1930 Ridge Rd., Homewood
Opened in late 2007, AsianHarbor has quickly become the hotspot for Homewood locals flock for flavorful Japanese fare. The casual, contemporary atmosphere draws a diverse group, from growing families to double dates. Aside from authentic dishes such as spicy basil noodles, the Harbor offers an assortment of sushi with favorites including the dragon maki roll and hand rolls. And even if you�re a meat lover, check out the large vegetarian menu. READ MORE
110 W. Illinois St., River North
Billy Dec, Brad Young and Arturo Gomez, the trio behind hotspots Rockit Bar & Grill and The Underground are also behind this River North new Asian spot where Rodelio Aglibot, a.k.a. the "Food Buddha" (and former executive chef at L.A.'s Koi) is in the kitchen. The restaurant's name is a nod to the Sunda Shelf, a Southest Asian landmass, and incorporates modern takes on dishes from throughout the region. A large chunk of the lineup is devoted to China and Japan, but fare from other countries, including Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, makes an appearance too. Expect new Asian dishes such as Malay-style Chilean sea bass, crab-crusted ahi tuna with Japanese hot mustard-soy glaze, pork shank confit with garlic-foie gras gravy and watercress salad, and a couple of Asian-inspired noodle dishes. There's also a full sushi bar. READ MORE
4959 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn
From the owners of Sesame Inn of Evergreen Park has sprung Sushi Thaime, which serves Japanese, Thai and Chinese cuisine. Sushi is the main event here, with a la carte nigiri, sashimi and hand-rolled, cone-shaped tamaki. Specialty maki rolls include the Godzilla Roll (tempura shrimp, spicy bean spouts and cream cheese topped with fish eggs), the Rainbow Roll (crab, tuna, salmon, yellow tail and snapper) and the Dragon Roll (freshwater eel, avocado, cream cheese and scallions). Popular dinner picks include orange chicken, basil shrimp, pad thai and various teriyaki dishes. Special parties of 6 to 8 can dine in the Japanese-style tatami room, where shoes are shed and diners lounge on pillows on the floor.READ MORE
1237 W Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook
Located just west of Downtown Bolingbrook, KO Sushi offers an enormous and various menu of different rolls, teriyakis, platters and lunch specials.READ MORE
2020 W. Chicago Ave., Ukrainian Village
This veggie-friendly sushi and Thai restaurant in the former Barbari Cafe space offers a wide array of Japanese dishes and sushi, including Hangover Udon, a spicy noodle soup perfectly suited for a Sunday brunch. Vegetarians can tuck into a selection of veggie-friendly options.READ MORE
730 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield
The menu, courtesy of chef-partner Tanehide "Hide" Sekimoto, offers starters like tuna rangoon (fried crab meat with cream cheese and lemon wrapped with oba and tuna) and the tuna martini salad (bright-red raw tuna cubes and seasoned seaweed served in a martini glass). Specialty maki rolls include Snow White (super-white tuna, daikon radish and snow crab) and Jingle (spicy tuna, green peppers and cilantro garnished with colorful yellow, black, red and green tobiko). Sushi-phobes have plenty of entrees to choose from here, including the spicy Beef Tataki (seared strip steak in a citrus soy marinade with oyster mushrooms) and the savory King Salmon, stuffed with tofu and spinach. The contemporary 5,000-square-foot space features a dimly lit dining room -- where booths are draped with red fabric or crowned with giant sticks of bamboo -- plus a 30-foot sushi bar and a sake lounge. READ MORE
5340 Grand Ave, Gurnee
This lively restaurant specializes in hibachi grill dinners and sushi.READ MORE
2118 N. Damen Ave., Bucktown
This rustic spot in the former Duchamp space has a hidden, 100-seat patio, seasonal cocktails and a menu that skews world-fusion, with dishes like confit chicken poutine and lamb neck sloppy joes. READ MORE
