Ninja Sushi — Restaurant in Nutley

With the increasing popularity of Japanese food these past few years, it seems like trendy new ramen or sushi spots are popping up everywhere. 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. Located in Nutley, my partner, our friends and I decided to pay a visit to this establishment as first-timers off of Washington Avenue for dinner. Reservations were easily made via Yelp for 6. Upon arrival, don’t be fooled by this hidden local gem as one enters the back of the restaurant through their parking lot. From the front of the establishment, one can’t see the restaurant, hence the name Ninja Sushi. Greeted by the staff upon entering their cozy interior and announces the number of customers with a bang on the drum above the register. Fitting with the theme of the place's name, there were Katana swords on the wall and, amusingly, Shuriken (Ninja’s stars) embedded in wood among the wall decor. The menu was extensive, from sushi to ramen and rice dishes. The dessert menu came on a wooden paddle. For starters, we decided on the Gyoza, Seaweed Salad, Garden Salad, and Sweet Potato Tempura. As the main meal, we ordered the Chicken Teriyaki, the Fire Roll, the Love Boat, Bang Bang Rolls, and Tonkatsu. The meal comes with miso soup. Complimentary rice rolls and rice porridge began our meal. The sushi here is as fresh as one can get. The presentation of the food is very artfully stunning, delicious, and tasty. After our meal, they give you a complimentary yakult—a milky, sweet drink to help with your digestion. The servers were friendly and accommodating, especially Carmela, who checked in on us periodically. Even the owner, Phil came out and exchanged a few words. Pricewise, it was reasonable and worth it if you are looking for quality. We were so stuffed, and our stomachs were satisfied, which we...

I really enjoyed my visit to Ninja Sushi! It’s a small, cute little spot with such a fun atmosphere. When you walk in, they play the drums based on how many people come in, which was such a unique and lively touch.

The prices here were amazing—we ordered so much food and everything felt worth it.

We started with the Spicy Chicken Ramen, and wow! The portion was huge, easily enough for three people. It was rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with a little kick of spice. Definitely one of my favorites of the night.

Next up was the Sweet Potato and Cucumber Roll, which added a nice touch of sweetness alongside the savory dishes. It was simple but refreshing.

The Udon Noodles with Shrimp and Vegetables were another highlight—comforting, hearty, and full of flavor.

One of the most impressive dishes was the Fire Roll, which arrived in a stunning swan-shaped aluminum presentation. Not only was it adorable and aesthetic, but the roll itself had the perfect mix of sweet and spicy flavors.

But the star of the night was the Bang Bang Sushi Roll. This was hands down our favorite. We almost ordered another round of it, but with how much food we already had, we had to stop ourselves. Still, it’s a must-try!

To top it all off, when we received our check, they gave us free probiotic drinks. Such a thoughtful and unique touch.

I came on a Saturday evening and loved how it wasn’t loud—the atmosphere was calm and welcoming. The employees were very kind, attentive, and responsive. They not only kept checking in on us but also cleaned the table often and gave great suggestions when we asked about the most popular drinks.

The restaurant itself was very clean and well-organized, which made the experience even better.

Overall, Ninja Sushi is a gem. I’ll definitely be...

I was in the area with my mom and my friend on a Saturday and we needed a lunch spot. My friend and I are always down for sushi, and my mom loves ramen, so this was the perfect spot. They don’t open until 12 on Saturdays. We were a bit early but they were still able to seat us.

To start, they gave us a bowl of congee and some complimentary apps - imitation crab meat wrapped in a fried wonton skin, and some shrimp sushi with furikake. I wasn’t a fan of the imitation crab, but the shrimp sushi was great. For my entree, I went with the Deluxe Sushi ($21 - 10pcs. of sushi with California Roll 3pcs. and Spicy Tuna Roll 3pcs). It was between this and the Regular Sushi but the the Deluxe was only $3 more and came with two extra pieces so I thought, why not? The entree came with a soup and a salad. Between that and the free apps, I was already getting full. I was still able to finish my meal though. I believe the fish was 2 pc salmon, 2 pc tuna, 1 red snapper, 1 yellowtail, 1 white tuna (?), 1 eel, 1 imitation crab, and 1 shrimp. The salmon was great but tuna was meh. The white tuna came with honey mustard on top, which I did not care for. The fish itself was great so I don’t know why they decided to ruin it with the sauce. I could have done without the eel, shrimp, and crab since those are always my least favorite pieces. But could have been worse - at least they didn’t give me the egg sponge. The rolls were good too - the spicy tuna was spicier than most spicy tuna rolls elsewhere but I appreciated that. It was a nice change.

Service was great - no complaints. I’m hardly (if ever) in this town but if I find myself in the area again, I’d definitely come back. Sushi is pretty good and for the price, you get a...