Welcome to Akai Hana
"Akai Hana" is a Japanese restaurant in Wilmette, IL, known for its diverse menu of noodles, sushi, and traditional entrees. With options like Goma Ae spinach, Miso Ramen, and Sea Bass Teriyaki, the restaurant offers a blend of flavors to satisfy every palate. Customers praise the attentive service and the variety of lunch specials and bento boxes. The cozy ambience and consistent quality make Akai Hana a beloved spot for both regulars and newcomers. Whether craving a comforting bowl of noodles or a fresh sushi handroll, Akai Hana delivers a satisfying dining experience.
- 3223 W Lake Ave Wilmette, IL 600913223 W Lake Ave Wilmette, IL 60091 Hotline: (847) 251-0384
Welcome to Akai Hana, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Wilmette, Illinois. Located at 3223 W Lake Ave, this charming sushi bar embodies the essence of authentic Japanese cuisine. With a rich menu that spans delightful noodles and exquisite sushi rolls, Akai Hana is a culinary oasis for lovers of Japanese fare.
The restaurant's reputation is built on its delicious offerings, which include enticing lunch specials and generous combinations. Indulge in the Tempura Combination or the Beef Teriyaki Combination, both served with a California roll, sushi pieces, miso soup, rice, sunamono, and even ice cream for dessert—an experience at only $21.95. For those seeking lighter bites, the lunch sets—featuring options like the Spicy California Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll—deliver scrumptious flavors at excellent prices.
Akai Hana's noodle dishes are equally noteworthy. The Tempura Udon serves thick white noodles in a warm broth, while the Miso Ramen is rich with garnishes and cooked pork. Each bite transports you closer to the streets of Japan. The use of fresh ingredients shines through, resonating well with patrons who appreciate authentic flavors.
Customer reviews echo the quality and warmth found at Akai Hana. First-time diners rave about the pork gyoza, expertly cooked to achieve that perfect crunch. Long-time guests like Lisa G. reaffirm the restaurant's consistency over the years, noting how the bento boxes never fail to impress with their variety. The attentive service adds personal touches, making each visit memorable.
What sets Akai Hana apart is not just the food but also the atmosphere. It’s a place where serenity meets tradition, a welcoming spot for families and diners of all ages. The seasoned staff adds to the experience with their deep knowledge of the menu, making recommendations that cater to each diner's preference.
Whether you're in the mood for a comforting bowl of udon, a vibrant sushi roll, or simply want to relive fond memories, Akai Hana promises a delightful culinary experience that keeps guests returning. The passion for authentic Japanese cuisine here is palpable, and the flavors will linger long after the last bite. Don't miss out on this culinary delight—your taste buds will thank you!

We arrived around 7:45 for dinner because we didn't know they closed at 8 pm on a Friday. Still, they were kind to seat us and had our order out pretty quickly. They brought us complimentary bowls of miso soup. We tried the pork gyoza, which was prepared perfectly with the right amount of crunch and chewy texture. I will say, I generally do not like to eat sushi, but the food was decent. I enjoyed the Louisiana roll and the greedy shrimp roll.

Very good lunch specials - I have been coming here for years and it's just as good as ever! The bento boxes always come with so many options. We ordered sushi this time and did not disappoint.

I get lunch here several times a year... so not exactly a regular, but I've been around enough to see the menu evolve and stay the same. It's a nice plaza-style restaurant. Yes, as others have pointed out, parking can be a little tight (it was worse pre-pandemic when the lot seemed to be under repair all the time). I am not a good judge of "authentic" or not... but it is certainly a little more classical in its approach. Yes, there are some non-standard dishes and rolls, but they aren't as crazy as new age stuff out there. We often get the bento box lunches, which is a fair amount of food... a soup, crab salad, entree, and a cali roll. I'm also a fan of the udon, which seems a little more no-frills. I can see service being a little inconsistent, but I've always been a little sympathetic since it's been very hard to fully staff up.

Haven't been here in a long time. This place is still good. The servers and the host are very attentive. There's lotz to choose from on the menu. We went during the week and it wasn't extremely busy. I wanted the sea bass teriyaki but they didn't have any. So I ordered the orange roughy teriyaki combo. It was delicious. Then my b4 ordered the sashimi dinner. We ordered extra pieces of salmon, tuna and uni sushi. They also had toro sushi which is fatty tuna. It was delicious. I'll ordered more of that. I never had uni before so I tried it. It wasn't for me. He loved it so he could eat mine anytime. It's far for us but we will come back when in the area.

I can't stop coming here. Maybe it is because I'm 8+ month pregnant and know that eating at a restaurant will be a luxury soon. My husband and I have been coming here 1/week for the last month or so. This business has been here for a very long time. My husband has eaten at this restaurant when he was in high school (10+ years ago). The same staff has been working for that long too. That says a lot about the business culture that the staff is loyal. I always order the tempura udon and California roll. I haven't had sushi due to being pregnant. For lunch, the tempura udon comes with a roll and it is $16.95. For dinner, the udon is $11.95 and the California roll is $5.00 so the same price. My husband always orders a bento box with either the chicken teriyaki or cutlet. For dinner, a big scoop of rice is what is the key differentiator between the lunch option. The dinner also doesn't come in a bento format and excludes the 4 piece California roll, 2 piece kimbap and cucumber salad. The chicken cutlet is always crunchy and the chicken is never dried out. Yum. I also LOVE the hot tea. It is a green tea that I've been trying to replicate at home but have not been successful. It is only $1 and always scalding hot so I put a few ice cubes in it before drinking. Highly recommend this place!

I grew up on Akai Hana, and when I come home to visit, I usually make it a point to stop by for their bento boxes. It gets tricky, as the hubs is not a fan of this place! I think you just need to know what to order - I used to stick with their chicken teriyaki bento box, but I've switched over to the salmon teriyaki - I request this to be well done, and, if I feel a bit more saucy, I do ask for extra teriyaki sauce to come with. The set comes with pickled ginger, a mound of wasabi, your choice of protein on top of a pile of shredded cabbage, 6 California rolls (which I find tasty!), and a cucumber/imitation crab salad. Coming here during lunch is so much better, as the bento boxes do not come with the nigiri (which I find their fish/sushi not so fresh), rice, or a scoop of ice cream. Hot green tea is not complimentary anymore! Service can be a hit-or-miss, as it can be a bit difficult to get your server to bring refills or the check. Plenty of (tight) parking in the plaza lot. +salmon teriyaki bento box +good California rolls +avoid the sushi/nigiri/sashimi +go for lunch! +parking in shared plaza lot

Very good service, decent sushi and handroll. My order was about $30-35.00 for the Chilean Sea Bass bento and a custom salmon Handroll. I had to take the Handroll home. First time I saw sushi bundled up in saran wrap. Nice