Shinju Sushi, Chicago

Don't be fooled by Shinju Sushi's casual exterior. Chicago Reader lauded the restaurant as "[m]ore ambitious and upscale than most of the restaurants in Hyde Park." Japanese wall tapestries and rice-paper partitions accent the space while sushi chefs work nearby in an open kitchen stocked with fresh fish and produce. Learn more ways this BYOB restaurant transports diners straight to Japan.

Four Tips for Your Visit to Shinju Sushi

• Try one of the popular dishes: The Godzilla maki roll combines crunchy tempura with shrimp, avocado, cream cheese, masago, and the same kind of spicy mayo that gives the eponymous movie monster its fire-breathing powers.
• Fish isn't the only filling available: Sushi chefs roll roasted duck into their peking maki roll, for example.
• Consider vegetarian options: The chefs make sweet-potato maki along with nine other meat-free maki mono rolls.
• They do pizza a little differently here: The seafood japanese pizza appetizer mixes shrimp, octopus, and other seafood into a pan-fried batter made with fish broth.