Lucy M.

I was very disappointed with the fish quality they have. After seeing the yelp review, I decided to give it a try. However, the sushi they had was so much below my expectation. Sushi rice tastes weird. You cannot taste any of the vinegar made sushi rice. instead it's just "rice". The fish meat on the rice was so thin sliced. They want you to get full by having so much normal rice. You can tell that the fish is not so juicy nor fresh. It is just Fish !! I would say, it worth no more than $15.99 that's exactly the price for lunch.

Jeff M.

So not worth it for all you can eat. The sushi was barely edible, but the real problem was the waitstaff who couldn't be bothered to wait on us at all (busy sitting in the back eating their own meals!!) and behaved as though we had interrupted them whenever we asked for anything. Also half our orders never showed up.

Yan W.

All you can eat ! Haven't been to this sushi para location in a while and they have relocated to next door on ground level . The sushi quality is the same but I feel like they wrap the sushi with less rice now which is good. I have noticed their sushi ratio was awful before...(it's an all you can eat , they wanna make you full faster right ? lol) . They also got some new appetizer like the fried scallop. Always like the ikayaki on the menu (grilled squid).

Erika A.

This is one of the worst dining experience I've ever had at Sushi Para. I wish zero stars was an option because that is what they deserve. The sushi is nothing special to come back for. I can make this at home. If youre not from the city dont waste the trip coming out here. The service is probably the worst I've ever dealt with they're rude always whispering to one another look at specific tables. They made my party of four feel very unwelcome. I dont know if they thought by delaying our order would drive us out, but it definitely drove me to make sure I put my review on this restaurant out there. FYI not kid friendly at all. Over I'm never ever coming back and I would go to any other sushi restaurant before I come back here. I hope the owner or a Manager sees this soon so future customers dont have the experience I had today.

Gemma B.

Here on a Friday night for all you can eat sushi. The wait was kind of extreme, hence the 4 star rating. We got here around 8:15 and got sat at 9:44. The good news is they took our order before we got our table so that when we sat, there was good waiting for is which was amazing. The service was fast if slightly hustled. Overall I would definitely come here again.

Daniel Y.

I came here with a group of friends this past weekend on Sunday. We all got the AYCE sushi. It wasn't too crowded we got seated immediately. The AYCE price is pretty good considering its in Chicago, 18.99. We split the orders into two tables to make it easier while ordering. We had the shumai, edamame, chicken skewers and miso soup. They were not that bad. It wasn't the best but enjoyable. Then we ordered white tuna (which melted in your mouth), salmon, unagi (eel) masago (fish eggs that are orange) and a couple rolls to get started. The nigiri was a nice portion, didn't have too much rice or the sashimi wasn't too thin. The rolls were great as well, enjoyed the Chicago roll, volcano roll, pop up roll, and the spicy salmon roll. Overall we had a great experience. The food came out on time, the service was good enough that I never really had to ask for another refill of water. Will definitely come back again.

Kristen D.

Great for groups and they're accommodating enough, but I would not agree that the sushi is worth $20 per person. I'd much rather go someplace with better sushi and likely pay less than $50 for two people to eat. TONS of rice in the rolls and it seemed like a lot of the ingredients were warm...even the fish. Crossed off the bucket list and likely will not be back. I will say: the best roll was the World Series roll, with salmon and unagi on the outside and tobiko in the middle. Not the best i've had, but certainly order that one if you do eat here!

Amy O.

Ugh so sad about how much the quality went down. I went over there last month with my friends after a year or so of not visiting. My god. They used to be so good but idk if it was because we went in late, the fish was obviously not fresh, and it was dry. All the rolls we ordered tasted the same. We were really excited for some late night sushi but we ended up arguing with each other about who should finish up the sushi because it was that bad. Only good thing we had was an appetizer which was grilled octopus. So sad. I used to love them.

Margaret Z.

Dining at Sushi Para II involves a little bit of managing expectations... it's under $20 per person for AYCE sushi and a variety of appetizers, so you probably shouldn't expect fine dining. The menu here is very diverse but I was disappointed in the lack of selections for special rolls. I got 4 rolls total and was struggling to finish by the end, less so from the volume but more because everything started tasting the same. I didn't order any of the appetizers which include miso soup, dumplings, salads, etc. They seemed like just fillers but if you starved yourself all day in preparation, you may want something small to kickstart your metabolism. The quality of the fish is very questionable... some pieces of salmon and crab were just way too fishy for my taste. All of the tables were also very close together, which was not too good for our large group.

Pari P.

Let's face it, Chicago isn't known for sushi since being so far from the coasts. If you think you are eating fresh fish, then you haven't had fresh sushi in California or Hawaii. But one thing that Chicago does very well are sushi buffets. Sushi Para (II) is my favorite place for all you can eat sushi in Chicago. For only $18.99, you can you choose from appetizers, maki rolls, and nigiri. They have an excellent list of creative rolls with unique combinations and textures. My favorite is the Michigan roll which is basically a spicy tuna roll with tempura chips and the Mountain Roll which has tuna, cucumber, and avocado smothered in a spicy mayo. Even though it's a buffet, the quality still stands. The fish is at the right temperature and texture of the rice is almost spot on. They also don't hold back on the cuts of fish for the nigiri. Half of my order consisted of tuna, white tuna, and eel. Normally, these cuts of sushi sell for around $3 a piece so I got my money's worth just from the nigiri. Even if you don't binge or like to overeat like me, I would still recommend Sushi Para for the variety and value. As a true Chicagoan, I like getting more bang for my buck - especially when it comes to sushi.

Sara S.

$16 lunch special for all you can eat sushi was good, it also included items like soup, salad, and tempura veggies.

Enkhnasan B.

I think my first experience was better than my last. Spicy tuna was too mushy, Salmon pieces where way too skimpy and service was slow

Liz K.

The option for all-you-can-eat is tempting from Sushi Para II, but mostly because I've paid a ton to carry out just the specific rolls that I want to eat. Granted, I ordered way more than my fiance and I could manage to eat, but a little bit of me died when I realized it would have been cheaper to pay $18.99 per person to stay and dine in. On the bright side, it was ready in about 10 minutes; barely enough time for us to bundle up and walk over there. As far as the quality goes, I haven't been blown away. The first time, I ordered the Crazy Tuna roll and was actually quite concerned about the color of the tuna that was inside the roll (different than the color of the same fish on top). It tasted okay, but consistency and look of food are two important qualities to me as well. I thought the whole roll was just mushy without any distinct flavor. The second time, however, I was really impressed with the Under Control roll. It's massive because of the shrimp tempura on top and could easily constitute a meal in and of itself. The Volcano roll was good, but similar to the Crazy Tuna roll, was a little mushy because of the roe plus chili sauce on top. The plain tuna and salmon rolls were winners - pretty hard to mess those up, though. Moral of the story is that I would keep this place in mind if you want to stuff your face with the all-you-can-eat option, or keep it simple with just a plain roll or two. It's nothing special but it'll get the job done.

Linda L.

I AM COMING BACK! Great selection for all u can eat. My favorites are salmon, tuna, yellow tail, volcano and crazy tuna... OMG yum!

Tony M.

Fantastic place for all you can eat sushi and byob! The service is ok and can get packed during busy times. I just go for the great sushi assortment! As you can see on the pictures I took below, there is a good selection to pick from. All the sushi for all you can eat is fantastic and fresh! No complaints on the food! It is pretty consistent every time I go there! Fresh fish every time! The place does not accommodate many people. They sometimes open up the downstairs room when they are busy. I went downstairs when they were busy at a Saturday night and the service was not good. So be patient and make sure you allow enough time to eat there for the all you can eat sushi! The parking is metered street parking you have to hunt down for. It is about $2.00 per hour for max three hours. This is a popular place and waiting times vary. Just go a odd hours to avoid the wait.

Bri A.

I was sold when my friend uttered the words "BYOB sushi buffet" when suggesting a dinner spot. The fact that it's only $18.99, including apps, is even better. Yes, you can go elsewhere and pay a little more for better sushi, but if you want to try a bunch of rolls on a budget or just feel like stuffing your fupa with tons of sushi, this place can't be beat. The wait for a table for three was about 15 minutes on a Friday night, but that gave us time to run to Walgreen's for the wine we forgot! I like how they gave us menus to write on, which made the ordering process easy. They didn't always bring us everything we ordered which was disappointing. Sushi was pretty good and we all enjoyed our rolls. We will be back for another ladies' night!

Bill B.

definitely one of the best all you can eat places in chicago for the price. for $20 plus tip doesnt get much better than this. and it is BYOB. Staff very friendly and the food comes out quick. Obviously this place isnt going to be world class sushi, but still very good. been here about 10 times and never a bad experience. Just make sure you get to the restaurant early enough on a saturday evening otherwise you will wait a long time. Great spot to meet up with friends for food and drinks. definitely recommend this place.

Samantha E.

Pretty standard sushi but very affordable. If you are looking for something to really remember I suggest going down the road to Toro Sushi but if you need something simple to slate that need for sushi this is the spot. They also have an all you can eat option.

Keith T.

Great price $$ Sushi Para is the best to go if you want some all you can eat sushi! : ) It is very good in Chicago standard lol if you are from the west or east coast, you will know what I am talking about lol!!! The new store is nice than the old one too! The sad part is the parking is a little bit hard to find since its in Chicago.

Anita A.

I was never a Sashimi fan until I discovered this place - I love the food here and always leave full because I love Sushi & it's all you can eat! My fav Sashimi here: white tuna, eel, salmon & shrimp . Sushi: Philadelphia

Kat H.

We were here on a Saturday night for AYCE. So the positives are that it's under $20 for AYCE sushi, the quality of the fish was pretty good (no fishy taste, not still frozen), it's BYOB (though we didn't take advantage of that), and it seems like a nice place to come and spend an evening with friends and family. The downside is they use way too much rice to try to fill you up. We only ordered nigiri (especially after seeing someone else with rolls that were mostly rice) but even those were made with too much rice. I got the sense there were two chefs working, since some of the nigiri came to us looking almost normal, where some pieces had way more rice than they should have. I guess you just have to rely on luck to get sushi from the chef who uses the right amount of rice! It was also fairly busy, so it took a while for each of our orders to get to us. I'd recommend ordering a lot to start and then order your next round before you've finished the first. Service was friendly, though sometimes it took a while for the waitress to get to us (we were in the downstairs part of the restaurant, which seems to be a secondary seating area when upstairs is full). Overall, I'd probably come here again if I'm in the neighborhood, but I'd only recommend going out of your way for it if you aren't too picky about your sushi and can eat a ton of food.

Jeanne H.

Cheap, great, and delicious!

Oscar E.

Avoid avoid. Don't believe the hype. I waited an hour for the second tray of sushi and got nothing. Simply walked out from the boredom. So good for the buffet. They want you to get full sitting there waiting and giving you water :) Beware, waitresses don't explain don't look and act as if you are not there!

Emma K.

I'm pretty sure everyone has one food that they can eat absolutely TONS of . . . and mine is sushi. My BF and I have been the Sushi Para II twice for the $18.99/person all-you-can-eat sushi. The service is always quick and friendly. I'm pretty sure we were in and out in half an hour during our most recent trip. Sushi is yummy. Probably not the best sushi you'll ever have, but you can eat copious amounts of it! Almost all of the rolls and sushi seem to be options on the all-you-can eat form you fill out. You are also more than welcome to order multiple rounds. Just don't leave extras - you have to pay for anything left on your plate. This play is BYOB (Miska's is just a block north on Clark) and there is not a corking fee to my knowledge.

Rob S.

It's not bad, but it's not great. If you need your sushi fix and want portion over quality, this is your spot!

Adam M.

I love the idea of All You Can Eat Sushi, I just didn't like the actual sushi here. There is no point of calling out what rolls I ordered because they all tasted the same. They tasted like rice! I'm not sure if that is typical of all-you-can-eat sushi places or not, but the quality was very low. I'd rather just go to a place with sushi I enjoy and pay per roll.

Dana V.

Came here for a friend's birthday party on a Friday night. It's a BYOB place and we all had AYCE sushi at about $20 a person (this is plus tax). Ambiance: friendly and casual, it was quite loud when we went. The place is kind of small so it was hard to squeeze through with 15+ people, but they managed it, somehow! We had a table in the back to ourselves so it was nice that were weren't being completely obnoxious to other customers. (: Sushi: AYCE so we had a little of everything! Going to be honest, I didn't expect a lot since it is AYCE sushi and I noticed that most of the staff was Chinese (not being racist, I promise, just an observation from a fellow Chinese person) but for that price the quality was not terrible. I thought the fish seemed a little older and warm, but they were really busy that night and we had a HUGE table so can not really judge them for that. So-so sushi. Staff: They were super nice to us and accommodating , especially since we had the largest group of people. We had some Chinese speakers at the table that really helped make the communication flow better between the staff which was a plus for us. They kept trying their best to find the right rhythm to bring out the sushi so that we weren't sitting long periods without food, even though they were packed with other customers as well. Good service! Overall, I would eat here if you are looking for a LOT of sushi for a cheap price, but not for quality sushi.

Jessica M.

I don't usually write updates but I must say...Sushi Para II has redeemed itself by ONE STAR! We reserved a table for eight on a Friday evening at 8pm. Our table was cleaned and ready for us the moment we entered the restaurant. That's a definite plus especially if you've read my previous review! They have finally found a reasonable balance between the fish and rice! Each piece of rice can be found in full form. No longer are they mushed together in an overly-generous manner! The fish is not the freshest but they will just do for a buffet. Last but not least, I did NOT have to leave this place parched and dehydrated! I did NOT have to chug tanks of water! Thank you for NOT drowning the rice in vinegar! I say this in the sincerest way possible. And to my disappointment, some of my favorite items (i.e. yaki ika and kake frid) are no longer offered. P.S. I finally figured out how to order the boat! You have to order a lot of rolls as opposed to nigiri pieces.

Angie M.

Good food. Not great seating, too close to other diners. I can hear everyone's conversations. But I like the Sushi and it's byob so it's a great value.

Sonny S.

After hearing my friends ranting and raving about this place, I finally was able to try it when I visited Chicago!! This place is pretty small but it is quaint and cozy. Our server was very friendly and patient with us. We all decided to go with the all-u-can-eat sushi special, which I highly recommend. The deal is about $18.99 and you definitely get your bang for your buck. Here are some of my favs: 1) spider roll 2) green dragon roll 3) shrimp tempura roll 4) potstickers 5) kara age (fried chicken) 6) shiu mai 7) tamago nigiri 8) salmon nigiri It might sound a bit pricey but if you can eat a lot or at least two or three rolls, you definitely will get your money's worth! We stayed for about 2 hours chatting and allowing ourselves to digest before going back for more. The service was awesome and everything came out pretty quick! We never felt rushed or were made to feel guilty for asking for more food. If you can't make it to this location, there are others in the city as well! Check it out!

Batya G.

I have now tried two of the sushi Para restaurants and I am not impressed. We went last night and the service was lousy and the food kind of matched it. The plates looked very nice but it took over 40 minutes to get our first order, and they weren't even that busy. The waitress basically ignored us unless we called her. She spend several minutes reviewing our order and still it took forever. They had several sushi chefs but when we order there was no one behind the bar. We usually tip well but we really were so disappointed by the waitress and the long waits that we only gave her 10%. She rarely smiled and as I stated it took forever to get our food. We happened to spill our soup and she didn't even help clean it up. The floor was a mess and she just brought over some napkins... after we asked then asked two more times. Not somewhere we will go back to.

Jose S.

I have lived in the area for 3 years and started going to the other sushi Para in diverse and liked it a lot. However, I consider this one is better. What's good? "All you can eat for dinner" (you can ask for that even at lunch but you will have to pay dinner price), great variety, fresh (prepared at the moment), and literally all you can eat, however, don't be surprised if they "forget" one or two sushi you ordered, but it's not a big deal because you can always order more and more. I would suggest to take it easy if you are sure of the most you can actually eat, and order little by little because they may charge you for each roll you leave. What's also good? If you don't want to eat a lot and just a decent meal, they have some cheap combos (something like 9 or 11$). What's not so good? On Friday and Saturday nights there can be a long waiting list for tables, so arrive before 8 pm.

Ricky V.

1st time I and my gf here. We had all you can eat and ordered 3 rolls for each. All the rolls are with a ton rice on top of each one. + They will charge you if you cant finish them all (dont know this is real or not). I regret and wont ever come back again. So please dont waste your money for this all you can eat. You can find a better place.

Kayu T.

I made a mistake of giving this place a try over my usual joint. The sister branch of this place is right next to my work where I go for lunches all the time, so I thought to give this place a try. Firstly, its a Wednesday night - it was NOT packed but somehow we still waiting 30mins for 2 salads. Go figure. Second, and final round we ordered their warm appetizers, they were good. All the ingredients were fine, but holy moly - the amount of rice used for any of the rolls can feed at least a small village. When I confronted the server about the unreasonable proportions, he told me to order off the regular menu next time. I wished they understood that its actually damaging to the experience and quality of their food to over up their good ingredients with truckload of rice. I've been to sushi buffets in NY that let people order sashimi in the same price range...so I don't know what the excuse is here. Strongly don't recommend coming here if you want to enjoy sushi. DO COME if all you want to do is stuff your face with whatever because you are about to go hiking in the desert with no food and this is your last meal.

Lauri C.

Shrimp tempura is really delicious. They have hot appetizers, maki rolls, nigiri sushi rolls for $18.99 all you can eat. The size is reasonable, unlike many buffets that stuff food with too much rice. The servers are nice, but they may seem to ignore you because they're too busy. I know they're busy, so if you're understanding, you'll have a great time. Don't forget to BYOB, no corkage fee.

Amy X.

I came here a while ago. Personally not a huge fan of this place. I have heard good and bad comments about this place. So first of all, I dont think the enterance was that obvious. If I were to walk by, it quite possible that I'll miss this place. They do all you can eat (ayce), which is quite exciting for those who craves sushi. My friend and I went on a weekday. There weren't a lot of customers. But it was quite obvious that the sushi chef/workers know the two/three girls sitting behind us (If not, they were trying to flirt with those girls, which is more disturbing.) Anyways, our food came. For starters, we ordered a few by the piece sushi(unagi, salmon, white fish, etc) and two rolls (dragon and California). It all came on a huge white plate. Hmmm. Let's see. Pieces of the sushi rolls were falling apart even before we started to pick it up with our chopsticks. The rice was hard and they barely gave us any fish. I eat a lot of sushi, and I could tell that the chef rushed our orders. It's either that OR the chef was not well trained. Either cases was a bit upsetting. Funny how some of my friends said it was decent. In that case, the quality of the sushi there are probably inconsistent. It's not horrible, just inconsistent. But I've got to say, the place was quite peaceful and clean.

Lauren W.

I have always been sketchy with all you can eat sushi places but this place in particular I was pleasantly surprised! Went with 2 friends ate so much sushi they almost had to roll us out the door! Good quality food. Very clean! I loved the Godzilla roll! It's BYOB so make sure to bring a bottle of wine! We had an overall good time here! Not that it affected my rating but just FYI it is a small space! Definitely will be back!

Alicia M.

does all you can eat ANYTHING terrify you? Good. Me too. It's always good to make sure someone you know has tried said A.Y.C.E/ B.Y.O.B place before you dive in. Well you know me (you don't, but you can trust me), and I have eaten here. It was awesome. Bring your friends and some wine, and be prepared to eat your weight in amazingness!

Lisa A.

It's my second time here and only because a friend wanted to try this place out because she heard about the all-you-can-eat sushi. At least it was consistent...too much rice and mediocre sushi/maki rolls. I wouldn't recommend it, but the draw of all you can eat is enticing to some. Maybe because it was a Tuesday night and sushi ships in fresh on Mondays and Thursdays so pretty decent freshness noted but it was overwhelmed by the amount of rice on the rolls and on the bed of sushi. The tea served was lukewarm. not a favorite of mine, but not bad food.

Brandon R.

Sushi Para is a really good price for good decent quality sushi. No its not the highest quality but there is nothing wrong with it. the service is slow but has gotten better. Lunch menu rolls don't seem very impressive for the $16, but for $18 dinner which has some nice specialty rolls its a great deal especially since I can eat 4-5 rolls by myself. All in all you get your money's worth if you can eat about 3 rolls (considering the $8-$9) rolls that are on the AYCE menu. I dont understand why others give this place 1 star, its good sushi but your not going to find high quality sushi for this price anywhere.

Michael C.

15.99 for AYCE made to order sushi? Sign me up!!! My friend and I had been craving sushi for the longest time and decided to satisfy it by coming to this restaurant. We deliberated going to House of Sushi and Noodles, but the area there isn't the prettiest, while this was in LP. We were seated immediately on a Saturday afternoon around 1PM and were excited to start eating. I was so surprised that they served nigiri since that stuff tends to be too expensive to be on a buffet menu. I pretty much tried every roll with my favorites being anything with the shrimp tempura. Everything served was fresh and prepared cleanly, and the buffet menu was a pretty decent size offering quite a few specialty rolls along with normal ones. I would've given this place five stars based off value and taste, but the wait time between our first and second orders was like 20 minutes which was crazy considering our first plate took around 10. Maybe they were trying to get the food in my belly to tell my brain I was getting full so I'd have to pay for the extra pieces left (the last few pieces were a definite struggle). Also, flagging down wait staff in a not so busy restaurant was surprisingly difficult. But overall, great value and deliciousness here. I'll be sure to come back!

Pam D.

Craving Sushi and you don't want to spend a lot of $$$? Sushi Para is our go to inexpensive, sushi restaurant. We've been coming here for the past few years and decided to bring my mom for her very first experience eating REAL sushi. My mom was hesitant to try sushi, she bought some of those California Crap Rolls at her local grocery store. I told her, that's not REAL sushi, you've got to try real sushi! So, she said "yes" and we made online reservations. Love the fact you don't have to waste time calling a restaurant directly, you can book online ;). I wanted to make a great impression on my mom and had to get "the boat". This is a wooden vessel which can accommodate 12+ rolls and and serves no purpose at all, it's just a cool way to serve sushi. Like most sushi places, Sushi Para is BYOB and doesn't charge a corkage fee. Today, we just ordered the green tea. Upon the boat's arrival with our assortment of rolls, we all hungrily grabbed and immediately started chomping away. IDK why, but we always eat sushi really fast, it's not going anywhere but, we can't get enough of it. Good news: my mom now loves Sushi! Guess we'll be bringing her back when she visits us again. 3 Good Things about Sushi Para II: 1. Sushi Para's location on Clark Street moved 2 buildings north of their old location. It is larger and can accommodate more tables. 2. It is an All You Can Eat Sushi restaurant for a flat charge: $20 for Lunch, dinner is maybe $2-$3 more. 3. Celebrating a special occasion? It's ok to bring your own cake. It's not the best Sushi restaurant in Chicago but, for the price, location, Sushi Para II delivers consistent friendly service and delicious Sushi!

Julie Y.

Byob.. I would not recommend this place for a date since it's pretty small and not cute inside at all. The sushi is okay not the best I've had. When you order they take a long ass time.

Chris M.

As a impromptu Sushi Date, this place had us asking for more! Service was outstanding. Sushi was delicious! We ordered the American Dream Roll, Pop Up, Shrimp Tempura. All were great packed with flavor! Pros: Fast sushi Reasonable number of rolls Friendly staff clean bathrooms Cons: Window seat is terrible at this time of season EDM playing in the background?

Tina Z.

Went there for dinner today. It was quite busy but the service was very fast. We got the all you can eat sushi for $19 per person, which I think is a great deal! I ordered miso soup which was delicious but nothing super special. We also got yaki chicken which was very dry, small, and not very good. The fried scallops were also mediocre. The grilled squid however was delicious and I wish we had room to get seconds of it. We got two rolls - the Chicago roll and the Alaskan roll. I liked the Alaskan roll much better than the Chicago roll because the Chicago roll has a lot of tempura flakes all over it. We ended up scraping off the flakes but even then it tasted very oily. We also ordered a lot of sushi which were all pretty delicious - salmon sushi, squid sushi, octopus sushi, tuna, yellow tail, etc. I think we ordered about 25 sushi pieces between the two of us and that was more enough. After we finished the waitress checked the soy sauce container which was really strange... I guess she thought we would hide sushi we couldn't finish in there since they charge extra for leftovers when you get all you can eat. Overall, great experience.

Nelson B.

One of my favorite spots in the city, always a fun night out when my friends and I go here. The sushi isn't the world's greatest but for AYCE it's pretty dang good.

P 3.

For a Sushi buffet - this place deserves a five. If we are talking high end all out sushi restaurants, it's a different story. Been going here for years, and the service has improved significantly. The buffet deal is as good as it gets in the city, and they don't just fill the rolls up with rice to fill you up. Great food, ok service, and great price for what it is.

Daniel H.

AYCE sushi - just OK quality fish, heavy on the rice BYOB - no corkage fee, best part of the deal and the only thing making this place worthwhile You don't really expect the highest quality sushi for $20 AYCE, and this place lived up to expectations. Having had AYCE sushi of actual quality in socal (Sake 2 Me), was holding out hope. Quality was just OK, definitely better than what you'll find in Detroit, where I'm holed up for the near future, but at the end of the day, just OK. A bit heavy on the rice, so you'll get full on that more than the fish. Service was lacking, so many people and looked like only 2 servers available. There was a sign on the outside window saying they were looking to fill server positions, so maybe they know and just need some time to fill spots. Our server had to be waived down, rarely came by otherwise. We had to walk up and get the order menu ourselves a couple times. Best thing about this place, and the reason why anyone would come back, is that you can bring your own drinks, and there's no corkage fee.

Kari H.

Alaska Roll is my favorite! I like how well-lit and open their new space feels compared to their old location next door. I've only had the all-you-can-eat buffet. I like it because it allows me to sample a variety of their appetizers and rolls. Their service is fine. The servers are very polite. It was a wait for the food to get to us with only 1/3 of the tables filled. Our water cups got refilled in a timely manner, however, and they were kind about asking us if we wanted to order more food. I like how the place is BYOB and located across from a bus stop.

Toya W.

I'm not a sushi person at all, but I went here with a friend and I'm a believer! My friend and I took advantage of the All You Can Eat deal which totaled to $14-18 each. The catch is that you must eat everything you order or you will have an additional charge. Luckily, our hunger paired with the awesomeness of the food resulted in us devouring everything! You choose your items and quantity by filling out a tally sheet, and you can ask for more whenever you want. All you can eat includes appetizers such as miso soup, skewers, edamame, etc which is nice. Now..I'm no expert, nor do I know what good sushi tastes like but I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ordered here. I've tried sushi countless times before and frankly could not stomach anything I tried, so coming was a revelation for me. My personal favorites here were the chicken skewers, Philadelphia rolls, Volcano rolls, and sweet potato roll. I can't wait to go back soon!

R L R.

I didn't have high expectations after reading the other reviews on yelp, but I still wanted to give the place a chance. The service was actually pretty good despite some of the bad experiences some other people may have had, but the quality of the food was seriously subpar. The thing that got me and my companion was when we poured the soy sauce out of it's little container. It had been diluted to an unacceptable rate. We actually had to taste it because we thought it was fish sauce. One of my rolls was topped with different amounts of tuna and we could see where they had run out of the slice of fish and just dumped it on the roll almost like an afterthought. In all honesty, it was fine. If you need to squash a sushi craving on a budget, here's your beast.

Magda M.

Always fresh and delicious. For $20 all you can eat sushi I don't mind their ghetto decor.

Teal R.

Stopped in here last weekend for a mid-afternoon meal. My boyfriend and I ordered four different rolls that were very decently sized and great flavor. Noticed the $18.99 all you can eat sushi menu and would like to go back soon! Great deal considering their specialty rolls start at $9.

Liza S.

My favorite sushi place! I always get the all-you-can-eat special or dragon roll. Sushi and sides are always yummy, fresh, and authentic.. And it doesn't leave you hungry like most sushi bars, probably because they don't skimp on the fish. Service is good too. Hope they can open up even more throughout Chicago.

Lyndsey G.

this BYOB all you can eat sushi was better than I expected it would be. The service was prompt and they even take reservations! The sushi is pretty basic, but seemed fresh and the all you can eat included other items like grilled squid and shumai

Bella S.

Best sushi but waitress are so rood 100 time asking to bring hot tea no every time when I ask them they don't like and staring at you like they gonna f... You especially girl with glasses

Lesia C.

I was brought here when I went to DePaul by my friend who swore this was the best sushi restaurant in Chicago. At the time, I was not that big of a sushi eater, but this place converted me. Even my brother, who hates sushi, will order their volcano roll, and loves their chicken yaki and gyoza appetizer (it's the only roll he'll order, but this is the only sushi place he likes!) My favorites include: -mountain roll (love the pink spicy sauce on top) -volcano roll (basically spicy tuna but two more fish and a kick of sriracha) -pop up roll -unagi -rainbow roll -gyoza -shrimp shumai (never had them before I tried them here, it's dangerous how many you can pop in your mouth and eat in one sitting) -seaweed salad They also have a great selection of sashimi, and at about 20$ for all you can eat, you really can't beat that price in Chicago. They also have a VERy reasonable take out special for dinner, which includes three rolls, two sashimi and an appetizer for 18$. Plus, it's byob, and the staff does not charge a cork fee, and accommodates with wine openers/chillers/the works. Very friendly staff, and I have been coming here consistently now for 6 years.

Carlos B.

I went there and had their all you call eat buffet and the quality of the sushi is quite fresh. They have mostly maki rolls but also some appetizers and nigiri. Volcano, spider and Boston are tasty rolls. The grill octopus was not good. It was very hard and chewy. Overall the service was good. You need to go there early otherwise the restaurant gets really crowded.

Branka P.

What a disgrace and reverse discrimination!!! Recommended to me by friends i had lunch here recently and although the sushi wasn't bad I was leaving satisfied enough. It is close to my residence and I had no reason to think I would not revisit at some point until the following occured. After i paid my bill andI walked out I saw a sign in their window "help wanted" for a cashier position. Since i was in the market for a part time job I thought why not go and talk to the manager about the position. When I inquired I was reluctantly told the manager was out I asked if they had an application. The young Asian man seemed a bit stunned and with trepidation tore off a 11/2 inch piece of register paper and asked me to just leave my phone number. Here's where their "true" disdain for Caucasians enters the picture. I politely asked if they hired only Asian speaking individuals. I asked this because i only saw an Asian staff. Unbeknownst to him and the waitress standing next to him who had served me earlier I was about to tell them that I spoke a fair amount of Chinesen (not to brag) but before I could even tell them ( my) waitress told the young man under her breathe..."No white person is going to take their jobs away" Stunned, shocked, and in disbelief I said nothing and as I turned to leave I saw the man throw away the paper with my number. I will Never walk through their doors again after sharing this with my friends (their other white customers) that suggested I try the restaurant. We have all agreed to take our sushi business elsewhere plenty of other sushi restaurants and better ones to add. In closing, a word of advise to those ignorant employees.....don't assume others don't understand your language because we white people don't look like you! Or maybe we just alll look the same to you or is it just our American dollars that all looks the same to you?

Thu D.

My friends and I come here a lot whenever we're in the mood for sushi because for $18.99 a person, you can have all the appetizers, maki, and nigiri that your stomach can handle! The sushi quality is really good for the price you pay and the maki variety is endless. My only issue is that sometimes my table does not receive some of the sushi that we marked down. However, it's not the end of the world because my group ALWAYS over orders without fail and the last pieces of sushi are always a major struggle as I curse myself again for being such a glutton. Overall, Sushi Para II cannot be beat if you're looking for a cheap but delicious place to satisfy your sushi craving!

Norm J.

If you like to eat a lot of sushi and don't mind bringing your own booze this is the place for you. Sushi Para II has a great all you can eat deal for $19.99 (the menu online says $15.99 for lunch and $18.99 for dinner, but I've been there for lunch and dinner this year and I was charged $19.99) so come wearing you most fashionable housecoat and attack that sushi. Some of my favorite rolls include: - World Series - Pop Up - American Dream - Rainbow The only negative is that this place is small so if you come around 7p.m - 8p.m on the weekend expect to wait and there's no real room to wait inside. Also, I recommend large parties get there around 6p.m to ensure you get seated before it gets packed. Lastly, I wouldn't recommend you go here on a date because the tables are close to each other and it can get a little loud in there when it's packed (now if you happen to be in a relationship this could be a great place to go because you won't be able to hear your significant other....bahaha).

Tery L.

Comfy, casual, byob, and great value for such a low price. C'mon $18? When you pay $13-18 for a roll anywhere else in Chicago, this is a steal. To be perfectly honest, I was surprised on my first visit. I never really had good experiences with AYCE places, so my expectations weren't very high. I was glad to be wrong. although the atmosphere is a little "college-ish", the service was polite and non-intrusive (i hate it when servers interrupt, hover, or have to be the center of attention), the AYCE menu was pretty extensive, and THE SUSHI WAS REALLY GOOD! My experience with AYCE has always been like a visit with Thrifty-Thrifterson. Again, I was glad to be wrong here. The fish was fresh, the rice ball was proportionate to the fish, and the place was clean, orderly, and efficient. Not a lot of frills in terms of decor, but it's cheerful, bright, and good enough.

Apple S.

GOSH, I love the place! I've been trying to eat here ever since I found it on Yelp. The sushi wasn't bad either considering it's all you can eat dinner for $18! Tried catching the lunch all you can eat deal for $13.99 but was informed by my server that lunch ended at 3:00 pm, I got there at 3:26 p.m. I ordered the miso soup, Spider Roll, Rainbow Roll, Sapporo Roll, Salmon Sashimi and eel sashimi all in one sitting. I gobbled and it right up and had a smile on my face there on after. I'd advise you to go there hungry!

Nora L.

(*Into megaphone*) "Hear ye, Hear ye, Buffet Sushi for 20 bucks, moved from bottom to up--- what more can u ask for?" Heard rave reviews about this place when it was situated downstairs in a cellar and even after it's move to the top. I meet up with a group of friends to check it out (since many have been there already) and the food did not disappoint. They had a variety of rolls (raw and cooked) and they were not fillers like they arch-enemy 'House of Sushi'. They were huge( huge like a 12 month old baby's fist)! Service was really fast and prompt. Everyone left happy and overstuffed and since it near closing time, they didn't charge for extra leftover pieces! Yay! I would definitely come back again. "So long House of Sushi. Sushi Para II caught my eye!"

Michael A.

Stumbled upon this place during our trip to Chicago. The other places were closed or too small to accommodate a baby. Once inside we were comfortable. The staff were nice enough but I could read just a hint of apprehension at seeing a couple big guys since we ordered the all you can eat lunch. The sushi was pretty darn good. If we lived here we'd be back.

N C.

My GO TO! Mostly because of convenience, but none the less has good sushi. I've only eaten inside the restaurant a couple times and both times were enjoyable. Friendly and attentive staff, quick service, and good food. It may not be the best sushi in the city (still good), but when paired with convenience and service, its a great choice.

Kate B.

As a seasoned veteran of the all you can eat sushi concept I must impart some wisdom for maximum enjoyment at this fine establishment: - skip the BYOB. Blasphemy! I know but booze consumption will just fill you up. - skip the hot soup, you'll get full faster. Probably not worth the salad either but do as I say and not as I do, hah. - order only about 2 rolls max to start, plus nigiri, they give you less rice this way. - remember you can always order more! Nothing worse than ordering too much to start and looking at your still half-full plate 30 minutes later and hating yourself. - get everyone at your table to order AYCE because then it's a group effort and you can sneak bits you can't finish on to your friends' plates. I love the rolls here on the AYCE selection, and any of the incarnations with salmon, eel and tempura crispies make me happier than is probably appropriate. They also use quality fish, especially for this price point, which is great as about half of my meal is salmon nigiri. Service here is fast and friendly and at a place like this it's always a nice bonus when I feel like the waitstaff aren't judging me for ordering my third round. So put on yo eatin' dress, cus there's nothing better then hitting this place on a Friday night, filling up with fish and then rolling yourself home to digest in front of the TV. Burp.

David K.

I had the all you can eat sushi for dinner. We got there a little late, and by a little, I mean we got there 25 minutes before the sushi station shut down for the night! For $25 (including tax/tip) we still managed to order 13 rolls, miso soup and a chicken salad. The dressing was some sort of spicy wasabi ginger dressing. Phenomenal stuff right there. For sushi, we had Spicy tuna roll, sapporo roll, boston roll, hokkai roll, michigan roll, shrimp tempura roll, and the volcano roll. I would suggest the volcano sushi. It may have just been the rolls we ordered, yet after a few rolls, the unique tastes of the sushi started to blend. The service here is quite phenomenal. Even after ordering such mass quantities so late in the night, they even asked if we needed any more rolls. Any slight movements away from the table and they were there to see if we needed anything. To top it all off , this place is BYOB. Gotta love that. A little plum wine and sake to compliment your meal is always a bonus.

Katherine P.

$18 for made to order all-you-can-eat decent sushi?! AND it's BYOB?! The drunken fatty within me was quite pleased.

Jessica S.

Yuck. I absolutely HATE writing negative reviews but honestly, this place is one to be skipped. I came in to pick up dinner - they have a carry out special that seemed like a great deal. But to be honest, you get what you pay for. The fish isn't fresh, the rice isn't prepared properly, and the execution is poor. Will not be back at all. You're MUCH better off with Ponzu or Sushi Mon down the street.

V V.

Currently, this is my favorite sushi place because of the perfect balance of affordability and tastiness. I believe Sushi is often over-priced for something really basic and easy to make because of it's trendiness. I refuse to even sit down at a place that would charge $4 for a single slice of unagi. I can get a sandwich for that much. The cuts of fish here are a good size and I've never had them load me up on rice either as some other yelpers have complained about. (See my photo of the American Roll.) This may be because I've always gone when they haven't been too busy, ie: weekday nights, lunch-time on weekends. I can see how the chefs could start to get sloppy on the sushi-making close to closing time or during periods of high-volume diners. It makes sense that they could start to get a bit heavy-handed with the rice to try to satisfy the hoards of all-you-can-eaters. Definitely try this place at off-peak hours for a much better experience. I wouldn't bother trying to come here on a Fri or Sat night as the lines are out the door. It's such a small space it's easy to start feeling claustrophobic with a full house and people milling around the entrance waiting for a table. The service could be friendlier, but they don't seem to need it, this place is a gold mine.

Monica Z.

Food is so-so. Sushi is standard. They have a good 19.98 all you can eat for dinner. However if you order any of the single prices of sushi make sure you eat your rice or otherwise you will be insulted by the waitress of why you did not eat the rice. That was not nice.

Carolina E.

Food was good BUT the service was horrible. I don't think I'll be making another trip here.

April P.

oh yes, they are multiplying!!! I have been going to the Sushi Para chains, since way back when it was only Sushi Para in Palatine. Their service and food at all places are across the board phenomenal. Never had a bad experience, and that is saying a lot for the 5 plus years been going to this chain Soon to open is their Bucktown location off of Milwaukee. Love their Spider roll, Palatine roll and Pop Up Roll. this particular place is BYOB. Bring your beer and your appetite!

John Y.

Newly Renovated, the place looks great. I like this place better than House of Sushi because appetizers are available with the buffet. I personally love Miso Soup while I eat sushi. I drink the soup like water... I probably drank about 5 bowls of this thing...i saw folks bringing their own liquor to this BYOB joint, but im good with this miso soup! The sushi was better than House of Sushi too. Not just with the presentation, but the rolls came out fresh. Tables turned over fairly quick, so we did not have to wait long. I believe it is a few dollars more expensive than House of Sushi, but I did not mind it considering the options.

Taylor B.

After looking online to see that the restaurant was open until 10pm, my two friends and I hurried to walk in the door at 915. Immediately greeted with frowns and silence, we asked for a table for 3. "We are closed" was the hostesses response. I glanced around the restaurant to see several other tables dining. The neon sign on the door said "open" and the hours of operation were painted on the glass door; "1130am-10pm". I looked at my phone..9:17. Extremely confused, we asked why the hours on the door said open until 10. They told us "Oh the kitchen closes at 930 though." But it's 9:15... I've literally never been refused service almost an hour before closing time in a restaurant with customers INSIDE. I also, as a server, have never turned away paying customers even one minute before closing time! I'm appalled. The manager/owner must have been gone tonight. Really unbelievable to me. I won't be back.

Mark H.

Let me tell ya...not all Sushi Para are alike. There are four spots I know of and this location, the sushi chef, for the most part, does it the best. From their accurate rice to sushi proportion to the lightly seasoned edamame and the not too salty miso soup, they have it down in serving a fresh, inexpensive sushi to the masses. My favs are the Popup and Alaskan rolls. Avocado def works. Tuna is a crap shoot in freshness. The Salmon is a pretty safe bet. The AYCE function is overrated for me but works well for groups. Decor is OK. The place is clean. The service is friendly but if you take a crash course in Chinese it would be very helpful. Great place for a sushi beginner!

Dan O.

This place ruined me. I have a history of frequenting sushi restaurants and of overpaying for sushi. After going here I got used to paying a very reasonable price unlimited sushi. It's tough to go back. I'd definitely recommend trying Sushi Para II. I'm a big fan. Enjoy

Ankit M.

You come to sushi para II for their all-you-can eat lunch or dinner. That's it. This isn't date night or the best sushi in LP. You get your money's worth of sushi and appetizers - and they are BYOB w/o corkage fee. The sushi is really rice heavy so be wary when you order - it'll fill you up faster than you think. Quality is mediocre which is why the 3 stars and not 4. Tip: order a regular amount of sushi and then you can always order more if you're still hungry (My friend ordered 4 miso soups last time we were here). You get charged if you don't finish what you order! Great to go to with friends who like byob and sushi-binges.

Stacy K.

I love this place because: 1) All you can eat sushi = sushi boat love; 2) BYOB. 'Nuff said; 3) Cheap but decent for what you pay for (around $22 for dinner, $18 for lunch I believe). It's not the best quality sushi that you'll get in Chicago, but it's good food and a fun and decently priced place to go to with a large group of friends. I'd recommend making reservations ahead of time, and although you may want to go on a sushi ordering spree, be conscientious of the $1 per piece fee that might get inflicted on you if you don't eat everything! I have found that every time I go, I relate very closely to a quote from Louis C.K.: "The meal is not over when I'm full. The meal is over when I hate myself."

Robert R.

Using Yelp on my Iphone to find out what places are open till 11pm on Sunday. Our search found that it was open, we came in at 9:50 and told it was close. NO BUYS!!! Was failed by YELP

Kat T.

This place is alright. They somtimes give you way too much rice when you do the buffet so you can fill up faster. Not a terrible place. Just alright.

Samra M.

I love sushi para Their buffet is slightly cheaper than house of sushi I like their hot appetizers and their sushi =] My friend, James took me here for the first time and I loved it, can't wait to go back for more sushi

Molly L.

Note: This review is only for carry-out and delivery. I have not actually eaten in the restaurant. I like sushi a lot, and I live 2 blocks away from Sushi Para II. Sushi Para has fast delivery and even faster carry-out. Seriously, I can leave my apartment right after I hang up the phone and my sushi is ready by the time I walk the 2 blocks north to the restaurant. This isn't the best sushi I've ever had, but it's pretty good. My favorite thing to get is the volcano roll. It has just the right amount of spice and lots of flavor. Someday, I'll have to get further into the restaurant than the hostess station and try their all-you-can-eat dinner or cheap lunch deal. Stay tuned!

Audre L.

Nothing better. Great value, and quality of sushi at its best ever. As a long time customer, I can vouch for this. And, the remodeled upstairs dining room is great.

Bonnie A.

We had the AYCE buffet, of course. Our party was 6 people so they charged 18% gratuity so each person paid about $24, which is not bad. It was a good experience. I love sushi especially sashimi. This is an AYCE buffet so you should expect low quality sashimi. Some of us ordered salmon sashimi and it was fresh! I was so surprised! I think we were lucky that the salmon was fresh. I really like the variety on their AYCE menu. Not only were there rolls, they had nigiri and appetizers! We ordered shumai and edamame. I don't recall such a variety at House of Sushi & Noodles at all. I definitely like it better than the latter.

Kenneth C.

My friends and I come here every time we have an insatiable craving for sushi. We were always immediately seated even when the place was buzzing. The wait staff is very nice and efficient about getting us set up once seated. For ~$20 for all-you-can-eat sushi lunch/dinner, it's pretty good, especially if you're a college student living in the city. The quality of the fish is very good. I've never had a problem with the seafood to rice ratio. Overall, it's a great place to satisfy a starving college student's cravings for sushi/seafood. BYOB with no corkage fee is also a plus.

William C.

Great value and sushi rocks!!!

Billy B.

So let's talk about this "all you can eat sushi" for $17. Thing is, that is not that great of a deal to begin. I mean alcohol is not included and I can only eat so much sushi before low self esteem kicks in. Nevertheless, all you can eat is an intriguing offer so I went there. I ordered my sushi but wanted just the fish. Thus, I ordered the sushi a la carte. In case you do not know this comes as a slice of fish on top of a long roll of rice. I proceeded to eat my fish and leave the rice. Well, apparently this is an unacceptable practice as the manager almost had to be called over to check whether he/she I had leftovers. You see, they charge if you do not finish everything in front of you. Well, since I am not into causing a commotion I promptly began to eat the rice and then throw some into a paper towel, go to the bathroom, and flush the remainder. Look, I was not trying to be a cheap bastard but the thought of paying for left over rice (which costs them $.05) after an "all you can eat" night really irked me. All in all the sushi is 3 star sushi and you had better be precise when ordering. For my money there is better sushi but I'll still go back to trick them again.

Ry O.

You may want to disregard this review, presumably I should have mercury poisoning after ingesting all that open-ocean borderline-endangered raw fish. Needless to say, we went for the all-you-can-eat 18.99/pp special. The sushi certainly wasn't amazing. But here, at this moment, I was focused on quantity, not necessarily quality -- and with that in mind, the sushi was good enough that I was fully willing to eat those raw little buggers like they were going extinct or something (btw, they are). On a down-side, service was painfully slow and un-attentive, which is probably a business strategy. But, if you're into relaxing in a restaurant that's decorated like a minimilistic yogurt stand with your friends for a 90 minute meal, it's well worth it.

Aaron S.

Sushi Para II has been on my "To Try" list for ages ever since my open call for places to add to my "All-You-Can-Eat Sushi" list, and today I figured we hadn't had Date Night in a while, so we'll try this place. The majority of the 200+ reviews were a convincing argument and the mention of a "larger space" was what sealed the deal. So I don't know about the restaurant's life underground, but here's my review of my first (and likely only) trip to Sushi Para II: We entered at 5:30pm, and there was already a line at the counter. It took 5 minutes of standing there before anyone bothered to ask how many were in our party, and then tell us it'll be 2 more minutes. A restaurant should ALWAYS have staff at the entrance, especially when it's notorious for having a wait - so names and parties can be written down ASAP and the we can move along and you can call when tables are ready. 2 actual minutes later, we were shown to our seats in the back. Luckily the back area is not very loud, even though it's right by the kitchen and bathrooms (which each hold one person and I found magically have someone knocking on the door 30 seconds after you enter and lock the door) - but that means you are forced to overhear the conversations of those around you. Pray that you're seated next to interesting people. We were unfortunately seated in the Pretentious Boring Yuppie Zone tonight. We were brought menus and the pink papers for filling out the buffet. Once I touched one pink paper, the server silently grabbed the menus away and walked away. Not that we WANTED to order a drink besides water, but the dignity of being asked would have been nice. Filled out the cards, and then it was time for the food. This place gets a slight bump for treating separate cards separately. Appetizers were brought out in combination for the table, but sushi orders on each card are brought on separate plates. Makes identifying foods easier when you don't have to also guess who ordered what. Miso soup: average - hard to ruin and they thankfully didn't ruin it Gyoza: poor - hard to ruin and their "homemade" version meant it had indistinguishable items that weren't tasty in comparison to basic non-homemade gyoza Shumai: warning - these were not served very hot at all. The rather-warm temperature raised a red flag in my mind. Spring rolls: worth trying - they did something weird and I think put the traditional dipping sauce INSIDE, leaving the texture inside kind of mushy and not BAD, just interesting and worth trying once Nigiri sushi: not bad quality at all, though I think there were two sushi chefs working that night and you could tell that different rounds of sushi were prepared by different chefs. Sometimes my eel had a nice sauce and sesame seeds, sometimes just a scant drizzle of sauce and no sesame seeds. Maki sushi: same as above - sometimes my rolls were packed tight and small, sometimes they were larger and looser. Same roll, different round, must have been a different chef. Rolls to try: I enjoyed anything that had spicy mayo sauce on it (like Mountain Roll), including the Volcano Roll that had a spicy chili sauce on it. I also liked the Pop Up Roll with tobiko on top. And the traditional rolls like Eel and Philadelphia were good, too. Rolls to maybe not try: I found the Fashion Roll difficult to eat due to a piece of tuna perched atop each roll that would fall off or otherwise hinder sushi enjoyment. The American Dream Roll was a little too busy for my tastes and was prepared too large for each piece to comfortably fit in my mouth (and I've got a large mouth). It's an interesting concept they have for several rolls of "instead of wacky ingredients in our sushi rolls, let's think outside the box and be pioneers of sushi ingredients placed OUTSIDE the roll. It just isn't always a pleasant experience with every roll. The traditional rolls are still good, guys - you don't have to push the limits too hard. At least no rolls featured the dreaded American Cheese like some places we've been to. Additionally, I know that most AYCE Sushi locations have a litany of rules. The servers at Sushi Para II were weird about it - the only rule being "you pay for sushi leftover that you don't eat" (printed on all the pink sheets). Yet on one round, they tried taking away my plate while it still had sushi on it! I had to stop her and grab it before she took it away! Then at the end of the last round, when we said it was our last, they brought us the check and threatened me to eat it all. Well yea, I'm STILL EATING. Maybe wait to bring the check until I'm DONE and you KNOW I've eaten everything or that you'll have to charge extra! All in all, nothing spectacular about this place to warrant another trip. I've done it, I've reviewed it, and if given the choice, there are places that are closer and have spectacular offerings. I wouldn't avoid Sushi Para II if I were asked to go, but I'm never going to volunteer heading here.

Tara P.

Before going to this restaurant know that you should go hungry because they have an all-you-can-eat menu. Which is AWESOME and AFFORDABLE! Also, it is BYOB, which helps in making it affordable so bring your beer, wine, sake and get crazy. Just for the record, I will not rate a restaurant based on the way you wait in front but it is a bit crowded and you kind of look down on the people sitting and eating below you. Sometimes its best to put your name in and walk down the street to a local bar in the meantime. I thought the sushi was great and would love to go back when I am hungry for mass amounts of raw fish again. Enjoy!

Rosa K.

Not the best sushi in the world but hey for all you can eat it isn't bad either.... a whole lot better than several buffets' sushi I've had. There is a good selection of rather creative rolls, plenty of seating, street parking and BYOB which os awesome. They do pack on quite a bit of rice on their rolls so beware cuz they will charge you if you don't finish every bit of food you order.... house of noodles is a few bucks cheaper last time I checked for all you can eat sushi but I feel the rolls at sushi para are more tasty despite the abundance of overfilling carbohydrates. I'm hesitantly giving this joint 4 stars cuz I hate buffets and all you can eat places cuz you never get wowing food... but hey I guess for what you get for the price $18.99 a person(cost of 2 rolls anyway) and being in the city this place deserves 4 stars. And it is BYOB... so yeah.

Matt M.

The stark white decor makes this crowded restaurant exactly what it is: a place to pack away sushi. Their all-you-can-eat deal comes with the fairly normal caveat that you pay extra for anything you don't finish. Normally the waitresses come by a second or even third time to take another order, so don't feel pressured to order six rolls the first time you choose. Don't come here if you're expecting earth-shattering quality: you're not going to get sick nor be impressed by their offerings, but it certainly does taste good. And I did mention that you can literally eat as much as you want. And bring your own booze. Sushi Para II fills a niche with their sub-20$ all-you-can-eat deal and BYOB, which makes for a very filling and cheap experience.

Alice Y.

Came here for all-you-can-eat sushi with four friends. The rolls were perfectly okay, especially for AYCE, but with tax and tip I feel like the price ended up being more than what it's worth. Our entire group downed the equivalent of 30 rolls, with some nigiri and tempura mixed in there, but you really need to just go for the fancy ones (lots of different fish, softshell crab, etc) to get your money's worth. Especially when I've got a place just down the street from me that's selling half-price basic sushi anyway. I see a lot of people writing about the slow service, and I guess I would say that yes it takes them much longer than normal to make/bring out your orders. The trick is to know that in advance, and order a ton of rolls right when you arrive. Be ready to have a lot to talk about with your group for the first waiting period, and then BE SURE to give the waiter your second huge order as soon as the first one comes out...and so on. There still may be a little lag, but it's much improved. Oh, and I should add that there's a pretty big selection, which is a major plus. They have a bunch of different/special rolls, tempura & other common non-sushi Japanese dishes, and nigiri. No sashimi, but for AYCE you can't fault them.

Dan D.

Sushi Para II finally opened up their 2nd floor dining area and I went to check it out. With more seats, colorful red walls, and new furniture, it is a welcome addiiton to this bopping restaurant. Hopefully the waiting time can now be reduced.... well, "hopefully." They need to first get the "knack" of running a larger restaurant. The all-you-can-eat buffet is still $17.99/person and is delicious as ever. However, the staff is a bit overwhelmed with the crowd. It was hard to get some water, harder to get an order for sushi, and was a LONG wait for our sushi to get to our table. So they just need to get use to this new arrangement - I'm sure they will in due time. In summary, get hungry and just be prepared to be waiting not only for a table, but for your food too. We all know its worth it.

HsiangFu C.

I have been there several times. It is the first Japanese restaruant I went when I moved to Chi-town. If you are the big fan of sushi, you might be disappointed. But what do you expect for an all-you-can-eat sushi bar? Well, I mean the price of $18.99 is attractive but if you want to have some authentic sashimi or sushi, this place you don't have to take into account. However, I think people who is a real big eater may love this place since they offer tons of rice on their numerous types of rolls. My friend and I got fined due to the nasty reason that we left too many rolls on the plates. It's unreasonable becuase the quality of rice is not quite good and they didn't inform us at first. After a bad experience, my friend and I will not order any type of rolls next time. Anyway, they have some good appetizers such as gyoza and soft shell crab tempura. Overall, I give it three stars. I will not say this is a great spot you must go, but if you don't want to expend too much to get some Japanese food, this place is good enough to fulfill your stomach.

Carrypotato W.

Its like other sushi place, pretty general fish are fine, rice are kind of loose that it can fall off from your chopsticks. and it took so long to wait for our orders. music are kind of loud, and they are super busy. I'd prefer to go to Sushi Sai next time, same price but better sushi and environment. (I don't like sushi place to crowed, i love take my time and enjoy my sushi)

Tuyen T.

BYOB! with no cork fee. Thank you for not judging us. That is all I have to say. Oh! Haven't reviewed it since they opened the 2nd floor dining area. Definitely opens up the restaurant and it doesn't seem as cramped. I think they added a few new things to the buffet menu. I found a new favorite: the sai salad. I had two of those! YUM. Eat til your hearts content.

Michael W.

I was really excited to go to a BYOB all you can eat sushi place, but then I got the food. The sushi has at least twice as much rice on it as other places (they say they'll charge you if you don't eat the rice) and the ingredients didn't really taste too fresh. I love eating Spider rolls, but the Spider roll here was bad...there was no crunch to the soft shell crab. I do give the place props for including so many things on the all you can eat menu though such as appetizers and hand rolls. If you're in the mood to eat sushi in quantity this place isn't too bad, but if you're looking for quality go somewhere else.

Sarah K.

Just a quick update: Sushi Para II is now $19 for dinner and $15 for lunch, however with this modest price increase they added several new, yummy things to the menu...so worth it :)

Tim Y.

I'm a self-proclaimed AYCE sushi veteran who has tried multiple places all over California, and even driven 2.5 hours for it before, and this is definetely a mediocre AYCE at best. For around 20 bucks, they have all the normal rolls (spicy tuna, volcano, etc), nigiri, and fried appetizers/salads. I knock a few stars off, however, for the classic yet greedy AYCE gimmick they pull. As soon as you start the first few rolls, they'll start to bring out orders muuuccch slower (around 20-30 min for our second batch of rolls), pack the rice in more dense by adding vinegar and squishing it in, and making that mound of rice bigger in volume. Don't get me wrong, I totally get them wanting to make money (for example, the eat it or pay for it rule is totally legit), but this is something that has gone overboard in many AYCE sushi places. Overall, however, I'd say still something middle-of-the-line you could go to if you want AYCE sushi and you're close by. Why? This place is BYOB. Nuff said.

Marie M.

All you can eat sushi, for $18.99 All you can eat GOOD sushi, for $18.99 This place is good. They make the sushis in front of you, everything is fresh. Service is frienly and efficient. The sushis may not be the best I had, but I really enjoyed all different choices and the very reasonnable price. Beware though: if you don't finish what they are serving you, you pay extra for leftovers... So order smart and do not waste!

MJ H.

"All you can eat" baby! Its sound good, but it doesn't taste that good.

Lorna S.

We started off with miso (horny) soup, which is always good, and also had edamame. The edamame was very overcooked. It was falling apart, and was difficult to eat. I had some fresh salmon nigiri (sake), and the palatine roll. These were good, but not great. The service was just okay, as we had to wait a while before a server came over. I also remember that I don't like the sushi "buffet". For those who are not familiar, this is not a buffet where people get up and serve themselves. It's all you can eat sushi, where you order some, and then can order more, all for one price. The price at this place is $18, and is not worth the money. They have this crazy policy that says if you order too much sushi, and don't finish it, you have to pay extra money; a fine, if you will. I don't need this stress in my life. I find that I'm afraid to order another roll, because I might not finish, and will be scolded by the server. I would rather not go to a place where the food is mediocre, and I have to worry about not finishing my food. I feel like a little kid afraid to be yelled at by her mother. On a positive note, they moved upstairs, and while the space is not much bigger, it is brighter.

Jessica W.

I love sushi and I love buffets. I like that in addition to getting all-you-can-eat sushi, there is also the options of getting appetizers and other food (something that other sushi buffets don't have) not that I get those, b/c as I've been taught from years of eating at buffets, you've got to eat the more expensive items! Also, it's always fun to compete w/ your friends to see who can eat the most (25 is my personal best... will need to improve that). As for the quality of the sushi... well, if you're coming here, you probably care more about quantity, right? =) Also, after stuffing ourselves w/ sushi and feeling incredibly full, my friends and i will always wonder why we did that & swear never to do it again. But after about... 9 months or so, we'll forget and return... and the cycle repeats...

T K.

I did not have high expectations coming to a AYCE sushi, but I rather pay $20.00 for really good quality food than overstuff myself with crap. They do have a large variety of rolls to choose from but they are all made from the same ingredients in different combinations. The rolls were overpacked with rice. The quality of the fish is awful; you can tell by the color and texture of the fish. By the second tray, there were barely any fish in our rolls. We ordered the American Dreams roll twice. First time, it actually had unagi that tasted decent. The second tray, it was all unagi skins.

David M.

The night my friends and I went to Sushi Para II, we had excellent, all you can eat Sushi for a very reasonable price. All they ask is that you finish all you take (I think this is a very reasonable request). The service was good and it was very clean. We had a great time....that is until some moron decided to make a scene. What I can only describe as a crazy bitch created a very uncomfortable environment where she was yelling, refusing to pay, and just plain trying to hurt the business. The waitresses were all very professional and polite (too polite, I would have thrown her out on her ass!) and put up with her ridiculous behavior. It seems that the customer had some minor gripe and aversion to paying her bill. She made each of the waitresses apologize and they were all in tears by the end. I only go through this experience to say that the staff at the restaurant were very reasonable and there was no need to treat them as such. By the end of the night the whole restaurant full of patrons was ready to drag her and her family out by their hair. I proudly yelled obscenities at them and told them to get out in a not so polite manner. My only criticism is that the staff should have called the police about 1 hour earlier to avoid the whole incident. I'm sure this is not a regular occurrence, but I am glad I could be there to insert a little American attitude into the situation. Sometimes you can be too polite... ;-) I loved this place over all, despite the unanticipated entertainment...I highly recommend it and hope all those waitresses felt a little better when I shouted down the troublesome customer. I will be coming back to this establishment, as I travel to Chicago often...I hope the lady comes back so I can tell her how I really felt!

Nicole R.

I went last night. Atmosphere felt like a cafeteria. I didn't get the all you can eat because I can't eat $20 worth of sushi in the first place, and they don't offer sashimi on the all you can eat menu. So unless you want to fill up on tons of rice, don't order off the all you can eat menu ( I understand most people like the rolls that are full of rice, so Im speaking to a small population here). I had sashimi. It was terrible. Very fishy tasting and not very fresh. I had to douse it in soy sauce to make it taste good, and usually, if the fish is fresh, I prefer not using soy sauce so I can taste the flavor of the fish. Not so much here. But what do you expect from an all you can eat place? If youre like most americans, and like to eat mounds and mounds of low quality food, then this place is for you (see 5 star reviews of people "getting their fill of sushi") However, If you prefer high quality food in small, normal-person portions I'd go elsewhere.

Nikki Y.

$19 All You Can Eat Sushi and BYOB. 'Nuff said. ...but I guess I'll go a bit more into detail. Sushi Para II is a good place to hang out with your friend(s) and stuff your stomach full of sushi rolls. The quality is ok, but you obviously can't expect the best when you're paying $19 and ruining your stomach lining with alcohol and sushi. It's a good idea to get their early. Expect to wait for a table, especially since everyone in there is doing exactly what you set out to do--stuff themselves silly until they can't move. And trust me, the alcohol helps. The decor is very simple. They really don't need anything impressive with a deal like that! The variety is extensive...for a sushi n00b. If you're more for quality/variety and less for volume, I'd suggest shying away from this Lincoln Park eatery. For me, I'm ok with Sushi Para II on occasion.

Charlotte O.

Aaron S surprised me by meeting me at work tonight just as my drawer was being checked out, he was picking me up for one of our date nights. We haven't had one in a few weeks, so I was pretty excited. His choice of place? Sushi Para II. Since we left, I have been trying to figure out how to rate the experience, and after thinking on it some, I have to say that this is a pretty weak three star place. The first thing you notice is how tiny the restaurant is. Very tiny. That is not always a bad thing, but the set up was odd, and trying to have conversation was awkward because I was hearing everyone else talk, and wondering if it went two ways. I also was really annoyed with the group that sat behind us, if you are rich enough to just happen to be carrying three thousand dollars in your pocket you really don't have any money issues to complain about okay? One of the staff members sat us at our table and assumed that we were getting the AYCE option just because Aaron picked up that piece of paper. The other thing, we were not offered any drinks, at all, both of these things are rude, and you all should know how the saying about ASSuming things goes.... Anyway, first thing I noticed about the AYCE menu is that there was not a lot variety on it at all, not half the selection that other places offer. Not a huge deal, but it doesn't work in their favor either. We each had three rounds of food. We had, miso soup, gyoza, shumi, taki chicken, spring rolls, egg nigiri, eel nigiri, eel roll, spider roll, mountain roll, fashion roll, volcano roll, American dream roll, philly roll, and the pop up roll (I think that was all of it anyway...). The gyoza were very weird tasting, they had something in them that made them bitter tasting. Our shumi was kind of lukewarm and mushy. The spring rolls were different. The sweet sauce was on the inside, which made for a unique taste. None of the rolls really stood out though, and some of them would just fall apart when using the chop sticks. The worse part though? This is going to make me sound crazy, but you really cannot make this shit up, is that each order we put in was padded with more and more rice! Um i came to enjoy some sushi not to make my belly explode thank you very much. Service was horrid too. The lady asked us if we were going to order more or if we were done, we said that we were ready for the check. She came back with the check, and basically barked at Aaron about how he needs to finish what was on his plate. Um, you really should not talk to people that way if you expect a tip, or if you expect them to return. I really cannot see any reason to ever go back here....

Kairo C.

OK. I give it 3 stars. I was going to give it 2 while I was sick within a few hours of eating here, but Ben claims it was from the massive amounts of greek yogurt I've been eating lately. He says our bodies need 24 hours to process the junk we eat... I still remain a tad suspicious. We went for all you can eat sushi ($18.99 per person). Great idea. Except I don't think sushi or raw fish is something to go overboard on consuming. But for the price if you pace it right and choose right, it's pretty fair. One rule: you must eat everything you order or you have to pay more for what you don't eat. It's BYOB which is sweet. But we brought wine and in retrospect I def think white wine is the best pair for sushi. Live and learn eh. We for one went here as STARVIN MARVINS. We started with three rolls, and put in a second order of three rolls. Some rolls had 5 pieces and others had 8. What we had that you SHOULD get: Mountain Roll, Chicago Roll, American Dream Roll. What we had that you SHOULD NOT get: Michigan Roll, World Series Roll, and Volcano Roll. The 3 good ones were, well pretty good but not spectacular. The 3 bad ones were pretty YUCK to me. We should have never ordered a 6th roll. 4 is just right. 5 was alot. 6 was too much! Needless to say. I'd maybe go back again for this but it will be awhile. I was sushied out and I still have a suspicion my sickness wasn't all from eating ridiculous amounts of yogurt as meals.

Nick B.

Went last weekend for my sushi fill. Summer is wrapping up and it's the only time of year I really enjoy eating sushi. Friend suggested we check out Sushi Para II in Lincoln Park. Highlight of the meal was that it was...BYOB! Their special is $18.99 all you can eat. I don't find that exciting for a number of reasons because I only eat veggie/maki rolls and I have no self control with food so if I was told to eat, and eat, and eat...I would. Anyway, I went with cucumber and sweet potato tempura rolls. Yummy! Service was chill. The BYOB aspect slices the bill in half so it was cheap eats but good food. Check it out!

Krsna V.

We went there last night because we felt like eating Sushi and wanted to get away from Wicker Park. The sushi is decent, nothing extraordinary. I liked my eel. We also got the vegetable tempura, edamame, miso soup, shumai, and other sushi. The buffet is a good deal if you want to try different items. Be careful though, you can order as much as you want but you have to eat all of it or else they will charge you for leftovers. My miso soup was just OK, tasted watered down. The shumai, edamame, and vegetable tempura were good. My rolls were not bad. I am impressed that they do not charge a corkage fee if you bring your own wine. The reason I had to deduct 2 stars was because I felt bloated on the way back home. Not a pleasant feeling. Don't know what they put in the rice, but it made me feel uncomfortable (and I did not even eat a lot).

Jessica K.

My favorite place for lunchtime work sushi was Sushi Para back back back in the day so when i saw this place open up down the street from the new job, I immediately perked up seeing the same waitress. It's like she's stalking me! If you don't mind a limited menu, do get the lunch special which will end up about around $20. I don't understand what everyone else is talking about when they say the rice is too much-it's a roll and there WILL be this white sticky substance called RICE to surround the Spicy Tuna or crab or whatnot. For a place with a lunch special, the limited menu is considerably large and appetizers are included so fill me up with potstickers! I am guilty of loving those suckers. Be wary of the large crowds that come in and out like the tide-it gets packed sometimes. The servers don't speak English too well either so pointing and simple dialogue goes a long way. Every time I'm in there, they're very polite and attentive. Go at lunchtime 'cause the crowd is smaller than at dinner where the wait can be well over an hour.

Dean D.

I love this place but it's a victim of its own success. The sushi is good for an AYCE (come on you are getting quantity not quality here) and it's BYOB which makes it even better! The problem with this place is that it's always packed. I've eaten here almost a dozen times and only once did I get in without a wait. Prepare for long waits even if you have reservations. One great note is that they bring out glasses for your wine/drinks if you brought your own booze to enjoy while you wait! Best tip I have for this place is to come with two people, the wait is a LOT shorter!

Denise M.

I was here on a Sunday for the first time ever, and I was pretty impressed! My friends and I got the all you can eat for $20 (ish), of course. The selection on the AYCE menu is pretty extensive, which is good. Not only can you choose maki or nigiri, you can also get appetizers of fried foods and salads etc. Actually the salads weren't that good -- they were huge (cumbersome) iceberg lettuce leaves with interesting dressings, but not worth the extra stomach space. I did try the yaki ika (fried squid), tatsuta age (fried chicken), yaki tori (chicken roasted on skewers), and gyoza (dumplings), and those were all delicious. Small portions, though (as they should be). Their edamame seemed a little overcooked. As for the sushi, this is where I was the most impressed.. the cut of their nigirizushi was pretty big, and their rolls, while nothing terribly special, were all good. The fish all seemed very fresh and good, too. If I could do things over, I definitely would have eaten more nigiri, less maki!! Service was good. Our waters were regularly refilled. We ordered 2 or 3 different times with no problems, and they give you several pens and order sheets to accomodate this. All in all, there is great sushi to be had here!!

Tera D.

Pretty darn good for an all-you-can-eat, BYOB sushi joint. I went with my bf on a Wednesday night around 7pm. We had to wait about 15 minutes, so not bad at all. Most of the tables were being used up by big groups, and I imagine they all had reservations or got there super early. I saw a few walk in groups get told 1 hour + while I was waiting. Anyhow, we brought a bottle of champagne, which they immediately brought and ice bucket for. We got the all you can eat (obvi), and it was definitely the way to go. We ordered the miso soup, edamame, and the 6 most expensive rolls on the menu (~$8-12). Food came in random waves, sometimes very quickly, sometimes very slowly, but what can you expect. The two sushi chefs appeared to be working their butts off, trying to fill a million take out orders in addition to dine-in. Sushi seemed very fresh. I wasn't overwhelmingly impressed by any of the rolls, but for the price, it was awesome and fulfilled my sushi craving. Side note, after reading reviews I was paranoid about leaving leftovers and having to pay, so we desperately tried to stuff ourselves at the end. We finally gave up and asked for the bill with 4 pieces still on our plates, but we didn't get charged.

Bluejay C.

Never going back to this place!! We walked in 10 mins before the opening time and they let us have seats which was very nice. They served entree first and then appetizer which is a minor problem but we were still waiting for a udon long after we finished all the entrees and appetizers. I asked our server why that was taking so long and guess what the reason was. He told me it's because we came in early. It was not only nonsense but rude to blame it on the customer. The worst part was not until we finished everything. When I got the bill I noticed that he put a wrong item and I told him. He suddenly started getting really irritated and claimed that the item I ordered was NOT even on their menu. I told him that I saw it on the menu. He quickly grabbed a menu and told me to find it. When I showed it to him (it WAS on the menu) he said, "That 's exactly what you got so I don't know what your problem is." Wow... I said "The problem is, you charged me for the wrong item and wrong amount." At this point he was so irritated and he yelled "I'll just give you 2 dollars back! All right!" People make mistakes. All he had to do was to say sorry and fix the bill. When I got the second bill I noticed that he did NOT take that $2 off but I was tired of dealing with this server with an attitude issue. I will never eat there again. The food wasn't that great anyways.

Kristen K.

All You Can Eat Sushi makes me nervous but this was better than most just regular sushi places!!! Under $20 bucks all you can eat was good, tasty and great place for groups. The staff needed to be asked for the basics like water, glasses for wine we brought etc, but overall very good - I would go back, just with more than just two people - like I said, great for groups!

Amber L.

God I love this place. Say what you want about how you've "had better sushi" or "all you can eats scare me". That's all fine and dandy, just don't go and take up a table that I could be sitting at instead of waiting for 15 to 30 minutes. Their menu is very simple, but honestly this is how you do it: First course - Miso Soup, tempura veggies, shrimp shumai, house salad, salmon nigiri x 4, tuna nigiri x 2 Second course - Volcano Roll x 2 (it's all about this one), salmon nigiri x 2, and... ok I'll be honest it's really all about the Volcano Roll... really. Of course, finish with a nice bowl of miso soup again. :) I've been here so many times and have yet to write a review for this place. I've been out of town for a few months and have been craving this place like crazy! Now that I'm back I have yet to go and I'm about to lose it. Though, tonight seems like a perfect night... oh... the joy...

Rajiv H.

All you can eat sushi under $20 in Chicago. Sounds like a death trap to me. BYOB with no corkage fee? Stop it. It's all too good to be true. Luckily it's not. Sushi Para II is one of my favorite sushi places in the city. Despite being all you can eat, the sushi is actually good quality, and you can order miso soup, shumai, tons of different maki, edimame, even nigiri! With the upstairs now open, the wait isn't nearly as bad (~30 minutes for 4) as it used to be (~1.5 hours for 4). I didn't give it the fifth star because the service can be lacking at times, and there is better sushi out there for a little bit more (Toro and Kamehachi for example), it's just not all you can eat.

Morgan M.

This has got to be THE best sushi place that I have had the chance to discover...ever. Hate paying the big bucks for the "fancy" sushi like caterpillar and all of the other creature-like rolls? Come in here! You don't just get a roll or two, you get 4 or 5, because who goes to a sushi buffet and orders 2 California rolls? Not me. Yes, this is a $17 buffet that includes tons of exotic sushi (that taste so good I can scream). However, you don't just get to order sushi. There are other items on the list that I have never even heard of before or can even pronounce! There is also endless ordering of all of these plates as long as you can keep stuffing your mouth; however, like all other sushi buffets, you pay for what you don't finish. So, go with an empty stomach to enjoy as much as you can. There is not much of a drink menu. You get the standard soda choices, but other than that it's water or tea. This place is a BYOB restaurant, but they do not charge a corking fee.

Brian P.

Good to get an all-you-can-eat sushi-fest. Quality isn't great, but you get what you pay for, and it's a buffet for goodness sake. Avoid the mackerel, squid, octopus. The spicy tuna here is pretty good though.

Chenfei L.

This is the best value AYCE sushi place in Chicago. Of course, this means that there is much better quality sushi in Chicago (I've liked Mirai, Ai and Friends) but this is the largest amount of decent sushi + appetizers you can get for 18 bucks. I went with my significant other without a reservation on Saturday at around 7:30 and sat at the upstairs sushi bar. The best part about sitting at the bar was that the waitstaff/chefs never forgot about us and we got our orders very quickly. We ordered the miso, the gyoza, and seaweed salad, all decent. Then we ordered roll after roll. They were all pretty good, although the Rock n Roll was pretty memorably savory. What separates this from House of Sushi, probably its biggest budget AYCE competitor, is the comprehensive menu and the ease of ordering. There is much more stuff at Para, including nigiri and a wide assortment of appetizers. Plus, there are more maki rolls to choose from. Additionally, to place your order you, you just check off on a list how many of what you want. At HoS, you must order two maki rolls at a time, no more, no less, which makes your stay at HoS much longer than it really needs to be. All in all, if you are walking into sushi para ii, you will get exactly what you want and be satisfied. If you want gourmet sushi and the finest quality fish then you will be disappointed, but if you just want to enjoy gorging yourself with tasty fish then you'll be in heaven. P.S. The place is BYOB, which is excellent, though I didn't take advantage of that when I dined there.

Andres R.

This place rocks! Staff is friendly...manager always remembers us. Not only are the Rolls and Sushi delicious but talk about a bang for your buck. Its 20 bucks and all you can eat. My wife and I enjoy the Miso Soup to kick things off. I tell all my friends about it and recommend it to anyone who asks. Volcano Roll is GREAT!!

Susan Y.

Great for sushi. We visited a couple months ago and really enjoyed the food and reasonable price. Everything tasted fresh, service was very good, we never waited for our next order to be placed for the two of us. I am looking forward to our next visit.

Max V.

All-you-can eat, cheap, great quality. You get more than you would expect from the rolls, with many of them having pieces of sashimi draped over top each piece. The presentation is very nice considering the chefs pump these rolls out left and right. Very clean place, nice decor. It's BYOB and they didn't charge us a corking fee even though I needed to borrow a bottle opener for our six pack. Be warned that they will charge a fee per piece left on your plates

Linda P.

Have been here for a birthday party and several other occassion and with friends, Best sushi ever, the wait staff including the sushi chefs are very friendley and fast with all the orders ive placed. I really do recommend this to anyone head over heals with sushi...

Drew O.

Got everything I expected and more- BYOB, relatively cheap, and quick service. I recommend the mountain rolls and any sashimi!

Jenny B.

Great memory eating AYCE sushi here. I came to this place with 9 of my buddies. The place is super duper tiny and it's like underground. My buddies from Chicago recommended this cause we're craving for sushi and we can eat ALOT, yet we're on a budget, so this is where we ended up. Totally not bad at all, $17 for AYCE, I think that was like dinner price too, weekend probably be a little bit more, but who cares, you can order like crazy, just be sure to finish what you order, cause I heard from my friends we gonna get charged if we have a left-over. We ordered Unagi, Tamago, Inari, Spicy Tuna rolls, and many more. Everything is made to order, which is great, not like those Todai AYCE kind. Those peeps who like Shumai dumpling, they even have that as appetizer, we ordered like 2 dozens I think, my friend was so crazy about it, even tho it looked like those that you bought in the 99ranch store and heat them up urself. We ordered like 2 big plates full of rolls and sushis and we thought we're still hungry so we ordered the third round plate and we're stuffed when the plate was still half-empty. Oh No! So we started checking who ordered what and they had to finish it. One girl ordered a spicy tuna roll and she only ate 1 and she felt full, but she said, "I can do this, I don't want to pay extra!!!" She then started eating slowly, she looked like she's in pain. The rolls came in like 8 pieces, by the 7th piece, the waiter was ready to clean up the resto as it's closing time. She told us, " no worries, if you can't finish, we won't charge extra." You shouldda look at my friend's face, she's like about to say, "damn it, can't u say that earlier???" Oh well... what a memorable thing for me, so yes, those in Chicago and craving for lots of fushi, come here, for the price you paid, I think you got a pretty good deal and the fishes are pretty fresh. Service may not be top-notch, but as long as your orders are out on-time, I ain't complaining. Parking sucks in Chicago downtown, oh well... if you know the area, it shouldn't be troublesome. Remember, it's a tiny place, never go in such a big crowd, the table ain't fit. I think the best # to go would be between 4-6 people, we got 9, we really got to squeeze to be seated together

Alice c.

I have never had a huge fondness for AYCE sushi places. Todai is just gross. I think that the idea of sushi sitting out is gnarly. In fact, I have two categories of sushi places. The first are the traditional or semi-traditional places where you order sushi and the chef immediately CUTS the fish up versus places that have all the fish pre sliced and ready to go, or even worse, pre- made in trays and they just lay it all out for people to touch and take. Given that bias I hold against such sushi joints that slap fish on a ball of rice and call it cuisine, I was remarkably mollified by the service and treatment of food at this place. They made all the items that you wanted to order. And it if you stick with getting rolls instead of nigiri sushi, you really can't go wrong. They are very generous with the spider rolls, I actually found the spicy tuna to be nicely flavored. The balls of rice underneath the nigiri sushi pieces were ridiculous and they have a rule that you have to eat all the rice or they charge you. So I would stay away from that. But all in all a really decent roll place. All for $17 per person....

Michael B.

I think the majority of people who had a bad experience, did so because they wanted their cake and they wanted to eat it, too. The quality of this sushi was excellent. On the AYCE list, things like rainbow rolls, softshell crab rolls, etc. require fish that you can't skimp on, and I never encountered a roll that was subpar. I'm not sure if people like what they ordered, but anyone claiming food poisoning is probably mistaken, especially if you haven't given it a good 24 hours to process in your system. Also, it just seems likely that if you are STUFFING yourself with food, you might feel sick. Service-wise, I was unimpressed. The staff is not very communicative due to whatever reason, but everything I ordered along with the other two guests I was with (who did NOT get the AYCE sushi) came out accordingly. On that note, they have a GREAT list of Japanese hot food that is seemingly ignored. My mom got the beef negimaki (rolled steak and green onion), some gyoza, and tempura. They were all delicious and having been to Japan, I can say that they were pretty close, at least for the American palate. I'm not really sure why there is so much hate for this place on here. My advice to anyone going to Sushi Para II is to 1) know what you are ordering, 2) know your limits (you are charged for left over food, which I think is a good thing to limit waste), and 3) take your time as the food is made to order. If you are expecting some sort of gourmet sushi, then I would suggest trying a fusion restaurant instead of a Japanese one.

Eduardo M.

I've been to this place a couple of times now. This was my first time at the new upstairs location. We decided to do the AYCE, and we were promptly (for the first last time) waited up by our waitress. First off, can I say, if you're going to take my order, shouldn't you give some eye contact? Our waitress actually stood behind me, grabbed our menu sheets and mumbled the whole time. It wasn't like there wasn't enough room for her to stand in front of the table. And she definitely didn't seem happy to be working there. And when I asked about getting a roll without onions (a common request I make) she told me that that roll is already "pre-made" and despite my saying I didn't want it if it had onions she was ready to just leave and keep it in the order! Ok, service - blah. To be fair, it looked like other tables, with other waitresses got better service, so we got the bad apple. Food - I'll keep this part of the rant simple. The sushi was average, nothing special - tho' one roll was particularly tasty - forget the name, it had eel and deep fried crab, but still, nothing to get excited about. It just seemed like the ingredients were in general weren't the best (the avocado in the spider roll was beyond ripe - it was greenish-brownish mush). Next time, we'll have to trek the whole 2 blocks further to Sushi Mon, much better.

Susie C.

Wow, this is by far the best sushi buffet place I've been to. Good quality sushi!! and very filling. My favorite was their spicy tuna!!! There is one exception and that is you have to eat all the sushi you order. Otherwise you will have to pay for the leftovers. Be wise in ordering the number of makis. My boyfriend and I ordered a total of 5 makis..and it took us forever to finish it since we didn't want to pay extra on top of $17.99/person. Well, we also had appetizers. They are also included in the buffet. The customers around us were either playing games to see who should finish the last piece(s) on the plate or super stuffed that they couldn't move. The place is very small. I wish it was bigger though since it attracts so many customers. There was also an obnoxious party of 8 and since the restaurant was so small, they were so audible and very annoying. Yummy! thats all I got to say.

Kathryn M.

Miso soup, edamame, gyoza, shrimp dumplings, 2 pieces of hamachi, Palantine Roll, Mountain Roll, Volcano Roll, American Dream Roll. Total? $17.99. And BYOB with no corkage fee? No wonder this place was packed on a snowy Sunday in April! We snagged some seats at the sushi bar after about a 20 minute wait, and the chef never seemed bother by my constant questions. (oooh, which roll is that? wow that's pretty, which one is that?) In fact, everyone was nice, despite the hectic crowd. Pace yourself though, because the rule is, "order all you can eat, but eat all you order" or else you pay for the leftovers. Considering I was with a human sushi vacumn, this was not a problem, but we did order one roll at a time just to be sure. Me? I just snagged two rolls and miso soup off the regular menu, for about $12. Altogether we had 5 appetizers, 6 rolls, and 2 pieces of sushi for $30 before tax/tip. You just can't beat that.

Angela S.

I found this place after having a bad experience with another popular sushi buffet place in the city. bones = bad I think it's good for a sushi buffet. nothing amazing but it's better than a few of the others I've been too. I like that you can get miso and whatnot along with it. you have to watch them though. they'll just give you whatever they want. you have to pay attention to what they put on your plate. the service can be kinda slow too.

Timothy M.

Because I'm on a budget, this is probably the sushi place I eat at the most often. You can order a shitload of awesome sushi - with appetizers like miso, gyoza, edamame - for about $20 a person (also BYOB). How can you beat that? The sushi quality is great - I would eat it sashimi anytime. Also, you get choices between straight sushi or specialty maki rolls. Take advantage and order several of each! OK, so if I was a rich man, I'd go to coast all the time. Or probably, I'd just go to Japan. But Sushi Para II allows me to eat as much as my fat American ass can stuff down my gaping maw, at a reasonable price. Now that's got my vote.

Liz M.

One of my All-Time favorite sushi restaurants! They have an All-U-Can-Eat Sushi special that you cannot beat! $19.95 for dinner and 16.95 for lunch. Be aware that the lunch menu has fewer choices than the dinner menu. When feeding at least four people on a regular basis, an All-U-Can-Eat Sushi place gets extra bonus points, seeing as the "kids" (teen and young adults) can eat more Sushi than humanly possible. The fish is ALWAYS fresh and the appetizers are yummy! The specialty rolls are the best! The"Mountain, Boston and Pop-Up" rolls are our favorites! There is another location in the burbs in Palatine, with a huge parking lot and larger dining room. I have to admit that I do like that location better. The service is good, but do plan to wait if it is busy. Take note...this place is TINY. If your looking for a romantic or trendy atmosphere...this is NOT your place. But if you desire good, fresh sushi and amazing rolls...come on down (quite literally) The restaurant is a "step-down" storefront.

Janet M.

So I'm I big fan of Sushi Para II. It's not a big surprise to my friends cause I bring them here anytime I'm cravin' some sushi. Today I ventured over for some sushi lunch... Not so sure it was a good idea. All-You-Can-Eat dinner is only $18... lunch is 15 but it's worth spending the three bucks + tip for a dinner menu. The lunch menu, which I didn't know existed until today, contains significantly less maki choices than the dinner menu. Though the food was still fresh, and the ambiance low-key (not really sure what these people are talking about the smell), i really was disappointed that I could not get my Mountain or Volcano roll for lunch. Sushi Para II... I still heart you... but please open up your lunch menu a little more for those of us that crave your delicious sushi at 10 am instead of 10 pm!!

Nancy F.

Everytime I go to an AYCE sushi place, i end up over stuffing myself and thinking the next day that the sushi wasn't even all that great to begin with. So in trying Sushi Para, I did not have high expectations (I've tried House of Sushi and Shiroi Hana before) and found myself very very pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety of sushi. This sushi buffet actually offers nigiri, not just massive rolls. I started off with a miso soup. Yes, I know you are thinking why am i filling myself up with water when there is sushi to be eaten but if you know me, i need variety in my meals and can not fill up on only one item. I had also wanted the seaweed salad but they had run out for the night so I had some of my sister's edamame. Both miso soup and edamame were good and left me craving for the main course: sushi! I started off with 3 pieces of salmon nigiri, pop up roll and crazy tuna roll. Wow, the salmon is surprisingly fresh and tasty. Yum on the nigiri. Popup roll sounded fantastic: spicy salmon, crab, shrimp, avocado and cucumber with tempura flakes on top but the actual taste was lacking. A lot of items but not much flavor and it ended up being quite bland and just kind of blah. Maybe it was an off night? I definitely did not taste any spicy salmon. The crazy tuna however was absolutely delicious - peppered tuna with avocado with seared tuna on top. Double Yum on this roll. My sister ordered spicy salmon, spicy tuna, and shrimp tempura roll. All looked delicious but I was too involved with my own plate to try hers out. In deciding what to order next, the waitress told us it was "last call" as they were closing up shop so we ordered 5 more salmon nigiri to share and i added in a pepper tuna + wasabi salad and a tamago nigiri (yes, i also wanted to fill up on egg... but i love tamago!). Pepper tuna salad was pretty good but nothing to rave about. I do not think I'll order this again - rather try to stuff in a few more pieces of the crazy tuna roll. Tamago was sweet and not overcooked, wish I had room to eat more than 1 piece. By the time we go to eating the salmon, we were so stuffed and wished they didn't stuff so much rice but still pretty darn good. My sister and I had originally wanted to go to sushi para x (She's been to sushi para II before and wanted to try another location) but finding street parking on Diversey is horrendous! We each drove around for over 15 minutes with no luck. This clark street location is slightly better (i found parking in 5 and she found in 10). Overall, I really liked sushi para and would definitely come back. Under $20 for a full dinner is pretty awesome. This is the best AYCE sushi buffet I've eaten in Chicago.

winston c.

Went again. Quality has dropped tremendously. Doubtful if I will return.

Jackie P.

Here fishy, fishy, fishy! Get in my tummy, tummy, tummy! Oh man! All you can eat buffet for $17.99 and they have a rainbow roll on it! This must be heaven! Oh and you can order soup and apps from the menu to! All you can eat! Here fishy, fishy, fishy!

Tiffany K.

so the last time i was here, they were downstairs and everything tasted so good! $15.99 All you can eat sushi for lunch is awesome. butttttt...i don't think it's worth it. salmon sushi was ok. way too much rice and salmon slices were very thin. the rolls were just ok too. nothing stood out for me to wiggle in my chair and say "mmmm!! this is gooood." :( i could've sworn the last time i was here, it was so much better. service was great, everyone is friendly. came in super hungry and left extremely full. :)

Laura S.

Terrific value! My husband and I give them a solid 4 stars only because the rolls are a bit heavy on rice. BUT, keep in mind that you are doing the all you can eat for $18.99. The quality of the fish in the sushi is superb! If you are only eating sashimi...you will love it! If you are selecting rolls ~ well, they are huge and fantastic, but if you are following the rule of 'eat all you order or pay extra for what remains" then you need to choose carefully because the rolls are gigantic!! Wonderful and fast service!! We were expecting slow service based upon earlier reviews but sat at the sushi bar and it was honestly the quickest we have ever been served at a sushi restaurant! We will definitely be back our next visit to Chicago!

Theresa C.

So, last night I spent $18 to discover that I don't actually like sushi very much. It was my first time and my friends took me to this all you can eat because they could order whatever and I could just have a piece or two and try everything. My sushi crazy friends LOVE this place and it's food. I just don't think I really need all the sushi I can eat, ever. My personal feelings towards sushi aside, this restaurant is very nice and if I were a fan of sushi I know I would come here over and over. First, I know that $18 all you can eat is a great deal for sushi. Second, even someone like me who doesn't really like fishy fish ate the sushi and didn't hate it, some of the things (the Spider Roll, Mountain Roll and Volcano Roll) I actually liked, just not enough to stuff myself full of them. The all-you-can-eat menu is fairly impressive including a lot of non-sushi items and a wide variety of rolls. It was pretty crowded when we were there, 6:30 on a Friday night. We waited just under a half hour, which wasn't bad, but a larger party waited our entire meal and weren't seated before we left. Its a BYOB, and they let the people waiting start drinking so the long wait can be forgiven. The service was incredibly fast, especially considering how packed this joint was. It was clean and the staff were very friendly. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for cheap, good, fast(ish) sushi in the city.

S M.

Mediocre and bad service. Wouldn't go back. The draw of this place is the all you can eat, however, they charge extra for anything you don't finish. The menu says leftovers extra I assumed it meant to take home but nope. You have to pay extra for sushi you don't eat. Including rice with the fish eaten. Don't bother with this place.

D G.

My friends and I have become regulars here and followed them to the new next-door location. What Sushi Para II lacks in presentation it more than makes up for in taste and quantity. BYOB a plus. Bring a good white wine and feast away.

Logan J.

Fast review: Average sushi, lackluster establishment, poor waitstaff; I'm sure its a fine place if you are part of a small group and it isn't too busy and you have a lot of time to wait for your food Setting : A birthday event for a friend - 13 people in party total with reservation Food Option: AYCE Sushi for all members Food Quality: On par with other AYCE sushi establishments Facilities: We were in the basement (I'm assuming their large party space) which was poorly kept, not very clean, and in desperate need of some TLC Service: Our server and customer service was atrocious. We were told to order our sushi en masse as a group as it would expedite our food prep. It still took 50 minutes for us to receive our order, which came out after parties which arrived after ours, and was not the entire order we had placed (our server cut down our order size unbeknownst to our party). We wanted to place an additional order immediately knowing the long prep time but we were told we could not order more until we finished the first platter. We easily did and ordered more which our server told us she would not place the order as it was too large (it would have been an additional 8 pieces per person and our first order only provided 6 pieces per person, nothing astronomical by any measure). We cut our order down and waited another 45 minutes for food. I would have placed another order for more sushi but the kitchen had closed by the time we saw our waitress again.

Amy R.

All-you-can-eat-sushi and BYOB. Have you ever read more joy in a single sentence?! They also include their appetizers on their all you can eat menu, which is amaing. Vegetable tempura and gyoza BEFORE I eat mountains of fresh delicious sushi?! Don't mind if I do! When I first started going to this place, there was never ever a wait and we always ate to our hearts content, unrushed. Now, it would appear this business has outgrown itself. There is always a wait, they've moved upstairs to where they technically have more space, but it's very awkwardly laid out, and the service is dreadful. I still go, because $20 for a pretty decent quality sushi dinner in Lincoln Park is an absurd deal, but be prepared to be pretty forcefully ushered out by the waitstaff. Oh, and now, be prepared for a hell of a wait.

Christine L.

Oh Sushi Para II, you are where I developed my love for sushi. This place has changed quite a bit from when I first came here many years ago. They now are located upstairs from where they used to be in a space that's much nicer and open looking. I most recently came on a Monday evening after work and it was not crowded at all; we were seated right away. If you come here, come here for the all you can eat sushi. At $18.99 (as of yesterday) it's definitely worth it even if you only get a few rolls. While the appetizers aren't the best or the most varied, the rolls on their AYCE menu definitely make up for it. Sushi Para doesn't suffer from the "lots of rice" syndrome or "they all taste the same" affliction that many sushi AYCE restaurants suffer. They had a good fish to rice ratio, and the rolls are flavorful! Service was fairly friendly and quick. I had a question about some of the tuna (I'm not very fish aware and it had a little sheen to it), but the waitress assured me it was freshly delivered that day and even double checked with the chef for me. And once I knew it was fresh I went ahead and ate it. As my friend said, I eat by faith, not by sight. This is not the fanciest place, so don't expect much when it comes to presentation, but the food is good and there's a lot of it (as much as you want with the AYCE!).

May G.

Ok, let`s see if I got it correct.. They have this All you can eat menu for $18.99 and you can order everything from the menu. Well I went there alone and I ordered four items from this menu but couldn`t eat all of them so they charged me 18.99+4 bucks for the rolls that I couldn`t eat so I ended up paying $23 bucks?! Is this serious? They charge you for a buffet and they surcharge you for the food you didn`t eat!! I don`t think that I will ever go back there! RIP OFF!

Amy H.

I may be spoiled by sushi in LA, but I have definitely experienced better sushi in Chicago. I understand that it was an All You Can Eat sushi dinner for $18.99, but that doesn't mean you can ruin my sushi experience entirely. I started off with miso soup, an Eel Roll, Yellowtail Roll, plus 2 pieces of Yellowtail Nigiri, 1 Salmon Nigiri, and 1 Octopus Nigiri ( yelp.com/biz_photos/nEVM… ). As you can probably tell by my selection, I'm not for super decked out rolls - I like really focusing on tasting the fish. And...so I focused...and chewed...and tasted...and it was a waste of energy and money. The fish didn't taste fresh at all, and the rice was not holding together well. My favorite sushi is Yellowtail (Hamachi), and I usually sushigasm as I close my eyes and let the flavors fill my mouth...but no hint of a sushigasm. Sigh. I hadn't eaten $18.99 worth of AYCE sushi yet, so I ordered a Sai salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/nEVM… ) which was disappointing and went unfinished, plus a plate of White Tuna Nigiri, Salmon Nigiri, White Fish Nigiri, and Tuna Nigiri ( yelp.com/biz_photos/nEVM… ). No sushi-gasms with this plate either... If you're here for the BYOB (no corkage fee) and decked out rolls, and you have not been spoiled by fresh sushi, it's probably an okay place. But for me, a Sashimi and Nigiri loving girl, the AYCE option was a waste of money. I was able to find paid street parking just across the street.

Sarah C.

FYI: the restaurant had moved next door so it no longer has two levels. I think overall the total space is smaller. I came here with a group of 12 for AYCE and BYOB. Made reservations morning of and we were seated pretty quickly when we got there. Food is about on par with other AYCE places. Not the worlds best sushi but still definitely enjoyable. We ordered on one menu and our first round of food came out pretty quick, maybe 15-20 min. Not bad. For the second round we asked if our sushi can be on a boat (passing a heavy ceramic plate up and down the table is pretty hard). Food took longer this time. About 40 min. Request for boat was ignored (damn). Also, saw another table got several ice creams and candles for a birthday. Since we were there celebrating a birthday as well, we asked the waitress if we could do that as well. She had to ask the manager and then brought out one mochi for our table of 12. No candle. So we blew out the whipped cream. Overall an ok experience. Bonus for actually reading this far: the women's bathroom has two toilets placed next to each other without a stall or anything separating them. Makes for funny pictures.

Wilson H.

This place is ok, they stuff a lot of rice into their nigiri and roll, sure most AYCE sushi places do this, but they put more than I usually see. They have a nice selection of rolls and have eel nigiri here and a wide selection of appetizers too. Service is good, basically what you would expect from an AYCE restaurant.

Joanna Z.

It's a great place if you want to get good sushi for a reasonable price and enjoy your time with friends. The sushi was good, a lot to choose from, and the BYOB is a bog plus. Came out to this place this past weekend, with a group of friends, and we had a great time. Our server was very nice, at times he just looked at us strangely. I think it was do to the amount of alcohol on the table. The only negative that I found is that the place is small and gets very crowded, and the overall look of this venue is plain. It took a little away from the experience.

George J.

If you're lookin' to eat a lot and get away with a cheap bill you might like this place. I wouldn't go back, their rolls are all rice and the quality just isn't there. Maybe I'm spoiled with the AYCE sushi places in Vegas which had high quality sushi and a huge variety. The ambiance isn't good and the place was small and loud the one upside to this place is that it's also BYOB.

Zengcong L.

After living in Toronto for a few years, this sushi buffet could hardly meet my needs of fresh AYCE sushi. Its $19 dinner is apparently cheaper than almost all other sushi buffet restaurants, but no sashimi? Salmon sushi doesn't taste fresh and tasty at all. Almost every single sushi there tastes bad. Wouldn't recommend this restaurant at all.

Salma T.

Today was my first time and the last at this place. We came just for sushi and it was not fresh at all. Also the pieces were huge so you can't eat it in one bite.

Bella D.

Wow, always heard about this place. Great maki special and service. Definitely try their unagi maki and assorted fresh salmon, tuna, hamachi maki rolls. We had a great time. Great buffet!:)

Ajha P.

I don't know why I haven't written a review for this place before. In the past few months I've been a semi-regular. As others had said before you can't beat $20 for unlimited sushi. I get the lunch special which evens out to $17ish but I try hard to tip well. Their service is so excellent. I come in enough that I feel recognized. I don't get the feeling that their attentiveness is tinged with a desire to cheat me into paying extra at the end and I have felt that way other unlimited places. And the white tuna, eel, and spicy tuna roll are always getting perfect marks in my book. Love this place and they have a loyal customer in me!

Diane S.

Getting sick of reading people's negative reviews! God! If you would rather pay per roll, then DO THAT! Sheesh. This place has good sushi for when you want to just go nuts. I like to go in with a book, order green tea, and then work my way through miso, a few apps, and then 2 different kinds of rolls and a handful of nigiri. It's really all you need. Their fish has never not been fresh, the service is really kind and attentive, and if I go during lunch I don't get as irritated as when I go during the evening. My awesome Mom is taking me there for my birthday and I can't wait. I hope I don't see any snotty yuppies in there. They don't know what they're talking about.

Deena D.

All you can eat & sushi is never a good idea, & now I know why. How it works is you can check off as much as you'd like for the "All you can Eat" special but if you don't finish it all, you will pay for it. I do like how you can incorporate not only rolls but appetizers as well. Unfortunately though the sushi is very bland & did not taste fresh, plus I feel like there is SO much rice in there it makes it impossible to finish it. We sat in a back room behind the kitchen which wasn't exactly cozy. Our server spilled miso soup all over a customer & no one really did anything to help here. I understand people will make mistakes but geeze at least try & do everything you can to comfort your customer. Nori still trumps this place all day long.

Janene M.

A set price. Unlimited sushi. All you can eat. Fresh. Spicy tuna was my fav. I'll be back.

Anesh P.

They definitely try to rip you off. We went there for lunch and all they handed us was the buffet sheets and I had to ask if they had another menu - they were not informative. Their teriyaki chicken was extremely overpriced ($13 without tax and tip) - chicken was dry, sauce was bland - it was something an amateur cook could have made in his house. We were charged $19 for the buffet, but we went for lunch and I found out on their site that lunch buffet is only $16 - ripped us off. They also had other lunch combo specials which we would have chosen on their online menu but we didn't know about them since they didn't show us those options. I've only been to another ayce sushi which was House of sushi and noodles and that place is the complete opposite from Sushi para II. Will not come here again.

Kaman T.

If I wanted to eat my weight in sushi rice for $20, I would've just bought a sack of rice from Chinatown. Overall, the TASTE of the food was not bad, but they use SO much rice for each piece of sushi. It was like unreasonably big. I can understand that it might be their strategy to fill you up faster, but it was like comically big. The fact that the rice was warm made you feel the fullness more, too. The service really brought down my rating as well. People that ordered after us and ordered the same appetizers got it before we did! We waited 25 minutes for our food to come. I will not be returning to Sushi Para 2 or any sushi buffets by Sushi Para.

Justina L.

I come here over and over again. This is our friends' spot for when one of us craves stuffing our faces with awesome sushi (for a great price)! The food is great, but the service is ehh, which is why it's only a 4 out of 5. Whenever I (or my hungry husband) order a LOT of sushi, they always leave a couple nigiris or rolls out of our plate! It's a little disappointing to not get your whole order.

Christine V.

My experience at Sushi Para has been below Par. One time I went with my friend and there was a pubic hair in our sushi roll. How I gave it another chance I am unsure. This time, my two friends and I brought a bottle of wine to go to all you can eat sushi. (since the restaurant is byob and all you can eat). Our waiter, the only caucasian male i've ever seen there, "becomes" our waiter half way through our meal (to our displeasure). He was extremely rude and awkward and weird and over talkative and annoying. He insulted us, asking why we wanted to order more sushi....at an all you can eat sushi menu. He never introduced himself and assumed we wanted him to become our waiter. We missed our nice previous crabby waitress a lot. He then proceeded to approach and accuse us of being minors drinking one bottle of wine at a clearly BYOB restaurant and then laughing and asking us how often we get IDed and that we should be glad that this is a BYOB restaurant (obviously because we already were drinking wine, duh). This made us feel really awkward, because we weren't sure if he was complementing our youth or accusing us of being illegal!!! Sorry, you're not my dad or a bartender. :( He made our experience really poor and embarrassing and I got super irritated. Might go again but definitely would go to the Palatine location. Chicago is dirt .

Maria M.

I LOVE this place! Our friends took us here when we visited them in Chicago and boy oh boy! I think this is the first sushi buffet place where you order your sushi instead of being in a sushi line. The fish were fresh and loved all the different selections. Plus the appetizers were included so yay for all you can eat edemame! Everything tasted delicious. The best part is that sashimi is included also. I mean, how can you go wrong with that. We pretty much ordered everything on the menu and cannot complain about any particular rolls. Though I do suggest going for the more complicated rolls that you can't really find elsewhere (Alaska, Boston, Chicago and Sapporo Rolls were pretty good). Anyway, on another note, it's BYOB and there's a liquor store pretty close from it so thats a plus for those who like to drink some bubbly with their sushi =). Bottom line: go here.. you will not regret it

Greg D.

Why? Why is this place so friggin good? Why is it so cheap? Answer: I don't really care. The sushi is fresh and is AMAZING. When we come here, we do the All You Can Eat special which is a great deal($20). It's also BYOB which they do not charge extra for (some places do). Typically this place is packed on weekends, but if you come here on a weeknight, its a little bit slower and less of a wait. Seriously, the only thing that can make this place better is if they served all the sushi in the wooden boat. WOO! Customer 4 life.

Sara M.

So.... I don't recommend this place. Definitely the worst sushi ice ever had. I think even the take homes I used to get from Jewel are better than this place.... They put so much rice in the sushi that it literally makes you sick. Plus, if you don't eat everything on your plate they charge you. I'm thinking coincidence there, no? Let's make everyone as full as we can so they can't order more and charge them for the rest. (That was so Columbo of me.....) Anyways, this sushi is disgusting and I'm never coming here again.

Barbara B.

I love this place. This is where I go when I am craving sushi and I want to be full and not spend $50! Definitely get the All You Can Eat! Is the sushi delicately crafted with thin slivers of fish? Nope. Do I care? Nope. I love coming here with a huge group so I can try some of everything. I try to minimize the spicy tuna rolls because they all start to taste the same. My favorites are the salmon sushi and the white fish sushi and any of the rolls with tempura chips (love the crunch). The appetizers are average but I always enjoy miso soup and edamame. The service is terrible, not very friendly, and once my group was told we had 5 minutes to pay and leave because people were waiting for our table. Even with the terrible service, I still love this place because I love sushi and I love BYOB and this is a great place to spend a Friday night with a bunch of people!

Jeffrey Z.

When we got there, the sushi chef was asleep on the floor behind the sushi bar. Their sushi is lower than mediocre. The Yakitori appetizer had no flavor. They had some of the worst music I've ever heard in a restaurant.

Emily L.

The fish is fresh, the bar and kitchen is very clean (saw it from my own eyes). Like the rock and roll, spider roll, volcano roll, great dragon roll. Prefer the regular orders than all you can it. Reasonable price. BYOB

Andy S.

I generally stay away from all-you-can-eat sushi but this was pretty good quality sushi. Only trouble with going that route is you want to try a bunch of different rolls but some are 8 big pieces (I realize you can just eat a few and skip the rest but not really my style). The all-you-can-eat option is a bit pricey but for the quality of it I think it's worth it. Other items were solid too. Overall pretty good place that I would go back to.

AV G.

Let me set the record straight.I was taking a group of out of towners here, and was very concerned by the broad range of reviews on YELP. What I can comfortably conclude is that a huge portion of yelpers really don't get out too much, and have no idea of what they are talking about. Sushi is one of the most expensive restaurant choices, and you get what you pay for.( See my review of NOBU). This very nice, casual neighborhood place offers an outstanding all you can eat, made to order, meal that is twenty bucks. The food is very, very, good and the service is excellent. We had tons of food and were at the place for almost two hours. The complaints and criticisms noted by other yelpers was unfounded by our group. The choices are all good and we really enjoyed our meal. On top of all that, it is BYOB. Is this the best sushi place i ever ate??? No. But it is a perfect place for a group (less than 10) who want to have a good meal, and a good time at a good price!!

Irene G.

All you can eat sushi?! Yes count me in! A friend suggested we try this place and for $18.99/person, that's a value (includes unlimited appetizers). Everything tasted pretty standard, although I do recommend the saporro roll - so good! It's byob so go with a group and go crazy! Not too crazy though - each roll you don't eat is 50 cents! I managed to stuff the last of my eel rolls so as not to waste food. :) I'm definitely coming back here. One star off for the slow service, but it does get busy so I guess I can understand that.

Yen L.

NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR THE ONE ON CLARK, NOT FOR THE OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE CITY. This place has been kind of the convenient fallback for my boyfriend and me when we want AYCE sushi but don't feel like traveling to one of our favorites in the suburbs and just want to stick with the classics. Whenever we've gone, the service has been fine, though not spectacular. They've sometimes left off items from our AYCE checklist, but we usually just made up for it with the next order, and all was well. The last time we were there, which was just a couple of days ago, the experience sunk my regard for the place like a rock. We showed up around 7ish, maybe about 7:10, and the guy (I assume he was the manager because he was the only one who spoke pretty competent English) told us it would probably be a "10-15 minute" wait. There were already some people in front of us, and the manager said there was a reservation. Personally, I was bit puzzled because I don't remember Sushi Para II ever taking reservations, but whatever. I wasn't first in line, so no biggie. I went ahead and sat down in a chair right by the counter, but my boyfriend remained standing and within sight of the manager. 10-15 minutes ticked by, and in that time more customers came in, and the manager kept telling them he was waiting for a reservation to come in. People asked if they needed to put their name in. He said no, just wait, and he'll call them in. If they had to wait outside, he would step outside to call them to their table. At 7:45, I overheard him call a party who had a reservation for 7:30 and they told him they'd be there in a couple of minutes. Personally, I think if they were already five minutes late, he should have canceled their reservation and started seating the people who'd been waiting for a while. Keep in mind that at this point, we'd been waiting about a half hour. Around 7:50, a lady and her friend who came in after us checked with the manager and politely asked if they should put in their name. In a rather loud and rude tone, the manager shoved a paper and pen at her and said, "Here, you want to put your name in?! You want to?! I TOLD you I will let you know when it's your turn!" Good golly. The lady remained calm and said, "Okay, can you just let us know about how long we'll be waiting?" He said, "You're next, about 5-10 minutes." At this point, my boyfriend spoke up because they had come in AFTER us, and of course, our wait by this point had been nearly 45 minutes. The guy said we'd be next, in...wait for it...10-15 minutes. Heck no. Our first 10-15 minutes had turned into 45 minutes. Even some people standing next to us wondered what the deal was because they remembered that we'd been before some others who were being seated. So my boyfriend went ahead and called another Sushi Para location, and they said they had lots of open tables, so we just bailed. We warned a few others on our way out that they better stick their faces in there if they wanted to have a chance at a table. After this experience, I don't want to waste my time with Sushi Para II anymore. There are other locations (M & D, to name two) that have the exact same menu and better service. I'm sure Para II won't hurt without my business and there'll be plenty of other customers who'll keep it alive and well. But that was just it for me. The fact that the food isn't that spectacular to begin with and that they mix up our orders already made it kind of subpar in our mind. But to be treated in such a way and to see the manager (or at least a person who's supposed to be polite) treat others so poorly...just killed this location for me. It was a good run, Para II. Good luck.

Irina F.

Never disappointed here. But I agree - some rolls have too much rice. World roll was very good.

Cameron H.

Before going to a concert, we decided to go to Sushi Para II. On this day, it was raining, so convenience won out again. My friends wanted to go to a place that served alcohol and since SPII is BYOB, it automatically dropped to an ok on the list. I was here a long time ago and I don't recall there being an upstairs. Hmmm.. Overall, decent experience. I've had better. Maybe it was due to it was crowded and a Saturday evening. But everything we ordered was tasty. I would go back again to try something else.

Anthony A.

The all you can eat lunch was good. I am extremely disappointed that I was charged an extra dollar for some extra spicy mayo. In all the places I have been I have not been charged for it. For this simple fact, I will not be back and will take business elsewhere.

Amy T.

This place got my boyfriend coming back every time! I love the sushi they have here. They also have a roll with the chef special sauce. True to their word, you can't find that taste anywhere else! This place is pretty expensive after 4 for dinner. It can be a whopping 20$. Not really a good deal if you can't eat much at the buffet. The charge for individual rolls are pretty expensive, but I guess the taste makes up for it. There are several rolls with spicy sauce, and it is pretty good :) not too spicy and not too subtle. It leaves you tasting the fish too. The place is pretty spacious but feels vey different as compared to the place when they were located downstairs. I guess it is the walls. The last time I went they did not have a limit on how many rolls and pieces you can order. But if you order from the buffet menu, you better eat what you order or they charge per piece. One of the things that usually get me is how the nigiri sizes are humongous. The fish barely covered the rice sometimes. But meh.... I can deal with that. There are also a variety of appetizers and rolls. There are more tasty rolls from the dinner menu.

Nurbek T.

The best sushi place in town. Service is good and the food is delicious. If you wanna nice hang out with your friends then this is the place.

Tracy B.

I love this place. All you can eat sushi plus BYOB? Beautiful. It seems a bit expensive at first but think about it...you are going to be paying this much for food anywhere you go. It is a great place to take a date or to just pop in for lunch. Any location is great. I am reviewing para II because it is the one that I lived the closest to. P.S: I have a slight salmon allergy that is only present at certain restaurants (due to the way they store their fish) and I have never had an allergic reaction here. I can always count on Sushi Para II to feed me sushi without the stomach pains the next day.

Keon K.

It's been a while coming here since I live all the way in indiana. But when I do come to Chicago I like to visit here. I was hesitant coming here since all of my family had said it was time to find another sushi place. Anyways, it was my birthday and I wanted sushi. So I made everyone go here. A huge transformation! They moved right next door. The place looks a whole lot cleaner and new and fresh. They did a better job than their previous store. One of the biggest complaint from my wife was that the old place was just dirty and it made the food feel dirty... She enjoyed it this time. Only giving 4 stars cause of the wait time. Waited about 20-30 min for the food to come out. We did order a bit but still people come here super hungry. Maybe I should order one at a time when we go back so it's not a waiting game. Forgot to take photos! But order their gyosa it comes out super quick and its delicious. We will be coming back to this place. All you can eat lunch was 15.99. I think there is a less sushi to choose from compared to dinner menu? Not sure. This was our first time going in for lunch menu. Didn't see our favorite sushi listed in the lunch menu but still was good!

Nathan J.

Expected nothing short of disgusting from an all you can eat sushi bar but am happy to say I was wrong. We went in a Monday so maybe the fish was really fresh but the nigiri was actually awesome and the rolls not bad either. Nothing super fancy but a solid choice especially when you want to binge in nigiri Not sure if it was just luck but I'll take it

John K.

this place is awesome nothing fishy about it!

Rachel P.

Great sushi for good price especially for buffet! This is the place to go to satisfy a sushi craving!

Yuri S.

Such a good deal. 18.99 for all you can eat sushi, and it won't make you sick! The service was actually quite good too and we got a table right away on a Saturday evening! (We came around 5pm) Definitely coming back again.

Justyna S.

My fave sushi place! I go there at least once in a month. From all the Sushi Para locations, I have been in that one the most. However, it has become very busy recently. So if there is a long wait, I go to that one on Diversey or on Wacker, all though these locations dont beat the original Sushi Para in Palatine. From all the "all you can eat" sushi places, this chain is the best.

MG J.

I try to stay away from "buffets" because there is just too much temptation. I had the "all-you-can-eat" deal that they have every night. Beware! They will charge you for every piece of sushi that you do NOT eat! Make sure you only order what you can devour! I think we were all "sick" after we left Sushi Para! lol... A good sushi place. I would only go back if a certain friend of mine twists my arm!

Xuesong B.

Been there a lot of times. This is my best sushi place in Chicago. Their appetizers are awesome as well. I love the fried vegs, the dumplings , and the squid . About their sushi, I love it! The kind that has cheese inside,-(:)forgot the name of it) is so tasty! I can have a total roll of it.

Jordan M.

Not only is it all you can eat, but there is good sushi too. This is one of my favorite places in town.

Christine N.

why. why are there all you can eat places that charge so little, and put mediocre sushi, and LOTS of rice? dont get me wrong. i've been to plenty of all you can eat sushi. but the sushi is GOOD. and the prices reflect that as it is about 5-10 dollars more expensive. i don't know where the fish comes from here, but the flavors were whatever. whatever is described as "spicy" needs to get re-named... to bland. everything tasted exactly the same and looked very poorly made. lots of the bigger sushi were falling apart and i swear... i should just order rice if i want to eat that much. no more.

Darren F.

the price here is pretty cheap compare to the other sushi buffets that i go to.. the service is a hit or miss, i usually get a waitress that's not really attentive... the sushi looks better then it tastes.. over the years I've been here, their sushi always break apart once i pick it up with my chop sticks (FYI i know how to use chop sticks!) and it still does now... some of the sushi is packed with too much rice.. most of the sushi i taste here is pretty bland and would need to use a lot of wasabi .. for 20 bucks it may be worth it for some people.. but i would much rather pay an extra 10 bucks for better quality sushi buffets with good consistent service..

J B.

Why is this not closer to my house? I love this place! You cant go wrong the sushi is excellent here :)

Nicole B.

The Roommate and I brought our own wine and had a grand ol' time. I always thought I could eat my weight in sushi...but tonight I was proven wrong. Regardless, we definitely got our $18.99's-worth. The sushi was good, lots of different rolls that met our fancies. The only reason they didn't get five stars was because the ambience is a little plain and we were a little cramped in a corner. But no complaints. The servers were friendly and we'll definitely go back again...in stretchier pants.

Chicago J.

This is my go-to sushi place here in Chicago. Any time I have guests coming to visit from out of town, I take them here for AYCE goodness. I see a lot of reviews that say they've found a better place...but for the price and the variety in selection, I've not found a better place than Sushi Para ll. I'm only sorry I can't give them 5 stars, but I'll tell you why. *I LOVE gyoza and shumai, and will often order than while awaiting my sushi goodness...yet they aren't better than what I can get from the frozen food section in the grocery store. *On more than one occasion, the wait staff has neglected to give us plates, and we've had to eat our sushi off of the main plate the meal comes on. Not terrible when eating amongst friends, but still awkward when sharing a meal. *Sushi that falls apart when you try to pick it up. Again, if I had my own plate, I wouldn't care that much...but leads to awkwardness when you can't get the piece off the main plate without making a mess :( *Sushi that is so big that it's hard to fit in your mouth. I don't even mean the 5 piece rolls, which I already know are huge. But oftentimes even the basic rolls...because they use so much rice as filler!! I get why they're doing it...but it detracts from my enjoyment. *There are a few rolls on the menu that are named differently, and claim there are different ingredients, but taste (and look) EXACTLY the same. With that said, I can't wait to go again!

Hrudaya S.

Went back just to give it another try. It was much better than my first trip there. Service was much better. The wait time was much shorter, given it was a Sunday night.

Patty C.

Cheap and decent sushi for all you can eat. Nothing special though. So if you have a need to satisfy a sushi binge, then this is the place. Service is mediocre.

Mary T.

Living off of Clark, there is no shortage of sushi joints; unfortunately most of them do not keep lunch hours and if they do, they're selective. Jerry M and I were looking for a sushi place with a nice lunch special and settled on Sushi Mon. Discovering - on my way to said lunch - that I overlooked the fact they only do lunch on Fri/Sat, we ended up at Sushi Para II. SPII was on our original list of lunch contenders, but not near the top; in the past I've found it immemorable. I had not been to Sushi Para II since they moved upstairs; the new location is nice and roomy, much nicer than their old basement spot. The signage is a little confusing, it's easy to think they're still located in the basement. SPII has three lunch specials; $15.99 AYCE sushi, sushi combos, and a menu of hot dishes, the latter two deals are served with miso soup. There are 4 or 5 different sushi lunch specials ranging from $9-14; they consist of varying combinations of maki and nigiri or sashimi. The maki included in the lunch special is more than your typical spicy tuna and california rolls; as a whole, the sushi lunch special menu is a decent selection of both sashimi/nigiri and maki. I went with the 2 maki special for $8.99, opting for Christmas and spicy salmon rolls. The rolls were well prepared, no issues with them falling apart this go round and they weren't skimpy on the fish or too overloaded with rice. There isn't much of a lunch crowd here, which is nice. We were seated immediately and not rushed through our meal. I'd definitely pop in here again for lunch, plenty of options and a good deal for the price.

Stephanie L.

AYCE sushi for $18.99...I mean, what do you expect??? Haha and for those people that say that Sushi Sai is better or vice versa...NEWS FLASH...they are the same company. They have a pretty large selection of sushi and maki on the AYCE menu. Nothing too spectacular. I did think some of the sushi was 'fishy.' Which I am not a really picky sushi eater so I did get a little grossed out when some of the rolls really tasted....well just plain yucky. I actually had to spit one piece into my napkin...I just couldnt take it anymore and didnt want to get 'charged' if I didnt eat everything. Once I figured out what was good, I just stuck with that. They have pretty good shumai...which I love so I pigged out on some of those too. The seaweed salad was not seaweed. There was like two strands of the seaweed that they normally put in the seaweed salad so that was disappointing. Most of the tempura rolls were totally fine. The philly was good. Unagi here was meh at best and the soft shelled crab...I would totally NOT recommend. It was very fishy. Overall, the service was pretty attentive. Not stellar, but pretty standard among other BYOB sushi restaurants I have been too. They have BYOB with a no corkage fee so it really is a great deal...if you are planning on pigging out on some sushi...this place might be worth checking out.

Spencer H.

I have ate here multiple times & I have ate at their other restaurant Sushi Para in Palatine. I generally enjoy the all you can eat sushi option if the quality of the sushi is good. The quality was up to my standards at this restaurant & the establishment was clean which is just as important to me as having good quality food. The service was good & the staff was friendly. The all you can eat sushi dinner was $20 . The only big difference I have noticed about this restaurant from their restaurant in Palatine,IL is I believe they use more MSG or fillers here because I usually can eat about 4-4.5 rolls & my friend usually can eat about 5-6 however when we eat here we can barely finish 2 rolls. I would recommend eating here but possibly look into ordering off the menu & not the all you can eat as you will possibly be just as full for cheaper.

Kristal B.

My husband and I came here because we had passed this restaurant a few times while driving north on Clark street and decided to give it a try. We received a table immediately, and a waitress quickly arrived at our table. She gave us our menu and some glasses of water. We proceeded to make our selections on the menu, and the waitress retrieved our orders. While waiting, I attempted to pick up my glass of water and it accidentally slipped out of my hands and the water was on the table, but the majority of the water was in a puddle by my feet. I quickly used the napkins on the table to clean and dry the table and my husband went up front to the host to tell him to get a mop because there was too much water for the few napkins we had to dry the floor. He proceeded to give my husband two napkins and the waitress used two paper towels to wipe up the mess, but that amount of water needed to be removed with a mop. I went into the ladies room and got several paper towels to try and dry the floor because they didn't seem to care and never got a mop. After the third time of going in to the ladies room to get paper towels to dry the floor, as I am drying the floor I see a COCKROACH crawl past my fingers. THAT WAS IT!!!!! We left, we have no idea whether the sushi was tasty or not because the customer service was HORRIBLE and seeing a cockroach just ended any desire we had to try their food.

Julia K.

Food: The sushi is very good! If you like spicy tuna, try the mountain roll! It is one of my favorite rolls ever and is much better than a regular spicy tuna roll. American dream roll is also a great roll to try. -For apps, get the yaki chicken and the gyoza, yum! Service: Let's be honest, the food is great but if you're looking for 5-star service, this is not the place for you. Some of the servers don't speak the most amazing English and because it's all you can eat, the 10-15 minute wait times they say are usually pretty unrealistic. -Go during non-peak times, expect to wait at dinner time, or do the awesome take out special and eat at home (3 rolls, 2 pieces, and an app for $18). Making a reservation for big groups doesn't necessarily mean you will actually be sat at that time p.s. Overall: yummy sushi, BYOB, and a great price for those of us who like to stuff our faces with sushi for a reasonable price.

Angie D.

Hubby and I went on Friday for the first time. Was kind of skeptical about the "All You Can Eat" sushi. The food was really good! And you have to love the BYOB! We'll definitely be back.

Jackie M.

Back in the days, when I was in high school or college, (like 8 years ago) this would be the place to go, because it's all you can eat for like $15-20? Thinking back, this place is very Americanized Japanese food. Mostly cooked food that's mediocre. Your typical shrimp tempura rolls, cali rolls, unagi rolls wrapped in chunks of rice. The place is very small and the wait is sometimes ridiculous. Upon seating, I usually (back then) would order everything at once, since it takes the food forever to come out. It's very rude for the waitress to speak up/assume that I cannot finish my food and that's too much food. What's the meaning of all you can eat, when you are not allowed to order???

Vanessa R.

**Only for the Clark location. Maybe the others are better... who knows. Ugh, this was the worst sushi I've had. I got a great recommendation to come here, but I felt sick afterwards. The eel was dry? And every time we picked up a roll it completely fell apart. My boyfriend and I were so grossed out we payed for the leftover rolls because we couldnt bare eating another. They LOOKED great, tasted terrible. I will never come back.

Sabrina K.

First, we went for AYCE lunch which on their website says $15.99 (which I didn't know they had a different price for AYCE lunch vs. dinner), but we got charged the dinner price $18.99 - wasn't happy finding that out later. Also, I thought the AYCE sushi menu was not as extensive as another AYCE place - House of Sushi and Noodles (another note is that they included seaweed in their AYCE menu while Sushi Para didn't). Like some other reviewers mentioned, Sushi Para does not have many cooked sushi varieties as House of Sushi and I prefer cooked sushi. The chicken teriyaki was nothing special and was small so it wasn't worth the price. Overall, I wouldn't come here again.

Helena G.

We went too late in the night so we couldn't appreciate it much. My favorites were the rainbow roll, dragon roll and fashion roll. It wasn't the best sushi that I ever had but it has a decent price, lots of variety and the fish was fresh. The restaurant itself has a simple but nice decor. And the staff was efficient and nice.

Carolyn E.

All you can eat sushi, BYOB! Have more miraculous syllables ever been uttered? I like that appetizers are also available from their all you can eat menu. The salads are just too big, don't bother. The sushi is a little rice heavy, but not incredibly so. You will have to pay for left over food, so choose your rolls and portions wisely.

Emma O.

I was a DePaul student so Sushi Para II was frequently visited. Probably at least twice a week. Best sushi buffet I have ever been to. I prefer the one in Lincoln Park over the one in Palatine on the basis that LP is BYOB. Why I give it four stars instead of five: 1) The sushi is served with a ton of rice (probably to reduce costs) - they charge if you leave leftover rice 2) You cant go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, unless you don't mind waiting two hours. Since its BYOB... there is a ton of squatters. Drives me crazy.

Francesc B.

A couple of years ago we kind of found out this place. We ate there about 3 times. The last time, we felt we were being pushed to leave the place, something like they may have felt we were eating too much ... It was not a good feeling, we were very uncomfortable and disappointed. This is an 'all you can eat' place, so if I want to eat 20 peaces of sushi, let it be ... Anyhow, we stopped going and after 2 years we gave it another chance. Now the place is upstairs, not in the basement. The first time we went it was great. The second time we went, the first piece of sushi I put on my mouth was just GLORY, but after 7 or 8, the salmon did not really taste anything. I do not know if it is because I ate too much, or because they have a way to give you the best the first time, and then anything... The service is not really good. I sat there looking at my already prepared dish while the waitress stood chatting with her friend for about 3 or 4 minutes. I recommend this place for casual sushi eaters, perhaps not for people who really really love sushi and want the very best quality. We go for lunch cause its cheaper. You end up paying $40 for 2 people with taxes and tips.

Andre W.

This place offers a deal for all you can eat sushi for $18.99....my kind of place! Sad to say I was not hungry enough to take advantage of that deal. It was Memorial Day and the rain had just ended. We were starving and craved sushi. Looked inside the downstairs area and it seemed closed, plus the open sign was not lit. We checked upstairs and they were definitely open. Staff showed us to our seat in the back of the restaurant next to the kitchen. We started with the seaweed salad and it was a sgood as any I have had before. I went with the Spicy Tuna Roll along with a piece of white tuna sushi (delicious), tuna (also delicious) and the pepper tuna (decent). Good sushi here and its BYOB! Someday I will come back and take advantage of that amazing deal. I was told you have to eat it all or pay for what you don't eat...don't worry I will destroy every little morsel!

Monica D.

The only thing I like about this place is that I can have as much sushi and several kinds of appetizer as I want. But every rolls tastes the same. Both the rolls and sushi have too mich rice that even bothers me to taste the fish. And they charge you if you leave some rice behind.

Kat L.

I kind of sort of HATE this place. Went for lunch with my sister, my cousin and his wife. Went before I had to go to work. We go. We order sushi. Takes 30-40 minutes. The appetizer that came with buffet was measly and did nothing to satiate our appetites. Essentially like one shumai a piece. So the food finally comes. We begin to eat. We're running out of time because I have to leave to get to work in Park Ridge. And guess what. Their credit card machine is busted. Great. They didn't bother posting a sign on the door. Didn't bother mentioning it to their diners walking in. What kind of place would do that!??! How many people carry $80-100 of cash on them nowadays? So these guys make us search for an ATM.... while it's already hard to find parking in the area, while keeping half of our party prisoners-- cuz you know, we'd love to dine and ditch after we finished only 1/2 a round of sushi. 20 minutes later, my cousin and his wife come back with some cash. Lo and behold, these guys didn't even bother to call the company that manages their credit card machine. We fork over their cash. We ask them to box up our sushi that we couldn't finish because we were running late. Because Sushi PARA was making us run late. And they STILL had the nerve to charge us penalty for unfinished food. Are you kidding me, sushi para??? we paid for sushi buffet that we couldn't finish because of your circus.... we didn't even get a second round of sushi!!!! we didn't even finish our first!! and we were supposed to still tip these guys?? As we were leaving they say, "Oh... our machine works now!" Hmph. The nerve.

Crystal O.

Made a reservation at this restaurant for my boyfriend's birthday dinner last week and the reason we chose Sushi Para ll was for their unbeatable "all you can eat sushi" deal and quite possibly well-known in Chicago because of that. There were some good rolls and some not quite up to my standard. I'm not a fussy eater and I wouldn't dare admit to being one. But putting fussiness aside, I can very well differentiate my past and current food experiences. I have the tendency to compare restaurants, particularly the same type of meals I order. Nonetheless, I will say that my overall dining experience at Sushi Para ll was satisfactory and worthy of another visit in the future... for the good price and amount of sushi I can stuff in my belly :P About the food: The eel, salmon and fish egg rolls tasted pretty good, but the other rolls were just "meh". One of the factors has got to do with wrapping the contents with too much rice around it. Not only did it look unappealing, it was falling apart right when I try to lift it up with my chopsticks. Weirdly enough, they were generous about overflowing the fish eggs on the rice but not with the other less costly fish like tuna (the mashed up ones).

Heather L.

Para II used to be such a great place to bring sushi-craving friends for a night of BYOB and fishies. Then, they decided to double the amount of rice to their rolls, add a pinch of salt to cover up the decreasing freshness, and open up new stores with the newfound savings. Sadness. Probably won't return anytime soon.

Amrita R.

My first all-you-can-eat sushi experience. They are smart to put so much rice on the rolls to fill you up, and then charge you for any food left over! I am smarter for putting my rice into my napkin and throwing it away :) Between 4 of us, we ate 72 pieces of sushi here. It was a good time, and a great deal for $15... Eel sushi FTW!

Jeremy L.

$20 for all you can eat sushi + BYOB Sushi: The fish quality on the nigiri was surprisingly decent, not great by any means but certainly passable for an all you can eat place. Options include just the basic tuna, albacore (white tuna), salmon, etc; nothing special. There's also an option to add a sashimi platter for $5 but we didn't go for that. Rolls: Variety is there on the menu but of the 7-8 we tried, there wasn't anything that stood out. Flavors are a little bland, no punch. The spicy tuna had little heat, avocado overload in one roll, and just generally the rolls lacked savory tastiness. The chef's special sauce is similar to a diluted sriracha sauce and like most all you can eat restaurants, too much rice is packed into the rolls. Other options on the all you can eat menu include: Edamame: not salted, which is fine but something to note for people who prefer it salted Gyoza/shumai: Tasted no different than frozen types we could buy in a market. Miso soup: meh Seaweed salad: meh Service was pretty good, waiter was prompt and while we were seated in the basement section, the place was clean but nothing special in terms of decor and atmosphere. Two stars for general mediocrity. I wouldn't say no to coming back if a group of friends wanted specifically all you can eat sushi, and I could enjoy company eating here, especially with BYOB. But I would not bring out of towners here for sushi nor suggest Sushi Para for my own sushi cravings

E T.

I LOVE Sushi Para II. I used to go here once/twice a month when I was still in CHI area. Their less than $20 all you can eat sushi never disappoint. Just be sure that you can eat all the food you ordered or you'll end up paying for the left over food. Friendly crew & great service.

Suzy D.

3.5 stars This is not the world's most delicious sushi. They do not fly their fish in from Japan every day. They do not have a koi pond. However, if you're in the mood to throw down sushi, come here! My husband and I used to come here when we were REALLY hungry and in the mood for sushi because fancier/tastier sushi places get very expensive if you actually plan on eating your weight in sushi. Sushi Para II is a very affordable sushi place and the food is decent enough. Go here when you're hungry. Be prepared to wait on Fridays/Saturdays during dinner. Bring some booze since it is BYOB afterall. Also remember, don't be a pig. If you leave anything uneaten, they will charge you for it. My advice is to order a couple rolls, eat them, see how you feel, and then order 1 at a time from there on out, so you're able to eat everything you ordered.

Brian F.

Sushi Para M in Bucktown has a much nicer ambiance than Sushi Para II in Lincoln Park. I think the sushi to rice ratio is higher at M also. The all-you-can-eat deal is hard to beat, though, whichever location you choose. I've never been here during the dinner rush but I can guess it's pretty chaotic based on the slower-than-normal service at non-peak hours. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here but when in the neighborhood, why not?

Savi C.

The sushi at this place is excellent. The fish is very fresh, tender, and delicious. I got the all you can eat buffet, and I wasn't disappointed. I ordered a total of 3 plates full of sushi. I really enjoyed the hot tuna roll as well as the octopus. My personal favorite, however, was definitely their egg sushi. The egg sushi pieces had a sweet tinge to them that added to their fantastic soft texture. This left an excellent aftertaste in my mouth. The ambiance of the restaurant is great. It definitely has a lively, talkative atmosphere among the customers. The servers were quick and courteous, and were very fast to respond to any requests I had. The only reason this place didn't get 5 stars is because the all you can eat buffet doesn't include sashimi (a favorite among lots of people), and because they don't serve alcohol (it's BYOB). Overall, the restaurant has great food and nice ambiance.

Rafiq G.

Bad service, understaffed, sushi was terrible. Waiter had a really bad attitude and I can't blame him. Looked like he was the only waiter there. Sushi was not impressive at all! They have an all-you-can-eat menu so they keep costs down by buying bad cuts. I would rather spend $10 or $20 more and get some good sushi.

Rebecca S.

Okay I don't care what anyone says, sushi para is amazing for what it is. If you love eating large quantities of sushi but hate seeing a huge bill, this place is great. I agree, buffet style sushi is gross, but here it's not like its sitting under a lamp and people are helping themselves, it's made on the spot and served right away. Remember, the day you choose to go eat sushi is also important! Never go on Sundays -- that will probably be the least fresh that sushi will get. Thursday nights are amazing. The catch will usually be super fresh. Fridays are nice too as the turnover rate of the fish is much higher so you won't be eating any salmon that has been sitting for any long period of time. The staff can sometimes be the only problem. Last time we went we had to go to the counter to pick up our check because the girls were too busy chatting. Which is only real reason I am giving 4 stars. I now live in Arizona and I regret not having gone to sushi para more while I was living in Chicago (and I would go at least twice a month). Appreciate it while you have it people!!!! Recommendation: Pepper tuna with wasabi cream Edemame Miso Then.... Eel, salmon, tuna, and white tuna nigiri And nothing but spicy salmon rolls. Seriously that's all you really need! I don't understand nor really enjoy the tempura rolls. Remember KISS (keep it simple stupid) Last, but not least, try not to drench everything on soy sauce and wasabi!!! Appreciate the flavors of the fish. Salmon has an amazing buttery flavor. Try my recommendation and let me know what you think!

Kirstie S.

Very reasonably priced sushi buffet. They have good veggie options as well and are willing to do omitions and cross outs. My biggest issue with the place is that the music that play is always the worst soft rock imaginable...think God awful Kenny G. which tends to ruin my experience overall but it's a great place to go with a group of friends. Also-though I don't think it happens often, look your food over for fish eggs if you are eating vegetarian and don't want them on your food.

Ed O.

All you can eat and BYOB at a reasonable price, I was impressed just by that. However, the food there was also excellent! Couldn't ask for better. Service was slow and it's pretty small--it's understandable that people loiter here and eat forever...won't take away a star for that, though.

v m.

i esp like this place because it provides appetizers as part of its all you can eat. however - watch out: if you go too late (or too close to when the kitchen closes) almost everything is a variation of spicy tuna... ;) byob makes it good. small so the wait is very long at times...

Anna Y.

worst service and worst food, dop not come here if you like sushi, but the worst is how rude the hostess is.

Special K.

Its simply sushi at a very reasonable price. Your more common pieces of sushi wow! The more exotic stuff ah! They even have an all you can eat option for 16.99. If your hungry and craving sushi that is awesome. We actually went with the pay individually and left stuffed and only paid about 15 each before tip. So if you want incredible sushi go pay $40 a person. If you are on a Hot date pay more and get environment, incredible food and great service. If your date is only mildly attractive...boom goes the dynamite, this is you place. Although proving how many pieces you can fit in your mouth at at time to your semi good looking date while ordering the all you can eat option will probably leave you at home looking on yelp.

Lindsay D.

I came here for a birthday last night--our service was great, sushi was just 'a-ok'. BYOB is always a huge plus in my book, but something about all you can eat sushi for $18.99 pretty much freaks me out, so I ordered directly off the menu. I got a rainbow roll (standard, healthy assortment of sashimi atop a rice avocado and crab roll), a piece of white tuna and ikura. Again, nothing was awful, but it wasnt the best. The downstairs portion of it looked a bit creepy, so Im happy we were able to dine upstairs. Our waitress was very kind, got all of our 8 orders correct and was very attentive to us when we brought in our schmorgasbord of cupcakes from Crumbs & Mollys. We were there about 2 1/2 hours just chatting and having a great time, but it was the company of my friends that really made this night shine. I'd do take-out for a desperate sushi fix, but I'd rather spend my money on damn good sushi, like Toro down the street.

Anita M.

If you love sushi buffets this is one to go check out. Buffet includes all you fit in your face sushi, appetizers and sweets. Will definitely go there again however I would recommend going early to beat the crowd because the wait is pretty bad.

Lea S.

Best sushi I have had in a while and at a sushi buffet! Every piece of fish I ordered just melted in my mouth like buttuh. The prices are also a plus.

Krystsina D.

This place is pretty cool. As everybody has already mentioned, for 16.99 you can get as much food as you want, w/o any exceptions. It is B.Y.O.B which is also great. It is hard to find parking, but since we live close by it is not a big deal. Rolls and sushi fresh and tasty. Definitly would go back...!

Brutus B.

If you're paying full price, either you're blind or you hate keeping money. Their $16.99 all you eat is the best all-you-can-eat sushi deal I've had in Chicago so far (probably like 4 total) I think I ate a small child worth of sushi, I usually don't get super full from sushi but they had to roll me out the door at the end of the meal. My girlfriend said a couple pieces of nigiri were bland or fishy, but all the ones I had were fine, not to die for, but fine. Which is more than expected from other all-you-can-eat experiences. BE WARNED: don't order a ton of nigiri, they pack A LOT of rice into their nigiri and you will get full sooner than expected, still a good amount of fish on top though. If you wanna take someone you know that's unexperienced or on the fence about sushi, this is a good and cheap occasion to test the waters for them. Or if you just want to gorge yourself go there, but be cautious of Friday nights. A "20" minute wait turned into 55 minutes. oh yeah, no booze but BYOB is free i think

Brock L.

The food here is better than you would expect from the décor and location. And for the price you pay, it is downright a steal. However, the waiting staff is just not good. And the restaurant itself is just too small. Try coming during a lunch rush and you will have to wait. Try coming during the dinner rush? I feel sorry for you. Even if you make a reservation, you will still have to wait about 10 minutes. However, the negatives reside only in the décor and the service. The food speaks for itself. For the price you are paying, it is amazing. And compared to other sushi places it is pretty decent. I can understand why some people wouldn't like it, the rice is warm at times, and the pieces also fall apart a lot as well. But all in all, the food has been quite good. The only down fall is that the food can take a while to come out at times (I have my order come out anywhere from 15 mins- over an hour), and they give you A LOT of rice, and in a place where you must pay for whatever you don't finish (including rice) it becomes a real killer. If it wasn't for the décor and wait staff I would give this place a 3.5-4 stars. I would recommend this place if you have friends that can eat, because it makes for a good time, granted you are able to get a table.

Sam H.

If you're looking to eat a lot of sushi for a decent price that doesn't taste horrible, this is your place. Just make sure you make a reservation and are ready to feel a little cramped. Also beware not to order too much because anything you don't finish you pay for!

Blinx X.

Love the Sushi Paras.

Melissa C.

I've been here a couple times and the all you can eat dinner buffet is great. They have a variety of different rolls from which to choose on the buffet menu and the food comes out fast. But beware, what people tell you is true: you have to pay for what you don't eat, so make sure you want to order that last plate. If you're not hungry enough for the buffet, then try the regular menu. They have choices for a buck per roll or $2 or $3 per roll. It's a good place for groups, especially for the buffet cause if you can't finish that last roll, hopefully someone with you can. It's fun to be adventurous when someone is trying it with you. Make reservations because in the evenings this place gets pretty packed. And be ON TIME. My friends and I made a reservation and we were 5 min late and they gave away our table because it was so busy. The restaurant is tiny. But we waited for about 40 mins for another table cause it's worth it.

Luan N.

Picked up a 3 maki lunch combo. So far worst sushi place in my book. Sushi fell apart, rice was just off! Might as well add milk and call it rice crispies. Maybe the sushi chef had acute carpal tunnel when he was rolling my maki. The fish was not fresh either. Maybe was just an off day, but I still prefer House of Sushi. Giving it two stars because it was inexpensive.

Patrick W.

What to say about this place that hasn't been said already in the other 63 reviews...? Not much. But we had a really good time here coming in on a whim on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The place is small and there were a couple of people waiting ahead of us, but we were seated pretty quickly. The ordering is pretty simple... check off whatyou want with the quantity. Descriptions are pretty good, which is nice for those of us who like sushi but can't always remember the difference between this or that. We took advantage of the BYOB by my running a block north to a liquor store, which had a nice wine selection- I'd write a separate review but have no idea what the name of the place was. After visiting the original location in Palatine several times for carryout, this was the first time dining at the city location, and it's also very good. Have fun and try a variety of things!

Steve T.

Ok unlimited sushi for a set price, as long as you finish it. Finish it ALL. The sushi is decent, nothing overly exciting. They charge you for any pieces left on the table so get ready to play hide the sushi. Some recent recommendations from my friends are encase in napkin and head for the bathroom, or put some in your mouth and head for the bathroom. Other options are hope it sticks to the bottom of the table, or put it inside of the soy pot. Jokes aside, they don't charge all that much for the remaining pieces and I think decide how much to charge you when at the table. It's fast, and pretty affordable, but I personally would head down the street for some better options.

Jennifer D.

Was not hungry enough to do the "all you can eat" but I wish I had been. Boyfriend and I split a soft-shell crab appetizer and the buy 3 rolls with 2 pieces of sushi or sashimi for 11.99. Total bill, less than $21 with tip and left full. Great food, great price.

Shane H.

This is probably the best spot for all-you-can-eat sushi. Certainly better than Sushi and Noodles. $16.95 will get you pretty much anything you're looking for. I can recommend the volcano roll and palatine roll. Also the miso soup was right on. Eel was great. Yellowfish was great. Squid was... OK. I come here with friends all the time. It's a great place for eating out on a budget. The decor isn't very conducive for a date. But if you're hungry and on a budget you can't beat this place.

Brad C.

This is by far my favorite sushi place in the city! $18.95 for all-you-can-eat and great quality. BYOB. The sushi has always been fresh & great quality. Try the volcano roll, you can't go wrong!

Cat B.

Went here last week because I heard about the all-you-can eat sushi deal for $16.99. I wasn't sure how popular this place was so I called earlier in the day to make reservations. They only take reservations for a party of 5 or more. We were only two and she said we would be fine. We knew it was BYOB so we stopped at the liquor store just north on Clark before Fullerton and got a bottle of wine. Looking at the place from the outside I can honestly say that if I didn't know anything about it I would probably not try it. It is in the downstairs part of one of the old buildings on Clark and due to the lack of chic design (especially compared to all the fancy sushi places popping up all over the city) I might have been afraid what the sushi would taste like. We got there and this place is small!! We sat at the sushi bar because all the tables were taken. They give you a list of their options on the all-you-can eat menu and you just check off what you want. This list is pretty extensive including miso, edamame, regular maki rolls, specialty maki rolls, and ngiri. Evidently they charge you for what you don't eat, so we were sure to order carefully. What is nice is that you are allowed to order more if you didn't get enough the first time...not like a one-time trip to the salad bar or something. We each had edamame, but we probably could have split one order. We had a few of the maki and some ngiri pieces...a yellow tail and then something with salmon on the outside and some unagi. The best was the volcano roll that was really spicy and delicious. Definitely going for that one first next time. Due to the all-u-can-eat menu, I was a bit nervous about how the fish would taste, but it was really good quality fish and all of the other ingredients were fresh. Like I said, it is a small place and it is kind of bright in there (those of you who read a few of my other reviews are likely worried about my eyesight by now). The place could use a little ambiance. It was all worth it when our bill came and it was $35!! I can easily spend more than that on myself at other sushi places. I will definitely go back and will spread the word among my sushi-loving friends that this place is not

Olga C.

It's what you can expect for an all-you-can-eat sushi place. The rolls are heavy on the rice (since they will charge you for any food leftover on your plate) and the fish it mediocre. I've only eaten here once and did not get sick, but that's not much of a compliment. If you're looking to waddle out after a sushi meal for under 20 bucks, this is the place for you.

William D.

By far the best Sushi AYCE in Chicago for the price...18.99...Great service and very fresh sushi...I wouldnt recommend anywhere else

Joao G.

Good but not great food - the sushis are TOO big and have too much rice. But the all you can eat for $17 is still a good deal (and it's BYOB, so you don't have to spend much). We were a large group (15 people) and we had to squeeze to accommodate everybody in a single table (and we had a reservation).

Robin W.

Great for all-you-can-eat sushi! Which translates to cheap in large quantities, not the best I've ever had. And best of all, it's BYOB. The place gets packed due to the wonderful $16.99 all-you-can-eat, but they do take reservations. This place is definitely best if you plan ahead. Also, they charge you per piece if you don't finish everything you order, so be a little conservative with your ordering at first. Also, the place looks like a dump from outside; it's in the basement of a building and is easy to miss on a drive-by, but it is cute and quaint on the inside. Overall a great place!

seth l.

OK, here is the deal on this place. It is all-you-can-eat (made to order, not buffet) and the sushi is very good. The price is unbeatable for good quality sushi and its BYOB with no corkage fee. How can you beat that? The discount is probably for the mood/ambience which is minimal, but if you go with friends then who cares. If you want club soundtrack and mood lighting, then go to Mirai, if you want to overpay, then go to Japonais. If you want great sushi at an even better price, go to SP2.

Mia R.

What they serve at Sushi Para II can barely be described as sushi. I went there one night by myself since I lived really close by and had a craving for it. I had heard good things about this place and saw people lined up in the snow to eat here. It was very reasonably priced but the fish did not seem fresh to me and rolls were just filled with rice. Overall I was very disappointed with what I was served, especially since it made me sick right after wards.

MK M.

Fresh sushi and $18 all you can eat. Can't beat that! I love this place. Definitely would recommend trying. But make sure you eat all your food otherwise you get charged per roll.

Erik N.

my FAVORITE of the all you can eat sushi places in the area. $20 for not only all you can eat sushi, but all you can eat "extras" as well (edemame, miso soup, etc.). Two must-have rolls are the Volcano and the Rockstar roll. It's a bit smaller than House of Sushi and Noodles, but I think they have way better sushi. It's BYOB so feel free to bring your own bottles of sake or Sapporo. Only down side is that there aren't too many liquor places within walking distance (er...atleast none that I've taken the time to look for). There may be a wait, but it's worth it.

Alexandra S.

If you are cheap and you like sushi this is the place to go. The amazing all you can eat special (lunch and dinner) gives you appetizers and all the sushi you can stomach. The rolls her (esp. shrimp tempura) are very tasty and the sushi is passable (no food poisoning yet, knock on wood). If you can ignore the indifferent service and the below level digs this place will surely satisfy your craving.

Regina F.

Compated to House of Sushi, I like this one a little better. It is a little more cramped because the tables are closer together (if you care about that kind of thing). But this place is more brighter and not as dark as House. The buffet for Para does cost a little more but it's worth it b/c it has more selection than just rolls.

Ron C.

So I generally love Japanese buffets that are super cheap. I thought Sushi Para 2 would be just like that. However I was seriously disappointed. The fish on the nigiri was not fresh at all and the rolls were packed with vegetables and rice. Some were tasty, but most of it was bland and stale. You could probably tell the sushi wasn't fresh when it all arrived within five minutes of placing our order. The variety of appetizers was lacking, and overall was too much to handle. I always crave this type of buffet every few months or so, and then seriously regret it afterwards, when I feel constipated and just disgusting. Maybe that's what I'm going through now, but as far as Japanese buffets go I would choose Todai over Sushi Para 2 anyday, and I hate Todai.

Amy D.

I found a bug in my food. Enough said.

Sady C.

seriously.. this place is terrible. i was so excited to come here to get some allyoucaneat "sushi" and was let down big time. the sushi was not fresh and it looked like handcrafted dung rolled in rice and seaweed. i didnt care i was desperetely hungry...started off with some appetizers that you can choose from off the allyoucaneat. the chicken salad was horrendous! iceberg salad, chicken(i hope it was chicken), spicy mayo as dressing. it was free so cant complain. the miso soup was watered down. the rolls kept falling apart and the tempura in the shrimp tempura tasted like its been sitting out since mornings prep time. blegh. the veggie roll was plain but really cant complain there cause its vegetables and rice. the spicy tuna was not spicy tuna. tuna was cut up into pieces and mixed with a ton of spicy mayo. the place was byob so my friend and i had couple beers to mask the taste of the sushi and appetizers. remember that if you dont finish your plate, youll get charged for your leftovers. my friend and i didnt even finish our first plate and couldnt imagine paying extra to take it home when it was gonna end up in the garbage. i really didnt think i could be terrified of sushi. i am left traumitized!

Yiyu Z.

I have to admit that I was pretty leery about this place the first time I came here. Suffice to say that AYCE sushi has not worked out well for me in the past. But sushi para serves surprisingly solid, no frills sushi at a great price ($18 a person). BYOB is absolutely the icing on the cake, there is even a liquor store just a few blocks down the street. Come with the right mix of people, and it can quickly escalate (degenerate?) into a pretty epic meal. Just be prepared to leave feeling a little gross.

H K.

This place is great for the price. 1st time: Dinner i felt as though all i was eating was rice.My friend and I were forcing our selves to eat everything just so we would not get charged, plus the waitress was very bad. 2nd time: dinner This time it was deft., better deal the rice was not so over powering, but got stuck w/ the same bad waitress. it is also very small, i feel like i am sitting on other ppls' lap.

Sharon S.

LOVE this place! I love sushi but what I love more is all-you-can-eat sushi! I think lunch is about $15 and dinner is $19. But you don't have to get all-you-can-eat, you can order off the menu too, I've done both. I'm tired of seeing all these fancy sushi restaurants that try to perceive themselves as fancy, having low lighting, serving smaller than normal rolls, and charging high prices. It's nice finding an authentic place with tasty sushi at a reasonable price. The sushi at Sushi Para is pretty fresh and the rolls are big. I underestimated the size of the rolls the first time I went there and overstuffed myself. If you're hungry, it's definitely worth getting the all-you-can-eat special. And Sushi Para is BYOB so I've brought both wine and beer there, and there's no corkage feel. People that work there are also Chinese, not Japanese, but that works for me! Definitely recommend the restaurant and I'm going back!

Sunny R.

Over the past few years, I've been to this place close to ten times and the sushi's been good every single time. Not as good as most places you would order a la carte, but very close. Considering the price and selection, there are few other places in the city that can compare. I'll keep going back.

Andrew T.

I love going here and my buddies took me here for my birthday b/c they know I like nothing better in their budget range. They have rolls, nigiri, miso, gyoza, shumai, salads, etc all on the menu to order from as all-u-can-eat. The liquor store is a bit far if you don't bring your own, but just plan ahead. Plus who wants to drink when you know you're about to do all-u-can-eat. The sushi is pretty much as good as it gets for all-u-can-eat and I love that they have soft shell crab (spider roll). The nigiris do have a fair amount of rice on them. My buddy who does not eat sushi wanted to indulge in their gyoza for a cheaper price then the whole sushi buffet. They refused to lower the price for a pure gyoza buffet. He is angry and plans on retaliating by going and paying the all-u-can-eat price and downing 80 gyoza. He doesn't think they have 80 gyoza in the back, so maybe they'll have to give him a refund. Lastly, once when we asked for the check, we were asked, (albeit kindly) to "prease finish" when we had 3-4 pieces left on the plate.

Oscar the Death Cat B.

After reading a few stories about service issues & waits to get in, I was expecting my first visit to Sushi Para II to be a bit of a hassle, but my experience was generally pleasant - though that may be because I showed up before the 7:00 dinner rush on a Friday evening. The dining space is pleasant but not very big. I'm not any sort of sushi expert, but my companion, who is quite the experienced diner, agreed that the sushi, maki, and sides were all very good for the $16.99 all-you-can-eat price. The sushi chefs seemed to be constantly & frantically working to whip up the endless stream of orders, and as a result service is sometimes slow & presentation can occasionally be a bit sloppy - but regardless, I was happy to leave a few $$ in their tip jar at the end of the evening for all their hard work.

Lo C.

when ordering, ur eyes are bigger than your stomach. order a little at a time and be sure you can finish it all. chicago roll is awesome. didnt offer sashimi (just the fish), just sushi (fish and rice) - boo there. quality was fine. not the best i've ever had, but good.

Jeremy Z.

Okay, let's be real here. Obviously it is a credible signal of potential crapiness when a restaurant offers unlimited quantity for a pretty low price. It has been my experience that ALL such offers are only made possible by mediocre quality. This was no exception. For twenty bucks, I could have gotten two awesome rolls at most other sushi places and been more or less satisfied. I feel like all I got out of this experience was a stomachache, bad sushi, and only about 6 more pieces than I normally get for twenty bucks. Choose quality over quantity any day with sushi. Anyone who claims the sushi to be above average either has a different idea of what sushi should taste like or simply has very limited experience. Summation : Go somewhere else.

molly c.

there is not much to be said...that has not already been said. this place is the OCB (old country buffet) of sushi. go, enjoy yourself...it's darn good. p.s. kudos to edward m. for giving me the deets on ordering :)

Lindsey K.

Yes, tasty Sushi and a good option for the empty stomach syndrome. I do not care to be charged for food left over on my plate though. Sorry, I didn't know I would not be able to finish the last couple pieces and therefore would have to pay extra when I already put down around $20 for the buffet in the first place. There are more sushi options in the city...

Jill and Ying J.

The concept is fantastic. All you can eat sushi rolls, made to order, for a reasonably low price (~20/person). The execution, however, leaves much to be desired. The rolls are extremely rice-heavy. And it's not an insignificant amount either; oftentimes there's more on the outside of the roll than on the inside. The rolls are delicious, but if you leave any rolls on your plate, they penalize you. This leads to a game of just-how-much-can-i-eat-without-vomiting-and-not-­get-penalized. For the young and naive, this can become a dangerous game. In the end, as you're leaving, you've long forgotten the wonderful taste of that first roll and instead only feel the leaden weight of all the rice. Sushi is supposed to be a light meal! Understandably, you could simply not order as many rolls, but then you might as well go to any of the other equally wonderful sushi restaurants who don't make rice rolls and actually make sushi rolls and spend as much money for much more fish.

Alicia D.

The sushi is delicious without burning a hole in your wallet during these tough economic times. I suggest the eel and squid. Yumm! The atmosphere is relaxed and you can bring whatever cheap liquor your heart desires.

Jennifer N.

I hate to admit but I am addicted to their handrolls. Its actually 3 stars for everything else. Anything on the all u can eat menu ($16.99) with 6 pcs. can be made into a handroll and the volcano handroll rocks. Chunks of salmon or tuna in every bite with warm spicy masago and cucumbers. Veggie tempura comes in zucchini and sweet potatoe (great for me because I don't like the other veggies anyways). Get there before 6PM.

tony c.

without a doubt my favorite all you can eat sushi to date. i love to bring out-of-towners here. it's a little space constrained and can get really super crowded, but my god is it worth it. incredible... and it's byob!! score.

Emily Y.

I was always a little put-off by this place -- below street level, all-you-can-eat sushi with a rather unseemly sign. This past summer someone recommended it, so I decided to give it a try. And boy, was I glad I did. Weekend nights can be rather crowded at this tiny place, but I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes for a table. The wait staff is very friendly and genuine; they are always ready with corkscrews and bottle openers for your BYO beverages. Once you are seated, the waitress produces sheets of paper that list the menu items. You write your name at the top, then put a number next to the items that you want to signify how many you want. The miso is delicious, as is the edamame, but careful -- you don't want to fill up on this stuff when the sushi is as amazing as it is. I like to start with the homemade gyoza, which are delicous little hot spring roll type things. The spider roll is one of my favorites, as is the rainbow roll. The sushi is extremely high quality and beautifully prepared -- not what I initially expected for an all-you-can-eat place! So for a mere $22 including tax and tip, I stuffed my face with delicious sushi, and washed it all down with some Sapporo I had brought in myself, bringing the night's grand total for dinner and drinks to $25. Not bad at all. A great way to spend a Friday night catching up with friends. ** The only stipulation is that you must pay for any uneaten sushi. This is not a problem, however, because you can order as many times as you like. So if you're like me and your eyes are usually bigger than your stomach, start out small. :)

Linda N.

finally made it to this place after hearing all of my friends rave about it. nothing really special about the sushi. but for the price of $18 for all-you-can-eat there's not much to complain about. i like that they include appetizers with the sushi...don't get the miso soup though because it was not very good. its definitely fun to go with a big group because you all end up ordering a bunch of rolls on the same slip so the chef prepares everything and puts them on one of those sushi boats. just sitting in front of one of those things is kind of fun. =) in any case i'll be back.

marisa s.

ey yi yi - this place smells like "i want to get drunk off of my 2 buck chuck and then down as much sushi as i want for cheap." if clark street was a college, this would be the sushi caf (with booze though). i went 1 night for a girl's dinner...after hearing about the "all you can eat sushi" i was nervous...b/c man, you don't F around with raw fish, if they're giving it out for close to free...who knows what wrath my stomach could endure. i'm giving the para II, 2 stars because i didn't get sick, miraculously! we got drunk, ate some alright sushi...and then contributed to the loud drunks in this really bright joint. man was it bright to be drunk and loaded up on sushi. i won't be coming back...all you can eats are not for sushi, they're for OCBs (old country buffets)

Paul K.

I actually like their sushi more then at some upscale Japanese restaurants. Its a small basement place and it can get pretty crowded at night. The prices are very reasonable. But I don't think I am a fan of their service though. I will order something and if I think something is wrong they will actually try to argue with you at first. Also sometimes they put waaay more rice on some pieces then others. This place is BYOB so thats something to consider as well-you might want to bring some wine with you perhaps.

Kayee I.

So I've read all the reviews to this place and was finally able to see what the hype was all about. At first, I drove right past the restaurant because the location was somewhat discreet (okay, I'm blind as a bat at night but compared to the neighboring restaurant, it was hidden!), but was able to find it after I parked and walked it over. The $16.99 all-you-can-eat is an awesome deal. Sushi Para II offers generous portions of hand-rolled makis made-to-order. In the spirit of the holidays, I ordered up a Christmas roll among others (Volcano, Spicy Tuna, etc.). There is a small monetary penalty if you don't finish what you order. Service was prompt and to the point. If we asked for it, we got it... but wished at times waitstaff would acknowledge that they heard our requests in the first place. Dinner rush was not yet in full swing when we went on a Monday night but the atmosphere was good and cozy. I'd recommend another go on a weeknight to avoid any long waits mentioned by other reviewers.

Marcella W.

The only reason to come here is for their sushi buffet for $16.99. A little pricier than HOSAN on belmont, but this sushi includes appetizers (tempura, edamame, miso soup, gyoza etc.) and nigiri (their eel nigiri is so good). Their sushi is of the same caliber as HOSAN. And of course remember the golden rule of sushi buffets, arrive early! Best times to go are around 3 or 4pm if you don't want a wait.

T. T.

Decent Japanese food, especially for the price that you're paying. While it may not be the "best" Japanese restaurant in town, it's definitely more affordable than Toro, which is just down the street.

Dan G.

i so dig this place. $16.99 all you can eat sushi goodness. variety and quality of the sushi is pretty good given it's an AYCE. i really can't say anything more than just go try it if you're in a sushi-devouring mood. it's BYOB; i think they charge a corking fee though? small and intimate, there doesn't leave a whole lot of room for customers. it actually reminds me of so many little hole in the wall sushi joints in manhattan. finding parking in this part of town can be very difficult but if you're traveling in style on the green limousine (AKA: CTA) it's very easy to get being it's right on clark. if you're looking for an upscale, la-dee-da sushi joint, this ain't it. if you're looking for sushi buffet madness, check out sushi para too.

David M.

I went to Sushi Para II because I heard they had a buffet. Normally I don't try out buffets because they're gross but one day at lunch I was hungry, wanted sushi and ready to gamble so I gave Sushi Para II a try. To say the least I was not disappointed. The sushi was very fresh and given the price- it was a great deal. The service was excellent and I would recommend that you gave their lunch buffet a try. Also think it's BYOB so that's all the more reason to go.

Leang E.

I wanted to try out a new sushi buffet place and couldn't pass up on the $16.99 deal that they have at this place. I typically can eat 3 makis on my own, and that can be pricey for just one person. I came with a couple of other people who aren't really big eaters (in quantity), so I'd say it's not worthwhile to go unless you eat a lot of sushi. I think we might have paid as much if we went to another sushi spot since they didn't really eat $17 worth. I love that you aren't charged extra for Miso soup and Edamame, and it's all included in the dinner price and not just for sushi. I'm not sure if the other sushi bar spot that I go to is cheaper, but they have plenty of options to choose from. The service is decent, and they do scan over the table to make sure you don't have leftovers that will be charged for. The place is BYOB, and I believe that there was a corking fee. I brought my own corkscrew though. We had to walk off all we ate, and was uncomfortably full!

Nichole P.

What better excuse is there for an all-you-can-eat sushi night than $17.99 a pop. Sushi Para II is a super place to go if you want a lot of sushi! LU and I looooove this idea. Our love a sushi was a young discovery years ago when we first started our culinary adventures together. Sushi Para II is super if you have a larger group and you want to have a meal somewhere that's easy and BYOB. Be aware that the wait will be long if you have more than 2 people, especially on the weekend. This sushi spot is not a large place by any means. Although, on this occasion it was the first time I had been there with the upstairs extension of the restaurant opened. The addition to Para really helped cut down on the wait issue, but I'm not sure if it takes away from the ambiance that was cram-as-many-people-as possible-into-a-shotgun-layout sushi restaurant; which I think sets this tiny jewel apart from other joints with similar vibes. Regardless, we wanted to include it here, because it deserves a shout out. Sushi Para II is great for you and your company.

Austin A.

anyplace where I can get three rolls, 2 pieces of sushi, and an appetizer delivered to me in under an hour scores a place in my heart. this place has some great times and some bad times. Dont order on sundays. for some reason everytime i order on a sunday the sushi tastes like ass. I get over it though. Im usually buzzed anyway.

Alyssa N.

My friend and I went here on Valentine's Day. It was quite busy but we got a table right away. Our sushi and appetizers were good. I would agree that they put a lot of rice on the rolls and the busier it gets, the less tight the rolls are, making them a little difficult to eat without looking like a fool. The only thing that irked us is that we indicated two times that we wanted something and they never brought it to us. They must have over looked it. Oh well, I'll be back for $18.99 all you can eat sushi.

Vincent T.

For $16.99 you can eat all you can. They have decent sushi although you'll find too much rice in their nigiri. Its BYOB. The place is packed during weekends so make sure to call for a reservation. Try their futo maki.

Edward H.

July07: Sushi Para, after all that we've been through, you done me wrong. I wanted to spend my birthday with you I really did. Twenty of my friends showed up knowing my feelings for you. Instead of welcoming us into your sushi-loving arms, you rudely told us to take it or leave it. Why oh why? So many of my friends called in during the day to make sure you could seat us together but you carelessly gave out false promises reassuring us you'd be able to accommodate. To make matters worse, you told us that you were saving room for your dinner rush... well we're here, all 20 of us. Are we not your dinner rush? I'm shaving off a star but I hope we can kiss and make up. I shed a tear of sadness having to celebrate my birthday elsewhere. --------------------------------------------------­--------------------------------------- 4 Star Review: All you can eat sushi that isn't slop like that stuff served at House of Sushi & No-noodles? Oh my gosh? $16.99??? Pinch me, I must be dreaming! This place is located in what seems to be the basement of a boutique store building and is super tiny. Parking is a bitch but to take a page from the Proclaimers, I would walk 500mi and I would walk 500 more - to get me some of this sweet sweet sushi lovin'. Service was great - the water glass always stayed above the 1/2 way mark. The food came quickly since my friend and I managed to sneak in just before the dinner rush (they filled the place up in mere minutes). I pigged out on some amazing maki (hand rolls included). My favorites definitely include the American Dream Roll and the Volcano Hand Roll. Oh, spider rolls also kicked much bootay. I went in expecting nothing but filler (rice, cucumbers, and freakin' cream cheese y'all) and came out with a belly fully of delicious. I love you Sushi Para II... I don't care what your signs says, you're #1 in my book.

Melissa K.

Sushi X closed down on Diversey and reopened at Sushi Para and a friend and I decided to give it a try. I did the all-you-can-eat while she chose ala cart and our bills came out about the same, though I did get more food, but I also was punishing myself to finish it to avoid the charge for leftover food. I started with a house salad and out came the saddest, most wilted lettuce with some dressing poured over it. I also asked for green tea but was just given a cup and not the kettle but the servers were great on the refills. My friend had the Chicago roll which was pretty good and I started with the Crazy Tuna roll which was just ok. Next I moved onto some yellowtail sushi which melted in my mouth and then finally (to get my money's worth) ended with the Mountain roll. It was covered with whatever sauce was put on top, so much that I ended up scraping most of it off. All in all, the service was attentive (but it was empty) and the food was fair. I don't think I will stop in again.

Kathy C.

Yes, it gets extremely crowded at night, but worth it. All you can eat sushi and it's good sushi. Try getting miso, the chicken salad, edamama, gyoza, hot tea, AND 6 rolls (there were 2 of us) for under $40 elsewhere. It's BYOB, so remember to bring your favorite wine/beer/other. I'm also told they have a good lunch special.

Lauren F.

Having lived down the street for four years and never coming in, I should be ashamed. To my credit, it kind of looks like a shady basement from the outside. We attempted to go to Green Tea first, but it didnt accomodate our party so headed to Sushi Para. None of us had ever been, but we were delightfully surprised! We did the $17.99 all you can eat deal which Id say is your best bet, but keep in mind, if you leave any pieces of rice or fish over they chrage you $1 per. This lead to some overstuffing and clever hiding places for unwanted pieces, as we are cheap and didnt want to pay the extra money. It gets pretty loud in there and its kind of small, so if youre with a large group Id try to go as early as possible on the weekend. There was a large crowd wating outside when we left and they seemed to be getting hostile. Overall, good quality fish, came out fast, interesting maki rolls, and the place is BYOB which is always nice. Definetely going back!

Rozen O.

This 2 star review is coming from a HORRIBLE experience with the service that we got when we ate here. I understand that there was quite a few of us but our full orders never came, the food was spilled on one of my friends (stained another friend's white coat!!!), the water girl put water in a sprite drink, I got 1 of 3 sushi rolls that I ordered, my edamame came @ the end of the meal, and the waitress ARGUED about our missing orders. I shouldn't even give them a 2 but the only reason is that their sushi is very good, but the service is HORRIBLE!!! Patience is needed if you are going to look for parking!

tessa c.

pretty decent carryout sushi; it was a last minute thing. a friend on her way to my place decided to pick some up on the way and i'm not familar with the menu. i also wasn't that hungry but i got 2 rolls of unagi just cos i am that addicted to sushi. very fresh and the woman on the phone was very patient with me considering when i worked in food service i hated when people called in line. i will come in for the buffet eventually. too bad they don't do carryout buffet. i won't tell anyone i promise!

Tom B.

The price of $17.99 is a very good price for all you can eat sushi.The fish is average but you get as much as you want.You can have Maki and Nigiri. Ive been going there about once a month for over a year.One bad thing about it is when I went there the end of DEC 2006 the nigiri had wayyy too much rice under it.I understand its 17.99 but is a great price,but is compromising quality going to help them in the long run ?doubt it.

Saahir K.

This place is my go-to all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant in Chicago. Their sushi is high quality for an all-you-can-eat place, and it's BYOB which makes it fun for parties. They recently opened up an upstairs section which relieves the crowding. The all-you-can-eat sushi costs $18. There's usually a 30-45 minute wait on the weekends, but it's worth it.

Lucy R.

You can't beat all-you-can eat places, especially when it comes to fresh sushi and japanese cuisine. My bf and I are the king and queen of the All-you-can eat's so trust me on this one. If sushi is one of your favorite foods or you want to try new kinds of sushi without having to pay per dish, try this place out at least once. A casual byob sushi bar on the garden level, it is a small restaurant so don't plan on bringing your entire possy with you. But have at least one person who is an experienced sushi eater as the all-you-can-eat menu is not descriptive. It is similar to the dim-sum style at some restaurants where you tick how many of each item you want from a list. The only negative I can find is that sometimes the service, depending on the server, can be pretty crappy. One server in particular is very rude, seems to have a permanent frown on her face, and purposefully ignores you the more times you ask for a couple glasses of tap water. If you can look past the service, you'll have a good time and be more than satisfied with the food. Tips: Be creative and try all different kinds of app's, nigiri, and the specialty maki (suggested app: chicken yaki skewers and shu mai), don't order everything at once as you can always order a second round of food and they will charge you if you don't finish everything. So if you want the fancy schmancy type sushi place where you spend a hundred bucks and end up hungry as soon as you get home, go elsewhere. If you want a cheap eat and don't mind sub-par service, it is more than worth your while to go to Para II.

R to the Y.

When my wife and I are looking for sushi, this is our top choice right now. It's BYOB and we've found the value with the all-you-can-eat to be unbeatable. It's not the best sushi we've had in Chicago, but it's good, and all-you-can-eat for only $18 is a good deal. Make sure you get there early, though, especially on Friday and Saturday night; if you arrive past 7:00pm (sometimes even earlier) you'll have to wait at least an hour for sure. The selection on the all-you-can-eat is good, and the service is pretty good, too (you're not going to get tons of smiles, but you get good attention considering how cheap it is and how busy it gets). For what it's worth, I like to think that we have educated opinions in this domain, too: my wife was born and raised in Japan and I lived there for two years. (If you want to try some really good, upscale, nouveau Japanese food, beyond your regular maki and nigiri fare, I strongly recommend Kaze in Roscoe Village.)

Mrjustice ..

Amazing - an all-u-can eat Sushi Bar, that not only serves excellent fresh Sushi and Maki (plus miso soup, edaname, gyoza), but is BYOB to boot -- all for only $16.99/pp. WOW. This is what I've been looking for -- so I can enjoy eating Sushi more than once every few months because it is usually so expensive. Only 'negatives' - no sashimi served on the all-u-can eat menu (though you may choose to order off regular menu at VERY reasonable prices $1-1.50 each); and the Sushi is intentionally made with lots of rice (to fill U up); and they claim they will charge U if you don't finish all U order (including all of the rice). Also, you better get there before the rush or you may have along wait. Nevetheless, I will be back -- soon! UPDATE (12/8/07): Have been back several times now -- Sushi is always amazingly fresh and moist -- fantastic value.

Suzanne P.

This is my favorite sushi place in the entire city. I love the all you can eat option, because it allows you to try all of the different rolls without paying for them individually. Definitely try the shrimp tempura roll, the rainbow roll, the spider roll, and the pop up roll. They are all really incredible, and you'd normally pay way more to try such unique sushi out. They are absolutely delicious. Sometimes the service is bad (and getting seated can take two hours!) but it is definitely worth it. And the fact that it is BYOB is definitely a plus!

Anne W.

I think it's a decent all you can eat sushi place. If you're eating with a bunch of friends.. this would be a good place to go so everybody can just get what they want without footing a huge bill at the end. You can't beat it with $16.99 and BYOB with no corkage fee. Don't expect fancy decor or food. The fish was okay but not super fresh. It's best to arrive before 7.. there is no wait then. The best was the volcano roll. It comes with eight pieces. The other rolls are nothing special. Most rolls are just one type of fish. No dragon roll unfortunately... and I wasn't impressed with the rainbow roll either. It's not a place you should go if you have high standards for sushi... it won't meet them.

Vicki W.

Two cliches come to mind: "The Best of the Worst (or Mediocre)" "You get what you pay for" Four of us dined on the all you can eat for dinner on a weekday after Christmas. When my sister called the restaurant in the early evening, we were informed that reservations were generally not necessary and could only be made for parties of five or more people. When we arrived later in the evening, all the tables were taken and there was a list with a wait time of 45 minutes. One cool thing (I've only seen this policy at one other place and that was in SF) was the fact that you could leave your cell phone number. They call when a table is available and you don't have to wait in the no place to stand foyer or out in the cold. Since we had a lot of time, my crew headed to Urban Outfitters up the street. As my luck is the way it is, I was in the fitting room when Sushi Para II called about a table opening. Since I was partway into a tight pair of skinny jeans, I called the others on my phone and told them to head back to the restaurant. When I finally got back into my regular clothes, I dashed over to Sushi Para as well. Midway during my dash the dang restaurant calls me back asking where I am. I told the girl that I was up the street (I mean UO is only a long block and then some from them, jeez.). She kept saying something (I guess scolding me), but I couldn't understand what she was saying. It's not like I was gone for two hours and they were holding a table forever. Chill out. The food is so so. Many of the rolls didn't have much variation. The fish did not have much taste. The rolls were not rolled tight enough. Everything tasted similar. By the way, the menu has a section entitled "sushi or sashimi." I think they meant nigiri as all of this raw stuff is sushi. The tables were crowded together. I felt like we were sitting with other people and listening in on their conversations and vice versa. We were right next to the bathrooms (a single facility per gender), which was only good for knowing when it was vacant. All in all, I would only go back if I really wanted to eat a lot of cheap sushi that is just okay. I would rather trek all the way to Schaumburg to get to Todai.

Lauren P.

one morning, i jolted out of bed and thought to myself "no. just no! sushi para II is horrible & i refuse to subject myself to tasteless sushi any longer!" (okay, i maybe i paraphrased a bit.) after dining at sushi para II 10-20 times, i can now come to terms with the fact that their sushi is just not good. it's poorly made - loose & falling apart, the fish isn't always fresh, and most of the rolls are downright tasteless (even the spicy tuna is bland.) there are about five other places that are within walking distance to here that are much, much better. even the $18.99 price tag doesn't make it worth it. you deserve better, chicago!

Christa W.

Two of my favorite things: all you can eat sushi and BYOB! The price is decent 18.99 for dinner all you can eat which includes miso soup, salad, and some appetizer like items like gyoza. You must eat all of the items or you have to pay for them for the all you can eat. I think this makes sense so people dont waste the food. The sushi was good but not the best Ive ever had. The rainbow roll was delicious! The reason I gave this 4 stars is because the menu items besides sushi were minimal. I went here with my family and my dad is not a big fan of sushi. He did get the teryaki chicken which he said was very good.

Annie M.

$18 for all you can eat sushi?! Unheard of! The only catch is that if you don't finish, you pay for it. And each round after, they put more rice in the rolls. I ordered the edamame, gyoza, and tempura to start with (shared with 2 others). Wish I had gotten the Yaki chicken too. I had the American Dream, Rainbow rolls and the eel and hamachi nigiri. All delicious. The American Dream roll is a must. Green tea is delish.

Carmen C.

This is a small but delicate restaurant. It is operated by Chinese in deed. So don't expect too high. I like this place, especially it offers AYCE menu. I came with my bf for lunch. We order 51 sushi/rolls in total~ I am so full~ Many people eat here today. It worth the price.

luis a.

So i had a date, and i decide to go to sushi para ii (very cool name by the way). It was Thursday night we showed up around 6 45 as we entered u can see the whole place without moving ur eyes thats how small the place is. Their is nothing special about the decor or the structure but i think the sushi makes up for it. Not expense at all, dont forget to bring ur wine its BYOB!! the only problem i had was towards the end was the waitress was trying to kick us out!! Their must been about 12 people waiting, but we still took our sweet time with our wine. i would return but before 730 try the supersonic and the spider rolls

Christine P.

Oooh, Sushi buffet! For the price and variety, Sushi Para II's selection is fantastic - you can order individual pieces of nigiri as well as Maki rolls! They do have lots of special maki on the menu which also made it more fun. In addition, things like Edamame, Salads, Miso Soup,and sashimi being all included just sealed the deal. Going for lunch for something different sure helped me hit my sushi limit for the time being!

chloe c.

I went to visit my friend in Chicago and with the reviews from yelp, we decided to come here. This place is amazing! all you can eat for 15.00!! It includes appetizers, soups, salads..and a whole variety of sushi. The spicy tuna is incredible! The crunch roll is a must too!!

n l.

I've been a long time patron of Sushi Para II, who I should fault for getting me hooked on All You Can Eat Sushi!.. I frequent just about any and every sushi Happy Hour or AYCE Sushi... and this remains one of my top choices for sushi.. They have a variety of sushi and appetizers as well as a full menu of noodles and other dishes. Their rolls are great.. they're not too small, nor does it contain tooo much rice (compared to other AYCE sushi joints).. but you do have to eat all that you order (if ordering AYCE) or each person will be charged a fee. This place used to be downstairs, but it remained so busy (which led to long wait times on weekend nights), so they expanded and opened upstairs as well. It's BYOB as well and I can usually find meter parking on the street (Clark).

Jess S.

The best "all-you-can-eat" deal I have found (okay I can actually only compare to one other place). I like how you can get edamame, miso soup & other starters as well as actual sushi & not just crappy, cream cheese filled maki. For $18 I was able to get miso soup, three pieces of fish and two rolls. It was a lot of food and I could not even imagine a round two. Its delicious and affordable, why not go back?

Eric M.

In this city, sushi bars are like regular bars. They're a dime a dozen, so if you want me to come back (or at least write you a good review) you have to do better than the one just down the block from you. Sushi Para II has a gimmick (the all you can eat sushi) which draws people in but they have nothing that had me coming back again. The service is some of the worst I've experienced. The place was rather packed but no one was sitting at the bar. We asked if we could sit there and the hostess said we could. When we went to sit down the waitresses near there looked annoyed we were sitting there. Then the second we sat down, having not looked at any menu, we were immediately asked what we wanted. No hello, no offer of drinks, nothing. Throughout the rest of our meal we were barely spoken to. The food is mediocre. The rolls I had were so poorly put together many of the pieces fell apart when picking them up. The presentation was nice but inconsistent. Two of my friends ordered the exact same roll and one looked very nice while the other was sloppy and uneven. Having a seat at the bar also allowed me to see how the chefs looked rushed and because of the all you can eat have to constantly make rolls. I can't blame them for this but some attention to quality would be nice. The price may be decent but not enough of a savings to make me come back here versus a lot of better competition in the area.

Laila C.

Yes they have nigiri as part of their sushi buffet, yes it's probably easier to hide uneaten rice than at House of Sushi, but No it's not worth it. There was definitely something wrong/incredibly unappetizing about my yellowtail. Their shu mais and gyozas are obviouslyl store bought and taste frozen. Something about eating cheap sushi in the basement level of a restaurnt is just not for me. If I wanted a gaudy AYCE sushi experience, I'd still go back to House of sushi. At least they have interesting wall decorations

Janet E.

I've only come here for the all you can eat buffet. For $18.95 it is a great deal. You can choose from A LOT to eat on the buffet menu but be warned that you have to eat EVERYTHING on your plate otherwise they will charge you extra. I picked off some rice from the sushi I ordered and was scolded by the waitress. I think next time I'm going to order a dish so that I dont get warned for not eating all my food.

Tien T.

The words "ALL YOU CAN EAT" before sushi is NEVER a good thing...until now... $17.99/person is AMAZING!! The sushi was delicious, relatively fresh fish (for Chicago) and it's BYOB! Tried quite a few different rolls, but the ones that stood out were the Rainbow Roll & Volcano Roll. Wait time for dinner is about 20-30min...not too bad for a Friday night. This is the spot if you are looking for a cozy spot to enjoy great sushi without breaking the bank!!

Majelly P.

Sushi all-you-can-eat that's made to order. Fresh and scrumptious. Does sushi the right way. I want to move to Chicago for this.

Mary C.

I love the sushi here. I think that you really get your moneys worth when you eat here. The all you can eat is the best when you're totally starved for some sushi. I like the selection a lot and i've been going to this place since 2006. They even remodeled now and it looks nicer and roomier than before. The menu also has some new ones to it. I never ordered a hand roll from them before and the last time i went, i ordered a spicy salmon hand roll... and lets just say... its gonna be my usual now.

Younga C.

This is my go-to spot once a week for AYCE sushi!! unlimited sushi, rolls and appetizers, great service AND BYOB = amazing! DO NOT EVER EVER EVER COMPARE THIS PLACE TO THE PALATINE LOCATION!!!! If i could demolish the palatine one, I would. I hate the people that work there and I hate the service.

Michael S.

All you can eat sushi.. 18 bucks.. You can even order appetizers and nigiri in the all you can eat menu.. How can one not like that?!? One stay off for not being the freshest sushi and the waits at times, but otherwise excellent.

Matt R.

I went here on Tuesday night for $20 (tax and tip) all you can eat sushi. The great thing this place has over other all you can eat sushi places is that they take reservations! I came with a group of 7 and they were very accommodating. The sushi is quite good for all you can eat sushi! They put tons of rice in it to fill you up, but the actual pieces of fish are good sized and taste great. The only thing I would not expect, if you go with the all you can eat, is value...it's pretty tough to eat over $20 worth of sushi and whatever else. Everything was great except our waitress. Hopefully she wakes up on the right side of the bed tomorrow! (and she wasn't japanese, if you're really concerned.)

Beth B.

I think about eating sushi at least 3 or 4 times everyday. That being said, I'm kind of obsessed with this place. It never fails to satisfy my cravings and the selection is pretty impressive for an all you can eat menu. Appetizers, individual pieces of sushi and rolls are included, and in my opinion, the latter achieve just the right balance of fish, rice and goodies. I used to frequent a different establishment for a similar deal, but probably won't be going back after getting a taste of the competition. Sorry House of Sushi and Noodles; your deep fried, cream cheese filled rolls might be delicious, but they don't hold a candle to the fresh flavor and variety offered at Para II.

Samantha K.

Nom Nom Nommm! $18 for all you can eat sushi? I'm in. That's a deal especially for being in Chicago! I live in the suburbs and most of the all you can eat sushi restaurants are $20 or more. Damn suburbs. A few friends and I went here on a Saturday during regular dinner hours at 7pm (we're stupid.. I know) We waited for almost an hour and a half. It's pretty amazing to see how much people can eat. It's actually borderline disgusting. We finally sat down, had our bottle of cabernet opened, and ordered right away. Everything was superb. I wouldn't say it's the best in the city, but for the amount we pay it's definitely worth every cent. The service isn't amazing. I understand that they get extremely busy, but that doesn't mean that I should have to wait 45 minutes to get a water refill. Hell no that's not okay! Do you not want a tip or something? Regardless, I'll always go back to Sushi Para II for some reasonably priced sushi.

Shawn K.

okay the service was a little slow and we had to wait a while even though we made reservations.. but it's because it was so crowded.. and people stayed for a long time (both good signs of the food). The food was awesome! Usually for a buffet you get the "simple" rolls and very little in terms of selection overall. This place was NOT that way. You can get anything off the menu! And the quality was great for any sushi place let alone a buffet! Beware for the alcohol drinkers.. byob. we had no trouble sticking to finishing off the plates (there was a penalty for food left on the plate) I would love a job there just helping people finish off their plates ;)

Eric N.

Yes the rolls are made w/less fish inside than perhaps at a regular sushi restaurant but at $19 per person? All you can eat? Jeez what a bunch of whiners we have here. The quality of fish was great & it's BYOB, what more could you ask? Out the door stuffed w/sushi for $19 plus tip gets 2 thumbs up from me. There was a baby at the table next to us but maybe he didn't eat sushi. I say they need one here in Wicker Park !

George H.

Good Sushi...Great Value Went with a big group and enjoyed good service. All you can eat sushi is the way to go. BYOB...we had champagne, beer, wine, saki, and ICE. pretty awesome

Jason S.

Having lived in Los Angeles for a couple of months and Austin for several years, I have had my fair share of good sushi so I came to this place with low expectations. Sushi in Chicago is nothing compared to anywhere else, but I heard this place had an All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Buffet for about 17 bucks, so I couldn't help but check it out... and I lived right down the street. Just FYI: although this place is all-you-can-eat, you will get charged if you leave a noticeable/significant amount of sushi left over. So you better have a big appetite if you want the best bang for your buck. The buffet allows you to order some of their sushi rolls, which were decent, and most of their sushi. The sushi was decent in quality. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst I've had. The only thing about this place is the wait. Fortunately, my friend and I were able to get a seat but it definitely gets packed during the dinner buffet rush hour. Not bad for Chicago sushi

winston j.

AYCE sushi, and we got the boat! but really it's more like all you can eat rice. The sushi was not especially good in any way, actually, I guess I can't really say since I wasn't really eating sushi. I just had a lot of rice with a few pieces of cucumber and some guac. The fact that you have to pay for what you don't finish and the sushi rolls are 80% rice sucked. I'm not exaggerating, pictures uploaded if you wanna pay 15+ bucks for AYCE flavored rice, then this is definitely the place for you Maybe 1 star is too low and I'm being too critical. My dad seemed content with his sashimi (not part of AYCE) since he can't eat rice. I was pretty busy binge rice eating so there would not be an extra charge to pay attention to how much everyone else doing the AYCE enjoyed their rice. Maybe they really like the rice! who needs raw fish anyway

Rob W.

Great place for bringing your own sake. Good variety and not so over the top. LOVE it! As for some of the reviews below...a party of 21? TWENTY ONE PEOPLE IN THAT PLACE? Are you outta your friggen mind? The place is tiny! Thats more than HALF the seating! No wonder your experience sucked, you're a moron to go there with that many people. I am sure you pissed off a great number of others than the waitstaff that night for sure you doofus! You should never be allowed to make reservations again! For people who are snobs about 'fresh' fish, I never had a problem with the taste or quality of the fish or even the service, and I know my fish. I come here on occasion with 2-3 friends and prefer to sit at the bar and watch as the chefs work their magic. For $20 AYCE its not bad at all! You want to bring 21 people? Go to a bigger place. You want fresher fish? Pick a more upscale place and pay a higher price. Although I did eat at Kamahachi once where I didnt think the fish was as fresh as it could have been. Some broad asked for a Chardonnay and a fork. Now thats pathetic.

L W.

I like all-you-can-eat sushi! At Sushi Para II, the price is right, and the quality of the fish is pretty decent. (I've had better quality fish at South Coast Sushi, but for the price, I will not complain). One thing Sushi Para II could use more work on is their servers! It wouldn't hurt to be polite to paying customers!

Amy X.

if you're in the mood for sushi on clark street, you will likely face the same dilemma that my friend and i encountered. do we go to toro and wait 45 minutes for a table and lick-your-lips GREAT sushi, or do we go to sushi para ii and eat less good sushi right away for less money? we were weak and chose immediate gratification. came with a bottle of wine and a friend on a thursday night. the all-you-can eat deal is a great deal, especially if you are dragging along those with hearty appetites. try the white tuna and yellowtail -- be warned that the sushi is heavy on the rice though. skip the mackerel. for the specialty rolls, i especially liked the volcano roll. nothing else was memorable enough for me to remember the name. know that the waitresses will charge you if you leave a significant amount of rice uneaten. (i may or may not have carried out a ball of rice wrapped in a napkin in my purse...) a thumbs semi-up for the value -- if you're down to wait a little though, walk a few blocks north for the really good stuff.

Alicia S.

I cannot believe I have taken the clark bus for so many years, and even gone to church across the street from this delectable little joint and NOT NOTICED IT! My husband and I have now made a tradition of Sushi Para II once a month ($40 is pricey when you are a grad student!) If you go here though, know that it is more if you're in the mood for QUANTITY ( my husband ate about 45 pieces of sushi...we left with our tummies FULL!) The quality is good, but I still prefer DIB ( yelp.com/biz/dib-chicago ) for specialty rolls. When we went, there was about 8 other people in there, so the speed of getting our rolls was QUICK! GO HERE! IT'S FANTASTIC!!

Minners N.

I haven't found many places in the city that have all-you-can-eat sushi besides Sushi Para and House of Sushi and Noodles. SP is great for those wanting to eat lots of sushi for a good price, but quality-wise you're better off at a non-buffett restaurant. I don't believe SP takes reservations so weekends you will wait a super long time, especially if you have a larger party. What's great about SP is that there are many many things on their menu like nigiri, maki, handrolls, soup, and dumplings. I've found that their sushi isn't always consistent. Some days it's pretty decent. Other days it's fishy. I've also noticed that their maki is consistently not rolled tightly so that everything falls apart as soon as I pick it up. The rice often is still too warm for sushi. Service is somewhat good. Waitresses are usually attentive and gets orders correct. I still go when friends want sushi for cheap, but quality I go to Sushi X or Toro sushi.

Joelen T.

If you want to eat your worth in sushi, this is a great Lincoln Park area to fill up. What I like about this restaurant is the 'all you can eat' menu includes various appetizers and isn't limited to only maki and sashimi. Pricewise, it's fairly reasonable... roughly $20 per person with drink and tax included for lunch.... a bit more for dinner. Qualitywise, let's face it - sushi houses like this sometimes load up on rice to have patrons fill up but Sushi Para II tends to have just the right balance and amount or rice and filling for maki rolls. It's decent and will certainly satisfy any sushi cravings you have. Parking can be a pain but there is a paid parking lot available within walking distance and meter parking along that section of Clark (if you're lucky).

Kyle C.

Not the best sushi I've had in Chicago, but the best sushi buffet I've found. I went here for a friend's surprise birthday party, and at the time I wasn't feeling hungry for sushi. That quickly changed when I sampled their food - it was very good, surprisingly for all you can eat. I arrived first of the group and asked about the reservation that had been placed. I gave the name of the party, but they said they didn't have a name for the reservations, just a phone number, so luckily I had the birthday girl's husband's phone number! The best part of the buffet was the option to choose a good variety of appetizers and single servings of nigiri, as well as a number of maki roll options. I started off with a couple of appetizers (edamame, gyoza) and followed that up with a couple of rounds of maki rolls. Afterwards I was still a little peckish, so I had a piece of unagi and a bowl of miso. Unlike other restaurants buffets, they didn't require us each to order two more menu items each time. They do have the "you pay for what you can't eat" clause - but we didn't even come close to having that problem. Afterwards, they didn't complain that we had brought in a birthday cake which we all had a piece of - the staff was pretty friendly.

Crystal P.

I ate too much! But we cleaned our plate! No crazy Imaginative rolls here but yummy and fast! I liked the Volcano Roll the best! But I must have had 5/6 rolls and 8 pieces of sushi with Oti P. We finished it all! We liked it better then house of sushi. because we noticed last time we were there that all the rolls their had something fried or had a large amount of mayo or cream cheese! This place tops them with fresh Sushi as far as all you can eat goes.

Michelle S.

All you can eat sushi for $16.95 is what my good friend happily exclaimed one night on the phone. She swore by it and said that the pieces were amazing and that we had to go. I figured I would give it a shot, and I could not have been happier with my meal. Walking in I have to admit I was a little nervous, it's a tiny space and you walk down a few steps to get in...but I was happily stuffed when I left. True to her word, my friends raving about the pieces were on the money. I've gone back 2 other times and found the sushi to be just as good. One small rant I would have is that if you get there too close to closing time the service is a bit short and rude and you can only order one time. I would recommend going when you have ample time to stuff yourself :) Oh yes, it's BYOB so bring a bottle and have fun!

Jenny T.

I'm kind of torn between 3 & 4 stars, so lets give it a 3.5 k? I went here with some friends & some people I didn't know, which always makes for an interesting dinner. The restaurant is underground, tiny, & loud, so we had to get over our awkwardness/shyness right away. We were seated quickly, opened up our two bottles of wine (BYOB baby!), and decided on what to eat. My friend Beth & her friend ordered the all you can eat deal for $17.99 per person, but my friend Matt & I decided to go with ordering just a few rolls. I think both sets of people got exactly what they had been hoping for! We had the spider roll, the spicy tuna roll, and the mountain roll. All of the rolls were fresh & had just the right amount of spice, which was fabulous. All together, Matt and my meal was only $22.00 while the other two spent $17.99 each. I think Matt & I got the better deal :) As far as food goes, it was delicious. My only complaints are the waitstaff seems annoyed half the time, the plates the rolls come on are snatched away before you finish chewing the last roll (I like ginger, but didn't have a chance to eat it since the plate was gone before I knew it), and it's really hot & loud in the restaurant. I would definitely go back, but not with a large group or if I wasn't in the area. If you're hungry & looking for something to satisfy your sushi needs, check this place out-I don't think you'll leave unhappy!

Michael C.

Food myth or not, I was once told by a friend that you can tell a good sushi joint from the quality, texture, and flavor of their rice. If I were to estimate I would say that the rolls were 60% rice. not only that, some of the sliced rolls at the tail end were nothing BUT rice. If you are going to force me to eat everything on my plate including the rice.. please make it taste like its NOT cardboard or as I told my dinner accomplice, "packing peanuts." And while I enjoyed the length of the menu I was terribly annoyed by the 15 minute wait for our waiter to drop off papers, 10 minute wait for her to stop chatting with her other miserly staff members, and then a 50 minute wait for our first rolls to arrive. In the end, I much prefer a location that feels a bit more 'authentic' than a commercialized Applebees version of sushi.

Rebecca C.

I've been to Sushi Para II more times than I can count. Love the price, but at the same time you also get what you pay for. Whenever I go I always order edamame, house salad, gyoza, vegetable tempura, white tuna pieces and approximately 10 rolls (not my personal order, but the order for the table). So, in the end you get a lot of decent sushi for your money, but if you're looking for quality you may want to venture down the street. The perk of Sushi Para II is that it's BYOB, so never go without a bottle (or two)!

An P.

After the nightmare of finding a cockroach at House of Sushi and Noodles, I have been wary of sushi buffets ever since. When a friend suggested Sushi Para II I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, all you can eat can be exceptionally enticing but on the flipside, the sushi can be below par. Reading the various reviews spun my head, but the pictures looked good so I decided, "Why not?" Why not wasn't a bad idea, but when I got to Sushi Para II, there was no sign directing me to go upstairs. Instead I go directly downstairs down the unshoveled and icy stairwell of DEATH! There at the bottom, I found the lights out and the doors were locked. Oh dear, did I stumble into the wrong place? Luckily a sign on the door in the bottom of the stairwell informed me to use the upstairs entrance, so I had to climb back up the icy stairwell of DEATH. Inside was a quaint sushi restaurant that was not too filled on this cold icy day. I ordered some tea and checked off some things off the menu and noticed that the roll selection was not all too deep with basic nigiri and a degree of maki rolls. The buffet menu had a few appetizers but none seemed too enticing so I ordered squid, shrimp, spicy salmon and octopus. The rolls came out shortly and tasted delicious. The ginger worked its magic and the squid was on point satiating my hunger. The rolls were a bit loose, making them somewhat harder to pick up. I liked everything I tried and the shumai had a bit too much garlic and ginger, but that is the way Japanese shumai tends to be. My great displeasure with Sushi Para II is the excessive amount of rice that arrives with every roll. If I wanted to eat that much rice, I could have just ordered a bowl of rice. Should every piece of nigiri come with a rice ball bigger than the piece of sushi is? Yep, it will save the restaurant some money by overloading on rice, but it will not do anything to impress me as a value proposition. I really felt like they were cheating, adding more weight to the "sushi" when it was actually just more rice. I hereby submit the motion that Sushi Para II now be dubbed Rice Para II. AYE!

Catherine M.

This is the last straw with this establishment. My daughter took me to dinner here on Saturday evening. We were told we had to sit "downstairs" which is the dismal original store. Dirty floors, old furniture, filthy restrooms with no soap ( how does the kitchen staff wash their hands as the kitchen is located downstairs?) We took our wine and went back upstairs where they grudgingly allowed us to eat. Other diners refused to sit down there, as well. I do not care how cheap the sushi is, this was an unacceptable option for diners.

Chris F.

Man, only go there if you like rice! Their rolls are HUGE, but 2/3 of it are rice and veggie(see pics). Worst sushi place I've ever been to. House of sushi is way better than this place.

Len L.

Usually when I hear "all you can eat", I think buffet style or all items orders at one time. I was not expecting that you order what you can eat at one time and order again. If you can eat 3 or more maki rolls, then you will get the most bang for your buck here at Sushi Para II. I was surprised that they have non-traditional rolls that you can choose on the menu. The only catch is that if you leave a large amount of rice left behind (meaning that you just eat the sushi and not eat the rice) you will be charged extra for wasting food, luckily I ate everything. At that day, I forgot to bring beer and found out that there is no place near that sells alcohol. Other than that, I love this place.

Heather H.

$20 All you can eat sushi w/Bring Your Own Bottle! Seal the deal please! Our platter came heaping full of very fresh yummy rolls along with our own saki n' beers. The service was a bit slow, and the sushi was really overloaded with rice which left us to picking off most of it. Another downside is they will make you finish everything on the plate, otherwise you will end up getting charged for the leftovers. So don't come here if your on a diet. Its an easy spot to pick when you've got a larger group to feed sushi too without breaking the bank.

Ashley R.

I have had better sushi. The service was amazing. That is the only reason I am giving 3 stars.

Carmen C.

Honestly not the best place for sushi but its a good place to go with friends for entertainment. Sometimes the fish is so mushed up in the roll...you can't really even tell what you're eating. The hot foods are decent.

Jessica G.

Good sushi at a good price. Definitely several steps up from other AYCE buffets I've tried (House of Sushi and Noodles, I'm lookin' at you!). The lunch special is superb at under $15 for unlimited sushi, including some nigiri and apps as well. They WILL charge you for anything uneaten though, so make sure you're eyes aren't bigger than your stomach! The only downside is that service can be a bit spotty and slow - if you come here for lunch, and have a time schedule, be sure that you order all you want in the first round because it might be 20 minutes before your second order arrives - even when we're the only ones in the place and there are 3 sushi chefs behind the bar!

Lucian M.

LOOTS of good things to say about it. I love sushi, I love Unagi all I can eat and I love this place - do not confuse it with the PALATINE Sushi Para - read my review before driving there. Food it's great, nothing bad there. I was eating sushi all over the country with every chance I get, it's the best you can get without having to go at a 100 per order restaurant. Staff is nice and attent with you and they always accomodate you. I usually eat there at lunch but I have been there couple of times at dinner. Both times, I was invited straight in and the food came within 30 min the most. We received miso and other stuff in the mean time. TAKE YOUR OWN ALCOHOL WITH YOU ....... YESSSSS they don't sell it but will bring you nice glasses for your white wine. I will copy and past this review for the Milwaukee place also because in my opinion they are similar. Don't order to much in the beginning and don't guzzle down the water before you eat, that will just make your belly full before you even get to eat. Drink the water at the end, trust me, it works. Let see now: Food - it's awesome, the fish is large enough to touch the plate on both ends, it is most of the time fresh and when it's not that fresh it's still very good, not a wink of fishy taste ever. Order as much as you think you will eat divided by two. they will be happy to bring you a second order, that will not be stuffed with rice. I don;t have any kind of problems here what so ever with the proportions 9rice & fish). Service 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 - usually guests there are respectful and they don't speak to loud, you can enjoy a nice business lunch there, now this is for lunch, not dinner. Dinner is a bit more noisy. If you look for something romantic maybe you should ask for a table further back.

Dennis L.

Alright...I am as skeptical as you can get when it comes to all-you-can-eat sushi. I saw the write up in the Red Eye for this place and figured I would give it a shot. Now keep this in mind...there is a big difference between all-you-can-eat sushi and a sushi buffet. Unlike sushi buffets I have visited and narrowly escaped with me health in the past, Sushi Para II has you order however much you want as you go. It is made fresh by about 3 sushi chefs. That was a fact that I liked very much, and I felt like I had a better shot of not kissing the porcelain the next day. My wife and I had a cup of Miso Soup (good), a gyoza app (OK), and 9 rolls. Yeah we can put down some sushi. I do remember the Volcano Roll and Spider Roll being two of our favorites. The rice was a tad dry, but not bad. I really don't think that the rolls had too much rice, but a few were a bit too liberal on the mayo. For 18.99 a person, you really can't go wrong. Just only order what you can eat, or you will be charged for the leftovers. The place is also BYOB and most people do just that. I was a bit jealous that I hadn't brought some Sapporo. Overall, a solid sushi experience. Not the best I have ever had, but it will definitely get me through future cravings for gluttonous amounts of sushi.

Jenna S.

OK, it's official: this is my new, all-time favorite sushi place in the city of Chicago. Hands down. Period. I've been here way too many times since my first visit. Seriously, it's an embarrassing number of times. However, I can firmly say this really is the best sushi I've had. For the past several months, I've gone to other sushi places and I always find myself comparing them to Sushi Para II. Seriously. I always say things like "I don't know, their volcano roll just wasn't as good as Para's..." or "This isn't as spicy as the rolls at Para II." Clearly, I've been in some serious denial for awhile because I just wouldn't admit to myself that Sushi Para II was my favorite. But here I am, now, professing my love for the sushi on Yelp. And that's what counts. Their all-you-can-eat menu is spectacular. For $17.99 the selection is amazing. There's at least 8 appetizers to choose from (edamame, gyoza, miso soup), tons of rolls and a really nice selection of nigiri. The rolls aren't just the standard, "cheap" rolls that other happy hour sushi places serve (like California or Philly) - they actually have the more expensive rolls that are way fancier and require a lot more work (you know, the ones that are usually $12-$15). You can order two or three rolls from the AYCE menu and you've eaten your $18 worth of sushi. Add in a couple more rolls and some apps and you're golden. The service is always quick and friendly. Quick service = outstanding here since it's always packed. People clearly love this place if they keep coming back. I have waited at least 10 minutes almost every single time I've come here, so that's saying something about the demand. Also, they've finally moved locations! Sushi Para II used to be located in the tiny, lower level of a building on Clark. It was kind of basement-esque and super, super small. Like there may have only been eight or 10 tables total in the whole restaurant, most of which were for two-seaters. However, their new space is nice, roomy and nicely decorated. There is no more pushing awkwardly past tiny tables full of people to get to the bathroom - now there's tons of room and way more tables, so way less waiting. And it's BYOB. Always a plus in my book. Yep, it's official. This is my new favorite sushi place and I'm super happy about it.

Brittany T.

So disappointing! My friend had told me great things about this place. We ordered for delivery which took up to two hours for starters. Then when the delivery man got here he didnt even have our beverages and his response was "not my problem" so rude! I could have looked past all that had the sushi been amazing but it was absolutely horrible! Very bland, not fresh and an overall bad experience. Never again. Go to toro, rise or manee Thai instead.

Mike T.

Okay, so the sushi isn't necessarily 5 stars, but it's in my opinion, as good as a lot of very expensive sushi places in Chicago and you can get all you want for 20 bucks? That is a beautiful business model, so 5 stars.

Sandra L.

sushiparachicago.com They've raised the price of unlimited sushi to $18.99 but it's still a great deal and we got a sushi boat! It's pretty natural for me to go family style but I noticed lots of groups do individual orders. So if you want the sushi boat too, order on one sheet of paper for party of 4-6. Less people, there will be too much food and anything more, you'll have to ask the person closer to the boat to pass some sushi to you. Friday or Saturday during peak hours can get crowded and a line out the door. Despite my reservations were at 6:45pm on a Friday for six, we didn't get seated for 20 minutes which wasn't as bad as the time we made reservations at 8:00pm on a Friday night and didn't get seated until 9:15pm. I was annoyed but if weren't for the promise of unlimited sushi, I would have left.

Tricia D.

The good: the $17.99 dinner buffet includes all kinds of sushi rolls, sashimi, and non-sushi items like edamame, dumplings, and spring rolls. Eat to your heart's content! The bad: as you might have guessed, the sushi isn't the best quality, but it's alright. Some of the rolls unraveled at the poke of a chopstick. The ugly: you have to finish everything you order; otherwise you get charged. We completed our task at hand, but not before brainstorming ways to bypass unwanted pieces of sushi, like stuffing it in our (BYOB) beer bottles, "watering" the plants, and unloading in the rr in more sense than one.

Rachel J.

Went here for a friend's birthday, taking advantage of the $20 dinner special. Food was good, but the service was pretty terrible. The waiter dumped soy sauce all over the table (almost in the birthday girl's lap) and then did not come back to clean it up or bring us more napkins. We weren't checked on once the entire meal. But for $20 and BYOB, what can you expect, I suppose.

Iliana P.

My fave sushi place. It's all you can eat for $18.99, which includes sushi rolls, nigiri, miso soup, some salads, and some entrees. As far as all you can eat goes, this is the best place I've ever been to. Figuring I always get my money's worth, I rarely go anywhere else for sushi. I would say that getting my money's worth only works when I'm with a group of people. When it's just me and another person, only a few sushi rolls are consumed, but when it's a large group of people, we order A LOT of sushi. My friends agree that this is a great place to go for sushi, so going with a group is never a problem. This place is BYOB- there's a liquor store down the street. Reservations recommended for groups over 6. Sometimes there's a wait, but for 80% of the time I've not had to wait to be seated. There is also a Sushi Para in Palatine, IL, and a Sushi Para D on Diversey not too far from Sushi Para II. I prefer Sushi Para II over the other two. My favorite is the salmon nigiri. yum :q I usually recommend this place to out of town friends, even those who've experienced sushi in Tokyo, and have not yet heard negative feedback from them :-) Hope you enjoy it too!

Leyla A.

This place has cured my sushi fixation. I have waited a few months to write this review, just to see if it would stick, and it has. I no longer want sushi- at all. Whenever I get that craving, I remember the April night my husband and I sat down in this crowded joint and devoured thirty something rolls, plus tempura, miso soup, and warm beer from 7-11 next door. I went home, puked, and have not had sushi since. If you want good sushi go to Paradise on Montrose/California.

Susan C.

I went to this restaurant with my girlfriend not to long ago. I usually get the all you can eat sushi buffet since I love sushi. I had an after taste after eating the sushi and the waitress ask my girlfriend and I are we done eating because people are waiting for a table. I thought how rude and we are not done eating. I went here many times before and never had a waitress tell me that. I don't think I would go back to this place and find another all you can eat sushi restaurant

Rosanna L.

Went back here because the last time I ate here I enjoyed the sushi buffet. However, this time it was a whole different story. 1. The servers/workers loves eyeballing us when we eat our sushi, which makes me irritated/uncomfortable. 2. The rolls on the buffet menu was boring and a lot of rice was used, which makes you get full faster. 3. I still like that you can order sushi pieces, edamame, and gyozas from the buffet menu, but you get charged extra for sashimi or shrimp tempura, which I personally think should be included in the buffet. I've been trying different places to find to try sushi so I don't always go to the same place, but Sushi Para II probably won't be seeing me in awhile.

YellowStar B.

I went here for my birthday with my "crew" and it is a lot of fun if you have a bunch of people, multiple bottles of wine and tons of alcohol. I've been here other time without a crew, and it's okay.... because you have to be ready for sushi explosion. I have a love/hate relationship for this place. LOVE that it's affordable. LOVE that it's BYOB. LOVE that the menu is extensive. LOVE that the staff have a sense of humor. LOVE that you can see the sushi being made. LOVE that the byob. LOVE the byob. LOVE it. DISLIKE the fact that I always get too greedy and I have to physically FORCE myself to finish my food... it becomes traumatic and I get self inflicted sushi allergies for 3 months. Those who have been here know EXACTLY what I mean. Moral of the story, go easy when ordering. You might pass out from sushi overload.

Melanie V.

I know that everyone raves about the all-you-can eat sushi. It's definitely good for the price. I LOVE that you can also add some shumai/spring rolls/miso soup with the sushi, too. Great option. However, last Saturday, I ordered the Katsu-don (lightly fried pork cutlet) with egg, over rice. It was delicious and only $6.99 for the lunch special (which lasts until 3pm on Saturdays)! So good. Update: Making reservations here is completely pointless. I made one for 6:30 and, even though my friend was there since 6:00, we all still had to wait until about 7 to be seated!

Shalene M.

Horrible. Went there and it smelled fishy. The hostess took her time to seat us - even though it wasn't busy and no one else was there. I don't want to say she was being racist, but It seemed like our presence annoyed her. Will not go there again. Please be aware sushi places should not smell fishy. Can we say food poisoning?

Jimmy N.

FEW IMPORTANT POINTS: 1. AYCE dinner is around $20. Lunch is a few $ less but less variety in rolls. I'm as cheap as cheap can get, and I still think the dinner is the better value. The lunch menu lacks a lot of roll variety (like no soft shell crab roll). 2. The rice/sushi ratio is very good for an AYCE place. There are a few pics showing rolls with a ton of rice, but my friends and I have never had that experience. I didn't feel that the rolls were artifically inflated with rice at all. Maybe 10-15% more rice than normal at most. 3. Sashimi is not included in the AYCE price. Yes, I'm bummed as well, but not unexpected. 4. Basic nigiri is included in the AYCE price. Yay!! This makes this place a winner in any AYCE sushi'er's book. 5. BYOB I really like this place. It serves a lot of basic rolls and maybe a few slightly creative ones. The amount of rice/fish ratio is very good. This place isn't gonna win any awards for best sushi or most creative presentation. It's a solid AYCE place that is never a bad idea to take friends and have a good time.

Grant S.

This place recently moved upstairs from their basement old location. This remodeled section is quite nice, more vibrant decor. Although the wait staff severely lacks in decent command of the "engrish" language the sushi here is surprisingly mediocre. I once believed that quality sushi in Chicago is a myth. This place delivers consistently decent sushi for a fixed all you can eat price. The spicy tuna, not spicy at all, but decent flavor and texture. Get it michigan style (who knew michigan style meant with tobbiko, flying fish roe) for a nice texture change. The rock n roll is quite fantastic- crab,salmon, and unagi fried in seaweed and packed into a roll- best consumed warm. Good flavor- incredibly filling. Ahi tuna nigiri- not the best. A day or two past fresh- quality is really inconsistent. Sometimes they got the real stuff, sometimes some knockoff ahi. Whatever. There are a lot of other places I would go for quality nigiri- this isnt one of em. Gyoza- guessing theyre from frozen but the ponzu sauce and pan frying is always perfect. Good enough for all you cane at right? I came here once a month during college to satisfy my need for mass quantities of mercury. Always leaving satisfied- not the highest quality sushi, but definitely the right bang for the buck. Will come back, soon.

Jamie H.

Came here by myself yesterday, I was craving sushi and wanted to check out this AYCE joint. I enjoyed the food, and left overly stuffed (of course). I was totally full, and ordered 2 more pieces, just to make sure I got my money's worth (which I did, and then some). I really like that you don't just get the maki rolls, you can also get the sushi on the rice as well as the appetizers included in the price ($20 after tax). The rolls were fine, they weren't spectacular and I wasn't expecting them to be. The soup was good, I had the "Home Salad" with the ginger dressing...worst "ginger" dressing I've ever had. I am glad I didn't pay for it separately or I would have been pissssed. Basically, if you're looking for quantity over quality this is the place to go. I would not recommend coming here just to get a few rolls, while they are reasonably priced, they are not great. I probably won't be back any time soon...but next time I'm looking for AYCE sushi, I would come.

Maryam E.

the sushi is good, they don't have fried rolls though, which i like sometimes for a change. they only have a couple of exotic rolls other than that the usual rolls, the philadelphia had tooo much cream cheese it felt like I needed a bagel to go along with it and finally all those stars go because of THE SUCKY SERVICE. we had to actually get up everytime we needed something, even to order in the begining, we had to get up to ask how does it work do we have to order at the cashier or what anyhow, i dont think i will come back, I already found my fav sushi spot in Chicago :)

Jackie G.

28. The number of pieces of sushi I ate today. In hopes for better service, I want to try Sushi Para II again. Unfortunately, I don't think I can stomach it until a bit of break. As somewhat of a regular at House of Sushi (and Noodles) on Belmont, I hoped to one day try this place that includes nigiri and appetizers with its buffet. The rumors told the truth. So after meeting my group of friends who also enjoy large quantities of sushi, I promptly order 3 appetizers, along with a couple of rolls. One friend almost immediately got her order of miso soup. Then, we waited a long time, perhaps due to one friend's order of 5 rolls. Eventually, two friends got plates of sushi they ordered. Shortly after, I got one appetizer I ordered. After I got my rolls - almost as those 2 friends finished their plates, I asked about my other appetizers, and had to reorder. Aside from the inclusion of appetizers and nigiri in the buffet, the other aspect people love about this place is the quality of the sushi. I found it find, but not exceptional. The egg sushi appeared brownish likely from overcooking, adding unnecessary dryness to the piece. The rolls with cream cheese contained too much for my friend's liking. She's the girl who usually claims Philadelphia as her favorite kind of roll. I loved the eel pieces and the crazy tuna rolls. Beware of the density (mayo base?) of the chef's special sauce. Long story short, I really enjoyed the food and found the extra couple of dollars ($19 vs. $17) a good value for the additional types of food I could order, compared to House of Sushi. As indicated in that review, I especially enjoy the communal aspect and variety in maki there. At Sushi Para II, sushi is served on individual plates, which discourages the sharing so key to a sushi buffet, in my opinion. Overall, I might suggest Sushi Para II for smaller groups or even a date, and House of Sushi for groups. At the same time, I warn you with a quote from the night, "Oh great. A child has started to drum with his chopsticks."

Rafal B.

Sushi was GREAT! Their all you can eat deal is great jest make sure you can eat all you ordered otherwise you'll pay for all you've left on per roll basis. WAITER WAS RUDE after we sat there longer than they expected us to stay!

Nazy H.

Came here because heard a few people say it was really good for the price of all you can eat. Well, I should have gone with my gut feeling that you can't really eat sushi or seafood for that matter at a cheap price because you need it to be fresh. We ordered about 12 different rolls and after just a tasting of the first few I felt nauseous. It was not fresh at all and quite disgusting. Im not a picky eater at all so after the first 2 were bad I tried a few more but nope they were all the same. We just paid for everything and left the food all there and left. Theres definitely really good sushi places here in chicago. whoever gave a review more than 3 stars probably has not had fresh or good sushi before.

Rish N.

BYOB is great but the sushi and their service is just average. For a sushi buffet, I would recommend House of Sushi instead. I probably won't be back after my last experience.

Pete B.

I like the place. The sushi was of high quality (it kinda has to, it's like over $20) There're also non sushi items on the menu. When I went there, I stuffed myself to the point where I could barely walk. It's also BYOB, but I didn't take advantage of that last time. Quality wise, not the best place i've gone to, but it's decent for an all you can eat place. I think it would be a great place to come with a group of friends to eat and drink since it's BYOB.

Wesley L.

Checked this place out today. I've been staying in the area and have walked by this one and the one on Diversey nearly every day, and have been salivating ever since. I felt like Pavlov's dog. Went for lunch to make sure that it wasn't too crazy. Staff was efficient, but taciturn, so can't really call them friendly. We started off with the miso soup (pretty standard, but I've never had a standout miso before), the house salad (nice and gingery with a good amount of ginger pulp, not overly sweet and orange like most places) and the shumai (frozen, but still good.) Let's move on to the sushi. Thought the shrimp tempura roll was fantastic, though I prefer mine to be wrapped in soy paper instead of seaweed. Didn't bother with California roll, because that's like eating bread at a buffet. Ordered several of the nigri pieces like the tamago (sweet egg omelette), crab stick, tuna, masago (flying fish roe) and ebi (shrimp). They were well done, and I love masago, so having all you can eat of those was a dream come true. We also had the spicy tuna roll, which was great. All in all, a pretty good experience and I'd visit again. Just be careful that you don't overorder. Whatever you don't eat, you get charged for. So when my friend decided he didn't want the rice in the nigri pieces, things got a little pear-shaped for me. As in my vision from stuffing myself with sushi rice. As well as my figure, also from stuffing myself with sushi rice. Definitely feel like we got our money's worth. Now it's time for a nap.

Ron H.

Came here multiple times to enjoy the All-You Can Eat. You have a wide selection of Appetizers, Sushi Rolls, and Nigiri Sushi pieces. The best part is when the food arrive, and the Nigiri sushi are fresh, rolls are appetizing, and you can order as much as you can "EAT". I recommend not to order too much, since when a party of 6 ordered on 1 sheet of paper, they didn't bring everything we ordered. (Example: We ordered 25 Salmon Pieces, but 6 came.) The other bad part is, they stuff the rolls, Nigiri pieces with too much rice. For those of you don't know, rice fills your stomach up really fast. Recommendation: Don't over order, they do charge for leftovers. Multiple rolls's main ingredient is Spicy Tuna . Change it up! Every other roll we order, the center is the same, Spicy Tuna.

Anne F.

Eek! Methinks not and a half. Never have I been so insulted while at a restaurant. First off, our service was rather random. Dishes did not come out as advertised: my tuna salad was drenched in sauce to cover up the fact that it was fish on a bed of iceberg lettuce. The miso soup, I will give them, was decent. The real problem arose when the bill came. Now granted, we were a larger group, but we were all well aware of what we ordered. When the bill came, it had extra items. Most of them were taken off without extra fuss, but the manager was very dead set that we ordered an extra tempura roll. We argued with the manager who then said that they would watch the surveillance camera to determine who was correct. Who does that? If we ordered our food, we would pay for it. But, we will never go back there nor did any of us leave a tip. Don't go - the food nor service is worth it.

Sean D.

I like this sushi place because of three things: 1. Good sushi 2. Good price 3. I can bring my own delicious beer, including some I've brewed myself instead of paying 5 dollars for junk beer. Thank you sushi para II ! Great BYOB restaurant. They only take reservations for parties of 6 or bigger the last time I was there.

Andy C.

Probably my favorite of all the "all you can eat" cheap sushi deals in Chicago and suburbs. Though I really won't count Todai because they are far inferior. First, the objective. Yes, it is located in a somewhat weird basement/garden level space, and the space isn't that large. The bathrooms don't have the newest amenities, and the seats and tables won't remind you of eating at Alinea. But it's not supposed to. For those of you who have been to NYC to some of their sushi joints, you know that some of the BEST are in hidden little alleys. Same can be said for sushi places in Osaka. Yes, it may feel humid in there once in awhile, but get over it. You're there to eat, not to sit around and primp. Yep, they have a threat that says, "We'll charge you if you don't eat what's on your plate including rice." Not sure if they've ever had to enforce it, but usually the people I go with don't push their luck. After going a few times, you sort of know your limit of # of rolls you can consume before that cutoff switch in your stomach goes, "No mas." Lunch is cheaper by 5 -6 bucks a person, but dinner includes pricier rolls like the big salmon roe and more of the specialty signature rolls. Think Chicago, Alaska, Volcano, Rainbow, etc. etc. They also offer your traditional sushi joint fare. The place is BYOB, and conveniently, there's a store about 3 blocks away that sells libations. It's a great place to go with friends, provided you're not a group that expects this place to be like Sushi Samba. It's a down to earth atmosphere to hang out with friends, laugh, and have a good time - not a swanky club where you eat like a princess because you're afraid to spill sauce on your knockoff blahniks. Service is adequate. They aren't the quickest, but they get things done. If you don't mind hot green tea made of powder, then it's not that bad. I have a slight advantage in that I can communicate with them in their native language, so I find them to be rather personable once you get them talking. Others have alluded to additional buffet items at lunch and diner, and this is true: shumai, potstickers, veggie tempura, edamame, soup, and even salad are available under the umbrella price.

Jaci Y.

Sushi Para II is not a place to bring your kids, because their regular menu is super expensive for Japanese food. I know Japanese food is not cheap, but compare to other Japanese Restaurants Sushi Para II is way over priced for their food. They charged children ages 3 and up $8.99 per child, and most kids do not really eat too much sushi, so it is a rip off! The prices for adults are not $18.99 per person, same menu they added a second floor and a few new items and rolls, but still not that much different from their $16.99 price, so it's a disappointment to me bc it is no longer a bargain in my opinion. You're better off going to a restaurant like Tampopo on Lincoln Avenue. At least you know you're getting quality and good service. And You won't have to pay an arm and a leg to feed your kids.

Tammy K.

I'm a huge fan of sushi and I have tried many sushi places. Everyone has been talking about this place so my friends and I have decided to try it. We went for the all you can eat dinner. We were very disappointed. The sushi was really bland and some of the fish weren't even fresh. They also stuff a lot of rice in the rolls so you get full way faster which makes the all you can eat not really worth it. Like I've said, I've tried many other places and I can say there are so many places that have better sushi.

Cam L.

Even BYOB can't save this place. Terrible service and way too much rice on the rolls. Go somewhere else! Go to House of Sushi and Noodles on Belmont.. much better alternative!

Abigail D.

The fish is buffet...so expect the buffet quality. It's pretty decent in price. I would name is Standard Sushi Buffet...

Jamie M.

We ate sooo much! This definitely sufficed my sushi craving for awhile. I thought there was decent variety for a $20 all-you can eat sushi place. I'm not the best judge of freshness, but everything appeared/ tasted fresh and I am sure that they go through so much fish that they have to order it constantly. We had a great experience trying all of the different rolls. My favorite (which was the last one we tried- at which point I was so stuffed) was the mountain roll! A spicy tuna lover's heaven. I think the decoration could have been jazzed up a little.

Ryan S.

I don't know... 19 bucks for all you can eat sounds like a good deal but the rolls are HUGE and stuffed too tight. Sushi isn't one of those things that I care to eat the largest size possible like a burger or a steak. It's an art and Sushi Para II missed the point. Maybe I caught them on a bad day or something but apart from the rolls being enormous, I ordered a spicy tuna and a spider roll that tasted exactly the same. Not impressed, will not go back. There are just too many GOOD sushi joints in chi to waste 20 bones here again. On a side note, they have a lunch special that WOULD be worth the money as it is only 10 bucks for A.Y.C.E.

Jason H.

Half price sushi all the time, and it's good sushi (not the usual half price mini pieces)!

Kazuko S.

My boyfriend and I have been doing a tour of all you can eat sushi in the area. We've gone to at least 15 different places and are constantly re-evaluating, but currently, this is our favorite. It's expensive yeah, but all sushi is. My boyfriend likes to say the rolls are "as big as baby wrists" and yes, they are super large rolls, and well made. I love this place! It's delicious, it's fast, and the staff doesn't try to load the sushi up with cucumber and avocado to make it more filling while giving you a pea sized peice of fish like some other AYCE sushi places. Only downside is that it can be crowded, kinda loud, and there's a wait sometimes...but it's always a good sign when there's a wait! I also wish they made it easier on vegetarians with ayce options, because i have some good friends who can never participate! Otherwise. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Kristine P.

Sucks. Small portions... Not worth the price. The sashimi was frozen, not fresh... The sushi selection is small and the waiters are rude. Go somewhere else. Sushi Para D on Diversey is much better.

Joe R.

The language barrier can make ordering a bit of challenge at times but this place has absolutely amazing sushi. The all you can eat combined with the fact that they are BYOB makes it a great deal as well. Their salmon and tuna sashimi is the best thing on the menu IMO.

Joanne A.

I would give 5 stars for the sushi & price, but I had to revert to 3 stars because of the location and WAIT. Pros: *sushi is good for the price you're paying for ($18) *BYOB Cons: *On some weekday nights, the most our wait to be seated was 1 hour to an hour and a half. They only take reservations for 4 or more, so it doesn't help if you're a party of 3. * Parking is somewhat of a hassle. * Restaurant is VERY small, so be prepared to join the conversation to the table next to you. * Don't come around closing time, they will stand and watch you while you eat. There is a Shushi Para in the burbs, we only make that trip if we feel like driving & don't want to wait over an hour for sushi. Been to the one on Milwaukee, not crowded at all.

Marie B.

"Got the buffet n best believe I tried as much as I could eat!! Lol I tried this place out for my bday dinner before we hit the bars n their service was great! Their sushi quality wasn't all that bad it was like a house of sushi where they serve you to get u full n leave. Their rice tasted low quality also the presentation was mediocre. BUT if you come at the right time n before it gets busy the sushi will taste amazingg! I went again with a friend around 4/5ish. All in all it was OK if u wna get full fast then this is thee place!"

L K.

I love sushi but I always end up spending more than I'd like to get full - which is why I love this place! Is it the best sushi you've ever had in your life? Probably not. But it's good and it's inexpensive. Add the fact that it's BYOB and you walk out of there stuffed for $25 (after tax and tip). Can't beat the price.

Sasha T.

My boyfriend and I LOVE this place! We go here a few times a month. The sushi here is unbelievably fresh and tasty. The Salmon sushi is my favorite. For this place being an all you can eat sushi buffet, the quality and freshness of the food is outstanding. It's also BYOB - who can complain about that? If you want tasty, fresh sushi and not over pay then this is a place for you.

Deena J.

1) my fave sushi place 2) perfect place after work to grab something to drink and dine 3) the setting is perfect date place or just if you want to chill and catch up with your friends 4) anything you try on their menu is worth it.. you can't go wrong!

Brian P.

Yup i came here hungry and i left with a stomach that felt so full that i think i put them into bankruptcy. I also then developed a stomach ache with appendicitis-like proportions. Thankfully after using the restroom, that was only a false alarm. Though it is all you can eat, take care to spare yourself injury. The stuff here is of decent quality, and the volume they go through pretty much guarantees freshness. fried oysters were a huge plus. grilled squid as well. you can never have too much yellowtail.

Insun M.

I've been to the Sushi Para in Palatine and this one is MUCH better. Cleaner atmosphere and better service. The food at both places is pretty much the same. Great rolls that they don't skimp on the fish. I did notice though that this location uses a bit more rice on the rolls then the Palatine location. Tsk tsk. This location also charges more for leftovers. We had about 10 pieces left over and was charged $4. Its not a biggie but at the Palatine location for the same amount I was charged $1.50. Bonus star for being BYOB.

Anna P.

This place is the triple threat of crappy restaurants: Terrible service Nasty food Tiny, crowded space In the interest of being somewhat fair, I've only been here once, but it was so awful I will never go back. We had a reservation for a party of ten and they seated us immediately, which was nice. Then we pulled out our wine and beer and it took them no less than 30 minutes to bring us a corkscrew, one glass of water (we had asked for the whole table - were we supposed to share?!), and menus. We put in an order for lots of AYCE sushi, and then we waited. And waited....and waited...... Let me put it this way: we arrived at 7:45pm, and by 10:00pm I had finished nearly an entire bottle of wine out of pure hunger and was ready to eat my arm. Then the food arrived - it was alright, I guess. Lots of mayo, lots of rice. I guess it would be passable if you wanted to literally eat your weight in sushi, but if you actually just enjoy having a couple of rolls you'd be better off somewhere else.

Andrea K.

I've been going to this place regularly over the past 4 years. Went back a few times this year & their quality of fish has really gone down. The sashimi is served lukewarm. It's as if it has been sitting in room temperature for hours and they just decided to place it on a roll of rice and give it to you. I haven't been back since.

Taylor P.

All you can eat sushi for under $20? Count me In. The best part about this place is you can see the fresh fish and the kitchen as you dine so you know it's good. It tastes great and they have a large variety of rolls and even individual sushi pieces. ***Be careful not to order too many of the shrimp tempura type rolls because they load these up with tons of rice and they are pretty hard to eat, my buddy ordered 2 of these types of rolls and didn't like one of them and they wouldn't take his the whole time so I had to order another roll for him.

T R.

There is no denying that the food is great. Expect to spend about $20 for the all-you-can-eat. They tend to add a lot of rice onto their rolls if you choose to go the all-you-can-eat route, too. The BYOB is a plus and a must as far as taking advantage of! A downfall of this restaurant is their customer service. Though they are more than accommodating to large parties and making reservations, they will try to rush you and your party out as you can tell the manager prefers to turn tables, especially on the weekends. I understand the business aspect of this, however, it's not enjoyable to feel rushed to finish eating, especially with a large party. I would still recommend this place, though I would give people a heads up that their customer service isn't the most delightful which has been a big turn off to me.

Somchai S.

I was looking forward to trying this place out for the sushi buffet, but I was greatly disappointed. DECOR: Like eating at someone's basement. Plain white walls and a very small place. FOOD: The appetizers from the buffet menu was average. The house salad came with a soy ginger dressing that was plain and something you can get anywhere. The spring rolls were disgusting... to say the least. The sauce inside them were salty and watery. The tempura vegetables were great though. The sushi was mediocre. All the rolls were full of rice and too large to eat gracefully. The ingredients did not taste fresh. The spider crab roll was hard to swallow. The shrimp tempura was nothing spectacular with a minuscule amount of shrimp. The unagi roll was the worst I've ever had seeing how the eel itself was hard to swallow. I would not go back to sushi para even if someone else was paying. If you want a sushi buffet, go to house of sushi.

Andrew L.

Went here today to eat. Arrived at 12:30, ordered two appetizers and 5 nigiri and 2 orders of cali rolls from the buffet menu. Our appetizers came within ten minutes. Then I noticed after we finished our appetizers (we're filipino and hispanic) two couples of Chinese people came in. (I know they were because they ordered in Mandarin). After they ordered the waiter moved our sushi sheet to the back of the second order. Now we did not order a lot, but just a few rolls and some nigiri. After 45 minutes of waiting our food still did not arrive, however, the two parities that arrived after us received both of their orders, which consisted of a lot more sushi from what we ordered since they received two plates of rolls. After approaching the owner he gave us a sarcastic oh you must be very hungry huh? Then after another five minutes our sushi arrived on a single plate (It wasn't a lot of sushi). Our bill was a little over 30. Upon receiving my change I saw I was short 30 cents. He saw me counting my change and approached asking if there was a problem. I said yeah you short changed me. He then said oh we just opened (by then it was almost 2pm). I said okay there's your tip and walked out. Lesson learned, this place is not only racist, but they short change their customers. Sure 30 cents is nothing, but for him to serve everyone else after we ordered well that's not cool. This may not happen to everyone, but this is the last time we're coming back here.

Grog R.

Love coming in with friends. BYOB is the jam. At the end of the day it's a great little place to grab some quick Sushi and enjoy some nice wine for a reasonable price. Does it have it's faults, sure you can be upset about them charging you for spicy mayo and they might use too much rice. I've never had a bad roll here and will continue to chow down here willingly.

Hoang L.

3 years ago I would've given this place 4 stars, but my experience here gets worse and worse as the years ago by. The quality of the sushi used to be fresh, but now it's just average. Also, they really load up on the rice so you can only eat so many rolls. I used to like all-you-can-eat places, but as I'm getting older, I realized that it's not really my thing anymore. Mainly because I end up stuffing myself so much (to get my money's worth) that I feel like crap afterwards. I think next time I go here, I'll just order individual rolls. However, I do enjoy the fact that this place is BYOB.

Ken Z.

I've been here a couple of times with friends, and it's always the same story. The first round of sushi that comes is great. Everything tastes delicious cause we're starving. Then we order a large second round, because we want to get our money's worth of all you can eat (15.99 for lunch, 18.99 dinner). However, by the time the second round comes by, the fullness from the first round has hit. We still eat all the sushi, because they charge for what you leave, but it is a struggle, and sushi tastes really awful when you're full and sick of it. The quality isn't the best. The fish could be fresher, and rolls aren't tightly packed together, but that's to be expected from all you can eat, BYOB sushi. I'd recommend staying away from the rolls and just sticking to the nigiri, because an exorbitant amount of rice and other filler components, like cucumber, are incorporated to make you fuller faster. The restaurant is small, but clean, and service really depends on who's working there. It's a great place to go with friends whenever y'all feel like eating an obscene amount of sushi, but for those who want a high quality sushi dinner, look elsewhere.

Charles Y.

Pretty good food. I definitely would go back for the all you can eat. Really good price for the quality and quantity of food.

Sidney H.

This is a decent place to satisfy a sudden monster sushi craving, and you're not snobby about ambiance or service. The rolls are very good, and the dinner buffet menu offers enough variety to satisfy almost anyone. The fresh fish rolls have tasted "off" on several occasions, so I usually limit how many these I consume. My favorites are the spider rolls and the smoked eel rolls. Like I said, it's a great place to satisfy a sushi craving, but don't expect big colorful, artsy caterpillar rolls and exotic sushi concoctions.

Nicole R.

I love sushi para.. The spider rolls are delicious. Pretty cheap, and the rolls are fairly large! They also have an all you can eat for around $20.. You do get charged for the rolls you don't eat, however. Overall, I'm a fan.

Bobby S.

Before I begin I have to say I am quite new to sushi. I don't know sushi, I am still learning all the rolls, preparations, types of sushi and sushimi but I know it tastes good and I will go there for more!!!! 20 $ unlimited sushi!! What more can you ask for?. Its BYOB, great atmosphere, very friendly service, a pretty awesome experience. One of the best ones I've had in a while. I am a bit confused about the name of this place... So its Sushi Para II, and when you go there it says Sushi Para Too? Is it a misspell? So its a mixture of Japanese / Spanish and English? Hmmm,... puzzled? Anyone?

MC L.

We have been there for many years, and tonight is our last time. The quality of food has deteriorated beyond recognition. Sushi's have shrunk substantially in size and did not have proper shape. Rice was not properly cooked so that it tasted very dry and tended to separate from one another. Some of our ordered nigiri did not arrive, and the eel on nigiri was indeed a shell of its former self. Although fried soft-shell crab was redeeming, it's just one good item out of many mediocre things. We lament the passing of a formerly-serviceable restaurant and our happy experiences there.

Kathy S.

This place is a pretty good deal, especially now that House of Sushi has upped its own sushi buffet prices. One thing that really annoyed me was that even though we had a reservation, we still had to wait over an hour for our table. I understand that Sushi Para isn't the biggest restaurant but if they accept a reservation, they should be able to keep it. Otherwise, I like this place. Especially when all my friends are bragging about how they're going to out-eat each other and then watch them look like they're going to be sick from the disgusting amount of sushi they ate. Yes, I'm a little sadistic like that but it's highly amusing. If you ever watched any of the competitive eating contests, you know what I mean. Hmm...makes me wonder how many pieces Kobayashi will be able to eat!

Vijay K.

In celebration of a pretty amazing day, me and my friend headed out here, we were waiting for so long to do so. We fell in love with the idea of all you can eat sushi. The sushi here however is not so great, it's okay. Understandable for a place that has to pump out roll after roll to hungry, BYOB drinkers. We did run into the occasional falling rice into the soy sauce, but all is forgiven. All you can eat sushi is all you can eat. We both went through about 4-5 rolls. While it did take a while for it to get there, it gave us some time to talk and settle our stomachs before the second wave hits. Another thing I seem to find people get irked with is the wait time, it seems some people order piles and piles of sushi and wonder why they wait for ages. It's sushi, not McDonalds! Things take time, and with crowds, or large groups, that does not help either. I feel for some of the waiters when a large group comes into the door and expect sushi to be ready and on the spot. At the same time, water did take a while and some of the basics could have been covered faster. Overall, the place is nice if you just want straight up sushi, nothing fancy, it's not the best, but it is also not the worst. And for 16 bucks (lunch), not too bad for Chicago and sushi that is all you can eat.

Stephanie J.

They are now upstairs from where they were originally. Still tasty. Still reasonably priced.

Ricky M.

I had the all you can eat sushi meal for lunch. Let's just say, with the limited selection for lunch, some things were a letdown. The salmon and definitely the tuna were not fresh. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT THERE. We didn't finish 5-6 pieces of sushi for our all you can eat, but they didn't charge us which was very nice of them. If they did, that would have been their tip, jussayin'. Green tea was also on the house. NICE! What I also liked was the affordability of the all you can eat sushi lunch. 16 dollars per person. WOOT WOOT.

Cassidy P.

If you're a big eater, you can get a heck of a lot of sushi here. Personally, I'd prefer to pick out a few things and spend less--especially since I don't have a big enough stomach to eat more than what would cost less than $19 worth of food from the regular menu, anyway. It's a good spot for a bunch of people, not fancy, BYOB.

Miss A.

Not the most fabulous ambiance, but I'm a big sushi fan so I'll over look that. Standard sushi fare, and LOVE the all-you-can-eat option for less than $20!

B S.

I will preface this by saying that i came in late on a Saturday night, not long before the 10:30 closing time. The place was still full and there was at least 15 minutes before last call for sushi orders. The sushi quality was not that great. I had 2 maki rolls: eel and yellow tail. The eel rolls were falling apart and messy. The taste was passable but nothing special. The service was not terrible in terms of getting my sushi quickly. The staff did seem to lack a tight handle on things. They were somewhat lacking in professionalism and seemed confused, even. The ambiance and whole experience was just not that great for the price (that is, for sushi prices). I think there are nicer sushi places around that are similar in price.

Gretchen R.

DO NOT GO TO SUSHI PARA II IF YOU WANT A RELAXING MEAL!!!! A few girlfriends and I went to Sushi Para II on a weeknight. We wanted inexpensive sushi and BYOB. After waiting 45 minutes for our table, we also waited a long time for someone to take our order, uncork our wine, or even acknowledge we were there. We ordered several rolls which were okay at best. After dinner we all had about half of a glass of wine left, and were planning on finishing our glass of wine and then leaving. The waitstaff came over to our table and asked us to leave so they could flip the table. We had just finished and paid, it had been under 2 hours! We told them that we would quickly finish our glass of wine, and then would leave. 30 seconds later another waiter came over and also asked us to leave so they could flip the table! We eventually left, wine unfinished, never to return to Sushi Para II.

Barbara D.

ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI FOR 20 BUCKS and it's good, fresh fish. not nasty leftovers. you pay for what you do not finish. go here at lunchtime....not crowded.

Binh N.

Compared to all the other sushi places I have been to, this place is ok. Because it is a sushi buffet, the quality of food suffers. The place is BYOB, which is nice when you have a group of friends who just want to devour lots of sushi and care not for the taste. Try not to be seated in the back of the restaurant, it's probably the worst place to sit. Whenever I go with my wife, we always end up back there. The noise seem to be amplified and the waiters are rarely around. Sitting in the front is slightly better due to less noise and you can always flag the waiter down whenever you need them. The only problem is that most of the waiters don't know English. I would be willing to come here every now and then with a group of friends, but if I want good sushi I would look elsewhere.

Nina G.

I will NEVER go back to this place again because of the way they treated my group for my birthday. I reserved it one week ahead of time so they should have been prepared. The majority of my group arrived on time and there were a couple of people that were still arriving. Not one, but two waitresses were hounding me about when they were going to arrive because they could use the table for other customers. It had only been 10 minutes of us sitting down. Then they see we had beer and drinks and they wouldn't give us enough cups to drink. We had to ask a couple of times for more cups. On top of that they never even offered an ice bucket. My guests were drinking warm white wine. The cherry on top was when it was 9:45 and we paid. They close at 10 and as soon as we paid the two waitresses stood in front of our tables and LITERALLY had their arms crossed and were starring at us to leave. My one friend was like, "Geez I can't believe they are kicking us out." How ridiculous & embarrassing! This was all after spending well over $300 dollars there. I will NEVER go to this place again. I have had sushi that was more fresh at other places. They lost more then one customer that night because of their HORRIBLE SERVICE! Go to Midori (or House of Sushi & Noodle house if you want AYCE).

Evan A.

For $18 you will not find a better BYOB all you can eat sushi. Went last night with two friends. we ordered so much sushi it was brought to us on a ship. A sushi ship if you will. Excellent. Cannot wait to go back

Darlene F.

With all the sushi joints near Clark and Fullerton, we fish lovers totally benefit from the stiff competition. Came here for the first time when previous-favorite Green Tea was closed for a winter break. We've done non-gluttonous regular menu ordering, and the all you can eat. Both ways are awesome. Some of the "special" rolls you'll get at other restaurants for $12+ were $7 or $8 here. We had the rainbow roll which was VERY generous with both the fish and the avocado. The all you can eat is a pretty good deal and the menu is generous. Oh. and keep out the ridiculously annoying groups of high school kids screaming and blasting youtube videos on their iphones. Service wise, this place gets pretty busy so don't expect lightning-quick service. Their waiters could definitely be a bit more friendly and attentive.

Steven C.

Sushi Para II has saved my life several times. Literally, from starvation that is. I've been there for lunch, dinner, brunch, any meal any time of the day I'd have Sushi Para II. The sushi is very good and I've had sushi in all kinds of places all over the world. Some reviews point out they stuff more rice in their rolls which I have found to be entirely untrue. They don't charge very often either unless you are grossly blatant about not being about to finish your sushi which is easy to avoid as long as you get the $17.99 all you can eat and order in successive portions. I usually have no issues polishing off 2 large plates. The spider rolls are delicious and my favorite of any Japanese restaurant but usually anything with soft shell crab is quite pricey. Imagine my excitement when I found out you can have as many as them you could stuff your face with. As one reviewer pointed out, you'd be hard pressed to find another all-you-can-eat Japanese place and the price is beyond reasonable. The service isn't as attentive as maybe other restaurants but for the price? I can deal with having to actually wait a bit for my water or tea. Generally, the service is nothing to complain about. One reviewer said he preferred Todai which I guess he didn't realize is in Schaumburg. For those of us who live in the city, this is far more practical for filling in those sushi cravings after waking up after those drunken weekends for brunch or needing a starving dinner fix. The BYOB option is wonderful, have your sushi with your favorite wine or your favorite junmai dai-ginjo sake. There is no better deal in town but if you're a real sushi snob, you're welcome to overpay at any other restaurant in town.

Angie C.

Came here for dinner last night and expected a great round 2...my fiance gagged on the raw octopus it was so bad and chewy (we normally love octopus) and sitting close to the kitchen revealed way too much...handling edamame with bare hands and one of the waitresses standing around picking wax from her EAR. O.M.G. Will never be back here.

Vivi W.

Great price and selection for sushi buffet. Staff's a bit rude. But it's worth it. BYOB!

Scene M.

after reading every review about this place (pro and con) on here, i still had to try this all you can it place for myself....and i can say i did - and i won't again... yes the thought of $20 for AYCI sushi is too hard to turn down - but spend the extra $ somewhere else...first, all the rolls tasted the same...they were poorly 'rolled' (very loose,rice all over the place) and some pieces didnt look as fresh as others...id recommend grocery store sushi before eating this stuff again...tho the service was not bad for a friday evening at 7p, they did fail to bring everything that was ordered from our checklist...if your'e looking to get filled up from a cheap mea l- eat bread.....two thumbs down.

Char Y.

We came here for sushi buffet. The quality of the fish is average, but it takes a long time for our food to arrive. I do understand that it is due to the fact that people order in large amounts, and they have limited man power. But I do think the proportion of rice to fish is not equal.

David N.

Vegetarian hit!!! I finally found a sushi place that had 10 different choices for a vegetarian! My date brought me here for dinner, and I was expecting just one or two choices to pick from...the standard cucumber roll or avocado roll. But their choices went beyond that, they had sweet potato, avocado, cucumber, squash, and several other choices. I was impressed, and the prices were not bad at all. I would definitely recommend this place to any vegetarian out there who does not eat fish, and would like a good selection of vegetable maki and sushi rolls to pick from.

Mari K.

"Sushi Para Too. Does that mean there's another one?" asks my dinner companion. Or maybe it's supposed to be read "Sushi for Two", because any legit Asian restaurant will have at least one misspelled word. I do not know. Well, given the size of the restaurant, it's best to go with just a couple people. It's super cozy and small enough to play a nice game of Duck, Duck, Goose in it. No, they do not serve duck nor goose. If you can eat more than 10 pieces of sushi/2 makis, definitely go for the $16.99 all-you-can-eat deal. This includes all sushi, makis, and appetizers (sans some seafood soup..) However, make sure your eyes are not bigger than your stomach, because they penalize you for whatever is left uneaten. (hm.. almost reminds me of my childhood. =P) Anyways, I believe it's a $1 charge for either a piece of sushi or a piece of maki. And nope, they will not charge you for a little bit of left over rice or a couple of edamames. The sushi's not bad at all and the makis are fairly decent. However, they stuff A LOT of rice into them, so do take that into consideration when ordering. Also, if you're picky with the assembly of makis, then stick with the sushi. On a Saturday night, get there early because there was a small line that formed after we'd left, which was around 6:30.

Daniel Y.

For $16.99, you better get a good deal, and Sushi Para II delivers! While House of Sushi serves up rolls with more rice and tempura, Sushi Para II provides more quality, better tasting sushi. Not to mention you don't have to order a whole roll either on many of the rolls listed in the buffet sheet (which btw offers a nice variety of things besides sushi like salad, soup, spring rolls, etc.). If you've got a large party of friends that you're going to eat with here, call ahead and make a reservation. You'll appreciate it later when you're not stuck waiting in the cramped waiting area!

Sonchoi H.

Okay, want decent sushi for a great price? This is where you need to be. When I'm feeling like a bum, but really craving sushi, I always go here. Cheap sushi buffet if you've got the belly of a whale...and even though I did not, you can bet I stretched it out like one after my visit. The only thing that sucks is parking and of course, if you get the buffet special, you better finish your damn plate..otherwise you'll be paying. Seriously. The last 4 bites of a huge sushi plate? Always the most painful. HAHA. So go little by little.

Michael N.

Come on!!! All you can eat Sushi!!!!! B.Y.O.B?? It's perfect. 18.99 for dinner all you can eat or 14.99 for lunch! But there is a secret. If you do not finish all the sushi you order, you will pay for each roll. So don't order crazy at first and order little by little to see if you can eat all of them! Service is Good.

Xingshuo L.

I have a big problem with their business model! You might wonder why this sushi chain is so cheap, it's because they not only make money off their customers, they make money off their waitresses! You also might wonder why the waiting staff their aren't too excited about their jobs, it's because they don't get tips at all. The waitresses get paid $100 for a full day (like 10-11 hours) or $60 for the evening shift (starting at 4 or 5 pm). They don't get their tips! And they make their staff work overtime sometimes without getting paid a dime more.I'm not sure if this is even legal. So when you feel nice and try to give them a good tip, the restaurant owners get it. A normal waitress there for a whole day can get more than $100 in just tips, so the restaurant is basically earning money on their staff! Also, if you have a party of 5 or more people the service fee is included in the bill. A lot of people don't know this and give a tip on top of that anyway. Again, the owners are happy! Now, again, the food is fine. Just remember that you don't have to tip them at all unless you want to contribute more to the restaurant owners. I just can't handle how they take advantage of their waitresses their anymore and have to post this... People deserve to know the truth.

Christine B.

Eventhough I felt the food was good, after going several times i asked for shrip tempura and they gave me fried fish ( I showed the watires and she apologized). Giving them the benefit of the doubt I went back asked for spicy tuna roll and they gave me salmon " like I wasn't going to be able to distinguish between the 2". I will never go back. For those who go there alot, make sure you know what you are eating don't get robbed.

Javier B.

This place has been a very enjoyable experience, encompassing two things, sushi and a buffet. The sushi is made very well and while it can be a little messy at times, the taste is still comparable to what I've had and many other "upscale" sushi places. Then the buffet is hard to beat. $18.99 for unlimited pieces and as long as you eat everything, not a penny more. Another plus for many people is that the place is BYOB, so you can enjoy any drink your heart desires.

Ming C.

I think it was good value for your money. I went there early so there was no wait. It was kind.of quiet even. I love grilled octopus and since it is all you can eat, I couldn't be happier. sushi is decent. BYOB is a big plus. Definitely would go back again.

Jon G.

People point out all the time that buffet style sushi places mean the sushi is probably not the best quality. I also heard recently that the first African American President was elected. I am also sick of people comparing buffet style sushi places to non-buffet ones. People go to sushi buffets to eat alot of sushi on the cheap, not for the most amazing sushi in Chicago. As far as Sushi Para II goes, the sushi is good. They use a bit too much rice, but the fish is a good quality. I recommend the Rock N Roll. For what you pay and what you get, this place is worth going to. I do not always need to eat sushi at a fancy restaurant. This is the same way I feel about steak. Sometimes I like to go out and have filet mingon, and sometimes I like a Big Mac.

Mike K.

My review as a haiku: Small sushi buffet Rice to fish ratio is FOUR I don't get the name

Geni S.

If you are looking for good sushi at a reasonable price then you have to check this place out. They have an all you can eat sushi buffet that I highly recommend. The service is slow and not overly friendly. The quality of the sushi is very good (there is better out there but most are not as good as here). In short, if you want decent sushi at a reasonable price then this is a good place to go.

Nancy C.

I love sushi. Once you've had it fresh at the fish market in Japan, it's hard to go back to stale Midwestern sushi. So I have to say, these 3 stars come more from the perks than the actual sushi quality here. A) The wait is pretty short. We were a group of 5 and got seated within ~15 minutes on a Saturday night. B) The price for an all-you-can-eat dinner is $18.99. C) Some of the items on the menu are very good, like tatsuta age (fried chicken). D) For people who don't eat raw fish, there are a lot of other options including tofu, beef, chicken and soup dishes. The rolls and sashimi were OK. Better than the cafeteria style ones you can buy in grocery stores, but definitely not amazing. All in all, it's a fun place to go with a group of friends on the weekend.

Darlene R.

I've never been to Japan. I've ever caught a two hundred pound tuna and ate it while still on the hook. However, I do know good sushi. I love the hokkai roll( salmon skin and salmon). They have a dragon roll that doesn't have mayo, which I love. I only come here at off hours do I don't have to wait. Do not come here on a Friday night at 7 if you don't want to wait more than an hour. Don't come here if you don't want to eat an insane amount of food. Don't come here if you want to be eating at sushi samba. It's not fancy. It's good and cheap. I heart you sushi para.

Christine M.

I've decided on sushi for the evening and I won't stop until I get some. What are my choices that I go through? Bob San...no...I want to wear pajama pants. Orsay....no....let's not get classy people. Friends...no...I refuse to pay $8 a roll. Hey Sushi...no....blacklight is unappetizing to me. Kabuki...meh...eaten way too many times there. Ringo....no...I'll pass on the $15 cab ride. SUSHI PARA II....yes! I like this place because they have a ridiculously good selection of rolls and appetizers for their $16.99 all you can eat. If you know yourself, you don't have to do the buffet and can get what you want and make it under that price. I am particularly fond of their spicy salmon. The rolls are creative, and not your typical all you can eat cop outs which is really nice. Yet to have a bad experience here, the fish is always melt in your mouth fresh and the right temperature (one of my sushi pet peeves). During the week it's usually a small crowd and you don't have to wait for a table, not exactly a date place - more a place if you have been dating for awhile and want to go out in jeans!

Jane T.

This places is just "meh" for me. The all you can eat feature is great and it's probably one of the better all you can eat sushi restaurants in Chicago. But I found the rice to be a tad sour and the rolls to be quite boring. I'd pay a bit more and order some tastier rolls. And quite honestly, I can't even eat that much to make this place worth it. I'd pay about the same price ordering regular rolls at a better restaurant. Also, I did not like the location and atmosphere of the place. I felt icky walking in there. The wait staff seemed standoff-ish as well.

Judy M.

It is a great deal if you are someone who can eat a lot of sushi, and can end up spending a ton at other sushi places. I was actually shocked to like this place, a coworker kept suggesting it, but I was a little afraid - I figured the fish couldn't be that fresh. It was surprisingly fresh actually. The rolls seem to be a bit more filler than fish (lots of rice and veggies or cream cheese or whatnot), but they are still pretty tasty and for the price, a seriously great deal. I mean, grocery store sushi isn't even this cheap, and it isn't nearly as good.

Sarah L.

If you LOVE sushi and you want an endless tray of it, go here! I ended up going here with 9 office buds and we had a great time. They accommodated our large party and we were pretty tipsy because we had 8 bottles of chilled wine. I saw one table that had a box of Franzia wine!! Who brings a WHOLE box of wine to a BYOB? Oh, did I mention this place was BYOB :) The thing is here if you can't finish what your order, they charge you. A friend of mine had to smuggle her uneaten sushi in her purse because she was too full! I will be back to this quaint sushi restaurant. You can't beat $21.00 (including tip) for all you can eat sushi!!!

Paul H.

Maybe we got lucky, but I was pretty impressed with the quality of the service and of the sushi at Sushi Para Too (or is it II???). Also, with tax and tip it's $20 for all you can eat sushi - which is great because it kind of helps those of us who tend to over-eat to keep things in check. Since it's so small I'd suggest going either early or late. The two of us went later in the night and were seated right away. It was nice to blow past larger groups waiting in the stairwell.

Jenna A.

Friday night festivites start with sushi para II. BYOB all the sushi and tasty miso soup you can eat! fast, delicious, and extremely accomidating. Volcanoe and Fashion rolls are out of the world, the spicy tuna is also a fav of mine. Come here when you looking to spend next to nothing for some of the best sushi in the city

keRi M.

torn on this place. have come here multiple times now. it's convenient in LP, you generally don't have to wait too long for a table, it has no corkage fee for BYOB and has good, reasonable sushi. the all you can eat for 18.95 probably would have been a better deal for us after everything we ordered on my first visit - which i did get the next time, and ate my money's worth. but at least one time, maybe twice, can't remember for sure, that i've been here, i've gone home and within a few hours had my stomach feeling pretty awful. so i don't know if i can blame the place or just eating too much for the all-you-can-eat deal for that, but it has made me a bit weary about going back. i dont think any of my friends have ever had that problem when they've gone with, so take this with a grain of salt.

Adrianne D.

great fresh sushi! as a fellow lincoln parker, i've had all the sushi around- from ringo to toro- and these rolls are the very best! big rolls, quick service, and fresh fish. my go-to place for a sushi night!!

Jon Y.

The first couple times that I visited Sushi Para Too, which was in the basement, I told myself I would not go there again. Since they moved to the top floor, everything has improved. Those of you that have visited the restaurant prior to the new location must give it another shot. The first two times I went, the fish to rice ratio was horrible. They used to put so much rice with their nigiri. The last time I went, which was just two days ago, the fish to rice ratio has improved. They did not put too much rice with their nigiri. I was very pleased with my visit. The quality of their fish is above the "all-you-can-eat" standard. I was impressed by the variety. Their selection includes yellow tail and white tuna. =) I did not smell any 'fishy' smell when I ordered the Tuna or any other fish for that matter. I thought that the quality was fresh, and cannot complain about it. I don't consider myself to be a master-level fish critique but at the same time I don't consider myself to be a novice. The environment has lively feel. Those of you that are looking for a quiet romantic ambiance may need to look elsewhere. The restaurant has greatly improved regarding cleanliness and decor. It has much better lighting, and the restaurant just seems more comfortable to sit in. The service was where I was most impressed. Whenever we wanted to order, the waitress was always around to take our order. The waitress was not impatient, and we always got our sushi order in a very reasonable manner. I was actually surprised on how fast our order arrived being that the restaurant was completely full. I can't think of any complaints that I might have. The restaurant was clean, the food was good, and the service was great. The price is not bad at all. Best in Chicago for "all you can eat" in Chicago, considering quality and service. $18 is a fair price. If perhaps 18 is too much, then you may opt for the lunch price for only $14.99. One particular thing that brought much delight to our experience at Sushi Para Too was that they did not make or force us to finish our plate before we ordered another round. Again, props on the service. My expectations are however relative to a Sushi restaurant that do all you can eat. Don't expect sushi restaurant extravaganza like the ones in Vegas or Japan. But expect to be satisfied in all areas that I have mentioned. Don't criticize my review too harshly if you don't agree. This review is only based on my last visit. I know that restaurants can be inconsistent, as I will be fair and honest when I visit this establishment more. That being said, I will update my review as necessary. Peace and happy gluttony!

Mallory G.

I come here a lot. In fact, I'm coming here tonight... and I can't wait. My boyfriend and his cousin introduced me to the concept of all-you-can-eat sushi and I haven't looked back since. Never had a bad meal here and I love that you can get apps like gyoza, miso soup and edamame to munch while you await your sushi laden boat.... yes, order enough and they will bring your fishies to you on a boat.

Michael L.

Pretty good sushi but there are at least three better sushi places up the block.

Risa P.

Yum yum sushi. I had gone here for the first time two years ago and for some reason, haven't been back. I am glad that I came back. We went on a Saturday night, so the wait was somewhat long (they take reservations for parties over 5 people) but we got a place at the bar. I kind of liked sitting at the bar, it was intimate and nice. The place is small, the waitresses aren't the most friendly. They are very quick and nice when you talk to them but they are short on smiles. The food? Yummy. Did the all you can eat deal for $17.99 and started with the miso. The miso was good, but I like a little more tofu in mine. Then we started with the Volcano Roll, the Philly Roll, Spicy Salmon, Mountain Roll, Spicy Tuna. The rolls were really good, they weren't tightly rolled as usual but that is okay. The Volcano roll was especially good, so we got it twice. The chili sauce had a definite kick!! The Philly roll was eh....way too much cream cheese. I never get that roll but since it was all you can eat, figured it was a good way to try it. The spicy rolls were quite good too. I would get all these rolls again except for the Philly...just not my usual pick for sushi. It is BYOB too which is always nice. You really cant beat good sushi and a cool glass of white wine. I would come back. I think it would be fun to try with a bigger group but definitely make reservations.

MeLissa H.

I love Sushi Para II. They expanded but it still gets cramped. They take reservations but sometimes have trouble keeping them and you're stuck waiting nonetheless. Their food used to be 4 star quality but I think it went down over the last year and half. However it's still worth the money for buffet.

Diana S.

There are just some days when you feel like eating a pint of ice cream straight from the container, well this is similar. This may not be the best quality sushi or the most creative, but it hits the spot and it's for those days when you need comfort food. Now, if you get overly eager, you may have the tendency to order 10 things at a time and only be able to finish 5, and then the waitresses will charge you for what you wasted. How to eat at Sushi Para without getting charged extra: 1)If you come when it's really busy and you are really hungry, you will over order, but first you will starve because your order will take forever to come, so come when it's not too busy 2) take your time and only order a couple things at a time 3) pace yourself or else all of a sudden you will be full but you still have more food coming your way. 4) it's best to come in a group so that you each can try different rolls.(Keep in mind each roll is rather large. Sharing is caring.)

Vanessa M.

The food was great! BYOB definitely a plus! The price did go up a bit. It is now $18.99 FYI, BUT WORTH IT! The service was so fast we had a big group and the food was brought out so fast. They just kept those rolls coming! I will definitely go back!

Anne Marie J.

3 stars because it's all-you-can-eat and for $20, I usually only get 2-3 rolls somewhere else. They stuff their maki with more rice than other places so sometimes you can barely taste the fish. Most of the fish is fresh but some are not. Service is slow but not horrible. Obviously, there are much better sushi places but not too many are all-you-can-eat. Sushi Para I in the burbs is better - that one would ge 3.5 stars

Stephen R.

I love this place. Take out or dine-in, Sushi Para II doesn't disappoint. And Miki at the front counter is a gem. I love her. I love love love her. She is so cute and always asks how I'm doing and we talk about Japan and other miscellany. It makes slipping the credit card so much easier. All you can eat is great. Some people complain that they charge you for what you don't eat... but why not? Where else in Lincoln Park do you ever find an "all you can eat" establishment? Name me one on the east side and I will throw my hat to you. If you do all you can eat sushi, start small and order additional pieces/rolls small. Pace yourself. The sushi is fresh, I LOVE the American Dream roll, and it's BYOB. Fantastic date/after work/friends place. Restaurant is clean and cute. I'm so happy Sushi Para took it over from the old Chinese place. A must dine for Lincoln Park.

Fernando D.

Tried this place out about a week ago and I was quite surprised. Its pretty small so that's why it takes so long to get seated. But the BYOB part definitely makes up for it. We did the all you can eat special and it was well worth it. We tried basically every appetizer (that didn't sound scary) and a ton of rolls. BE CAREFUL! Whatever you do not finish you have to pay for so do not over order! I would definitely go again!

Eddie L.

When faced with the prospect of going to an 'all-you-can-eat' sushi place, the first thing that usually enters my mind is: "I wonder how long the food sits out there." Well, I'll have you know that Sushi Para goes one better by making all of your sushi to order. Sure, the fish is pre-sliced and sits covered in saran wrap at the chef station all morning...but at least the roll is 'fresh, ' right? Did I lose you there? Anyway, either of the two meals (lunch and/or dinner) is a good value and while it's not the best sushi in the city, you'll find worse sushi at other buffets. Appetizers are made to order in the kitchen and the friendly staff will make sure you're never left waiting and wanting more food.

Frank D.

The sushi at this place is good, its not the best place in the city certainly, and not worth venturing to for it in itself... but the all you can eat deal is awesome. The 17.99 all you can eat special (a steal) gets you whatever appetizers you want, and whatever basic rolls and nigiri you want. order as much as you like just finish everything you order - you get charged for uneaten food (although I don't think that's really enforced). It really is the most bang for your buck if you want decent sushi, but a lot of it at a good price. Kind of cool environment, its in the basement of a building, very small and intimate. Neat place with a great value. oh, but avoid using the bathroom... --Edit: Had to drop this down a few stars: last time we were here the rolls/nigiri did not have nearly enough fish and the rice was WARM!!!! quite warm.

R C.

For $19, the All-You-Can-Eat is a great option. I have to say, the reservation process at Sushi Para is a wreck. My last trip with 4 friends was a disaster. Our "reservations" were at about 7 but because of the cramp space and long lines we waited for 2 hours. I don't blame this really on the restaurant because parties over 3 should expect a longer than normal wait. From what I understand, the restaurant employs genuine sushi chefs which is a big relief because the last thing I want to eat is a sushi that taste like an egg roll. This is definitely a hole-in-the-wall so don't expect opulence but the sushi is good...while the wait is not.

S Y.

I came here on a weekend for dinner with a group of 10+ people. We were all really hungry and were excited for some sushi. Don't get me wrong, the company I came with was amazing and so was the first platter of sushi that they served. However, when we started ordering more, they started putting more and more rice into the sushi and they were pretty poorly made. Their service declined pretty quickly also. Maybe because we were a large group of boisterous college kids? Dunno, but like Yelp says, I've experienced better.

Meg Z.

I admit I was a bit nervous about an all-you-can-eat sushi place, as sushi seems like the kind of thing that's worth shelling out the extra cash to avoid food poisoning. However, at Sushi Para II all the sushi was made fresh, rather than just being rolls that were sitting under heat lamps. The $17 also included appetizers, so we got miso, egg rolls, tempura and 5 rolls of sushi per person! You have to weigh between "Order a lot of rolls now and risk not finishing?" with "Only order one or two but not being able to snag your waitress to order more when you want them?" because after you place your first order, that's probably the last time you'll see your server. The rolls have much more rice than most sushi I've had, no doubt to fill you up faster, but to complain about that would be overly gluttonous. Also, we were terrified of the fee they charge you for not finishing your plate, so we ate to the point of pain, only to learn that its like $1.50 charge. Oops.

Nona Gayle D.

The selection offered at Sushi Para II is large and that is what I like about the place. The pros: sushi buffet for a reasonable price, the place is BYOB, and their buffet comes with a selection of appetizers and other platters that are not just sushi (ie the chicken salad). The cons: The sushi is good but not great, the place is small so you may have to wait a good amount for a seat and there isn't enough room to even wait if you have to since the venue is so small, and the rule that applies here is that you have to finish all that you order. If you are in the mood for sushi then this place is okay, but I would rather go to House of Sushi and Noodle for an all you can eat sushi buffet.

Jay K.

As other people have said....All you can eat sushi for $20....or maybe less. I don't remember, the exact price. For some reason it seems like it was less. And yes, you pay for what you don't finish...but it's still not a bad deal. ANYHOW. The food was okay. Not super tasty, but not nasty or bland. The pieces (rolls) were bigger than most other places I've been to. I actually couldn't finish everything I ordered, and trust me, I tried. The service was non-existent. I mean, I only had to ask for a diet coke 5 times. Sure, they didn't charge me for it...but....I was half way through my meal by the time I got it anyway. Ho hum. I'll be back here again...this time when its not so damn busy...and I WILL eat more. I just wasn't prepared....

Patricia P.

I always wonder why this place is always empty, it looks nice and prices are reasonable, now I know. After been there a couple of times, I can assure you they don't have a clue about customer service, and their food is not any better than what you can grab from the sushi area from a supermarket. Just to give you an example, I come to the place by myself, they are trying to seat me in one of the tables, when I just wanted to go to the sushi bar. Then I have say I'm ready to order, because they haven't ask me yet (it's been long enough), so I just start ordering, and later on, I decided that I wanted to go for their "eat as much as you can" deal, they told me "you should have say that when you first order"......hello??? How about you ask me when I first seat on the chair, whether I want to go for the deal, or the standard menu?? Everything I ordered before asking was within the options in the special menu, but I guess they figure they could make more money if I didn't get the special, and the way the said it was rude and careless, not even I'm sorry. I still have the bad taste of their spicy tuna roll 2 hours later, reason why I'm writing this review, normally I forget when Restaurants piss me off, but I guess their tuna is talking to you, don't go! Go to Torajiro, a couple of blocks further down in the same street, they are very friendly.

Kim C.

All-you-can-eat sushi that's actually tasty! There's a good variety of rolls, and you can order nigiri by the piece! They also offer gyozas, shiu mai, and salads (to cleanse your palate). They've also been great with accomodating large groups, and are always quick with our orders. Love the fact that it's BYOB--pretty much guarantees a good time all around!

Pedantic S.

Small dingy looking BYOB place, which is quite popular with the neighborhood. Went on a weekday evening at 8pm and it was packed! The rolls themselves taste fine EXCEPT (and this is a big one at least for me), they had excessive amounts of rice. Similarly, you can order ngiri but not sashimi. I understand it makes sense for an All-You-Can-Eat sushi buffet to fill you up with rice rather than fish, but it does not make for the most appetizing meal. Worth $20.00 for A-OK sushi with friends on a low key night but not good if you are looking for good sushi or good ambiance.

alex m.

Service is ok, but the sushi is pretty damn good. I had an avocado roll and a sweet potato roll and wow, i was surprised how good they tasted. The miso soup is damn good, i am picky with soup in many sushi places by the way. But please do try their edamame, it was fresh and tasty.

Manhoso C.

Great lunch deal.. just make sure you finish what you order. Went here on a whim Saturday and thought I was going to have some long wait, we were pleasantly surprised that it was somewhat empty. The salmon and white tuna were great, theres no yellow tail for the special (you can get a yellowtail roll).

mcquake j.

I should have listened to Mike K.

nikki r.

My boyfriend and I went for the All You Can Eat for $17 deal. The restaurant is BYOB, underground, small, bright and smelly. The rolls are not spectacular, but simple and tasty. I recommend the rainbow and volcano roll. The miso soup is delicious. I also recommend that you order as you go. We made the mistake of ordering everything at once: three appetizers, and six rolls. At the end of the meal, we were bribing each other to finish the platter and plotting ways to dispose of the leftovers so we wouldn't get charged. I enjoy eating sushi in a more intimate atmosphere without white walls blaring at me, and I am partial to places on par with Toro and Kabuki. But, if you are craving quantity over quality, all the sushi you can consume for less than $20 makes up for it all.

Vanessa P.

There's something about all you can eat sushi that makes your stomach heave a great sigh. $16.99 for all you can eat is a great bargain, just make sure that you don't eat too much during the day in preparation for it. The rolls were good and actually quite large. I didn't have it, but both the fashion roll and the volcano roll looked delicious. The unagi roll and the spicy shrimp tempura roll were good, but their bagel roll sort of put me off. If you order the sushi, be aware that they pack on the rice per piece. Also, if you don't finish your food (including the rice) you will be charged for it. And the wait for a table can be long. We went on a Mon or Tues night and it was an easy 20 minute wait. But, they have BYOB and there's not a corkage fee. Service can be hit or miss, but what do you expect when it's packed and it's all you can eat?

Eva C.

I love this place!!! it's excellent for a big group of friends trying to catch up... the sushi is excellent for the price you pay! come on.. 20 bucs?? make sure you try the volcano roll!

Albert K.

Went here with a friend and waited 30 minutes for a table. Finally got a nice seat at the counter in front of the chefs and cracked open our bottle of wine. We both chose the all-you-can-eat option and were quickly disappointed. We saw first-hand the chefs struggling to get all the orders out and they were constantly running out of rice. This meant that they didn't give enough time for the rice to cool, so sushi was coming out on hot, vinegary rice, which fell apart as soon as you touched it. I especially loved washing down my nigiri with ice water because it was burning my mouth So much for sushi chefs having cold hands. Everyone must have chose the all-you-can-eat option that night, but that's no excuse. Even if we had chosen to eat a la carte, the quality would have been just as bad. House of Sushi & Noodles seems to do it a lot better for less dough. Two stars because BYOB without corkage fee. Otherwise, it totally deserves 1.

Jason G.

Great food. All you can eat sushi was actually really good. Service is friendly and fast. You can't go wrong with this place, plus it's BYOB!

Onur U.

I've been served far worse sushi at all you can eat joints. For 20 bucks you get your fill of standard issue maki and the quality is on par with many sushi joints around town. Throw in BYOB and they take reservations, this is a great spot to take a group of people who could care less about the quality of the sushi. Fill up on sushi, have a couple bottles of sake, have a good time. I wouldn't go here on a date, but with a group of 8-10 people the gigantic sushi boat alone is worth seeing. Frankly, sushi is overpriced at a lot of places, I'm glad I know about Sushi Para II, at least I know what to expect when I walk in.

Slugs A.

Forget the fact for a minute that it is an all-you-can-eat joint.... I would but this place up against many other sushi restaurants in the city. It is all made to order and very fresh. The Rock-n-Roll roll is massive and one of the best items (and many can be labeled "best) on the menu.

Heather K.

Very impressed with my first trip to Sushi Para II - all of my previous experience with all-you-can-eat-sushi has been at House of Noodles, which does beat SPII in terms of variety of rolls and price. However, the $16.99 deal at SPII includes not just rolls, but nigiri and appetizers! I went with a group and we definitely got our money's worth. (Some of the rolls that my friends got were priced at like $8 on the regular menu!) I wanted to go for variety so I ended up trying the miso soup, edamame, yakitori chicken and pork gyoza before finishing off with some California rolls, inari, and tamago. Thumbs up to everything for the most part. The miso soup was a bit flavorless and the Cali rolls had a bit too much rice on the outside, but tasted really good regardless. All of the rolls were HUGE, so I'd suggest ordering less than you think you'll want to eat at first; you can always put in a 2nd or 3rd round order. And it's BYOB! Go with a group - you'll have a good time!

James C.

Going to have to knock this one down a little bit. Sushi was sort of average today; the fish tasted a bit fishy and not fresh today and the service was not so great. At the same time, for quick sushi gratification for not a ton of money, it's not awful.

Unagi S.

This is not a sushi restaurant. This is a fake sushi restaurant ran by non-Japanese owner. While the $20 all-you-can-eat price is super cheap for sushi, there is a reason for it. They don't serve sushi there! They serve fake sushi! For example, they don't cook the unagi themselves. They just heat up a frozen unigi package that they bought from the supermarket. They don't even make the miso soup in house. They just use the packaged miso sauce and add water. To certain extent, $20 is expensive for fake sushi as I didn't find the food edible at all.

Da J.

Dear Sushi Para II, Thank you for accommodating our LARGE, LOUD, DRUNK party a few weeks ago. Even though we thoroughly pissed off some of your customers and entertained some others, I appreciate your not kicking us out after the first impromptu Sake Bomb and the subsequent spilling of an entire can of beer all over the table and floor. So we did another one! To the couple we literally stumbled over, we're sorry. * BYOB (we did, lots) * $17 sushi buffet (don't leave leftovers!!) * decent sushi (I ordered a la carte) * yummy green tea, red bean, and mango ice cream * AWESOME staff: attentive, polite, fast service despite our being the most obnoxious group of people ever.

Michael C.

2 stars for the mere fact it is all-you-can-eat for about $18. This restaurant is sneaky. I ordered rolls and sashimi. They didn't bring the sashimi till last and even then, it was lacking the hamachi. Next time, I will request they bring the sashimi first. Lesson learned: don't let those fobby waitresses use their fobbiness as a possible excuse they couldn't understand your orders. Be explicit and say you want sashimi first. Get the most bang for your buck that way. Please don't get their tuna sashimi. It tastes like the beat up parts of a tuna, add some slightly burnt plastic, and mold that bad boy into what looks like sashimi. Yea, don't get it.

Joon M.

Sushi Para Too is my favorite place to get carry out or to dine in for the $16.99 all you can eat lunch. The miso soup & Philadelphia Rolls are my favorites, but I love everything I have tried there so far. The waitstaff is a little hit or miss when dining in, but overall it is an enjoyable dining experience.

Brad S.

BYOB and all you can eat is not a bad way to go sometimes. It's a small place and busy. The service is decent- so is the sushi. It's pretty basic stuff, but I like it. I always get the ika tataki- it alone is enough of a reason for me to go. The makis that I've had were pretty good. Theirs are bigger than I like, but they taste great. They are heavy-handed with sriracha which is awesome.

Lisa K.

Fish anyone? All you can eat? BYOB? Easy on the wallet? Really...is there such place? Why yes there is and it is called Sushi Para II. It is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. I have ventured to this place quite a few times to par take in the all you eat lunch and dinner special. The dinner special runs roughly $20.00, which isn't bad, especially for all you can eat. I know what you must be thinking, the quality of fish can not be that great. Well honestly I would have to say you are wrong! The fish quality is well above par. The roll selection given in the special is excellent. The atmosphere is great. The wait staff is helpful, however, there has been the occasional mix up with forgetting to bring out my beloved edamame. But since I was already stuffed from all the other great food, I didn't mind. Oh and yes I can't forget to mention my favorite...it is BYOB. On another positive note, the restaurant finally just opened up the basement portion of the establishment thus making the wait on a Friday night not as unbearable. As I am discovering here in Chi-town, they to do not take reservations for parties of 2, which I think is just unfortunate. So if you are in the area or even if you aren't I would recommend giving this Chi-town eatery a try! Come check out my blog to read about other great, and well not so great, Chicago restaurants...Where will I go next? lisak22.wordpress.com

Sarah H.

I think I literally almost exploded here the other night. It was a close one. My friend and I noshed on the $16.99 all-you-can-eat sushi special.. and lets just say we got a little ahead of ourselves and ordered all at once. This was my second time here and both times the sushi was delicious. Probably not the best ever.. but it is great for all-you-can-eat. I'd recommend ordering a bit to start with and going from there though.. it comes out pretty quick and you wont have to coach each other into finishing you last three pieces. *Note.. I was hoping that this experience of being morbidly full would cool my sushi fires for a while.. no such luck. Damn.

Alvin L.

They really like to load their sushi up on rice and are really pissy about it if you have any left over. Customer service is pretty bad, maybe it's because it's rumored that the owner takes all the tips. I will only go back if friends want to go.

Brian L.

This place gives me food coma! No joke. Their buffet special is great, I totally recommend it. Be sure to start off slow. I come here at least once a month. Their are times when me and my friends stuff our remaining sushi in our napkins because we can't finish it, then we bring it to the bathroom to flush down the toilet - so we don't get charged haha.

Esther Y.

Sushi Para is great. This is the best deal you can get for all youc an eat sushi in the city. They have all their specialty rolls available and most of their appetizers. There tends to be a wait, especially b/c it's BYOB, but the tables move a little quicker than you would expect. If you can go at the off times when it's not crazy, I would reccommend sitting at the sushi bar. The sushi chefs are nice, friendly, and will always tell you which fish you should get and which you can do without. Another suggestion, their lunch specials are cheap and they give you a lot of food, so if you are not up for all you can eat try their specials.

Desiree Anne A.

I usually try to avoid eating sushi, because I'm very picky. This place is a good deal for all you can eat places. They don't pack the rice too much in each roll, where some places do this so that you eat less. I don't like the fact that they make you put all your orders when your in a group on one menu slip. This makes it hard to find out whats what on the plate. It would be nicer if they would just separate orders so we actually know which maki is which. A few orders they forgot a few of our makis. Mhmm... I wouldn't go here for sushi if it were up to me, but it's definitely fun to go as a group.

SuperChanga I.

I used to come to this place all the time for Sushi, but realized that I could be getting better service and food elsewhere. Sushi Buffet for $18.99 in Chicago is a really good deal however the service is terrible. Also we found flies in our soy sauce 2 times in a row after asking the waitress to replace it. Just be aware of the that. But the quality of the food is still really really good.

Junie B.

Sushi has to be super fresh and super great for me to give it some love. This sushi is pretty much okay - there are 5 other sushi places within a few miles of here I can think of that will be a much better experience for around the same price. In any case, it's OK. "All you can eat" sushi? I mean, really? I guess if that's what you're looking for, this is the place. But if you think about it - All you can eat anything usually translates to: mediocre product served in large amounts at cheap prices. That's not the kind of experience I want when I go out for sushi. Just a personal pref. Thanks.

Laila L.

"Keep on with the force and don't stop till you get enough!" $16.99 all you can eat off the menu -- I accept that challenge!!! It looked like everyone in Sushi Para II when I went was a DePaul undergrad and they looked like they brought their A game -- but they probably won't catch the song reference... And you'd better believe I ordered spider rolls, dragon rolls, rainbow rolls, and something else large that would have been $12 in any other restaurant. The rolls were enormous. Ok, so I hurt myself a little. But I'd do it again. Byob and the liquor store down the street carries plum wine, sake, etc.

Francesca R.

OK what do you say that 319 other yelpers haven't already said? No frills bargain sushi close to my office that is why I am a fan. Have had better, paid for better, but for a great lunch or dinner deal, with low expectations, it makes me happy.

Rich F.

This is the best deal for an all you can eat sushi buffett in Chicago & Chicagoland. For its pricepoint nothing comes close: I've eaten at the other local buffet at Belmont & Ashland but they play games like you must order the higher priced buffet if you go by yourself and you don't get any nigiri refills. Here you can get all the nigiri sushi your heart desires. Also the house salad is the best I've ever had at a Japanese restaurant. Be careful when ordering, however, as they do charge for not being able to empty your plate, which is par for the course at sushi buffets.

Patrick M.

Decent sushi (not amazing) and you can't beat the all you can eat deal. BYOB to boot. What's with the random Spanish word in the name though? The way I understood the all you can eat deal, was that you had to pay extra for any leftover on your plate, so after getting full with 6 pieces left, it was a struggle... but made for hilarious conversation on creative ways to hide or dispose of the sushi. No I didn't end up sticking any to the ceiling, perhaps if I had brought a case instead of a 6-pack, I may have went that route! I finished, because I'm American...ok so I did hide one piece under the ginger...shhhh!

Brandon A.

Don't be fooled by the all you can eat. There are better places in the city. Since they have renovated the place the food quality and service have gone downhill. They constantly mess up orders and I even found hair in my food. When I pointed this out to the waitress she just asked if I wanted another roll. No apology, or offering to discount the bill.

MsAnthro P.

The food is pretty good and reasonably priced and I have had definite moments of pure bliss there. (The Green Dragon Roll in particular has cheered me on more than one occasion.) That said, my three or four most recent visits have disappointed. One time the server forgot the miso soup (and so did we until it was too late and we didn't want any). The next time, there were multiple servers standing along the walls looking at all the tables. No amount of eye contact seemed to be enough to impart that, yes, I would like my water glass refilled (preferably with cold water with ice in it and not the lukewarm crap I finally got when I called out to her) or more tea (which, of course, wasn't hot). Another visit had us having to ask for everything. We were not provided with soy sauce, chopsticks, napkins, etc. And the water/tea refilling scenario was the same as the prior visit. We were the only customers in the place. Most recent visit: Same iffy service. When our plate was clean the final time, no amount of eye contact or flailing our arms at the server seemed to clue her in that we wanted our check. My companion and I then took out our money and started fanning ourselves with it thinking, "She'll definitely get the hint this time." No luck. We waited a few minutes and went to the cashier and asked for our check. Seriously, what is up? It would also be cool if they'd figure out a way to clean the gross months-old splashes of soy sauce off the paper screen divider. I'd give it four stars if it weren't for the service and cleanliness (or lack thereof).

Dantee A.

I've only had the delivery special (pick a certain amount of different types of sushi) and it was not that bad. I would consider going to the actual restaurant if it wasn't for the stories I hear about waiting in line forever.

Susie C.

For an all you can eat sushi place in Chicago this place was not bad. We used to be regulars at House of Sushi until we discovered this hidden gem. The pieces of sushi here are not as filled with rice as house but still a little too much for my liking, however appetizers are part of the buffet so that's definitely a plus. I would give this place 5 stars except for a few things that really bugged me about the place. 1. The place is super cramped. Expect to eating really close to someone you don't know or right by the aisle where everyone walks by and bumps into your elbows. 2. They are a stickler about giving napkins...we figured it's because people who do don't eat all their sushi tries to hide it in their napkins. No matter the reason other people shouldn't have to eat with dirty hands and faces. All in all Sushi Para II is pretty good. Remember to bring your own napkins and beverages and you will leave not wanting sushi for several weeks..

Joshua W.

Delicious sushi, all you can eat at $20!

Luke S.

After reading all of the reviews I was a little hesitant to go. I love sushi and decided I couldn't pass up $16.99 all you could eat. I arrived at about 6:30pm on a Friday night and was able to get a table immediately. The servers were helpful and friendly. When I ordered the food was brought out in just a few minutes. The fish was fresh and I didn't think they put too much rice in the sushi. I really loved the eel, the waitress recommended it. I walked away very full and very happy. The only reason I didn't give it four stars was because the place is somewhat grimy looking, but I guess that's what you get for $16.99.

Amy L.

I wish there was half stars on yelp... First off let me say Its not my first time at Sushi para. Sushi Para II and Sushi para M is my friends go to spot when we have group of people that just really crave sushi. Worst experience here ever. Now I don't know if it was because they were super busy or whether it was the mix of my group that gave us this type of service. Just went here to celebrate my girl friend's birthday with 5 other girls. Upon entry we were told wait time is 45mins -1hour. That's fine with us we waited around . However, there were groups of people that walked in and just sat down once the table was cleared. Strike 1, okay this might be because they have a reservation, I'll let that slide. After 45 minutes we ask about how much longer. The hostess points to a specific table and said we were waiting for that one table to leave. No, even if other tables cleared up we can only get that one table -Strike 2 maybe it was reservations again idk. fine We finally sit down and order, two of us opt for no buffet so we went ahead and ordered first while the others mulled out the buffet items they wanted. As we are sitting there I see a roll that I ordered and its just sitting there by the bar. I wonder if that was mine, it looks just like the one I ordered. 10 minutes pass. A waiter finally picks that up and oh wait there's a table that needs to be cleared first. He puts it back down and picks up materials to clear and reset the table first. (Note there was nobody waiting for a table at this point) few minutes later, I finally get the roll that by now is just been sitting there for 10+ minutes. I attempt to pick it up and on look it falls right apart. My younger cousins can make tighter sushi than this. The volcano roll was salter than any I've ever had and definitely not as fresh as usual. Alright so its an off day for sushi, let's give the dessert a try to make myself feel better. Tempura ice cream = breaded ice cream. I've had tempura ice cream before and tempura is very little. This was seriously like a ball of bread with a small scoop of green tea ice cream inside. Not to mention whip cream must be on sale cuz there was a ton of that and flour. Ice cream? Not so much. I don't think I'll be returning here unless someone tells me they've switched owners or something.

Jims L.

I am a self proclaimed un sushi snob. Lunch buffet is actually 13.99. All you can eat sushi with decent quality, a good variety of sashimi, rolls, and appetizers, plus BYOB? So satisfying!

Katie S.

I really liked this place. We went right after work on a friday. The place was empty when we were seated but within an hour there was a wait. The interior is nothing fancy but when you're paying $16.99 for an all you can eat sushi, you shouldn't care. The sushi was some of the best I've had. The american dream roll was awesome as was the volcano roll. The philedelphia roll had more cream cheese than what I'm used to, so I would pass on that again. Also, the tea was lukewarm. However, our waitress was great. One of our friends is a vegetarian and the waitress was great at helping him order. Overall, this is a great value and I plan on bringing all my sushi-loving friends from Peoria here soon.

michaelia f.

Update: Came here for lunch today and found their all-you-can-eat lunch special was only $14.99, but held significantly fewer choices than the dinner menu. It's worth it to pay the few extra bucks for dinner for the better, more interesting rolls that they make here.

I've decided on sushi for the evening and I won't stop until I get some. What are my choices that I go through? Bob SannoI want to wear pajama pants. Orsay.no .let's not get classy people. FriendsnoI refuse to pay $8 a roll. Hey Sushino.blacklight is unappetizing to me. Kabukimeheaten way too many times there. Ringo.noI'll pass on the $15 cab ride. SUSHI PARA II.yes! I like this place because they have a ridiculously good selection of rolls and appetizers for their $16.99 all you can eat. If you know yourself, you don't have to do the buffet and can get what you want and make it under that price. I am particularly fond of their spicy salmon. The rolls are creative, and not your typical all you can eat cop outs which is really nice. Yet to have a bad experience here, the fish is always melt in your mouth fresh and the right temperature (one of my sushi pet peeves). During the week it's usually a small crowd and you don't have to wait for a table, not exactly a date place - more a place if you have been dating for awhile and want to go out in jeans!

Cindy D.

Went there for an late lunch/early dinner.. wanted to initially go to Toro but they were closed :( I still wanted a sushi fix so we just went down the street to Sushi Para II. Initially, I think my bf and I were so hungry that we just wanted to get the all you can eat sushi deal for $16. However, we don't really eat maki rolls that much, it usually equals about 1/2 our meal. So we opted to get sashimi and 2 maki rolls to share. The sashimi was ranging from only $1-1.50 for each piece!!!! That was astonishing..i don't remember a time when it was ever that cheap and it wasn't a happy hour or something. So we got alot of salmon pieces. They were hearty, but def. not cut properly compared to Coast or Agami Sushi. Still...it was yummy. Then the rolls we got had minced tuna which i wasn't a big fan of. I hate minced up tuna, why ruin a good thing :( I would come back if I wanted a cheap sushi fix, but not for the rolls.

Vishal S.

I find some of these reviewers have no idea what the difference is between an all you can eat sushi place to a more expensive place. The review should be tailored to the category of restaurant. This sushi is amazing for the price. If you want better sushi, don't come to this place as what you will pay for one roll at a nicer place is the price for all you can eat here. Now, for the review. I have been to the this one (sushi para II) twice, and another one (sushi para M) once. I prefer the sushi para II as the food seemed fresher. I mostly stayed away from the rolls as they seemed to have a lot of rice (as expected from an all you can eat place) and stuck with the sashimi. I really enjoyed the salmon, tuna, yellowail, and the appetizers. The edamame, fried chicken, salad, and miso soup were all good appetizers. I did not like the octopus as it was really chewy and seemed to be not fresh. My friends got some rolls that were actually pretty good. I enjoyed the volcano, Boston, and Mountain rolls. Great place to bring friends and bring your own wine/beer and have a great time. This place does get very busy so plan accordingly. The only bad thing is that when I go to another sushi place I always compare it to this place and sometimes can't help but think I could be getting better sushi for a cheaper price!

Chicago D.

Love "soosh" and in spite of some of the reviews on here that criticized the freshness and overall quality, could find no fault on my trip. The pieces of fish were surprisingly large for the prices charged, the place had a nice, busy neighborhood feel and the service personnel were attentive. I ordered by the piece rather than the all you can eat option and had 8 nice pieces with tea for just over $12. Hard to complain.

Jenn L.

$16.99 for good quality all you can eat sushi. Hooray! Plus you can eat as much vegetable tempura as your little heart desires. Try the Volcano roll and the Sapporo roll if you like spicy tuna. What I like about their spicy tuna rolls (and I tried all of them, yes I did...) is that the tuna isn't so ground up with spices that it no longer resembles fish, but rather, spicy mush. This happens in many "trendy" "upscale" sushi restaurants in the city. But at Sushi Para, one can, wonder of all wonders, still taste chunks of tuna. That sounds so dirty. Anyways, The white tuna nigiri melts in the mouth. And seriously, where else can you find all you can eat white tuna? Five stars for all you can eat sushi that's actually filled with fish, not cream cheese or tempura. One star off for consistently cold tea and sub par Miso.

Peter L.

All-you-can-eat sushi (and everything else on their menu -- tempura, chicken teriyaki, miso soup, salad, whatever) + BYOB = Heaven for binge-eaters/drinkers for only $18. The deal is simply unbeatable. I stopped going to House of Sushi cause the quality of the rolls is much better at Sushi Para. It's true, sometimes rolls take a while to come out, but the servers are nice and you can put in the next order while you're still eating. I will admit though, I've always left with significant abdominal pain and wanting to lie down and sleep.

Janette L.

Go for the all-you-can-eat $16.99 deal. BYOB and better than House of Sushi on Belmont (what can I say I don't like to dine by rules). Only downfall is the wait. With only about 10-15 tables, you will be waiting... and waiting... and evilly staring at people to hurry up and finish (hunger makes me mean). The rolls are decent and big but they do pack on the rice - to get you full faster. I think there is a slight charge if you leave food on the plate but it is pretty nominal. There is a 7-Eleven down the street if you need to curb your appetite while waiting. Also, a liquor store north on Clark. *If you can I would check out the location in Palatine - bigger space with the same deal and better quality.

Katty D.

Sushi Delivery!! We ordered the special for 14.99, which came with 3 rolls, 2 pieces of sushi and an appetizer. The sushi came in a timely manner, wasn't thrown all over the bag, it was actually quite nicely presented. I ordered the gyoza, michigan roll, rock and roll, spicy tuna, eel piece and white tuna piece. DELICIOUS! The only bad part was that i could hardly finish my food! I definitely recommend this for take out or delivery if you're craving a lot of sushi!

Leigh K.

After Molly talked this place up as being the Old Country Buffet of sushi, I just had to try it. I went here on Sunday night with Ginny and while she was not satisfied with the amount of food for the money, I felt happy and full when I left. This place is tiny like other Yelpers have said, so expect to wait. Once we were seated we marked down the appetizers, rolls and pieces we wanted and then waited a bit and the first appetizers came out. The waitress was very pregnant and when I asked her if it was alright if I just crossed off the things (seafood) I didn't want inside my rolls, she looked very confused but nodded. The orders all came through sans fish, so it was understood! I think I stuffed in 4.5 maki rolls, a piece of tamago, chicken yakitori, and vegetable tempura. Everything was very delicious. Ginny's rolls seemed to be bursting with seafood. Mine were very full. My only complaint was that most of the rolls fell apart, possibly because they were overfilled or that the sushi rice was not sticky enough. The appetizers came in very small portions, so don't be afraid to order one thinking it'll take up a lot of room in your belly. I am definitely going back to this place the next time I have an insatiable hunger for sushi. Since I learned how to make sushi, it's become a little painful to dole out $4.95 apiece for veggie rolls at most sushi places, but my wallet says PHEW at Sushi Para II!

Tara H.

I have been addicted to sushi for years which has really affected my bank account, so to find this gem, even if it's in Lincoln Park, made me swoon! It's not the best sushi, but it's all you can eat, BYOB. I can eat as much sushi as the next sumo wrestler..I get serious bang for my buck! Just a friendly tip, try to go during the work week opposed to Friday or Saturday night because you will wait for hours. Also the all you can eat dinner menu is better than the lunch's.

Amy S.

Sushi sushi sushi. Lots of it. I went here Monday night and read tons of reviews beforehand. I have to agree with almost every one I read. It was pretty miserable out, so the place wasn't crowded. The tables were very close together, though, and I could see this being annoying if the place was packed. Service was fast. We opted for the all you can eat for $16.99. We started out with some edamame, which was excellent. We ordered the spider and dragon roll, as well a plethora of sushi (sushi, squid, eel, crab) All of which were fresh and delicious. The place did have a funky smell to it, but you get over it quickly. The rolls are gigantic and do have quite a lot of rice, but it was all good. Go here for a large selection of sushi and rolls!!

Peter D.

Well done Sushi Para 2. I used yelp to make the decision in visiting this restaurant ;unfortunately, other yelpers must not have understood that sushi all you can eat is not an all you can eat buffet. Everything is made to order and can take time between orders. The wait can be shortened by tipping your sushi chefs. I had a great experience without any similar complaints of other yelpers. There were no long waits between orders, no poor service, and absolutly no rice stacking. The quality was not sacrificed from order to order. Thanks Sushi Para II for a great B.Y.O.B. dining experience.

Jay B.

Great price for all you can eat sushi, I wish I knew about this when I was in college.

Donna G.

What a change over the past year... gotta downgrade this review due to repeated warm sushi rice, filthy bathrooms, and an increasingly annoying crowd. Still a decent price, but not a good value anymore.

Nels W.

It's all you can eat, so that's good. There is a great variety of rolls, and they're reasonably good. You get a lot of appetizer choices. My issues were: - Making a reservation for 7:30 and not getting seated until 8:15. It's a tiny place, so it's kind of understandable, and the waitress was nice about it. I'd just suggest making your reservations a little early. - The sushi and the pieces of the rolls fell apart more than any other sushi I've had. I know you're going to have some fall apart, but these seemed a little too unstable. Beyond that, though, if you're in the hood or looking for somewhere to go before a night out on Lincoln Ave, it's a good place to go. It's BYOB, and they didn't charge us a corkage fee, so that was nice.

Jay A.

Great Sushi buffet at ok price! I gave three stars only because the location is not so thrilled (garden level) But can't complain much since it's close to my place :) Anyway, this place is good if you just want to have a good japanese meal with friends or family....but I wouldn't recommend to bring your date though.

Natalie G.

I would only come to Sushi Para if you are with a group and you want to get the all you can eat ($17.99/person). It's pretty good sushi- but they make sure to load it up with rice and less fish so that you get full more quickly. The all you can eat doesn't have that great of a selection of rolls, but again if you quality selection of rolls, go somewhere else in the neighborhood. I always have a good time when I come here though, be prepared to wait! I recommend coming in and putting your name down and leaving your phone number.

Mike O.

I'd go so far as to say this is the best all you can eat sushi in Chicago. If you wanted quality sushi, you wouldn't go to a buffet place, but, since you're reading this Yelp review, I'm assuming that you want sushi. Massive quantities of it. For $17 bucks, the sushi ain't all that bad! For starters, as opposed to other all you can eat places *coughHouseofSushicough*, you get to order lots of different menu items like NIGIRI (real sushi...) and appetizers like yakitori. The rolls are all there and, hey, they're pretty good! The volcano roll is my favorite. The nigiri is where this place shines. You wont find fresher, all you can eat fish. The tuna's no otoro, but what do you expect. Sure the wait times can get a little long, but the place is almost always packed...for good reason. A lot of people don't realize that you can put in multiple orders and so they order too much at once. Save yourself the trouble and order a moderate amount each time. If you find that your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you'll be stuck paying to wrap up that sushi...per piece. - Eat on!

Iguehi J.

Last night was my first time does AYCE sushi, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. My husband and I got to Sushi Para II around 8:45p and the place was PACKED! We had to wait for approximately 30 mins, but from the looks of what people were ordering, I knew it was going to be worth the wait. We were finally seated at the bar, and quickly ordered (b/c we figured it would be an even longer wait for the food to come...considering the boat load of people in there). I ordered a Sai salad (which I think they forgot about) because it was after 15 minutes had passed and I reminded them that I ordered it when they remembered to bring it out. To my surprise, the salad was A LOT more shredded cucumber than seaweed. Still tasty, but a lil shabby on the seaweed. I also ordered a miso soup (b/c we were still waiting for our sushi) and I have to say that the soup was pretty bland. Out of fear of being charged, I slurped down the flavorless soup anyway. My husband and I ordered 4 rolls (to share) on the first round, and I have to admit, ALL were Deeeee-lish! We ordered the: Crazy Tuna Roll (super spicy) Volcano Roll Mountain Roll Chicago Roll For the second round, we ordered 3 more rolls (to share) Another Volcano Roll (yes, it was THAT good) World Series Roll Pop Up Roll But the time we were on the 2nd round....we were practically FORCING ourselves to eat the food. We were extremely stuffed. We eventually cleared our plates...but it wasn't without forced efforts. lol. I guess it didn't help that we were drinking our BYOB wine the entire time. The staff were super friendly, the atmosphere was casual, we definitely felt like we got our moneys worth...all in all, it was a great first AYCE sushi experience. We'll be back to do it again (with emptier stomachs of course.)

Tim W.

All-you-can-eat for $17.99? You CANNOT beat that in this city...ANYWHERE! The all-you-can-eat includes nigiri and rolls, as well as appetizers, soup, edamame, etc. The sushi itself is very good and very fresh. BYOB is nice. Service is usually acceptable, not the greatest. All around, this cannot be beat...the price and the quality of sushi!

Sarah F.

Basically same as everyone else -- Great for the price. First time I went, it was kinda smelly in there, like a really overwhelming fishy smell and I almost left. Didn't get that the other times though. I highly recommend this place for average to good sushi and BYOB with no corkage fee. Also, very true -- waitresses can be sneaky...but definitely very glad I stopped in one day and now I head over there a few times a month.

Zakary D.

Cant go wrong, fresh Sushi, a lot of variety, and you can eat till you get full!

Jen C.

Great BYOB AYCE-sushi buffet. -No corkage fee! :) -~$18/person AYCE sushi - decent quality, rolls are big. Unlike some other sushi buffets (like House of Sushi and Noodles) - there is no limit on what you order straight up - order to your hearts content! BUT - like many sushi buffets - you have to eat it all or pay a fee for not finishing it up! -Great for groups -Smaller sized restaurant - Can be a LONG WAIT! Reservations for 5+ only. We went on a Saturday night at 630 and had to wait about an hour. -One thing I personally did not like - their house salad... the salad dressing was too soy-sauce-y, and not so ginger-y like I usually like at Japanese sushi restaurants. Just FYI.

Hans H.

Many visits to Sushi Para out in Palatine, first time to Sushi Para II in the city. Place is kinda cramped, but the food quality and the best all you can eat sushi for $17 is consistent here and in Palatine--and that's a good thing. If you're interested in an authentic spread of Japanese food, try Renga Tei in Lincolnwood, but if you're just looking for rolls and sushi/sashimi, this place is great for that.

Jennifer H.

Hands down, this is the best deal in town. All you can eat sushi that isn't just rice and filler and, even more shocking, doesn't make you sick? If this were closer to me, I'd be here every night. Although I'm giving a favorable review to an all you can eat sushi joint, I'm actually a very picky sushi eater, which is one of the reasons I was so shocked to have enjoyed my sushi para II experience as much as I did. Obviously, this isn't the best sushi you'll ever have and the presentation's not great, cause they're just trying to get as many rolls out there as possible, but everything tasted fresh. I'd put this sushi on par with what you can get at Whole Foods, but a much better bargain! Worth a stop for any gluttonous sushi fans.

Samantha L.

Well, it doesn't get 3 stars for having the best sushi. It gets 3 stars for having decent sushi, but an enjoyable All-You-Can-Eat deal that has non-sketchy sushi. It's good ENOUGH sushi, and it's BYOB, which always is a plus in my eyes. They have decent lunch specials as well. The All-You-Can-Eat always makes me overeat though... Sushi's less enjoyable when you're on the verge of exploding.

Ray T.

You are hungry, you had a bad day, you only have $35 to your name, this is the place to blow it all away! $16.99 for all you can eat dinner, and $11.99 for a 24 pack of cheap bad beer from Jewel and you can not only stuff yourself, but get so drunk you will forget your bad day, and you will even be generous enough to tip the last $6 you have to the waiters in this restaurant. Seriously, the sushi is decent, infinitely better than that other place on Belmont and Lincoln (house of noodles and something). I like the fact that you can get individual pieces and avoid all rolls if you do not wish. I am an individual piece guy so I tend to stick to those. They have some appetizers included as well if you want to order those but I'd say skip it and go straight for the rice and seafood. Most of the appetizers are freezer items bought from a Japanese supermarket and microwaved anyways. I been here oh probably 10 times and I think only once did the tuna not taste fresh. Every other time was decent and helped me maintain my weight when I am thinking of losing it lol. Do try to come on Mon-Wed though for dinner, the place tends to fill up quickly as there are only maybe 30 seats. I waited 20-25 mins on a Thursday evening once when I got there at 6.15. Oh did I mention it is BYOB? :)

Bella V.

Well, I have been trying to get to this place for awhile now, and I finally made it in yesterday. I was SO impressed. The sushi was so fresh and delicious, and I couldn't believe the choices you get. My friend and I had hot tea, veggie tempura, miso soup, and lots of sushi. Our total came to about $30 plus tip. Now, as for the service, I felt like I wanted to back hand my waitress for being such a miserable little snot. Every time I would ask for something she would roll her eyes and wouldn't even acknowledge what I said to her. There were only a total of about 7 people in the restaurant, and she wasn't busy. She also tried to take my food away twice while I was still eating it. Little did she know that is a great way to lose an arm. All in all, I loved the restaurant (small, and could use a deep cleaning), the sushi was great, but the service was ridiculously bad.

Jolene H.

This is the first sushi place that I've been to that actually reminds me of home; both in terms of quality and value. For once, I do not feel cheated, and I do not feel sick after my first bite of hamachi. Hooray for the people at Sushi Para! Yaay for the kind waitstaff that smiled back! And might I say, if you can remember anything from all the reviews of this place, remember this: FRESH SALMON.

Pawel M.

This place has thrown the gauntlet down for sushi buffet on the north side of Chicago. So I'm a fan of sushi and after making my butt groove over at HoSaN, my lady and myself decided to try this place out. The bonus of this place is that it offers appetizers and Nigiri along with rolls as part of the buffet. Appetizers don't really matter to me since I'm there for sushi, but the Nigiri is a nice touch, if you can ever get them. Rice is better than at House of Sushi and Noodles, which is nice but it's laid on a little bit more here as well. My biggest problem was the fact that I had to reorder Nigiri several times, and rolls. With the inattentive waitress this became a problem. Definite vanishing server syndrome (puts the food down and turns to run before you can get a word out) I could understand if the place was hopping, but it was a pretty relaxed night. Big minus for me. Because of the closeness to the zoo and DePaul you'll get a cross section of the two. Families coming in for post zoo food, and students done with class for the day were at every other table on my visit. For my money I'll still head over to House of Sushi and Noodles when I need a quick sushi fix.

Bruce B.

This is an awesome place for good quality sushi. We come here often and I have rarely been disappointed. BYOB but they will cork it for you. I recommend the any of the spicy tuna roll variants and or the spider roll. Sometimes parking can be a hassle but if you cannot find street there is a parking garage nearby.

Regine J.

Okay, I take back my previous statement about this place sucking...the last two times I went for the buffet it was AMAZING!!! Sushi Para One is still better though.

Dee W.

Great deal for only $16.99 - you can pretty much eat everything and anything. THeir pop-up roll was delish - wasn't too impressed with their mountain roll though. It's very similar to house of sushi but their service is a lot quicker - definately stick to crowds of 4 or less (preferable 2 people) for this place. The food is better quality and more options! Between my friend and I, we had the miso soup (it was cold and rainy), tried the vegetable tempura, and shared 7 rolls between the two of us and tried some pieces to see if it was worth getting the roll. The spider roll was another great selection and I especially enjoyed the volcano roll. Be careful though - whatever is leftover - you will be charged for. I think that we sat there for a good 20 minutes trying to muster up the energy and strength to finish our last roll (which was the mountain roll - maybe that's why it didn't strike a good chord with me) but we somehow pulled it off!

Nicole M.

Great, cheap sushi.. even though they have the all you can eat, i skipped it. Its way too much and if you dont finish you have to pay for the leftovers! So i just ordered off the menu and loved it! I cannot put down 25+ pieces of sushi and feel ok... but for those who can, its a great deal;)

Kevin B.

This place is right across the street from me and I am happy to have a pretty good sushi place so close for takeout or whatever. I went with a few friends for lunch for the all-you-can-eat sushi. I think we paid about $15+ for some pretty solid sushi. The rolls were a little sloppy and pretty traditional. I'm more of a fan of the complicated rolls with lots of flavor. Again, I was happy with my meal and might do take out here, but I think I'm going to keep looking for my go-to sushi place.

This place isn't very good. The food is not as authentic as other sushi places and also not as delicious.

April W.

Can's say the sushi was good for the money ! IT WAS JUST GOOD! GREAT prices . Better than decent sushi, lonnnnnngggg wait time. But gotta love a place that you can sit and drink your own 6 pack while waiting!

Roberto F.

Another decent sushi place, except for my spicy tuna rolls. They tasted a bit off. All the other rolls and pieces were pretty good. They have an all you can eat lunch special for 14.99, i guess it's worth it if you come here with an appetite. BYOB as well. My dissapointment was the fact that they didn't have udon available.

cara r.

Was here on a Tuesday night to check it out - we walked right in with no wait and had great service. My friend had two orders of Philadelphia rolls - which he didn't finish so he had to pay the extra dollar for what was left over. I finished my California and spider rolls, and the spider rolls were fantastic. Good, simple sushi with great prices. I'll definitely be back on a another weeknight to avoid the crowds!

Julia G.

Are you looking to get your money's worth? If so, this is the spot. You pay less then $20/ person and get all you can eat sushi which includes sushi and rolls, no sashimi. Although you might wait in line for 40 minutes, it's definitely worth it. The ambiance is bland so if you're looking for a trendy upscale spot, go elsewhere! This is an excellent BYOB spot to hang with friends (preferably a small group) and enjoy some yummy food (edamame, salad, and miso soup are also included).

Matt A.

I had never been to an all you can eat Sushi place before, and after reading a couple of reviews, this seemed like a pretty good place to try. I went with a friend of mine, and while I wouldn't consider either of us refined Sushi experts, I think we're in a pretty good place to give a descent review. The atmosphere of the place is compact yet cozy, and you're definitely not paying for the atmosphere, just the food. If you're okay with that, then you're probably in the right place. When you sit down, they give you a full list of all their salads, soups, rolls and nigiri. You mark down how many of each that you want, and they'll put in the order. If you want more, you can fill out another sheet. We ordered a variety of rolls, and I felt that they were pretty descent. I would put this up to par with just about any other "pretty good" sushi restaurant. The service was just fine, but the rolls were slow coming, most likely as was mentioned in another review, its because the chefs are kept busy! One thing that I was a little concerned about was the wait / crowd. We got seated by 7 PM on a Friday night (in November) and didn't have a wait. However, a little later into the night things began to pick up pretty quickly. We even called to make 6 PM reservations and the girl on the other line say, "6 PM? You won't need reservations. If you're looking for all you care to eat Sushi in Chicago, this is a great place! Go hungry and leave full!

Victoria L.

This rating is actually 3.5 stars. It has been almost 3 years since I started going to this restaurant, and at that time they had just opened the business. The reason I went there was because two of my Japanese friends who recommended to me. When I first went to try it, I was expecting something terrible, like rotten fish or something like that. Surprisingly, it turned out to be quite good. However, as they have gotten more and more popular, the quality of food, sorry to say, has decreased a lot. For one thing, the portion of fish is a lot smaller compared to the rice they give you. After having been on a sushi hunting, my boyfriend and I have concluded that this place, although not top quality, is still the place to go if you want sushi and tasty rolls. Overall, their rolls are still the best, that is, if you can stand a LOT of rice. Also, it's BYOB.

k m.

My boyfriend and I love sushi, especially the all -you- can- eat places. This is by far the best place for that kind of deal. The sushi selection and quality are outstanding. I recommend this place over all the others.

Daniel S.

The sushi is great. You can't beat the all you can eat special.

Neecy L.

I went here for lunch and it was $14.99 (which is not bad). I think dinner is 19.99, I'm not exactly sure. Anyways, I like this place because you can put in a request if it's not seen on the menu. For instance, I requested for hand rolls and I would also write in "less rice" or "no rice". I took away one star because the 2 times that I went here, the waitresses were slow, even though the place was almost empty! But I would still recommend this place because of their quality and their price.

Alex M.

Solid sushi for all you can eat. I wouldn't necessarily go hear for a romantic sit down, although many people do, but I do enjoy this place when my friends and I get a decent group together. Be sure to make a reservation because it is always packed. If you're looking for good sushi and a cheap price, it doesn't get much better!

Julia D.

i've dined in twice and have had great food both times. a very small hole-in-the-wall kind of place, they had a wide selection (i thought) of yummy sushi. i've gotten the 16.99 all you can eat deal, both times. i'm not a sushi aficionado, but i really enjoy this place and will definitely go back :)

Jonathan S.

Can't say much better about Sushi Para Too. The sushi is by far the best I've ever had for all-you-can-eat style. The value for the sushi is unparalleled, and it's BYOB. Only problem is that you can wait a while for a table and then wait a while once you've ordered. Still, we go back whenever we can.

Dawn R.

First time I heard about this place I was very nervous. All you can eat sushi? However, $18.95 for this super awesomeness is rockin. Everything is made to order, so don't worry. You can get everything from miso soup, seaweed salad, and gyoza, to all the sushi and sashimi you want. Not the greatest sushi joint I've ever been to, but for the money you spend.........come on. Less than $25 a person with tip, you can not beat that. Plus, you'll never leave hungry!

Chuck W.

You can't beat $20 for all you can eat sushi. The rolls here are very good and fresh as well. Just be sure if you get the buffet that you eat all of the sushi that you order, otherwise they charge for uneaten rolls. You can always order more after your first round, so play it safe and order only a little bit, and then more later if you're still unsatisfied.

john z.

made the fatal mistake of ordering from the regular menu, Udon and shrimp tempura and wow what an adventure. It took close to an hour to recieve our food ,which was without any flavor. The service was just as bad as the food. we sat there twiddling our thumbs without any explanation or apparent concern about our food taking so damn long. maybe we should have tried the all you can eat menu, but on second thoughts naw.

Lauren H.

I love this place. All you can eat sushi for $16.99, who can ask for more?! Also, they have a great deal for delivery, a ton of food for $14.99 wiith add-ons at a $1.00 each. I forgot to mention an allergy on the second round of orders, and they took it back and made me a new roll, no questions asked. Same when they made a mistake on part of the delivery order once, they sent me the correction, no problem.

Allison E.

I did the $20 all you can eat and my friends had to roll me home. My eel roll and spider roll where absolutely delicious. Everything was quite fresh and delivered quickly to our table without much fuss. If you are mostly broke and crave good sushi, this is the place.

nick p.

good times and good sushi, try to avoid going on the weekends because the people from that neighborhood suck harder than a stuffed vacuum cleaner hose. If you do get stuck at the door on a crowded evening be sure to bring your Taser gun. That's the one bad thing about this place and it's the a$$holes that visit it.

Jamal P.

It is what it is and what is is an AYCE joint. I do not judge this establishment on the same criteria as I would a normal sushi joint and neither should anyone else. I can however judge it for what it is. The sushi here is top notch for an AYCE place. You have a decent selection of rolls, appetizers and sashimi. It also has BYOB with no corkage fee. I have been here a number of times and I have noticed that the quality of the rolls solely depends on the sushi chef behind the counter, but this could happen anywhere. Bottom line is if you can eat more than 3 rolls, want quantity over superior quality (the thing is most of the sushi places in Chicago get their fish from the same suppliers, I know this because my dad was a supplier for over 30 years), and are kind of low on funds this is the place for you. I notice a lot of people complain about the staff staring or peering at them. The place is so small I just chalk this up to being attentive. Plus you are peering just as much, if you weren't looking at them how would you know they were looking at you. Just make sure you judge it for what it is and not what you think it should be.

Maureen C.

I have never been to a place like this and it was awesome! The only other AYCE sushi joint I have been to was buffet style - ick. I love that they make it to order. It isn't limited to just sushi either, there are different dumplings, miso soup, edamame, a house salad and more! And I actually like that they charge for uneaten sushi and rice because it just doesn't make sense to waste food - only order what you can eat. Another plus is BYOB. Only three stars from me because the sushi was just okay (but I wasn't expecting to be blown away from AYCE) and the service was pretty rude. But at only $18/person I'll definitely be back!

Dave C.

as a vegetarian, this review is limited to a very small subset of the fine sushi at Sushi Para II. the restaurant is small in an annoying way as opposed to an 'intimate' way. but, you're coming here for the $17.99 all-you-can-eat deal, not for the interior design/ambiance. for you veg people out there, the egg sushi and the tofu skin are excellent. good veggie tempura too! i've had better sushi though and i wish the veggie options here were actually existent and not limited to two items. my friend ordered a veggie roll off-the-menu and it sucked. SO bland. just a cylindrical mass of crap. if you're looking to stuff your face with sushi in Lincoln Park, then this is a good bet.

Lisa T.

I recently tried this with my sister. Not a bad sushi place, the prices are good. I can't say that the rolls I got where great. I felt they were a little chewy, though decent in size. If you eyes are larger than your stomach, beware of what you order. You have to pay extra if there are leftovers!

calvin n.

nothing to exciting about this place good decent deal though 20 bucks all you can eat . Would be alot better if the rolls were poorly rolled and fell apart or over packed with rice... nothing exciting about this place sorry...

hanna s.

definitely the best all you can eat sushi for $17 in chicago. i like it much better than house of sushi and noodles. it's the type of place to go when you want lots of rolls (quantity over quality). they have other stuff that you can also get too.

Joyce T.

For $16.95 at an all-you-can-eat restaurant, the price can't be beat. However, several times, the chefs had forgotten our orders and left items out, such as miso soups and certain sushi pieces or rolls. We had to remind them, and even then, it took forever and/or they forgot still. On my last visit, however, I had a not-so-pleasant experience with the staff. In the past, when I had gone to Sushi Para, they had let us order whatever items we wanted on their menus and make edits to it without any complaints. This time, however, they told us they were going to charge us extra. They said that if we ordered hand rolls that weren't on the menu, they would have to charge us extra, etc. I told them that they should have stated that from the start because the previous four or five times that we had been there, we were never told about this policy or penalized; as a restaurant, I feel it is very important to have consistency to prove to customers the value of their integrity. They shouldn't charge you extra for certain items one time and not do so the other times. Those are my only rants for the place. If you stick to what's on the buffet menu and don't listen to them when they say you can make edits to it, then it's all good; otherwise, you'll get into trouble.

G G.

Endless sushi (decent too!) for $16.99. Its a great deal and there's a nice variety to choose from. The last time I went was on a Saturday night- very crowded with a long wait. You have been warned.

Mark P.

So-so maki with too much rice. You'll fill up quickly if you order the $17 all-you-can-eat. Quantity over quality is the rule. At least here you can order nigiri as well.

John o.

all you can eat $16.99, ...every roll and nigiri came out in the same plate like garbage, taste like grabage, fish quality like garbage, super white's not white, it's brown, don't let me explain others, I almost throw up, they tried to make me full with hugh maki that's so thick of rice, appetizers are also bad, is that cheap? $16.99 x 5 of us, I better go to other quality restaurants, more than that, they will charge for any left over or if you can't finish even rice, disaster of sushi !

Meredith C.

I really want to rate this higher.... like really, really want to. But it was just alright. Not amazing, not over the top. Yes this place is a bargain. $20 for all you can eat sushi sounds like a great deal, but you get what you pay for and this place is a prime example. Decent sushi, ok miso soup and the yaki chicken skewers were pretty small and lacked any amazing flavor. The service was good. There was a really friendly guy waiting some of the tables. He made me smile :) All in all, I left with my tummy full and my craving for sushi satisfied for very little cash out of my wallet... I'll take it.

Riva L.

The gyoza and shumai were nicely crispy and the miso soup was light and tasty, but the sushi didn't taste fresh and the whole place smells like old fish.... The flavors of the sushi were okay and all but just didn't taste fresh and good.

Rowena N.

BYOB. Come early for you will wait for seating. Waitresses were super nice, food came out decently fast. For all your can eat $19.99, the quality was not bad. I loved the mackerel and salmon nigiri. Their michigan, boston, rainbow, and spider rolls were also delicious. But, they were limited in appetizers. Don't try the salad. Come here and walk half a mile to go get cupcakes at Mollys!

Wendy W.

I'm always a little skeptical when I hear about AYCE sushi places, since it usually means I will be eating a lot of rice. However, that wasn't the case when I went to Sushi Para II. Rolls are small, but the size makes it easy to order multiple rolls and to sample around. There's a decent amount of fish, but best of all, small amounts of rice! I'm not a fish sommelier, but I thought it was pretty good. The menu offers a good selection of sushi and non sushi items, for the very decent price of $18. The only thing I wouldn't get again is the chicken skewer, which I found too dry and salty. If I lived in Chicago, I'd definitely come again to fix my sushi craving. Insert dad joke: I wonder how Sushi Para I is?

Christine D.

I thought the sushi was good but then I smelled the stinky fish stench only after I was done eating. Oh no. What did I just consume? Recently read an article in Thrillist about the warning signs of bad sushi spots. This place definitely would be one of them. They didn't even tell us which rolls were which and our group of 5 ordered a boat! The staff was aloof; The 2 jars on the table were out of soy sauce; There was febreeze by the kitchen door; the rolls were falling apart. You apparently get charged for what you don't finish, but we didn't, luckily. I had a good time with my friends but we will do better next time; I will not return.

vicky y.

all you can eat sushi, made to order. rolls are huge and packed with a lot of stuffing. you can order all the maki, AND nigiri, you can eat for 16.99 (dinner price.) but, you've gotta finish what you order, else they'll charge you. not really the place for big groups, but it's one of the best values in town.

jen b.

decent sushi at a great price. i arrived just before 7 on a saturday and was seated immediately. however, just after that i watch the wait list grow and grow. the atmosphere is lacking but where can you get ayce sushi that 's pretty good for 16.99 and it byob!!! totally recommend it.

Allison K.

My new favorite Sushi restaurant. For a casual night of sushi try Sushi Para II. It's a hidden little restaurant in the Chicago's north side. You can get "all you can eat" sushi for 16.99 per person. The quality of the sushi is good for the price you pay for it. This place is a BYOB style of restaurant. In the past I have always brought a bottle or two of wine (they have wine openers too :) FYI this is not a typical "classy" or "upscale" sushi restaurant, so you can dress very casual in jeans if you even wanted to. If you are looking for the traditional sushi experience although I would recommend one of the pricier places chicago.

Jay D.

The "all you can eat" deal for $16.99 is entertaining, mostly if you eat with someone who didn't read the part on the menu about paying for everything you don't eat. This place is the size of a box, and my party was all but pushed out the door when we ate there (at 6:30pm on a Tuesday, if that tells you anything), but the sushi was delicious and I'm sure I'll go back for more.

Jay K.

Have eaten at Sushi Para II a few times; Was first introduced to Sushi Para I up in Palatine - thank goodness Para II is so much closer. Have gone for dinner ~2-3 times at that location. Notables include the spider roll, hamachi, spicy tuna and tuna avocado rolls. Their nigiri are fairly good albeit with huge platforms of rice; The rolls actually contain less rice AND while sitting at the sushi bar we observed that the fish they use in their rolls is the same cuts used in their nigiri (seldom the case in other places). Run by Mandarin-speaking Chinese; All the sushi chefs are likewise Chinese although the dialects spoken are different. The wait time between submitting your order and receiving can be exceptionally long, however the chefs work fairly quickly - it's the large amount of orders which bogs them down. Update: Significant crowds these days and horrible wait times to get a table in this tiny restaurant. The cooked food and non-fish items are not worth eating: tempura on the buffet menu consists of two pieces of sweet potato and two pieces of zucchini, the harumaki is horrible - overly MSG'd mushy vegetable mash springroll, a friend had GI upset and horrible diarrhea after their "homemade" gyoza, the miso is standard hot water, a few flakes of nori, minute cubes of tofu and a dab of cheap miso and house salad is a tomato slice on iceberg lettuce w/ an overly salty soy dressing. You have to be selective re: the rolls you order - some rolls come w/ 8 huge pieces, and if the roll is bad, then you're out of luck - you'll have to grind 'em down like Fear Factor or be charged. One particular culprit to watch out for is the Fashion Roll. Stick to ordering those rolls that come in sets of 5-6 pieces. Order your tempura or spider roll sans unagi sauce ,otherwise everything'll come out drenched in the overwhelming sauce. This place is now inundated by local college kids and young professionals/un-professionals. Unfortunately the wait times to get a table and then to get your food have now made this a less desirable destination than in the past.

YR Z.

Great place to come with a few friends, but expect to wait a while even if you have a reservation. The all you can eat is unbeatable ($17) and even includes non sushi items such as miso soup, edamame, skewers, etc. Combined with BYOB, this place is a keeper.

Mishka A.

Sushi Para Too has quickly turned into one of my favorites places for quality and inexpensive sushi. All you can eat is a great deal for $16.99 and offers a wide selection of sushi and rolls that are made fresh on the spot. It may be intimidating that it's located in the basement of a building, but it is truly a gem in the rough. I take my friends here for casual dining or if we feel like stuffing our faces with sushi. the only catch is if you order more than you can eat, you pay by the piece (which I have rarely see anyone do). Favorites include: gyoza, vegetable tempera, salmon rolls. Takeaways: best place in town for cheap sushi!

Alfred L.

All you can eat sushi for $16.99 can't be beat. I went there on a Wednesday and this small place is packed, which means that circulation of the fish is fast and you don't have to worry about eating days-old raw fish. Quality of the fish wasn't bad either. There isn't any expensive stuff like Ama Ebi or Akagai on the menu. I ordered stables like Tuna and Hamachi and they are of good quality (for the price). I was delighted to find Spider Roll on the menu and it was actually tasty. The only 2 complaints I have were slow service, and probably because they were so busy that they didn't give enough time to cool their sushi rice. The fish on second plate of our sushi felt warm... :-S.

Ben R.

Went to SP2 last night, sat at the sushi bar, and thoroughly enjoyed it. We both got the all you can eat special for $18 and it was so worth it. The selection was phenominal and the fish was fresh, but not the freshest I've ever had. One of the servers was very polite, the other was a little less so (maybe her English wasn't very good?). The sushi chefs got the rolls out very quickly and it was an all around good time. Plus no corkage fee when you BYOB. The Volcano Roll was my favorite, but you might need some water handy (spicy!).

Alex X.

Came here for dinner one cold November evening. My party of four waited an hour to be seated. Small restaurant, BYOB, AND all you can eat sushi...so the wait can get long. But it's worth it! The best part is "All you can eat sushi" actually means "all you can eat, any type of sushi"! I've been to an all you can eat sushi place a little farther north and west and it wasn't that great because your choices were limited and most had an ungodly amount of cream cheese (1. to fill you up, no doubt, and 2. cream cheese in sushi?!). Great place for a small or large gathering of people. Yummy.

David N.

Went to Sushi Barf II the other day for the first time. Slowest service ever....at lunch....and the place was empty. Great concept, shitty sushi. I can eat my fair share of sushi but after 3 rolls I had had my fill, and a stomach ache ta boot!

r j.

Yum! Went here tonight with a few friends. Got here round 530pm. did not have to wait for a table. Enjoyed the volcano roll, the rock n roll, the spider roll, and the spicy tuna. Everything was great. The waitress was kinda rushing us towards the end of our meal, but I guess that kinda was to be expected considering there was a lot of people waiting to be seated. But no problem. I would definitely go again. It was really worth the $20.00.

Nicole L.

My friend Ben swears by this place but I was still a bit hesitant - the name scared me and sounds more like Spanish! Although I have to give him credit on this one - the place was packed and for good reason. The concept is similar to many new sushi joints in the city - all you can eat. The catch? You must finish everything on your plate before you can order more.. OY! The food was good (the rolls could have been rolled tighter) although service was a bit slow. The place is BYOB so I would definitely go back with a large group to try a bunch of rolls, but for a quieter, more quality sushi dinner, I may have to stick to my favorite - Green Tea (right down the street).

Haiyun P.

I love sushi, and this place has me by the heart! I went there finally after my friend's been raving about it for months. So, we met up there on a Tuesday evening after work. My friend drove, and I took the CTA. I highly recommend the CTA due to difficult street parking. Also, since it's close to the Lincoln Park zoo, a lovely evening stroll to work off the food is a plus! We stepped down a small flight of stairs to the basement and entered a very warm and cozy dining area. The waitress seated us immediately. The service was prompt and food arrived reasonably fast! My teacup never reached half full because it was always filled to the top. The tea itself was not tongue-burning hot either! For $16.99 per person pretax and pretip, the food quality was amazing! The salmon nigiri was very fresh! The rice was pleasantly warm and freshly made. The spider roll had the best battered softshell crab I have ever tasted in a long while. And did I mention the avocado?!! omg! It is sooo freshly green and creamy and just the perfect ripeness! When I took a bite into the christmas roll, the content just melted in my mouth. My overall impression of the food is FRESHNESS and SAVORY! For $16.99, that is definitely worth your buck and time!

Kristin C.

We wandered over here when the wait at Sushi Toro was too long. Still had to wait like 5 minutes, but that was better than the 5 hours we probably would have waited at Toro. Bringing a bottle (or 3) of wine is a must, as is the all you can eat sushi for $17. Well, I actually didnt do all you can eat because I'm new to sush and still need to order some chicken or something to feel like I'm getting a complete meal. But my friend got the all you can eat and boy did he eat. I got a philly roll and snatched a few pieces off my friend's plate, and it was excellent. Probably not the best fish you could get, but definitely the best for the price. Word of advice, if you leave food on your all you can eat plate, you get charged for it. Kind of strange, but whatever. The restaurant is in a basement and you feel kind of weird when you walk in, but you aren't there for the atmosphere, you are there to stuff yourself with sushi (and teriyaki chicken, in my case).

matthew c.

dined here about 5 times. the last two visits have not been the greatest. the sushi was a tad warm. Ponzu is just north on clark and fullerton and is much better.

E. Q.

All-you-can-eat sushi for $17.99. And the fish is very high quality and fresh. Fast service too! There's another location in Palatine (Sushi Para I), if you ever go to the burbs.

Alex C.

This is by far the best all you can eat sushi I've been to. I usually shy away from raw stuff at all you can eat places because sushi is so not fresh. But this place had decent sushi and really good rolls. If you go at busy times, they do add like a pot of rice per roll but somehow manages to make them still delish. Price cannot be beat with under $20 for the all you can eat or you can order off the menu and it's still a great bargain. It's a hole in the wall and bit scary at first cause you have to go downstairs but inside is plain but clean. Server has problem with English, but thank goodness sushi order sheets are used so no problems. The feast includes appetizers and soups, if you want to waste space with those. :) This place is a little treasure for those of us who like decent sushi and lots of it.

Casey H.

If I could give a zero I would. I came here with a group of friends because it is one of the only sushi places to get into easily last minute (dead giveaway why we shouldn't have come in the first place). When you walk in you immediately get blown away by the rotting fish smell which is similar to a dirty aquarium. I tried to get past the horrendous smell and enjoy the time with my friends, but I kept wanting to gag throughout my meal. After getting past the smell and enjoying the BYOB I found myself having an ok time. The food came out and it was fine. Nothing special to write home about. When we went to get the check they charged us for 8 "all you can eat meals" when only 6 people ordered the all you can eat. After telling our server that they had billed us wrong he decided to call over all the other servers and argue with us about what we had to pay for (meanwhile the other employees were giggling and pointing at our table). This was completely unprofessional and nearly insulting because their logic made no sense. After arguing with the server he changed the bill. All in all please avoid this place at all costs! Save your time and try better places like Toro, Coast and Nori. They truly care about the customer experience!

Jessie U.

Even though the price ($15.99 Lunch special) may be reasonable, I have been to other ACYE sushi places that taste a lot better than this one. The sush just doesn't taste right. It's bland and unpleasing to the palate. There is no sauce added to the rolls, just simply rice and fish with a lot of vegetables. I felt like I was on a diet by eating the what seemed like veggie rolls. I immediately lost my appetite after my first bite in. Let's just say this was my first time and last time going to Sushi Para II. I was very displeased with one of the waitress because when I found an unclean dish with chunks from the customer before and asked her for a new one, the waitress rolled her eyes.

Elisa G.

If I could give 0, I would give it! So, we arrived around 9.30 (the restaurant closes at 10). In general, in this place, people place several order to understand when they are full and to not have to pay the leftovers... We placed the first order, aware of the rule, but nobody told us that the kitchen closes at 9.45 not at 10. At 9.40, right after the first order arrived, the waitress came and said that the kitchen closes at 9.45, so if we wanted to place another order, we had to do it right away... So, we just did it. She came back 2 minutes later saying that it was too late and the kitchen was closed! So, basically we had to pay the full price for a non-delivered service... We got really mad and asked to talk to a manager, the manager said that she is not the manager and she doesn't know how to contact the managers... that she doesn't have their phone numbers... I thought it was all a joke. The funny thing is that she said that the only thing she could do for us is to take 10% off our bill... Seriously? It was one of the worst experiences in my life both for the service and for how the managers treated us, as if we were stupid to not understand. Food there is ok! It is not bad but not great. We went there twice because it is cheap... but honestly, I would advice you to not go there and pick more serious all-you-can-eat restaurants.

David C.

I had been to the original location years ago and other then being turned off by the two floors, it was ok. This new location is nicer but the service is awful. We came on a Monday night and asked to be seated in the back, but was told that was reserved for a large party at 9pm...they close at 10. Then we waited awhile to order our food and had to flag down the waitress to put in our order. The food was good which is why I gave them 2 stars instead of 1 star. They also charged me $19.99 for the all-you-can-eat even though the website says $18.99 and so does their menu (see picture). There are other locations nearby that are better for all-you-can-eat sushi.

Fuad A.

Shocked none of the previous reviewers had not mentioned the powerful aroma of three day old, room temperature fish that gives you a good punch in the face as your walk through the door. The smell was so bad we almost got up and left before ordering but decided to give them a chance. We shouldn't have been so generous. Key takeaways from our first and last trip to sushi para II: -all you can eat deal is not that great since they charge you for what you don't finish -rolls were small, bland, and falling apart -sashimi was a good size and food was ok but not worth the fear that the stench provoked -you have to breathe through your mouth the duration of your meal in order to suppress your gag reflex from the smell Conclusion, you're better off going to whole foods or paying a few dollars more elsewhere.

Doug S.

I love the all you can eat sushi here. This location has consistently good sushi and sushi rolls. They don't stuff rice under the sushi or inside the rolls like some other places do. The price is also affordable, especially the lunch special. The sushi itself is decent quality. The fish is not warm, and the rice is not hot. The service is also very good - each time I've ordered, the food is brought out quickly, and none of my order items are missing. Having eaten at many sushi places and many AYCE sushi places, Sushi Para II is better than most. For the lunch price, you will not be able to find an AYCE sushi place with as good quality anywhere nearby.

Shelley L.

This place is on point!! All you can eat for $18.99 say whaaaatttt?! The all-you-can-eat selection features an excellent variety of rolls and appetizers and the quality of the food is on par with many places that offer the same items for higher prices. I especially like how they cook their Edamame and their ikayaki. My favorite rolls are the Chicago and Pop Up Rolls. A few minor flaws: Our waiter did not seem to be familiar with the menu and fumbled when we asked him about the white fish among a few other questions. It also felt a little bit like we were being rushed out when we'd finished our meal - the person who delivered the check said something hurriedly and took off... Still, this is a great place to come with friends!

Danny W.

This place is like sushi night at the Sig Tau house. Between the BYOB policy, all you can eat for under 20 bucks, and the close proximity to DePaul's campus, it's a couple red solo cups away from a full on kegger with California rolls. As you could imagine, it's not gonna win any awards for it's food, but if you want a small bill and to stuff yourself full of some lower grade fish then by all means you'll love it. It's all just about expectation so you can't go in here expecting Morimoto. They get pretty packed and waiting will be a nightmare on the account of there being a super small space with no bar. Just make sure you go early or be prepared to be annoyed.

Dustin T.

$16 for a all you can eat sushi is such a great deal. Even though it's all you can eat, the quality of the fish is good. It is not the best I have ever tasted, but I would absolutely come back here for their phenomenal deal. I may never return to this place because of my terrible experience with their customer service. My table of 3 was completely neglected. Orders are placed by checking off items on a menu then handing it off to the waitress. Sounds simple enough, eh? The first round of orders came quickly and was quickly devoured. To my pleasant surprise, the presentation was very visually appealing and everything tasted great! My only complaint was the slight warm temperature of the nigiri. The 2nd and third round of orders took wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too long. I am very forgiving of the service during a rush hour but the restaurant was pretty empty. I was enjoying the company of my friends so I was not timing how long it took from placing the order to receiving the food. I imagine it took nearly 30 minutes for the 2nd round of orders to arrive and even longer for the third. We flagged down the waitress twice asking about our order missing order. One of the other waitresses even asked us if we were finished because we were sitting at a sushi-less table. I do not mind spending extra time dining, but I prefer that the extra time spent to be by choice, not from neglect from the staff. Sometime down the road I may return to the Para, and I hope to flip this review more positively when that happens.