Everyone wants to have a good meal on their birthday. Expectations are high and we want our experience to be something to remember. On my birthday, my family and I decided to go to a restaurant called Sushi Ukai, in downtown La Grange. I am a huge fan of sushi and have been to this restaurant before a while back. This time around, I was really excited to try different foods on the menu. This place definitely exceeded my expectations; the quality of food and vibe of the restaurant really made me feel cozy. The evening was perfect because I wanted a calm and relaxed atmosphere. 

Sushi Ukai, formally known as “Sushi House,” is located in La Grange, Glen Ellyn, and Wheaton Illinois. It’s a contemporary Japanese cuisine restaurant offering a variety of traditional and unique dishes. It has been around for about 26 years. 

The feeling I got when I walked into the restaurant was comforting. The ambience was very tranquil and warm. The lighting was dim, except for the beautiful round lamps hanging from the ceiling with Japanese designs on them; they emitted a shade of orange and yellow. There was peaceful spa music playing in the background that really set the cozy atmosphere. I enjoyed the fact that there was no hecticness and constant noise. 

Even though the interior is very beautiful, the space is really small and when more people start to come in you have no choice but to be seated closely to other families, which can be uncomfortable. In the front of the restaurant, there is an area that has a circle couch that surrounds a big table. It is meant to fit about 10 people and you have more privacy because it’s closed off. 

I expected to obsess over the sushi I was going to eat right off the bat, but that was not the case. Even though the sushi never fails to be delicious, I was really drawn to their appetizers. They have an amazing appetizer menu and I ordered the Miso Soup ($3.95) and Crab Rangoon ($6.95). The miso soup had tofu and seaweed, it was so flavorful. The Crab Rangoon was very warm, crunchy, and sweet. It came with sweet and sour sauce to top it off. After trying Crab Rangoon at different restaurants, this was by far my favorite. When the sushi came, it was put on a beautiful wooden platter. I ordered the Dragon roll ($13.95) and the Spicy Tuna roll ($8.95). The Dragon roll had barbecue eel and was topped with a slice of avocado. It tasted perfectly sweet and salty. The tuna roll was really interesting. I am someone who enjoys a lot of spicy foods, so when I tried this roll, I was surprised by how spicy it was. If you’re someone with a low spice tolerance, I would not recommend the spicy rolls. The overall quality of the fish was amazing, everything was fresh. 

The Sushi Ukai location in La Grange is located at 120 B West Calendar. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sundays.