Toyo Grill in Mishawaka, INThere’s no restaurant scene so stylish as sushi. There’s no food more misunderstood. And there may be no cuisine more under-represented in South Bend. The Toyo Grill is working to change that. It’s comfortable if not stylish and covers the expected territory for a sushi place. Next to the more crowded Bonefish Grill, Toyo is a semi-secret spot for sensational seafood. Don’t expect a Chicago/New York/san Francisco club-scene setting, but do expect solid sushi backed by other Japanese standards like tempura and several Korean favorites that draw upon chef Eun Soo Oh’s background.

If you are a sushi expert, head to this restaurant and you’ll do fine. If you are new to the cuisine, you can order a sampler like the visually great and taste-wise solid “Rainbow Platter.” But if you like sushi but are tentative about it, order by color: Toyo’s yellow tail and blue fin are delicious. If you have another favorite it’s a safe bet they do it better than any other place in town. If you order enough, about six rolls worth, it will be delivered on a bridge or ship-themed platter that will gather second glances from everyone in the restaurant.

If you’ve got a taste for sushi or would like to try it, you won’t go wrong at Toyo. It can’t match the vibe more expensive restaurants in larger cities, but it delivers solid meals at mid-level prices. A couple can get out of there for $30 if they order samplers and drink water, but if you want to choose your pieces and drink sake or wine, the tab will be closer to $100 for a couple. Perhaps not an everynight meal, but not unreasonable for appetizers, sushi, sake and wine. One warning, the service can run quite slow, so it’s best to go when you aren’t pressed for time.

Address
620 W Edison #106
Mishawaka, IN 46545
574-254-9120

Hours
Mon-Thur: 5-9
Friday: 5-9:30
Saturday: 4-9
Sunday: 4-9:30

13 Responses

  1. I just went there today (July 07) and the sushi tasted ok (nothing great) but it was very expensive. For almost $5 each the salmon (sake) nigiri was rather small. Also the soft-shell crab roll (spider roll) had some kind of egg product in it as a filler. It was NOT as advertized, and certianly not worth $10.95. I would not recommend this retaurant to anyone who doesn’t have deep pockets. It’s a shame if this is truely the best South Bend has to offer.

  2. I have to disagree with Rebecca. The quality of sushi, the selection, and the atmosphere of Toyo is top notch! Toyo offers a great experience and variety for people that are new to sushi and those with a more sophisticated pallet. The prices are justified by the quality of food served and the dining experience. The staff is very willing to answer questions and give recommendations. The size of the resturant’s seating area is fairly small, especially during busy hours. However, you get the feeling of a quiant sushi shop that you would encounter in Japan. I recommend the California Maki and Spicy Tuna Roll to everyone (Amateurs and Connoisseurs alike). If your ready to take the next step, I highly recommend the White Tuna which is velvetly fleshed and buttery richness. Toyo Grill also offers non-sushi items such as Tempura Shrimp and beef items, which makes it a great destination for Japanese lovers.

  3. I also have to disagree with Rebecca, I visit Chicago quite often and Toyo ranks up there with the best, I have always been treated very pleasant, have had great meals, and have been going to Toyo since it opened, at least 20 years.

  4. I also agree with Rebecca, the servings are small for the price. Head out to Hey Sushi in Roseland, they have way better sushi.

  5. I paid a visit to Toyo grill this past weekend & the food was really good so kudos to the chef but the hostess & waitress were very dissapointing. I had called ahead to inquire if reservations were required & no was the answer. We walk in & they asked if we had reservations so that kinda tipped me off a bit at how the rest of the night was going to be. The waitress was unpleasent & not helpful when it came to ordering. She didn’t smile & was just dry. Other than that the food was excellent but that will be my last visit. Seoul Garden on Mckinley is much better with service as well as food. They just know how to treat people better.

  6. I love Toyo Grill! I have been there twice and think it is excellent. I would highly recommend the rainbow maki, it was very very good. The service for me was fine but I was there when it was not so busy. I have asked before and they do not require but recommend on making reservations on nights that may be busy, which would probably be on the weekends.

  7. If you’re used to sushi from fine places in, say, LA, San Francisco, Boston, and New York, Toyo is a joke. But in a landlocked state, you make do with what you get, and Toyo’s sushi is not bad. Just not great. Their Korean food, on the other hand, is mediocre and overpriced. And that’s coming from a Korean-American who’s willing to lower her standards for any place that’s not Chez Momma, you know what I’m sayin’?

  8. Toyo Grill ROCKS! My hubby took me there for the first time for my birthday yesterday, and the food was AWESOME! And yeah…you’re going to have to wait for them to prepare your sushi, DUH! All good things take time…especially when they’re made by hand… You can even belly up to the bar and watch… We WILL come back, YES! The meal was SO GOOD that I didn’t want it to end…

  9. This restaurant’s sushi might be okay, but dinner entrees are “eat at your own risk.” The spicy sweet and sour chicken is the equivalent of a large chicken tender, heavily fried, cut up into pieces, and topped with barbecue sauce. This was certainly not worth $16 for an entree.

  10. Since living in South Bend we’ve resided in Chicago and now DC and, in my opinion, have yet to find a better spicy tuna roll —anywhere. Toyo is on the top of the to-do list whenever we’re back in town. I dream about it. Seriously.

  11. The food is very fresh and great quality.
    The prices a bit high and the portions are a bit small. That’s typical for japanese cuisine, it’s not volume but the elegance that counts. The staff are unpredictable with new faces all the time- not very well trained, usually cannot handle large volumes of customers at once.

  12. This is our favorite sushi place in South Bend. The tuna, salmon, and escolar (or “super white tuna”) are consistently excellent, and the yellow tail is usually very good. The medium sashimi plate is an amazing deal, for the quality of fish and the money.

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