Xina — Restaurant in Bradley Beach

Short Summary:

Two weeks ago I visited Xina in Bradley Beach. In short, it was a great experience. The menu has some traditional Asian and sushi options but also offers adventurous twists. The sushi was outstanding—the fish was very fresh, clearly of high quality, and beautifully presented. You can tell the chefs take pride in what they serve. The servers were extremely welcoming and friendly, especially Sasha and Ana. I would definitely come back if I lived nearby, and next time I’m in Jersey, I’ll be sure to stop by again.

Detailed Review:

My girlfriend and I came here on a Thursday night and were surprised at how busy it was. The quoted wait time was 45 minutes, but it ended up being a little shorter—keep in mind this was just for seats at the sushi bar. I would highly recommend a reservation ahead of time if possible. Right away, Sasha greeted us with a warm welcome. Before we were even seated, she walked us through the menu, shared her personal favorites, and gave recommendations. This was incredibly helpful and saved us a lot of time deciding what to order once we sat down.

When we were seated at the sushi bar, our server Ana introduced herself and got us settled in. Throughout the evening, Sasha also came back to check on us, which made the experience feel very personal and attentive. One unique aspect here is that the restaurant doesn’t sell alcohol but allows you to bring your own wine or beer. We saw several tables enjoying their own bottles, and it added to the lively, social vibe of the place.

Scallion Pancake:

Delicious. Scallion pancakes are a Chinese staple, and while simple, they paired them here with burrata, chili crisps, hot honey, and scallions. Normally, I’d call it a crime to eat scallion pancakes with anything other than a soy-based dipping sauce. Burrata sounded ridiculous…but somehow it worked. Surprisingly good, and one of the more creative dishes of the night. I would definitely order again.

Scallop & Shrimp Toast:

I love shrimp toast, so I was excited for this. Xina’s version adds scallop and a sweet yuzu glaze. While I appreciate the creativity, I personally found it lacking in shrimp flavor—the star of the dish. On top of that, the yuzu was overly sweet, which threw the balance off. For me, this one missed the mark. I wouldn’t order it again, but I respect the effort to put a new spin on a classic.

Nigiri:

The eel and aburi salmon nigiri were phenomenal. The eel was cooked perfectly, and the salmon was buttery and literally melted in my mouth. I could easily come here and just order nigiri all night.

Truffle Toro Roll:

This roll came recommended by Sasha and included tuna, toro, cucumber, shiso, truffle soy, and black tobiko. While it looked beautiful, the truffle flavor was overwhelming and drowned out the delicacy of the tuna and toro. After two pieces, it was tough to keep going. If you love truffle, this might be right up your alley, but for me, it was too much. Still, I respect that they’re pushing boundaries and trying bold combinations.

General Tso’s:

An absolute standout. The chicken was fried perfectly—juicy inside with a crisp exterior that held up even under the sauce. I loved the stir-fried peppers mixed in, which added a great texture. My only critique is that the sauce leaned a little too sweet. Dialing it back would make an already excellent dish even better.

Overall:

Xina is a gem in Bradley Beach. The atmosphere is energetic, the service is warm and attentive, and the food is a balance of tradition and bold experimentation. Not every dish landed for me, but the ones that did were unforgettable, and even the misses showed thought and creativity. I’d rate Xina a solid 4.5 stars, but since Google doesn’t allow half-star ratings, I rounded up to 5 because it’s definitely closer to 5 than 4. Between the quality sushi, unique menu, and top-notch hospitality, I would recommend Xina to anyone visiting the area. I’ll definitely be back the next time...

I'm still reeling from the most unforgettable sushi experience of my life! I've tried countless sushi spots, but this one takes the cake - or should I say, the wasabi? The Truffle Toro Roll is an absolute revelation, a culinary masterpiece that will leave you weak in the knees. The harmonious balance of flavors and textures is simply sublime. The richness of the truffle oil perfectly complements the buttery tenderness of the toro, all wrapped up in a delicate seaweed sheet. It's a match made in heaven!

I'm not one to throw around superlatives lightly, but this roll truly deserves a perfect 5 stars. In fact, I'd give it 10 if I could. It's that good. The service was top-notch. I forget her name, but she was AMAZING! The ambiance was cozy and intimate, but let's be real, the real star of the show was that incredible Truffle Toro Roll. If you're a sushi lover like me, do yourself a favor and get to this restaurant ASAP. Trust me, your taste buds...

Nick was our server and he was fantastic! He actually ordered everything for us and we just sat back and had amazing food delivered!!!! Food and service A+++

Ok atmosphere- the windows closer to the ground are clear so cars that park facing the restaurant get a flash of headlights pretty often right into the dining room. the lights - way too bright, consider dimmers to set the mood. The open kitchen concept is cool but again way too bright over there and has a bit of sterile prison lighting. Perhaps dark lighting with cute table lamps or candles -need some greenery to break up the space -the wall on the back - fill it with tons of accent decor and design elements looks pretty bare back there on that big wall. the HVAC in the bathrooms are FREEZING. Would recommend having the HVAC contractor come re-balance the system, it’s way too cold in there 🥶

Overall great place and hope to come back soon and not need my sunglasses...