JMK Nippon Restaurant
2551 N Perryville Rd, Rockford, IL, 61107
JMK Nippon Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rockford for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2551 N Perryville Rd
Rockford, IL, 61107 - Phone (815) 877-0505
- Website https://www.jmkrockford.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Bumble Hunter C.
Great food. Nice outdoor seating area and koi pond. Great service and prices. Thanks Brit.
(5)Eduard S.
A friend took me here for sushi and it's hands down THE best sushi I have eaten. Ever. I'd say one of the best in the nation. Decors great as well but come for the sushi.
(5)Rai J.
We came here for our daughter's sixth birthday. The food on the hibachi side is fine, but if you're going there to see a show, don't bother. Our chef was clearly bored. He did a couple of the tricks that they usually do, but with absolutely no showmanship or even interest in what he was doing. The food is fine, nice big portions. The waitress forgot to bring us our sushi, so we received it with our dessert. The birthday pineapple slices were very good.
(2)Lindsey G.
This is one of my hubby's favorite... And as you know the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. There are two sides to this restaurant... A cafe side (full menu) and the grill side (small menu). There are also koi ponds which are running through the restaurants. We usually sit on cafe side, unless we bring our son, who is convinced he is going to be a chef here so he can get a red chef hat. The chefs are wonderful, most are really funny and good with entertaining bored kids by flipping food and creating volcanos from onions. Only down side is you come home smelling like smoke. The fried rice is awesome and so is the teriyaki chicken. I don't think it is on the menu on the grill side but you can ask for it. The onion soup is good but not much my taste. The salads ginger dressing is way strong for me but my husband often asking to bring some home (you can buy the dressing in containers). They have fun drinks in Buddha and coconut cups you can keep. They do a lot of sushi on the cafe side and friends that eat sushi (I do not) say it is great. There are tables And bar seating on this side but not a whole lot. The grill side has 8 people "tables" seated on grill tops with your "personal chef." Most of the time, unless we are with a large party, we get seated with another group. Make a reservation because this place gets packed with long waits.
(4)Ryne D.
I only got to try the sushi here, not the hibachi side. Big tip: order less sushi than you think you want. The fiance and I were used to the inexpensive rolls being a bit on the smaller side - not so here. Leftover sushi is wasted sushi, so we struggled a bit in finishing up. We did finish though, mainly because it was pretty good sushi. I can't remember every roll or piece we had, but we cleaned off all three plates we received (because again, we don't know how to order). It wasn't the highest quality sushi around, but definitely not at AYCE quality either. I'd go back for sure. I'd just make sure to space out my ordering.
(3)William R.
On valentines day this year decided to try JMK restaurant we had been there three years before but things have really changed service was terrible... We paid a hundred and thirty dollars to sit in such a cold place everyone at my table was wearing their jackets ... The food was good the show was lame ... Waitress was horrible never going here again save your money...
(1)Christina G.
Best restaurant ever! Great family-owned business by some of the kindest people. No matter where I sit in the restaurant I'm in my own world - no outside distractions. This is a perfect place for families, dates and parties. The atmosphere is completely inviting with the way they sing for bday celebrations and/or cook in front of you. Never once have I had a bad chef. 100% amazing. Everytime my family talks about going out JMK is on our list of discussion. The place is so great that I don't even need to comment on the food. OUTSTANDING!
(5)Matthew J.
We have been here several times and never been disappointed! The sushi and hibachi grill are fantastic. The prices are reasonable, too. Our favorite spot in Rockford!
(5)David C.
My wife ordered veg fried rice and was charged extra for vegs you could see. My dad had the Sea Bass and it was the texture of pork. Not worth it
(3)Neel K.
I intentionally came to this restaurant without reading any reviews so I could leave an unbiased review.....so here we go: The building is beautiful. It is literally like stepping into a Japanese garden with Koi ponds, waterfalls, and Japanese art. Even the set up of the Hibachi tables is nicely spaced and the wall art and interior design is completely fascinating.....by far the most ornate restaurant in Rockford. The service..... This is where is all goes to hell. We had reservations for 7:30pm for my wife's B-day. We were seated at the first Hibachi table in the room next to the entrance and facing the restaurant. We had two waitresses, one trainee and another lady. They started by giving us the menus and looking extremely upset. Almost bordering on rude, they basically asked us what we want, no explanation of the menu, emphasis of items, or even any options. I told them we are vegetation, and the both looked at me like I was an alien. After getting our drinks they returned saying the only option that was vegetation was the vegetable dinner, which comes with a soup(containing beef/chicken broth) and a shrimp appetizer. I asked if we could get a veg option for both of those and I was informed I could not. I finally asked for the Sushi menu(it was never offered) and recognized some veg rolls and ordered those, since the waitresses failed to point those out to us as options. On a side note ...... THERE IS NO KIDS MENU.... So my kids had to get a full veg dinner. I actually split one order between my 11yo and 8yo and it was plenty. The hibachi chef was very friendly and did the standard fire tricks and actually made some good conversation. He actually looked like he enjoyed working there. They don't do all the crazy tricks of throwing food in your mouth or flipping food into your plate like I have seen at other restaurants. Funny thing is that all the hibachi chefs are Latin American, there is only one Japanese chef. The meal was ok, being a vegetable dinner, it was some onions , zucchini, tofu, tomatoes, and some fried rice. We actually hooked up our hibachi chef with $20, because he was such a breath of fresh air from out two angry waitresses. We also tried dessert. The Mochi ice cream was ok, they have multiple flavors, we had the green tea with was kind of bland. Overall, I went in very excited and wanted to have a great time because it was my wife's birthday. Despite the best efforts of our waitresses, we had a decent time. I don't think I will ever go back, and in all honesty I don't think they will care. The staff seem so disinterested in their customers it was really sad because that place has incredible potential.
(2)Timothy M.
Had a wonderful dinner experience in the masa area, last night. Great service, excellent food, pleasant atmosphere. We had a couple appetizers- yakitori, veggie tempura and edamame dumplings. Nicely done! We had chicken teriyaki don and yakisoba with veggies for entrees. Nice size, very tasty and a timely delivery to our table. Ashley, our server was knowledgeable and friendly, btw. With a mai tai and a soft drink, $40 ish. A good value. I've gone to JMK since a month after they opened, almost 30 years ago, and this was the first time on this side. We shall be back a lot more often now.
(5)Charles G.
I have been coming to JMK since it was located on Mulford road next to the old Highlander (now a schnucks). The one thing I love is the consistency over my 15 years of coming here the taste has always been the same. Now that I have moved, I try to come here every time I come to visit good old Rockford. The decor is great, but the bathrooms always seem to be beat up with graffiti or something is out of order. I hope Mas continues to poor money back into this place to keep it up to date so it doesnt go down hill. I have some many memories here that I will always make this a stop when I come home! I always get the surf and turf roll along with the Filet on the grill side. Lunch is discounted sushi too! Bar tenders have been around a long time too so the drinks are great!
(4)Zhipeng Y.
very good! this is the best katsudon I ate after comecto USA. and the service very nice. I will back tmr to test something else
(5)Casey H.
As far as Japanese steakhouses go it was a good one, they put on a good show, the food was good..... Great place to take kids...
(4)Gemma B.
This review is for the cafe side only -- I don't do the hibachi grill thing, not when you have a cafe side this nice. Plus, added bonus, less of a wait. I went in on a Friday night with no reservation and my party of two was seated immediately. I've always loved eating in such a beautiful place, and I've always loved their sushi. I probably won't order the roll that had tempura batter around it, because for $12 I thought it was going to be freshly fried. Turns out it was cold and damp. But you know what? Now I know better. Next time I'm going to order like five of the vegetable tempura rolls because those were still hot when they came out, and that was freaking delicious. I'll always come here when I'm in town. Walked by a table on the way out with a mother and her young son frying their own meal on a small grill, and it was adorable and looked like a LOT of fun.
(4)Ellie E.
This place has the best sushi with the best atmosphere! This place is the best Japanese restaurant in the area!
(5)Michelle D.
I am not as thrilled as I once was. The steak was fatty...the waitress could never hear us, and it seemed over priced.
(2)Derek C.
This place is the bar for me with regard to hibachi. Get a combo, get a filet, get chicken, get whatever. It is all good. Great bar area and is one of the classic Rockford restaurants. Great portions fair price. Leave a happy camper.
(5)Bob K.
Choose from Hibachi grill seating or the quieter Sushi Bar in rear of restaurant. There's also a regular drinking bar in the back as well with a few seats. Sushi was good and fresh. This place is always busy so it should be fresh when you visit.
(4)Morgan G.
This could have easily been a 5-star review. but because of the attitude of the manager and the server, we feel giving them a 3 is the best they deserve. Here is the story... We walked in right at 10 pm, when they close at 10:30. So, we knew it was getting close to their closing and we definitely took that into consideration...we worked in the industry, so we understand it is not IDEAL for people to walk in at that time, but the place is still open. We had just gotten into town, traveling for over 6 hours to get there, and we had heard this place was very good, as well as it was one of the only nicer places open till 10:30. Anyways, back to the story. We walk in, the manager waiting at the host stand, he asks dining room or bar, and we say dining room since we wanted the tempanyaki grill. The manager instantly slouches and says "fine, follow me," with a very anger demeanor. We walk through the dining room, with about 4 or 5 other tables still having their food cooked or still eating their food. He seems very irritated that we dare come in that late to the dining room, and made us feel very uncomfortable. So, after that, we were hoping for a change in attitude....too bad it never came. The server comes over, doesn't smile, say her name, and asks "what can i get you to drink?" without any other "hello," "thanks for coming in," NOTHING. We both order alcoholic drinks, and when those drinks come I ask for waters for both my husband and I. She comes back about 5 minutes later, and asks for our order, so we give it to her. Still no waters. So when she comes back to bring our salads and soup, I asked for waters again. She replies "oh yeah, I forgot." Meanwhile the entire time she has talked to us, no smile, no enthusiastic tone in her voice, NOTHING. Like I said before, we realized it was later in the night, but there were still tables sitting around, and this is your job...WE PAY YOUR BILLS. No one is forcing you to stay at that job. If you don't like people coming in at 10 pm, don't work at a place that is open till 10:30. Here where the could-have-been-5-stars come in. Our chef was AWESOME!!!! He had a smile on his face the whole time, he even let me try to flip an egg in the air! He was having fun with us, making us laugh, talking to us, making sure we enjoyed our time there. And the food....it was so good! We upgraded the meat to the filet, and it was the best decision. Everything we had seemed fresh, and tasted delicious. So, if the attitude of two people were even a tiny bit more appreciative, we would be telling our friends who live in the area about the great experience we had there. But unfortunately, when we mentioned it, they said yeah, it is either really good or really crappy service, no middle. Hopefully next time we are back, we will go there and have a different experience staff-wise. If not, we will be going elsewhere every single time we visit.
(3)kate c.
I've eaten on both sides of the restaurant, and neither have impressed me. The food is OK, but by no means spectacular. I did not get sushi; SO did and said it was decent. The hibachi thing is not my thing, so take that as you will. It's way $$ for not a whole lot. The Asian food selection in Rockford is terrible and this place doesn't help. I usually drive to Madison or the suburbs, instead. Service was passable at best on "cafe" side and better on hibachi side.
(2)Landon R.
Seriously the best sushi around! I have never been disappointed! The Boston roll is my favorite but the king Dan is also really good. I recently moved to St Louis and I have yet to find a place that matches the greatness that is JMK.
(5)Natty P.
absolutely LOVE this restaurant. I am never disappointed in this place. I am a sushi fanatic and I have tried a number of places all around the place. I also used to live in Chicago and I can say, hands down, this is the best sushi I have ever ate. I think you really get what you pay for. The prices are very reasonable, and the rolls are huge. I can never really finish my whole roll and I have left overs for later. would give this place 6 STARS if i could.
(5)Holly G.
JMK is another Rockford staple and I absolutely love going there. The restaurant itself is beautiful and extremely large. The service is great, the waitstaff is attentive and knowledgeable as well. The chefs are always super friendly and I have had many of them tell jokes to keep you entertained throughout the meal. The drink selection is fantastic, I love the drinks that you can order in the ceramic mugs that you can take home. I have a collection of them that I keep at my house. The food itself is awesome. The steaks are super tender (I usually always get the filet, which is probably why) and I've had the shrimp and chicken before, which are both moist and excellent. I also love their large sushi selection. I am not a big sushi aficionado by any means, so take my opinion with a grain of salt haha. I love the surf and turf roll, which is a cooked roll that is fried in tempura. It's a massive roll (and fairly expensive) but it is quite good. I mostly prefer cooked sushi (which is not really the point of sushi haha) and everything I've had from there has been fresh and delicious. JMK can be a little on the expensive side, but I think it's definitely worth it and will continue going there.
(4)Allison S.
Love Charlie! Ask for him! He is funny and cooked our food perfect! Our filet was medium & perfectly tender. Most fun I've had there. Thanks Charlie!
(5)M L.
I went to JMK with a group of friends on a Wednesday night, and this place was hoppin'. We opted for the hibachi table, and had a lot of fun watching the cook perform. The tricks were stale and fewer than say...Benihana. The salmon was also pretty well cooked, not too raw, still leaving its natural flaky texture intact. However, I did think that the portion was on a smaller side for a meal.
(4)MIchelle D.
Reservations for 7pm 25 minutes still standing here. 8:22pm drinks being served, soup being brought out pretty unflavorous. Salad was nothing but iceberg lettuce. Server was extremely slow. Rice drowned in soy sauce. Steak & shrimp entree drowned in butter. not worth $60.00 spent
(2)Janet L.
JMK Nippon is my absolute favorite restaurant in Rockford. The decor is fantastic and the food is incredible. You have a choice of eating on the teppan side where the food is cooked in front of you or the sushi cafe where you can still order the teppan style dinners in addition to a huge array of sushi and bento dinners. The staff is top notch and always makes you feel welcome. There is also a popular bar area and a private room available for groups. You'll never have a bad meal here.
(5)Ashley D.
Don't expect them to do much if you have a bad experience. I just called to complain about a bad experience I had last night, I told them everything and she says they will give me a credit for 10%, wth?!?! Wow so they are going to pay my tax... big deal! I will not be returning. The "manager says" I'll have to look into this but It's hard to rectify it after the fact". Clearly this is a money hungry place that could care less of you are happy or not. They are booked every weekend so clearly they are not hurting for money. I have been going here for 20+yrs even before they had their nice expensive building they have now. I will definitely not be returning and will not recommend this place to anyone anymore. Hopefully you have a better experience than me because they don't care whether or not you do!
(1)Nancy T.
This is my family's favorite restaurant. We have had hibachi meals in several different cities, and definitely love the food here the best! Try the scallops; they are phenomenal! We always have A+ service.
(5)Zach O.
Easily the best meal you can have in Rockford! I'll start with the food. I have been to JMK countless times, and the food has always been cooked and seasoned absolutely perfect. If you want a guaranteed, amazing meal, this is the place to go. The steaks are always tender and juicy, and (unlike a lot of Japanese restaurants) when you order medium-rare/well/medium-well, etc...that's what you're going to get. The environment is perfect for any occasion. You can sit at a hibachi grill, meet new people and enjoy a show. You can sit in the restaurant section on the other side of the restaurant and enjoy a quieter more private meal. Or if you're a busy man like myself you can order takeout on the phone, go pick it up, and set up a nice table at home for you and your special someone. No matter what you choose, the food is going to be great and you're going to have a good time. The service has been quick and extremely friendly every time I've been there, but I am incredibly handsome so I'm used to this behavior. The chiefs at the grills are funny, interactive, and they each bring a different style to the table so you will not see the same show twice. The waiters/waitresses are quick and attentive, but they don't come around so often that you can't maintain a conversation. The architecture is beautiful, the food is great, and it's reasonably priced. What more could you want?
(5)John O.
Finally had a chance to try JMK . I was impressed and see what all the hype is about. We had the dinner for 2 ,chicken & steak and upgraded to the filet mingon. The soup was very tasty, shrimp, chicken and steak was seasoned just right and tasted very good as well. We also had a godiva chocolate cheesecake which was very yummy. For drinks I had a Mai Tai and it was average, my fiance had a zombie drink that tasted a little on the strong side. Over all great experience, great resturant and we will be back.
(4)Brian C.
Wait staff was very friendly but not hovering, and that was nice. The sushi was just "ok" and probably deserves a grade of "C" (I mean, it was just "Ok" so anything more would be ludicrous. Amirite?). It is a nice place both inside and out! And I think you should check it out, if only to see how really beautiful it is inside. But as seems to happen quite a bit- the food goes downhill after the new digs go up. Meh.
(3)Shawn K.
Scorpion roll is excellent. Sitting on the sushi bar side usually cuts down on the wait and will help avoid walking out smelling like hibachi. They have some of the best chicken fried rice I have ever eaten. The surf n turf roll is very interesting and a great roll to share. The Shrimp and or steak dinner for 2 is a little bit expensive but very, very good. If you really want the best epicurean experience here, upgrade the steak to a filet and add garlic. Sooooooooooooooooo good. Additionally, they do the hibachi thing, with the flames and throwing meat in the air and what not. Its pretty cool. There is also a discounted lunch sushi menu, particularly attractive to someone who wants to try a variety of rolls. On top of doing the hibachi thing and great Japanese food, the waitstaff and management is really excellent. It is always overstaffed, meaning you almost never find yourself wondering where your waiter is. I would highly recommend JMK to someone looking for restaurants in rockford.
(4)Jeanne L.
The sushi fish here is tasty and fresh. The green tea ice cream, orange sorbet, tiramisu, and chocolate cake with a fancy french name that I can't remember were big-sized tastes of heaven. My only complaint would be the unflavored rice. Rice that is served with sushi should be flavored with a combo of rice vinegar and sugar. It's a subtle thing that makes a BIG tasty difference.... Kinda like listening to the radio version of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" after hearing the album version on surround sound. (Oops, I might have a slight obsession with that now.) The sushi is appropriately priced, and there's even a 25%-off-all-sushi special during lunch! (That ends at 2pm)
(3)William L.
This was described as one of the nicer dining establishments in Rockford, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Four of us stopped in on a Sunday night and had no wait to get a table. We sat in the cafe part which was a little more quiet and intimate than the teppanyaki area of the restaurant. The waiter was attentive and courteous all night without hovering around. I had the tonkatsu (breaded pork with a mustard-bbq-soy sauce) and also had some of the sushi the table shared. The pork was tender and the breading was crunchy without being too greasy. The smoked salmon, spicy tuna, and caterpillar rolls all got rave reviews from the table. It came out to under $40 a person with dinner and drinks, which was a lot less than I expected.
(4)Ai C.
This place is amazing. I absolutely love this place. Not only is it beautiful inside, it is delicious. I always go to the grill side. It's cool and fun. Also, it has a koi pond under the walkway in the entrance, it's beautiful. You can also get some Japanese candy in the front, along with chopsticks and other cute things.
(5)Robin L.
i should preface this by saying that I've lived in Japan for over 3 years. The sushi is... solidly american. It's definitely not bad. You can most definitely get your sushi fix here without any problems. However, the sashimi is borderline. I always question how fresh/safe it is when I put it in my mouth. I also keep on wanting to try the sukiyaki and the shabushabu but every time i've been there the waiter gets a panicked look on their face when I mention it (along with almost any other truly japanese dish). I did see one table get the sukiyaki and it actually looked and smelled decent, so if I'm ever back, I'm doing it. So, if you know your Japanese food stay away. If you don't.... you'll be fiiiiiiiine. +1 star for the rural location, b/c food always sucks in the middle of nowhere
(3)Paul D.
Love going here for lunch! They have great sushi and the staff has been great
(4)Daniella D.
We waited over an hour for our sushi order at a noon lunch on a friday. It was okay but I've definitely had better. I will not be going back.
(2)Jeff B.
JMK is a Rockford staple and that's not necessarily good or bad. Sort of like the food. Everything at JMK is just okay. It's a nice atmosphere but you have to stick to sushi or fried rice. The steaks are not good and the chicken is only slightly better. Service has always been good. If I'm choosing, I'll go to Marc's Fusion first and Shogun second before JMK.
(3)Christopher K.
JMK Nippon Restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I ate on the cafe side of the restaurant. The tako-su (octopus in vinegar with a few other things) was quite good for an appetizer. The squid tempura was also tasty, although the squid was a bit too tender. The portions are generous and quite filling. I can't say much for their sushi. I tried a California roll and a spider roll. The California roll was average, but the spider roll was disappointing. It didn't actually seem to contain any softshell crab - instead it seemed to contain just artificial krab or something along those lines. Normally it contains soft shell crab, frequently with its legs dangling out of the roll. But at least the non-sushi items were pretty good for the midwest.
(3)Hayley H.
Fantastic sushi! We did not get over to the hibachi side, though sat in a high-ceiling modern asian style room. The waiter was not too helpful in choosing what to eat, though was very prompt with drinks and our food choices. If you do not want to wait, sit in the grill and for-go the hibachi. You are not missing too much, other than the fun flare of eating teppanyaki style. If you are a first timer, try the box? Its on the front page of the menu and gives you quite the line up of food choices. A little bit of everything, soup, salad, an entree, four california rolls, fruit. DELICIOSO. Will be returning. Possibly hit up the karaoke....after a few "karates"
(4)Krista D.
Loved this place! I am not a big fan of corporate restaurants, so when I found this in the area on vacation I was excited to check it out. The place is beautiful. Glad we made a reservation, packed on a Thursday. I however did not like that on the grill the chicken was a mix of white meat and dark meat. But overall a very good experience.
(4)James R.
This restaurant has to have one of the best atmospheres of any restaurant in Rockford. It's a beautiful building, with great landscaping and design. This is probably as close as you can get to being in Japan, with out actually being in Japan. However, even with the beautiful building and the wonderful atmosphere, the layout leaves something to be desired. First, when you walk in, the main lobby is predominantly taken up by a coy pond. If you are there in the evenings or weekends when it is busy, there is no waiting room. People are cramped and crowded together waiting for their tables. We arrived at 6:15 for our 6:30 reservations. They sat us at 6:40. The 25 minutes we waited in the lobby, we were packed in like sardines. People had to squeeze past each other to get to the hostess or to leave. I know the pond in the middle looks great and adds to the atmosphere, but it takes up a lot of space. Their menu for the Teppanyaki is kind of limited as compared to other places I've been to with Teppan tables. I had their sesame chicken and my wife had the fillet mignon. There is no kid's menu on the weekends/nights so our 8 year old had to order off the adult menu. The rest of our party had various items from the calamari to the scallops. It tasted fine; it wasn't all that impressive where I'll find myself craving it days down the road. It came with a shrimp appetizer which was about 6 pieces of cut up shrimp, soup (which tasted like beef broth with mushroom and onions in it), salad with their house dressing (good), steamed rice ($2 extra for fried), vegetables. The price for what you ordered wasn't out of line. Normally the chef we have is fun and entertaining, the guy we had on Saturday night seemed like he hated life and really didn't want to be there. He never smiled, barely talked and went through his "tricks" with barely any enthusiasm. I ordered two sushi rolls to share with the rest of our party. I ordered the rolls right away, but because they are made fresh and they were busy, we didn't get them until the main course was served. The sushi rolls were good; I think some other places in town have better. I can't remember what the name of it was, but one of the rolls was larger and it was rolled so loosely that no matter how we tried to pick a piece up, it would fall apart. I would say it was operator error, but everyone who tried had the same problem. Another couple that was sitting at the same table as we were (They squeeze as many people onto a table as possible, so unless you have a party of 9 or more and there is a solo diner or a couple, expect them to be sat with you.) They had the same issue with one of their rolls. Overall, great atmosphere, decent Teppanyaki, good sushi.
(3)Angus L.
I like JMK, and have come here over the years when in town from Chicago on business. My friends/co workers love the kareoke bar. Last night a group of us went and probably spent around $800 + on drinks/dinner. We also wanted to do Kareoke. We were the only people left in the restaurant sushi area and they said the machine was broken. They tried "fixing" it, and then just went away. Never really letting us know they couldnt fix it. We were wondering since we were the only table left if they just wanted to go home? Too bad, as we had more money to spend on drinks. Our server Megan was awesome and the Food was great as always, but def. disappointed in the non- working Kareoke machine as we came there especially to do that and celebrate a co-workers bday.
(3)Doug K.
Always a special treat! We love going here for special occasions or quality family time!
(5)Marc B.
We gave JMK Nippon the hardcore test. We sat at the counter and ordered sashimi, watching the surprisingly well-trained (yes doubters, even for Rockford!) itamae do his thing. Everything was excellent, the service, the fish -- but the thing that surprised me the most was the *size* of this place, and it was packed! Beautifully decorated with a little pond in the entry, gorgeous views out the floor-to-ceiling windows, and even an outdoor garden. If we're ever in Rockford again, we'll be back.
(4)Ks K.
Enjoyable, great atmosphere. Great price for this type dining. The chefs are amazing & do the egg trick of tossing it up & breaking it on a knife, without breaking it in 1/2. We haven't seen that in years! Awesome! Food is great, well prepared. Plenty of parking. Cool rock garden, zen garden, koi ponds, decor.
(4)Lisa J.
Not bad. The food can be a hit or miss depending on chef cooking it.
(3)David N.
Stopped in on a Sunday night. Plenty of parking, no reservations necessary. Pretty cool place, decor, ambiance. We sat immediately. Waiter service was a bit slow at first, and our waitress forgot to order one of our drinks, but she picked it up later in the night and was a bit more attentive. We sat on the grill side. Our chef was very funny and talkative. Cooked all of our food really well. Tried the Okinawan Poppers with Spider (appetizer) which everyone enjoyed. Our entree sides (zucchini, shrimp, mushrooms, rice) were great. Everyone had different entrees (sea bass, chicken, scallops, fillet, shrimp) which were all cooked and seasoned well. . Nothing above and beyond taste wise, but pretty solid nonetheless. Prices were a little higher than most, but the food was solid, entertainment was pleasant, decor was close to visually stunning, and we were waited on well.
(4)Debra T.
The best Japanese restaurant you're going find in Rockford. There are two choices for how you're food is served: prepared in front of you on habachi grill or as usual sit down restaurant. The entertainment of watching the chief prepare your food gets a little tiring if you've experienced it before but the food that's prepared is most always good eats. I've never been dissatisfied with one meal here. On the bad side, this place can be very busy at times. The parking lot can be filled quickly durning these times. Once I had resort to parking on uneven turf adjacent to the parking lot because of this. Crowding also means waiting, sometimes this can happen but it's popular by no fluke. Rockford is very blessed to have a restaurant this good.
(4)Pamala G.
Heard rave reviews, went there for a birthday in Nov 2012. Had 5pm reservation, seated promptly. Filled up quickly, tons of hibachi tables, all full...smoke galore, not the best ventilation. Started with a few sushi rolls, not very good - all blah and overly filled with cucumber (seemed all rolls had cukes). Hibachi food rather bland. Sadly, driving from Madison to Rockford was not worth it...thankfully we had a gift card, as I would never pay to go back there. Madison, WI area has several REALLY good sushi/hibachi places that are far better than JMK. The place was beyond packed by the time we left, including parking in the empty FIELD next door, parking in the driveway, and road. I still don't know why they were so busy, maybe it's the only place in Rockford that offers that, but I have to doubt that.
(1)Whitney L.
My boyfriend grew up in Poplar Grove and has been selling JMK to me ever since we started dating. Over a year and a half into us being together we finally get the opportunity to drive out to the burbs and have a lovely double date with his brother and his girlfriend at JMK. We grabbed a seat at the bar while waiting for the rest of our party. He grabbed a Mai Tai (well known for them, apparently) and I grabbed a drink made up mostly of SoCo and juice in a take-home ninja glass (because I'm a really sophisticated adult). We were sat quickly and taken care of very well throughout the dinner. I've eaten at a couple of hibachi restaurants before and this one was on par. I ordered the calamari dinner and the boy ordered the salmon steak. His brother and girlfriend ordered a couple of rolls of sushi to share. It wasn't until our cook got to our table and actually started the whole hibachi shindig until we got our sushi. They ordered a rainbow roll and spicy tuna and shared some with us. The rainbow roll was VERY fishy tasting. Not fresh, crisp, lovely fish but unimpressive bleh tasting fish. The spicy tuna was fine. That's about it. Our cook was really charming and kept us entertained the whole meal. I wish I hadn't ordered the calamari (pretty bland), but the few bites I stole of the boy's salmon steak were worth it. I was bummed that they cooked and served the rice last! And that they charge $2 extra for fried rice. Of course everyone wants fried rice. C'mon. It was a good time, but I'd go elsewhere for better sushi.
(3)Capt k.
Sushi are huge and had interesting twist. We ordered four different sushi rolls. The Nabeyaki udon is delicious. We come out of the restaurant for less then 30 dollars per person after tax and tip. The wait staff is extremely attentive.
(4)Stacy S.
I've probably eaten at JMK a hundred times, and I've been a loyal customer since they opened in their old location back in the 80's. I've had the sushi, the traditional fare in the Masa cafe, and countless family dinners at the teppan tables, and I can honestly say I've never once had a bad experience. It's one of my go-to places for business lunches (get the bento box!), and it's one of the few places where you can have a really nice lunch and still be in and out in under an hour. I don't dih out 5 star reviews very often, but they've earned it.
(5)Samantha L.
I went here on a Saturday night with some friends who live in the area. They said that this is their go to restaurant in Rockford and I could see why. It has a really lovely atmosphere, great decor, much nicer than many of the hibachi restaurants I have been to. The food was really good. I had the fillet and scallop entree. The scallops were great, and the fillet even greater. My boyfriend had steak and chicken, his beef being a bit of a downgrade from the fillet, it was good but not great. Probably worth the five or so dollars to just get the fillet.
(4)Shawn M.
The sushi was average.
(3)Jenni E.
I was passing through Rockford this weekend and had a chance to eat here. I was very pleasantly surpised at how good this place was. The atmosphere of this place is amazing - they have a beautiful outdoor patio where you can sit and watch coy fish swimming in a small pond and waterfalls and other great things to look at throughout the rest of the place. I ordered a noodle dish and some sushi on the side. The veggies in my noodles were fresh and crisp and the flavors were great. The sushi was good and not expensive compared to Chicago. IIf you find yourself in Rockford, try this place out.
(4)Losito A.
It's just alright. If you like sushi go to hachi hachi or spider. Food is just as good at lower price. I don't care for the show or getting food thrown at me so I can catch it in my mouth like a dog. If you are into that sort of thing you will like it here. I go to the side without the grill show. Service is ok. There was an old guy (employee) with an annoying voice reaching over me to pass things to the table next to us. He then stood next to our table for a good ten minutes while we ate. Awkward. While JMK is good, there are better options for this kind of food in Rockford.
(2)Katie S.
JMK = great night. Every single visit I've had at JMK has been a memorable one (except that one time I blacked out after taking too many saki bombs and performed a sluggish version of tiny dancer to a crowdless room). This is a beautiful place from the inside and out. The restaurant is divided into 2 sections- the teppanyaki side where the chefs perform while they cook your food right in front of you, and the bar/sushi/ karaoke room. We always come in a big group (make reservations) and we start in the bar area with a drink or two while waiting for everyone in our party to arrive. Once seated we like to wager on what color hat our chef will be wearing. The chefs can read the personalities of the table and they feed off of your vibe- its perfect . I love to order the "dinner for two" meal to split with my bf. We always upgrade to the filet. It's plenty of food and it's a decent price. PS, the yucky yucky sauce is better than the yummy yummy sauce in my opinion, so don't discriminate. The fried rice is the most delicious fried rice I've ever consumed. Why do I always drool when writing reviews? After dinner we grab a table in the karaoke room. Guaranteed to be a good time. Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)Jason B.
I really like their sushi bar then anything else. I'm not a fan of the hibachi style grill stuff. It's cute every once in a while, but the sushi bar I think is where it's at when you go to JMK.
(3)Mill V.
This restaurant is probably one of the most beautiful I've seen, on it's own property, with alittle koi pond outside beyond the deck. The lobby is beautifully decorated by golden robes and a cute little boardwalk. There are two sides to this restaurant, you can get the showey side where the cook/chef throws around shrimp tails and cracks eggs, or the menu/sushi side. I've been to both. I don't really give a shit about looks of a place, but this place is soooo pretty! But the food...? The sushi isn't great. Barely good, that's it! The rice was unflavored when we went, and it's always about the rice. You F up the rice, you might as well forget it and 86 your sushi, bitches. Whatever they serve as fatty tuna has no flavor. I think it's a lie on a menu. On the other side, I must say they make really good fried rice. The other stuff was eh, but the fried rice stood out. I want to love this place, but food wise, 2 stars. One extra star for such a beautiful restaurant.
(3)Rachel B.
Food is pretty good. Fun atmosphere in the hibachi grill. The onion soup is pretty tasty, as well as the super white tuna! I went here with my girlfriends and we all had a great time.
(4)M. M.
I've eaten on the cafe side of this restaurant a few times. Can't speak to the fancier side with the performing chefs, as we haven't gotten over there yet. In the cafe we usually get the bento boxes - there's a variety of different ones available where you choose a main course and it comes with some fruit, sushi, miso soup, whitefish and salad. The sushi is decent - I wouldn't call it great or anything but it's tasty enough. The miso soup is excellent. The whitefish is pretty blah, tastes like it came out of a box. Service ranges from good to awful. Last time we had to constantly ask for things like dishes for the soy sauce, for wasabi, etc., and then the wait staff kind of hovered around and interrupted our conversation at bad moments and grabbed plates away almost before we were done. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, especially the lobby area. Be warned that the cafe side does get really noisy when it's crowded so you're probably going to have to listen to a lot of silly women discussing their kids, or worse yet have kids bobbing around past your table, when you go in the afternoon.
(3)Judi G.
Awesome sushi&sushimi drinks are great! Wonderful garden atmosphere. There is a side for "grill top" chief cooking. This place isn't a pass-by.. It is a must try!
(5)Mimi W.
The sushi is alright and they have a nice lunch special deal but the teppanyaki is horrid. I love egg yolk sauce/golden shrimp and I asked for it at this restaurant. They charged me extra for it and when it came out, it was *awful*. It was almost painful to eat. The last time I went there, I ordered fatty tuna sashimi and it didn't taste very fresh. They accidentally gave me two pieces and only charged me for one so no hard feelings, I guess.
(2)Lorne G.
Date I ate: 9/21/09 Back on the road again and passing through Rockford again. I tried Shogun last time through and it was OK, but nothing exciting. Though the reviews are mixed for JMK, I figured I'd give it a shot and I'm glad I did. As most of the others have mentioned, this place is very stylish and attractive - great place for a date. As has also been mentioned, it has two sides - hibachi and sushi bar. I didn't try out the hibachi, so this review is just for the sushi. I ordered a Lobster Roll and a New Orleans Roll. Both were pretty tasty. The Lobster Roll was on the large side and priced as such (about $13). The New Orleans Roll was slightly smaller and a little bit spicier than I like, but it's hard for me to complain about a roll with crawfish in it - don't find those often enough. The rice was bland, which is not the way I like it, but the fillings were very tasty and the texture was just about perfect. I also tried some Kani Fried Rice as a side and it was ok but could've used more spice. I wonder what the Chicken Fried Rice would've been like - maybe next time. I'll definitely stop in at Jmk (what kind of name is that, btw??) next time I'm passing through.
(4)Chris W.
Good food, good sushi, good staff. It's definitely taken a notch down since I was a kid, but still a classic and you won't be disappointed by the food and atmosphere.
(3)Ryan H.
I've dined at JMK on numerous occasions when I'm in the Rockford area. I don't go to JMK for sushi so I will limit my review to the teppanyaki side of the restaurant. All the food items I've ordered have been great. Very difficult to complain about any aspect of the JMK experience. The restaurant is meticulously clean and the staff is always prompt and helpful. The presentation and the performance of the teppanyaki chef is always the same. Same flaming volcano. Same wild knife tricks. I did however get a glass of ice water during lunch that had a previous customers lipstick on it! Certainly not what I was hoping for, but the server promptly corrected the faux pas. If you are in the Rockford area, give JMK a try.
(4)S F.
The place is huge! We've been to several similar hibachi places like this before as our kids like the show and don't mind the food. I wouldn't give this place the highest marks on food as there wasn't as much served and it wasn't as tasty as others but the cook that we had was quite a showman and took extra time and care with our group which was made up of SIX kids and three adults! The birthday pineapple is different and fun. There is no kids menu on the weekend.
(4)Kim G.
Atmosphere: WONDERFUL! (It's a beautiful place) Teppan Table: The Best In Rockford Sushi/Sashimi: Hit and Miss (And I don't think Hit and Miss is something we are looking for with raw fish). All of this said, we have had many wonderful birthday celebrations here. Fun if you are looking for a Teppan Table Show!
(3)Melissa K.
Delicious sushi. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Jen T.
The only reason JMK is getting 4/5 stars is because we had to wait 2 hours to be seated for our 7:30 reservation! Granted, it was Valentine's Day, but 2 hours. Jeez! We did have fun waiting in the bar though with probably an extra glass of wine or two. The food is always delicious. I tried sushi for the first time -- loved the tuna. The show is fun, but I have to stress that the food makes the whole trip worthwhile. Sometimes places like this can disappoint because you see the fab decor and performance and your expectations are immediately high, but I have never been underwhelmed here.
(4)Holly W.
I've eaten in Japanese restaurants all over the world, and I believe this is the best I've had. I wasn't super hungry, so I merely ordered the house salad with ginger dressing, eel/avocado roll, and vegetable tempura. All three were simply magnificent, even better than the food I had in Osaka in 2004 and 2005. The atmosphere can't be beat, either. Also, my entire meal came to only $13.00. I will be back AGAIN AND AGAIN!
(5)Patrick H.
Decor is far above average for Rockford. I primarily order sushi at Japanese restaurants and find JMK's to be middle of the road. If you can give up decor for taste, I prefer Shogun, at least for sushi.
(3)Jenny L.
I really like the atmosphere at JMK, but could do without the food. We sat at the teppan table and all I tasted was salt. Ack.
(2)Mirza H.
This is a beautifully decorated restaurant in a beautiful building. We went there for my wife's birthday dinner last year and was flabbergasted by sheer number of vehicles in the parking lot. It was hard to find a parking spot and I saw few cars parked along the street as well. I was quite worried since I did not make any reservations. The staff was very helpful and we got seated very quickly. We sat on the other side where you order and they bring your food. The ambiance was warm and friendly. The food was excellent and presented with elegance. We enjoyed everything from appetizers to the main course (not a fan of desserts). We both ordered seafood entrees which was cooked to perfection. Our daughter had a chicken noodle dish which she could not finish but was also very tasty (it was my lunch the following day)! It was a great dinner and my wife was very happy that I took her there. So, nothing less than five star for the best Japanese restaurant in Rockford.
(5)Ashley V.
I like the little sushi cafe at lunch when it's 25% off. The teppanyaki stuff I could really do without. It's overpriced and silly. The building is really cute and very clean. Service is good too.
(4)Joseph L.
Pretty trendy for Rockford. Great atmosphere, pretty good sushi.
(4)Tom C.
The trusted name in Rockford Sushi. I love to eat in the sushi bar area. Airy high ceilings, north west daylight. I love to drink the saki. Great for groups. 12 people per teppanyaki grill. It's a fun way to eat.
(4)Kunal S.
JMK is overpriced, but delivers quality sushi and teppan cuisine in Rockford. The food is sometimes a bit bland for my taste, however the ingredients are always fresh and of top quality, and the decor is very nice with beautiful and interesting artwork throughout the restaurant. For these reasons, I prefer JMK over Shogun for an upscale Japanese restaurant in Rockford I have dined her several times, both at the grill side where the chef cooks in front you, and at the cafe side. I have also enjoyed a couple nights with a large group of friends at the Karaoke bar, although the drinks are overpriced by $1-2 across the board for Rockford standards. Also, the restaurant/bar closes at 11 PM or so, which can interrupt the fun. The best time to go is during lunch, where they have "Bento Box" deals that have a nice combo of food including your choice of meat for $7-10. Anytime I have an afternoon off, I try to get over there with some friends for a "luncheon."
(3)Kevin U.
representing prop the only Okinawan yelper in Rockford I rate this place the Best Restaurant in Rockford, yeah i been to the other Japanese restaurant, not even worth a review. JMK has developed into one of the largest Japanese restaurants in the mid west. Amazing architectural design the builds a dinning experience for large groups at the Benihana. If you like fish step into a new world and order the Hamachi Kama. This is the fillet of fish. For dessert try more Japanese culture by eating mochi ice cream. I'm a loyal customer since Iike 1995 and celebrated, Every birthday there. I've almost memorized the song, ok i can only mumble the words I don't know it but im really good at a making look like i know it More to come I'll give a more detail review later.
(5)Bilguun G.
JMK is a combination of superb FOOD, great SERVICE, and excellent MANAGEMENT! My favorite dishes are their Steak and Shrimp Combo Masa. Reasonable price, and great atmosphere for any occasion! Highly recommendable place for sushi lovers! A+++
(5)steve j.
Great food, but not good at holding to their reservation times.
(4)Andrew K.
JMK has a clean, modern decor with a large fish pond in the foyer. There are two halves to the restaurant. One half is like a Benihana's where you sit around a large grill and a chef cooks your food. It's mildly entertaining but not worth the premium since the food is mediocre. The other half of the restaurant is a sushi bar and it is a much better value. The sushi is good, they have a wide selection of alcohol, and the prices are reasonable. There is a karaoke stage in a back room across from the bar.
(3)Jared B.
Been a customer of Nippon's since it first opened. My family took me there every so often all the years growing up. Now I continue to go there with friends. Even since moving away I still go once every time I am back home. The architecture is beautiful and the staff is really nice. The place is really busy so expect to wait but the food, atmosphere and service are worth it. I've never been disappointed there yet.
(5)