33 Best Japanese Restaurants near Highland Park

“For those that know me, there has been a legend I’ve spoken of many times. Once upon a time, there was a place which provided me with some of my best culinary memories ever. This legendary place was called Mr. Pi’s Sushi Restaurant in Metuchen, NJ. Almost ten years of amazing experiences I had accumulated there. However, one day this place of legend had eventually relocated and, in the years that followed, I spoke of, and daydreamed of, this legendary place quite often. Then, over a decade later, I accidentally find out that they have relocated back to the area near me. My sheer joy, the smile from ear to ear, the absolute excitement, was so intense it was practically palpable. Speaking of palpable… in their journey before returning to Middlesex County, in Highland Park this time around, they have made their menu even BETTER, which seems almost impossible for a place so legendary, but it’s true. They are the best version of themselves they’ve EVER been! If sushi restaurants have a glow up era, they most definitely are at the summit of it, and will most certainly remain there, as legends do. Welcome to Mr. Pi’s 3.0! Placing a restaurant into legendary status is neither something I do easily, haphazardly nor willy nilly. For, you see, I have quite literally tried sushi all over the world. I’ve had sushi in Europe, the UK, the South Pacific, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and yes, Japan. I’ve had sushi in (almost) every one of the 50 states, except for those states in which I just didn’t feel like risking my health by trying the sushi. Of all these places I’ve been to, all over the world, NOWHERE compares to Mr. Pi’s! They are the truest of diamonds, valuable beyond imagination! In an area of NJ where you can barely walk a block without finding yet another sushi restaurant, Mr. Pi’s OUTSHINES every single one of them, by far! What makes a place so legendary? Their food, first and foremost, is TOP TIER, ALWAYS FRESH, HIGH QUALITY, and BEAUTIFULLY, quite STUNNINGLY, PLATED! Great food alone, although amazing, does not grant legendary status. This next part is where many restaurants sadly fall short these days. SERVICE and HOSPITALITY are an art form that not many have mastered the way owner Jeannette and Sushi Maestro Pi have perfected it. They welcome each and every guest with the warmest of greetings, most genuine of smiles, and truly heartfelt interests in giving their customers a PREMIUM experience. How they are able to remember so many people by name is a talent so challenging it’s practically pure magic in and of itself. After even just a second visit, you will already feel like you are home when you dine here. Our server, Cindy, made sure we always had hot tea in our pot, drinks in our glasses, and our every need anticipated and catered to. She truly excelled in her attention to all the details of our dining experience! The atmosphere is a delight, with so much space that they have multiple dining areas and a banquet room that could easily accommodate 50, possibly even 75, people. They also have (a new territory for Pi’s), a full bar with a variety live music certain nights of the week. In this massive space which was once occupied by a Charlie Brown’s of decent proportions, they have managed to retain all the charm embodied in the sushi restaurants of their prior incarnations. Plenty of space, comfy seating, delightful decor, and a bar as well, make this yet another amazing quality this legend has taken on! Of course, one can not dub a restaurant a legend without discussing the food. In the only three times I’ve been in since discovering it’s reemergence locally, I have been dazzled by the displays of sushi some plated with dazzling miniature ice sculptures, as they’ve floated by my table onwards to their destination where I am sure there were patrons in absolute delight. On the menu you can find many of the usual items found in sushi restaurants, but there is quite a list of items that you will find only at Pi’s. Their special rolls have taken creativity to a new level of transcendence. In additi“

“I recently visited Sultan Wok for a quick meal and was amazed. Their half chicken fried rice and boneless spare ribs were not only delicious but also served remarkably fast. The perfect balance of flavor in every bite and the swift service made my dining experience outstanding. Sultan Wok is definitely the go-to spot for anyone seeking great Chinese food without the hassle of waiting!“

“This place is one of our favorites and we've been coming here for many many years. Great sushi, reasonable price, good service and just 10 mins from where we live.The special rolls are great, but there are times I just simply enjoy their no-frills spicy tuna and salmon rolls on the go!We have also taken out their party trays for family gatherings and such multiple times; all our friends and family love them and they never disppoint!“

“We stopped in for dinner this evening (night before Thanksgiving) and we absolutely loved both the food and the service!

We had the kani salad & green salad, the fried shrimp appetizer, salmon sushi, and several special rolls - everything was fresh and very tasty with great portions!

And I would be remiss if I did not mention that our server, Chen, was an integral part of the experience and the enjoyment of our meal! She is a very welcoming host and lively conversationalist who really takes an interest in her work and her customers.

This was our first time dining here and we will certainly be back (and often)!

Parking: Parking was easy, they have plenty of spaces!“

“This food does not disappoint! Highly recommend the Bento Box dinners! It’s literally enough for 2-3 meals or if you can agree on the 2 choices definitely enough to share. Sashimi is fresh and delicious, sushi rolls are creative.“

“I was curious because another reviewer said that out of the 30 ramen places he went to in NJ, this was in the top 3. He’s right! I ordered the black garlic ramen, and it was delicious. Tender pork chasu and the broth wasn’t too salty. I also love that they included corn and bamboo. Very reasonable around $13. Some might want more than 2 pieces of pork, but I thought overall it was a good portion size. We also enjoyed the takoyaki and spicy girl roll (not spicy at all but had salmon, tuna, avocado with crunchy pieces). Service was attentive but not that friendly. Place was clean and decorated with many cool Lego sets! The only negative was the mango bubble tea. It didn’t taste like mango at all. Weird flavor. Save yourself and go to Gong Cha for high quality tea. But I do recommend the food at this place!“

“We really enjoyed the genuine Ramin generous portions and quality ingredients. I would definitely come back here. The only criticism we had was the portion size for the eggroll said you were getting six pieces but what they really meant was three egg rolls cut in half so that was a little disappointing. Not much in the way of atmosphere but good enough for a warm meal.“

“This place has really good sushi and sashimi. I can't really comment on service since myself and my wife order mostly take out or delivery, but we order from them quite often and we are never dissatisfied. We dined inside only a few times and the service was so so, but it was not like one of those horror stories I read;)“

“We love Aoi! It’s the best sushi and Japanese cuisine around.“

“I had the honor privilege and luck of being the very first customer to be served at Kanpachi Sushi during their grand opening on 4/29/2022. The very first think I noticed was how friendly and inviting the staff is, they make you feel welcome the second that you step into their establishment. The second thing I noticed was the how the new renovation which makes you want to come in and have a seat at a table or sit at the sushi bar to watch the sushi master construct your order before your eyes. I am impressed with the addition of this new business to Amboy Ave. The food is fresh, top-quality ingredients prepared by a world class chief and sushi master. I had lunch there yesterday and today. Oh, and did I mention that Kanpachi is a BYOB establishment? Sushi steak and Hibachi lovers, do yourself a favor and get over there. I am making this my go to spot for lunch or dinner, I give Kanpachi 5 stars. Thank you for picking Amboy Ave to open your sushi house.“

“This place was wonderful. The atmosphere was quiet and homely. The lady behind the counter was very friendly. The food was not only presented beautifully, but it tasted even better.The brined egg was super tasty. The prices are fair overall. I highly recommend and I will be going back.“

“Food was delicious and looked beautiful, service was excellent and the atmosphere was lovely. I had the hibachi steak and my husband had the shrimp and vegetable tempura. I was pleased with the size of the meal and the flavor. For dessert we had the banana tempura. A delicious treat and only $4. We hope to come back again!“

“Good Date night me the wifey!“

“I don't understand how they have the ratings they do. Their sushi and milk teas are amazing!!! The workers are quiet and to themselves, but they're not rude. They do an excellent job at providing what you need. And they're fast. I come here a few times a month. Def worth coming here!!“

“As always, delicious food and great staff!“

“Have been there so many times with friends, families and my kids. My kids love the traditional Taiwanese noodles, and I love their Japanese rolls. The cozy ambiance and friendly staff add to the overall dining experience, making it our favorite go-to restaurent! Love this place.“

“I was craving good Japanese food close to home so I went to Teriyaki 1. I got the Chicken Bento box with a Shrimp roll, Angry Dragon roll and a Cucumber and Avocado roll. It was absolutely delicious that was my first time trying the Angry Dragon, and I enjoyed it. My food was fresh and full of flavor. The only room for improvement is that the spring rolls that came with my Bento box was too oily, I had to blot it with a towel to absorb the oil. Other than that the food was great and I highly recommend it to anyone, and would definitely go back. 👌🏾👍🏾“

“The place is small but the food is AMAZING!! Love the ninja theme they put around the place. Will definitely come back more offten.“

“This is usually my favorite sushi spot but unfortunately service was extremely slow this time. My first order never came out and I had to flag down the server after waiting a long time. He said he forgot to put it in. Several times he never brought back the menu to continue ordering, even though the menu is supposed to be kept at the table. The sushi took a long time to come out each time and the server barely checked on my table. Disappointing but hopefully next time is better as this is one of my favorite sushi places.“

“It’s a takeout joint - small- but it is so worth the trip! Fresh and delish! Anything from sushi to ramen .. Hard working friendly staff. I give them 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Love their Bento boxes!!!“

“Quickly seated, drink and app order taken. Solid menu of sushi and cooked dishes. Edamame was served nice and hot along with my green tea. Salad was nice and fresh, ginger dressing just right. The sashimi was beautifully plated and tasted great. My glass was never empty and service kind. Absolutely recommend and would return.“

“Outstanding food and very friendly staff ~ highly recommend!“

“Lara put on a great show and the food was very tasty for my moms birthday. Thank you Lara.“

“Great food !! Amazing service!! Absolutely loved it !“

“Tried eating here for the first time. If you love good Japanese food...you MUST eat here. Out to go order included tempura green bean appetizer that was perfection on a plate. Next we got the shrimp and vegetables tempura that had 5 large delicious shrimp and pieces of sweet potato, broccoli, and onion. Crispy and tasty. We also tired the teriyaki chicken and the teriyaki salmon, both with salad, soup, and veggies. The salad come with a citrus ginger dressing (really good). The portions of chicken and salmon were just right and the flavor was one of the better teriyaki we have had in a long time. Overall, 5 out of 5. This may have been out first time, but it will not be the last! Eat here... you can thank me later.“

“Humble as the place may appear, the food and the service are one of its kind. God only knows why New Brunswick deserves such a spot. Why doesn’t Chef Ge have a Michelin star? It’s not open to the public and there’s no open sesame. Legend has it that chef Ge shall find you in your dream should you wish.“

“chicken bowl was so good and great sushi“

“Had a wonderful experience here! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The staff were welcoming and attentive without being overbearing. The atmosphere was cozy and perfect for a relaxed meal. Everything from the appetizers to the dessert exceeded my expectations. Definitely a place I’ll be recommending to friends and returning to myself“

“Amazing sushi! I would definitely recommend coming here to eat, especially the dinner for two.“

“I’ve been getting food from hibachi express with my family and friends since they opened about 1.5 years ago and have never had a bad experience. The food is always amazing and the service is always great! I 100% recommend trying hibachi express!“

“The best sushi place in NJ! We have been eating sushi for a long time in different places across NJ but none of them can beat Sushi O. The food is absolutely delicious and fresh. The atmosphere and the people working there are also the best! LOVE THIS PLACE!“

“Had a nice time celebrating my birthday. The food was great & so we’re the drinks. 😁🍹🧉“