JMK Nippon Restaurant

Good location and nice restaurant but the food was not traditional Japanese, not so good and most of the ingredients can be bought at regular groceries stores like soy sauce, sesame oil , nothing special about it.

After we had dinner at teppan table, we had to take a shower again due to the odor in our clothes and hair.
I think the restaurant doesn't have a good circulation.

I won't recommend it to my family and friends , the teppan tables are noise and barely talk to our family member, it felt like we were in the sport bar.

Best sushi EVAH!!!!

I discovered this place a couple of years ago when I went there for some friend's birthdays. I have not eaten on the grill side because I really don't like that sort of thing so I can only comment on their sushi which is phenomenal. Their pieces of fish are huge, larger than I have seen at any other Japanese restaurant, and the fish is always fresh with a perfect bite. As an example, their unagi has got be about 4" x 1.5". They also have unique and imaginative rolls that are tasty and again are huge, we're talking silver dollar size in diameter. Their pickled ginger is to die for, I could eat a plate of just that. JMK also has an expansive sake menu which I have explored in depth. ; )

Lunch is the best time to go as they have reduced prices on sushi. I've read several complaints here about the service at JMK and all the times I have been there I have never had poor service. I have never had outstanding service either but I'm usually too busy chattering away with my friends so if it takes a little longer to get my water refilled, no biggie - the server's probably going to hate me by the end anyway because I've often stayed past their 2 p.m. middle of the day closing time.

The bottom line is I drive 1.5 hours one way to get to JMK, it is that good.

JMK Nippon has been in the Rockford area for over 20 years at 2 different locations. 20 years ago it was new and different, and I would laugh when novice patrons would complain of "no bread". The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was cozy and friendly. This was my absolute favorite restaurant. With it's success, JMK moved to its own custom built facility and the atmosphere was greatly improved, but the service and food quality has suffered. I've had sushi several times there and the wasabi is heavily inserted and the pieces have fallen apart. When they can't get the rice right, it's a bad sign. The hibachi cooking has always been a winner. A perfect blend of ingredients, but have witnessed more than necessary difficulties with special orders. The service is the one thing that has severely gone down hill. After your initial wet towel and drink order, the staff just vanishes only to reappear with your bill at the end. Over the last 10 years, a competitor has come into the area, Shogun. I can't say the quality of the hibachi is of the same caliber, but you do get more food (except scallops) for your dollar, including noodles. The sushi is better, and the staff is more attentive. If you want excellent sushi, you'll have to step out of Rockford, Minami in Streamwood has spoiled me. And after SushiSamba in Las Vegas, it will be almost impossible to impress me around here.