Akai Hana Market

Was very disappointed when I got here. Reading some of the reviews I guess I expected too much in terms of quantity and variety of items. This place would be more like what I would expect in Tulsa not a bigger city. Mitsuwa a much better shopping spot. If you live in the area and needed something it would be ok but def not worth a trip from anywhere else in the city.

sushi is the bomb here. ’nuff said.

very fresh sashimi!
always a quick fix, if you feel like Japanese that night and you are around the area.

Love this place! Like the previous comments have said, it has a little bit of everything. Perfect place to buy all the needed ingredients to make sushi at home!
The staff is very helpful and understanding. They even go the extra mile to even explain alternatives and offer suggestions.
Now, they sell Japanese hair products, make-​up, facial-​moisture packs, which works wonderfully for me. I also tried their smoothies and bubble shakes, and it tastes great. I love the added tapioca!
Definitely recommend to stop by if you’re ever in Wilmette

Created a Unilocal account after I experienced great customer service from the staff at Akai Hana Market. I heard about this place from a friend, and decided to visit it myself. The workers are very friendly and helpful.
I adore the great variety they have, such as the mochi ice cream, Japanese kit kats, and pocky. They also have fresh vegetable, Japanese alcohol, and fresh sushi. What is better than that!

The place is tiny but jam packed with pretty much all the Japanese groceries you’d ever need and a cute little section with trinkets and hello kitty stuff… I don’t buy hello kitty anymore like I used to but it reminds me of elementary school… There’s just something about places that trigger childhoodie feelings and thoughts that makes me happy…

Best sushi I had in Chicago. I couldn’t resist… even during the 6 years I was a vegetarian. And right behind my mom’s house!
Plus one star for being so good my 9,000 year old father actually gave up his meat-​and-​potatoes Polish-​eating ways for weekly sushi treats. I NEVER thought that would happen. Neither did he.
Minus one star because now if I ever go back there I have to worry about running into my mom. Actually that should be minus 12 stars, but the sushi is REALLY good… especially for someplace so inland.
Then again, I haven’t actually eaten there in the nearly 10 years since I moved to the West Coast, so who knows. Maybe now it sucks by comparison. In my head, however, it’s delightful… apart from the fact my mom might be there.

Next to Akai Hana Restaurant is this small-​scale Japanese grocery store. Given its limited size and non-​discounted prices, it’s not where I do my daily shopping. Rather, it’s where I suddenly end up going because of an item or two that are unexpectedly missing from my kitchen and I can’t be bothered to make a long trip to Mitsuwa.
It reminds me of a convenience store in Japan; they carry a little bit of everything. Pastries, seafood, meat, frozen foods, ready-​made foods, snacks, drinks, condiments, etc… diverse, but in small portions. Aside from the groceries, they also have kitchenware, stationary, and other random stuff that are somewhat collecting dust. (In the back, they have a basket full of marked down ‘expired’ items.)
What’s cool about this place is — and this the main reason for my frequent visits lately — they have a tiny video rental section in the back. They keep the shelves fairly updated, though again, it’s very small.
Lastly, I love the staff here, at least the ones I’ve met. They are all so friendly and helpful. That’s one extra star right there!