Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Ajihei
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Fri 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
63 reviews for Ajihei
Review Highlights
63 reviews in English
-
Review from Chrissy C.
CANAL STREET, NY
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
i have the unfortunate duty of visiting my bf who attends school around ajihei. you might know it... i think its called princeton or something.
anywhooooo, out of the all the places hes taken me to... its a toss up btwn ajihei and halo pub (lol, i love ice cream). the sushi is fresh and the place is clean. i like how quiet the restaurant is and how simple the menu is. more of a place where sushi purists would enjoy... this place doesnt dabble around in the fusion craze that so many other sushi restaurants are hopping on.
from what i've tried so far:
wasabi shumai is great! but, only get it if you can handle the wasabi kick~ b/c there really is one. like a sinus clearing one.
chirashi was delicious. they are so accommodating about swapping out as well. i can't stand mackerel and i always feel like the egg is a waste of space on my plate. pieces are large and cut nicely. boyfriend loves chirashi rice... i cant seem to finish even half of it... so, lucky him.
you may not like their rules... but, thats how they control the quality of the ambiance of the restaurant. i dunno about you, but if ur dishing out money for a night out... you dont want crying children or obnoxious college students getting drunk via overexcitement of their byob policy. restaurants rarely extend byob... the fact that they even extend this to one bottle is something to be appreciated. they make no $ off your bottle of wine (they dont charge a corkage fee either) and if anything, they lose out... b/c drinking tends to keep you seated longer. its a very small restaurant and they need to keep the tables turning... thats just the reality of the situation. i dont understand why people get so upset... how about... go eat somewhere else then? nobody is forcing you to dine here lol -
Review from Dan C.
5/5/2012
Very decently sized chirasi bowl, with fresh pieces of fish for just around $20 is really not bad in Princeton! I stopped in with a book while traveling for work, but I'd recommend bringing a friend instead. You don't get signal on your phone, nor is the lightning very bright, so not a solo traveler-friendly place. I'm assuming there's a tiny kitchen, since service took longer than expected, but that could also have been a function of being alone with not much to do.
Friendly server staff, though the clientele can get a little rowdy. Tiny seating, so note that carefully! -
Review from Rye M.
Franklin Park, NJ
4/27/2012
The sushi was good, but not that great.
I've tried sushi at a variety of different establishments, and I was hoping to find a mecca here. After scouring yelp for sushi in the Central / North Jersey area, I affixed my eyes on the dink basement abode known as Ajihei.
When my party of 3 got there, we came to the door at 5:56p. We were told to leave immediately, since the restaurant opened in 4 minutes. I thought this was a bit pretentious. We came back 10 minutes later and there was a line out the door! We thought this has to be good sushi. After waiting almost 10 more minutes (the wait staff of 3 had to get "clearance" from the chef / master / owner / sushi-man), we were allowed to sit at a table for 4 at the back.
SERVICE: The service stinks. This is partly why I'm giving it two stars. The waiters were rude at the door. When we were finally seated, they never checked on us, filled our water, etc. For a waitstaff of three and only 5-6 tables, you'd think the service would be more attentive. WRONG. Next, the wait staff kept entering the kitchen. It was irritating to have them constantly walking one or two feet past you into the kitchen. They tended to wander around the restaurant and look at tables. When they saw our cups were empty, they kept looking, walking. I'm not sure if they were pretending to act busy, but when you have 3 waiters for 6 tables, and you're not being attended to properly, the service SUCKS. The waiters need to stand in one place. For such a small restaurant in such a dink basement, STOP WALKING AROUND! It's irritating to the people who are eating, especially when you're not attentive!
FOOD: The sushi was good, but not that great. The tuna wasn't melt-in-your-mouth. I wasn't expecting toro for the tuna, but it was semi-tough... that was disappointing. The rice was hard, and it was not binding enough to the sushi. The eel sushi was VERY delicious. The other pieces (shrimp, salmon, etc.) were average. I ordered the Chef's special. The miso was powdered; nothing special. The rolls (tuna, oyster) were good. Much better than the sushi pieces. The BEST part of the meal was the goyoza. Our party of three had two orders of it. They were very crispy, fried dumplings served with a soy sauce based dip. The dip was great! It was a combination of soy and some other sauces (TBD). Def. order it!
The bill for three people (2x Goyoza, 2x Chef's plate (let the chef choose), 1x Tuna, 1x Oyster, 1x Tempura Rolls) came out to $77. This was INSANE since the sushi was average at best.
A snotty wait staff, average sushi, and high price tag turned me off. Ajihei may float your boat if you're into those things... but you may like this Sushi dink. -
Review from Adam R.
Manhattan, NY
4/27/2012
This is some of the best sushi I've ever had. The one downside is that the place fills up quickly, so get there early or expect a pretty long wait!
-
Review from Tony D.
Somerville, NJ
2/23/2012
Some of the best sushi I've been able to find in the Princeton area... Small place with simple decor, but excellent cuts of sushi. Some of the best eel I've ever had, so if ur an Unagi fan don't let the "Market Price" scare u off... It's worth whatever the market is dictating!
Loved the tuna handroll, & always like when u can actually see the fish in a spicy tuna roll. I highly recommend this place if ur like me & are all about good sushi.
I had to open my own wine bottle (BYO), & couldn't get take out on valentine's day but I'm over it! Service was friendly enough for me, but place is small... RSVP recommended. -
Review from Jay I.
3/3/2012
My wife and I loved this place and went there for lunch or dinner when we had some extra bucks (or even when we didn't). This place has high quality sushi, and the sushi man is Japanese, too. I don't know anything about their non-sushi entrees, but their sushi dishes are worth trying. I saw a good number of reviews about getting kicked out of the restaurants, but that never happened to me nor did I witness such incidents, so I got nothing to say.
-
Review from Palyn D.
Princeton, NJ
3/21/2012
I grew up eating Japanese food and this place is the real deal. I wouldn't even be embarassed to bring my friend's super-traditional, picky Japanese grandma here.
This place is all about the food: every cut of raw fish I've ever eaten in the past 8 years has been wonderfully fresh, delicious, not to mention well-presented. The rice and nori accompanying the sushi is also amazingly good, and everything's perfectly proportioned. A lot of places mar otherwise good fish with mediocre/bad sushi rice or nori, or a too-large mass of rice with the slab of fish, but not here.
You can tell they care about the food when even the "throwaway" items (in other places) get as much attention as the fish does here: their miso soup is one of my favorites (inclusive of NYC restaurants) and even though I never order the sweet egg omelet pieces and always thought I hated it (because many people/places make it badly) I love it here...where it's light-fluffy and just the right blend of sweet-savory.
The decor is basic. They had a makeover last year and each table feels more private/comfy now. Lots of medium-tone wood. (Though they sadly also redid the menu and got rid of my favorite don, with sea urchin/scallops/roe). The waitresses serve you quietly and efficiently. I know the chef has a reputation for being fierce, enforcing his many rules, but who cares?? You go here to eat good sushi and have a good sushi-eating *experience* (not sit amidst families of 6 with screamy toddlers and strollers blocking the aisle) -- it's a price worth paying in the culinary wastelands of Princeton. -
Review from Ashley J.
4/26/2012
Absolutely delicious sushi! Freshly cut sashimi prepared by a real sushi chef! Water and green tea served immediately after being seated. We started our meal with the Seaweed Salad which was a nice mix of iceberg lettuce and fresh ocean seaweed. There were two kinds of dressings that came on the side in tiny sake cups: Japanese soy ginger dressing and the other was a miso based. Vegetable croquette is one of those appetizers that doesn't show up on every sushi restaurant's menu. Two very hot and perfectly fried pieces served with katsu sauce. Our main meal was the Sushi Basic that came with 7 pieces of nigiri sushi (we added 2 more: salmon and ikura). The spicy tuna and spicy salmon maki were also very delicious! It is a bit pricey but both the food and the service are fantastic! Highly recommend!
-
Review from Alyce T.
Palo Alto, CA
8/21/2011
As long as you don't get banned by committing half a dozen mistakes deemed to be crimes by this eccentric little sushi spot, you will love it for the excellent quality of their sashimi and rice.
It's the sort of place where I have gone alone for lunch -- just to treat myself during a difficult work week -- and have savored each bite of flavorful, perfectly textured salmon, uni, unagi, and yellowtail with closed eyes... and then opened them to invariably catch people staring. Oh who cares, I'd think, rolling my eyes. They just want the beautiful confection I'm having.
FOUR STARS (The Good):
1. If you want a satisfying tasting of their famously fresh fish, order the chirashi with hand-picked pieces of sashimi laid on a bed of divinely seasoned rice. Be pleasantly surprised by the chewy pieces of ginger you stumble on in each bite of rice. And know with each chew that you can't get fresher fish anywhere else in Princeton, NJ. Breathe through your nose, and enjoy.
2. If you love eel, please order the unagi don. Such plump eel, such delicious sauce (that's not overly sweet for once!), and fluffy white rice. You'd think that you'd be yearning for variety after this dish, but that is NOT the case! I often order just this and am superbly satisfied.
2. The chef used to work at Nobu in New York (check out that little New York Times review proudly framed and hung next to their entrance), so execution is worth noting. They roll their sushi well; they're compact, neat, and contain the right proportions of fish to rice. The cuts of the sashimi are sliced with an experienced hand, and presentation is clean if not creative.
MINUS ONE STAR (The Not-So-Good):
1. I have to say, they do not handle innocent transgressors of their "commandments" very well (READ their list of rules next to the entrance or despair!!!) My friend has gotten in a huge row with the staff and owner when she unwittingly brought a group larger than four. The group was asked to order take-out instead of seating themselves down, so they ordered but conflict arose somehow when it came to pay. When my friend raised her voice slightly in exasperation, the waitress/manager shoved the bags of food into her hands and said, "Just leave! We don't want your money. Just leave and do not come back!" WHAT? This type of confrontation phobia does not excuse the owners' total lack of professionalism when problems arise...
2. The same waitress is not very good at communicating with customers, most likely because of a language barrier. That's all well and good when she's serving you efficiently and politely, but it's a huge problem when communication is needed. Even something like splitting payments and other small requests seem lost on her and then we're stuck in an exchange of silly gestures and half-words. Trust me, I'm not discriminating; rather I'm thinking that solid language skills are necessary for anyone working in customer service.
---
I tend to suspect that Ajihei rules their diners with an iron fist because they can afford to. After all, the space is small, reservations are not allowed, and if some people are turned away or even banned, other people invariably show up. To the college kids that try to dine there as a social experience, Ajihei very clearly turns its nose up at them. But if you are hyper aware of all of this and can appreciate food separate from the restaurant's odd eccentricities, then come! Better yet, come alone like I do, and you'll be guaranteed a love connection: you'll love Ajihei, and Ajihei will love you. -
Review from Ed U.
Subterranean sushi? Yes, I love the concept. You have to walk down to the basement of a century-old building and enter a rather compact Japanese eatery with the familiar blond wood and quietly efficient staff. I think they should paint the walls a deep ocean blue and try a Finding Nemo motif. The animated fish can have provocative thought balloons that say "I hope you realize you're eating my cousin Shirley." Too much? Maybe that's why I didn't get that decorating job at HGTV.
This is a lot better than the trendier-looking Mo C Mo C Sushi down the street. Ajihei bills itself as a Japanese deli, so I assume they must do bento boxes. Me? I was kinda hungry after a hard day at my company's Plainsboro office with a bag of chips for lunch, so I went to town. I first ordered the $6 Tatsuta Age (Japanese Fried Chicken) which were basically dark-meat McNuggets with a wedge of lemon instead of my beloved honey mustard sauce (see photo). They were still satisfying. Then I went for the $6 Tofu Salad, which was half-iceberg lettuce with shredded peppers and half-tofu sliced and splooged with a peanut and ginger dressing (see photo).
It was more odd than good, but the tofu tasted quite fresh. The centerpiece, of course, was my main order, the $27 Sushi Deluxe selection which encompassed nine different kinds - tuna, mackerel, yellowtail, eel, salmon roe - and a tuna takkamaki roll (see photo). It was what I wanted, it was what I needed. Good and fresh. Service was unobtrusive as the server slipped in and out with the dishes like a phantom. I'm glad I found a sushi alternative in Princeton since pickin's are rather slim in these parts for fresh fish even if it is cousin Shirley.
FOOD - 4 stars...finally found a good Japanese place in Princeton
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...a bit tight but clean and bright
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...shhhh...
TOTAL - 4 stars...oh I'd come back for some sushi when I'm in townListed in: Yo! It's Joisey and Philly
-
Review from Michael W.
Stanford, CA
1/22/2012
Delicious
-
Review from Joshua C.
Princeton, NJ
3/23/2011
For My very first review, I'll review a place that i have been visiting for years. Before i trick you into thinking this place is perfect for everybody...
...BE WARNED: It takes a while to get your food, the decore is simple, the place is cramped, you cant have groups over four.
THAT SAID: this restaurant is for those who love truly high quality sushi/sashimi.
The rice here is done to perfection.
The fish is always fresh and very high quality
The waiters are very friendly and remember frequent customers, especially if you come the same time each week.
The unagi (as said in some other reviews) is wonderfully rich and plentiful, you get a pretty large serving of eel and a big helping of rice.
So, is it for everybody? no. Is it posh? no. But, it IS my favorite sushi restaurant in NJ, and challenges many places in nyc/philly as well. -
Review from Leslie G.
Princeton, NJ
12/16/2011
Yuck. Besides being a basement sushi spot, which is kinda gross, the quality of fish is not great. Their tempura is awesome though, hence the 2 stars. :)
-
Review from A B.
Princeton, NJ
3/9/2011
This semi hole in the wall restaurant in downtown Princeton is worth the trip and sometimes long wait. My husband and I ordered some appetizers, a bunch of rolls, and dessert. We were pleased with the quality of everything that hit our table!
I've heard great things about the sushi chef. As you know, it's an art, and he seems to be the closest to knowing what he's doing in this immediate Princeton area.
The prices were a bit steep and the service a tad slow, but not unbearable. The restaurant is cozy and intimate. We will be back :) -
Review from Lily P.
Good sushi and quality. On the pricey side for sushi in general and the portions are small. The people there are super nice and when it opens at 12 for lunch they get busy pretty fast.
The bathroom is pretty small and you need to go into the kitchen to get there. I like the atmosphere though and its great for a small group. They def focus on quality over just large amounts of sushi. The soy sauce was a bit diluted, the wasabi had a massive kick, and the ginger was okay. For the teriyaki they had ginger on the side that you assume would be pickled radish. All in all id go back there while im in the area.
The friends dumplings (gyoza) were standards but the other ones with crab/chicken etc in the think skin weren't as good or flavorful so I had no idea what i was eating there.Listed in: I love sushi
-
Review from Danan R.
Updated - 12/24/2011
Okay, so I finally struck up the courage to deviate from my beloved eel and sushi rolls to try the cooked items. They were fantastic! The salmon cutlet is a beautiful slab of salmon dipped in egg, covered in panko and black pepper and then and fried. It was the perfect crunchy texture. The pork katsu cutlet was very tender on the inside and deliciously crunchy on the outside. But wait, the winner of the day was the chicken kuwayaki, which was deep-fried, and the covered with a soy-based sauce; the sauce was soooo good. And the chicken was tender and juicy, with a crunchy shell. I am almost glad that this is more an a short drive from work because otherwise, I would be very very poor indeed since I would probably eat here everyday. The portions are filling though. These 3 dishes were more than enough to satiate the 3 of us. And Koji is great (although I would advise calling him by his first name); the way that he glares at the patrons over the top rim of his expertly perched spectacles is just classic.
Listed in: Sushi!
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
4/5/2011
The rules for dining here:
1. Don't come in groups of more than 4
2. Don't speak directly to the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Caleb N.
Princeton, NJ
10/12/2011
Ajihei is located in a cozy little downstairs space on Chambers, where a number of the hidden gems of Princeton are nestled. Note that "cozy" means it's not really suitable for big groups (parties larger than 4). It is the clear top dog in terms of Japanese food in Princeton.
The fish used for sushi is fresh and high-quality, and the cooked dishes like the unagi-don are top notch as well. However, there is no bar, no interaction with the chef, and certainly no omakase. Also, the service came off as a bit aloof during our visit. Also, be sure to take note of their hours.
All in all a solid, quality Japanese restaurant. -
Review from Patrick W.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2011
I've been to this place several times and they have excellent sushi and a slightly cramped, but mostly just cozy dining room. By far the best thing about Ajihei is the quality of the ingredients. Yes, the sushi is slightly more expensive than other places in Princeton but the value is unsurpassed since the quality is so much better. The service is generally quite good, but a little slow during peak times.
Given that they have such a small space, they have very little patience for parties which are large or generally disruptive in any way. If you have a loud child with you, for instance, they will ask you to leave. They have a large sign that says "no parties of five or more"... can't believe how many reviewers were shocked that they were not seated with a party of five... I mean, seriously?
I sort of dig the "soup nazi"-esque attitude from this place. Above all else, they focus on delivering top notch sushi and a quite environment, and that, I deeply appreciate. -
Review from Susan s.
7/10/2010 2 photos
Saving the best review for last! My friend Brandon wanted to take me to this place for a while now. Since my birthday just passed last weekend, we celebrated with sushi for dinner! Arriving fairly early, around 6pm, the restaurant was already filling up. A small quaint little sushi restaurant with one sushi chef behind a small kitchen bar and a couple of waitresses tended to each section.
We started off with a hijiki and watercress salad, then miso soup, and moved on to a sashimi platter deluxe. The fish was cut perfectly and came with a few extra pieces then the 2 pieces per fish listed on the menu. I was happy with that. The tuna was Blue Fin, and the salmon was more like salmon belly? All of it was fresh. I'm not a big Uni fan, but I still managed to take a piece and enjoy it. We also shared one giant roll. The Rainbow Roll. It consists of tuna, salmon, lobster salad and avocado? It was so big and if I ordered it for myself, I probably would not even be able to finish half of it. 10 HUGE pieces. It should be called a Monster Roll eh?
The staff was really friendly. Had to ask for the green tea to be refilled, but thats ok. If this is the best place for sushi in Princeton, I believe it!
NO RESERVATIONS! Come early, long wait on weekends during peak hours. -
Review from Valissa W.
6/27/2010
It has been brought to my attention over the years that I have a rather large mouth. I'm a talker, SORRY! What's the best remedy for a mouth overflowing with words? Fill it with food.
My dinner date and I started off with green tea and miso soup, both of which were obviously homemade and really, really good. We were also served a mixed plate of pickled I'm-not-sure-whats that were incredibly tasty. I'm no expert in Japanese dining, but my companion lived in Kyoto for a while and proclaimed Ajihei to be the most authentic Japanese restaurant he's seen in North America. His bold statement was also backed by a line out the door of local Japanese people waiting to get in on a Wednesday night.
Being that my friend's expense account was going to be footing our bill that night, we indulged in a lot more sushi sampling than we would have otherwise. I don't know how it's possible to get seafood that fresh in Central Jersey, but the umi alone was good enough to make me sing. Fortunately for those within earshot, there were several other courses of sushi and sashimi so that big mouth of mine never chirped even a note. Between the two of us we had four sushi rolls (two deluxe), countless sashimi, and the aforementioned appetizers and our bill was right at $60. Not bad!
Service was kinda slow and at times there were some highly awkward exchanges with one of the servers. I didn't mind this at all until we'd finished our meal and were told we needed to hurry up and leave since there were others waiting.
Oh well, a full mouth is a happy (and quiet) mouth. :)Listed in: Central NJ
-
Review from Jane D.
Princeton Junction, NJ
11/8/2011
I ate here ages ago with a bf i started dating. went about 3 times until I got violently sick. My dad being the protective father he was and being cautious about sushi in general called up Ajihei and exchanged words about what i ate there. For some reason they asked my father for my phone number and between expeling the tasty sushi meal, they harassed me demanding to know why i was sick, and trying to suggest maybe i was sick with something else! I did not accuse them of making me sick, and to be harassed like that in the middle of one of my worst nights ever made me so upset. There may have been an "are you ok" in there somewhere but I was too sick to care.
I loved their sushi when i had it. I honestly believe it is the best that is in Princeton. I'm terrified that I will be remembered and with their strict policies and rules I'm almost certain I am banned for getting sick that night.
I shouldn't have to be scared to eat here, and the strict expectations they have set are absolutely ridiculous!
Why not just require a club membership or make it private if they are going to go through such lengths to set these rules and ban people who break em? -
Review from Joy Y.
Princeton, NJ
12/10/2011
i always feel urged to bring a box of sushi from ajihei in dried ice to my friends at yale when i go visit them because they loved this place so much when they came to visit me. but i have to say the eating policies here are so weird and sometimes intolerable.
-
Review from Afonso B.
Princeton, NJ
11/1/2011
Best Sushi I have ever had (I haven't had that many though)
-
Review from Ken K.
Fort Lee, NJ
12/10/2009
Review has been overdue for sure. I visited this small place back in September. I was very glad to make myself there!!!
Sushi/Sashimi - despite my very first visit, Chef made it through really nicely for me and my wife. Typically, I ask sushi chef to do "Omakase" style with budget...not many places nowadays willing to do this way. But, the chef was really accommodating...great!! All items of favorite, Chu-Toro, Hirame, Akami, Tai, Hamachi, Sake (belly part!!)...shell was only Hokki and Mirugai...Kanpyo maki with Wasabi was really good!! Not may places serve this traditional item anymore. CP was actually fair - maybe because of first-timer?...otherwise, I would have given 5 stars!!
I strongly recommend this place - wish I live closer!! -
Review from Robin d.
Stockton, NJ
3/22/2008
Has anyone noticed a downturn at Ajihei? I feel like the rolls aren't as good as they used to be and that they are more filled with rice than before. I still like the spicy tuna rolls, and most of the smaller rolls, but I think the bigger, special rolls aren't as good as before. Lately I've actually decided to drive to Ota-ya in Lambertville instead of Ajihei.
However, Ajihei was one of my favorite sushi places for a good run. Maybe it's just in my head that they've faltered a bit! -
Review from Jason C.
Miami Beach, FL
4/28/2011
It's a shame that my first yelp review will be so dreadful, but such was our experience attempting to have dinner at Ajihei, which had come highly recommended, on Tuesday, April 26. Our party of four sat down at the moment the restaurant opened, 530p, the only patrons there. Our colleague joined us a few minutes later and was told he couldn't sit with us (I had not seen the tablets of 10 commandments nailed to the door). The waitress wouldn't help, wouldn't let us split our group, and wouldn't talk to us otherwise. When I asked if she would rather prefer, despite the restaurant's being empty, that we leave as opposed to finding a way to accommodate our business, she told us we should leave immediately. When I asked to speak to the manager, she insisted he had spoken and would not come to talk to us. When I approached the counter of the manager/sushi chef/feudal lord, this disrespectful restaurateur couldn't be bothered even to look up at me or dignify my displeasure with a response, aside from his eventual Mifune-like grunt insisting we leave, which we then did.
I'm disappointed that, given the numerous glowing reviews of the food at Ajihei, we weren't able to enjoy it, but I must confess that in 20 years of dining all over this country and the world, I've never experienced service like this. I'm actually considering informing the BBB as well.
May this proprietor reap what he sows in his treatment of customers! -
Review from Sevinc Asli C.
Somerset, NJ
12/6/2010
The best, quality sushi in the town. Service was great. Although the place is pretty small, and not good for the young kids. I mean, 3 or 4 years old kids can easily bother the other customers who sit next to.
Whenever I want to eat sushi I think about Ajihei, but I found myself in Whole Foods Market which is convenient for my children. -
Review from David S.
Morristown, NJ
8/9/2009
I'm a fan. Their sushi is great. But they just instituted a policy of $20/person minimum for parties of 4 or more. I understand why they have a policy like that in a college town where students tend to hang out without realizing the impact on a small restaurant. But, last night when none of us were that hungry, we went elsewhere.
I'd still recommend it. -
Review from Chad W.
5/13/2009
**Quick update...I've had sushi at probably 50 places since I wrote this review a few years ago..it's now 2012, and I think this is still one of best sushi joints that I've been to. It is by far the best Chirashi bowl I've had anywhere, as well as the best uni & mackerel. I haven't been to Japan yet, but if Japan is anywhere near as good as this place, I might move there permanently.**
The place is a small basement-esque place on a side street. The decor inside is uninspired, but the sushi is excellent. They serve complementary green tea as well, if that's your thing.
I ordered Chirashi Deluxe for $27; it came with miso soup and a multitude of sushi. 4x tuna, 4x salmon, 1x shrimp, 2x yellowtail, 3x mackerel, 2x yellowtail, 2x snapper, 2 scallop slices, ikura, & uni.
The sushi was some of the freshest I've had, actually. I have had uni, ikura, & mackerel several times, and I've never enjoyed it much. Ikura has always been hit or miss, sometimes okay, a lot of times overly powerful. Not here! It was sweet, fresh, and creamy. I've tried uni 3x, because I've always read that some people truly enjoy it, and until tonight, I've always assumed said people are crazy...but now I understand. The uni here was really good! High iodine content, but very sweet & creamy, the way it apparently should taste.
I've been to ~30 different sushi restaurants, and this place is top 5 for quality of fish. Try it next time you're in Princeton! -
Review from Kate G.
Skillman, NJ
12/29/2011
Sea food wasn't fresh. Will Not go there again.
-
Review from Vanessa K.
Washington, DC
Usually I would not rate a restaurant based on service only - just because I believe the quality of food is always more important, imo. However, my experience with Ajihei def. made me rethink my way of thinking. My first time there was pretty good, good enough for me to drive another 40 mins back. This second time though, we had a party of five, the waitress refused to seat us. I can completely agree and even comply to their rules of no big parties thats plastered on their wall outside. But when our party agreed to seperate to different tables of 3 and 2, she just kept telling us "no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no" (omfg a gadzillion freaking times) with NO understandable reason. We tried to reason with her and understand why she wasn't compromising. Overall, it was the most frustrating dining experience I've ever had and I def. don't recommend this place to anyone else.
-
Review from L K.
Cambridge, MA
2/6/2010
Best sushi in the Princeton area, and for good reason considering the chef once worked under Iron Chef Morimoto. Not comparable to the very best sushi places in Toronto, New York, or Philly, but by far the kind of sushi place that makes me feel like it is out of place in Princeton... it's fantastic and has sushi quality that is characteristic of most good-quality swanky sushi places in large cities.
The waitress was very pleasant. She forgot our miso soup at first but considering she was the only one working all of the tables in the restaurant, it's understandable!
The soft-shell crab roll is especially recommended. -
Review from Atilla B.
Princeton, NJ
6/5/2010
Perfection in Princeton.... but you should not expect to get good sushi without paying the proper price for it.
Though expensive in comparison to what's around, it is not without merit... Ajihei easily puts 95% of similarly priced sushi restaurants all around USA to shame.
This is the ultimate sushi experience hidden away beneath street level in a small university town... No Sushi place around the area even comes close to delivering the quality I've had in Ajihei so far. The quality here varies from amazing to perfect, and I'm convinced that this master chef will refuse to serve you if the remaining fish lacks the usual quality.
Have a cup of hot tea with your meal and enjoy a delicious chirashi-zushi, tekka-don, sushi platter or the perfect maki... flawlessly cut and served with perfectly seasoned sushi rice. -
Review from Scottie B.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2009
I really liked this place. We went for lunch and ordered off the lunch menu. It was very reasonably priced considering the miso soup and green tea. I had the Sushi lunch which on that day was a delicious flotilla. I'm used to sushi rolls, but my lunch was fish on top of tender rice (I know this is standard at some places, but hey I'm not super-cosmopolitan). My girlfriend is vegetarian and went with some avocado and cucumber rolls which weren't fantastic but weren't bad either.
Two things I noticed in other reviews that I'd like to comment on:
1) The atmosphere. I liked the tucked away feel, as if I'd found a neighborhood secret. The place was well-lit and subtly decorated so as not to be obnoxious. There are a small number of tables so come early, waiting space was limited too.
2) The service. I guess they have gotten better since previous posters, our waitress was quick to bring us water and take our order. Food came out promptly and our waters and green tea cups never got empty. Though there were people waiting, we never felt pressured to eat and get out. -
Review from Todd O.
1/1/2011
been here twice now, and for the princeton area, hands down the best sushi/sashimi restaurant (note: princeton is quite limited in quality asian food). when you talk about good hole-in-the-wall restraurants, ajihei ranks up there, as you can almost miss this underground location if you don't look carefully. the small interior seats ~20-30, but the wait at 8pm on a thursday night was relatively short despite the two groups ahead of us and lone sushi chef.
got the chirashi ($22), which i'll admit was better than my nobu's experience. their sashimi pieces are fresh, and the sashimi deluxe ($28) will satisfy you, yet leave enough room for ice cream at any of princeton's nearby shops. -
Review from Derrick C.
Princeton, NJ
4/3/2011
I've been here over 10 times. One of the only legit sushi places in Princeton. Very small place in a basement, lineups can get quite long during weekends. BYOB place...
Food:
Small dishes
The gyoza is excellent, wasabi shumai is very strong
Real dishes
the different kinds of chirashis are always dependable. So are the sushi/sashimi plates. Omakase at lunch time is also very good. -
Review from Rebekah S.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2009
In a town where there's a dearth of really good ethnic eats, it's nice to have a decent sushi place around. NJ is great b/c of the BYOB... and this place is no exception. Note, however, that you can ONLY bring 1 bottle per couple (was it me that caused them to institute this policy? I hope not!)
If you have some good sake, offer it to Mr Ajeihi... even better, he is a sochu fan, so let him partake should you have a bottle. Since I live in NYC, it's no problem getting artisinal sake... so I bring some down when visiting friends in town and we head out to Ajeihi and eat/drink up. I think Mr Ajeihi (dunno if its his real name) appreciates the token gesture on my part (and the good quality sake/sochu, which you can't get anywhere in Jersey... how sad!)
Note-- this is Princeton, not Manhattan, so don't expect Yasuda quality-- It's more like Yama quality, which is A+++ for NJ! -
Review from Fitz T.
Long Island City, NY
6/9/2011
Some weird, insane compulsions at this restaurant.
I attempted to join 4 friends sitting at a table here, for an early dinner. The place was empty.
The waitress got offended, upset, and only said no, no, no, with these huge, wide, upset eyes. I mean, just at the *QUESTION* she became visibly upset. They could have said no without being jerks about it, right?
None of us were from Princeton, so I guess we didn't know the "rules" of the sushi place. (Do you go looking for "rules" every time you walk into a restaurant???)
I feel bad that people in Princeton have to deal with some crazy people because there's just no other sushi place??
PS, I have many asian (including Japanese) colleages and friends. I've been to Tokyo. I've eaten at a millions of sushi joints. I'm part asian. I know how to conduct myself respectfully in public:
These guys are just self-indulgently quirky and rude. -
Review from Lissie P.
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, NY
10/24/2009
I was taken to this cute little restaurant by a girlfriend who is Japanese. She tried out all the Japanese restaurants in Princeton and this is the most authentic one that she has found.
I traveled a lot, one thing I miss the most from Ajihei is the Hajiki Salad, which is a salad with seaweed (note, this is not the artificial green almost transparent looking seaweed salad you see in most places. Another favoriate of my favoriate is the Salmon Skin Roll.
Ajihei is not ideal for group dinners. The whole restaurant sits about 20 people and most tables are for 2 people with 2 to 3 table for 3-4 people.
It's BYO, Princeton Corkscrew down the street offer a good selection of Sakes and the staff there gave really recommendation. -
Review from Alvin A.
New York, NY
2/8/2010
We visited this little place yesterday -- first impressions: reminded me a lot of a battered-down izakaya in Japan. Charming, and it felt like the place cared more about the food than the decor. The fact that we saw Japanese immigrants eating there was also very encouraging.
Place is quite small, probably won't seat more than 20 people. We came around 8pm on a Sunday, and was promptly seated. Service is very efficient and polite. I ordered the chirashi deluxe, which provides good test for freshness and variety of fish that the shop has to offer.
I was quite impressed. It was late night on a weekend, and the fish was generally still quite fresh. Highlights were the uni and scallops; I'd say that the yellowtail and mackerel were good too.
Did not try the cooked dishes, but I saw several Japanese eating curry and more innovative rolls, so it should be on par with my experience.
Would definitely come back, and I won't be surprised if next time I have to wait before being seated.
