Blu Coral

Delivery service isn't something I would try for sushi, but I ate at Blu Coral a couple of times and loved their selection. I was stressed from work and decided to have some of that food come to me this time. I'm not too far from the place and so delivery was fast and the food was still fresh. The only bad part was all the work I had to do that night. Good stuff.

Pros: Tasty food, fast delivery

Posted 03/01/09

If you have come here looking for 'Chicago's Best Sushi' Blu Coral's website will absolutely mislead you. I planned my boyfriend's 27th birthday at Blu Coral and it was the worst mistake of my life.

Being that my present to him was a trip to Japan this spring, I wanted to throw a Japanese-themed bday dinner, which I had explained to the owner first over the phone & again when I went into the restaurant the week before the party to confirm & PAY FOR everything in advance. They happily took my money.

Upon getting to the restaurant the night of the party - they did NOT have our reservation nor the order for the pre-paid for meal I had arranged & did NOT seat us in the dining room at all. When we were seated, it was in the lounge area at 10:40pm (our reservations were at 10 per their request the week before, even though I had made them for 9pm) & the lounge started being set up around us as loud bar music began playing to the point that the champagne toast I had arranged was ruined seeing as noone could hear anything anyway. Then, when I refused to pay MORE money to the lounge promoter when he told me I had to pay for each person in order for my party to stay (even though his assistant had told me we wouldn't have to 3 times... because i asked 3 times just days before the party) he told me something I can't repeat because I don't want this review erased. Let's just say, we left with our drinks still on the tables & without an apology (the promoter was now apparently hiding from me). Me in tears & my boyfriend upset with how they treated me, we went up the street to a local lounge who accepted us off the street, THEY apologized to US for our experience with THEIR neighbor (saying it wasn't the first time they had heard horror stories) & we had a wonderful night there instead, seeing as they seemed to actually care that it was his birthday.

Don't go to Blu Coral. There's better sushi & far better service in Chicago.

Pros: the sushi wasn't bad, parking

Cons: service, management, professionalism

Posted 02/23/09

We have been going to Blu Coral since the day they opened. The fish has always been fresh and the rolls complex and imaginative! Some times the service could be a little slow but there bus boy has always been quick on the draw with refiling our water glasses which is always nice. Soon after we started going there I got pregnant and couldn't eat the raw stuff any more so I was excited to see that Blu Coral not only had cooked rolls but they were absolutely delicious! Of course once I had the baby it is pretty much impossible to go out with her so we have a standing sushi - take out night every friday. We have been just as please with the take out as we were with the sit down service. If you are looking for a consitently good sushi joint Blu Coral is just the place, easy parking, great selection and some of the best food you will have here in Chicago!

Pros: great selection and parking

Cons: not kid friendly

Posted 01/28/09

I heard about Blu Coral just over a month ago from a friend. She loved it and told me that I should go check it out since I lived so close to it. I decided that I try it out with a date and it turned out to be the best place ever. My date could not get over how delicious the maki rolls were and the drinks were terrific also. She admitted to me that night that she tried sushi once and hated it, but not here, she loved it. So, if you have a date and need a place to go, this would be a nice place to start!

Pros: Great sushi, good music, good service, great date place, elegant bathroom sinks

Cons: Chicago is a little cold in January, but the place is worth it

Posted 01/11/09

I've been wanting to try this place with my friends for a while now. I've heard rave reviews about it and I'm glad to say it lived up to all the hype. The ambience was urban/industrial that whispers trendy but not enough to scream "I'm too cool." The food was off the wall fantastic. I don't think I ate one thing there this weekend that I didnt' like. The appetizers were amazing (had the shrimp shumai, maui tartar, and crab cakes). The crab cakes were very different and original from any other crab cakes I've ever had. They had some curry flavor to it, which was unusual but in a way that surprisingly good. We ordered a variety of standard and signature rolls which were just amazing. I have to say the signature rolls are the way to go if you're tired of the same old sushi rolls and wanted to try something different. They all had unique flavors that tasted delicious and the presentation was very nice as well.

I've been to a bunch of sushi joints around Chicago and this place is probably one of the best sushi places in town.

Pros: Incredible food, nice ambiance, good looking crowd

Posted 01/11/09

i unfortunately went here on my birthday this past year and boy was i disappointed. not very creative, the fish had absolutely no flavor. the saving grace was texture, but that does not a good sushi meal make. i've been to tons of better sushi restaurants in Chicago.

Pros: probably would be a good date spot

Cons: disappointing food

Posted 09/21/08

I was a huge fan of the Blu Coral Sushi in my local stomping grounds in the 'burbs (Woodridge) and I was in mouring after they abruptly closed!! I had heard of this location--the 'other' Blu Coral in Chicago (not the same owner) and took a look at their menu and it was virtually the same. In an effort to seek my next great Sushi fix, I HAD to try them out. The taste and quality of the food was indeed superb. However, these were the tiniest rolls I had ever seen or experienced. They did not leave me wanting more and more as I had enjoyed in the past and it left me a bit disappointed. However, the quality and the taste was indeed there. I would have given them a 5 star rating had the rolls been a bit given a more umph in terms of size, substance and appearance. If they do happen to open back up in the burbs or want to continue on the hi-level path... they will indeed have to look into adding a bit more to the rolls/pieces to have people wanting to come back for more. The Aloe-tini washed away my sadness a bit. But, still left with the need to express my plea to step it up a notch in the portion size.

Pros: So tasty and visually pleasing

Cons: Potions are sooo tiny. They need to work on the size of the rolls and pieces

Posted 09/19/08

The sushi at Blu Coral beats any sushi restaurant I've been to in Chicago, New York, Boston, D.C. or Philadelphia. The atmosphere is great and they offer a discount for sushi orders before 6 p.m. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The prices are no higher than any other sushi place in the city, which pale in comparison. I highly recommend it.

Pros: atmosphere, parking behind in the KMart/Jewel lot for free, great sushi and service

Cons: gets a little cold in there

Posted 09/11/08

Blu Coral is a triple threat in my view: great food, great atmosphere, great service. I took some friends there to try sushi for the first time and the waitress explained to them what the different types of sushi were and helped us decide what would be best for us. The atmosphere was perfect, accompanied by nice music and the food was beautiful and flavorful. My friends also really like the aloe martinis and I loved the chocolate mousse dessert. This is a great place for people who love sushi and want to get others hooked.

Pros: free parking in the back, great location, bar, music, outside dining option, great value, fresh food

Posted 08/16/08

I've lived in Chicago for years now and have tried out sushi almost everywhere around my area. I liked Sushi Wabi and Tank, but then a friend suggested that I try out Blu Coral. So both of us went one weekend and we were delightfully surprised by the selection they had. I love a good maki roll and I tried a couple of their specialties, which came out so beautiful. The first bite was so delicious and I couldn't stop eating! I've been back several times since and haven't found a better place. The restaurant has a great look and I heard they have delivery although I haven't tried that yet. I feel it's better to experience the sushi rather than to just eat it. Anyway, I recommend it to every sushi lover around.

Pros: creative food, great taste, good value, delivery, free parking, friendly service, discounts

Cons: (none)

Posted 08/16/08

I was expecting to be blown away after reading all the reviews. However, our experience is just mediocre. The portions are less compared to the other sushi restaurants we visited. And I think it was overpriced. I left the restaurant not feeling satisfied. In my opinion, customers are paying for the ambience not the food. I think I will go back to my usual sushi place.

Pros: ambience and location

Cons: expensive but not worth the food

Posted 07/31/08

Went for my 21st birthday; great decor, super friendly service. I thought the sushi was creative and pretty good, but not worth how much it cost. Owners were VERY friendly and the restaurant's decor and mood was lounge-like and mellowed out, which I liked.

Posted 07/13/08

Unbelieveable sushi! Very creative/different menu! Owners are the sweetest , nicest couple! Very fun atmosphere for a Friday or Saturday night!

Posted 03/05/08

I am more of a traditionalist when it comes to sushi, so Blu Coral is a bit too "fusiony" for my taste. But I was impressed with the quality of the fish and the imaginativeness of the menu items. More importantly though, the staff was so warm and willing to be helpful. It was my friend's birthday this evening and the staff went out of their way to make him comfortable and satisfied. Very important! I will definitely be back,

Pros: very kind staff, no pretention

Cons: not traditional sushi

Posted 02/01/08

If i need to this place up with one sentence, it would be: "Fantastic Sushi, So so service."

The food have distinctive taste to them that makes you remember this place from hundreds of other sushi bars around town. The design element of the food is also important and Blu Coral has done a great job on food decoration. You have to taste the food yourself in order to see how good they are.

Service wise, not so good. We reserved a seat a week ago and the day we went we were not able to get the seat we reserved and have to wait 15min for it. Our server is really slow and never come back and ask how is our food or add water for us. She apparently do not understand the language very well. The table next to us had same complain as well, and the review here reveals the same problem.

They have a dining section and a lounge section, ambiance is Okay.

Pros: amazing food

Cons: horrible service

Posted 01/11/08

Took my wife for her birthday dinner, she loved it so much that when my boss came in town 3 days later, she suggested we go again (I had no choice if you get my drift). He loved it as well.

Pros: Great Sushi, Great dinner choices for "non-Sushi" types

Cons: Music can be just a little loud..if you want to have a deap conversation, might not be the place

Posted 01/10/08

I have been here a few times and have yet to be dissappointed. First off, I am pregnant so I can't have the raw stuff. But the good news is that they make cooked rolls that are to die for. Their selection is so good that my hubby, who can eat raw food, has yet to scratch the surface of the rolls on the menu AND he has always been EXTREMELY satisfied with what he orders. I am always jealous when he gets try things that I can't. We have been to a ton of sushi places in the city but for us, this is the best by far!

Pros: HUGE SELECTION OF ROLLS AND GREAT PARKING

Cons: Service can be a little slow

Posted 08/22/07

After trying out and loving the Best of Citysearch Bruch Winner (Cafe Penelope), I figured I would put my faith in other category results and give the Best of Citysearch Sushi Winner a try. Wow, Blu Coral is something special! The staff is friendly, the food great (cooked and uncooked sushi rolls), but you have to check out the lounge which offers an excellent martini and wine selection in a cool, hip, and trendy scene.

Pros: Great sushi including a pretty expansive cooked roll list, good service, martinis, the lounge!

Posted 08/15/07

I went to Blu Coral on Saturday and had wonderful sushi. Blu Coral Sushi offers the best sushi in Wicker Park/Bucktown - with Coast coming in a close second place. Our friends dined there a few weeks ago and tipped us off to the FREE PARKING. The parking is accessible off of Ashland - directly behind the restaurant - in the shopping center that has a Jewel/Kmart. Because traffic was light and parking was a breeze, we were 15 minutes early but didn't mind the wait since that meant we could check out the lounge. The bar/lounge had awesome decor and the drinks were delicious. The sushi was wonderful - we especially enjoyed the Dragon, Blu Coral Maki, and even the California rolls were delicious. Try the Dragon Fire appetizer if your creative side allows it. Blu Coral easily makes it into my top 5 sushi restaurants in Chicago and that's saying a lot!

Pros: Free Parking, Delicious Sushi, Great Bar/Lounge, Outdoor Patio

Posted 08/07/07

So we happened upon this new sushi place on Milwaukee ave...it was Blu Coral. The deceptfully small outside leads to a large and up-scale restaurant featuring a lounge area and plentiful seating for customers. Service was average; however, I highly recommend ordering a half entree plus the specialty nigiri and maki rolls. The flavors were pure and fresh. The Saba Nigiri was my favorite, along with the Chilean Sea Bass - this was cooked perfectly and it comes with sauteed veggies complemented by a cauliflower puree. I am in the industry and half to disagree with the ratings so far, I was pleasantly surprised. Overall the kinks are nearly worked out and I am going back tomorrow night to check out the lounge scene after service. Try it, it is bound to keep getting better!

Pros: Great combinations of flavor, large seating area

Cons: Understaffed

Posted 06/28/07

As Sushi and Sake lovers, we had to try to newest addition to the neighborhood. Unfortunately we were very dissapointed. We waited for 40 MINUTES just to get drinks, and order our food! We are industry people, and understand that it's just getting started, but the waitress and manager were very curt with us when we decided to say something about the service. We felt very uncomfortable, and left as soon as we were able to. The food wasnt that bad, but i wouldnt go back .

Pros: Interesting Maki offerings

Cons: Rude Service

Posted 04/14/07

The sushi was awesome. So fresh, decent portion sizes, and unique rolls. Menu is VERY extensive. BYOB for now, which was a pleasant surprise, and Jewel is right there. Some of the best fish I have had recently. However, service was absolutely horrible. It took at least 30 minutes to get an appetizer served, and we had to practically beg for beer glasses. We would have liked our wine we brought to be served about 15 minutes earlier (we asked but our waiter forgot), but we were completely ignored by everyone except the water guy for a solid 25 minute stretch. Waiter seemed inexperienced and disinterested. Water guy was awesome. Weird music--half R&B, half easy-listening. Good vibe in there elsewise. We thought it was just a little bit pricey, but almost worth it. With good service it would be worth it. My recommendation is wait a month and then go. Maybe the servers will improve by then. The place has a lot of potential!

Pros: BYOB(for now), water guy was incredible, sushi was great

Cons: absolutely horrible service, odd music at times, obviously newly opened

Posted 04/04/07