50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Rutherford

“There is absolutely no reason to go over the Hudson for one of those fancy, overpriced omakase experiences. Butterfish in Rutherford was a 15 out of 10.
JoJo took hospitality to another level, making our entire family feel so special... especially my daughter on her birthday.
And the food? Course after course, it just kept getting better. The name Butterfish couldn't be more fitting because every bite was so fresh it literally melted in your mouth!!

Bravo, JoJo & Team !!
We'll be back. Highly, highly recommend.“

“We have been dining at Yellowtail Rutherford regularly since last year, and it has become one of our favorite spots for sushi. The sushi is consistently fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious, which keeps us coming back time and time again.

The location is convenient, with easy street parking available nearby, making every visit hassle-free. Beyond the outstanding food, what truly sets Yellowtail apart is the exceptional service.

A special thank you to Ellie, who always greets us with a warm smile and makes us feel genuinely welcome from the moment we walk through the door. Her friendly and attentive service adds so much to the overall dining experience.

We would also like to recognize the entire staff, who work tirelessly to ensure every guest is well looked after. Their professionalism, hard work, and dedication never go unnoticed and contribute to the wonderful atmosphere of the restaurant.

If you're looking for delicious sushi, excellent service, and a welcoming environment, Yellowtail Rutherford is a place we highly recommend.“

“This is truly the best sushi restaurant in East Rutherford!! The food is delicious and the owner is so kind. I’ve tried a lot of sushi restaurant and have never had a more consistently pleasant experience than at Yamada!!! Highly recommend“

“The best homemade udon in town , strongly recommended“

“Just awesome. Fast. Efficient. Great.“

“Great Service and the foods was delicious. Will come back here again.“

“Ended up here accidentally on a layover: Hands down, the best ramen I’ve ever had (springy, slurpy perfection), amazing cocktails (if you like gin the Japanese 75 is a must try!), and whatever the whipped cream, creme brûlée’d banana dessert was tasted like heaven. I even ordered another tonkotsu ramen to go (all the way to Florida) to bring back to my fiancé. They separated all of it, packaged it so it wouldn’t leak, and wrote directions on specific timing for heating up each item! Very impressive service. I’ll be back again!“

“Wonderful and friendly staff. Delish food.“

“I love this place!!!! Aaron is the best the quote for your tastebuds. He has made my stomach the happiest it has been in a long time, which in itself is a tall feat. This place is amazing. Please give it a try!!!! We got the 17 course and it was the perfect amount!“

“We went to Shogun Omakase in New York yesterday for lunch. My son loves sushi and it was his birthday present (our first time experiencing Omakase). We were blown away! Seriously the best sushi experience (and to be honest, one of our top restaurant experiences) ever. Chef Ryan was an amazing chef and artist, and provided top notch customer service. We highly recommend Chef Ryan and Shogun Omakase to anyone who loves sushi and appreciates fine cuisine. ❤️🎉“

“Delicious sushi! The Wagyu Roll, Yellowtail Scallion Roll, and Tuna Tar were my favorites. The fish was incredibly fresh, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. It was also a great value for the quality of food you receive. Overall, an outstanding dining experience, bravo!“

“#組長極力推薦 #響紐約可以食到呢個level嘅質素就已經算係禾地嘅福份 😆 😆#紐約食食 #omakasetempura #係我響紐約食過最好食嘅天婦羅“

“Perfect Food, Great Service, Nice Atmosphere“

“Just awesome. Fast. Efficient. Great.“

“Best sushi we’ve ever had! Chicken gyoza was so good. Udon bowl was incredible. Spicy tuna, avocado roll and yellowtail scallion were top notch. Service was amazing. What a find for a meal prior to a concert at Terminal 5. Fantastic pricing as well! Highly recommend.“

“We were very lucky to have found Sushi YOLO after a last-minute decision to extend our evening in the city. It was an incredible experience all throughout: a homey vibe with great attention to detail from Chef and the entire team and, of course, delicious courses!

We plan to come back to Sushi YOLO when we are in the city again.“

“Amazing omakase experience.
High quality ingredients and sushi pieces.
Lots of delicious pieces.
The all you can eat at the end was fantastic.
All the fishes are included.
Comfy seating and great customer service.
It's a fun experience and definitely worth it.“

“Pieces were on the smaller side;however the quality and freshness was exceptional especially the Ginki.

Did not enjoy the cold chawanmushi and ark shell

Pricier at $150pp compared to other NYC Omakase, but worth it for the taste. More traditional compared to others which I enjoyed.

Matcha terrine w/strawberry was amazing.

4.5/5 ✨“

“Torien delivers an exemplary yakitori experience. The service strikes a balance between professionalism and warmth. The entire dining experience—from the quality of the ingredients to the thoughtful hospitality—establishes this as a standout destination for Japanese cuisine in New York.“

“Creative, fresh and delicious.“

“Love Konban so we had to come try their new restaurant in Williamsburg. The backyard area is so cute and airy, and every dish had a unique flavor. The scallops and gomtang were standouts. They also have a beautifully crafted selection of mocktails. We’ll certainly be back to try everything else on the menu.“

“We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Fushimi Restaurant! The food was delicious, from the appetizers we ordered to our main course. Each dish was expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. We also enjoyed a couple of drinks, which perfectly complemented our meal. What truly made our visit exceptional was the incredible service provided by our waitress, Ohmie. She was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the evening. Her warm demeanor and professionalism truly elevated our dining experience. We strongly recommend Fushimi Restaurant, especially because of the outstanding service we received from Ohmie. We’ll definitely be back!“

“One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had, it’s just a phenomenal and special place. Each dish was delicious, fun, and inventive. Watching the chefs work was entertaining and the service was top tier. Highly recommend spending the effort and time to reserve one of their sittings. Again, a truly special place and one of the best restaurants in not just NYC, but in the country.“

“Randomly decided to dine here before a show at Webster Hall. Every single thing we ordered was absolutely delicious. Teppen gyoza, kimchi beef fried rice, dynamite roll, and mango martini. Definitely plan on returning.“

“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!“

“Our daughter took us here while we were visiting NY for her graduation for Wagyu Shabu. I normally don't like places with many prices, but since our daughter chose it so we enjoy with her. The prices on the windows are very confusing and more like false advertising for me, the lower prices are for the members which we're not since this is our first time and definitely our last, unless our daughter wants to come here again. So the price is the more expensive one.
For me, I prefer straight forward pricing, so this didn't give me good vibes, it's not the money, just the way they advertising and we have to know what we can only have with the price we chose. The restaurant just gives us the specific menu for what we selected to have then we don't have to be denied for what we chose because we selected gold instead of top of the line menu.
The place is clean and nice.
For $78/per person and only have Australian Wagyu Beef (not really Wagyu) then it's over priced.
We did have some premium beef which I liked because of the marble of fat on the beef quite tender and tasty, but only a sampler or whatever they called it.
Service with one person is quite inadequate but she's very attentive and pleasant, since she had to run the whole restaurant, sometimes forgets things.
The tomato broth was good and everyone liked it.
The seafood plate is OK and our sweet shrimps are sweet. Some snow crab legs, jumbo shrimps, fish fillets, nothing to make me go wow.
The appetizers tempura is crispy and good. The raw octopus is tasty.
The vegetables are fresh and clean.
After they denied me the premium beef sampler, I let my daughter to order everything else and I just enjoyed with the family. My daughter seemed to be happy and ate a lot, so I was happy.
I've eaten enough shabu, hot pot to know that Australian or American Wagyu are overrated, many of them are tough and chewy, not as tender as normal ribeyes or Brisket that I like.
This restaurant Wagyu beef does have marbles of fat in it, so it's tender and not so chewy.
So, for the GOLD menu, I don't think it's worth the $78 but for special occasions, it's OK. I just don't like the confusion of many menu, many prices, and not getting my own menu and get denied for something on the menu because I didn't pay enough.“

“Party of eight and we all enjoyed everything we ate and drank. 👍 for the kitchen staff on doing everything perfect and quick. The staff was amazing and service was great. I highly recommend the burger 🍔. Will definitely go back.“

“From the moment we walked in, we were in Awe! The atmosphere was so amazing, everyone was so kind and helpful, and the sushi was AMAZING! One of the best experiences in NYC! And you have to try the Tea and the Strawberry Mochi! 20 out of 10! 🎉“

“Every time I go to this location it feels like I'm going to my cousin's house! The workers are so friendly and I go so often that it seems they all know my name now lol. I'm just sad Wonder removed my favorite meal from the menu 😩 I will be reaching out to corporate because how dare they!? Lol The zesty Chicken bowl from Yasas is absolute GOLD in the form of food!“

“Very affordable, and Mary was amazing!! Our server pointed us in the right direction for sake/wine, even offering samples. Celebrated my 21st here, Sushi was amazing, Coursed out perfectly, and amazing hospitality. Will be coming back in the future.“

“Ramen is good ! Soup is good not so oily Yakitori good with Asahi Beeru !“

“Sushi onakase Shinzo best“

“Best Omakase in NY.. have gone twice in the last year and the food, service, and atmosphere are unparalleled. It’s hard to share what an amazing spot this is because it’s so quaint and special. Oscar and Kenny the sushi chef and owner are one of a kind. This is my go to in manhattan. Value is unparalleled.“

“My brutal procrastination finally caught up with me, so I’m only now getting around to posting something I should’ve written at the start of the year.

This is where we had our New Year's Eve dinner on Dec 31, 2025. The total came to nearly 3,000 USD for three people, which included three tasting menus, a pretty nice bottle of wine, an extra order of Hokkaido uni, which was absolutely delicious, and the tip.

The restaurant is tucked inside a supermarket, which was kind of interesting. The atmosphere and setting were pretty good, with an open kitchen, and the staff were polite as well.

As for the food, I’d say it was decent but nothing that special. The overall quality was fine, but it felt overly fussy and trying too hard. Flavor wise, it didn’t go for that clean, natural kind of profile. It leaned heavier and more muddled instead. Most of the dishes were a bit too rich and greasy for me, which just isn’t my thing. To be honest, the two Michelin stars felt a little overrated.

One other thing that annoyed me, and this is different from most other restaurants, was that the deposit you pay doesn’t get deducted automatically from the final bill. They charge you the full amount first, then refund the deposit about a week later. Since I used a Canadian credit card and the exchange rate was swinging pretty hard around New Year’s, I ended up losing a bit of money for no good reason.

So overall, it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable experience, though I wouldn’t say it was terrible either.

That’s about it. 😍😍😍“

“Was craving for some katsu curry and this hit the spot. Nothing fancy here, just really good Japanese comfort food for deep fried pork or chicken.... Convenient location in the heart of mid-Town, this place was already busy at 5 pm on a Sunday afternoon
.... I'm sure it gets even busier for the mid day lunch crowd as well. They were a bit tad under staffed when we visited, but service was still quick and efficient. The katsu was crisp, the meat was tender, without being too greasy. Prices were pretty reasonable too.“

“My friend took me here, it was so delicious especially the uni mentai pasta and the tuna carpaccio. So good that I dipped everything in the carpaccio sauce! The atmosphere is very comfy with the dimmed lights and soft sounding music. Service was very attentive, nice and made exceptional by our server, Yuto. 10/10 recommend and I will be coming back!“

“One of my favorite meals I have ever had. I truly did not want to leave. Every dish was fresh, imaginative, and delicious.

Chef Atsushi is able to bring ingredients to life through tempura perfection. This is a truly authentic dining experience. It felt like eating at the dining room of a close friend.

I consider myself lucky to have dined here even once, and I cannot wait to go back.

Thank you Secchu Yokota team for making the meal and celebration so special. Such a wonderful memory.“

“THE BEST BIRTHDAY DINNER WE’VE EVER HAD !!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🇮🇩🇺🇸👍“

“Absolutely amazing food was delicious and the attention of the staff unique.“

“Ume is a unique omakase experience that combines traditional Japanese dining elements with a more interactive and immersive approach. From the moment you enter, the experience feels different from a typical sushi restaurant. Guests remove their shoes before entering, and the space incorporates tatami-style seating, cushions, and a quieter atmosphere that creates a more intimate setting. I liked that the restaurant focuses on creating a full experience rather than just serving a sequence of sushi.

The omakase itself is presented in a hand-roll style, which makes the meal feel more interactive and approachable. Each course is carefully prepared and presented with a lot of attention to detail, from the arrangement of the dishes to the explanations provided throughout the meal. I enjoyed the small touches, including the different salts used with certain dishes, because they added another layer to the experience and encouraged you to pay attention to the flavors.

The quality of the sushi was one of the highlights. The focus is mainly on fresh fish and carefully prepared bites, with each piece designed to showcase different textures and flavors. The presentation is also a big part of the experience, with the dishes looking almost too carefully arranged to eat. While the food was enjoyable, the overall concept and atmosphere were what made the meal feel memorable.

The service was one of the strongest parts of the visit. The staff were attentive, explained the dishes clearly, and helped guide the experience from beginning to end. The traditional seating style and quiet environment make it a good choice for a date, special occasion, or anyone looking for a slower dining experience. I would recommend making a reservation, especially if you want a specific seating area such as the garden setup.

The main thing to consider is that the price reflects the full experience, not just the food. If you are looking purely for high-end sushi quality, there are other omakase restaurants that may offer a stronger focus on the fish itself. Ume stands out more for the combination of atmosphere, presentation, and cultural elements that come together during the meal.

Overall, Ume offers one of the more unique omakase experiences in New York. The traditional setting, thoughtful presentation, and attentive service make it a memorable place to visit. It is especially worth considering if you want an experience that feels different from a standard sushi dinner and focuses on the entire dining journey.“

“One of the best omakase spots I’ve been to! Everything was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The sushi was incredibly fresh, and every piece was delicious and beautifully prepared. Our server was super friendly and attentive, always paying attention to every detail, which made our experience even better. Amazing quality, great service, and an overall wonderful experience. I can’t wait to come back!“

“I lived in NYC for 16 years and wanted to try omakase for the longest time. SoZo finally broke the spell, primarily because this place is immaculately tailored to accommodate all travelers including the lonesome party of one. Food is incredible and a true tasting experience - this is obvious and unnecessary to harp on. The real gem, however, is the ambiance…the staff and overall vibe are one of a kind - elegant, sophisticated , charming, humble, and welcoming. I came alone on a rainy Friday night and had one of my favorite dining experiences ever. Such great conversation, attention, and hospitality. Don’t miss out…I most definitely will be back because I already love this place to pieces. Thank you James, Lee, Olivia, Vincent, and Andy. You guys are amazing!“

“Amazing experience ! Chef Feri and Tri were absolutely amazing and so knowledgeable ! The fish was so fresh and such a great value for the experience. The premium sake tasting went perfectly with the meal ! The staff truly went above and beyond, must come back!“

“The food was wonderful and the ambiance lovely. The service pretty attentive and cheerful. But the desserts were overpriced and not worth it. Try the udon noodle with mushroooms. . yumm.“

“Otani Sushi is a great spot for a quick lunch
came on a Tuesday around 3:30 PM and had no trouble getting a table

Ordered the cucumber salad (I’m a cucumber lover, so that’s always an easy win for me 😄), the Rainbow Roll, and the hamachi toro sashimi. The Rainbow Roll was really good, and the hamachi toro sashimi was fresh and delicious.

The total came to about $35,“

“Kuu exceeded my expectations in every way. The quality was outstanding, the service was smooth and professional, and the overall experience was excellent from start to finish. Everything was handled with care and attention to detail. I highly recommend Kuu to anyone looking for a reliable and high-quality experience. Definitely deserves five stars!“

“Yakisoba tastes almost the same in Tokyo street food!!!!! Love it!! okonimiyaki is also good! The chicken (karaage style) is also a must try. Another thing i like is they prepare the food fresh. Can’t wait to visit again. :)“

“Lezzetli 👍 Güler yüzlü servis“

“A hidden gem! We stumbled upon this place on a walk and decided to grab a bite. We didn’t have a reservation but was quickly seated with a full bar of other diners for the lunch omakase. Great service, yummy food, and unbeatable pricing. This was such a treat! I will make sure to come back when we are in the area.“

“This is easily one of my favourite restaurants - if not the favourite. I’ve been coming here since I moved to the city, and it’s the first place I bring every friend or guest who comes to visit.

The atmosphere is always buzzing, the food never disappoints, and their lychee martini is the best in the city. Trust me, you’ll want to order one… or three.“