Sunshine Cafe

To many Chicagoans Japanese food means raw fish. I'll admit I can count on my hands the number of times I have eaten Japanese that isn't sushi. I didn't know what to expect with Sunshine Cafe except that it is a small restaurant and based on decor it would be likely considered a takeout place. I have noticed that it is usually very well attended. After a couple of good Japanese experiences recently, Renga-Tei and Katsu, I was excited. Boy was it good.

The restaurant serves homestyle and is very casual and friendly. Prices are very reasonable, $6-$10 for most everything (salmon is $14) and food is served in a prompt and spartan way. The menu offers traditional Japanese and to be frank I will only cover what I ordered and ate. I do promise to amend this often as I work my way through the menu. They do serve a mackeral dish that I won't be having anytime soon (FYI).

I had questions about the menu, like "What's donburi?" and I got the explanation that it's a smaller portion served over rice rather than a larger portion with rice on the side. I did get a laugh when I responded that it was kind of like a steak vs. a steak sandwich. We started with an quick appetizer of goma-ae along with the miso that came with the sukiyaki. We also ordered vegetable soba.

Goma-ae is spinach blanched and served cold with a sweet sesame sauce that is fantastic. It's the type of veggie dish that might turn people on to spinach.

The veggie soba was flavorful and generously portioned. Chili powder on the side added some zip and it was hot, satisfying and as the weather gets colder will be progressively more appreciated.

I have thought alot about the sukiyake over the past few days, I know that's weird. It's really good. Really good. It's made an impression because it's a perfect mix of certain flavors that I appreciate with a slight twist. Sukiyake is traditionally served with a cracked egg on top and while you can order it that way they generally don't serve it so. It's a stew with beef rib eye sliced super thin, mushrooms, onions, and glass noodles in a broth. It's eaten over rice and shares qualities of beef stew, french onion soup, sauteed mushrooms and something else.

The something else I'm still working on. I must have commented on it 4 or 5 times over the course of dinner. It was really good. Everything was REALLY good.

It may have been the best thing I've eaten since the Lucky Kebab's Nehari... this week I'm going to Sabri and I hope it's as good.

5449 N. Clark St.
Chicago

Comments

[Tim]

Good place. I love their katsu-don!