prosecco in it. Drinks are $10-12 each. We ordered a few apps to share. The edamame was normal as was the cucumber salad. The crab cakes wrapped in fried wonton wrapper were really good - delicious spicy dipping sauce, flaky flavourful meat. Quite expensive at $16 (this translated to $4 per wonton). The menu is pretty extensive, with a nice assortment of regular and special rolls. The a la carte nigiri was really expensive and each order ($4-$7) comes with only once piece of sushi, not 2 like most restaurants. Taking that into account, I decided on the sashimi entree and my friend ordered the spicy California, vegetable tempura roll, and the sweet potato roll. The sashimi entree was nicely presented and had a decent amout of fish for $24. I tried a piece of each roll and found the fried one awesome, but I'm a huge sucker for fried foods. The spicy California was not at all spicy, and I have a personal bias against avocado in sushi. Though full, we decided to split the banana maki for dessert. Great choice! Fried (yay!) banana drizzled with hot chocolate sauce and served with creamy vanilla ice cream. I think this was the definite winner of the night and worth all the extra calories. So how did the bill come out to $140? I think all the little things added up. They charged us $3 for my tea, $2 for fresh-ground wasabi, $2 for extra ginger sauce (requested for the spicy California roll that wasn't spicy!). These things are usually free at most Japanese restaurants. Just a horrible value proposition all around. To be fair, they do have a $35 set menu on Tuesdays which MIGHT be worth a shot, though I'm convinced some sneaky little extras will pop up on the bill. I don't think I will come again, especially during a recession. The next time I eat Japanese, it'll be ramen. From my kitchen cabinet.

    (3)

  • Steve H.

    Always fresh and yummy, two things important for any restaurant, but especially sushi. Don't forget to request fresh wasabi.

    (4)

  • Christine F.

    This place still makes me so happy. If we lived closer I'm sure South Coast would be getting more of our money. Lychee Martini - OMG. To die for. Expensive...but amazing. They have actual lychee fruit in them, which is so delicious. Spicy Miso - GET THIS OVER THE REGULAR MISO - and thank me later. Ebi Tempura roll - Tasty stuff. I love tempura, and it was done to perfection. The roll was tempura, spicy mayo, avocado. Avocado roll - Where are they finding these perfect avocados? I want in on this. The avocado was silky, perfect and delicious. Spicy Habachi roll - Yellowtail, spicy mayo and jalapeno. Mmmmmm. Subtle with a kick. I love this place. It IS on the pricey side...but yeah, it was really good.

    (4)

  • Steven C.

    This is the best sushi in Chicago hands down! The wait staff are all helpful and eager to please. A must is the spicy miso soup and the white dragon roll.

    (5)

  • Chester W.

    Not bad, but perhaps I've been in Chicago too long! Need to go back to California to reset my standards. Anyways, good selection of sashimi and a nice trendy sushi spot.

    (4)

  • Jen D.

    Before I get into the details, I want to state it is NOT BYOB anymore. I see some conflicting posts below but I've been there twice since mid-July and they have a liquor/wine/beer license. They do not have a bartender yet, so order mixed drinks at your own peril. The manager is mixing hte drinks, so if it isn't good just ask for something else. He successfully made 2 cosmo's for one of my friends so it isn't a disaster or anything. Both times I've been super happy with the sushi rolls. They have a nice balance of traditional and more complex maki. Dragon, rainbow, white dragon, spider, futo are all excellent. The tuna and cucumber roll ordered by one of my less adventurous friends had the most tuna I'd ever seen in a tuna roll!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth T.

    Over a year later, and hubs and I have yet to have a bad experience at this restaurant. Consistently good food, consistently good service. L.O.V.E.

    (5)

  • Bryan S.

    I have been here many times and it is still my favorite place in the country for sushi. The cocktails are great (sparkling lychee!!), the food is top notch, and the service has been consistently perfect.

    (5)

  • Evelyn T.

    South Coast Sushi Bar is every mouth's dream. I went to this place with someone from school a few weeks back and everything about this place is absolutely to die for. The decor is nice and modern - the chandeliers were especially interesting in that they were thee swirls of wood. The sushi station and bar were chic and unobtrusive and the dining area was spacious. Only complaint that the lights were a little dim for my taste, but it wasn't anything unmanageable. As for the food, everything was fabulous. We tried the tempura seaweed, which tasted loads better than it sounds. We also had the beef wrapped asparagus and it remains the best thing I've ever ate in my life. Hands down. Veggie tempura was solid and even featured corn, which turned out to be a lot better than I thought! Also, spicy miso soup is a must - the tofu is nice and tender and the briny soup had a perfect kick of heat. (So many appetizers - can you tell we were starving!?) As for the entree, I had the Ebi Tempura, which comes with shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, mayo, roe. I'm not such a huge fan of roe or avocado, so I got substitutions of cream cheese and extra cucumbers. Usually, I have to fight with the waitress about substitutions, but not here. It was absolutely fab. We also got an order of quail eggs, since I'd never had them before, and they were also quite good. For desert, mango and green tea mochi and chrysanthemum tea. Delicious.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    I stopped by here on a business trip and had some nigiri and a maki with crab. I liked the food, ambience, and service. I would definitley come back again.

    (4)

  • Bobby K.

    Very very happy with this selection that I researched on Yelp. I made a reservation but there were tables available on a Saturday at 8:30. Our goal was not to get in and out as quickly as possible but they made it happen. Our sushi came out so fast and yet still tasted excellent and was well presented. The fish was melt-in-your-mouth fresh and well worth the slightly upscale price of it all. I don't hit up the south loop all too often but South Coast is demanding a return visit. I gotta say though: the waitress unfolding the cloth napkins for you and laying it on your lap was a little much. If it's traditional or whatnot, I want that explained. As it was, I felt my personal space bubble violated.

    (5)

  • Gaby F.

    Cool looking place and busy on a Friday night. Nice to see everyone nicely dressed in collared shirts and post work outfits; pleasant change from baseball caps and sweats in surroundings bars... We had soup and unagi which were good. Sea Bass and Salmon Teryaki were too. It's not cheap but service is good and there are nice little complimentary additions to meal, including a fried something with wasabi sauce and Miso soup. I'll go back as as others have said it really is the South Loop's decent sushi option... Look out for specials during the week.

    (3)

  • Julie A.

    I really, really like this place. It's the first restaurant I tried when I moved to Chicago. Don't miss out on the soups. Can't remember the name of it, but the one with beef and onions is a heavenly way to start a meal after coming in from the cold. I've been there maybe 6 or 7 times and have never been disappointed. I usually get nirgiri/sashimi, but my husband usually gets the specialty maki rolls, which he enjoys immensely. I've tried a lot there, and thoroughly enjoyed everything I tasted. Oh, and the decor is really nice - kind of lounge-y, modern mixed with baroque shapes and patterns. It's a great place for a date.

    (4)

  • Natalia K.

    Although I'm a loyalist and I will still choose Kamehachi and their green turtle roll over this place, South Coast pulled out a great performance and almost made me reconsider. A little on the expensive side, but the beautiful modern decor and attentive service, as well as the delicious rolls made the prices worthwhile. What to eat here? Any roll with the word dragon in the title, including White Dragon and Dragon Rock. All mmm-inducing. The California King is also a front runner. The gyoza, btw, comes in an order of 5, even though the menu says 6 or maybe I'm blind and it really did say 5. And be aware that it's no longer BYOB. We went here last night and brought a couple of bottles of wine and the waiter was kind enough to still honor the old policy but next time we have to order off of the wine list.

    (4)

  • Lina N.

    I live south of the loop andI have driven by this restaurant many times with full intentions to try it someday. Well that someday came this past Thursday after a particularly rough week at work. I was in the mood for some good sushi and some cocktails (without having to drive very far in traffic) so my boyfriend and I decided to go to South Coast. Upon entering you will notice that the decor is very modern, the music is very much bumpin, and it is a trendy restaurant/lounge by every definition of the word. The best part? It was all without the pretention that places like that usually have. The hostess was very friendly and our waitress was incredibly friendly and helpful. All of the above is useless though, if the sushi is terrible. Luckily, the sushi at South Coast is amazing! They actually had the toro available and it was MELT IN YOUR MOUTH! We ordered the white creamy, king crab roll (forgot the official name) and the crunchy and we loved each one. They are not stingy with the fish, the fish is extremely fresh, and the sauces in the rolls are not overwhelming (to cover up the taste of the fish, like many places do The prices are a little high ($9 and up for rolls) but the quality does justify it!

    (5)

  • Michelle S.

    I had the crab cake wontons as the appetizer. Pretty good. I really appreciated that it was real crab in it (See Ra Sushi review for my disdain for imitation crab product) and the ginger sauce was ok. my sushi was good. I order the King Crab maki. No complaints. The water guy made sure I was never parched. I'd honestly rate this place a 4 star except that it's soooo damn dark and I wished it was $15 cheaper. If they upped the dimmer 2 watts (random measurement. I know nothing about wattage), we could read the menu without squinting. But good service. Good sushi. Real crab. I'd return when they're having a special or something so the bill isn't $60 for 2 broads that aren't on a date. sheesh.

    (3)

  • Wendy Y.

    I so love this place. The only bad thing I can say is that it is totally addictive and I spend way to much on getting delivery from there. Best things- $5 Martinis on Wednesday nights Dragon Roll Shrimp Gyoza tuna tartar sesame scallop spicy tuna I used to go to Oysy on MI ave but will not go there again as South Coast is far superior. I usually get delivery from there but the service is great too.

    (5)

  • Jim H.

    I have been meaning to write a review about this place for sometime. Love everything about South Coast Sushi, I have 2 other sushi places closer to my house and also make the 12 block walk south to South Coast. The sashimi platter is truly a treat and I have yet to have a bad meal. Today was the first day with anything other than an excellent experience. From the minute I walked in the door I could tell they were using an old mop / mop water and the restaurant had a lingering smell. You would think they would notice and swifter the floors even when their are customers. I worked in a restaurant for a number of years and managed a few as well. I know it is a hard thing to break out a swifter or mop once customers are there. But if it was my first visit I may have never gone back. Clean up your act... you deserve it. Oh don't be mad at your staff mr/ms manager this is your responsibility. Must say the decor and staff are great btw

    (4)

  • Liz B.

    I want to love South Coast, I really do. I live in the hood and welcome cool restaurants with open arms, especially if they serve sushi! I've given SC a fair shot, having ordered delivery a couple times, and eaten at the restaurant a few times. Here's my consensus... Overall, the rolls are very overpriced for what you get. I know not everyone wants a huge roll, but if I'm paying $13 for a Dragon Roll, I shouldn't have to get three other pricey rolls in order to feel full. The Lychee martinis are absolutely DELICIOUS! Be careful, they go down like water. Service is excellent. Restaurant itself is quite cool and offers great, albeit trendy ambiance. Great place for a date! Delivery orders did not come with wasabi or ginger...and only one set of chopsticks (for $60 worth of sushi!). If I am paying that much for delivery, please hook it up with the proper condiments/utensils! Overall, South Coast is a cool place but is a bit of a ripoff.

    (3)

  • Kelcey K.

    My husband and I went here for dinner a couple of days back. We'd like to give it a 3.5 stars but that's not possible on yelp. We didn't think it was 4 star quality so we'll just leave it as 3 stars for now. Don't think we'll go back again though. Service was great. The waitress was friendly and ready to explain anything we didn't know. They cleared the plates really promptly too. We ordered the Niku soup and Miso soup to start. The Niku soup's presentable was kinda impressive but the taste didn't match up. The soup was tasty but it was tasty in an MSG-laden kind of way. Niku soup should been infused with the taste of beef, but this wasn't so. It seemed like the taste was artificially enhanced. The handful of udon was nothing to rave about either. The beef wasn't well done - it was too tough and they didn't slice it thinly enough. The miso soup was all right, but the tofu was too hard. The tofu should have the kind of texture such that it dissolves in your mouth. We had to chew this one. Next, was Shiitake Mushroom tempura. The tempura bits given were miserable. This dish was a so-so as well. The Philly mak however, was something different. We felt that the combination of avocado, smoked salmon and cheese was great. The taste of each food item did not interfere with the other in the palate. The finale was their signature roll of South Scallops. I loved this although my husband did not. I thought the scallops were cooked very well - soft and yummy. And the dynamite roll sandwich was a quirky idea that paid off. Basically they had a jam of avocado and other stuff roll into a plain sushi and then they sandwiched the scallop in 2 rolls. Something like an oreo cookie. By the way, just something to take note of, the size of the sushi were tiny as compared to the many other sushi restaurants we've come across. OH, one thing I didn't really like about the restaurant was that it was so dark inside that we thought it was closed! Fortunately, we were sat at the counter where it was well illuminated. The rest of the restaurant was caped in darkness and I wonder how the other patrons actually see their food properly before they ate. I mean romantic ambience is one thing but too dark to see what you eat is another.

    (3)

  • Val B.

    South Coast is solid. Sushi in Chicago is never going to be like, the amazing treat that it is in a place where fish actually live, but this is a decent substitute. I'd categorize this as a great place for dinner and a drink with a ladyfriend, whether you are male or female. It seems like a good date spot and it's also a nice girlfriends spot. I've been here a few times now, and the specialty rolls are good - interesting flavors, good fish, not too pricey at about $13-16. Last time I was there I got a deep fried roll, which was tasty, and the miso soup, which was regular. All in all, probably my favorite sushi place in Chicago so far - but, I've only been here a few months.

    (4)

  • Swati B.

    So I've been dying to go here forever, but everytime I tried, it would fall through..finally I did it! So this place is no longer a byob, they have a full bar and a pretty decent wine list (FYI the plum wine is ooober sweet...as in I felt i was drinking pure sugar..yuck). I loved that they have a veggie maki section..and that you can make your own veggie sushi if you want... tons of vegetarian options in the appetizers as well (the Age Tofu was fantastic)....my favorite roll was the "Moo". It was fantastic. This was the first time...EVER..that my friends and I left a sushi restaurant FULL..it was great! Service tends to be a little on the slower side...which is why I knocked 1 star....a little on the pricey side but worth it. Great date place for sure. Love the ambiance!

    (4)

  • Adrianna L.

    This is probably the hippest place in the neighborhood so far. I'm so glad they brought this to the south loop! The food is fantastic and the vibe reminds me of downtown. We loved it and will be back.

    (5)

  • Reggie H.

    Great service and calming environment. Sushi was fresh and though a bit pricey, we were pleased. Great neighborhood spot. Will visit again.

    (4)

  • Soma P.

    We went to the restaurant at 7 and were seated without a wait (and no reservation), after ordering food we were there for about a half hour after we had paid our check, just chatting. The waitress then came over and asked us to leave as they had other parties to seat. There were at least 3 free tables at this point (9pm). While it may be a faux pas to remain at a restaurant without a current order, it is beyond unbelievable that we would essentially be kicked out of the restaurant. We brought this to the manager's attention and he told us that we were welcome to come back and not sit in that particular waitresses' table. Ummm.... The food there is fine. Nothing amazing, or crave worthy (keep in mind that I live in Salt Lake City, so when traveling, esp to a city like Chicago, I expect a LOT more than what I can get at home). With all the options in the area we will definitely NOT be going there again.

    (1)

  • L. B.

    I would argue that the food and service are parallel with the original Coast. Its closer for when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to pay for a cab to Bucktown. Definitely a different vibe then the original, not as hyped up and energetic. Perhaps its more like the softer spoken twin. Go here for the chill, go to the original for the thrill. Both will leave your stomach and wallet happy.

    (4)

  • D S.

    Note: This review is based on the experience from a take-out order so I can only comment on the taste and value of the food we ordered; I can't comment the service or ambiance. We ordered three different maki rolls and two appetizers. Everything was fair. The ingredients tasted fresh but the presentation and taste were nothing special. Everything was somewhat bland and not very inventive. Overall, very poor value. The total bill came to just under $50, including tax. I can think of a few different restaurants within a 10 minute drive of the South Loop where the rolls are just as good, if not better, and where the total bill would have come to a little over half what I paid tonight. My recommendation is to take your business somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Michelle M.

    Did you know? South coast sushi bar offers an upscale ambiance with great service. Its a great date place if you are looking to impress someone. The restaurant is dimly lit so your woman cant see all of your acne scars and imperfections. The servers are also extremely well trained. When they came out with our sushi order, he told us what type of fish each of the nigiri was. In addition, he also took the extra step of placing our napkins in our lap when we were immediately seated. I dont think i would have expected that level just from looking at the outside. The fish was extremely fresh and clean. However, i was disappointed by their rolls. They were small, esp for specialty rolls. I also wished they offered more raw fish rolls like a volcano roll. Most of them were cooked. Overall, i would prob not return bc its a bit pricey. $90 for two rolls, a sushi assortment, and two drinks isnt really worth it to me. However, if you're in for a high class service exp, go for it!

    (3)

  • Elaine A.

    Absolutely delicious! A little pricey, but the food and drinks were amazing! Super sad that it is no longer BYOB however. The service was awesome, and our waiter was very attentive. The ambiance is very relaxing. The space is dimly lit perfect for stuffing your face with delicious sushi. We enjoyed Dragon Rock and Volcano maki especially and of course, fillers such as Spicy Tuna and Una Avo. We will definitely be back soon!

    (4)

  • Denise H.

    I can't get enough of South Coast Sushi. Everything about this place is amazing. The wait-staff is pleasant and informative, the drinks are potent and the food is OFF THE CHAIN! (I had to let a little south-side out on this one.) Upon entry you will be surprised at how large the dining area is. From the outside looking in, one would think it's your typical small sushi spot but lo and behold...it is not. The decor is engaging and sexy (I can't wait to take a date here and impress him) and the bathrooms were clean (a must for me). I can't stop thinking about the food. The white dragon is phenomenal and the banana maki (for desert) is incredible. I honestly can't say one bad thing about SCS other than parking can be a little sketchy if you go too late. Also, reservations are not necessary but it's not a bad idea to think ahead. Two people can expect to spend approximately $80 here with drinks and desert.

    (5)

  • Ellis J.

    Toro, toro, TOROOOOOO Hands down some of the best Toro I've ever eaten. Try it! South Coast is a good spot in the south loop upscale sushi desert. On the expensive side, but service, scene and freshness are all solid.

    (4)

  • Danielle L.

    This place has a great look and feel. Great location,trendy decor, soft lights, good looking customers with a friendly vibe. The food is average, not remarkable. The service is friendly enough. On Wednesdays, they have $5 martinis. The first Wednesday I went, the drinks were clearly watered down. The second time I went, the drinks were potent--but it may have been because a person in our party was friends with the bartender. I plan to return one more Wednesday (without the hook up) to get to the bottom of the martini potency issue. Overall, it is a great spot for a midweek cocktail with friends but I wouldn't be excited to eat there.

    (3)

  • Christina G.

    I've been here a couple of times. If you live closer to here than the one on Damen, it's a good second choice. Differences are the atmosphere, this one is a little more open and less crowded, a little trendier. Has a full bar (the other one is BYOB). Sushi is comparably good. I think for me the difference is location, which is not as ideal for going out after. But maybe I just don't know South Loop well enough yet. If you're in the area, definitely a good go-to sushi place.

    (4)

  • Hip Mama F.

    A friend of mine hosted a birthday dinner here in January. I arrived early and had a drink at the bar while I wait. The bar is very intimate but not so close that you are in someone else's space. The bartender was very friendly. I ordered a dirty martini and it was perfect. Outside of Jilly's I hadn't tasted one so good. When the other guests arrived we were seated in the front. The table was set so beautiful that I thought it was special for the birthday girl. The hostess gave great suggestions from the menu since some of the guests weren't really sushi eaters. My entree was absolutely delicious, I believe it was the grouper. Seasoned and cooked to perfection. This is definitely a sleeper in the south loop. Most people believe it is only sushi, however they do offer a couple of cooked entrees. I failed to mention, the wine selection is wonderful as well.

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    If you're not in the neighborhood even denizens of the West Loop might find it a bit of a trek to get to South Coast Sushi at 1700 S Michigan, but I have a feeling the South Loop people are just fine with those that give up or deem it too far to travel. This huge sushi house is a jewel in the neighborhood touted as such mostly for the room, the décor and the outstanding service. Despite the challenges of walking there and finally giving in and getting a cab, the cab driver wasn't even sure where it was despite my giving him an exacting address. My poor date: we sent text messages back and forth and the last was that she would be standing outside the restaurant with cash in hand to throw at the cabbie. She was able to keep her money though as the cab had to come to a screeching halt half way down the block past the restaurant. Amazing, we were still on time. Then I found out we didn't have a reservation because as my date put it "It's never busy, plus, it's Tuesday". Anyone who read my reviews last year knows that I am a Tuesday through Thursday diner. This was fine with me. Our waiter approached us within moments and we mulled over the drinks menu looking for sake. I'm not a sake pro, but I know what I like. After the bill came later and it was revealed that we only barely went over $100 because of the 2nd bottle, I knew it couldn't have been that expensive, but it was my taste buds earlier that had pegged it. I'd had better sake at Japonais (especially) and Mirai. Granted, I never saw the menu and it was really between my date and the waiter that the choice was made. In any event, it was drinkable, but I wouldn't say it complimented the sushi. The waiter made some recommendations for dinner, including a tasting menu, a 3 course dinner menu and any number of specials. Oh, and don't forget the Rib Eye special! Dude! We're here for sushi and you're not dealing with amateurs. Give the rib eye to the underweight hostess and bring us the sake! So he did, and a nice Amuse Bouche that made us kinda want a whole evening of chef-inspired nibbles. We started with the Angry Salmon appetizer which was maybe a bit too spicy if you're going to head into mild nigiri and sashimi soon after. My lips were set alit and my tongue was tingling, sensations I covet, but not before Super White or Maguro. We contemplated the Hamachi Carppacio, but were tempted by the Fatty Hamachi that was available, so we went with the fat. Nigiri were built with fresh fish exactly as they should be: long lardon of fish under a small sushi meshi ball. Most of the fish was consumed without soy sauce because it didn't need it, but most of the better-than-most ginger was used to clean palates and enjoy on its own. One overly ambitious busboy swept a plate still piled high with a ginger rose, but our gasps brought him back immediately. At last! A busboy who understands the nuance of a gasp! Our poor waiter. We let him know right away he wasn't dealing with amateurs, but we aren't snobs either. We really put him through his paces and he met every order, suggestions and directive in a professional and timely manner, e.g.: A 2nd order of Super White was deftly decorated with an impossibly thin slice of lemon ... on our recommendation ... and I touted the unadvertised House Special Maki has "having possibilities". The room is huge and beautiful and thoughtfully decorated with modern flourish. The front third of the restaurant is tables, the middle is bisected by a hard bench with throw pillows and more tables and the sushi bar fill the back third. We sat at a table with the bench which itself is high and hard. Overly-exuberant diners might find themselves knocking their head on it from time to time, but there is no doubt it as beautiful as the dark wood chairs. Most of the patrons were very casually dressed. I think the South Loop is inhabited by lots of younger folks and the college crowd, so there were plenty of people in jeans and t-shirts. You can dress up if you want to without any issues of looking out of place. I will say that I found the prices to be comparable and even on the lower end of my usual sushi places. Not sure if other reviewers don't inhale plate after plate and imbibe drink after drink like I do, but a bill for 2 just over $100 is a bargain in my book. If specials and special requests didn't drive the bill sky high. Mad props to our server and the staff! The service was really the highlight of the evening, but I'll also go back for more sushi, people watching and design tips.

    (4)

  • Andrea R.

    Tired of not being able to get a reservation at the popular BYOB sushi spot, Coast? I sure am, but you can find the same sushi (perhaps even better) on a slightly different menu at their South Loop location...South Coast! 1 star for the hostess giving us Coast's employee spot after we drove around for 10 min trying to find parking. The good news is that they will be getting valet parking soon 2 stars for our enthusiastic waitress, Hiu, who led us in the right direction throughout the entire meal. Thanks Hiu! 3 stars for the creative, fresh maki. The South Scallop, Creamy, and Volcano are all highly recommended. 4 stars for BYOB (we brought along a refreshing Chardonnay purchased in Napa a few months ago), although apparently South Coast will be getting a liquor license soon. 5 stars for the banana maki dessert...South Coast's version of the banana foster. Wow- this is a dessert you need to try! 6 stars for the cool minimalist atmosphere. Oh wait, too many stars, but you get the point...South Coast is a must! Go, Go, Gooooo! But not too many of you because it was nice getting a Saturday night reservation that very afternoon!

    (5)

  • Meg M.

    The vegetarian sushi is better than the traditional sushi. For me, this is dangerous when combined with their much-too-drinkable martinis, as I suddenly want to strip naked and roll around in the Moo Roll. (Stupid name, delicious flavor.) I'm happy to argue about why I still call myself a vegetarian when I eat shellfish, but not in this review, darling. Let's discuss over South Coast dinner. I really enjoyed the flavors of the tempura maki, particularly the incredible sweetness of the shitake and the crispy shell around the sweet potato maki; the mayo inside the maki is also delicious without being heavy handed. You can tell the chefs care about their cuisine, and the servers are polite and attentive. This is exactly the kind of reasonably priced, beautifully executed food that South Loop needs. The only reason I knock off a star is the ambience: it was a little too close to a bad "dining in the dark" experience I had in LA, where bored wealthy yuppies paid a lot of money to eat things they couldn't see. A little more light, South Coast, and I might be able to read the menu without squinting when I'm searching for another martini. Wait, maybe the lighting *wasn't* the problem. Hmmmm.

    (4)

  • J J.

    This place was the bomb. Fresh, Fresh, Fresh, melt in your mouth fresh. Spicy Miso / 4 stars Toasted Scallops / 5 stars White Dragon roll / 5 stars Super White Ponzu / 3 stars-good but not worth the price, but very fresh Candied Sweet Potatoes / 4 stars Banana Maki / 5 stars Ambiance / 5 stars Plate Presentation / 5 stars Wait staff / 5 stars Done

    (5)

  • Alicia F.

    This is a great place to dine-in. I'm giving 3 stars only because on multiple attempts now to carry out, orders are messed up. Three attempts to carry out and three "issues". The first time, I attempted to order online. However, I received an error message after submitting the order prompting me to phone it in and then to find out it was received twice. They told me then that they have a lot of reports about this with their website. The second time, I only phoned in my order and then got home to find out what I received was different than what I ordered. Now, I just tried to online order again to got the same error message after I submitted. When I called to verify receipt, I was told nothing was received. Of course, they require a credit card to place online orders, which makes you a bit nervous. We are short on restaurants down here so I hope they can improve their website. Until then, I won't be ordering take out.

    (3)

  • Dan K.

    This place is great!! Incredibly tasty Sushi for a decent price! The staff is so nice. Natalie, one of the waitresses is super friendly, and always makes us feel welcome!! Great food, great people, great restaurant!!

    (5)

  • Happy Mama M.

    We had a fun, and relatively inexpensive dinner here. The wait staff knows the food pretty well and steered us the right way. We tried all kinds of new things- including Mochi for dessert! South Coast Sushi stands out as one of the better sushi places in chicago!

    (4)

  • Val G.

    I have been to the other Coast in Bucktown probably 1,000 times! Whenever I cannot get a reservation there I go to the South Loop which is just as great....Pretty much same Menu but they are not a BYOB like the Bucktown location. A lot more calm and roomy than the Bucktown location which I like! The Asparagus Beef, Spicy Crab Cakes and PO Boy are a must Order! GREAT SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE!

    (5)

  • Tasha K.

    Super yummy BUT.... small portions and kind of expensive. The food itself at South Coast is great. Order anything and it will taste fantastic but, is it just me or are their sushi rolls tiny-tiny?! My friends and I always joke that you have to eat before you come to South Coast to eat sushi otherwise you will leave STARVING. Even if you get the specialty rolls, they roll them so freaking small when I finish I wonder if I even ate them at all. Maybe it was a wet dream. Oh-so-delicious going down but right about when your stomach is going to hit that Spot... it's over and you're like, "WTF?! That's it?! That was almost the best thing that ever happened to me!" Then the real wake up call comes: your bill. (Yikes) Anyway, it IS a great place to take a date. Great ambiance, great food, good service. But, if you are taking yourself, make sure you have the wallet to back it up OR have a snack BEFORE you go!

    (3)

  • D T.

    This location, in my opinion, is FAR better than the original Coast. Coast is more deep-fried, cream cheese and tempura crap. S. Coast is much fresher. The interior is gorgeous as well. For apps I love Miso Tuna, Super White Ponzu, Shrimp Dumplings and Tuna Tartare. Do take note the Tuna Tartare is very ginger-y. If you don't like ginger, you won't like this. There are many more I want to try, but I keep going back to the original favorites. The rolls are awesome, as are the pieces, which I would never order nigiri at Coast. Stand outs are Cali King, Coast Crab-minus the tempura crumbs, Spring- but you must like mint, or get it without, Volcano, Creamy, Super Creamy and Spicy Tako. I've had a few more and they're all good. I am not a fan of the infamous White Dragon, which is their signature roll. It has way too much going on. Staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely give it a try!!

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    so I had the best meal of my life here. I got the sashimi boat? Probably not was it was called but it was amazing. We started with a few pieces and the fish was so fresh that we just had to do the whole shebang. It melted in my mouth. just delicious. I didn't try any of the fancy rolls so I cant comment there but the fish was world class amazing.

    (5)

  • Kaite T.

    My boyfriend and I have been to south coast now a few times and every time is better than the last! Our servers are always well educated on the menu options and attentive. The food is always excellent, and since we live so close this has become our top choice for a night out. Last night we were in the mood for sushi and were happy to have Paul as our waiter. Although we've never had bad service Paul was by far the best and we will be requesting him next time we come in, which will be very soon!

    (5)

  • Becky K.

    Yay! I think I have found my new favorite sushi place! I went here this past Friday night with a group of my friends. We didn't make reservations so we were not that surprised to hear that there was a long wait. We ended up sitting at the sushi bar so we wouldn't have to endure the long wait. Not many sushi places offer free appetizers but South Coast does! They bring out seaweed that is coated in tempura and fried and serve it with two sauces. One is ginger based and the other was wasabi based. Both were excellent! They have a menu that will make it hard to decide on what to choose because everything sounds good. I went ahead and ordered my standby (spicy tuna) and the spider roll. Both were extremely good. The edemame was so fresh not mention some of the biggest I have seen. Prices are very reasonable. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • nikki s.

    Although I live right around the corner, I took my time getting to this place, didn't I? No cookin' in my kitchen on friday's so I finally stopped in for take-out and was pleasantly surprised. Spent $24 (geesh!) on a couple of the maki rolls, and they were pretty fresh. Loved it that they gave ample ginger so I didn't have to skimp piling it on each roll. Will try to make an effort to dine-in and sample the rest of the menu. Much more convenient for me then toting my car down to Oysy. Hooray for neighborhood eateries!

    (4)

  • Ivy C.

    FRESH and delicious sushi is difficult to find here in the city (being a native from California), but South Coast delivers! I've never been disappointed with anything I've ordered from their menu; everything from their Signature Maki to the Banana Maki (which is a must have for dessert!). Their cocktails are also a great concoction - for the fru fru drink lovers. The staff is always very friendly and attentive. Decor is fantastic and cozy. Perfect for a casual night out with friends or a date. Giving this a 4 out of 5 b/c the bill starts to add up with you have hungry adults ordering several rolls. So grateful this place is across the street from me so I can get my fix of quality sushi whenever I am going through withdrawal =P

    (4)

  • M J.

    I loved this place, the food was great, the athmosphere was funky and the servers were just great. Sushi was fresh and tasty. The place is a lounge so it is a bit loud and wouldn't recommend it for a romantic night but overall great place.

    (4)

  • Chelle L.

    Finally ate in the restaurant. The food is amazing, I have no complaints in that department - however our server was soo weird and creepy. He did tell us that it was only his second night working there so I understand the confusion about some menu items, but he would oddly linger over our table staring at us for long periods of time. My fiance and I both ordered cocktails that were absolutely disgusting. We just chugged them down real fast and didn't say anything to the waiter because we didn't want to give him a hard time on his second shift. We'll definitely continue to order for take out, but I don't know if we'll be back in the restaurant for dinner anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Vincent S.

    Finally, I found a great sushi bar in my own neighborhood. The food and the service is excellent. I was thoroughly satisfied. Can't wait to go back and take others. The red wine sangria was out of this world.

    (5)

  • Julie K.

    I carried out from South Coast last weekend and had an absolutely awful experience. I spent $50.00 on the tiniest rolls known to man, that were drowning in masago- I mean, practically ruined. The "white dragon" was the only roll I could stomach; the "crunchy" was tasteless; the "dragon" was the worst I ever had- small and again, just covered in sauce. I threw everything away and felt sick later. I absolutely love sushi and eat it all the time from everywhere-- even from the grocery store, so I know when to expect mediocre and awesome sushi. South Coast is overpriced and gross. I'm still upset about it. :-( ... I'll stick with Sushi Wabi on Randolph and Matsuya in Wrigley-- by far the two best sushi restaurants in the city.

    (2)

  • Ramya K.

    After leaving Boston, I was in search of a place which served my two favorite maki - sweet potato tempura maki and shiitake mushroom tempura maki. Thanks to yelp and fellow yelpers, I came across a place that not only has these two on their menu but a whole lot of other vegetarian makis too! At South Coast Sushi bar! We ventured out here on a friday evening, ravenous at around 6.30PM and got seated right away. We ordered half of the list off the vegetarian maki section (almost!) and A-ge tofu as appetizers. The tofu came right away. It was piping hot and the spicy garlic sauce at the bottom added an excellent flavor to the crisp-on-outside, soft-on-the-inside tofu. Our maki dinner consister of avocado roll, sweet potato tempura, shiitake tempura, griller asparagus and the moo. Avocado maki was like the regular, the tempuras were just awesome and moo is just out of the world. Moo is just how its described- its a full loaded maki that is big and makes a mouthful. And its just super awesome! We saved just about room for desserts since the description of Banana Maki intrigued us. Its one of the most uniquely created desserts that I have come across- hot fried pastry that has a piece of banana in it, served with cold vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.. mmmmm.. make sure you save room for this wonder! The service was excellent. I think someone kept refilling our water glasses even if it was just half full. They would just pop out of nowhere, refill your glasses and vanish. There is also a full bar with wines and a good selection of sake. I would give this place 5 stars!

    (5)

  • Jeanie P.

    OMG delicious and fresh!! (and not crowded yay!) I have drove past this place a million times and never thought anything of it until I was desperate to quickly find a place to eat dinner with my family. And my family ended up just loving the restaurant! We started off with the spicy crab cakes wrapped in wonton (fried)- small portioned but flavorful. I also had the sparkling lychee drink which was prosecco and lychee- sooo delightful- I am definitely going to try to re-create this at home. The fish is SUPER fresh, and their rice to fish ratio is so unique compared to other places! They use very little rice and big chunks of fish. Our waiter was simply amazing and took time to describe dishes in great detail. heart! All the rolls were priced at around $7-13 per roll. The nama sake and super white tuna sashimi were amazing. And I also recommend. -spicy creamy roll -hamachi avo -south scallop We had a bunch of other standard rolls as well that were delicious (salmon avocado yum!) Basically, anything with salmon is just heavenly.. b/c nama sake tastes like BUTTERRRRR! I didn't LOVE the unagi sauce, but they make fresh wasabi here which is a plus. AND they give you one of those japanese peach gummies at the end with your check. How can you resist loving that?

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    We carry out from these guys all the time. It's a little on the expensive side, but the fish is good and the food is pretty consistent. Despite the fact that they tell you your order will be ready in 20 minutes, expect more like 30. The volcano roll is awesome. Their scallops are usually great quality.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle S.

    Oh my gosh this place is AWESOME!! I have been here several times and every time LITERALLY gets better!! Fresh and orginal dishes...plenty for the sushi eater, the appetizer person, and the cooked entree person as well!! It is a hit for any type of fish eating or veg person. The ambiance is sexy and dark so it's def mostly a date place for me. The service is always spot on. Prices are not cheap but you get what you pay for!! I always order the seaweed tempura frites that come with these tasty dipping sauces...the complimentary bit they give you always makes me want more!! The loose tea is served in a pot and I highly recommend it. The rolls are sooo yummy and original. We had the dragon rock which really hits the spot if you are craving something fried....it is a roll that is tempura'd....not very light or refreshing but pretty damn good. The white dragon was also super tasty (it says with cream cheese but I don't typically like cream cheese in sushi and I don't remember it being there...?) Seaweed salad was great and tuna tartar was a great starter. Also tried the crabcake bags which are like crab rangoon minus the cream cheese. Everything was awesome.

    (4)

  • A R.

    Amazing! Love it! Super fresh, super affordable, super helpful staff... We live around the corner and will be here often!

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    barely average sushi in the south loop, but one of the few options down here, so it's good for a fix when you need it. 3.5.

    (3)

  • A D.

    There are so many sushi bars in town and because it is a very competitive market, the bar is set high. You have the traditional suhi bars and those that have become more of fusion (sushi samba rio). I still prefer traditional but, now they have inserted an american flare (cream cheese) in my maki roll. I got sashimi. Hamachi tasted fresh and pieces were cut at a good size. Salmon also tatsed fresh. The Age dashi tofu tasted good. Lychee sorbet was also delish but take a pass on mango sorbet. Great service, very polite and friendly. The place was packed but the server always checked on us. Will return if Iamin the South loop.

    (4)

  • Nikki L.

    A good friend of mine just started working here and invited me to come check it out. Working at Sunda, I developed a snobbish attitude toward sushi and its quality (I'm working on toning it down, it could cause permanent damage, not good) and I was very pleased with the freshness and temperature of my sushi. I ordered the asparagus beef with unagi sauce, 1 piece of toro, 2 pieces of escolar nigiri and the creamy spicy roll (escolar, avocado, spicy mayo, tempura crunch) and there was nothing left to take home. The ambiance was very sexy and contemporary. The service by Mike was friendly and attentive and the food left me wanting more. I would definitely come back here with the hubs, I'm sure he would enjoy as much as I did!

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    It's good but it's expensive. We ordered delivery from there and it arrived within stated time. My husband and I got the Chicken Teriyaki entrees and a couple of rolls. The entrees were so small for what you paid for them. But admittedly they were tasty. Maybe you're paying for the ambiance? Who knows. Would I go there again? Possibly.....

    (4)

  • Amanda I.

    Pretty pleased with a place nearby that isn't comparable to Jewel take out sushi. I really enjoyed the Dragon Rock and the White Dragon however I wont go all into a sushi review because I am too picky to fairly judge but I have to suggest that you try the SEAWEED TEMPURA. I will order it as take out by itself just to snack. THAT GOOD.

    (4)

  • David R.

    Eaten here twice: once on my own dollar and once on an expense bill. I would have given it a 5 if i didn't have to pay for it both times. The sushi construction here is very well done. A great balance of flavor between all the ingredients (although i eschew anything with cream cheese, to me those rolls are like the bastard child of Japanese and American sushi fusion). That being said i had the South Scallop, Spicy Tako, Rainbow, and a friends spicy tuna. the South scallop was delicious and a great change of pace from normal scallop rolls. I love black tobiko and it fit perfectly with the slightly warm scallops. The octopus on the tako was exceptionally fresh and was topped off by just a slight kick from the spicy mayo at the end of the bite. To me the rainbow and spicy tuna were nothing to rave about, but still fresh and well made. I recommend this place to anyone who might be stuck in the south loop and can appreciate high quality sushi (and doesn't mind paying for it).

    (4)

  • Raph V.

    too dark and too expensive you might as well go to whole foods and buy their sushi.

    (1)

  • L T.

    Their sea bass is to die for! So buttery and yummy! I also really love that it comes with corn tempura.. Don't think any other places have that. Very unique and good. I also had a plate of sashimi and although it was mostly good, some pieces were fishy. Ick. I would def go back. My friend said her sushi rolls were delightful and that their drinks were deliish! A little pricey but worth it!

    (4)

  • Whitney R.

    Super white tuna is the best! Hot miso is fabulous!

    (3)

  • Sam A.

    Really loved this place. Went on a double date here. I called the day of and got a reservation they were so helpful and kind on the phone. when we got there the great service continued. The food and the atmosphere was great, the saki was very good. Next time i'll take pictures to share.

    (5)

  • Eric G.

    Wow. This place blew my mind. Came here on a Friday night with a coworker. We didn't have reservations, but they sat us at the sushi bar, which I tend to like anyway. The interior space was amazing. In NYC, a place like this would be packed with tables to maximize profit. Here, the tables are nicely spaced apart and create just the right ambiance. The decor is just right, interesting, subdued, and modern. I have a thing for unfinished / industrial spaces. We ordered some good sake, and the one complaint I had was that when I said the name of the sake, the server kind of repeated it, wrong, and joked "... or however it's pronounced", and told me it was enough for two people. It was a standard 180ml bottle (not enough for two people), and his comment on the name just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. At a place like this with prices like this, you should be professional 100% of the time and know your product. However, for the rest of the night, he was great. Attentive, refilling our sake and water glasses, and on point. We ordered a bunch of sushi and some rolls. I would go out on a limb and say this fish was the freshest, highest quality I have ever had. It literally melted in my mouth. As another reviewer mentioned they don't overuse the rice. It's just a little ball for sweetness underneath the fish. Great technique. The sushi chefs were great, leaning over the counter to see what we'd eaten and how we liked it. I asked the one in front of us how the uni was and with a big grin gave a thumbs up, so I had to try it. Delicious. I can go on and on, but you get the point. Highlights were the shrimp dumplings and all the sushi. Rolls were good but I wasn't floored by them. Sake list could offer more options. If I lived in Chicago, I would be a regular at this place.

    (5)

  • Kimberly L.

    Oh HELLO! Monday night 1/2 price bottles of sake and champagne! A new reason to update my review to tell everyone how much I love South Coast. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable and the food is always fresh and delicious! And it's on the South Side! Two cheers for South Coast!

    (5)

  • Sara F.

    Looooove love love this place! Whenever I have friends in from out of town, who have a hankering for sushi, this is where we wind up. I love finding places that are a little bit off the beaten path, and the south Michigan Avenue location has an abundance of parking (trick: if you go after 6 pm, parking across the street is FREE! Yes, in Chicago!) For starters, I love the decor, and if I could redo my apartment, I think I'd borrow from their interior. Low lighting, great wall prints...just a very cool looking place to relax. Also, their lychee martini is pretty fantastic, which may or may not add to the enjoyment. Coast, and South Coast, have fantastic, fresh sushi. I always lean towards more of a tuna-based roll, so their selection is fantastic. My old favorites are the Volcano roll (spicy, spicy tuna with some roe and tempura crumbs on top) and the Crunchy (tuna, cucumber, tempura). The South Scallop is probably the best scallop I have ever consumed (literally melts in your mouth), but for $13 for 4, it's not an every day thing for me. Also, recently ordered the White Dragon, which is pretty fantastic. The sashimi/nigiri is fantastic - I have a weakness for the super white tuna (though, if you wikipedia it, you'll learn not to have too much of it...eek!) and other forms of tuna selections. And, of course, any meal that ends with mochi (at least 6 flavors to pick from) can't be that bad.

    (5)

  • Vaidehi T.

    This place is right across where we live, and we have been there quite a few times. My husband is a vegetarian, and they do have very good vegetable maki rolls. The staff is very helpful and friendly. They served us nori tempura as a complimentary appetizer everytime we have been there. It is delicious. Their age-dashi tofu is great too. We have pretty much tried all of their veg selection and the rolls are super-fresh and very flavorful. Love this south coast gem.

    (4)

  • Alex C.

    This is now my go to sushi place after trying pretty much every sushi place in Chicago. You can't go wrong here. The white dragon roll is especially awesome.

    (5)

  • Anne W.

    I love the sushi at South Coast. The fresh wasabi is an amazing touch. Try the Hamachi Carpaccio appetizer. It is an amazingly nuanced and delicious dish.

    (5)

  • Sophie F.

    The Moo roll is vegan / vegetarian (but I specified no dairy just in case!) and is absolutely delicious!!! Normally, vegans only get one or two veggies in their sushi rolls (who wants a cucumber roll??) but this roll has tons of stuff and is absolutely flavorful. My non vegan friends have tried and loved it too! This is officially my favorite sushi place.

    (5)

  • Mike K.

    Sushi here at South Coast is good but not ZOMG AMAZING. You're probably not going to be blown away by anything on the menu but you're not going to be sending anything back, either. I was impressed w/ how much fish is actually served per roll. This place really does try to deliver to the price and that's always refreshing. When we sat down, we were treated to some fried seaweed served on the house, which was a nice touch. The greeters down to the servers are well attentive and friendly. The space is cavernous and is decorated eccentric enough to be interesting w/o being annoying. Overall, it's a decent neighborhood sushi bar worthy of repeat visits for good conversation and a well prepared meal. ps: They're no longer BYO so leave your bottles at home. If you do make the mistake of bringing your own drinks, they will gladly keep the drinks chilled for you until the end of the meal which like I mentioned earlier, is a nice touch. Try the spicy miso soup.

    (4)

  • Violet K.

    This is my default date night spot. Wait staff is great, drinks are delicious and sushi is fresh. Not only that, but they have free parking across the street! While it's not BYOB like it's sister restaurant, it definitely makes up with great cocktails, like my favorite... the lychee martini. YUM!

    (5)

  • Russ S.

    Pros- Better than average sushi. Something for everyone. Right next door to my condo Cons- for pickier eaters, too many choices with Mayo. :-P

    (4)

  • Jim W.

    Came in for an early dinner Fri evening. Is it the economy? Place was almost completely empty. Decor was nice, but nothing particularly fancy. First thing I noticed was the sake menu - definitely needs some upgrading and expansion. Nine dollars for hot ozeki sake?? I attribute that to general Chicago inflation for all things Eastern. Menu seemed a good size and healthy mix of rolls and entrees and noodles. What caught my eye were the prices of the noodle dishes. The Yakisoba we ordered was $14, definitely on the pricey side. Maki and nigiri were generally in line with other Chicago sushi establishments. What we ordered: Yakisoba w/chicken: I thought it was a little on the salty side, but my buddy thought it was fine. California King roll: I think the extra ingredient was tempura and maybe some extra green vegetable, but other than being larger, did not taste significantly different from ordinary California roll. South Scallop roll: Only 4 pieces, granted each came with a large raw scallop. Had some special mayonnaise and seemed partially baked. A pleasant, novel taste. Sushi Entree: I disagree with Amy N, I thought the size of the nigiri cuts were generous, much larger than most I have had in Chicago. Fish was fresh, came with a 6 pc California roll. Overall I thought it was a good meal. Were South Coast in the vicinity of any of the downtown places (Ginza, Niu, Kamehachi or Oysy), it would easily be my top choice. However, having not ordered any drinks on this given night nor ordered anything exotic, an $80+ tab for two seemed excessive. Service was good, and we were treated to some seaweed tempura with 2 dipping sauces on the house, but the search for sushi in Chicago continues...

    (3)

  • kaveh a.

    I hate to write reviews for sushi spots in Chicago because "it is what it is" has to apply every single time....those of you that know sushi and have been to amazing sushi spots in LA, NYC and SF come with me , all those that order Dragon rolls, ask for help eating with chop sticks and use too much soy sauce can stand in the corner. This place is a typical Chicago Chinese owned, Mexican run and Thai server sushi spot that has that CB2 decor for creating an upscale look and takes reservation but the clientele is still your Cubs jersey , backward baseball hat, flip flop crowd. It has your goofy philly and cali rolls which are pretty much aimed at people that go to sushi once every 6 months. I ordered the sushi platter to taste the quality of each and every fish and I can tell you most of them were par quality or below....no excuse for getting weak tuna, salmon was outstanding i give them that....hamachi was ok at best.....albacore was weak...shrimp was weak...eel was decent as they are prepared with very little attention anyways ..spicy Miso soup fun idea but not necessary, specially with Chilli peppers floating on top.....again its chicago, at least i didnt see any 46 inch LCD's showing the ball game which is a must around here

    (2)

  • Sean D.

    Great restaurant, I've been a big fan since it opened. But I was very sad to learn they are no longer BYOB. Worse, they are charging a $20 corkage fee!

    (4)

  • Melissa G.

    I am never disappointed when I go here for dinner here. The service is always outstanding and attentive The wait staff is extremely polite and attentive. They have made outstanding recommendations more than once. The drinks from the bar come fast and generously mixed. There martini selection is very satisfying and often they have $5 martini specials. The atmosphere is perfect for a dinner for 2-4. The interior has a modern touch while maintaining an intimate feel to your table. I've been told that at it's opening this was a BYOB venue and was much busier/more crowded. Well, I don't miss those days. Each time I have visited, the restaurant is about half full and has the perfect level of background noise between the diners and the music. Last, but not least, the food is fresh and creative. Each time I have gone, there is a complimentary dish of sorts offered after you place your order. It is just a small bite of something unique that is always a nice 'free' touch to start your meal. Additionally, there are always a few appetizer specials offered. The last time I went it was a seared scallop of sorts that was delicious. I have always finished my meals there by sharing the banana maki roll. It is a banana foster maki of sorts that is a perfect warm-caramely-vanilla icecream finish to a great meal.

    (5)

  • Vivian Y.

    I'm definitely a fan of this place - the decor is awesome! I love the dark woods complimented by the bright white frosty decor....Great place for a date - and BYOB! Other than that though, the prices aren't cheap. I have dined here before thinking with BYOB, it would be steal, but it's still expensive. I have also ordered take out here before and basically for the same food at Butterfly, the difference is about $20. Though the quality is somewhat higher here than at Butterfly, I would go and get the cheaper meal instead.

    (4)

  • Casey J.

    We had a delicious meal and fun night out! We loved the ambiance and vibe. The decor was unique and beautiful. We enjoyed all of our sushi rolls especially the Dragon and crunchy- both added the perfect amount of spicy ness. The server was new so it was a long process to order but other than that great food!

    (4)

  • Candace M.

    Thoroughly enjoyed the Dragon Rock sushi, very fresh. Nice menu, fast service, convenient location and delicious cocktails.

    (4)

  • amy K.

    This is a place for ppl to hang out, drink and eat mediocre sushi b/c they think it's trendy. I am not one of those I have ate sushi in Tokyo at Sawda in Ginza at 500.00 a person with only seating for 7 in one night. I have no problem paying for good food. Of course I can't compare South Coast to Tokyo but as one of the best sushi in Chicago I was expecting more. The sushi rice was cold(like it was from the fridge) and the fish was not fresh. The worst part was none of the sushi chef was Japanese. They were actually speaking Vietnamese loudly to each other that I could hear them from across the room. If you know anything about sushi you don't eat it from Vietnamese. Just b/c they are Asian it doesn't mean they know sushi. Sushi is very delicate and it requires a lot of knowledge to make good and safe sushi to eat but if you just want some place to eat a slab of cream cheese on rice and thinks it's trendy to do so this is the place for you. I am sick of ppl grading sushi place to be not innovative. There shouldn't be anything innovative about sushi.

    (1)

  • Brit T.

    Romantic ambience, great for a date. The sushi rolls we ordered were all presented well and very delicious. May be a tad over priced, but overall I really enjoyed it and would go back.

    (4)

  • Diana S.

    This is more than just a place for good sushi - the decor is beautiful and the service is wonderful. A nice selection of wine, martinis, and beer. I highly recommend the raw oyster appetizers -- if they have them! They are fresh and served on crushed ice. Absolutely the best in Chicago. Sushi is fresh and creative. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Shelley A. D.

    Our absolute favorite sushi place in Chicago. A gem on the Southside. A great date night or women's night out spot!

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    Great sushi. Service was very good.

    (4)

  • Julia F.

    This place is always SPOT ON. The fish is exceptionally fresh and always flavorful. I have to admit, their menu is a bit over mayonaissed, and too creative. Why spoil a perfectly good hamachi roll with asparagus? And why is everything spicy? In my recommendation, just order what you like, regardless of what is on the menu. The will make it for you and it will taste heavenly. The prices aren't the most competitive, but considering it's in South Loop and there isn't anything better, this is a good place to hit up to satisfy your sushi fix!

    (4)

  • Peggy S.

    Yum yum yum. The only complaint is that its a little on the pricey side. Make sure you try the Mochi!

    (3)

  • Principal J.

    I've walked by this place for months before trying South Coast Sushi last night. The ambiance and decor of this place is a lot nicer than you would think from the outside. If one was going on a date this could be a good option. Our food was 5 stars. Everything from the presentation to the quality of the food was above expectations. Our service was 3 stars. Our waiter could not have been more uninterested to be at work last night. Net experience 4 starts. Will definitely visit again.

    (4)

  • Kathy S.

    Sushi is solid here but nothing really stood out to me. I remember the white dragon really wasn't that great but the maki with the scallops sandwiched in between was quite tasty. I also felt like the waitress was really pushy on trying to get us to order more food.

    (3)

  • Robyn T.

    I was very happy to discover on Saturday night that South Coast takes reservations! We called about 3 hours before to get a 7 PM reservation for 4...very god to know! They now serve alcohol as well so no more BYOB.

    (5)

  • Sam Y.

    Birthday dinner here. Good atmosphere. Friendly staff. Above average sushi. Overall a very positive experience. Wish we could go back more often. Somewhat of a hidden gem in the South Loop.

    (4)

  • Carl H.

    The maki rolls were fair to midland. We tried a few of their specialities, as well as some usual fan favorites. Nothing was done to make these rolls made them stand out. The sweet potato tempura was by far the best, but again it was just above average. Coast sushi is very reasonably priced and we were seated quite quickly (though it was a Monday evening.) Parking was not an issue, but I could see it posing a problem on the weekends. Again though, nothing about the rolls would make me remember to recommend this place to a friend.

    (3)

  • Neecy T.

    Meh. That what I thought after my dining experience with a hefty dent in my wallet. Believe me I do not mind shelling out some cash for a great meal but this meal was lacking in a few of most important departments: the food and the value. First of all, the stars are for the decor/vibe and the service. It's very zen, low lighting, organic looking fixtures, and larger than it looks. The service was friendly and casual, not too over-bearing, extremely accommodating. Now the not so fine aspects. We started with some appetizers: the hamachi carpaccio and the angry salmon. Neither were terribly offensive but neither delighted me. The carpaccio wasn't sliced very thin and the vinegar/jalapeño/lime bite, while I enjoyed, reminded me of a ceviche more than a carpaccio...and really masked the fish, and it was $13, which made me feel robbed. We got two rolls, one was downright horrible and the other was passable, but uninspired. Now the entree is what was inedible. I got the yakisoba, since their fish was not impressing me. It was awful, the flavor profile was greasy and off. My boyfriend said he could taste cinnamon or nutmeg, neither which belong and left a horrible taste in my mouth. It seemed very dark for a yakisoba and whatever liberal amount of a seasoning-that-didn't-belong was seeped into ever bite which infused every ingredient with it's pervasiveness. I ate a few bites and gave up. I kept hoping that my palate would adjust and I could find some redeeming quality to continue choking it down, I failed. I boxed it up and feigned fullness. My man got the salmon teriyaki, which was obviously farm raised and tasted boring. The drinks were strong...so that was good. Overall, i live so close and so wanted to love south coast. Instead I felt burned and dissatisfied. I wouldn't recommend tarrying there again. Bleh...

    (2)

  • Pierrette J.

    Just ok sushi. The fried shrimp was good but not enough to go back. Time to look for better sushi on the south side.

    (3)

  • Escape C.

    This place is good. Compared to most sushi places in Chicago I found the fish to be pretty fresh with good size pieces. All other ingredients also seemed to be fresh, crisp, with ample flavor. I definitely think the prices are a bit high, and I don't think that South Coast's quality warrants these prices, but all in all it is a nice meal. I have gone multiple times and will continue to do so.

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    Rolls here are always fresh. Try the special roll which has Tempura pumpkin in it... to die for (although if you have the same roll for the last three months, it should be put on the menu and not called the "special") Great atmosphere, very dark. Good place for a date night. Only drawback is the price. Very pricey!! I would take away a half star for that.

    (5)

  • Ron C.

    I've never actually been in person to South Coast, but had their take-out several times at work. The maki rolls are simple, but solidly made, with good ingredients. They're not huge like Oysy's but delicately tasty. Their spicy miso soup is also addictive (I'll drink two bowls if I have the chance). Unfortunately I feel that the nigiri is a disappointment. Maybe it's because it's take-out and it's gotten unfresh on the ride here, or maybe it's just bad. I mean it's not bad, but just not great/amazing. So- if you want simple maki- YES. If you want good nigiri, NO. As for the other stuff...I've had the scallops which are alright. Nothing to brag about though.

    (3)

  • EVANGELINE L.

    I love sushi, but I love ambiance even more. This place has everything and while it is pricey, everything I had sent my tastebuds into a frenzy! The appetizers were as enjoyable as the sushi itself. My favorite was the grilled crab legs, topped with jalapeno (I love heat) and for the main course, Spicy Tuna roll. I definitely recommend it as a date spot or for a lively girls night out because they also had a full bar. Great food, equally great service plus the perfect atmosphere makes for a perfect evening!

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    I started off going to Coast sushi in Bucktown after several friends recommended the restaurant when I lived up north in Lincoln Park (amazing, loved it!). After moving to the S Loop, I discovered that Coast was opening a sister location in the S Loop - I've dined at this location about 6 times and have had fantastic experiences each and every time! The restaurant is BYOB for now (which is awesome!) and the decor is super chic and perfect for a romantic dinner OR a large party! The staff is always friendly and prompt. As far as the sushi goes, it is definitely one of the most delicious in the city (and trust me, I eat sushi approx. 1-2 times a week, its delish!) - I'd definitely recomment the salmon avacado roll (the salmon literally melts in your mouth!) and the Mexican roll - two of my favorites!!!!

    (5)

  • Nan S.

    this is a great date place, it's got kind of a sexy chic vibe when you first walk in, and then the food and service are great. when i was there, i did find out that they have specials on different nights, like $7 cocktails on wed, which was great since i took advantage of that. the yuzu mojito was delicious, yet had the kick i wanted...hey it was a tough day. there are other specials listed, i believe there was a $35 4-course meal available on one night...i think tuesdays? also apparently you can park in certain spots in the parking lot across the street for two hours. a bit unfortunate that this info wasn't on the website, but now i know! i was pleasantly surprised that they gave us a complimentary amuse-bouche (woo look at me using fancy culinary words!-normally i would've just said appetizer but amuse-bouche showed up on the receipt so of course that's what i have to say) of whitefish on a salad in a sweet-savory dressing. i wish it was on the menu because i wanted more. i know they give it to everyone, but it just makes you feel special. the next best dish was the tuna on top special roll of the day, super white tuna, spicy tuna, jalapeno and wasabi mayo. yea. everything else was tasty but nothing too spectacular. a tad bit on the expensive side in comparison to other sushi places of similar quality, but for special occasions, i would definitely go here for the overall experience.

    (4)

  • M. D.

    I LOVE South Coast so much. It's one of the best in the city to me. Its definitely up there with Sushi Mari and Sea Dog. Defiantly the best Sushi in the South Loop. I like how they serve you a complimentary amuse to start. The decor is amazing and half price cocktails on Wednesday are also AMAZING! Have a few of the Sparkling Lychee Cocktails and you will be very happy!

    (5)

  • Survey M.

    Service is very friendly and courteous. Decor is nice. But, the location is not convenient to anyone else other than those who live nearby. It is not obvious from the outside that this is a sushi bar. Food wise is ok. I ordered a sashimi and an entree. Sashimi is nicely cut, looks beautiful. It's fresh. Freshness and cut is everything when it comes to sashimi. So, that dish alone is ok. But, the portion is rather small for the price charged. 3 thin slices for $8. For the entree, it uses a few combination of techniques. Sea bass is nicely cooked. But flavor is very simple. Again, the portion is rather small. I still feel hungry after the meal. Perhaps one more hand roll will be more satisfying. That would put the price tag at about $40 without drinks/tips/tax. Food alone is 3 star. With the price, it's 2. IMHO, not worth going unless you are in the neighborhood and need some finer food.

    (2)

  • L W.

    Finding good sushi in the south side can be tough, but look no further! South Coast is by far one of the best sushi restaurants I've been too; I no longer have to travel to Wicker Park from the south side for good grub. The inside environment is very modern. It looks like something you would see inside of a high-end catalogue. The staff is friendly and quick. Although I like the decor and the overall atmostphere, my husband and I usually call in our order for carry out, which is often ready to be picked up in about 20 minutes. It is very convenient, and the fish is delicious and fresh.

    (5)

  • Robert F.

    A nice little almost-south-loopish joint to grab some sushi. The interior is comfortable, modern, and classy without making you feel like you're in a nightclub with tables. The staff were all very friendly, and must receive extra commendation in this review. We had a large party, but were splitting the bill different ways. Normally this warrants an eye-roll or a flat out "no", but the folks at South Coast were happy as can be to accomodate our situation. Its BYOB here, so that can be a plus or minus depending on your personality. For me its a plus as I can drink what I like without the stupid markup, and the corkage fee was reasonable. I'm told there's places to get alcohol close by but at the hour we went everything was closed. But what about the sushi? I have mixed feelings. I took the waiter's suggestion on the volcano roll but found it bland instead of the spice that I was expecting. The Philly roll more than makes up for it, as the cream cheese is an excellent balance to the wasabi. 4 well earned stars.

    (4)

  • Bonnie B.

    How did you fall so far so fast, South Coast? Well, it's because you made my husband wait about 45 minutes to get sushi he called in, which was ready, while you continued to take other orders and ignore him, causing his fried shrimp to get soggy. In addition, when we got home we realized you had given us smoked salmon nigiri instead of fresh salmon nigiri. Who even wants that? Why don't I just eat some lox? because I don't want lox, that's why. I want fresh salmon. Other than that, food was good, but get it together and don't ruin a good thing!

    (3)

  • Quinn B.

    absolutely LOVE this place. great food. great drinks. great staff. before moving, i literally would go to this place at least once a week and got all of my friends addicted. gyzo. volcano dynamite. snow white. lychee martini. sparkling lychee. rock shrimp. banana maki. ALL GREAT CHOICES! so i'm sure the rest of the menu is amazing, as well.

    (4)

  • Monica Z.

    I have been going to South Coast Sushi since it opened. At first I loved it and would have given it 5 starts but the last time I went there it wasn't BYOB anymore so it will get 4 stars. Not that its such a horrible thing but I like sushi places where you can bring your own bottle of wine or really good beer. My favorite dish is the Jalapeno carpaccio. SOOO YUMMY... this is soooo delicious. It has cilantro, jalapeno and lime juice. Those combinations mix so well. Unfortunately 4 little pieces are about $12 - 15 bucks. They have Jalapeno Miso soup, which was also very delicious. It had a nice kick to it but yet it was soothing like any normal Miso soup. The location is good b/c I live in University Village and South Loop is right next door. The decor is elegant and the service is great. I will definitely be back again. Probably next week. Its a good place to go for special events or a night out with your girlfriends. Just a little pricey and its not BYOB anymore.

    (4)

  • Isaac S.

    Their yellowtail nigiri was good. Their Albacore nigiri the first time I was there rivaled the best I've had anywhere including California. The second time it was still very good but not quite as great. Their spicy miso soup is very good. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. Their rolls so far haven't been that great. I avoided this place for a while thinking it would be really expensive but it isn't any more expensive than the average sushi restaurant in the city.

    (4)

  • Rex Justin L.

    PROS: -Street parking is free past 9 pm -The fried seaweed as a complimentary appetizer is good. -Good service CONS: -Near impossible to find street parking. -The rolls weren't that good. It was bland and lacked a certain saltiness. I think there were too much rice and too little of the seafood. -The fish didn't seem that fresh; or I just couldn't taste it because there were too little in my rolls. -Servings were small and for what one would spend, you'd get really good sushi elsewhere for the same price. I live 3 blocks up and parking was impossible on a Saturday night, ended up parking at my building and walking all the way. I only came to try it. Next time I'm craving for Sushi, I'll try something else.

    (2)

  • Kyung P.

    So I've been eating sushi since I was at least 10, very different from a typical mid-westerner. I don't eat sushi because it's trendy to do so, and I absolutely HATE trendy sushi places. Let's do minimalist decor and uncomfortable chairs and charge mid-westerners overpriced sushi because it's trendy!!! yay!!! We had the most surly server ever! It could be because they add a 20% gratuity for parties over 5??? It was NOT a good experience. (On the other hand, we did a wine tasting at the southloop binny's before coming here, and we were sloshed. Either way, there's absolutely no need to be surly!!!) You will not catch me in here again. EVER.

    (2)

  • Jennifer L.

    Convienient place. BYOB. Yummy Out of time and getting hungry? That's where we when we accepted that Toro Sushi (up in Lincoln Park) just wasn't going to happen. Ended up at South Coast Sushi (south loop). It's a little more expensive than I expected (about $45 per person), but the quality was good. Satisfied by the selection and the service. Layout was open, stylish and comfortable, recognized some of the decorations from Target (dorm shopping woo! haha), it came tougether. We made a reservation we really didn't need (8:00, pushed it back to 8:30, ended up showing closer to 9:00 all good) Food: :-) Spicy Miso soup was a pleasent twist :-D Poke Salmon, White Dragon, and Spider roll were excellent! :-/ Salmon Skin roll was super crunchy dry and not what I expected :-) Salmon sashimi (sake) was fresh and good :-/ Fatty tuna (toro) was alright but for the price I expected better. I dunno maybe living on the westcoast has spoiled me. Dessert: Choco stick (fruit kebab with chocolate) good fruit but not enough of it! Chocolate was syrupy Mochi ice cream pretty standard (chocolate, mango, strawberry, greentea maybe more flavors but I forgot) :-) ordering Take out: I've ordered take out from here once, it took less than 20min to be ready for pick up and was decent. Not squished in packaging or skimped in portion.

    (4)

  • L T D.

    I was referred by my friend Dena. She says that the sushi is good but the ambiance was awesome. I decided to try it out for valentines dinner and found that she was dead on. It was great. To be safe I made a reservation for 8pm, but had to change it to 9pm due to my car trouble. They were very nice and the wait staff was excellent. Nice lounge music. Loud enough to hear, but not too loud for conversation. I loved the philadelphia roll and the dragon rock roll. Did not care for the volcano roll. I will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Teresa H.

    I finally made my way here after living in the South Loop for 2 years. I can't believe I waited this long! We went on Monday when they have half price bottles of wine. We tried several rolls and they were all great: White Dragon (my favorite), California King, Fresh Philly, Popper and Spicy Tuna. The guys also tried one of the specials called Octoman. It was pretty empty in there, but that could have been because it was the 4th of July. I will definately come back!

    (4)

  • Niti B.

    have been going here for years. the sushi is great and the service is wonderful. always expect quick service and great enviornment. the spicy ebi is my favorite roll and the vegitarean rolls are actually the best anywhere if you are looking for vegitarean alternatives.

    (4)

  • K B.

    Though located in a quiet corner of the city, this place competes with the best of sushi restaurants. The food was incredibly appetizing (the kani ceviche was absolutely delicious.. but watch out for those chili slices for those who don't like super spicy ;-) ), and well plated. I've been there only a couple times so far, but what I've tried so far, I've really liked. The decor was well done with dark colors and nice accent pieces, lending to a zen-like mellow ambiance. The service however was just ok. I've had both excellent waiters and little wait time, and rather slow service with waiters who didn't seem to keep an eye out for their customers. But overall, not a bad experience in terms of service. The desert was excellent! Of course, I've only tried one item, the chocolate dome.. which is not on their regular menu, but oh so good! If they offer it again, and if you are a chocolate lover, definitely try it!! I would absolutely recommend this restaurant for those who enjoy good sushi restaurants. :-)

    (4)

  • Briana J.

    Right...so I thought all Maki rolls were the same, meaning every White dragon roll is the same. Nope. I love the white dragon roll at Matasuyama so I ordered it here. It was better at South Coast. I loved it. It was amazing. Do not get it if you hate wasabi...but I loved it. There service here was pretty good. There was some confusion regarding what glasses we needed (it is byob). Additionally, were were seated right by the door and it was freezing. We asked to move but they would not allow it. That part was not cool but my roll was great. I must say that the edamame was not cooked for long enough or seasoned properly. The waitress was more than happy to help us flag down cabs which was awesome considering it was snowing out. I will be back.

    (4)

  • Gretchen V.

    Tried South Coast for the first time on a Tuesday night at 7. We were seated right away at a comfy table not far from the sushi bar. We ordered the following: Spicy miso soup Beef niku soup White tuna jalapeño roll Salmon cucumber roll Sweet potato tempura roll 2 pieces of salmon nigiri The fish was all very fresh, especially the salmon. The nigiri melted in our mouths. My only critique is that I didn't love the texture of the albacore tuna-I prefer actual chunks of fish in rolls rather than flakes/mushiness. But the salmon roll had chunks, so that made me happy. The rolls are reasonably priced and there is a large variety. I like how they offer rolls with jalapeño-- I want the spice without a big plop of spicy mayonnaise on my fish! Our server was friendly and prompt. Overall, fresh sushi in a relaxing atmosphere. I'm happy to have found a new sushi spot near home!

    (4)

  • Anuradha K.

    Freshly made wasabi - does it get any better than that? The sushi was packed with flavor - my favorite were the spicy "popper" rolls. We also got to try the tempura seaweed with what I think was a mustard sauce - it was crispy and light. If only they had a location in Lincoln Park!

    (4)

  • Julia G.

    We went on a Friday night, and it was busy, but we were able to get a table for 2 without waiting. Our waiter was quirky and friendly. Our food was a bit slow, but the restaurant brought something to munch on for free while we waited. The sushi we had was excellent, the service was great, and we had a well-priced bottle of wine. Overall, it was a great experience.

    (5)

  • Daisyville C.

    I'm glad to have South Coast in the neighborhood. Although they are probably pricier, the sushi is one of the freshest I've had (but can't say that about the raw sweet shrimp which my hubby said was not as fresh). But this place is better and fresher than Oysy on Michigan Ave. The decor is darker than I would like but it is pretty hip and a little club like. Their lychee martini is strong but a bit on the sweet side. I got the niku udon soup which I like the presentation of it served on a very wide rimmed bowl/platter but the portion is like a cup and it tastes a bit like sukiyaki. It was good. I also got the sea bass with brown butter soy reduction and fried corn tempura/fritter accompaniment. I really liked that dish. We also got the spider roll which was good but the portion is smaller than other places for the price. My husband got the 12 piece sashimi but he said he actually got more than 12 pieces which was great. He said it was fresh! Our waiter was ok but seemed to be a little hard of hearing and we had to repeat ourselves a few times. For dessert we got the 3 scoop ice cream combo of Green tea, Ginger, and red bean. I liked the green tea ice cream the best out of the three. Overall it was really good but the bill for 2 with booze is a bit steep at $150 including tip. It won't stop us from going there again tho' :)

    (4)

  • B B.

    Great rolls, nigiri was very fresh and the server was attentive, polite, and gave great suggestions. The bananas foster dessert was one of a kind. I will be back again and again

    (5)

  • Frank R.

    excellent sushi, fine service

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :4:30 pm - 11:00pm

Specialities

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

South Coast Sushi

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