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Akai Lounge
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
Matt P. said: "This is easily one of the best sushi spots I've had the pleasure of visiting in the greater New York area. I was treated to a business dinner here and was therefore able to order whatever the hell I desired. I couldn't have been more…" read more »
32 reviews for Akai Lounge
Review Highlights
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"This is now my favorite sushi place in NJ." In 9 reviews -
"...but for the quality of the food, it was well worth it." In 3 reviews -
"The rolls are creative and delicious." In 1 review
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Dave F.
Wallington, NJ
2/3/2012 1 photo
Akai is actually 4.5 stars but I rounded down.....no particular reason
Very cool place. Sushi is fresh and innovative. Great selection of specialty rolls.
I had the OMG roll and Devil's Advocate roll (see pic). Had a big Kirin beer and hot sake. Yea I'm feeling aight!
Akai did me right! -
Review from Jamie J.
Los Angeles, CA
5/17/2012
#30
This place is not worth it. Waaaay overprice for sushi that taste like what I would get at Matsuwa supermarket for less than 1/2 the price. Specialty rolls were small and tasteless and I can't even remember what I exactly got.
I agree with reviewer august m. on service. Someone who I believe is the owner was nice and came around the table, but outside of that the waiters and hostess lacked any enthusiasm and barely said a word like Hello, welcome or thank you. My last memory of this place that I will never visit again is walking out the door while the 2 hostesses stares at us without a word like "Come again", or "Thank you", or anything. 2 simple little words that goes a long way. -
Review from august m.
New York, NY
3/14/2012
Oh, yelpers... sometimes you make me go, hUNH. Akai is THE WORST. I hate to say it, but I did. I'll try to make this is as quick as possible, and bullet the reasons why it was hard to give even 1 star (there really should be an option for no stars).
*Pretentious service. I'm sorry, but you're in Englewood! not Dubai. No "hello" when we entered, no friendly service at the three-seat-bar, no warmth from the server while we were at our table, no goodbye when we left. She was incredibly nice to the 6-top next to us so I knew she had it in her.
*Mismarking in the menu. If the lychee martini lists "Ketel vodka" then please follow through.. Don't serve it with rail and charge full price. At least warn me first or offer me the option? I knew it as soon as I tasted it but the bartender simply said, oh, but it's better since it's only $6 (with rail). What kind of response is that?? (And he was wrong, we were charged the full.)
*Terrible food. This is the main reason. So I will preface by saying that I know you don't order soup dumplings at a Japanese restaurant, but they were a special that night.. Well, these weren't even dumplings. They were dried out raisins with no liquid inside whatsoever. And gummy. And barely warm.
---We ordered some shumai as well (okay, so we like dumplings) and they were the only decent thing we had that night. They had too much wasabi (and I lovvve wasabi) so they were bordering on inedible, but the flavor of the meat filling was good.
---The two sushi rolls we had were so bad it was hard to eat more than a piece each. No flavor profile at all and they didn't taste fresh. But I don't like (hate) wasting food, so I tried to eat most. This was the first time I've ever NOT scarfed down a roll at a supposedly decent sushi joint.
--The man's entree/plate (pork Katsu) was salty like the Dead Sea and Olive Garden-esque. Bad.
*Usually some sweet treats can erase a bad dinner, so we ordered something I can't even remember.
$160 for one of the worst meals I've ever had. Did I mention this was on New Year's? If the date and I weren't so in like with each other, you would have made it one miserable meal for us. -
Review from Master J.
New York, NY
3/6/2012
There is no way on earth this place is averaging four stars for the price and quality of the Sushi.
This is average at best.
The atmosphere is decent, but that's exactly what you're paying for.
You are not paying that for quality of the Sushi that's being made by a Chinese dude.
Real Sushi is made by Japanese people who are trained in Japan. -
Review from Alex C.
Lodi, NJ
5/15/2012
Came here because Daruma was closed at 3 on a weekday. Thought it would be a pleasant surprise simce it was so highly rated on yelp. Not sure what these reviewers saw that I missed. I am a very laid back person when it comes to food and it really takes a lot for me to say I really didn't enjoy my meal. The soup an salad were not fresh and the sushi was really lacking in quality or creativity. I've hnestly had better sushi at buffets...like Chinese food buffets.
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Review from Igor P.
North Miami Beach, FL
1/23/2012
If you want some bangin' sushi, this is the spot. The prices are high, but it's worth every penny. The Wasabi Pork Shumai (Steamed spicy pork dumplings) are a great starter.
I would highly recommend getting the roll that has steak on it (don't remember the name), because it is served warm and there are just so many flavors in one bite that you'll wet your panties from the delicious taste.
Don't forget to order a lycheetini, $10, delicious and pretty strong.
The atmosphere is great too, beautiful decor and calm atmosphere. -
Review from William M.
Englewood, NJ
1/9/2012
Outstanding in the Englewood neighborhood.
Nice relaxing decor and ambiance.
More than adequate seating
Rolls are excellent but pricey.
Drinks are not always as strong as they ought to be.
Very friendly waitstaff. They are attentive and remember regulars.
I always leave in a very relaxed good mood. -
Review from D S.
Fort Lee, NJ
2/26/2012
Food is not bad but way over priced, and no lunch menu is a big no no
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Review from Beatrice C.
Teaneck, NJ
3/3/2012
Great sushi and overall great Japanese food! The menu is filled with creative, and unique specialty hand rolls, that makes you want to try each and every one of them. Only downside is that it is pricey. The hand rolls can range from $13-18. Yea crazy, but don't let you turn you off. I think it's worth it! If you like, there are lunch specials. Besides the sushi, you MUST MUST MUST try the Chilean Sea Bass! Amazing at first bite! Definitely recommend this place!
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Review from Holly C.
9/2/2011
Next to hummus, sushi is the next thing I eat the most of so to say that Akai Lounge is one of my favorite places to go should say something. I've been here several times over the past years, and it's always good food with good service.
They keep the interior decoration simple and neat - a nice place to go for a date. The rolls are creative and delicious! The surf & turf is the roll I always order, and then I usually get another one or two to accompany it. I haven't disliked any roll yet.
The rolls are a little on the pricier side, but it's definitely worth it. -
Review from david k.
Paramus, NJ
8/31/2011
You'd be surprised to find a sushi lounge this good in this area.
Before getting into the eats, let's get into the wait staff. I could've been eating paper and it wouldn't have mattered. From the managers to the servers, they are there to give you a sophisticated experience if you're there on a date; or if you go in a group - enthusiastic, engaging and just plain fun. The ambiance is low lit, but not dark and instantly puts you into a relaxed state
The rolls are the real reason I personally go as they are fresh, inventive, and delicious. Couple it with some warm sake and you're good to go. On the top of my list would be the surf and turf roll. no explanation needed, don't even ask the server, just order it damnit. I'm usually picky with my sushi and sashimi, so quality/freshness is a priority, and Akai clearly resounds freshness
I gave it one less star for one reason - bartender should meter the cocktails. The drinks are a bit on the weak side. You should get the warm sake anyway. -
Review from Scott C.
Palisades Park, NJ
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Believe the 4/5 and 5/5 ratings if you enjoy:
1) Japanese restaurants run by Chinese and Koreans
2) Paying $15+ for a roll with "king crab" that is actually imitation
3) Paying $15+ for "special rolls" the size of regular California rolls
4) Third-rate, low-class spicy mayo that's literally just Sriracha + mayo.
5) Tuna tartar is a joke...diced tuna on plain cucumber complemented by #4 -
Review from Vanessa P.
Flushing, NY
2/3/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Great Food, Excellent Service, Friendly Staffs. Love it
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Review from Carolina P.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great sushi, Beautiful place...
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Review from Ioannis H.
Linden, NJ
12/10/2011
I've been here a few times and everytime I go, I enjoy my rolls more and more. Variety of rolls help keep things fresh. A bit on the pricier side for not being the city but you can't argue with the quality of the food. Service is good but not great but I won't take a star away cause I enjoy the food that much here.
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Review from Soozie L.
Edgewater, NJ
4/28/2011
Akai Lounge is my favorite sushi restuarant & I've been to all in the surrounding area. Their rolls are creative, flavorful, and fresh - I've brought family & friends and i've never had anyone complain and they always want to go back. The food is delicious (and I've tried pretty much everything there)! The staff / manager (hi guys!) at Akai is another reason why I personally love it there. You'll walk out feeling like you made new friends & you'll crave the food again. :)
Chilean Sea Bass, Nabe Udon, PlA Roll - must haves! -
Review from Josh W.
New York, NY
10/16/2011
Numerous people recommended this place to me. Very good. This is now my favorite sushi place in NJ.
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Review from Nicole W.
Englewood, NJ
4/6/2011
I'm not a fan of sushi, but even I really like this place. They have a lot of interesting things to order here, and their red snapper is especially excellent. The waitstaff and bartenders are really friendly, and really make an effort to provide a nice dining experience.
Though the bar offers any drink you can think of, I recommend their martinis, which are inventive and delicious. -
Review from Lauren F.
Cresskill, NJ
6/14/2009
Came here for an early dinner. Nicely decorated with a modern theme. If you enjoy sushi, you will love this place. I don't eat raw fish but from what I could see it looked very fresh. The selection of cooked rolls I ordered was of great quality and I was surprised by the extensive selection of special rolls they had.
The only drawback to this place were the prices. Two of my rolls had a combined price of $30 which I think is a bit much but I always believe in a little indulgence every once in a while. -
Review from Sylvia B.
Manhattan, NY
5/19/2011
decent. came a couple of times for lunch when i worked in the area.
service was attentive and the food was okay. -
Review from Will C.
New York, NY
1/9/2011
I'm always in the mood for some sushi. Heck, I'm always looking for a good sushi spots. I know some of the best sushi can be found in NYC, but I'm dying to find a place worth coming back to in NJ.
So I type in sushi in the Yelp search box that's near NJ and Akai Lounge in Englewood pops up. Alright, seems good...it received 4 out of 5 stars by "real people" so this place can't be that bad.
It's a Tuesday and so we decide to get there around 5:15pm. We get greeted by a lovely hostess who seats up promptly. The dining area has a few 4 tops and a couple of dueces.
The decor has this red and black themed "oriental" feel to it. We are then welcomed by our server who takes our drink orders. The menu offers a whole lot, way more than I imagined. Akai Lounge also offers a side menu with the daily specials. Our server comes back with our drinks, a Ichiban draft for me and green tea for my friend. Our server explains us the menu, as I told her that we were just going to order sushi. She recommended some rolls and sashimis from the specials. I was surprised by the name description they gave to some of their signature sushi rolls like "Pain in the Ass" and "Basstard".
I asked myself, what kind of Japanase sushi chef would put a name like that to the food?? Well, low and behold, from the kitchen door being totally wide open, I could see that there were no Japanase or even asian for that matter present. My friend and I ordered 5 of their signature rolls, all of them sounding good.
So our waiting began. 10minutes passed, nothing, 20 minutes passed, nada, by the 25th minute our server comes to tell us that the food will come out shortly and apologetic. Around the 33rd minute, we got what we ordered, all in one huge plate. Right away I could tell that this wasn't going to surpass the tiniest expectation I had. I first noticed that all of them had this gluey, white rice wrapped around them ALL. Black colored tobiko topped two, very identical rolls, even though they were named differently.
The quality of the fish and freshness was definitely present. The crunch in a couple of the rolls tasted like stale panko bread crumbs. If it weren't for the good service, I would have given this place a lower rating. The prices of the rolls are way over-priced. For the same price, I can get better sushi with a much appetizing presentation at Sushi Lounge in NJ. I do not understand how many people rate Akai Lounge a 4 out of 5, some even give it a 5. These folks have yet to taste GREAT sushi, if you need recommendations I can give you some in the city. I give Akai Lounge a 2 star.
Will Chu
"Real Food, Real Wine in The Real World" -
Review from Lena C.
Denville, NJ
12/8/2011
After looking at the great reviews for Akai, I thought I would give it a shot. brought a friend with me and had dinner here. the fish was alright.. not the greatest. and the service was not that great as well. loved the setting but other than that, i wouldn't go back
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Review from Vincent D.
Ramsey, NJ
11/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Awesome as usual.
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Review from Wayne T.
Bridgewater Township, NJ
7/20/2011
very fresh fish here. salmon and tuna sashimi all had that good, fatty, melt in the mouth kinda quality to it...very very good. i am kinda salivating as im writing this...
few japanese joints have this kind of quality...will be back for more! -
Review from K T.
Wyckoff, NJ
9/15/2011
Sushi was mediocre at best, and I'm talking about maki. Tuna sashimi wasn't the freshest and wasn't cut properly. Fun atmosphere and rare to find a sushi place with full bar however sushi lounge in Morristown was far better.
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Review from Jorge T.
Bronx, NY
6/30/2010
Everything from the bastard rolls to the chilean sea bass is fantastic. The staff is very courteous and attentive. CNt go wrong with this place.
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Review from Rosemar y.
Austin, TX
11/16/2009
Akai is honestly the best sushi I have found in NJ. I live about 30 minutes away but I am happy to make the drive when the craving for sushi comes over me. The first thing that struck me about this place is how friendly the wait staff is. If you watch the front door you will see the wit staff being hugged by every other customer who walks in the door. As a new coming I received wonderful service that explained it all.
The food at Akai is amazing as well. I always have to start off with the tempura shrimp it's a large enough portion to share and comes with a great spicy sauce on top. My fiancé always gets the miso soup which is lovely as well. When you get to the rolls you must get the fantasy roll! It is my favorite one they serve. I would also give an honorable mention to the Philly and Fiesta roll.
My one complaint is that this place does not offer the Saki that is cloudy; however, the ones they do serve are pretty good. -
Review from Justin C.
Fort Lee, NJ
3/29/2010
Foods are deliscious but a little expensive comparing its quality. I mean some sushies are not so great because of freshness. Interior seems like artsy but somewhat Chinese feeling.
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Review from Donna K.
Cresskill, NJ
1/17/2011
One of the best sushi/asian restaurants in bergen county. The chilean sea bass is a MUST and my favorite is the New York roll. A bit pricier than other local restaurants but well worth it.
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Review from Kimberly N.
East Rutherford, NJ
Went here for a friend's birthday on a Friday night. I heard about this place because a friend of mine was a guest DJ. The ambiance is very modern, but there was no music to drown out the conversations from the surrounding tables. It was sometimes difficult to hear the people on the other side of my table. The server was very attentive, and the manager came over to greet and thank our party for celebrating with them. We were even given a round of shots on the house. The food was delicious all around; each person at our table got something different so we could sample their food. I had the Chilean sea bass and skirt steak; both were flavorful, and I even ordered a 2nd skirt steak to go. I did not get to try their sushi, but glancing at the sushi bar, their ingredients looked fresh. Portions were reasonably sized; more than I could even finish. Prices were moderate to pricey, but for the quality of the food, it was well worth it.
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Review from Madeline B.
Cresskill, NJ
12/30/2008
Very chic place with delicious food! They're sushi is amazing and the atmosphere is really great. The service was good, especially the management. The restaurant was full and we hadn't made reservations but the manager made sure we were taken care of with drinks and were comfortable. We only had to wait 3-5 minutes and they were very attentive. Great for going out with friends with the nice bar or with family. I have been there multiple times and will hopefully be back soon!
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Review from Maps O.
Hackensack, NJ
3/29/2011
amazing food, outstanding service, great atmosphere....but VERY pricey, but I couldn't complain because the money was well worth everything.
