50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Elmwood Park

“Love this place!!! Everything was fresh and super tasty—especially the sushi, poke bowl, and Teriyaki. The sauce on the teppanyaki was so good! Definitely ordering again!“

“Wonderful and friendly staff. Delish food.“

“I usually don’t leave reviews, but Sushi Yolo definitely deserves one!

I decided to treat myself to celebrate the end of my doctorate program. It was a totally spontaneous decision, so I didn’t spend much time choosing a place. I opened Resy, typed “sushi midtown,” picked one of the top-rated spots, and honestly—I’m so glad I chose Sushi Yolo.

The food was great, but what really made the night special was Alex, the host. He was incredibly attentive and welcoming. I ended up having such a fun and meaningful conversation with him and another guest, Jerry—which is rare for me since I don’t usually talk to strangers. We talked about all kinds of things, and the vibe was just so easy and genuine.

Alex also kept pouring complimentary sake on the house, which was such a generous and thoughtful touch. This is one of those nights I’ll definitely remember—the atmosphere, the food, the conversations, and the company.

Thank you, Alex, for the amazing hospitality and real conversations. You and Jerry truly made my night.

I’ll definitely be back to this lovely restaurant soon.

Wishing you all the best on your journey with your husband!“

“Our 1st omakaze experience & def not the last! I love the smallness of the place, it makes it special! Everything melts in your mouth! The best Christmas gift ever!“

“We had such a wonderful experience! Marilyn took amazing care of us.
she helped with the wine and made sure our order was perfect. Leo was so friendly and kind, and Ryan kept checking in to make sure everything was going well. The food was absolutely delicious..especially the sushi, which was incredibly fresh and flavorful!
The cozy atmosphere made everything even better.
Thank you all so much for such a lovely night!“

“This restaurant is a true hidden gem, offering one of the best omakase experiences I've had, with incredibly fresh, high-quality fish and creative, unique dishes that keep me coming back constantly. Chef Frankie's thoughtful approach to the menu and overall customer experience truly shines through, showing genuine care for every detail of the meal. Highly recommend!“

“Wow. This place is incredible! The portions are very good for the price. Awesome presentation. Fast service. Tasty… SUPER tasty. A+ all around.“

“Exceptional goods/services from EXCEPTIONAL people.

It makes me very happy that this exists in a town/area that means a lot to myself and many others.

I encourage everyone reading this, whether you are in the mood for food, milk tea, or other treats, they have you covered here and with a smile and great conversations.

Bless the owners of this establishment that have spent their lives making the lives of others better via their hard work and tasty recipes!!!“

“Best sushi restaurant I have EVER been to. It is VERY affordable, the service is amazing!!!! I went with my wife and my son, and they gave use free desert and food for my son. I will be recommending everyone I know to come here. 10/10✨✨✨“

“I can’t say enough good things about this place. I have been 5+ times and it’s just amazing every time. It’s almost like being in Tokyo—and it’s uptown! They were especially sweet for my son’s birthday dinner with a gold dust laden extra piece of his favorite — king salmon!“

“I had a great experience at Maki Sushi while I was in town for work and happened to stumble in for dinner. I sat at the sushi bar and ordered the Sushi Deluxe, which came with 10 pieces of chef’s-choice sushi and a roll — I went with salmon and avocado. Everything was fresh, well prepared, and thoughtfully put together.

Pete, who is both the sushi chef and the owner, was excellent. We struck up a genuinely good conversation while I was eating, and he was friendly, complimentary, and clearly takes pride in what he does. Sitting at the bar felt welcoming and relaxed — the kind of place where you actually enjoy talking to the person making your food.

One small but really impressive detail stood out: Pete noticed I like a little wasabi with my tuna and offered me fresh wasabi without me even asking. For a sushi spot of this size, having fresh wasabi on hand is always impressive — it’s a great little treat, and usually something you only get if you know to ask. That kind of attentiveness says a lot.

The quality of the fish here is excellent. My favorite bite of the night was the salmon belly — rich, buttery, and delicious. The sushi here is definitely geared toward a more classic and approachable palate. It’s simple, clean, and done well, and the quality of the fish and service really shine.

I’m really glad I found this place and will absolutely come back next time I’m in the area. Thanks for a great experience, Pete — maybe next time I’m in town you’ll have some toro on hand just for me.

Highly recommend.“

“Nothing… but good things to say about this place. Seriously. Not only was our food vivacious, extraordinary, and a religious experience for the palate — our server, Sam, was nothing but helpful and attentive throughout our entire meal. He was incredibly inviting and warm (this guy should do stand up) and our experience would not have been the same without him. Now for the food. The flavors… where do I even begin? Rich. Luxurious. Multi-faceted. Whether it’s a poke bowl or a shrimp tempura roll you are guaranteed a transformative experience. When eating here, be ready for excellence. No joke. 11/10 will be coming back. Additionally, the atmosphere in this niche underground Montclair spot was nothing short of perfection. Both the songs and the beautiful views of the raw bar were essential to our wonderful experience. Till next time Sushi Koshi.“

“The people are the best! We have been coming here for years and enjoy the food and amazing service.“

“Excellent Ramen. Great service. Great little spot. The kimchi they bring you is divine, spicey, and delicious. The Spicey Ramen I had was amazing, even down to delicious bean sprouts. The spring rolls were on point. By far the best shrimp tempora I've had. Simple, light, crisp and delicious. Oh and the house sake was fantastic. If you're in the area, check this place out. It will not disappoint!“

“just delicious!!“

“Great service and really yummy food.“

“Honestly this is one of the best places I have been recently! I looked on a top rated place and found this one. It lived up to it's name! Sushi was fresh and delicious. We also had perfectly salty edamame and yummy mochi. They even gave us an extra one! If was a very calm place only sushi bar seating but YUM!“

“Neighborhood gem, 2 in 1 Japanese grocer and takeout/delivery.

I love coming here, the staff is so incredibly friendly giving you that same amazing level of customer service you might expect at a store in Japan. My son loved the pancake mix and rice crackers and I love the chicken katsu from the restaurant!“

“Absolutely loved my experience at Uncle Fatty's Sushi Bubble! 🍣✨ This spot is a hidden gem — incredibly affordable without sacrificing quality or flavor. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and everything came out super fast, which is perfect for a quick lunch or casual dinner. The staff were welcoming and genuinely friendly, making the whole visit even more enjoyable. If you're looking for great sushi with top-notch service, this place is a must-try!“

“Love Curiosity! Delicious, fresh and well priced food. The garden provides a great atmosphere. The staff is so friendly and the owner treats you like an old friend as soon as you walk in. Highly recommend Curiosity for your dining experience.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — Absolutely Incredible Sushi Experience! I can’t say enough great things about this place! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and beautifully designed. The staff went above and beyond—friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. The food? Next level. The Maru Ceviche was out of this world—so flavorful, bright, and perfectly balanced. The specials were absolutely on point, each one showcasing the chef’s creativity and premium ingredients. And the otoro? Pure melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Honestly, this was the best sushi I’ve had in my entire life. Every roll was unbelievably fresh and beautifully crafted, and the presentation was stunning. Nothing felt rushed, and each course felt thoughtful and intentional. If you’re searching for top-tier sushi, exceptional service, and unforgettable flavors, this is the spot. This restaurant exceeded every expectation. We will definitely“

“Came here the other night looking for something hot on a cold night and was not disappointed! Cute atmosphere and service was very quick and food lived up to expectations of other ramen places I’ve been too. I definitely recommend for when in the area!“

“This delightful place is a little hidden second floor restaurant, in a “shotgun” style layout - long and narrow, but still plenty of room to sit comfortably. Service was excellent, with prompt and unobtrusive attention y the staff, always ready to bring food and drinks to the table.
Six of us sat near a window and enjoyed grilled skewers of steak, chicken, and vegetables. I rather enjoyed the eggplant and unagi, and we particularly liked the casual and comfortable atmosphere.
Yakatori did not disappoint, and was a welcomed and relaxing time with the adults in the family. Worth returning.“

“Fresh and delicious! The sweetest people too. I bring my 10 year old daughter four out Mama and Me dates and she LOVES it so much. Please give them a try. You won’t be disappointed!“

“Had some of the best sushi ever this afternoon. Randomly stopped in to this unassuming spot in a strip mall and wow, it was so good! If you are nearby, don't drive by without giving them a try. If you are local, you're lucky to have this in town.“

“It's hard to find great food near Carnegie Hall that does not cost an arm in a leg. But looking online we saw how reasonably priced this place is. Little did we know that the place would be absolutely gorgeous and the wait staff would be so friendly, quick and efficient, despite being extremely busy. And the food was outta sight! Fresh and delicious. Definitely a keeper. I will go even if I am not on my way to Carnegie Hall!!!“

“I had great time this restaurant with my family!
Their signature Japanese style Hamba-gu is so soft and fluffy. To pair with it, our waitress gave us excellent descriptions about the six different sauces we could pick from. There was the Red Wine Demi-glace, Tomato Marinara, Gorgonzola White Cream, Soy-Onion, Oroshi Ponzu, and Chimichuri. She had recommended me the Soy-Onion sauce. And let me tell you, I am so glad I went with that sauce. It was truly exceptional! It had the perfect balance between it being salty and sweet, pairing perfectly with white rice. Although, I absolutely have to go back to try the other sauces as well!
Their Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) reminds me of when I had it in Japan, crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside.
For the side dishes, I recommend are Karaage (a Japanese style of Fried Chicken) and Yuzu Tomato. I also saw some other people having Toro Tartare and Yellow Tail Jalapeño and it looked so delicious!! Another reason to go back!“

“We love Ninja Sushi! It’s our go-to sushi spot in the area. The food is always so fresh, professionally prepared and the staff is super friendly. Try the OMG roll, because…. OMG, the presentation says it all! It’s where sushi meets comfort food. Delicious.“

“Absolutely love this place! I’ve been going for about 4 years now and I love the food! Anytime we have guests visiting I always take them here for a unique experience!“

“We order from Kyoto about once a week; my family loves it! If you enjoy spicy food, the Super Steve Roll is hard to beat. The green salad with ginger dressing is delicious, as is the hibachi steak entree. But FYI: on busy nights, it can easily take more than an hour to get your food delivered, so plan ahead and order early to avoid disappointment.“

“Excellent experience from start to finish. The service was stellar, so warm and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious (highly recommend the spicy tuna tartare), and the omakase was outstanding. This was truly one of the best dining experiences my partner and I have had in New Jersey.“

“I order from here all the time; usually for the lunch special in person and online. The sushi always tastes fresh and for the price it's 👌. I love coming here and I always recommend this place to my friends. Highly recommend! I'd come here every week if I could lol“

“Awesome vibe and creative dishes!“

“We celebrated our anniversary at Masa Hinoki Counter. The food and service were both excellent, and the experience was very enjoyable overall, although I wasn’t able to eat as much as I would have liked. At times, the atmosphere was somewhat lively due to other guests, and I had hoped for a calmer, more reflective ambiance.“

“We had a company team bonding dinner here and it was really good. The sushi was amazing, the hibachi was amazing and everyone really enjoyed themselves. Highly recommend!! Service was pretty good. They do have tables without hibachi as well.“

“Second to none! The ingredients are fresh and chef skills are world class.“

“We love Tempura Place! We go probably weekly and often order platters for parties. They know us by name and are very friendly with us. We have friends of friends who rave about the party platters we bring. The food is fresh & delicious!“

“Love This place !“

“So good . When you order takeout fried food, they wait to the last minute of your delivery time to put the food in the fryer. Don't complain if you have to wait a few extra minutes . To get hot crisp food instead of soggy cold stuff that steamed it self cold in the togo containers. LOVE THEM.“

“Don’t judge a book by its cover for this one. The outside looks like a dark bar, and a dive bar inside. Don’t be deterred. The food is exceptional and beautifully presented. We ordered a tuna tartare, which came in a tower shape, and the oysters were top quality. The toasted striped bass was also awesome. Food is ordered by using a QR code that’s on the table top. Very reasonably priced relative to the quality. Check it out!“

“Tried again spicy intestine soup. Also tried porridge which was golden (happens to be playing as background music). Staffs super friendly and attentive. Looks busy even later, much delivery activity. Oishi.

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3 Japanese restaurants clustered.
Azuma also at NJ. Yakitori Totto reservation late. So, walked into friendly atmosphere of Donburi-ya.

Didn't order Donburi. Ordered Hotspot instead. Also Shishamo with Sapporo and more expensive Asahi Super Dry namabiru.
Fries with sausage but salty, but good beer pairing.
Also ordered house sake hot to go along with horumon Hotpot.
After cabbage subsided, real broth emerged. So good. Perfect winter soul food.
Need carb so added udon noodle. More protein and fat with pork belly which is shabu shabu like thinly sliced.

Zenbu oishi. Gojiso samadeshita.“

“Good food!🍱 a little bit dimly lit but it’s probably to make it feel and look cozy.“

“We had dinner at Matsu on Friday......its a little gem in Hillsdale. We were pleasantly surprised, by the quality and quantity of the food. The Staff went out of their way to accommodate us. They very friendly and warm. It was a most enjoyable dinner. We have ordered food to takeout but hadn't been inside the restaurant since the pandemic.... We will definitely go again soon. It was a great experience and we both recommend you give it a try!“

“The other day I was in the Hudson Yards area and passed by Surma Sushi & Ramen and decided to stop in and check it out. I ordered a Deluxe Sashimi set and the Shrimp Tempura roll. Both items were good the Deluxe Sashimi had a variety of different fish. There was Fluke, Scallops, 3 kinds of Tuna and Salmon. The presentation of the Deluxe Sashimi and the Shrimp Tempura were much different than the plastic containers that Im used to having my sushi served in. The waitresses were very attentive with with water refills and making sure everything was ok with my food. Definitely stop by if you're in the area to have good sushi.“

“I had an incredible dining experience at this sushi place!
The food was fresh and absolutely delicious, with the fish tasting as if it was just caught.
The service was excellent attentive and friendly, making sure everything was perfect throughout the meal.
The highlight of the evening, though, was the mango panna cotta. It was the perfect way to end a delightful dinner—refreshing, smooth, and bursting with flavor. I cannot wait to return! Highly recommended!“

“The signature teriyaki chicken with rice was very good and quite a large portion that two of us were able to share. The tables were clean and many open seats but it felt more like a Mexican restaurant with Spanish music playing in the background.“

“Woman who takes orders is absolutely the worst. It’s my birthday she won’t even give a single smile or have any sense of being personable. You need to replace her or your reputation is gonna go down the drain. Ruined my birthday lunch. I had a feeling she might be awful every day cause this has happened before so we called ahead to warn it was my birthday and they assured we should come. Regret it! Seriously get rid of her!!!!!!“

“It is with a full stomach and heart that I am able to publicly share how wonderful Blu Sushi is. Not only is the fish the freshest, but it run by welcoming and friendly staff, chefs and owners. It is not often that you find a restaurant without any criticisms, but then I found Blu. The dining and take-out experiences are how all food establishments should be run. The staff are clearly happy and supported which makes it, without question, a smaller establishment that I am happy to patronize. If you are reading this and considering ordering or not, just do it. You will not be disappointed with the high quality for a great price . Thank you Blu, for the amazing food and homey feel :)“

“I had an amazing experience at Masago Sushi in Ridgewood, NJ. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The prices are also such a big factor since its so low for such big portions. But what really stood out, was the service. The staff was incredibly attentive, friendly, and quick without ever feeling rushed. They made us feel welcomed from the moment we walked in. I would like to acknowledge the service of Ashley. She was so nice and really made us know that we didn’t make a mistake going here.

The atmosphere is also a big plus! Warm, clean, and relaxing, with a modern touch that makes it perfect for a casual lunch or a nice dinner out. You can tell they put care into creating an inviting dining environment.

Overall, Masago Sushi delivers great food, excellent service, and a wonderful atmosphere. I highly recommend this place to everyone!“

“I’ve been to Star Sushi several times now, and every single visit has been great. The owner, Anthony, and his staff are always super friendly and welcoming. You can tell they genuinely care about their customers — it’s the kind of place where they remember you and your favorites.

The fish is always fresh and the rolls are consistently delicious! My go to is the Star Tower. The amount of fish is very generous and it blends perfectly well with the rice, avocados, roe and sauces. It’s honestly one of the best sushi spots around, both for the food and the people!“