've lived in Monroe , NJ now for 3 years and haven't been able to find a decent sushi spot, that is until now. My cousin has been telling me about this spot in Freehold for a few weeks now and finally my girlfriend and I had dinner here with him and it was fantastic! Everything we ordered were from the daily specials - Salmon Avocado Misiti's Sauce (spectacular!), Toro Taku Rice (AMAZING!), and Fluke Uzuzukuri Poazu (delicious!) were my favorites but everything we ordered was top quality! We arrived as soon as they opened at 5pm on a Sunday so we got there before the rush and yes there is typically a rush from what I was told. The owner spent a lot of time talking with us as she knows my cousin who has become a regular and she was absolutely charming. I'm looking forward to going back here and becoming a regular myself. read more

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came here with my friends after it was highly reviewed by one of their friends. unfortunately i (along with my friends) were severely disappointed. pros: plenty of parking & seating, waitress was japanese (which i like to keep it "authentic") & super sweet, plenty of food options cons: the food was just not it. thankfully the sashimi wasn't fishy but the quality was not there , honestly didn't taste like anything. the rolls itself was very bland as well and not remarkable. i would not come back or recommend this place, you're better off driving a bit farther north (or south) and getting better sushi elsewhere read more

I've been coming here since I was a child and my cousin works here! Owned by a great, hospitable family who puts so much love and care into each freshly made dish. I always make sure to eat here when I drive from Vermont to see my family across New Jersey; I even made this restaurant a priority to visit when I previously lived in Houston. It is a delightful quiet place to enjoy serval dishes prepared by Kazu. Thank you guys for allowing me to experience many family memories through sharing and eating your meals. read more

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I don't go to a restaurant to be treated badly. It's happened several times...3 strikes and you're OUT.

The atmosphere is friendly and intimate with owners Miyumi and sushi chef, Kazu, greeting all of the customers. The wasabi dumplings and katzu chicken are among our favorites from the kitchen, but the sushi menu is where this restaurant really shines. The pink roll is full of flavor in a delicate seaweed wrapping, and the sashimi plate for 2 is a generous helping of a selection of favorites (e.g. tuna, salmon, squid, scallops and more). Be sure to check the specials board to see what daily dishes Kazu is offering. read more

Didn't even stay to eat because of how rude this staff was. Came here for a birthday party for a party of 8 people they told us max 5 when there was a table right next to the table we were trying to sit at. My husband daughter and I came a few min later a party of three and we're told that we could not stay. We asked to speak to the owner she walked right by us and told the rest of our family to leave. Said she was disgusted to my husband that she was lied to when we told her we were going to be 8 people. Needless to say we will NEVER return to this place. Rude before we even sat down unbelievable how you cant make accommodations for paying patrons. Disgusting how you treat guests too! read more

Kazu is simply the best Sushi around. We have been going there consistently for 25 years. Having been to Japan and also many 5-star Japanese restaurants in Honolulu, Tokyo, New York, Sydney and many other cities, I can tell you that Kazu is a master chef. 5 Stars is really not even enough stars for this place. The owners love their regular customers so if you plan on having a good time...become one of us. If you are rude and obnoxious or do not know or understand quality sushi, then stay home. We need the open table for ourselves! I laugh at the stupid 1-Star reviews because we regulars probably already watched you get thrown out of the restaurant. The owners don't need you. Trust me. They will think nothing of getting rid of troublesome customers. There are many stupid people out there that don't know a sushi roll from a hole in the wall. read more

Pure perfection Kazu slays all competition for the beautiful atmosphere and service and wonderful dishes and sushi/ sashimi. read more

Always the freshest fish and selections by the master sushi chef Kazu! No one does it like him & although he is the only chef there, we never leave disappointed. To know that he has mastered this skill all the way from Japan and loves what he does makes me feel that when I eat sushi here, it is the most authentic, tasteful, and satisfying experience. You are not coming here for fish covered in sauce & fried tempura, which is usually a very typical American smothered in crap style sushi lol. You are coming here for fresh fish that is handled with high expertise & if you have a mature pallet you will enjoy the dishes here very much. From uni, to red snapper, to salmon and toro. It's a great place for an authentic sushi night. And they also have a great green tea ice cream from Japan. read more

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Authentic Japanese spot. The quality of fish was amazing. Will definitely come back, hopefully many times over. Everything was tasty, but no alcohol, BYOB!!!! A must try!!! read more

Real real sushi. The best ever Kazu and Mayumi take pride in their food and service. I've been going to them for over 30 years

Sushi was very fresh and reasonably priced compared to other high end sushi restaurants. The atmosphere was inviting and surprised that as patrons walked in at various times, many of them knew one another. And this was on a Monday evening. I will admit the service was a bit slow, but it was forgiven by the quality of the food and the ambiance of the restaurant. The owner is also the sushi chef and his wife is the server. Both seemed to know their customers well. The only downside is they do not offer takeout and are only opened from 5-9 except Tuesdays when they are closed. read more

I moved out of the area for 7 years and just moved back to monmouth County. When searching for a sushi place, I found a familiar name and told my daughter about Kazu and his Mrs and how nice they are, and if we are lucky we can sit at the sushi bar and enjoy great sushi. We arrived at 6:15, in the middle of the terrantial rain, walking in the restaurant had 4 tables of 4 occupied, basically empty and 1 person sitting at the sushi bar. Stood at entrance waiting for a few minutes, Mrs Kazu walked over and said oh so sorry we have 1 hour wait, sushi chef very busy, she looked at me in shorts(85 degree day) and looked at my 7 year old and decided we are not good enough to dine at her restaurant. I saw similar reviews about rude and dismissive behavior, but today, I experienced it first hand. It almost felt like discrimination, I'm asian, I only saw Caucasian guests, I wonder if it's true, felt like that to me. I would avoid this place if you are making plans you may be disappointed. If you dont fit the profile, probably will he tell we are busy with an empty restaurant. They don't take reservations, do no excuses there. The silver lining is I found a great Japanese restaurant in Farmingdale, NJ with amazing sushi, one of the best I've had in NJ along with very polite and attentive staff. The Restaurants name is "Ichi" read more

No question the best sushi outside of Japan. Kazu is a master sushi chef, everything he makes is beautiful and delicious. Mayumi is a fabulous hostess and makes everyone feel welcome and like family.Dinner is always a great experience.the sushi sashimi special for two is sensational as was the white tuna and avocado.The carpachio both salmon and tuna were unbelievable read more

Always fresh, always good. Great service. Owners make you feel you are eating at their home.

The best AUTHENTIC sushi in the area. Service, variety, freshness and presentation are outstanding. read more

This has been our go to place for the last 15+ years! Miyumi San and Kazu San serve the best Sushi in Monmouth county. His sushi is art work and always surpasses my expectation. They are back open for sit down and it's just that much better than take out! They have their regulars there and have a loyal following for a reason. read more

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I had somewhat higher expectations of this place, but I was frankly a little disappointed. The price wasn't crazy expensive, so I wasn't too perturbed about that. But the reviews led me to believe that the sushi was super fresh, and I didn't leave with that sentiment. They serve uni, my favorite, which is a bit more difficult to find in our area. But after ordering a variety of sashimi and a roll, I was left with a fishy taste in my mouth. And good sushi should not be fishy, meaning its not very fresh. I'm also a big on service, and I believe the eating out experience shoudn't be hindered by the service you receive, but only amplified. The wife of the owner seemed to be friendly to every single table in the restaurant (though not as many as one would think were filled on a Saturday night), except for ours. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

Sushi by Kazu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Freehold Township, New Jersey

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The food is so close to what we had in Osaka. So good. The service is great, but you have to go on an odd week night. Weekends and Fridays are kooky crazy there and you could be waiting for a long time. Worth it yes, but can be frustrating. The restaurant is really simple and the owners are lovely. read more

We were pleasantly surprised by how well the sushi and sashimi were. Chief Kazu is very serious about the food he provides. Great to have this high quality Japanese food in New Jersey if you don't mind to wait. Going back today. read more

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Service and food is great employees are super nice the setting is very calm and fresh I recommend going when you can.

We tried to have an early dinner at Sushi by Kazu on Friday around 6PM. I called at least 5 times to see if I can make a reservation or ask if there would be a long wait, but they never answered the phone. So my wife and I went to Sushi by Kazu. The sign on the door outside said "Closed", but the door was open. Once inside, the restaurant looked half empty with many available takes. However, someone came up to us and said it will be a 1.5 hour wait. I said that I tried to call and no one picked up and was told, and I quote "We never answer the phone and we do not take reservations." Of course, we turned around and went elsewhere. But so truly disrespectful to your customers to make people waste their time driving over only to be told it would be a crazy long wait (with available tables in the restaurant!!!) nor bother with taking reservations. The sushi here used to be decent years ago, but we will never be back again due to this complete customer disrespect and awful service. I suggest others stay away as well. Kazu needs to learn a lesson as to what happens when you treat customers this way. read more

My friend took me here during my visit to NJ. It is owned by a Japanese couple. The husband is behind the bar making sushi and the wife is the server. As far as I can tell, there were no other servers that evening, Sunday evening. It wasn't busy, but since there was only one server, food was slow to come to the table. She was very friendly though. Fish tasted fresh. Prices were average, decent portions. I was happy with everything I ordered, amberjack, tako, I can't remember the names of the rolls. Good option if you're in the area. read more

Let me begin by I know sushi. I've been immersed in sushi since toiling in a Japanese restaurant as a waiter in the '80's. Unfortunately, the past few decades have seen the sushi industry overrun by Chinese and Korean purveyors. Tempura crunch, berries, and cream cheese have become de rigor, much to the dismay of the disciplined craftsman that are Japanese. These artisans are trained for nearly a lifetime on the subtle nuances of the vinegar to sugar balance in the sushi rice and the perfect hit of wasabi. They would never disrespect a roll by cramming it full of cream cheese. Ok, diatribe done. There are nary a handful of Japanese owned sushi restaurants in New Jersey and they are slowly vanishing. Sushi by Kazu is one of the few remaining and they are perfection. This is what sushi is supposed to be. If you don't like Sushi by Kazu then you don't like sushi. Go find a new poke place or a Thai owned joint where you can get a pad Thai along with your "Explosion Roll". The treats are simple at Kazu but they are crafted with an artists hand. Get yourself a special roll -always changing- a negi-toro roll and a few specials from the board and you are set. I travel the country searching for good sushi. I've been to the best and can confidently say that Sushi by Kazu is without par the very best in all of central NJ. To find anything close you'll need to travel to northern NJ or NY. There are many serviceable places around - Konbu, Sakura, Yama, Kyoto, but these are not on the same playing field. read more

I have been wanting to try Sushi By Kazu for some time now, I have read all the reviews, but as anyone will tell you, you have to try it yourself and decide. So tonight hubby and I did. We arrived about 7:30p and it wasn't busy at all, there were two young ladies that also double as both hostess and server. We were greeted happily and one of the girls let us know we had choice of table or sushi bar. We opted for table by the wall, she handed us menu, gave us the evening special and took our drink order. Seeing as how this was out first time, it took us a bit to decide, I liked that they give you a sheet of paper with a pencil to mark the choice of fish and if you want it as sushi/sashimi, this paper also included the rolls, hand /cut. We noticed lots of regulars arriving for dinner, its BYOB and the servers were quick to bring glasses for the customers wine. The owners were so friendly they greeted everyone and made you feel welcome, the restaurant is clean and decorated tastefully. Food review: 1. Our server took our order and brought us a small dish of sweet pickled cucumber with seaweed. Very nice. 2. We ordered as sushi- 4pc Tuna, 1pc Salmon, 1pc Spanish Mackerel, 1pc Octopus, 1pc Giant Clam, 1pc Salmon Roe, 1pc Flying Fish Roe, 1 Super 7 Roll and 1 Snow Ocean.* 3. One order of sushi is 1 piece unit of fish, not 2. I didn't see this noted on the menu but I have come to expect this as the norm on the east coast. So 1pc of Tuna sushi is $3.... 4.Our drinks were refilled and unlike other reviews I didn't see any up charge on our 7UP and we were checked on enough to know they cared but not so much as to be an interruption during our conversation. 5. The two rolls we ordered had a nice rice to fish ratio, I actually considered ordering another Snow Ocean, but decided to order next visit. Remember when sushi first came onto the food scene and the Sushi Chef would put a small dab of wasabi between the fish and the rice? ya me too. (smiles) and then somehow this traditional serving became disliked, so then the servers would ask if you want wasabi on the sushi or on the side? and then it migrated to the point no one asked you anymore how you wanted your sushi, it just became the norm and acceptable to have wasabi formed into a small ball, leaf shape or you had to ask for it on the side, next to the ginger that no one eats. Sauces became popular, spicy mayo, eel sauce, special sauce, chefs sauce yada-yada, the list is endless, all this other stuff became the headliner, instead of the fish, because that's what you taste first. The whole point of sushi is to enjoy the fish in its beautiful complexity, true originality, yet delicate simplicity which unfortunately has become lost over the years. I picked up the tuna sushi, dipped it lightly in the soy, tuna side down, popped it in my mouth and I got the taste of tuna, rice seasoned perfectly and then wasabi. Yes! this is how I remember sushi being and how it should be presented. It wasn't over powering, it didn't take away, I looked at my hubby and I was all smiles. I make no apologies to liking sushi this way, if you don't like wasabi by all means order without wasabi, but I for one am happy to see that Sushi by Kazu, has stuck to the original balance and delicious presentation. I tell you what, stop in enjoy sushi prepared the way it was meant to be and prepared by a Chef that cares. read more

Sushi by Kazu - Giant clam, octopus, mackerel, salmon, tuna and the roll with green wrap is ocean snow and flat roll is the super seven. With extra wasabi. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Freehold Township, New Jersey

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Absolutely embarrassing of a sushi restaurant, prices were erroneously high for below average to average sushi. Not sure what we were paying for since a majority of the rolls were rice. The spider roll was more rice and tempura batter than crab, if there even was any. The salmon box was essentially a block of rice dabbled with a thin slice of tasteless salmon. One star is a far reach, will not return. read more

Sushi by Kazu - spider roll and salmon box, do not order. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Freehold Township, New Jersey

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Absolutely amazing and great service!! The sushi was so great, definitely will be coming back !

Easily the Best Sushi I've ever had! Sushi by Kazu is owned by Japanese people and they serve the most authentic Japanese cuisine in New Jersey. After the first time, I fell in love and now am a regular at Kazu. The service is always great (checks on you regularly and refills drinks). The chef, Kazu, always has a great smile on his face and greets all the customers. Now, on to the food, Kazu's sashimi is really fresh. My usuals are the Bluefin Tuna Toro ( Fatty Tuna) my favorite!! , their Uni ( Sea Urchin) is always very creamy, and their Red Snapper Carpaccio Salad which I get 2 orders every time I go because it tastes like heaven in your mouth. Sushi by Kazu is definitely one of my favorite s and you should give it a try because you won't regret it. This is as close to authentic Japanese food in New Jersey and better than the ones out in New York read more

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Another great meal at Kazu's! My favorite of the night was the chicken katsu, shumai, spring rolls and of course the Chillean Sea Bass! Thanks again Kazu and Mayumi for making Lisa and Doug's anniversary dinner a memorable one! See you soon! Upstairs/Downstairs :) read more

My order was 12 piece sushi nigiri and a snow ocean roll. Food was delicious. Will go back. The scallop nigiri was my favorite.

Fresh sashimi -recommend the salmon and tuna Entrees are probably the most costly dishes, other dishes are fairly priced -some rolls are pricey, but the taste and quality is worth the extra $$$ Wasabi packs a punch, stronger than most places Ginger is nice and pink, on point read more

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For Andrea and Andrew W. Never has Kazu used too much rice. You must be mistaken. Kazu sushi is traditional sushi, without heavy sauces to cover bad or old fish. You know good sushi is when you see Japanese eating his sushi. Kazu has the best traditional sushi. And always fresh. read more

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Talk about no taste- I eat sushi at least once a week and always looking for a new restaurant. The sushi was bland and had absolutely no taste. I could not eat it. When i mentioned this to the owner she did not care. I told her i couldn't eat the food and would have to go to another restaurant- her reaction was ok. go. I would tales expect her to care a little more DO NOT GO HERE read more

I came on a Saturday night with a friend. We were greeted and sat down right away. The place was nicely decorated, very clean, and it wasn't so packed but a good amount of people. We ordered Kani salads as an appetizer and it was very bland. There was no flavor and barely any dressing. We ordered a couple of rolls and it was truly disappointing. Even the basic spicy salmon roll was tasteless. I tried to dip it in my spicy mayo for flavor but the spices mayo tasted more like just mayo. We ended up leaving a couple of pieces left. I'm giving it 2 stars because the staff were very friendly. read more

Rolls were all rice. Won't be going back. Sushi downtown freehold gives you more fish for a fraction of the price. I don't mind spending good money but the product has to be there... here we paid $100 for all rice rolls read more

Best sushi in the area! The sushi is always fresh and on-point! They have unique combos and specials that are absolutely delicious. On top of great food, the owners are so friendly and welcoming. My husband and I could never go to another place... the difference is stunning. read more

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If you want gourmet sushi you come and eat here. This is not just sushi. This is sushi designed and crafted for the most defined palate. I realized sushi is an art and this one man artist needs the biggest applause. If you like sushi and can appreciate high quality bring a nice bottle of wine and enjoy. Don't forget to order the wasabi dumplings. Out of this world! read more

If you are looking for a Chinese or Korean run roll factory slathered in fried tempura flakes and mayo laced with Siracha this is not the place for you. You will not find it appealing and will walk away terribly disappointed wishing you went to your other top cuisine choice. McDonald's. However it you want the best, most authentic sushi in central NJ, lovingly crafted by a grand master. A JAPANESE master - then you have found Xanadu. Kazu buys fresh every day. Imports impossible to find treats from Japan (outside of NYC) and never disappoints. This is a small place but it feels cozy and homey in a Kyosho kind of way. Kazu's wife Mei Me is the consummate hostess and very entertaining. She is a scream if you take the time to engage her in a conversation. Like the other reviewer Michael I KNOW sushi. I have eaten at the finest and I will tell you that this is comparable. By far the best shy of NYC. If you come too late you may be turned away because yes, Kazu buys daily and will run out. That is not a negative. It demonstrates the freshness and his commitment to his art. Nothing gets saved for the next day. His menu changes often,like the tides, based on what his fish connection has for him that day. Truly a gem and one of the few true Japanese restaurants in our area. If you want better get on a plane for Tokyo and go to Sukiyabashi Jiro. In central NJ try Kazu. read more

THE best sushi in the tri-state area. ACTUAL Japanese restaurant. Owners are from Japan and extremely nice. The fish is the freshest around. They're not the the most accommodating here unfortunately, won't really do many substitutions and they don't have brown rice. BUT that's because they refuse to veer away from TRADITIONAL Japanese style. The best menu items are on the specials board. Must have: White Tuna Avocado Miso Salad - a sashimi salad to die for (no lettuce involved) Yes, some of the sushi appetizers are a bit expensive , but its a small price to pay fort he freshest, safest sushi around. The consistency here is impeccable and it's very hard for me to eat anywhere else having tasted Kazu's masterpieces. read more

I decided to try Sushi by Kazu after many recommendations. I ordered two special rolls, which were the Spider roll and mixed tempura roll. Both had fresh ingredients. It was good, but I need to try more to get a full perspective. read more

Sushi by Kazu - Spider roll and Mixed tempura roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Freehold Township, New Jersey