Asian cuisines complement each other at Lu’s Sushi & Chinese in Glen Ellyn

Paul Iwanaga  Purchase this photo

Moving from the sushi bar to deliver maki to the dining room is Ken, one of the servers at Lu’s Sushi & Chinese in Glen Ellyn, where the emphasis is on attentive, friendly service along with freshly prepared specialties from Japan and China.

Glen Ellyn, Ill. — When sisters Joyce and Ping Lu researched prospective restaurant locations for their Japanese and Chinese specialties, they discovered sushi had yet to be lured to Glen Ellyn. They converted a former buffet restaurant into a serene retreat whose main room is surrounded by artistically-secluded dining areas, including a Japanese-style tatami room, cleverly modified for comfortable seating.

While Asian-influenced design and artifacts set the stage, the spotlight shines on two other elements.

“We focus on our food and service, the only things that are important,” says Joyce Lu, who is in charge of the front of the house. “My sister works in the kitchen. Every dish (is prepared under her watchful) eye.”

Joyce Lu says Chef Charles Zhen has a following of sushi fans since his days at Momotaro, a Japanese restaurant in Lombard formerly owned by Ping Lu.

“He’s been working his whole life on sushi; he’s very serious about it (and) very famous in the Chicago area,” Joyce says, noting customers can sit at the sushi bar to watch his culinary and artistic skills.

“They always say sushi is not only for your mouth or your stomach — it’s for your eyes, too,” Zhen likes to note.

In the kitchen, the Chinese cooking team focuses on Cantonese and Szechwan specialties. Joyce says their reputation has drawn members of the Chinese consulate to travel from Chicago to dine at Lu’s.

“We do Chinese and sushi, which is very convenient for the customer,” Joyce says. “(For) people (who) want sushi for an appetizer, and Chinese for the entree, this is a perfect place to go.”

Freshness is paramount, Joyce says, with dishes such as the hand-pulled noodles popular across China.

Groups can take their pick of private areas. In the tatami room, shoes are removed and guests sit atop cushions, but a recessed floor under the table allows a conventional seating option. In the Chinese-style rooms, lazy Susans top large round tables for easy access to a variety of dishes.

Joyce says she and her sister have kept prices affordable in recognition of the economic crunch. Among the deals is a happy hour this summer for diners between 3 and 4 p.m. weekdays, offering all sushi and rolls at half price. Lunch specials are regularly priced at $6.95.

An ethereal blue ceiling accent complements the dining room, where the noise level is low and tables and booths enjoy generous spacing. The restaurant serves beer, wine and sake.

Two couples from Winfield — Rosemary and John Knight and Barb and Ed Pavlica — have made Lu’s a regular destination.

“The four of us go out every Friday to different places; we were searching for a new Chinese restaurant,” Rosemary says. “We have been coming here ever since. The food is very good, (as are) the soups.”

Barb appreciates the accommodation of her special requests, such as extra garlic, and the attention to her hot tea.

“They have an excellent variety of dishes,” adds John.