PUBLISHED IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE JULY 30, 2015

shakou Sushi on Main Street in St. Charles is a hot spot on the river for sushi.

This is the second location for Shakou. Its other location is in Libertyville.

Shakou is Japanese for “social life,” and Shakou Sushi brings its passion for delivering quality Asian fusion dishes to the public with a lifestyle-brand kind of feel.

Here’s the scoop on this new sushi hot spot.

What’s on the menu? Shakou Sushi features modern Japanese cuisine. Sushi is the main event at Shakou Sushi, but cooked dishes such as Tokyo steak, the bi bim bap and chicken teriyaki are not to be missed.

For lunch, Shakou Sushi’s bento boxes come in a variety of options and are served with salad, gyoza, shrimp and vegetable tempura. They also offer salads, soups and guest favorites such as teriyaki chicken.

There are also gluten-free options and a kid’s menu.

About the owners: Aleks and Chrissy Dupor teamed up with business partners and co-owners Adam Garvanian and Ed Hartigan to open the Shakou Sushi in St. Charles. The owners are lifelong friends who have close-knit families where food and love always came together.

Mission statement or philosophy: According to Shakou’s marketing director Randi Moxi, “Shakou Sushi brings the ‘city vibe’ to the suburbs of Chicago through trendy modern Japanese cuisine.”

The decor: The Japanese symbol for happiness is scattered all throughout the menu and the tapestries in Shakou Sushi. This was intentionally placed as customer happiness is Shakou Sushi’s goal. The ambience of the restaurant feels very metropolitan for a suburban location.

Food specialties: Shakou Sushi is the place for modern Japanese cuisine. Shakou Sushi’s executive chef, Sang Choi, is a master chef with over 15 years of experience in Asian cuisine. Chef Choi’s passion is constantly reinventing and innovating fine dining and Asian cuisine and has led other hot spots such as Blue Fin, Blue Ginger and Star Fish.

It’s different because: “The menu is incredibly innovative and versatile,” Moxi said. “Every dish has a Shakou twist and no matter what the palate of the guest, they will find something they love on the Shakou menu.”

Extras: Shakou Sushi has a program called Shakou Cares Program. “This program is designed as a way to give back to the community and causes that touch us all,” Moxi said. During the month of September, Shakou Sushi will be partnering with No Kid Hungry with a portion of proceeds from the month being donated to help the fight to end child hunger.

Price range: $3 to $32 for dishes on the menu. A party of two with drinks can expect a $60 bill, but this all varies depending on appetite and selection.

Shakou Sushi is located at 312 W. Main St. in St. Charles, between Third Street and Fourth Street. They are open daily for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner seven days a week. On weekends, Shakou Sushi offers valet parking. Call 630-444-0850 or visit shakousushi.com/st-charles.

Beth Casey is a freelance writer for the Beacon-News.