Since the closing of Phoenix Garden (Cantonese) in Manhattan I've been searching for authentic Chinese food. I haven't been to many Szechuan Chinese restaurants but Hot Fish is easily the best Chinese food in NJ by a long shot. I'm vegetarian so can't comment on meat dishes but the salt & pepper tofu is out of this world (though if you get it via takeout be mindful of the white doily-style round paper on the bottom of the plastic container which I assume is there to soak up excess oil, but is not edible). I'm going to Hot Fish for takeout today and will be getting the salt & pepper tofu dish as well as their Kung Pao tofu which I'm excited to try. The garlic flavored broccoli is spectacular and may be my favorite dish. It somehow tastes even better reheated the next day (the sauce probably gets absorbed more). Ordering at least two of those -- the garlic sauce used in it is truly unique and remarkably delectable. If you're not a fan of mushrooms you need to request no "fungus" as that's how they refer to mushrooms. The veggie fried rice is as good as I've ever had and I love that it's served white rather than the typical soy sauce stained brown fried rice that's much more common. The egg & scallion fried rice is also wonderful and doesn't contain any fungus, unlike the veggie fried rice. Be sure to try the marinated cucumber appetizer. It has a warm, numbing spice to it and is absolutely fantastic. Edemame is good. Sauteed green beans are remarkably good -- almost as good as the garlic broccoli. Come to think of it, I haven't had a bad dish yet. Or even one that wasn't above average. This place is legitimately amazing. Authentic, consistent, and an exceptional dining experience. If I could better express just how much I love the food at Hot Fish I would, I simply lack the descriptive language needed to properly convey just how wonderful the flavor combinations and perfectly textured veggies and tofu taste and leave you feeling after the meal is finished. The chef(s) and kitchen staff are truly talented and consistent, the latter being extremely important as most people want to have the same dish when they find one they love and return to the restaurant again. Inconsistency can really hurt a restaurant and one's desire to eat there again. My only criticism is that Hot Fish isn't closer to my home, because I would genuinely like to eat their at least once a week if not more but since it's over 30 minutes away it makes eating their regularly more difficult. But it has always been well worth the trip. So glad this place opened -- it's the best Chinese food in the NYC/NJ area and has quickly become my favorite restaurant. I'm surprised the current Yelp rating is only 4.2/5.0, though that is very good score and you can't please everyone especially with spicy food which some Americans just aren't accustomed to. I'm interested in how the rating will change over time since they've been open for less than a year. The photo is of salt & pepper tofu and you can see the white doily I mentioned earlier, though with takeout its almost completely hidden when th container is full. While I haven't eaten there myself, my family has and they said the food is even better when you eat there and remarked that the atmosohere is very nice, clean, comfortable, and doesn't have any obnoxious attributes like extremely loud music or lighting so faint you can't see your food. All in all a wonderful addition to the Bergen county food scene and a blessing for those who DO like it HOT (spicy)! read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - The lovely and subdued decor of the dining area at Hot Fish just as they opened for lunch. That's the reason it's empty. - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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They had to close for a couple weeks this summer due to a sprinkler break in the back, and re-permit and re-inspect. Fortunately not closed for the two months that they were initially quoted! Food is great, menu is slimmed down a bit, and service is just as friendly as before. Appreciate it - and fortunately with the sensitivity of my fellow diners, their food was solid and hasn't caused any trouble (it is oily and salty, but their rice is good!). Gift cards - you can get an extra $30 for $300 on the card, and other increments more (as you go up). You can also get a dish up to $35 for free on your birthday (+/- 2 days, I think) - (ID required)! read more

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If you're in the Hackensack area and craving authentic Southern Chinese cuisine, Hot Fish is absolutely worth a visit. It's conveniently located in the large plaza alongside Home Depot and 99 Ranch. I've stopped by a few times for lunch, and their midday specials are incredible. For just $11.99, you get a main dish, rice, and soup. The portions are very generous--I always leave completely stuffed! My absolute favorite is the Basa Fillet with chili oil; it's packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. The lunch menu is vast, so there are always plenty of different options to choose from, ensuring you'll never get bored even if you visit frequently. Beyond the food, the overall experience is consistently great. The dining room is clean and comfortable, and the service is exceptionally fast and friendly. They also offer discount days for teachers, seniors, and first responders, which is a wonderful touch for the community. read more

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Things have changed quite a bit since we last had dinner at Hot Fish - the portions have gotten smaller, less meat and more vegetables. The food still tastes good and that was the only thing positive about our dinner tonight. Service was quite poor today. We had appetizers and two entrees and there was barely any room on the table for us. The check was dropped and no effort was made clean up anything. There was barely room to sign the check. Our previous visits, we left fulfilled and happy - not so much today. I hope things turn around for this place. read more

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I don't usually write restaurant reviews, but Hot Fish absolutely deserves one. I first came across it by chance during a work trip, and now my husband and I regularly travel from NYC (even with all the great Sichuan food we have throughout Manhattan and Flushing) just to eat here. It's hands down become one of our favorite restaurants. We spent extended time in the Sichuan region during our travels through China and really missed the food after coming home. Hot Fish is one of the few places that brings us right back. The flavors are incredibly authentic, vibrant, and memorable. The Crispy Basa Filet is our absolute favorite and the Mapo Tofu is another must. What started as a lucky find has become a restaurant we crave and keep coming back to. Highly recommend! read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Great Chinese restaurant in the Hackensack area!! Loved their sliced beef with black pepper, spicy crispy chicken, & their west lake beef soup! Highly recommend - I loved that they're in the plaza where there is plenty of parking. The restaurant itself was pretty small but service was fast & it felt comforting. Definitely will be back with the family. It is also BYOB! read more

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Very friendly, amazing service! But definitely make your reservations because it can get quite busy! Lunch specials are so worth your money! Went there for Christmas with the family and ordered so many things! The only complaint I would have is that the jellyfish salad was not my favorite, but other than that everything else was delicious. I would highly recommend the basa fillet and chili oil as opposed to the sea bass main dish (refer to the picture for this one). Cucumber salad has a crunch and a mild spice, the beef with scallions have tender beef and crunchy grilled onions, the main dish fish was a little overwhelming but amazing with white rice and don't forget about the corn soaking up the hot juices. They also have one of the best tripe and tendon cold appetizer and a very solid shrimp fried rice. Their snow pea shoots in garlic was delicious And perfectly seasoned. This is a medium size restaurant with a large parking lot and the front. Beautiful Chinese decor and wall art. It's a very family-friendly restaurant! BYOB! read more

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2026 Aug 15: 1) 川酥龙利鱼片 2）干烧全鱼 3）麻辣香锅。The crispy fish is great as usual. The ladies agree that the fried whole fish is the best, though the sauce is not as good as the Thai version from Grub in West Nyack near Palisades. The dry pot comes with pork, beef, shrimp and pig intestines - the pork intestines we don't like. Yoghurt drink served at the end was greatly welcomed. read more

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Excellent and authentic Sichuan cuisine, with lots of variety and bold málà (numb-spicy) flavors in all the right places. The menu is large but faithful to the regional focus - no General Tso's chicken or beef & broccoli here! This is one of our preferred Chinese/Sichuan restaurants in the Bergen & Rockland areas. Some of my favorites so far are: BAKED SHRIMP WITH SALTY EGG YOLK - a specialty dish you won't commonly find. The crispy shrimp is coated in a texture of savory salted egg yolk (a preserved food delicacy), adding an umami-ness. 5/5 SICHUAN CRISPY BASA FILLETS - the fish version of the spicy crispy chicken. Salt & peppery crunchy fried fish fillets dry sautéed in a mound of dried red hot chili peppers, with a slightly tingly mala profile. 5/5 DAN DAN NOODLES - the noodles are springy, blended with a traditional peanut, sesame and chili oil sauce. A bit heavy on the flavor and a tad salty, but husband who has never had this dish loved it. 5/5 DRUNKEN NOODLE (beef, chicken, or shrimp) - kind of misnamed because this is more like a dry sautéed chow fun/ho fun. Not the same as Thai drunken noodles which is more saucy and has a different taste. The noodles are perfectly cooked, chewy and slightly smoky with a great flavor, and the meat is very tender. 4.5/5 SIZZLING JAPANESE TOFU w/ SEAFOOD - tender scallops of silken tofu, gently seared, served on a sizzling cast-iron platter. 5/5 CABBAGE DRY POT - this deceptively simple vegetable dish comes in a warming pot with a flame underneath. Smoky and flavorful, this ain't an average stir fry. 4/5 CHEF'S SPECIAL GRILLED FISH - this is their house specialty, and is served on a large and ornate metal tray. We chose the fresh whole striped bass (which we are told is a live fish, along with the tilapia), but you can also go with basa filets if you don't wish to contend with bones. You could also order frog! It comes with corn, black mushrooms, cucumber, and wide rice vermicelli, but you can add additional veggies & proteins as you would in a dry pot (we added fatty beef). 4.5/5 SPICY STIR FRIED DRY POT - I looove dry pot but prefer to choose my own ingredients. This one has a fixed combo of Asian veggies and shrimp, beef, squid, and pork intestines, which is fine but not what I'd normally get besides the fatty beef. I'm not sure why they don't just let you choose from the items listed for the grilled fish special. Sauce flavor is just a smidge too sweet for me liking, but is delicious (dig to the bottom!) and not overly spicy even though we requested "extra spicy." 4/5 Was not impressed by the soup dumplings which are dainty but not very soupy. They're supposedly house-made but taste similar to store bought ones. I'm looking forward to sampling the beef tendons & tripe and the pork belly w/ garlic cold appetizers next time, which I'm told are very good. Don't snooze on the DESSERTS which are very special! They come from the café bakery A La Mousse (owned by the same owner) and are a treat. This restaurant is BYOB, which is always a plus in my book. read more

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Came for the spice, stayed for everything else too. I wasn't sure what to expect from Hot Fish just by checking out the name, except for the traditional Szechuan plate of the same name. We were pleasantly surprised by dish after dish that each one constantly was full of euphoric savory flavor. The Dan Dan noodles takes top honors, along with steam pork dumplings, dry pot chicken, chive pancakes, salt and peppered shrimps, clear noodles with chili sauce, or a wonderfully spiced map tofu. The dim ambiance of the restaurant setting makes for intimate get togethers whether if it's dinner for 2 or a larger party. The staff checks in regularly offering tea refills and order suggestions. There are also fun animal shaped dessert offerings. read more

I can't even recommend a specific item because everything here is fantastic. The flavors and execution is exactly what I expect when I think of Szechuan food, it's truly authentic. I'm just sad I don't live closer! read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Too spicy for me the restaurant look nice small but very nice ambiance and good service look good for a large group for Sharing the food read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Fish filet - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Very cozy place with nice young staff. We enjoyed the Lamb, Fish, and Beef Scallion lunches. All very tasty and well prepared. We also ordered some pork dumplings. They were pretty good. We will go again. read more

We went here for the wife's birthday. This is one of the places that we often drive past and wanted to try but never got the chance to so we figured might as well on a rainy day. We ordered the house special spare ribs, the tilapia fish with garlic based pot, and beef lo mein. The ribs were not spicy despite the intimidating look and were very good. The fish order was also delicious, light on the garlic flavor and easy to eat. The beef lo mein was good and the beef itself was very soft. We will definitely be returning to try other food on the menu. The service was excellent from beginning to end. No complaints whatsoever. read more

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Local sit down Szechuan spot that definitely tests your spice palate. Brought my parents to check out this spot and they were pleased with the dishes that were served. We got the steamed pork dumplings, spicy crab, peppered beef and the kung pao chicken and fair warning that they put ample amounts of spices in their dishes unless you request otherwise. Nice location with Chinese decor on the walls with ample parking. Staff are friendly but they were very busy on a Friday night as they were dealing with a large group when we were there. read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I feel like this place is kind of a hole in the wall place. It's located in a shopping center and nothing special about the outside or anything, but once you step inside it like you've stepped into a small restaurant in the city. It was a well decorated interior. The food is the delicious. The true definition of ugly delicious. It might not looks or present beautifully but it taste amazing. We got fish, soup dumplings, and veggies. The waitress was very sweet and helpful in choosing out fish dish. It was pretty busy when we got there so I would say reservations are recommended. read more

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The fried rice tastes good and the boiled fish is great for spicy food lovers. The size of each dish is perfect and great to share with small groups(2 to 3). I haven't experienced any waiting issues so far. The service is good. read more

Update Oct 24th, 2023 Had the Pickled String Beans with Pork and Pork Knuckles. Both were delicious. read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Pork Knuckles - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Wow! I did not expect this. Northern Jersey has a number of different types of Chinese restaurants with varying degrees of authenticity. It is usually easy to tell whether a given restaurant is going to be authentic or not. Hot Fish is in a random shopping center in Hackensack across from a Home Depot. This place is authentic and delicious! Obviously they specialize in their Hot Fish, which is a whole fish (or filets if you preferred) served as a huge platter with veggies, mushrooms, corn, wide vermicelli noodles and the sauce of your choice. You have spicy and non-spicy options - we usually get the tomato-based sauce which is not spicy. You can also add things to the platter such as tofu for an extra cost. One fish plus an appetizer is probably enough for two. It's delicious and definitely worth a try. You can order it as take-out too! There are also a number of other dishes you can order such as soup dumplings, noodles, etc. Everything has been fantastic. We will definitely be back. read more

Service was excellent. Very cute family owned restaurant. The food is great too. Very spicy.

Great food. Heavy so it's once in a while thing for us. Very different from your usual Chinese/American food. recommended by my asian friends. read more

You can always (usually) count on Asian restaurants to be open on New Year's Day. For the first meal of 2024, hubby and I met up with some friends for lunch at around 1:15. There was a good amount of people at the time but they were still able to give us a spacious half booth to fit 4 adults + a baby. We ordered: -Steamed pork soup dumplings - these were just okay. It was a little dry because there was barely any soup inside (if any) -Steamed pork soup dumpling with truffle - this had the fake truffle taste (much like the fruffle in the Trader Joe's truffle products), which I didn't like -West lake beef soup - I really liked this soup. It was comforting on a cold day and it reminded me of something you'd eat at a Chinese banquet -Beef tendons and tripe - this had the Szechuan flavor and I'm not a fan of that taste or the numbing sensation, so this one was not for me -Pineapple drunken spare ribs - the ribs were a favorite of the table because everyone loved the sauce. We ended up using the sauce on everything else we ordered -Pineapple fried rice - this came served inside a pineapple half but it was weird, because the pineapple half was lined with foil. Makes me wonder if they just throw out the foil and reuse the pineapple shell because the pineapple in the fried rice tasted like it was canned. I really hope not. This dish was bland overall -Shrimp chow fun - another bland dish but it was saved by the sauce from the pineapple drunken spare ribs. The shrimp were so tiny, you could tell they got it from the frozen section over at 99 Ranch. Other than that, the noodles were actually pretty good. I would order it again but probably swap the shrimp for beef We didn't get the fish like everyone else was getting, so maybe that was our mistake - being that the name of the restaurant is called Hot Fish. I would come back and try a non-Szechuan version of the fish (if they have it), and probably order the soup and the ribs again. read more

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My friends would not stop talking this place up so they took me here. I'm not a huge spicy person and there are non-spicy menu items so don't feel intimidated. The food is very good however. We did stick with the spice which was indeed very spicy but for whatever reason I could not stop eating because it was so good. The beef pot had to be my favorite item honestly. It's BYOB so bringing a light cold beer was a really good decision as it helped offset and cut the spice and oil a bit. I will definitely be back to try more. read more

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Hubby and I always come to this restaurant after we've done our grocery shopping at 99 Ranch, this place is great because they serve very authentic Szechuan food and they have some unique dishes ( such as grilled whole fish ) that I guarantee you won't find them elsewhere in north NJ unless you make the trip to Flushing, NY. The restaurant is famous of the whole fish dishes, and my recent favorite is Green Pepper Numbing Fresh Fish(青椒麻麻魚) as the fish is extremely fresh and the soup is very flavorful, but you will have to be very careful when you eat this dish as it's made of small pieces of fish with bones, and you don't want the fish bone stuck in your throat. I find the portion of their dishes is big, so it's perfect if you come with a group. Otherwise, you might end up having a lot of leftovers ( which is not a bad thing either!) Overall, I enjoy the food served here and the service is also very good. BYOB is also a big plus ( 99 Ranch sells beers so you can grab some from there). read more

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I would recommend this restaurant, but it is too overpriced to regularly dine at. The kung pao chicken was SO good but the portion was so small for being over $30. The fried rice was very good and has a generous portion. The mei fun had a rich taste but the shrimps were so small. The shrimp dumplings dough was too thick and I didn't enjoy them. read more

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Amazing food, very nice staff and extensive menu. Love the cumin lab and they gave you assorted peanut flavors. I cannot believe I didn't find it earlier. The food is very reasonably priced with lots of discount for teachers and public servants! Ambiance is amazing! read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Great ambiance and have space for group. - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

We eat at Hot Fish quite often, and usually order the same dishes. I was lucky enough to be their "Tasting Panel Foodie" winner, and was invited to try some different items from the menu. If you want to indulge in an unforgettable gastronomic experience, you have to try the Fresh Striped Bass. I ordered it with spicy sauce, but there are six different flavors to chose from. We also ordered the Sliced Beef with Black Pepper. The beef was so tender and juicy, paired with onions and bell peppers in a savory, black pepper sauce. Then we ordered Dry Pot Cabbage, a mouth-watering Sichuan dish that you have to try. For our last course, we had the Yang Chow Fried Rice, the best I have ever tasted. Thank you, Hot Fish. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and the staff and service were exceptional. I highly recommend dining here when you are looking for a great Sichuan experience. read more

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Went here with my co-workers for lunch and it was a good place! My favorite part was the fried rice! My friend got a dish that had too much pepper in it that you are not suppose to eat, the flavors were alright, i was expecting something more flavorful! They do have lunch specials so it is better to go with a group of friends there read more

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Came here for dinner with friends. This was the time when gas was high, pricing was high, everything was high up to the roof due to inflation. So, what we got was high price with small portions. Understandable. Nobody is doing a losing business in here... The food taste was alright. I believe this place deserves second chance when things and inflation have calmed down... read more

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I wish I could give it a better rating because this is actually authentic Chinese food. But the food I ordered only had meat and not much veggies. This is probably not a good place to dining alone. They offered me complimentary Yelp check in food but because of it, they will not give me teachers discount anymore. I wish they told me this earlier so I can choose either if I know I cannot get both offers read more

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I was so surprised to find such a high quality authentic Chinese restaurant in such a nondescript place. The people couldn't be nicer, the decor is warm and comfortable, and the food is on the money. They also have special offers, like a free $35 dish for your birthday. My mouth is watering just thinking about this place read more

We decided to try out Hot Fish on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was pretty empty, so we got a table right away. Must say they have really well decorated the place, one of nicer interior Chinese restaurants that I have been to. We ordered several dishes to out, starting with Dan dan noodles. The sauce in it was too thick and tasted almost like peanut sauce to me. We got tofu , sting beans and a chicken dish as well. All of them were average quality. Lastly we ordered the Baja fish in chili oil sauce. Unfortunately it wasn't appealing to me either, as I found it over powered with popper corns. Despite having a good service, the food taste wasn't up to the mark, per my standard. I have better alternatives around the area. read more

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Hot Fish is a Szechuan restaurant located in Hackensack, New Jersey. The restaurant is known for its authentic Chinese cuisine, which is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The menu features a wide variety of dishes, including appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. I recently had the opportunity to dine at Hot Fish, and I was very impressed with the food. I started my meal with the XLB. The soup dumplings were perfectly cooked, thin skinned with lots of soupy goodness contained in the wrapper. The companion sauce made of soy sauce, black vinegar and slivers of ginger complimented the XLB's and elevated their deliciousness. For the main course, we ordered the Striped Sea Bass Boil with Spicy Bean. It was spicy and numbing....a must get for Szechuan peppercorn fans! We added fish tofu, lotus root and tofu sticks. Included was broccoli, tofu, black fungus and wide noodles. For a group of three, it was plentiful. A complimentary mix of nuts, comprised of spice peanuts, spiced sunflower seeds and roasted unshelled peanuts, are a welcomed appetizer. Overall, I had a great experience at Hot Fish. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great meal. We will be back for their lunch specials!! It's a great way to sample other items on their menu!! read more

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Fantastic variety of dumplings, noodles and some lesser seen items. Everything was really good but one of my favorite stand outs is the Cumin Lamb. You have to be a real fan of cumin for this dish as it is very strong but just the right amount. Be prepared to take a doggy bag home as the portions are quite large. read more

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Hot Fish is unassuming but a great place to stop by if you are in the Hackensack Area. The restaurant seems best known for the fish (as you'd expect), which is what we got. I highly recommend the spicy option so long as you can handle spicy food. The fish is served on a heated tray and stays warm throughout the meal. We got ours with tofu and mushrooms added and loved it. The flavor was superb. The only negative was the service, which wasn't the best. We had to ask for refills on water and the check. read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Nice decor and atmosphere. Lots tables. Very comfortable. Staff is very friendly. Food is ok. Not impressed by any of the dishes. Only thing I like is the fried tofu. read more

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This place exceeded my expectations. It's inside a strip mall but don't let the location fool you! The food was pretty great. It is a bit on the salty side though. Here's what we had: Yang Chow fried rice: so good! Flavorful. Steamed Pork soup dumplings: some were popped :( wouldn't recommend getting these. Mapo tofu: the portion was huge. Double cooked pork belly: amazing! This was my favorite. Make sure to order white rice as well to balance out the salt & spice. I came here for dinner to dine in but I'd love to try their lunch specials! Rounding up from 3.5 for great service. read more

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This is a lunch special review. And damn was it an especially good lunch. Got the fish filet in chili sauce over rice and pineapple fried rice. Each were $10 with a side soup so we tried the hot and sour and wonton soup. There are not many good Southwestern Chinese restaurants in this area, but this definitely is a great place to get authentic Chinese food. Even though these were lunch specials, the fish and sauce were perfect together and the fish was delightfully tasteful. Exactly what I was craving. I tried my wife's pineapple fried rice and you could tell it was made on a legit smoky wok. The soups were both really good and like I said, it's hard to find good authentic tasting Chinese food. This hit the mark for sure. read more

Hot Fish 川天下 - Lunch special. Fish and spicy chili oil sauce // Pineapple fried rice - Szechuan Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I came here during Chinese New Year weekend with my family since we were grocery shopping at 99 Ranch Supermarket which is in the same shopping center. There was a lot of seating with spacious booths. We ordered the pork soup dumplings, the salt and pepper fried squid, and the pea shoots. The pork soup dumplings were not hot and had no soup inside. The salt and pepper fried squid was too oily and greasy. The pea shoots were good. Service was fast and friendly. There's better Chinese restaurants but it's convenient if you're shopping at 99 Ranch. read more

Spicy Dry Pot was very tasty and lip numbing . Authentic Szechuan . Very friendly hostess. Will return