50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Livingston

“The food is top notch. From the soup to the sushi. Even the ice cream is delicious. What really bothers me though is the service. There is a 90 minute time limit which I get but when you are rushed to get out by an hour that’s not right. Also when you’re hounding tables waiting to literally take a plate because you have nothing else to do that’s a problem. Finally when you’re coming up to tables and asking them for platters back because you don’t have enough supposedly that’s not good either. Last night I was hounded constantly. Twice I had people tell me to move my sushi to my paper plate because they needed the platter. May I suggest buying more platters. Love the food and yes I know I’ll be back but the service was ridiculous in your face. Don’t come here for date night because they don’t leave you alone“

“What a hidden gem! We stumbled upon Akasaka Sushi & Hibachi completely by accident, and we’re so glad we did! The food was absolutely delicious, and everything was incredibly fresh. The service was fantastic from start to finish, and what really stood out was how warmly and respectfully our kids were treated. They even received adorable little bracelets, which was such a sweet and thoughtful touch!

It’s not often you find a place with amazing food, wonderful service, and such a welcoming atmosphere. We’ll definitely be coming back whenever we’re in the area. Hands down, our new favorite restaurant in Livingston! Highly recommend!“

“the food was fantastic. the staff was super nice and friendly“

“This restaurant is very clean and tidy, and the service is very thoughtful. Everyone looks nice ,feel very comfortable, and the food is also delicious, especially these two rolls are specially custom-made by the chef. I kind of forgot their names, but it doesn't prevent me from remembering their deliciousness.“

“What a wonderful find! Everything about the experience here was absolutely amazing. The restaurant has a cozy, warm environment with a lovely corner setup that makes for a great dining atmosphere.
The staff is incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive. A special shoutout to our waiter, DAVID—he was fantastic! He was so helpful with walking us through the menu and giving recommendations, which made deciding what to order effortless.
As for the food: the sushi is super delicious and fresh, with a great variety of options to choose from. I truly and highly recommend Sushi Koshi to anyone looking for phenomenal food and exceptional service!“

“Absolutely amazing sushi and outstanding customer service!

The food is fresh, delicious, and full of flavor. A special shoutout to Celina for providing such amazing customer service, remembering my daughter’s order, and making the experience even better! The quality of the food and the excellent service make this place the best sushi restaurant in Essex County.

Definitely a returning customer! Highly recommend! 🙌🍱“

“WOW is the word I would use for this place. My buddy ordered takeout and this Special Roll Combo was delicious. 7 rolls each equally delicious. As you could emagine a little expensive but for what you get GREAT VALUE for your $$$. Easily could feed 3 people.“

“Great place for poke, been there several times at this point and always happy to grab a quick dinner there. A lot of poke places even if I like them have too small portions and I end up needing to order something else or eat soon after, but not here. Portions are solid and worth the reasonable price. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu either.“

“Sushi BBY delivered one of the most memorable omakase experiences we've had in a long time. The fish was incredibly fresh, the ingredients were of the highest quality, and each bite offered clean, nuanced flavors that were both elegant and unexpected.

Equally impressive was the hospitality. Po and Carmen made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived and provided attentive service throughout the meal.

For anyone who appreciates great sushi, this place is a gem. It's wonderful to have an omakase experience of this caliber in Scotch Plains without having to make the trip into New York City. Highly recommended.“

“The restaurant was so pretty and had a calm atmosphere, and it felt private enough to just hang out and talk with our group. Our server, Valeria, was very attentive, answered all our questions, and even gave us recommendations based on what we were in the mood for. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share: sushi, ramen, boba, shrimp tempura, wings, and yakitori. Everything was delicious, and the portions were good. The spicy wings were a bit spicier than I expected, but they still had great flavor. Overall we had a really good experience, with great food and ambiance, and we'll be coming back!“

“I love coming to Wasai Bistro whenever I’m visiting the east coast. I’ve followed Chef Nelson since his days at Aozora and Wabi Sabi. His food quality, menu options, and value are unmatched in the area. Once you try his food you will understand why he has so many repeat diners. I highly recommend the Mes Reves Roll, Uni and bone marrow ramen, Miso glazed sea bass entree and salmon lover entree but it’s very hard to go wrong with anything Chef Nelson serves. Parking is street parking only but honestly I’ve always had a very easy time finding a spot. BYOB so you can drink what you love.“

“just delicious!!“

“you know how some people say food tastes like memories? sando cafe brought me straight back to my time in osaka 🥹 the pork gyoza tastes like it is straight from the small gyoza shop that was near my school in osaka, the best in the world. crispy!!! the beef curry udon was phenomenal as well, rich and smooth with tender beef and a perfectly poached egg. can you tell i like food“

“Toro Special Roll - Recommend! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Momichi Roll - Recommend！🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Mini Roll - Recommend！🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Caviar Roll - Recommend！🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Ura Roll - Recommend！🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Santa-Fe Roll - Recommend！🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Keywest Roll - Recommend！🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟“

“Great service , good attention and fresh food“

“Great food. Easily customizable to your individual tastes.“

“I had the seafood tempura. So much food that I had to take it home. Have to go back to try more menu items.“

“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!“

“This place is fantastic, the taste is good, the service is friendly, the atmosphere is great. I'll come again next time.“

“Very good dinner. Good size portions for the price. Definitely will come back“

“the food is fantastic and the staff is very friendly!“

“We've been meaning to to try so many of the new restaurants in the area. We finally got here for a late lunch today. Not surprisingly on a Thursday at 2PM and snowing, we had the place to ourselves. It was fortunate because the woman who took care of us explained everything to us in detail. I wasn't familiar with the Kurobuta pork. Apparently it's known as the, "Kobe beef of pork." All their pork come from Berkshire pigs. They come from a farm in Jersey. I'm guessing North Jersey. (Lot's of cool info if you Google them) Cooking is done using White charcoal which is used in traditional Japanese cooking. We started with the crispy cauliflower. It had crispy shallots & tahini vinegarette on them. They were delicious! Then the Shanghai bao. Filling was pork. (naturally) So delicious and juicy! When you slice them in half watch for the juice to squirt! We ordered six skewers. Two with pork jowel (cheek) Two regular pork and two fish. Again, delicious. i also had a bowl of spicy miso ramen. Our server explained how the broth is simmered for eight hours with pig bones and marrow. I could tell as the broth was very rich! That was it for us. We were both very full and i even took half of my ramen. We can't wait to return and bring friends! Highly recommend! ✌️“

“I have been coming here for many years. I love the food, always fresh, prices are reasonable, staff are friendly, and they cater!!!🙌💪🫶 You have to pick it up 😜 Nice place to bring a first date on neutral territory 🤣“

“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!“

“A friend and myself came across this gem by happenstance. The wait staff is incredibly kind and patient. The atmosphere was calming and the food is FANTABULOUS!!! I recommend this place for lunch and dinner. Whether it's just friends or a casual date.“

“I love this place. Delicious food, fast and efficient service. I highly recommend.“

“This is a fantastic sushi spot that I highly recommend to anyone in the area. The chicken katsu roll was especially delicious — definitely a must-try. The staff were super friendly and attentive, and the prices were great. Overall, an excellent experience and absolutely worth a visit.“

“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!!!!!!“

“We arrived at the restaurant and they proceeded a seat us next to a table of family with toddler children. The entire restaurant was still empty. We all felt that was a little bit weird. Anyone that arrives with children should have great service, but maybe they should put them in a more secluded area. Most of the food was rated pretty good except for the sushi tuna roll which had a lot of fatty grizzle in it. And that was very unusual cuz I've never had that in a spicy tuna roll before. I don't know if I would order any of the rolls. We stayed mostly with the appetizers which were very filling. Definitely will try it again. The tuna Pizza was exceptional.“

“This was my first visit to Blue Wazabi I Loved It!! Large menu selection and wonderful food and portion size. Definitely, will visit again.“

“Food, like always, was very very good. The serving was plenty and the taste unmatched. The menu offers plenty of choices. It was so delicious and plentiful that my wife and I, even giving it the old college try, were unsuccessful in finishing our meal. Well then a takeout is necessary. Something to munch on later.“

“Delicious sushi! Good prices. Lots to pick from - we enjoyed a bit of everything from the sushi menu. They have a few tempura rolls, a few naruto rolls (cucumber wrapped, no rice), and a whole 2 pages for regular and special rolls. I enjoyed everything my table tried. Lots of variety to find something for you!

Lost a star for me on service - vibe is nice but we waited a while to order and receive our check even though there were very few guests dining in on a Friday night. Seems like a great takeout choice otherwise!“

“It was is really good, their sushi is a real highlight, and the poke bowls are fresh and delicious. You can also customize your poke bowls to perfectly match your taste! It's also a nice cozy place to grab a drink and chill with your friends. Overall a nice comfortable experience“

“Love the sushi never a dull moment and the owner is very friendly and Great service“

“Definitely one of our go to places to eat in Westfield but then again can’t fault any restaurant. Food is always amazingly fresh, service is friendly and welcoming and the drinks free flowing….“

“Amazing sushi restaurant! The sushi is fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. There is a great variety of options, and everything tastes wonderful. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the restaurant is clean and comfortable. Great food, excellent service, and reasonable prices. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back! 🍣“

“Updated 9 years later. Still our favorite.

Been coming here for over 15 years and it’s still my local favorite Japanese style restaurant. Food is consistently good, both sushi and kitchen. Menu hasn’t changed much over the years but that’s fine, as they stay true to their strengths. A wholehearted nod to their traditional Japanese and Asian fusion flavors. My parents and I agree it’s the best and closest to authentic sushi and Japanese cuisine in the area, and we’ve been to 9 of them. Service is always attentive, warm, and accommodating. Space is polished and spacious. Great for families, with big or little ones. Takeout is always a breeze.

Solid local Japanese restaurant. Staff is extremely friendly and ambience I a respectable attempt at creating an authentic japanese dining experience. The food is consistently good and with the exception of sushi/sashimi purists, most Japanese food lovers should expect a positive dining experience. Sushi/sashimi fare is good. There are creative and tasty rolls if that is your fancy. The cooked dishes actually taste like my mom's old home cooking and my personal draw. In my opinion, they do a solid job with the hot plates and especially with their nabeyaki udon, perfect on those cold nights. Give it a try with an open mind and bring a generous serving of BYOB.“

“Love this restaurant and it’s my new go to sushi place. Recently discovered it and I have ordered delivery from here very frequently. Their sushi is very fresh. I love their salmon roll and salmon don. Their hamachi kama and oyako don are additional favorites of my family.“

“We love eating out. Yesterday we arrived in this fine restaurant which we didn’t know before. We spent a delightful evening there with delicious food and a well-trained stuff and a talented chef. We added this venue in our list and we will certainly visit again soon. We highly recommend.“

“sakae sushi has delicious foods.“

“Great 😊 restaurant very nice 😊 people the owner love the food desert 😊⛄️⛄️⛄️🌺“

“We always enjoy Yuki Hana. Since pandemic we've only ordered take-out, but look forward to dining in-person soon. Favorite dish, besides sushi, is katsudon. Delicious!“

“Had a great time. Food was excellent.“

“Nice little sushi place with great prices. My husband and I both enjoyed our items which included the chicken yakitori, Beef Negimaki, vegetable roll, wasabi spicy tuna roll and regular spicy tuna roll. We also enjoyed the fresh complementary grapes at the end. Service was extra friendly and attentive!“

“This is a brand new, recently opened restaurant and wow did they deliver for first impressions. Food was absolutely incredible. The sushi was fresh and made quickly. I had the volcano roll and the Naruto rainbow row, it was beautiful and delicious. Very good quality cuts and tasted fresh Really impressed by their milk tea as well. We got the original and Taro milk tea and it was fantastic. Staff was also very friendly and helpful in deciding what to order. Would definitely be coming back the next time I’m in town!“

“This ramen was delicious, served quickly, and very hearty and fresh. The staff was very welcoming and friendly! We also had scallion pancakes that were absolutely delicious. Would love to return again and highly recommend anyone in the area!“

“Food was Delish and Service was great!😊👍🏼“

“Creative, fresh and delicious.“