Americans have a growing appetite for sushi; it’s a $27.5 billion industry in the U.S., with nearly 24% growth projected this year. Yet plenty of us won’t touch the stuff; according to one survey, more than half of Americans have never tried sushi.
New Jersey is home to scores of sushi restaurants, from Newton to North Cape May. We’ve never done a list or ranking of the state’s best sushi restaurants, so now’s as good a time as any. Us food writers Peter Genovese, Jeremy Schneider, Lauren Musni and Karim Shamsi-Basha roamed the state in search of the best sushi, sashimi and rolls, a mission that was fantastically fishy, in a good way.
A quick sushi primer: Sushi is not raw fish; that’s sashimi. Sushi refers not to fish but seasoned rice; any dish made with this rice can be sushi, whether or not it contains fish. Nori is the dark green seaweed paper used to make hand rolls. Nigiri — it translates to “two fingers” — refers to thin-sliced fish draped over sweet and salty vinegared rice. That pickled ginger that comes with every sushi meal? It’s not meant to be put on the sushi but to serve as a palate cleanser. Wasabi? Almost all the wasabi found at U.S. sushi restaurants is not wasabi at all but a mix of horseradish, mustard powder, mustard extract, citric acid, yellow dye no. 5 and blue dye no. 1.
Sushi, surprisingly, did not originate in Japan but along the Mekong River, in southern China, Laos and northern Thailand. Rice is Japan’s staple food, and sushi is enormously popular there, but sushi rolls in Japan “are an afterthought,” according to Trevor Corson, author of “The Zen of Fish,” an excellent book on sushi. The best sushi cookbook: “The Complete Guide to Sushi & Sashimi” by Jeffrey Elliott and Robby Cook. Best movie about sushi? “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” on Amazon Prime Video.
But enough with the background. It’s time to eat! Here are New Jersey’s 35 best sushi restaurants, ranked. At the end of each entry you’ll find the author — PG for Pete Genovese; JS for Jeremy Schneider; LM for Lauren Musni, BO for Bobby Olivier and KSB for Karim Shamsi-Basha.
35. Sakana Japanese Cuisine, New Brunswick
At Sakana Japanese Cuisine, the shrimp tempura roll appropriately crunchy, sweet and spicy, though it could have used a bit more seasoning. The combination of rice and seaweed held up their own flavor. They have other favorites like the shrimp fried udon, red snapper sashimi, and steak fried rice. In the Ramen realm, the steak ramen and the shrimp ramen are popular. (KSB)
34. Yumi, Red Bank
Yumi is a quaint sushi restaurant on Broad Street in Red Bank with another location in Sea Bright, offering plenty of space for customers with its outdoor dining and two-level seating indoors. They have a variety of cold and warm plates, ramen, donburi and of course, sushi. Everything was delicious, especially their yumi roll with eel, mango, fluke tempura and spicy kabayaki glaze. Though portions were somewhat small for the price point. (LM)
33. Yozu, North Cape May
Yellowtail may be the most popular sashimi choice at sushi restaurants in this country. It’s not tuna as many people think but Japanese amberjack. It’s deliciously fatty but high in protein. At each of my 14 stops, I ordered four pieces of sashimi and three rolls. One of the freshest-tasting yellowtail came at Yozu. About 40 kinds of rolls are available; the black dragon is topped with seared pepper tuna, imparting a bit of smoke and sass. (PG)
32. Manna Sushi, Woodbridge
The chef at Manna Sushi must be a world class artist. If you look at their sushi pictures online, you will agree. Every roll looks like it took hours to make. Popular on the menu is the sushi bar dinner. The chirashi is assorted sashimi on a bed of rice. The California dinner is three rolls of your choice. If you prefer your fish cooked, options include the classic roll: crabmeat, sweet potato tempura and avocado; and the futo roll: crabmeat, sweet egg and vegetables. (KSB)
31. Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, Fort Lee
What’s conveyor belt sushi? It’s part meal, part game. Tables are lined up along a conveyor belt, which is perpetually moving and bringing little plates of sushi around the restaurant. Like what you see? Grab it off the belt and put it on your table. You are charged based on the number of plates you use. Kura is a chain with locations across the country, with one in Fort Lee and a new one coming to Jersey City soon. The sushi is tasty, but the experience is even better. Don’t like what you see along the belt? There’s a touch screen to order specific rolls and other dishes as well. (JS)
30. Zushi Dozo, Cherry Hill
Fourteen kinds of sashimi; 31 kinds of regular and vegetable maki (rolls wrapped in seaweed); 18 kinds of rolls: Zushi Dozo gives you plenty to choose from. One roll is called second wife (yellowtail and mango topped with yellowtail and jalapeños. I haven’t had a first wife much less a second, so I went with the dancing roll, which made me want to break out a move or two. Salmon and tuna topped with seven spices and a sriracha vinaigrette, it was sweet, salty, spicy delight. The yellowtail sashimi is top-notch, too. (PG)
29. Okinawa Sushi Grill, Hoboken
New Jerseyans know better than to judge a restaurant by its exterior, right? Okinawa Sushi Grill might just look like another run of the mill sushi spot in a random Hoboken strip mall. But this unassuming spot on Newark Street churns some of the best sushi in the state, more than hanging with the fancier spots around Hoboken and Jersey City. Okinawa nails the classic rolls (the eel avocado, spicy tuna and shrimp tempura rolls are all excellent) and the special rolls are next-level good. Try the spicy volcano roll with deep-fried fluke and cream cheese with spicy tuna, spicy mayo and eel sauce on top. My favorite dish here, though? The sushi pizza, featuring a crispy tortilla topped with tuna, masago, jalapeño and special sauce. (JS)
28. Xina, Toms River
Xina, perched strategically on Route 37 westbound just before the bridge leading to Seaside Heights/Park, offers a mix of Japanese, Thai and Chinese food. I skipped the General Tso’s Chicken and salmon tortilla and proceeded to the sashimi/sushi menu. The yellowtail sashimi, fatty and juicy, was one of the better ones sampled in my journey. The tuna amazing roll, with white tuna tempura, spicy tuna, avocado and topped with peppered tuna and mango and eel sauce, lived up to its name. (PG)
27. Sushi Yokohama, Somerville
One of the most popular rolls at Sushi Yokohama is the dragon roll: Eel and cucumber wrapped with avocado. Other favorites include the Godzilla roll, with spicy tuna with avocado, and the scallop dynamite roll, with crab, avocado, cucumber, spicy scallops, tuna and masago on top. Inching toward October, we must mention the Halloween roll: Shrimp tempura and cucumber topped with salmon, lemon and spicy sauce. And I’d be remiss to leave out the delicious udon noodles, which touted the umami flavor found naturally in hanakatsue (bonito flakes). (KSB)
26. Osushi, Marlton
Osushi certainly contends for the largest sushi roll selection in the state, with 37 signature rolls, 22 classic rolls and 10 vegetarian rolls. And don’t forget the 36 kinds of sashimi. Osushi offered two standout pieces of sashimi: the shrimp (ebi), succulent and supple, and the amberjack (kampachi), tasty to the max. My favorite roll: the tobiko trio, maybe the most colorful roll anywhere, its topping of tri-color tobiko (flying fish roe) looking like it belongs on a Christmas tree. The Godzilla roll (asparagus, soft shell crab, salmon) is nearly as good. (PG)
25. Daikichi, Montclair
Montclair is one of New Jersey’s great food towns, but its sushi scene has always been a bit uneven. But as restaurants have opened and closed around town, Daikichi had weathered the storm and continues to be the standard bearer for Montclair sushi. The dining room is elegant but not over the top, the sushi is always fresh, delicious and most of all, consistent. I have been eating at Daikichi since I was a kid, and I have never had a meal that wasn’t great. Not in the mood for typical sushi rolls? Get the sushi sandwich — featuring tuna, white tuna, avocado, tempura crunch, spicy mayo, soy bean seaweed and masago formed between flat rice patties that make it look like, you guessed it, a sandwich. (JS)
24. Kumamoto Mr. Pi’s, Highland Park
The menu at Kumamoto Mr. Pi’s is long, but what caught my eye was their lunch specials. You pay $13 for two rolls and $16 for three rolls. Choices include the green tea roll: Tuna, salmon, avocado and lemon. For that taste of the islands, you can order the Bahamas roll: salmon, mango and masago sauce. Another favorite is the jalapeño roll with tuna, crab, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo and masago. (KSB)
23. Ikko Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, Brick
The California roll played a major role in sushi’s ascendence in the 1980s; it was a perfect starter sushi, a non-threatening blend of imitation crab and cucumber. Today, it’s a cliched item — a sushi restaurant without California rolls is like an Italian restaurant without pasta — which is why you should wander further north and try the Alaska roll at Ikko. Smoked salmon, avocado, cucumber and tobiko (flying fish roe) add up to simple, satisfying sushi. The beautiful roll here is just that, with spicy tuna, a healthy chunk of eel, avocado and asparagus in a soybean wrap. It may be slithery and slimy, but I couldn’t get enough eel in my sushi travels. (PG)
22. Ryujin Sushi, Bridgewater
I never expected to find a place like this in a strip mall, but hey, that’s New Jersey. The chic Ryujin Sushi has a very clean and crisp design with lots of open space and lighting. Their menu offered so many rolls I wanted to try, but their rolls and portions were so big I was stuffed after only two. Try a few pieces of their TikTok roll with toppings of salmon, avocado, mango sauce, and coconut flakes wrapped around coconut shrimp, pineapple and crabmeat; crunchy and smooth with gratifying tropical flavors. (LM)
21. Fuji, Haddonfield
Fuji, named after Japan’s tallest mountain, is nestled in downtown Haddonfield, one of New Jersey’s most charming small towns. The big question here: are the “live scallops’' really live? Apparently not; at least mine were not moving. The restaurant boasts an impressive array of maki (fish or vegetables rolled up inside seaweed and vinegared rice), and sushi/sashimi, including Japanese seabream and super fatty bluefin tuna (one of the most prized — and expensive —tunas). The sisho (mint) and plum maki roll amounted to sweet little tidbits. And I had to order at least one Godzilla roll (spicy tuna, avocado, fried in tempura batter, with eel sauce and flying fish roe) at some point in this mission. The one here is monstrously — sorry — good, crunchy and spicy. (PG)
20. Sono Sushi, Middletown
Hankering for spicy sushi? Look no further than the fireball roll at Sono Sushi. The combination of spicy crabmeat, cucumber, avocado, spicy salmon and chile sauce will get your attention. A mere 63 kinds of rolls are on the menu, from the Jersey girl (spicy crabmeat, tuna, salmon, wasabi sauce) and incredible roll (shrimp tempura, spicy. crabmeat) to the Romeo roll (spicy tuna wrapped in avocado) and Juliet roll (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, wasabi mayo wrapped in soy paper). (PG)
19. Vanity at Monroe’s, Hoboken
Blink and you’ll miss Vanity at Monroe’s, a sushi restaurant located in the back of Monroe’s in the heart of downtown Hoboken. But if you find it, you’ve found a 60-minute omakase experience featuring 14 pieces of delectable sushi hand-crafted for you on the spot in a small dining room adorned with hanging flowers. The toro tuna topped with caviar may have been the single best piece of sushi I ate while crafting this list, the saltiness of the caviar cutting through the richness of the fish beautifully. Vanity’s take on the old fashioned, with Suntory Toki Japanese whiskey, five-spice demerara sugar, angostura bitters and cherrywood smoke, is an excellent nightcap after a lovely night of sushi. (JS)
18. Sushi Ocean View, Ocean View
I am in love with the romantic roll at Sushi Ocean View. It’s a spicy crabmeat roll topped mango and caviar, a fruity crunchy sensation. Nearly as good is the lonely angel: black pepper tuna and mango topped with spicy tuna. One sashimi I could not get enough of on my mission: octopus (tako), with its pungent but not overpowering aroma. (PG)
17. Sakura Sushi, Hillsborough
Sometimes simple is best. At Sakura Sushi I sampled the tuna and avocado roll. The tuna melted in my mouth, and the avocado was fresh and creamy. Other favorites are the shrimp dumplings for appetizer and the green salad with an orange and ginger dressing so delicious you end up drinking it – not that I did! From the sushi menu, their Philly roll pays tribute to our neighbors to the West. Also, to brighten any day, there’s the happy roll: spicy yellowtail and salmon topped with blackened tuna, sweet shrimp, eel and wasabi sauce. (KSB)
16. Kim’s Sushi, West Orange
Even though locally lauded Kim’s is small in size, it busts out some robust rolls. While some scoff at Philadelphia rolls, I had to try their twist: The roll with requisite cream cheese, cucumber and scallion at its core is topped with salmon, mayo and teriyaki sauce. It is then baked – yes, baked – before being brought out. It was smokey and reminded me of eating barbecue. I also loved the refreshing and citrusy French kiss roll: shrimp tempura, cucumber, crab stick inside and topped with salmon, avocado, lemon, tobiko, spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, and scallion. Kim’s Sushi is currently only open for outdoor dining, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying their scrumptious sushi. (LM)
15. Uminoya, Toms River
Always be ready to call an audible. I was waiting for my order at Xina when someone asked on Twitter if I was heading to Uminoya, minutes away. I am now! I loved the sweet little crab stick sashimi (top right in photo), regretting I had not ordered them on previous stops. My favorite roll here: the isomaki, with salmon, tuna, yellowtail wrapped in ghostly-looking white seaweed. (PG)
14. Bistro 1051, Clark
At Bistro 1051, I tried the fantastic roll, with tuna, salmon, avocado, brown rice and wasabi mayo. The fish was flavorful and the brown rice and avocado combination was a nice compliment. In addition to sushi, Bistro 1051 offers chicken, steak, pasta and flatbreads. I started with the shrimp dumplings and the edamame. The dumplings were fried to a crisp and golden-brown shell with tasty shrimp inside and a sweet sauce on top. The edamame was tender. (KSB)
13. Shumi Japanese Cuisine, Ridgewood
At Shumi, a little spot in downtown Ridgewood, I had my first experience with Omakase dining, which translates to “I will leave it up to you.” In other words, customers try the chef’s tasting menu consisting of the seasonal sushi and sashimi handcrafted from the catch of the day. The staff make sure you get a taste of everything from the different types of tunas, mackerels, and other fish along with small bites here and there such as fried scallop, savory egg custard with mushroom, and a small bowl of ramen to finish the meal. Everything was tasty, fresh, and I could tell that this place strives for nothing but high-grade fish. (LM)
12. Yama, Ventnor
Ventnor is an overlooked dining destination — Water Dog Smoke House (killer sandwiches, especially the pastrami and roast beef) and No. 7311 (excellent bakery/coffee shop) are highly recommended. Yama offers a bigger selection of sushi/sashimi than most, with king crab, sea urchin and botan (shrimp head) among the choices. The delectable king crab rested comfortably inside a hollowed-out cucumber, and the spicy blue crab roll was covered with black caviar, making for a terrifically tasty topping. (PG)
11. Sushi Palace, Somerville and Edison
For many native Central Jerseyans like myself, Sushi Palace has long been a go-to spot for all-you-can-eat sushi. Customers are loyal to Sushi Palace because they never compromise the quality of their rolls. They have all the classics along with their innovative special rolls. I always make sure to order their juicy soft shell crab roll and their crunchy eel roll with tempura flakes, avocado, and crabmeat topped with whole toasted eel. (LM)
10. Kenko Sushi, Lincoln Park
For sheer dazzling display, nothing topped the array of rolls in my takeout order at Kenko. So much sushi, so little time. I have a weakness for soft shell crab (oh that fried crunch), and the spider roll, with crab, cucumber, avocado, sweet chili and teriyaki, turned out to be one of my five favorite rolls on this mission. Save money and order a love platter — any five special rolls and two miso soups for $54.95. Note: No inside dining, takeout only at this time. (PG)
9. Teak, Red Bank
I used to work as a culinary intern at the Molly Pitcher Inn across the street from Teak, so I used to come here all the time after my shift. Having revisited recently, it’s still as excellent as I remember it to be. I was in love with how Teak incorporated banana and black rice in a couple of their rolls, especially their crazy monkey roll: sweet potato tempura, black rice, banana, avocado, créme fresh and a plum soy drizzle – nutty, sweet and velvety. I also relished the summer roll as it had all the flavors of summer in a single roll thanks to its lobster watermelon ceviche, mango and avocado cream topping. (LM)
8. Sushi By Bou, Jersey City
Ani Ramen was already one the trendiest restaurants in Jersey City. Then it added Sushi By Bou, an omakase sushi restaurant with several locations in New York, Chicago and Florida. The Garden State locale features incredibly fresh and inventive sushi in a small, chic dining room in the back of Ani Ramen. It feels like you’re stepping into a sushi speakeasy. Belly up to the sushi bar and prepare for an hour of wildly fresh and flavorful sushi, made right in front of you and handed to you by the chef that made it. The ikura (salmon roe) was a personal favorite, as was the barbecue eel that finishes the 12-course meal. Sake flights make a terrific companion for your sushi, as well. (JS)
7. Jing’s Sushi House, Burlington Township
The best single sashimi of the 50 or so I sampled? The pepper tuna (photo) at Jing’s Sushi House. Rare, juicy, smoky, sensational. If you’ve never had a hand roll (fish wrapped inside a rolled cone of seaweed), this is the place to try one. Both the spicy scallop and seaweed salad hand rolls are highly recommended. The Scorpion King roll, with crab, tuna, salmon and avocado, pleased my inner soft shell self. (PG)
6. Mizu Sushi, Cranford
The vegetable maki roll here at Mizu was fresh and delightful. Another popular item on the menu is the Spider-man roll: spicy tuna, shrimp and avocado inside, and soft-shell crab with tobiko and scallion on the outside. A major plus: the delectable pad Thai, which was the best I’ve ever had. The noodles where cooked just right, the shrimp was full of flavor and the vegetable slices were plentiful and almost crunchy.I’ll definitely be back! (KSB)
5. Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi, Oakhurst
While Jersey Shore vacationers hanging around Long Branch or Asbury Park might search for sushi along Pier Village or Cookman Avenue, Monmouth County locals know to drive a few extra minutes inland, to the unassuming Ichiban off Route 35. The rolls here are plentiful (53 in total, 25 special), fresh and enormous — go for the special Ichiban roll with shrimp tempura and spicy tuna inside, eel, avocado and a zippy kabayaki sauce outside. Or if you feel like sharing, the love boat for two ($56) is a chef’s-choice bounty of 12 sushi pieces, 15 sashimi pieces, a California roll and rock n’ roll. It’s a beautiful beast. Ichiban also maintains sister locations in Holmdel and Toms River. (BO)
4. Sagami, Collingswood
Sagami, South Jersey’s best-known Japanese restaurant, was a James Beard Awards semifinalist in 2019. The restaurant is located on a lackluster stretch of Route 130, but the interior is warm and inviting, with wooden booths and tables and a handsome sushi bar. The kappa maki (cucumber roll) is simple, straight-up goodness, and the king crab sushi is worth the hefty price tag ($9 for one piece). There is an artistry here not found at most sushi restaurants. The slivers of cucumbers in the kappa maki roll rise from the rice like tiny trees in a bamboo forest. No, I was not drinking sake as I wrote that. Let the record show I did not drink sake at any of my stops; I’ll make up for that at some point in the future. (PG)
3. Ai Sushi, Somerville
It’s a hidden sushi gem in the center of Somerville, literally. I had the hardest time finding this place as it’s located in a shared building with an office space and a retailer, but the journey was absolutely worth it. Ai Sushi offers omakase style dining along with an a la carte menu. Although, if you’re looking to get a little taste of everything without ripping a hole in your wallet, definitely go with the omakase. I highly recommend snagging at least two pieces of the buttery and silky escolar (a type of snake mackerel) roll and the monkfish liver – considered a Japanese delicacy – with its creamy texture and slight sweetness. (LM)
2. DomoDomo, Jersey City
Plenty of restaurants have made the jump from New York to Jersey City and crashed and burned. Thankfully, DomoDomo has flourished since it came across the Hudson in 2019. DomoDomo, which touted four straight Michelin Bib Gourmand awards — an honor the elite dining review service bestows for “exceptionally good food at moderate prices” when it came to New Jersey, is now Jersey City’s premier sushi destination. The nigiri sushi is great here, but it’s the hand rolls that truly set DomoDomo apart. With creative combinations like shrimp tempura with mango salsa, spicy tuna with potato chip and miso black cod with pickled mustard seeds, you can get five hand rolls for $32 and be absolutely stuffed on truly special sushi. (JS)
1. Tomo’s Cuisine, East Hanover
It’s been a long and winding for the Tomo’s, which started in South Orange 20-plus years ago, moved to Little Falls, re-locating to East Hanover nine years ago. Tomo’s is not easy to find, squeezed in a back parking lot between a Chuck E. Cheese and a golf instruction facility. They offered the freshest-tasting sashimi of all the restaurants I visited; the aoyagi (surf clam) is highly recommended. This is hand roll heaven; try the negitoro temaki (right in photo), bursting with flavor. When it comes to freshness, precision and bang for your buck, Tomo’s ranks highest among New Jersey’s sushi restaurants. (PG)
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Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com.
Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com.
Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com.
Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com.
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