Ponzu Sushi

I came with no expectations, left hungry.
Came on a Tuesday night, our table of four was seated immediately. Service was painfully slow and it took 10 minutes to get our menus (in a nearly empty restaurant). Due to our wait, they did comp some edamame.
The food was fine — I ordered the Futo roll (pretty bland) and the angry tuna (half order) which was pretty spicy but I enjoyed it. I tried a bite of the You and I roll which was also good, but too sweet for a non desert roll.
While I can forgive slow service, I cannot forgive the portion size. My bill was $ 20 for 10 pieces of sushi roll. Four pieces of the signature was $ 8. With so many other good places around (Toro, Sushi Mon) where a dinner for two that leaves you stuffed costs around $ 30, this was an absolute waste of booze money.

Best sushi around the area! Everything ive ever ordered from there was yummy. Good pricing and service. Cute inside as well. Fast service. Lots of sushi and food options. Been here 3 times and plan to keep coming.

This place is awesome! It’s byob the sushi is delicious and the staff is great! They were so nice and did sake bombs with my friends and I. Everyone should check this place out! :)

This place is disappointing.

I absolutely love this place. The people who work there are super friendly and always provide an awesome experience. The $ 1 sake bomb deal during the week is unmatched. The sushi is fine. I’ve been spoiled by living in California in terms of quality, but for Chicago, this place is perfect. Get the fried octopus balls. Best appetizer ever.

Love this place! My boyfriend and I went there 5 times a couple summers ago and the owners have recognized us since. They are so sweet and if it’s not too busy will treat us to a free roll. Compared to other sushi restaurants I’ve been to in the past, these prices are great and the fact the it’s BOYB makes it even cheaper. The sushi and service could not get any better! FYI: If you happen to forget your booze, there is a liquor store next door, across Fullerton.
Enjoy!

Awesome sushi. Came in and asked for a chefs choice dinner, and was treated to some of the most creative and delicious sushi I’ve found in Chicago. This place rocks.

Bacon kimchi fried rice is to die for. Service is great and on Mondays they have $ 3 glasses of wine. Can’t beat it!

Went here today. Was very satisfied with my meal. Made a trip to the restroom and discovered a baby cockroach propped on the wall. Would not come back nor recommend…

Six words: fast delivery, flavorless and mushy rolls
I ordered delivery so maybe the food is better when you dine-​in. But I won’t spend my money here again. I ordered spicy tuna rolls and volanco rolls. My roommate ordered spicy tuna rolls and spider rolls. We also ordered miso soup.
Food arrived way before the estimate which was nice. But it was disappointing. It wasn’t the worst sushi I’ve ever had (that goes to a sushi sample in a grocery store that ended up shutting down for various reasons). But this was a close second.
The spicy tuna rolls lacked flavor. I tasted rice and that’s about it. The volcano rolls were weird and not at all spicy, like you’d expect. They were edible though. My roommates’s spider roll was disgusting. She couldn’t finish her order, and I could barely finish a bite. It just tasted mushy and soggy and unpleasant. You would think you could doctor it up with the wasabi or ginger but something was wrong with that ginger. It had the wrong texture when I was trying to chew it. And the wasabi had none of the heat you expect. I was piling it on my spicy tuna rolls and my mouth and sinuses were handling it quite well.
The miso soup was sad as well. It was lacking all the flavor of a good miso soup. It was basically just a broth. I threw it out but I probably could’ve saved it to make some real soup or use it in a recipe. It was bland and boring.
Again, not the worst sushi I’ve ever had. But I definitely won’t be spending my money here.

i had great experience last night. this restaurant was small place and atmosphere was cozy. i didnt expect any delicious food, but everything was amazing. my friends and i had good time. try salmon lover and tuna fiesta!!! very flavorable!!! plus it’s BYOB

If you are a fan of sushi, you MUST try Ponzu. Amazing food, fair prices, welcoming atmosphere, you could not ask for more! I have been going here for months now, and am still presented with new sashimi and rolls that I have not had before on every visit. The chef there takes such pride in his product that, most of the time, we let him choose the next course! TIP: order one or more of the specials! Last night, we had this hamachi with a lemon/​orange/​cilantro topping that was nothing short of absolutely delicious. I’ve also been graced with the best octopus I’ve ever had (lightly torched) and a sweeter roll (I think it was called the Gold Digger?) that will make your mouth water before digging (pun intended) in! Bottom line: all of the rolls, sashimi and chef creations/​specials are exceptional. On a practical note, they also have ½ rolls, which give you more opportunities to try different rolls. It’s BYOB, but I also recommend trying the hot sake. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. Go try it! :)

Ended up here with my girlfriend and was shocked at how great the service and food was. Got several different rolls and was not disappointed. I will definitely come back and highly recommend the Fire Cracker appetizer. Such an awesome spot!

The food was great and the service was even better. I highly suggest checking out the 7spice ahi tuna (although very small portions, the wasabi/​truffle sauce was incredible).

Almost got sick of Sushi all being the same with little difference among the options out there. This place was fantastic and makes me want to go out for sushi again. Service was quick, food was excellent, and they changed my feeling on sushi for the better!

I am in love with this place! The waitress is incredibly friendly and the sushi is very fresh. Get the Clark Street. It is THE best!

Ok, I came back for a second try last night for dinner. This time was better. I ordered miso soup, spicy tuna hand roll, hamachi roll and two pieces of tuna. The tuna was excellent, the spicy handroll was a bit mushy, the hamachi roll came with this weird mayo type sauce that killed the entire roll, but the miso soup was delicious!
The staff is always really friendly and helpful and it’s so close to my house so this plays a huge roll in my continued business. However, I just wish I could have an awesome experience like other reviewers! :(

Wow. What a treat. Ponzu is our go to spot when we want great sushi, friendship, and ingenuity. The server Dell will make your heart smile
Make sure to order the salmon lovers roll (it’s not on the menu), the super white tuna nigiri, and the salmon nigiri torched with the lemon sauce. You won’t regret it.
PONZU FOLYFE

First, let me just say «WOW!!» The sushi chef John was very friendly, attentive, entertaining, informative, and skilled in his craft. We had the sashimi platter which was very delicious and the presentation was too beautiful to eat. We also had the Dragon roll with their home made unagi sauce and spicy mayo; best sauces I’ve ever had in the area.
Our server was very welcoming and sat us down right away. She was polite, friendly and always had plates cleared and drinks filled.
We were lucky on our visit to meet the owner who was just as friendly and funny. We didn’t know what to order because everything looked so good, so the owner recommended the Rock Chicken Tempura which was AMAZING! A must try if you like spicy!
Overall experience, had an awesome time. Best sushi restaurant on Clark Street.

Considering it was a Saturday evening and the other sushi restaurant we were going to was packed, this came as a nice surprise as an alternative sushi joint that had BYOB also. Service was solid and the food the same. Personal favorite was the Hamachi Ponzu.
Next time I am in the neighborhood, I look forward to going back here when I need my sushi mix.

What a surprise!
I went to Ponzu for dinner before a bachelorette party with several other women. We ordered a ton of food– mostly signature maki with a little bit of nigiri and sashimi mixed in. Everything was fresh and delicious, which isn’t always the case at these little neighborhood joints, but I was pleasantly surprised!
Unfortunately, because of how we ordered, I really had no idea what the names of things were as I was eating them, so I can’t comment on specific items, but I can say that there was enough to entice me back here next time I have a craving for sushi. Plus– we ate a ton and the bill was something ridiculous like $ 20 per person or something like that. What?!? Great taste and a great value? Sold.
I will say that I checked the Unilocal page before arriving and saw that it said «wine and beer» which made me believe those things were available, but they’re not. It’s BYO, so make sure you bring stuff with you. There’s a little liquor store right down the street.

Stopped in for an early solo dinner before running errands. This was my second visit to Ponzu (the first visit for take out only).
The staff was very polite and the food came out quickly. All the dishes I ordered were delicious, the house salad followed by a complimentary salmon salad (very considerate) and then the Clark Street roll. Portion sizes are perfect.
The interior is comfortable and the tables along the wall have a couple of cozy pillows to rest against.
I would definitely bring friends here and recommend Ponzu to others looking for great food and service.

one of the best spot for sushi and Japanese food around Lincoln park, been there today and was agreeably surprise,
they have a new menu with new delicious and very tasty stuff, the thing i love the most is the friendly ambiance, i noticed also they had theirs restroom remade, freshly new, look better and cleaner

This is an alright place. The décor is very simple and minimal. The staff is friendly. The waitress was pretty helpful.
The food was pretty good. I got the drunken soft she’ll crab, and I won’t lie, it was amazing. Awesome crab flavor and a very nice crunch. I also got sea scallop nigiri and a spicy scallop maki. They were alright… I also got an ebi tempura with vegetables.
Besides the crab the food was pretty normal. It was a little pricey at ponzu. I might be back. It’s right across the street from my work

I came here with a Bloomspot deal and really enjoyed the sushi and service at Ponzu!
Our server was very knowledgeable about all the rolls and made great recommendations for us. Two rolls that stuck out to me was the tuna roll that had lemon slices on it and the jalapeño white tuna roll. Both super flavorful with great hints of citrus!
On a street lined with sushi restaurants, Ponzu sushi was the best I’ve tried and a great great alternative to the jam-​packed and overrated Toro Sushi. Perks are they are also BYOB and you can order half-rolls…genius!