Kawa Japanese - Grayslake

Highly recommended! My daughter and I love going to Kawa! We try to go about once a month after they opened back up for dine in. They used to have an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet, but sadly no more. However every roll I've tried here is fresh and delicious. Plus all the fried rice combos are amazing! I always start with the edamame and miso soup and like to try one new specalty roll per visit. Only downfall is there are limited rolls if you have a shellfish allergy or do not like spice. I haven't tried the Mongolian grill but I see many others go and enjoy it. We always leave stuffed and happy after eating here

The food was good, the restaurant was pretty quiet, and the wait staff was friendly.

I'm really disappointed to hear that they're closing down for good. My husband and I enjoyed getting sushi from this place so much. Since we lived just a few minutes away, it was incredibly convenient for us. We frequently ordered sushi for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas Eve. This is definitely a place we will miss.

The soft shell crab tempura was neither soft shell crab nor properly tempura; it was simply coated in panko and deep-fried. The Mongolian BBQ was a disappointment—the seafood was stale and flavorless, the vegetables seemed like mere leftovers, and the beef was frozen solid with ice. The six sauce options were all extremely bland. It's no surprise that there was no one there on a Friday evening. I won't be returning.

Prepare your flashlights if you plan to dine here. Upon entering, you might wonder if the restaurant is open or suffering from electrical issues. Unfortunately, this dim lighting seems to be part of the experience. My three stars were originally for the service, as we were fortunate enough to encounter a lovely waitress. However, it became clear that we may have missed the buffet (as seen in the attached video), which appeared to be popular among other diners. Instead, we opted for the menu to explore the Japanese offerings, and I must say, there wasn't much to enjoy. The soft shell crab was flavorless and overly breaded, though the sashimi was passable. I’m not sure if we’ll return to try the Mongolian BBQ. The restaurant has great potential, but it feels like it’s in a transitional phase, with a strange atmosphere. Now, it's apparent what the real issue is. The owner may respond quickly, but they lack thoughtful leadership. They seem indifferent to customer service and loyalty, which is surprising for a small suburban restaurant that relies heavily on its local clientele. Best of luck to the kind waitress, but it's clear that the management does not know how to run their business effectively.