JUGEMU — Restaurant in Cresskill

Absolutely incredible. We went as soon as it opened because we needed to schedule our meals around our puppy… So we were there by 510pm. The only issue was that it’s a little awkward being the only table in the restaurant and sitting at the sushi bar… Cause we had like eight people attending us and looking at us and listening to our every word. But you can look at it in another way and assume it felt like more of a private dining experience, which is cool.

Because it was our first time there, we didn’t wanna opt for the Omakase because my husband and I have had mediocre Omakase experiences and they don’t come cheap. And something we didn’t realize that this place does, that many other Omakase places don’t do, is make their sauces in house to pair with the fish. A lot of omakase spots locally don’t care to make a budget for sauces when they can get it ready made. A huge unique selling point of this place was at each sauce was separately made and stored in different containers to pair with the fish it was intended for… And when the chef had mentioned that a lot of Omakase places don’t do this, It made a lot of sense.

We ordered the Hamachi Jalapeño, tuna Crispy rice, tuna 5 ways, single nigiri pieces of sea bream and mackerel on my side and my husband ordered more basic pieces which I can’t recall. We also Ordered the Hokkaido scallop cucumber roll.

As soon as we tried the apps, we regretted not doing the omakase just because we knew it was gonna be that good. For Context, I haven’t found any place in New Jersey that felt like a go to sushi spot that had high-quality fish, incredible pairings and seemingly consistent.

The Hamachi jalapeño were bigger cuts of tuna with like this jalapeño paste sauce. It was amazing and proper spicy. No addtl sauce needed.

The crispy rice tuna was insane. The hot rice paired with the cold tuna and their fixings were amazing. It didn’t look like much, but it packed a huge punch of flavor. I think it might be the wasabi they use But both the wasabi and soy sauce were insanely good

The tuna way of our little attempt at omakase ish. They gave you four pieces of Nigiri ( 2 being fatty tuna pieces) And a chopped tuna hand roll. I’m a texture person so I wasn’t a fan of the hand, but each piece of tuna was better than the next. The fatty ones were insanely melty and lovely And I just really goes to show that I don’t think I’ve had good high quality, fresh sushi or fish from many places Because no place matched up to this.

I had ordered a piece of sea bream which was insanely good. I’ve never tried anything like that before and if I could, I would order 20 of those alone. The mackerel was really good and not fishy at all as well.

The Hokkaido scallop Cucumber roll was very simple, but packed a huge bunch of flavor when you dipped it in the spicy sauce that it was paired with alongside a soy sauce wasabi combo. You could taste the quality and freshness.

I was drinking a glass of sparkling wine… The wine was fine before I had the sushi… But drinking a sip while eating my sushi totally changed my palette as the sparkling wine paired so well that it became sweet.

Last, but not least the miso cheesecake - Absolutely incredible and made in house. We ordered two more to go And they thought we were joking. That’s how good it was.

I don’t miss New York City when I have sushi from...

Authentic Japanese cuisine experience in Northern Jersey with premium fishes and A5 Wagyu flew in directly from Japan!!

My wife and I came here for an anniversary dinner and had a wonderful experience. We have a high standard with Japanese cuisine since we have visited Japan many times and dined at many authentic Japanese restaurants here in the states.

Jugemu is probably the best authentic Japanese restaurant in Northern Jersey that can offer high quality ingredients with the dining experience that you can only find in the NYC with a premium price. They are owned and operated by Japanese expats and the chefs are trained in Japan. They imported their premium ingredient such as fish and A5 Wagyu beef directly from Japan. I was pleasantly surprised to see a Tsukiji (the most reputable and largest fish exporter in Japan) certificate displayed by the sushi bar.

We had the Omakase and its usually a good way to find out the quality of the ingredient used by the restaurant and the skill of the sushi chef on the presentation, etc. The selection of fish being offered is where Jugemu really shines since they import fishes from Japan. I have yet to find a sushi restaurant in Northern Jersey that can offer the variety of fishes from local prefectures in Japan. Rosy Seabass from Tsushima, Goldeneye Snapper from Chiba, Rock Fish from Hokkaido just to name a few. Yes, they also have the well known item such as Toro and Uni but its the exotic seasonal fishes really making the difference! You can check out their weekly fresh import on their google page. The presentation is excellent and so is the quality of the fish. They also have an extensive drink menu and the pairing recommendation is spot on. The staff and the owner is very attentive and show great care to the customers.

Overall, we had a lovely experience and it was worth the long drive to discover this authentic Japanese restaurant for many more future...

This small, local restaurant is a hidden gem, 100% owned and operated by Japanese people, which adds to its authenticity and charm. From the moment you walk in, you can tell it’s a place where quality and tradition matter. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming—perfect for both families and casual meetups.

One of our favorite things to do here is order a variety of dishes to share. The menu offers a wide selection of authentic Japanese items, each prepared with care and fresh ingredients. Everything we tried was delicious, from savory appetizers to satisfying main dishes. It’s the kind of food that makes you slow down and enjoy each bite.

Their desserts are also worth mentioning. Whether it’s a traditional sweet or something with a modern twist, they’re beautifully presented and full of flavor. It’s the perfect way to end the meal.

Even the teenagers in our group—who can sometimes be hard to please—loved the food and asked when we could come back. That says a lot!

If you’re looking for an authentic Japanese dining experience in a warm and friendly setting, this place is definitely worth checking out. We’ll absolutely...