Hanakawa Japanese Steakhouse
411 S Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL, 60048
Hanakawa Japanese Steakhouse Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Libertyville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Libertyville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
411 S Milwaukee Ave
Libertyville, IL, 60048 - Phone (847) 247-0091
- Website https://www.hanakawasteakhouse.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Y H.
Came here for dinner on a Friday night around 8 and only had to wait a few minutes to be seated. The staff was very attentive and friendly from start to finish. We ordered the following: 1. Red dragon roll: this was amazing 2. Chicken teriyaki: chicken was okay, not anything out of this world 3. Shrimp and salmon combo: this was amazing 4. Garlic shrimp: wow! Could not get enough of this, it was devoured right down to the last bite! Would definitely order this again! Everything was fairly priced including the sushi. The reason I gave 4 stars and not 5 is because our chef messed up a few times doing the tricks, which I know are difficult, however I've never experienced that at our many trips to Tsukasa. In comparison to Tsukasa, the prices are very similar, it's a significantly smaller restaurant, the shrimp, salmon and sushi tasted better here whereas the chicken tastes better at Tsukasa. Also, they don't charge extra for fried rice unlike Tsukasa. Definitely will be back and will also be picking up sushi from here in the future!
(4)Kat M.
Very good food and service was fine. Everyone working there was super friendly from our server to any other server that made eye contact, the owner, the sushi chefs-all super nice. My husband got steak and calimari which came with miso, salad, vegetables and a choice of side. He got the California roll. I've seen a few reviews complaining about price...well, as you can see, you get a lot for the money. They also use prime steak. My sushi and tarantula roll were fresh and the sushi rice is perfect. Again, with the prices...they're fine. You get two pieces that are the right size and most of the sushi pieces are like 4 bucks. We got edamame (just fine) and age-dashi tofu. The tofu was way too small of a portion and there was a lot of sugar in the broth which was weird and I did not like it. The tofu was fried nicely and tasted good. It is a casual setting and low-key. They need to dust the restaurant. Summary: good food, fair prices, friendly service-we'll be back.
(3)Rkrochmal K.
Great restaurant and food is awesome .. Staff is wonderful and prices are fair.. Owners are very involved and really make a big difference .
(5)Jennifer Q.
Over priced in my opinion, food was good but not great. Recommend a reservation to anyone that comes here. Wasn't too impressed with the interior. The cook was funny and friendly as well as the host or manager I think he was.
(3)Maritza R.
I've been to this restaurant several times and I think it's delightful. I think the food is good. If you think the food was bland with no taste it's because you probably didn't have Nino the chef. He seasons the food and it always tastes good with him. I can see how the food was bland with the other chefs because they don't season the food as well as Nino does. When my husband and I go here, we always request Nino. He's fun, he can cook and he is talkative. He's just awesome and entertaining. So those of you complaining about the food request Nino. If you think the restaurant was too "smokey" from the grill, come earlier when it's open. I think that is a dumb reason to give this place a bad review. And to the "connoisseur of hibachi", I've been to Japan SEVERAL times and the food is pretty close to what I've had there.
(5)Diana P.
Good sushi, casual place, everything we ordered was tasty and fresh. Friendly staff as well.
(4)Shannon B.
Great food, but they're not quick to get to you. Maybe it was our fault because we didn't make a reservation but it took awhile for a chef to get to our grill. But the wait was worth it and the chef even engaged our toddler and made sure that she, who still eats off our plates and didn't get a meal, was happy and enjoying her dinner. He even offered chop sticks and gave her quite a bit of scrambled egg which made her feel special and delighted to spend time eating a long meal.
(5)Christine G.
My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate his birthday. It was a very quiet night and we got chef Nino. He was hilarious and gave us a good show. Besides the show, he spoke to us as no other chef would have. He asked us things about our lives and gave us insight to him. He also personalized our meals even further than what we wanted. Aside from Nino, our waitress was very nice and Shannon, the owner/hostess was also very kind. We didn't feel rushed at all. Definitely coming back.
(4)Adam Z.
Mihyang was an amazing waitress. In and out in 30 minutes on a Saturday at 6pm, and it was busy! She was all over the place. The food was great. We had sushi and steak hibachi.
(5)Nataliya A.
Came here for lunch and had some sashimi and sushi roles. The roles were good, but I've had better. We got tuna and salmon sashimi and it was seriously a joke, I've never seen thinner slices of fish. The service was fine, everyone kept asking "is everything okay" and all I wanted to say - all other places I've ever gone to gave me real sizes of fish not paper thin slices... Overall an okay place for lunch, good service, no sushi on the lunch menu, and okay fresh sushi.
(3)Chris X.
Food and ambiance at Hanakawa is very average. The interior is pretty smokey from the hibachi grills. They call the upstairs the "sushi bar", which it really isn't in the true sense of the word. Overall, Hanakawa is very, very Americanized, which can be good in some peoples eyes, but it isn't really my preference. The menu is pretty limited, and many items are somewhat overpriced. The calamari tempura barely has any tempura, and the sushi could probably be considered below average.
(3)Syd J.
Rating this place two out of five only based upon service. We didn't have a chance to dine here. I understand that it was Valentine's Day. We came to eat at 5:30, mind you they opened the doors at 5pm. Therefore I didn't think the place would be too busy. I was wrong, it was packed to the roof. My husband never experienced the hibachi scene so I wanted to sit at the grill. He was outside trying to find parking and I went in to find a seat. The lady gave me two seats that were big enough for one, if we were to eat there we would have no arm room to even eat.... My husband couldn't find anywhere to park after two people told him he would get towed. The lady taking the order asked me twice if I was ready to order even though I told her I was waiting on someone.. Bad service. The food smelled amazing. Wish we could have had a better experience.
(2)Steve M.
We came here the other day as my son wanted to eat here for his birthday. I had never been here before but he had raved about it so we made a reservation. It was a Tuesday night and as we walked into the place there was one family inside seated at a table with a chef cooking in front of them. I have eaten at one of these places before. The place (Tsukasa) is right down the road in Vernon Hills and is in a more modern restaurant. We were seated right away and placed an ordered of roles for an appetizers. We first received a soup and then our salad. The roles came out next and at this point the food was pretty good. Now the show begins. The chef came to our table and started to make our meal. He first started off with the smoking onion and made a noise like a train. This was for the entertainment of the little girl and her mom that was also sitting at our table. She was impressed with the steam coming out of the onion. The chef then began to make our fried rice. It's pretty cool to see how they make everything. I have stated this before but it's like watching the Food Network live. I ordered the shrimp and filet. The shrimp was very fresh and the filet to my amazement was very tender and very flavorful. I finished all of the shrimp and was about half way through the filet when I felt like I couldn't eat another thing. I tried but I reached my limit. We probably shouldn't have ordered the rolls as they were very good but there was just so much to eat. Next time we will order less or bring more people to help us eat everything. We liked the dining experience here. As we were leaving the manager or owner at the front desk thanked us for coming and wanted to make sure that we had a good time and wanted to know when we were coming back. We chuckled and told him we will be back but not sure when.
(3)Kathleen G.
Typical hibachi experience
(4)David M.
Food was great, but I did not like the atmosphere and service. I was eating with my 8 and 5 year old son and the chef pretended that an asparagus was a male reproductive organ. inappropriate. Also, they require that everyone that in the party to order a meal. The wait staff and the other party at our cooking table got into a heated argument over sharing meals which was uncomfortable.
(3)Wendy S.
This is the second time I've gone to Hanakawa. The owners are VERY nice people, the chefs are fun and entertaining, but the servers are just awful. Sunday night, we had to get up several times to get our drinks refilled, and my boyfriend ordered steamed rice (instead of fried) that we had to ask for twice, before it was brought to the table. Oh, and check the bill before you add gratuity...apparently they add 18% for a party of 5 or more. Had I not seen that on the itemized bill, I would have tipped twice.
(3)Greg B.
I finally got a chance to check this place out, who knew it would be this good! We had Chef Nino and he made everyone smile and have a good time. The service from the entire staff was excellent, food was amazing (try the golden shrimp), and the price was right.
(5)Jacqueline N.
After coming to Hanakawa Steakhouse, I find this hibachi style here very underwhelming. Food: Chicken Hibachi - dry chicken breast meat Filet Mignon Hibachi - dry non-filet-like meat... maybe it was filet mignon but it was cooked way too long. I've never been to a Japanese Steakhouse before. And unfortunately as many people have already commented but both entrees were very dry, bland, cooked to unnecessary toughness. I give a star for this place was definitely entertaining with the onion volcano oil. but the flavor in the food was more than lacking. In addition, everything was extremely expensive and not worth the money. I probably won't be coming back.
(2)David M.
A great place to eat. Everything you expect from a Japanese restaurant: great food with a unique selection and a friendly and appreciative staff. The owner is really a cool guy that likes to joke around and make you feel like you've known him for years. This is now out go-to sushi restaurant.
(5)Mad I.
WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED...EVER!!!!! I would NOT go here if I were you...seriously...Tsukasa is right up the road.. Worst experience we've ever had, and I get around to a LOT of restaurants....Very sad my own town has a place like this that I now have to scowl at. Here goes... I don't even know where to start :( Reservation is for 6:30, we arrive at 6:32 and we have been "crossed off the list" because they already sat the 6:30 reservations and now we should wait?! Huh? My husband proceeds to talk to the owner finding out they just overbooked the 6:30 Habachi. NO apologies, of course..... Smokey, cramped, NO ambiance, a zillion kids everywhere...why didn't I leave? P.s-a note to my future self-If I have kids, do not bring them all out on Valentines day to a Japanese restaurant. 7:00 we are finally seated in the sushi area. Around 8 tables up there, one is empty, everyone is sitting, it appears no one is getting service. The waitress finally comes, we order drinks and tell her HOLD up, don't go running away, we want to place an order for appetizers. She basically refuses and says she'll come back with my coke and water first. Rigggggght.... 7:50 now, NO SIGN OF FOOD. Really? We have now been in the restaurant for almost an hour and a half. NO JOKE. Owner and manager could give a rip, knew damn well who we were and saw us sitting there twiddling our thumbs with no food 1 1/2 hours in to our "special" Valentines day dinner. EPIC FAIL. Food rolls out around 8:00, apps and sushi all at once. (Sushi we suspected was ours really was, had been sitting up on the counter for some time...) Waitress was non existent all night. Ate and tried to get the hell outta there at 8:30 until the non existent waitress charged us for 2 cokes even though she told me it was free refills after the first one. REALLY? She proceeds to then argue with my husband over a $2 coke after all of this??? The whole f-ing meal should have been comped. I worked at a restaurant for 10 years and this place floored me. WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED...EVER.
(1)Ravi R.
Tempura was awful - the batter was not fresh and tasted very doughy. The chef made up for this somewhat, despite having to work with a hot plate that was not hot - very nicely prepared rare steak and tuna.
(2)Sue S.
It is very clear that the owner cannot handle busy times and large crowds. Was there last night and service was poor, we were crammed at the table and rushed out.. Have been going there for some time now but after last night we will not be back.
(2)Mark K.
I am a Japenese steak house freak, have the craving very often. I was a regular at Ron of Japans in Northbrook,now this is my favoirte place to go. Family run and the owners are hands on and very friendly. My family and I love it ?
(5)Jenifer W.
I consider myself a connoisseur of hibachi / teppon style Japanese cooking - my family and I have been to almost every reputable restaurant in the tri-state area, and after the reviews we decided to try this one... now I know why we haven't been before. ATMOSPHERE: Smoky (there is little to no ventilation from the open grills, and by 6:00 or so the entire place was filled with an acrid food / cleaning smoke). There's a little "pond" filled with goldfish / Koi, but it is too shallow and the biggest fish (who isn't huge, mind you) is SO ill fitting that his back is out of the water while his belly scrapes on the rocks below... seriously, I wanted to call the animal cruelty hotline. FOOD: Not up to par with the competition. The hibachi chicken I had was dry, overcooked, and tasteless... the ginger sauce was very weak, not nearly as vibrant as others in the area (this goes for the salad dressing too). The "show" while cooking was nonexistent, the cook had no flair about him at all, and couldn't speak enough english to understand what we were asking him for - we had to repeat requests 2 or 3 times and he still got it wrong. SERVICE: Atrocious - there's really no other word for it. We had to get up to get water refills, napkins, and other items... the server was in the back kitchen chatting with other workers almost the entire dinner. We had piles of plates stacked up 3 high (soup, salad, dinner plate) before anyone came to clear them away. I can't say I've ever had stellar service at a Japanese restaraunt before, but really this takes the Razzie... VALUE: There isn't a word for how bad the prices sucked... First, the meals were overpriced for the portions you got. Second, I had a child under 3 with me (who is not NEARLY able to eat a kid's meal), and the server insisted that they had a $10 per child minimum, forcing me to order a meal for her anyway... to add insult, one of the FULL GROWN ADULTS that was in our party of 6 opted to share a meal with another adult for $5... so we paid $5 for him (he's 32 and a grown man), and $10 not including drinks for the 2 year old girl... ludicrous. The entire meal cost around $159, and it was worth, maybe, $30 all in. Needless to say, we will never return. There's a reason this place looks like a dump... if it looks like a dump, smells like a dump, acts like a dump... IT'S A DUMP.
(1)Magdaline V.
The food is very good and the owner is friendly and nice. But the place is a bit dirty and dated, with paint actually peeling off the wall. Go there so he can afford to paint and clean. Yum Yum sauce is extra yummy!
(4)David Y.
Didnt come for teppanyaki, but the sushi and udon we ordered were really good. Dragon roll was very tasty and spicy salmon had great taste to it. Udon's broth was cooked just right and the tempura was fried perfectly. Overall, a good meal and kirin light hit the spot. Would recommend others to check it out.
(4)Valerie W.
Hanakawa is the bomb-da-bomb. I have been a Tsukasa purist for some time now... and that is ALL about to change. Reasons why Hanakawa trumps Tsukasa, or any other teppanyaki place around: 1. Smaller location. 6 (I think?) Teppanyaki tables. Much more personalized service. 2. FAR more reasonably priced, for the same amount (if not more) food. 3. More energetic staff (including wait staff). Back to point 1, I didn't feel like a number or a wallet, but a person. Nino was our chef, and he was awesome. He was personable and friendly, and his cooking did not disappoint! Everything was cooked perfectly and he gave us a great show (which is the point of teppanyaki, right?) As I was taking my man out for Valentine's day, we splurged, which I'm totally okay with. Our menu for the evening: 4 (count 'em, 4) large Kirin 1 hot sake (yes, we did make a few sake bombs.) 2 pieces of white tuna (the man's favorite) 2 pieces of ikura (MY favorite!) 2 steak & golden shrimp combos, one with gyoza, one with shrimp tempura. Fried rice (ask your table if it's okay to add teriyaki to the rice, if not, as your chef to add it to yours separately, it's SO delicious.) If you're REALLY splurging like we did... ask for extra golden sauce to put right on top of your rice. Holy cannolli was that good stuff. Everyone at Hanakawa wanted to make sure we left STUFFED and happy. The leftovers were just as good the next day, and we were stuffed then too! Hello, new special occasion teppanyaki place... I'll be back, probably more often than my waistline would like!
(5)Jessica J.
I am so surprised by negative reviews about Hanakawa! I took one of my good friends who lives in the city to Hanakawa last night for dinner. We sat at a hibachi table, and we were not overwhelmed by smoke smell as other reviews suggest. My friend and I really enjoy sharing and sampling several dishes, and Hanakawa did not disappoint. In fact, they were the most accommodating restaurant I've been to! We ordered a hibachi chicken and garlic shrimp combo. The chicken was NOT dry and was perfectly seasoned, and the garlic shrimp was heavenly! I ordered a spicy tuna roll and an Ebi Tempura Roll. My friend ordered a crunchy tuna roll and a spicy salmon roll. Every roll was incredibly delicious- I have not had sushi that satisfying in a very long time. Our hibachi meal came with soup, salad, fried rice, and shrimp tempura which they split up for us. We stayed on the non-alcoholic drink path. Since my husband was home with our sick child, I promised I would bring him a roll. The manager(or owner??) came by several times to ask how we were enjoying our meal. When I asked about a roll to take, he recommended the Dragon roll. He proceeded to engage us in a very entertaining conversation, and mentioned they will be serving a new roll (The jalapeño Mango roll) starting in a couple weeks. The service was fantastic- we never had to ask for a refill, and everyone was super friendly and accommodating. Even if the food wasn't as mind blowing, the service and comfortable atmosphere is enough to make me go back. The food is so amazing though, that it makes Hanakawa my new favorite sushi spot. As an added bonus, most of the rolls we had were between $6-$9, with the dragon being most expensive at $13.95. Shakou charges more than double that and their rolls are nothing special at all.., I actually preferred Hanakawa's over Shakou's... I guess Shakou has to pay for all that creepy lighting and house music somehow. Our total bill for all we had was only $79... That was including my to go order. We also got so incredibly full that we took 5 pieces of leftover sushi home too... That's unheard of, right?! No worries, it was annihilated pretty quickly.. I'm not even sure my husband paused to breathe between bites. All in all- this is the ONLY sushi spot I will ever go to in this area from now on. The service, the food (oh yum, the food), and the wonderfully inviting atmosphere they've created makes Hanakawa a cut above for our area. My Chicagoan friend was super surprised we have a gem like this in our burb. He was totally impressed! Kudos, Hanakawa - you'll be seeing me a lot... In fact, I may come grab a couple rolls for lunch in an hour :)
(5)Britt J.
There sushi is alright, but they have the VERY BEST teriyaki sauce, EVER! I order it in to-go cups, it's so good. This amazing sauce, fresh veggies and tender steak they use for their steak teriyaki combine to make the best steak fried rice I've ever had. I haven't had the best experiences at their Hibachi grills because they tend to be curt with you and rush you to order, even if you are waiting for more dinner guest to arrive. It comes off as rude, though I tell myself its possibly due to cultural differences? Anyways, when not at the grill, the waitresses have been very friendly! GREAT FRIED RICE! Give it a go if you haven't already!
(4)Sergio V.
My parents took my wife and I there last night for our birthdays. We had been there before and it was decent. This time we had Entertainment book cards. We are late diners so the place was already half empty when we got there. After being served our drinks and ordering our dinner, the waitress asked us if we had made previous reservations. When we said we knew we wouldn't need reservations for 9pm and pointed to all the empty tables, she said we couldn't use our Entertainment cards because it required reservations. We asked to speak with the manager, but instead of resolving the issue, he instead brought us a copy of their Entertainment ad to prove it. It was a total scam to get you in the door and then not honor their offer. They actually let the four of us walk out after paying for our drinks. Our family had a restaurant in Libertyville for almost 10 years, and we NEVER let a customer walk out without resolving the issue first, especially something as petty at this. We were also in the Entertainment book. It was part of doing business and was a great way to bring new customers in your door. Needless to say, we will NEVER go back. We went to Tsukasa, where we should have gone in the first place, and it was outstanding as always! Do the local community a favor and DO NOT SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS.
(1)Tara B.
We love Hanakawa! We are new to the area and have been here twice- so glad that we found this little gem of a restaurant. Thanks to all the Yelpers out there that helped us make our decision! The first time we went, we got there right when they opened for dinner. We were happy to sit at a table that we shared with a family of four. This restaurant is very kid-friendly! Nino was our server, and he was great! He was very charismatic and kept you entertained without making you uncomfortable or annoyed. I ordered the popular golden shrimp, which I must admit, was not my favorite. It was too egg-y and butter-y, but if that is your thing than go for it!!! My husband had the steak and calamari- very good! The fried rice (I added extra teriyaki sauce to mine) is AMAZEEEE, and the yum yum sauce is... well, it's yum yum. It's like a sweet ranch style sauce, I am not sure what it is, just that it tastes excellent! Second time around, we brought our 6 year old. We asked for Nino again because we enjoyed him so much the first time. Our 6 year old is a very picky eater, and eating at new places has proven difficult at times. Nino got him to try several things that were new to him! Nino also really made sure the kids at the table had a good time. I got the garlic shrimp this time around and it was excellent!!!! Their sushi is really good too. Overall just an awesome experience and our favorite Japanese restaurant in the area.
(5)Vishal B.
My friend and I had dinner at Hanakawa last night, we were the ONLY patrons in the entire establishment. Food was really good, service was excellent. I am happy I tried this place one more time, third time was a charm.
(4)David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 4 I came here with a friend for Friday dinner around 8pm. 1. Yakitori, 4 yelp.com/biz_photos/A2Ox… Yummy. Yakitori wasn't grilled as much as I was expecting, but it was actually quite good. 2. *Tarantula - negi spicy tuna topped with softshell crab, 11 yelp.com/biz_photos/A2Ox… Not bad. Roll was moderately spicy, and this was apparently our server's favorite roll. 3. Chicken soba, 12 yelp.com/biz_photos/A2Ox… Mediocre. Not much to say except that it was average, and there were a lot of noodles. My friend got the nabeyaki udon: yelp.com/biz_photos/A2Ox… Overall, okay Japanese food. Service was friendly, although the server kept asking us if everything was okay.
(3)Mike D.
If you didn't know this place was there, you might miss it. They serve multiple styles of Japanese Cuisine, When you walk in the door they have 6 Teppanyaki Grills which they do well, but maybe not with the flair of their number one competitor. They also have a great Sushi Bar. If you are looking for a great place to have fun with friends or the family, this is a good stop. The food is good, the food is a great value and service is excellent. I'm just surprised it isn't busier.
(4)Gaurav B.
I have tried lottt of Hibachi places But for some reason i find this one the best . me and Office guys go there once a week . Morning time the Hibachi is 7-11 bucks which is the cheapest you can ever get. Again we dont go there coz its cheap but we go there coz the food is very tasty. Portions are pretty good too .. The chicken noodle soup which come with hibachi is out of the world and so is the yumyum sauce... dip anything in it would be so yummy !! Even broccoli tastes good with yumyum :D UMMMMMMMMM YUMYUM !!!
(5)Daniel S.
A cheaper rokbonki or tsukasa. Still enjoyed quite a lot but the quality and taste is a few levels below the aforementioned two. The chef was very cool though which is a plus.
(3)Andrea M.
I love coming here. Besides the fact my husband and I had our first date here we still come back a few times a month. Everyone there has always been extremely friendly every time we are there. The food is excellent!!
(5)Samantha L.
Good food, good drinks, even better service! Very attentive staff, ensuring everything is taken care of, Went for a friends birthday, and we ordered a wide variety of things. They asked us how we like things done,instead of jst doing it the normal way. An example of this, is that one restaurant puts sesame seeds into the rice no matter what, and this time no ine did this.
(5)Jeanette W.
Was very impressed from the moment I walked in the door! We did not have reservations, and the staff was very helpful. Great food! The hot and cold Sake was impressive. Will be back soon.
(5)Vivi W.
It's one of those horrible benihana type places. The place is always close to being empty, so the receptionist guy is super eager for any guest. He talks too much. Too eager to sell alcohol. And service is horrible. They all speak Korean to each other. No water. $20 scallop dish with frozen scallop. $25 sashimi with bad quality fish. Stay away from this place. Go to Arlington Heights area for real Japanese food.
(1)Nick L.
I've not had sushi at this place so I can't comment. However I've been many times to the side where they cook right in front of you and have not been disappointed. I found Tsukasa to be too commercialized and food quality suffers as a result. Hanakawa is the perfect blend to have a very enjoyable lunch experience. (not sure what dinner here is like) The staff are friendly and attentive and the chefs are generally good showmen, considering how many millions of times they have done it before. The prices are reasonable and the steak and golden shrimp is to die for. Just the right amount so it doesn't get sickly. The rice and other accompaniments are also cooked perfectly to complement the meal. Good job!
(5)Melanie P.
This is an interesting restaurant to try. It looks like a house or small bar from the outside, but inside they have about 6 hibatchi tables and a loft upstairs with a sushi bar. We were there for sushi and sat upstairs. The people down below seemed to be enjoying the show, but it was smokey at those tables. There is a small coy pond and the restrooms leave a little to be desired--dirty and outdated. But the fish was fresh, the waitresses were great, and we all enjoyed our meals. Get the beef wrapped asparagus for an appetizer. It was delicious. My husband got the sushi deluxe dinner and it came out on a big wooden bridge. He was delighted! My favorite maki was the sakura roll, but the eel and cucumber and avocado were also delicious. I was excited to see a shitake roll on the menu since my regular sushi place doesn't have them, but this one wasn't crunchy with tempura like others I have had. So, it tasted more like beef than veggie. I'd definitely go back to this place. Nice atmosphere and convenient to the tollway.
(4)Jori C.
Went back last week, same excellent service and food!
(5)Benjamin R.
Great Japanese restaurant. Same deal as Tsukasa, but not nearly as crowded and has a Koi pond inside for the kids to look at. Great service and great food.
(4)Mike A.
I have to honest, I am bit perplexed at how this place is so highly rated here. We came here as a party of eight on Saturday evening and taking our seats noticed that the chairs are torn in places and should have been replaced a long time ago. We proceeded to order, with 2 couples (+ 1 child) going tapanyaki and one couple (+1 child) going the sushi and menu item. The adventure started with the kid asked for noodles instead of rice and resulted in the owner coming over and trying to help explain why that is not possible and finally suggesting another item (2 visits to the table for this one order, as the waitress was not sure about any changes, even a minor one like noodles for rice). Once all orders were placed, she came back again and said that there is a $20.95 min per person and the sushi couple did not meet that criteria. This was odd, as I did not notice that on the menu and also there are items on the tepanyaki menu that are less than that amount, so would you be forced to get something on top of say a teriyaki chicken that I think was $17.95? Anyway, they ended up getting something else and after 15 min of placing our orders, finally we could kick back and enjoy the sake. Food: My wife had the Scallops and Shrimp as an entrée and I had a filet. The food and presentation/show were pretty good, I would say better than your local Bennihana, but not on par with Tsukasa. I think most folks know that and the reason why out of the 6 tapanyaki tables only 4 were occupied on a Sat night. Décor/Etc: Well as I said, chairs need to go! Also, we saw a small spider make his way down right by my wife and I proceeded to "bat" him away. I think a nice thorough remodeling job and scrubbing may do the trick. The place just seems gloomy. Summary: Food was ok, show was ok, but there is nothing here that would make me want to come back.
(3)barbara g.
I have never eaten sushi outside of the City but when a wake brought me to Libertyville, I decided to give this place a shot. I didn't order anything fancy - just a straight up sushi combo and a drink, but the fish was impeccable, the beer was cold, and the service attentive without being constantly in your face. I wouldn't venture this far north just to go here, but for those of you living close by, this attractive restaurant does sushi very well.
(5)Deena R.
The sushi is better than average. The hibachi is fun, the fried rice (yes, seriously) is fantastic and flavorful. Great date or special occasion place, even for non sushi eaters. Get yum yum sauce and add it to your your fried rice. Thank me later.
(4)Nick D.
I can only speak for the sushi bar. Sushi was good and the kani su we had was great. they actually roll the crab with cucumber rather than just cutting it up and mixing it in the same bowl like i have seen other places.
(4)Christina S.
I cannot believe that I haven't reviewed Hanakawa yet! This is one of my favorite places in my home town. My fiance and I actually had our first date here years and years ago. The service is always incredibly friendly, you hardly ever have to wait for a table, and the food is delicious. The sushi always tastes very fresh and the rolls are really well-prepared. Great spider rolls! When I don't order sushi, I usually get the hibachi or teryiaki steak. What can I say, if it ain't broke. Pretty standard, except when you factor in the Yum Yum sauce. Do not, I repeat, do not skip out on the sauce. To be honest, I have had marginally better sushi, but nothing compares with the total package they have going at Hanakawa- great food, service, and atmosphere! Love it!
(5)Alex N.
My wife and I have been eating at Hanakawa fairly regularly (about once every 4-6 weeks) for the past year. The staff is fantastic--and friendly!. On the most recent visit our waitress not only remembered us, but remembered what my drink order was from the last time we'd dined there...a month ago. We always sit upstairs near the sushi bar. Aside from appetizers (mmm, vegetable tempura) we only order off of the sushi menu. The quality is excellent as is the presentation. We've ordered just about all of the rolls and haven't found one we didn't like. The first time we went to Hanakawa, I called ahead and made a reservation. Since then, I've realized that it generally isn't necessary. The longest we've had to wait is about 10min. Having said that, your mileage may vary. The case might be different if you want to sit at the hibachi tables. I could see the possibility of them filling up with large groups, especially on Fri/Sat nights. Great sushi, pleasant atmosphere, I highly recommend it.
(5)Sarah E.
Fabulous sushi. Favorite place in the area. Super friendly staff! It's busy here for a reason. The best sushi roll is the Dragon roll, but the Alaskan and Spicy Shrimp and Spicy Tuna are also fabulous.
(5)Amelia O.
This was my first visit to Hanakawa and it will not be my last. As I am not well versed in Sushi or "Makimono" our server was very helpful and enthusiastic about helping decide what to try. The establishment was clean and pleasant, nothing too fancy, but by mo means plain. You can eat at the sushi bar, at a table, or have a Hibachi style dinner, (the show is always fun). We ordered the Dragon Makimono which had shrimp, cucumber, mayo wrapped with eel and avocado and lightly sprinkled with tempura. in a word; delicious. Then we ordered from their dinner menu for our entree, which was very good as well. If you are in the libertyville area, this place is worth a stop. Definately check their hours before you venture on over. THey are open lunch and dinner hours most days, but I think on weekends, its dinner only. Their URL is below: hanakawasteakhouse.com
(4)Omegahelix X.
Food was good and the service was nice enough but the Mai Tai didn't seem to have any alcohol in it. Also, the restaurant feels like it could use some tidying up and repairs.
(3)Jason G.
Very good. Love the food and the atmosphere!!
(4)Mia P.
Smaller place with a really nice staff. This place reminds me of the 80's. The sushi is good and would be my preference as the dinner cooked at the table seems to be higher in salt and the sauces are a little too sweet. This place is idea for families that would want to take their kids to a Japanese Steakhouse for the experience because the chef's that will interact with your table and it's not really expensive.
(2)Doug G.
We don't eat sushi, but love Japanese food, so we were thrilled to find that Hanakawa was so good. And close to our house too! The service was great, the food was delicious and we thought the prices very reasonable. We definitely will go back.
(4)Matthew T.
Dinner and a show! Best dinner I have had in a long time. I am not a sushi eater but my wife loved it
(5)Enna R.
This review is for my first experience at Hanakawa, which offers teppanyaki style dining or sushi bar dining. Obviously, I didn't come here for the teppanyaki because I've already "been there, done that" and I can fry up and toss around some chicken/seafood/beef and veggies at home. Granted, food will be flying everywhere... My first visit here was top notch. Service was excellent -- my friends and I decided to stop here after a long day at Six Flags Great America (just tryin' to get our money's worth on the season passes). I believe they were about to close, but we decided to walk in and ask anyway. They graciously offered to serve us, so we were definitely thrilled about it. I honestly can't remember which rolls I ordered, as this visit was back in July and yes, my bad for not posting this review sooner. But I remember that they were delicious and fresh tasting. We left full and satisfied, vowing to come back again. Oh yes, they even split up the check for us even though we forgot to ask prior to ordering. Woopsy! Good first visit... but check out my second review for this place (to be posted soon).
(3)Allison S.
Delicious food, fun environment and great family style restaurant.
(4)Lesley A.
It's been a little less than two years since I've been to this place, but I miss it! Too bad I'm in the city and this restaurant is way out in the suburbs. Hanakawa was my first experience with a teppanyaki restaurant. I enjoyed both the food and the chef's great show in preparing our food. The waitstaff was friendly and the chef was personable and a great performer. We were able to strike up a great conversation with the chef while he cooked and performed for us. In fact, he had just been in America for a few months at the time, and I think he originally came from Indonesia. Our chef also did standard tricks like the volcano, which you can see at Benihana, but I do recall him doing some others that surprised us. The food was outstanding. The fried rice was especially tasty, and I've had a lot of experience eating fried rice. I also liked how they gave us two types of sauce, a creamy sauce which they explained was good for chicken and seafood, and a darker sauce for pork and beef. The creamy sauce even tasted good on the fried rice! The meats were tender and juicy, especially my choice dish, the chicken teriyaki. As for drinks, I was happy that they had Ramune (Japanese soda with a glass ball). All in all, the bill wasn't as bad as it could have been for a teppanyaki place (Benihana cost a lot more and I wasn't as happy with my food or show there) and we had a fun time as a group. This restaurant would also be great for a date and I would highly recommend it over Benihana. I just hope that they are still as great today as they were when I went there a few years ago.
(4)Julie T.
First time and didn't know what to expect. Had the Dragon Roll and it was very good. The Tempura Dinner was great too. Shrimps were crispy and a very good size. The best part was the service. The waitresses were very attentive and happy. If we are up in that area, we will definitely go back.
(4)Elyse C.
I really like the sushi here it's super fresh! Moving from Hawaii where it seemed like every sushi place was good, I have had a hard time finding a place here. Last night we ordered the tempura combination and gyoza to start. I don't care for tempura but my husband likes it and he thought it was delicous. Gyoza was good hot and tasty! For dinner we got the red dragon roll which was sooooo good. And the Godzilla roll, which I thought was alot better the first time we were there. Anyway we were stuffed after the two roles and I can't wait to go back.
(4)Kelvin J.
Amazing sushi. THIS IS MY SPOT. Daymn all da rest.
(5)Marissa B.
I wasn't crazy about this place. We went for my husband's birthday, and they really hustle you in and out. We were seated at our own table - which is kind of odd for a Japanese steakhouse. They really hurried through the presentation, which is part of why I personally like to go to Japanese steakhouses. They also need new exhaust fans because it was extremely smokey. The food was pretty meh. Tsukasa is a tad more pricey, but definitely worth the few extra bucks.
(3)Gary L.
Reasonably priced, with decent Japanese cuisine. Friendly and prompt service with a sushi bar upstairs. There are cook-in-front of you grills downstairs for those who like to watch the grilling up front and personal. Sushi rolls were good with fresh fish. The Dragon roll had imitation crab in the middle and rolled in sesame seeds, topped with tuna, avocado, white fish, and cooked shrimp. The Tarantula with spicy tuna topped with chopped soft-shell crab was tasty and spicy. The spicy Ebi was a little too spicy that drowned out the flavor of the fish. Fair rolls, but on the smaller side and the spicy rolls tasted almost the same-overpowered by the spicy mayo used. Disappointed by the hibachi sirloin steak entree: a small, thin steak with very little flavor and served with a haphazard melange of sauteed onions, carrots, zucchini pieces. The grilled scallop entree was enjoyable. Dinner came with standard miso soup and crispy iceberg lettuce salad with soy ginger lemon dressing. A side order of the seaweed salad was disappointing. Save room for the mochi ice cream for dessert, but don't bother with the disappointing tempura ice cream. The happy birthday chant in Japanese from the staff was funny the first time, but annoying after the third rendition...
(3)Aman A.
Tsukasa is always packed therefore Hanakawa is the place to go. It has better food with less wait and more polite workers.
(5)Joey B.
They don't call it YUMMY YUMMY Sauce for nothing! This japanese steakhouse is as GOOD as it gets. I've known the owners forever and this place is simply amazing. The food tastes great, the atmosphere is warm, everyone is friendly, cost is moderate, but comparable to other steakhouses/sushi places. Do NOT go to Hanakawa and forget to order YUMMY YUMMY Sauce...it's the most amazing sauce EVER!
(5)Adam L.
This is a Japanese restaurant where they cook in front of you. Why five stars, you ask? Compared to Tsukasa, located a few miles south on Milwaukee Ave.: 1) Much friendlier personal service. 2) Smaller location (you don't feel like you are being herded in/out) 3) Cheaper prices by a not-insignificant amount 4) Same quality of food (excellent!) At most Japanese table-cooking places I've been to, the service is very curt. Here, I got free refills unprompted and when my mom couldn't decide between the two available salad dressings, the waitress brought out a little dish of each for her to try. Highly recommended and I'll be back again!
(5)Ray A.
Went here with co-workers and had a nice time. The sushi was okay, nothing to rave about. The appetizers were great and while the adult drinks were good, they were kind of pricey. Actually their food is a little pricey too. I recommend going to Sushi Thai first. The hibachi tables were cool. That's what gave this place a 3 star review vs. a 2 star review. The place is very clean. Staff is very quiet, nice, but not very friendly(at least not to me).
(3)Maggie W.
Yum yum yum. My husband is at Great Lakes right now, and we both love sushi, so we went here last wekend while I was visiting him. The reviews on here don't lie. The food is delicious, the ambiance is nice, and the service is good. The prices are what you expect.
(5)Kate M.
When I go out for sushi, I usually come here. I've never sat at the teppan tables or ordered anything other than sushi, so I have no idea how that stuff is here. Awesome service all the time, but especially during lunch, when it's usually pretty dead. It's also pretty quiet in the upstairs sushi bar area, which is wonderful. Prices are much better than other Japanese restaurants in the area and I think the sushi's a lot better here too. Their variety of sushi is pretty good. Overall, it's a pretty solid place to eat.
(5)Stephen D.
The service and staff were very attentive and EXTREMELY polite -- a welcome change for those who've experienced the wrath of Tsukasa of Tokyo's (of Vernon Hills) often grumpy and inconsistent service. And they were ready within a few mins of our reservation -- also a pleasant departure from Tsukasa's endless delays. For those familiar with Tsukasa, take note: Hanakawa's offerings are virtually identical, save for Hanakawa's lower prices and far better service. This is clearly a smaller venue than the behemoth Tsukasa, but I think that's what makes it better. The managers/owners are always friendly and remember me whenever I come back. You won't be disappointed, and hopefully, like me, you'll never go back to Tsukasa! And judging by the previous reviewer, I don't think I'm alone in thinking this way! UPDATE: As another reviewer states above, you can forget finding a reasonable reservation time **AT TSUKASA** on a Friday, Saturday, or even sometimes Sunday night, if you don't book a day or so in advance. Hence you should try this place, where they always seem to have a table waiting for you!
(5)Sandi S.
My husband and I came across Hanakawa about two years ago and have gone in every now and then before we moved closer just this last year. Since we're a whole lot closer now, we frequent this restaurant probably once every two weeks. Not only do the owners recognize us and make us feel all special to be their "regulars", they always have the best dinners at the best prices. Most comparable Japanase restaurants charge extra for fried rice. Not Hanakawa. Not to mention that the same food, same quality and same portions come in at least $5 less per dish from other comparable restaurants. I haven't even mentioned the Yum-Yum sauce that Hanakawa offers. I have frequented MANY other Japanese restaurants and have never found a sauce quite like this. Absolutely "bring a straw and drink it" delicious. Put it on your rice, veggies and meats - goes with everything and is just amazing. We have never waited to get a table at this restaurant. Just a few blocks down the street is Tsukasa - which is also delicious in it's own right; however, if we don't have a reservation there's no chance of getting in before 8:30pm. Hanakawa is a walk in and get a table kind of place, which makes our dining experience that much more enjoyable. Great restaurant, never have to wait to get a table with friendly service and never a bad meal. Enjoy!
(5)Philip P.
Don't let the facade fool you....even though this place looks like a house converted into a japanese restaurant it has exceptional entrees and sushi. Hibachi dishes were amazing (probably because of all the oil in the rice!) and the sushi is actually the best I've had in the area, and I thought was on par with Tsukasa at reasonable prices. The teppanyaki chefs were friendly and to-the-point and they could tell that me and my wife were there for the fresh food and not so much the show (since we've seen it time and again). We had our very own table and the service was excellent. This is my destination of choice for the area, especially since Tsukasa is always overcrowded. I couldn't believe how great the sushi was....I ordered one roll just to sample and ended up ordering another even though I had already eaten my entree. The manager came around and was very friendly and the size of the restaurant is very cozy and inviting. If you can't get a reservation at Tsukasa, don't hesitate to come here!
(5)Kevin K.
So much better than Tsukasa for a cheaper price you get a much more friendly staff with better food and yum-yum sauce. I absolutely love this place.
(5)Matt L.
Woa! What a great find for Lake County. Sure, there are plenty of teppanyaki style restaurants around Chicagoland these days, but this has become my new favorite. The fillet literally melts in your mouth and the shrimp (weather is be garlic or golden) are delectable. The BCRS roll is one of the best sushi rolls I've ever had. The yum-yum sauce and fried rice has become something I dream about, and even tastes great the next morning, warm or cold. The atmosphere is cozy, but nothing spectacular. The staff are always very warm and friendly and I've never had a bad service. A little pricey, but that has sort of become the standard for this type of cuisine, so you know what to expect. Why would you waste your time at Benihanna when you could have a wonderful time at this hidden gem? It has become our new favorite place to splurge for birthdays and whatnot. I'd say highly recommended, but I don't want to ruin it for myself :).
(4)Justin W.
Great little gem in the north suburbs. They cook in front of you, but it has a small-restaurant look and feel, which comes off extremely comfortable more than a chain like Benihana. You can also choose to eat in the area upstairs, where you can sit at tables instead. Great tempura and udon! Highly recommended.
(4)Sam C.
Was planning on going to the Tsukasa place on Milwaukee and Rte 60, but couldn't get a resie until 9:30pm! (No lie, could not get a seating at a Japanese Steakhouse in the far north burbs until 9:30...what am I, in Lakeview??) Ended up finding Hanakawa on Yelp and on the advice of fellow reviewers, had a wonderful meal there. It was like a local family place decorated like a higher-end restaurant. The staff and hosts were friendly, the food was good, and the hibachi chef was fun...the kids loved it. I've been to lots of these restaurants from Benihana to Ron of Japan, etc., and this rates right up there, if not better. Will definitely go back.
(4)Renato P.
This place is a nice looking family type Japanese teppanyaki style restaurant. The service was solid as with most places like this I've been to. The menu was pretty standard for the the type of place this was. So we went with pretty standard stuff, starting with the gyoza. I didn't have any but my son said it was slightly better than average. The spicy salmon roll was a little below par, but still good. There was this tangy flavor which I wasn't a fan of, like Miracle Whip or something. I ordered the steak and scallops, my first gripe was the fried rice was just good. The portions were also a little smaller than many similar places I've been to. The golden shrimp was on par, and I thought it was very good. The steak was just good as well, I thought it was a little under seasoned. I tried my sons terriyaki steak, and again with the weak flavor. All in all, it is a solid place, just not strong enough flavors for me. Pair this with above average prices and It just misses 4 stars for me. Still, you can do worse than this place, I would have no problem going back there. I just know of several places that are just a bit better and a bit cheaper too.
(3)Beth S.
Hanakawa is definitely my go-to place when the hubby and I want teppanyaki. It is right down the road from Tsukasa but offers a much more intimate, less sheep-herding-like feel (don't get me wrong, Tsukasa is good too). The staff is very warm and friendly and the food is great with huge portions. It's you're typical teppanyaki menu but everything I have eaten has been perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. Only complaint is that the last time I was there the exhaust fan over the table was leaking and dripping, nearly landing on my friend's plate. Need to get that fixed, guys!
(4)Steve T.
My coworkers like to go to place for lunch now and then. The lunch specials are decent, but the sushi is terrible. The rice was too warm and tasted a bit stale. Never really had an outstanding experience at this place. Can't really recommend.
(2)Nina Q.
delicious food, they cook right in front of you, a little pricey,the only badd thing is that if u have a group of at least 4 or 5, they add 25 dollars to your bill.........
(4)