Wasai Bistro

This is the best sushi I've ever had, EVER. And yes, I've been to Nobu and Blue Ribbon and all that. The fish is consistently fresh and the dishes are always changing and unique. I'm also a huge fan of the cook your own steak on the hot rock - it's so much fun and beyond delicious. I love that it's BYOB and the 2 main chefs, Nelson and Ming, are just awesome and hilarious guys. Tip: get the peanut butter dumplings and the chocolate cake!!!

One of the best restaurants in central Jersey. I highly recommend securing a reservation. We had reservations for the 6pm time slot on a Saturday and were seated right away. Not soon after, every table and seat was full. Service is polite and attentive. Loved how diverse and interesting the menu was. I was pleasantly surprised by how generous and delicious the duck confit and mushroom risotto entree was. All the ingredients were super fresh, cooked and seasoned well. They also have excellent sushi, but don’t sleep on the rest of the menu. Cant wait to come back!

Chilean sea bass was very exceptional. Sushi was fresh. Lychee sorbet for dessert was amazing. Will return soon! Thank you.

amazing food experience, fresh seafood, high quality products, interesting flavor combinations. BREATHTAKING
Scallop carpaccio with uni was a travel through five different dementions in one bite

Everything was delicious. Highly recommend the scallop and ikura carpaccio, escargots, yellowtail cheek special, if they have it, and the cheesecake (chiffon). Perfect balance of flavors and texture. Presentation was lovely. Brought my 90 yo mother who is very particular and won her over!

Excellent everything! I love it so much, I almost want to marry it! I reserved a table for 3 and though I'm Filipino, I was first to arrive. I was immediately seated. My group then ordered to share. The Escargo in Mushroom Sauce- they snailed it!!! ;) Perfectly tender snails were relaxing in an amazing sauce. Then every item in the Sushi and Sashimi for 2 was super fresh and tasty. Then the Angus Steak on Stone (in the entree section of the menu) was magnificent! It was up to us to cook each slice the way we liked and came with 3 condiments. I highly recommend this. Then for dessert, the Cheesecake and Bread Pudding which both arrived with a scoop of black sesame ice cream were divine! From entrance to exit, a wonderful experience perfect for friends, dates, and family!

NOTES/TIPS:
**BYOB. Vast menu. Cute inside and out! Kids welcome.
**Street parking sometimes available. 2 municipal lots nearby along the same street.
**2 dinner sessions- 6pm and 8pm. Reservations highly recommended.

My wife and I just went to Wasai Bistro for the first time after hearing good things about it for awhile now. I am pleased to say we had a very good experience. The food was delicious. We shared three appetizers - rock shrimp, pork dumplings, and the grilled octopus - and they were all excellent. The rock shrimp were coated in a delicious spicy sauce, and the grilled octopus had a perfect light char. We then shared a whole bunch of sushi rolls, which were exceptional. You can really taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients. Very clean. My biggest disappointment is that I didn’t have any room in my stomach to try one of their entrees. The duck confit looked particularly outstanding. The service was very good as well; prompt but not pushy. All our requests were fulfilled quickly and with a smile. The only tiny negative is that the dining room is quite small, so the table arrangement is a little tight. Small quarrel and not enough to knock it down in my rating. Overall excellent experience and we will be back!

The sushi was amazing, the ambiance modern tranquility. I would Reccomand anyone who is looking for a clean down to earth restaurant. Nelson is the best.

Chef Nelson is truly one of a kind. His Omakase was an experience unlike any other. Although it is easy to think that it is just an amalgamation of expensive ingredients, his dishes were so different than any other fine dining experience I have had. My girlfriend and I enjoyed each and every course with elements of French and Japanese cuisine, made better by Chef Nelson's commentary on their origins. On our usual visits, he has a wide range of dishes to satisfy any craving you may have. Definitely a restaurant you should add to your short list!

The fresh sushi is incredible. High quality ingredients and preparation. Will be back!

Highly recommend making a reservation as the place is quite small and there are not many tables. Not a huge fan of the ambiance because the tables are so close together you can barely walk through.

Some of the best and most gracious service I have ever experienced in what is technically a "casual" restaurant. The food was excellent, with the best lamb chops anyone in my p[art has ever eaten. Fantastic shrimp, really interesting and somewhat unexpected flavors that blend Japanese cuisine with french flavors and influences. Can't say enough positive about this place.

I am so lucky to meet chef Nelson again in Jersey. Last time was when he was having the Sushi 21 in Newark NJ five years ago. Every material is so fresh as they have them shipped over straight from famous seafood market straight in Japan. He would present you the dish in beautiful decoration , and wonderful introduction on how they are prepared and created. Service is also sweet as we have waiters and waitress help you clean up the table right after each course. The desert is also delicious and we will definitely try out the most famous cheesecake next visit. Cheers! (Ps: photos are Omakase by reservation after 4 pm Monday through Thursday.)

This was my third time here and got omakase for my partner and I in advance for his birthday. We were blown away with each dish. Chef Nelson and the other chefs always make delicious meals. Great quality and presentation of the food. Very fresh and authentic. Great service (thank you to our server Kana)! Yummy house-made desserts. Thank you once again for your hospitality!

Came here on a Friday night with friends, the place was busy but we had made reservations ahead so we got seated right away. The sashimi and all the different bowls we ordered were really fresh and delicious. The service was good but it was really busy. It is also BYOB.

what an incredible dining experience! I visited wasai last night and the food was amazing, the chefs truly elevated sushi to the next level with their creative and expertly crafted dishes. Each piece was a delight to the palate, and I left feeling wanting more. Thank you so much chef Nelson such a great host!
Its a BYOB. Just make sure you call ahead to make a reservation

Chef Nelson always surprises me with his cooking. His lobster bisque is the best that I have ever tasted. Thank you for the amazing dinner. I will definitely come back. I highly suggest this place. I will see you again soon, chef Nelson!
P/s: For those who bring their kids, do not order his peanut butter dumplings or your kids will empty your wallet with that dish.

We’ve been here twice now. First time my wife and I were the only people in the restaurant and Andrew (our server for the night) was almost as good as the food. Almost just because the food was better than some Michelin star restaurants we’ve been to. Second time here and we brought friends. Full restaurant, but Andrew did not disappoint. Not only did Andrew remember us, but he remembered our allergies and preferences. He made precise recommendations based on our taste and again the food was just spectacular!

My dining experience at Wasai Bistro was great! While making a reservation for the same day in the evening, I asked if parking was easy to find in the area and the usher answered that there’s plenty of street parking around the restaurant. The usher also ended up being our server.

The chef was very accommodating. Since I am allergic to dairy and eggs, I asked if it was possible to order the Escargot with Mushroom Sauces without ingredients I am allergic to. I was overjoyed when I heard it was possible! My partner and I also ordered the Premium Aged Angus Steak on Stone and the Tonkatsu Ramen.

After finishing these dishes, we ordered a serving of lychee sorbet. It had an interesting texture because lychee jelly was added. Our server was very knowledgeable about all of the dishes. From her responses, it is obvious that she had tasted them. The owners and chefs definitely made sure the dining experience was impeccable.

I will definitely be returning to try out more dishes in the future.

Came here to celebrate my best friend's birthday all the way from NYC, and I must say it was really worth our trip. Nelson and Ming were excellent chefs! We were very surprised at their sushi quality and thought they were even better than some famous restaurants in the city. Their special Mes Reves Roll just melt in your mouth, and Nelson's French dishes were also amazing especially the the roast duck and the panna cotta. We could taste every bite of high quality ingredients in their dishes, including "real" vanilla in the panna cotta. We will definitely come back again! :)

Visited this place for the first time with my family, and had a great experience. Food was delicious and the restaurant has a lovely ambience. Everything was so beautifully plated as well—so much attention to detail! Service is attentive and very knowledgeable about the dishes too. My family and I felt that we were attended kindly throughout the entire night by all the restaurant staff. I would recommend for anyone who wants to treat themselves and their loved ones to check wasai out!