Tai Fai

Tai Fai is proof that the best sushi in a neighborhood is often hiding in the least glamorous strip mall on the block. This Nine Mile hole-in-the-wall has built a genuinely devoted following — the kind of people who’ll tell you, unprompted and at length, that it’s the best sushi in the area for the money. The rolls are fresh, generously filled, and fairly priced, the menu runs deep into Asian-fusion territory (bento boxes, curries, tempura, a famously large miso soup), and “Tai Fai” itself means “great and fast,” which turns out to be an honest mission statement.

Set your expectations for takeout, not ambiance: there are only a handful of seats at the sushi bar and it’s carryout-first by design, so this is a bring-it-home or feed-the-family play rather than a lingering night out. That’s the whole charm. We’ve got it on our list as one of Oak Park‘s most reliable everyday pleasures — and an easy answer whenever the family can’t agree on dinner.