Bonsai Cafe Menu - Evanston, IL

Asian spot offering Thai, Japanese & Chinese food plus a kids’ menu & an outdoor patio. Based on 102 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.2 stars. Price $$

✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No-contact delivery

Bonsai Cafe 60201

Address:
2916 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201

Phone: (847) 866-7498

Website:

Hours

Sunday	12–8:30 PM
Monday (Labor Day)	11 AM–9 PM Hours might differ
Tuesday	11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday	11 AM–9 PM
Thursday	11 AM–9 PM
Friday	11 AM–9:30 PM
Saturday	4–9:30 PM

Lunch Special
Lunch Special Combination Your choice of one appetizer and one entree. includes mis soup and side salad.	$11.50
Lunch Bento Box
Lunch Bento Box Combination of one roll maki and one entree. Includes miso soup and side salad.	$12.50
Sushi Lunch Special
Sushi Deluxe Lunch Five piece chef’s selected sushi with one tuna maki.	$14.00
Sushi Sashimi Combo Lunch Three piece of chef’s selected sushi, three pieces of chef’s selected sashimi, and one roll of California maki.	$15.00
Lunch Roll Set 1 California maki and tuna maki.	$11.00
Lunch Roll Set 2 Tuna maki and salmon maki.	$11.00
Lunch Roll Set 3 Yellowtail maki and unagi maki.	$11.00
Lunch Roll Set 4 Avocado maki and sweet potato maki.	$11.00
Lunch Roll Set 5 Salmon avocado maki and tuna avocado maki.	$11.00
Lunch Roll Set 6 Spicy salmon and spicy shrimp maki.	$11.00
Appetizers
Pot Stickers Classic pan-fried Asian dumplings. Served with soy ginger dip and sesame mustard. Choice of chicken or vegetable.	$7.50
Chinese Dumplings Steamed Chinese dumplings with soy ginger dip and sesame mustard. Choice of chicken or vegetable.	$7.50
Grilled Tofu Satays Tender and marinated tofu, grilled and served with peanut sauce and cucumber.	$7.50
Grilled Chicken Satays Tender and marinated chicken, grilled and served with peanut sauce and cucumber.	$8.50
Tempura Appetizer Crispy golden shrimp with vegetable tempura served with tempura dipping sauce.	$8.50
Vietnamese Shrimp Rolls Shrimp, lettuce, peanuts, basil and pho noodles wrapped with rice paper. Served with lemon dipping sauce.	$8.50
Fried Tofu Fried tofu triangles, accompanied with our sweet & sour sauce and topped with ground peanut.	$7.50
Crispy Egg Rolls Chicken, pork, bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms. Served with plum sauce and sesame mustard.	$7.50
Crab Rangoon Wonton stuffed with imitation crab, cream cheese, and celery. Served with plum sauce.	$7.50
Chicken Lettuce Wraps Stir-fried chicken and celery served with Boston lettuce, bean sprouts, and hoisin sauce.	$9.00
Thai Herb Calamari Marinated in Thai herbs and lightly fried. Served with Thai lemon dipping sauce.	$8.50
Shrimp Shumai Steamed shrimp shumai topped with sesame oil and cilantro. Served with ginger garlic dipping sauce.	$8.50
Soft Shell Crab Appetizer Fried soft shell crab. Served with ponzu sauce and cucumbers.	$9.00
Small Specialties
Cucumber Salad	$5.00
Edamame Boiled soy beans, lightly salted.	$5.00
House Salad	$6.50
Seaweed Salad Marinated seaweed with sesame seed, tangy flavor.	$6.50
Spicy Peanut Noodles Noodles tossed with peanut sauce served with cucumber and cilantro.	$6.50
Szechuan Green Beans Wrinkled and sweet green beans, red peppers and bamboo shoots stir-fried with spicy Szechuan sauce.	$7.50
Soup
Miso Soup Soy bean based soup with tofu, seaweed, and scallions.	$5.00
Vietnamese Chicken Pho Soup Shredded chicken, rice noodles, herbs, and peppers.	$7.50
Chicken Dumpling Noodle Soup Dumplings, egg noodles, bok choy, and scallions topped with sesame oil.	$7.50
Vegetable Dumpling Noodle Soup Dumplings, egg noodles, bok choy, and scallions topped with sesame oil.	$67.50
Tom Yum Soup Traditional hot & sour broth, herbs, lemon grass, and lime leaf. Choice of chicken, tofu, or shrimp.	$7.50
Shrimp Wonton Soup Shrimp wontons, bean sprouts, scallions, and sesame oil.	$8.50
Tom Kha Soup Lemon grass and Thai herbs in coconut milk broth. Mildly spicy. Choice of chicken or shrimp.	$7.50
Noodles
Pad Thai Thailand’s most famous dish. Rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, peanuts, scallions, cilantro, and cabbage. Choice of chicken, beef, shrimp, or salmon.	$12.00
Kung Pao Noodles Chinese egg noodles, ginger, garlic, peanuts, and blackened chilies with spicy kung pao sauce. Choice of chicken or tofu.	$12.00
Panang Curry Noodles Chicken Wide noodles and chicken in peanut coconut curry with peas and fresno peppers.	$12.00
Basil Noodles Wide noodles, shrimp, chicken, grape tomatoes, peppers, water chestnuts and Thai herbs mixed with tasty sauce.	$13.00
Thai Curry Beef Noodles Our homemade Thai yellow curry tossed with Chinese egg noodles, beef, peanuts, pea pods, and peppers.	$13.00
BBQ Pork Chow Fun Roasted pork, wide noodles, bell peppers, bok choy, mushrooms, and bean sprouts.	$13.00
Beef Chow Fun Wide noodles lightly browned in the wok and tossed with beef, peppers, ginger, and garlic.	$13.00
Garlic Shrimp Noodles Golden shrimp, fresno peppers, peanuts, ginger, garlic, and scallions with Chinese egg noodles.	$14.00
Pad See Eew Stir-fried wide noodles with broccoli, egg, and garlic in brown sauce. Choice of shrimp, beef, chicken, or tofu.	$12.00
Bonsai Noodles Salmon Stir fried thin noodles with napa cabbage, egg, and garlic with brown sauce. Topped with salmon teriyaki.	$16.00
Rice
Kung Pao Chicken Chicken, peanut, and garlic stir-fried with baby spinach and blackened chilies with sweet and spicy kung pao sauce.	$12.00
Kung Pao Beef With Green Beans Sweet wrinkled green beans, ginger, garlic, and blackened chilies stir fried with spicy kung pao sauce.	$13.00
Kung Pao Shrimp Shrimp, peanut, garlic stir fried with snow peas, bell peppers, blackened chilies and spicy kungpao spice.	$14.00
Sesame Chicken Crispy chicken tossed with bell peppers and carrots in sesame tangy sauce, topped with sesame seed.	$12.00
Crispy Orange Chicken Crispy golden chicken tossed with ginger, scallions, bell peppers, and fresh orange peels stir fried with citrus sauce.	$12.00
Chicken Fried Rice With egg and fresh Asian vegetables.	$12.00
Tofu Fried Rice With egg and fresh Asian vegetables.	$12.00
Vegetable Fried Rice With egg and fresh Asian vegetables.	$12.00
BBQ Pork Fried Rice With egg and fresh Asian vegetables.	$13.00
Beef Fried Rice With egg and fresh Asian vegetables.	$13.00
Shrimp Fried Rice With egg and fresh Asian vegetables.	$14.00
Chicken Teriyaki Fried Rice Teriyaki chicken fried rice, egg and fresh Asian vegetable.	$12.00
Thai Hot Basil Chicken Thai herb, peanuts, hot peppers, and red onion.	$12.00
Snow Peas Chicken And Mushroom Snow peas, water chestnuts, and mushroom stir-fried with light brown sauce.	$12.00
Mongolian Beef Traditional Mongolian beef with mixed mushroom, red onion, bamboo shoots, and scallions in brown sauce.	$13.00
Beef Broccoli Broccoli, mushroom, ginger, and garlic in brown sauce.	$13.00
Cashew Chicken Mushroom, pineapple, pea pod, bell pepper, and blackened chilies in sweet tangy sauce.	$12.00
Spicy Szechuan Beef Tender beef with bamboo shoot, hot peppers, garlic, and tsao tsing wine in spicy Szechuan sauce.	$13.00
Mild Yellow Curry With sweet potato and peas. Choice of chicken or tofu.	$12.00
Thai Red Curry Homemade curry with bamboo shoot, bell pepper and basil. Choice of chicken or tofu.	$12.00
Duck Thai Red Curry Homemade curry with duck, tomatoes, bell peppers, pineapple and basil.	$14.00
Mixed Vegetables Stir fried mixed vegetables with garlic in light brown sauce. Choice of chicken or tofu.	$12.00
Crunchy Szechuan Shrimp Crispy golden shrimp in spicy Szechuan sauce, hot pepper, and bamboo shoot.	$14.00
Ginger Seafood Combo Shrimp and scallop, blackened chilies, ginger, mushroom, and water chestnut in tasty sauce.	$16.00
Seafood Curry Shrimp and scallop, pea pod, bell pepper, and ginger in peanut coconut curry.	$16.00
Mu Shu Duck Roasted duck with mushroom, carrot, green onion, bamboo shoot, and egg wrapped in mushu pancake. Served with hoisin sauce.	$14.00
Teriyaki Chicken Served with a side of tempura or steamed vegetables.	$12.00
Teriyaki Beef Served with a side of tempura or steamed vegetables.	$13.00
Teriyaki Salmon Served with a side of tempura or steamed vegetables.	$16.00
Bonsai Bento Box – Chicken Teriyaki Served with three pieces of sushi, California maki, jasmine rice, and miso soup. Choice of chicken teriyaki, salmon teriyaki, beef teriyaki, or shrimp tempura.	$19.00
Bento Box Served with three pieces of sushi and California maki. Served with jasmine rice and miso soup. Choice of chicken teriyaki, salmon teriyaki, beef teriyaki, or shrimp tempura.	$19.00
Salad Entrees
Bonsai Chicken Salad Shredded chicken, romaine, mixed green and crunchy noodles mixed with Asian vinaigrette served with peanut dressing.	$12.00
Grilled Chicken Salad Mixed green, romaine, cucumber and crunchy noodles topped with grilled marinated chicken and homemade sauce.	$12.00
Mandarin Steak Salad Cabbage, mandarin oranges, and crunchy noodles with tender steak. Served with sesame ginger vinaigrette.	$13.00
Teriyaki Glazed Salmon Salad Romaine and mixed greens, bean sprouts, carrots and crunchy noodles with glazed salmon teriyaki served with wasabi dressing.	$15.00
Crispy Shrimp Salad Fried golden shrimp over romaine and mixed greens. Served with honey mustard.	$14.00
Pad Thai Noodle Salad Thin noodles, chicken, peanuts mixed with Thai dip dressing over cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts and crunchy noodles.	$12.00
Chinese Chicken Salad Shredded chicken over napa cabbage, bean sprouts, crunchy noodles, sesame seed with hoisin sauce.	$12.00
Bonsai Sushi Platters
Bonsai A Three pieces of tuna sushi and 3 pieces of salmon sushi 3 pieces of tuna maki and 3 pieces of salmon maki.	$20.00
Bonsai B Combination of asparagus maki, shiitake maki, avocado maki and seaweed salad.	$20.00
Bonsai C Three pieces of Hamachi sushi, three pieces of super white tuna sushi and spicy California maki.	$20.00
Chirashi Platter Assorted fish and Japanese pickle on a bed of sushi rice.	$21.00
Sake Don Platter Assorted fish and Japanese pickle on a bed of sushi rice.	$21.00
Tekka Don Platter Assorted fish and Japanese pickle on a bed of sushi rice.	$21.00
Unagi Don Platter Assorted fish and Japanese pickle on a bed of sushi rice.	$21.00
Sushi Platter Chef’s choice of 12 pieces of assorted fish.	$21.00
Sashimi Platter Chef’s choice of 12 pieces of assorted fish.	$21.00
Salmon Lovers Platter Two pieces of salmon sushi, two pieces of salmon sashimi, one salmon maki, and one salmon salad.	$21.00
Tuna Lovers Platter Two pieces of tuna sushi, two pieces of tuna sashimi, one tuna maki and one spicy tuna salad.	$21.00
Sushi For Two Two pieces of tai, two pieces of tuna, two pieces of hamachi, and spicy tuna maki.	$21.00
Sushi and Sashimi
Tamago, Cooked Egg	$2.00
Inari, Tofu	$2.00
Sake, Fresh Salmon	$2.50
Suzuki, Striped Bass	$2.50
Saba, Mackerel	$2.50
Tai, Red Snapper	$2.50
Tako, Octopus	$2.50
Ika, Squid	$2.50
Ebi, Cooked Shrimp	$2.50
Masago Smelt roe.	$2.50
Kani, Crab	$2.50
Maguro, Fresh Tuna	$2.50
Hamachi, Yellowtail	$2.50
Ikura, Salmon Roe	$2.50
Tobiko, Flying Fish Roe	$2.50
Wasabi Tobiko	$2.50
Black Tobiko	$2.50
Smoked Salmon	$3.00
Spicy Scallop	$3.50
Super White Tuna	$3.50
Unagi, Fresh Water Eel	$3.50
Makimono
California Maki Choice of mild or spicy.	$7.50
Tekka Maki Choice of mild or spicy.	$7.50
Salmon Maki Choice of mild or spicy.	$7.50
Yellowtail Maki Choice of mild or spicy.	$7.50
Oshinko Maki	$7.50
Spicy Tuna Maki	$7.50
Spicy Salmon & Cucumber Maki	$7.50
Salmon & Avocado Maki	$7.50
Futo Maki	$8.50
Sweet Potato Maki	$8.50
Unagi Maki	$10.00
Kappa Maki	$7.50
Avocado Maki	$7.50
Shiitake Maki	$7.50
Asparagus Maki	$7.50
Vegetable Maki	$7.50
Philly Maki	$9.50
Popular Maki
Manhattan Maki Ebi, cucumber, and avocado with spicy mayo.	$12.00
Sakekawa Fuji Maki Fried salmon skin, cucumber, and tempura crumb with spicy mayo.	$12.00
Mexican Maki Yellowtail, cucumber, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, and hot sauce.	$12.00
Spider Maki Soft shell crab, masago, avocado, and cucumber with unagi sauce.	$12.00
Shrimp Tempura Maki Shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, masago, and spicy tuna.	$12.00
Special Philly Maki Smoked salmon and cream cheese topped with avocado tempura crumb.	$14.00
Dragon Maki Shrimp tempura topped with unagi and avocado with unagi sauce.	$15.00
Red Dragon Maki Spicy tuna maki topped with tuna, avocado, and spicy mayo.	$15.00
Rainbow Maki California maki topped with assorted fish.	$15.00
White Dragon Maki Shrimp tempura, cucumber, and spicy mayo topped with super white tuna and avocado.	$15.00
Signature Maki
Shogun Maki Sweet potato tempura, cream cheese, unagi sauce, wasabi mayo, green onion, and tempura crumb.	$14.00
Samurai Maki Shrimp tempura, avocado, cream cheese, masago, unagi sauce, wasabi mayo, green onion, and tempura crumb.	$15.00
Bonsai Maki (No Seaweed) Avocado and tuna topped with salmon and assorted tobiko. No seaweed.	$15.00
Evanston Maki (No Seaweed) Salmon, crab stick, and masago with spicy mayo. No seaweed.	$14.00
New York Maki Smoked salmon, cream cheese, avocado, and crabstick topped with masago and unagi sauce.	$15.00
Chicago Crunchy Maki Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, lettuce, cucumber, avocado, red tobiko and tempura crumb topped with wasabi mayo and unagi sauce.	$17.00
Alaska Night Maki King crab, scallion, avocado and spicy mayo topped with super white tuna, unagi sauce, and green tobiko.	$17.00
Ruby Maki Shrimp tempura and cucumber topped with avocado, salmon, and red tempura crumb.	$15.00
Ocean Breeze Maki Ebi, cucumber, and unagi topped with Hamachi and avocado with wasabi mayo sauce.	$15.00
Blossom Maki Shrimp tempura topped with tamago, ikura, and spicy mayo.	$15.00
Sunset Maki Crabstick, cucumber, and avocado topped with spicy tuna.	$14.00
Green Turtle Maki Unagi and cucumber topped with ebi, avocado, and green tobiko.	$15.00
Boston Maki Shrimp tempura, crab stick, and avocado topped with unagi sauce and spicy mayo.	$17.00
Godfather Maki Unagi, asparagus, green onion, salmon topped with black tobiko and sweet sauce.	$18.00
Las Vegas Maki Soft shell crab, cream cheese, lettuce, spicy mayo topped with unagi and avocado.	$18.00
Kid’s Menu
Kid’s The Bears Combination of chicken teriyaki with rice, two chicken pot stickers, steamed broccoli, and fresh fruit.	$9.00
Kid’s The Bulls Combination of orange chicken, two pieces of chicken satay, steamed broccoli, rice, and fresh fruit.	$9.00
Kid’s The Cubs Combination of steamed noodles with chicken, egg roll, steamed broccoli, and fresh fruit.	$9.00
Kid’s The Black Hawks Combination of edamame, California maki, miso soup, and steamed broccoli.	$9.00
Sides
Steamed Rice	$3.00
Brown Rice	$3.00
Noodles	$3.00
Side Of Vegetable	$3.00
Side Of Tofu	$3.00
Side Of Chicken	$3.00
Side Of Beef	$3.50
Side Of Shrimp (2 Pcs)	$4.00
Drinks
Thai Iced Tea	$3.00
Fresh Homemade Ginger Ale	$3.00
Soda Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange Fanta or Root Beer.	$2.00
Hot Tea Choice of jasmine tea, japanese green tea, or herbal tea.	$2.00
Smoothies Coconut, Mango, Honeydew or Green Tea.	$3.00
Iced Tea Choice of regular, raspberry, or sweet green tea.	$2.00
Bubble Tea Choice of honey dew, coconut, mango, or green tea.	$3.00

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Reviews

Matt Scarano

We had a great lunch here! Great food and great prices. They have such a broad menu it is sure to please everyone. Service was also great. My wife had sushi and I had beef chow fun. And the egg roll was awesome!

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Nicole K

Wow what a wonderful and amazing lunch! The food was so fresh and hit the spot! I am glad I followed the other reviews. I will be back. I had pad see ewe and my friend had cashew chicken. Bothe came with a appetizer, soup, salad, and an entree. So amazing!

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Kimberly Weinstein

Pleasant staff. Food average quality and value. Less than 10 minute walk, we’ve passed it often. Easy to see why usually empty. Clearly focused on take out/delivery customers.

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Alec Apelian

Richie is very nice and always attentive. He is very knowledgeable about all the items on the menu. The quality of the ingredients and the food at this place is the best! Better than many other places in the area selling the same thing. The Pho Soup was absolutely amazing. The Pad Thai was also delicious! It cost $12.50 and it can serve two people at least. Whoever makes the food here is the best and deserves a raise! The food always tastes fresh. It’s never frozen or microwaved. I will be coming back here very often. The only downside I can say is that I wish I could get a little more in the lunch special. I will come back here to try everything on the menu.

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Charles Rooney

Fun little spot, BYOB, dine in and take out available. Have been going to bonsai since the pandemic. Great take out for sushi rolls and Chinese. Not your average Chinese food but very close.

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Phillip Klein

I unhappy that I have to give a bad review to a restaurant we have patronized about monthly for about 5 years. The last two times we have ordered, the food was not as good as we remembered. The Chicken Dumpling soup was pretty tasteless; the beef curry had spaghetti, not noodles and the meat was overcooked and of low quality; the chicken broccoli tasted more like orange chicken and was not very good. Couldn’t finish dinner and we threw out the leftovers. Perhaps they should raise their prices and serve better food. We’ll try once more in a few months but if they don’t improve, they are off our list!

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ChinLet Collectibles

How the tea was serviced was a nice experience.

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Carol Hirsch

It was great. Food was perfect. The gal waiting on us was a pleasure.

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Cat Vielma

Great local spot for reliable pan-asian dining options…. I’m a regular for the tempura, shrimp shumai, and the pad see ewe noodles which are delicious! Food is always steaming hot and clearly freshly made.

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Sean W.

Always delicious! Small independent spot with friendly service and easy parking. Best Thai red curry I’ve ever had!

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Bonsai Cafe Menu – Evanston, IL

Hours

Menu

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Reviews

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