Best Healthy Sushi Restaurants in Chicago
11 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
PLANTA Queen Chicago
Upscale plant-based Asian cooking with full sushi and dim sum in a dramatic room.
Notable Picks
8.6
PLANTA Queen brings an all-vegan, Asian-inspired menu of sushi, noodles, and share plates to a polished, high-energy River North dining room. Since opening in 2022, it’s become the go-to for plant-based date nights and group dinners where cocktails and presentation matter as much as the food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bang Bang Broccoli, Torched & Pressed Nigiri, Truffle Udon
What Makes it Special: Upscale plant-based Asian cooking with full sushi and dim sum in a dramatic room.
8.4
Kraken Sushi & Beyond is a busy North Center spot blending classic maki, ramen, and a large vegetarian/vegan sushi section. It works as a dependable local for mixed groups where one person wants rolls, another wants noodles, and everyone wants big portions.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mr. Postman Signature Maki, Spicy Toro Roll, King Salmon Poke Bowl
What Makes it Special: A broad sushi and ramen menu with one of the stronger vegetarian and vegan lineups in the area.
#3
Poke Bros
8
Fast-casual poke built around sushi-grade fish and a clean build-your-own format that scratches the “sushi bowl” itch without being a traditional sushi bar. It wins when you keep the bowl structured—one protein lane, one sauce lane, one crunch lane—so it stays bright instead of muddy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Build-your-own poke bowl (ahi tuna), Salmon poke bowl, Spicy tuna bowl
What Makes it Special: Sushi-grade fish in a fast, customizable bowl format.
Worthy Picks
A campus food-court sushi counter built for reliable grab-and-go: straightforward rolls plus poke bowls when you want something lighter but still filling. Best used as a fast lunch move—keep it simple, prioritize freshness, and treat it like a clean, efficient sushi stop rather than a destination dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
California Roll, Salmon Poke Bowl, Tuna Poke Bowl
What Makes it Special: Fast campus sushi plus poke bowls in one stop.
7.9
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Business Lunch Power Players
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Healthy Haven
Taste of Japan is a fast-casual Japanese counter in the Loop balancing affordable sushi, hand rolls, ramen, soba, and curry. Downtown regulars use it for build-your-own sushi orders and chef’s “trust me” boxes that travel well back to the office.
Must-Try Dishes:
Box Max chef’s sushi and sashimi set, Lightly Grilled Salmon Hand Roll with Yuzu Sauce, Lobster Japanese Curry Rice
What Makes it Special: Counter-service Japanese spot where sushi, ramen, and curry share equal billing at desk-lunch prices.
7.7
Grain and Sea is a woman-owned, pay-by-weight sushi bar where guests build boxes from a long refrigerated line of maki, nigiri, gunkan, and inari. It’s designed for quick, customizable Loop lunches with an emphasis on freshness, labeling, and cleaner ingredient options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Assorted salmon and tuna nigiri pieces, Spicy tuna maki selections, Inari and gunkan pockets from the self-serve line
What Makes it Special: Self-serve, pay-by-weight sushi with over 30 labeled options and a focus on freshness.
A Loop counter spot that’s built for fast, customizable Japanese comfort—poke bowls and ramen that fit a lunch-break timeline. It shines when you keep the order focused: one build-your-own bowl with a clean sauce strategy or one ramen bowl with a single add-on, rather than stacking extras that muddy the flavors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy roasted garlic ramen, Build-your-own poke bowl, Gyoza
What Makes it Special: Build-your-own poke and ramen that stays fast and lunch-friendly downtown.
7.6
Rock Wrap & Roll is a BYOB Lincoln Park fixture combining Thai dishes with a surprisingly broad sushi and maki section, including seasonal specials. It shines when you treat it as a casual hangout for creative rolls, vegetarian-friendly maki, and Thai snacks rather than a purist sushi bar.
Must-Try Dishes:
Volcano Roll, Super Saiyan Roll, Grasshopper Maki
What Makes it Special: A BYOB Thai-and-sushi hybrid where playful specialty rolls and vegetarian options make it a flexible neighborhood standby.
A sustainability-forward, campus-friendly sushi option that leans into quick service and familiar rolls. Use it for a light, low-friction bite—choose a classic roll or inari and keep expectations aligned with fast-casual execution.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dragon Roll, Inari, Rainbow Roll
What Makes it Special: Campus sushi built for speed and lighter eating.
7.6
A small counter spot built around poke bowls that also turns out a tight list of sushi rolls at budget-friendly prices. It’s best approached as a quick, two-item order—one roll plus a bowl or gyoza—so you get fresh, clean flavors without over-ordering.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crunchy Roll, OMG Roll, Spicy Killer Roll
What Makes it Special: Poke-first counter service with surprisingly solid rolls at low prices.
#11
The Lincoln Cafe
7.5
A grab-and-go café setup where sushi shows up as practical trays and prepared options alongside a broader quick-service menu. It’s best as a convenience play—solid for a fast lunch or pickup—rather than a destination sushi bar, with simple, cooked and veggie-forward choices that fit a busy schedule.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mixed sushi tray (cooked), Veggie roll tray, Baked teriyaki salmon (grab & go)
What Makes it Special: A convenience-first café that offers sushi trays as an easy pickup option.