32 Best Japanese Restaurants near Spotswood

“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.“

“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!“

“I had heard so many good things about Nikko's so I stopped by for a take out meal the other day. From the time I walked through the door, I had a great experience. The decor is really nice, the restaurant clean and the people working there are even nicer and very helpful. I ordered the seafood hibachi entree. The smell was so good I couldn't wait to get home to eat it. I wasn't disappointed. The meal was delicious, plentiful and made with FRESH ingredients“

“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.“

“Ordered the pork belly ramen and a sushi roll; the sushi was good to my taste (especially for the price), although I’m hardly a connoisseur.As for the ramen, I thought the noodles were decent, and the pork broth was extremely good. There weren’t a lot of extras—just chives, corn, and a soft boiled egg—but it was a really good sized portion for the price. The only real disappointment was that the soft boiled egg was in fact hard boiled, and the chasu seemed a little bland.“

“I have eaten a lot place already. It's been a long time haven't got a good dinner. It definitely a wonderful place to dine in this area. Food taste excellent, the chef treated us very nice. Service was good, recommend this place 10/10. Had fantastic experience. If you have time, Go check it out.“

“Love the food 👌🏻👌🏻so fresh and taste so good“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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“

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

“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.“

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

“Best sushi around! Fresh and the service is quick!“

“I’ve been living in Freehold for 27 years, yet I couldn’t even name another food court restaurant, let alone endear myself to any so much as I have Little Tokyo. When I was a little girl, I would so look forward to their INIMITABLE teriyaki dark meat chicken samples, and I spent my first wages ever on an actual meal from this place. It is a time-tested fixture at the Freehold mall, a must-have if you ever work or shop here and still a reliably fast and delicious option for me when I am in the area. I’m pretty sure I’ve been helped by the exact same woman at the front of the line my entire life, and she gives me a big smile every time I see her. I’ve tried teriyaki/bourbon chicken at other malls all over the state, and this is the only one that is not only delicious, but is prepared in way that is not greasy. This is truly the only place I will go for Americanized Chinese food and enjoy it at all. My go-to: 2 sides, 2 entrees - string beans and plantains, double teriyaki chicken. Even post-pandemic, the price is unbeatable for the amount of food you get.“

“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.“

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

“Excellent, the food and the service was great 👍🏻“

“Had no idea there is some sort of crazy deal on sushi on thursday nights. I ordered takeout and was shocked at the price. Discounted sushi scares me but this one was good. I stuck to the basic rolls and they were all good. The salmon and tuna were both fresh. Can’t beat it at that price too. I will be back.“

“Friendly staff. Great food presentation. Quick service.“

“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!“

“Order from here at least once or twice a week. Sushi is great, lunch specials are great, but they need to drain the water from their lettuce after rinsing the salad because there's always a pool of water in the container with the salad.“

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

“Our family has been a loyal customer of Konbu for 15 years. If you want the best sushi in the area Konbu is the restaurant by far. We have had sushi in Japan, Hawaii, NYC and this restaurant is just as good, if not, better. This is a true testimony!!! The owners are great people and the servers are wonderful. We love going to Konbu and you will as well.“

“Great place for sushi and poke. The fish is fresh and cut for each poke bowl, sushi roll, and sushi burrito. The workers are really nice and its really close to rutgers. Theres not a whole lot of seating but most people get take out anyways so there will most likely be a seat if you wanna eat in. They have self ordering too. The fish is fresh and clean. It might be a little wait for you food but thats honestly fine because it just shows the food is fresh.“

“The owners are the best they stay open 1 more hour after closing time & sushi 🍣 was great 🍣🥰“

“We decided to try V Create and were very pleased with how delicious the food was. The staff is also very kind. My husband had a burrito (two spoon), we also ordered Cajun fried chicken and two Mongolian bowls. Everything was devoured and we look forward to ordering again.“

“Amazing restaurant, Chef Jun locks it ⬇️, can't wait to come back. "FAT CUP", for the win, check out his awesome menu.“