Hibachi review only- we didn't eat at the regular tables. We are somewhat regulars here but Chef John recognizes us and knows our order. The portions are a good size and cooked to perfection. Chef John noticed that the ribeye portion for one of our party was too small so he had the kitchen bring out another cut and he cooked that up for him. They don't serve mustard sauce at the table- only ginger and yum sauce, but if you call ahead (and ask for Chef John) he can make it for you- and it's delicious. He's not the showiest of chefs but he has great skills and the food is delicious. Notes about the hibachi section- it is crowded, loud and can get hot. If you have sensory issues it's probably not the place for you. My adult daughter had to step out because of the noise and the crowd. But we come on weekend nights when it's the worst. Come off hours and you'll be fine. Chef John is the best! read more

Naru looked promising when we booked our party of three for a birthday dinner online, and the confirmation call was pleasant. It's an intimate spot with only four teppanyaki tables, and we were seated promptly. My family has been going to hibachi for over 50 years to celebrate special occasions, so we know what to expect. Unfortunately, this visit was a total letdown. As is standard, we shared a table with another party--a family with three kids. Right away, there were red flags: the kids were hyped up on candy, spilling things, and spreading out so much that I was repeatedly bumped into and forced to eat off the edge of the table. Management and servers saw this unfolding but never intervened, even though they clearly knew the family. Then came our cook, "Chef John," and things went further downhill: Complete Lack of Engagement: Wearing a baseball cap instead of proper chef attire, Chef John spent the entire meal chatting with the other family (who were clearly regulars) while ignoring us like we weren't even there. No Showmanship: Teppanyaki is about the experience-- jokes, knife tricks, tossing shrimp, flipping eggs. Chef John did nothing beyond a single, basic onion volcano. Bland & Poorly Executed Food: The food lacked real flavor--no ginger or garlic, just heavy salt, pepper, and soy sauce. The steaks were hit-or-miss (the ribeye was moist, but the filet had dry sections), and seafood wasn't cut into bite-sized pieces for chopsticks. Order Snafu & Arguing: All three of us ordered steak and shrimp combos. He served full shrimp portions to two of us, but gave the third person only an appetizer portion. When we brought up the mistake--despite him confirming orders earlier--it turned into an uncomfortable debate over whether she was "entitled" to the rest of her meal. We eventually got the missing shrimp, but the damage was done. Between the chaotic table dynamic that staff ignored, zero entertainment, bland food, and having to argue for the food we ordered, it ruined a birthday celebration. I seriously doubt that we will be returning. read more

Date night! We couldn't remember our last order, so we let them pick for us -- and honestly, best decision. All I wanted was a boat, and that's exactly what we got. Every roll was a specialty roll, and it really showed. If there's ever a question about whether their specials are worth it -- they absolutely are. We finished all five rolls (no regrets) and topped it off with green tea matcha mochi for dessert. Maybe next time we will do 6. Great picks, great balance, and everything hit the spot. Naru never disappoints. read more

Naru Restaurant - Platter A Platter A - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

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Today for Father's Day we took our family here. The service was wonderful. We had hibachi and our chef was excellent. I had my 2 grandchildren with me and the chef made sure to cut up everything so they could eat their portions. He flavored everything just right. Again, I was very happy and impressed with the whole establishment. Arigato Naru. read more

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Order fresh sushi from here! It's one of the best sushi spots in this area. I mainly wanted the shrimp tempura rolls but decided to also get the platter and I ordered the special amazing roll no masago and I think the other special roll was Godzilla? I believe the special platter included extra sashimi which no one ate but looked pretty! All this was $180 delivered. read more

Naru Restaurant - All this $180 - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

Got takeout from here that just didn't hit the spot. Sweet potatoe roll was good. Hibachi chicken was dry and had no sauce. Noodles just tasted like the griddle. Fried rice was fine. Gyoza was excellent. read more

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I loved it here! And coming with my toddler, it made for a worry-free visit. The staff was so kind and accommodating. I came for lunch and ordered a hibachi chicken special (it wasn't cooked in front of me but I didn't want it to be) for my son. They provided him with a kids plate, kid utensils and scissors to cut his food and they did this all without me asking! I usually bring all that with me because nearly all restaurants don't provide that (at least the ones I've been to). It was so kind and thoughtful of them. The food was good! My picky toddler managed to eat the noodles and some of the chicken (I tried some and it was good). I ordered the Dynamite roll for myself. The dynamite roll is a California roll with crabmeat, masago, scallion, spicy mayo, mozzarella, cheese, eel sauce and crunch on the outside. It is the roll of my dreams. I truly loved it here and will definitely be back. They also have hibachi (where they cook in front of you and have a show) as an option. I haven't tried it but it looks good. Side note: the bathrooms are very clean and spacious (they are single person bathrooms). It was very easy to help my son to the bathroom. read more

Naru Restaurant - Dynamite - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

Very clean restaurant. The sushi is always very fresh. I usually avoid sushi restaurants that serve fake crab. But that isn't easy at this price point. I've had fish that tasted fantastic here and then other days pretty mid. But overall, it's a nice restaurant. My last visit was just very mid. I don't think I'll return here read more

Food is very good. Service is great. We drive 30 min just to eat there. Such a great find. Highly recommend.

My daughter's favorite hibachi spot. Very friendly, quick service, BYOB. Even if you don't do hibachi, it's a great spot for sushi as well.

Are first time here we know people how Oder from here a lot n now we know why they do a must try great food n wonderful service n management n host too The food so great even tried something tonight too 100/10 read more

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The only negative is that the shrimp was a bit overcooked. Both the fillet and the sirloin were tender the fried rice, noodles, vegetables, and the rest of it was delicious, including the onion soup. read more

Naru Restaurant - Fantastic - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

We went for our twin daughters' birthday. Chef Leon had the kids smiling the whole meal, it was memorable, they had fun - it's a full sit down restaurant with a sushi bar and several hibachi tables, food was excellent. Highly recommend- we will go back for sure! read more

Naru Restaurant - Chef Leon was worth the whole thing and made my girls' birthday memorable! - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

This is the best local spot to get hibachi and sushi. The food never disappoints. There is nothing I ever ordered there that wasn't amazing.

This place will be our go to for Hibachi from now on. BYO, quick friendly service, and their team taking reservations is incredible. 2 adults and 2 kids came because my little one wanted Hibachi. Chef John was incredible with his skills. I had the Ribeye and Shrimp dinner and everything just tasted great. Perfect prices considering all you get. My 1 and only suggestion for them would be to serve the traditional Ginger dipping sauce. They only give teriyaki/soy sauce and a Yum Yum sauce. Me personally I don't really perfect either with my steak and only used the Yum sauce on my shrimp. But it's not worth taking a point away. The freshness and flavor of everything was great. We will be back! read more

We went here for a friend's daughter's birthday expecting the typical hibachi experience, but unfortunately it was pretty disappointing. Before making the reservation, my friend specifically confirmed that they would do the usual hibachi fun -- the fire show, squirting lemonade, tossing food for guests to catch, and singing happy birthday. These are things you generally expect at any hibachi restaurant and what her daughter was excited about all week. Our chef, Chef John, started off okay. He had the birthday girl come up to crack an egg, which was fun, but that was pretty much where the interaction ended. He even asked if she wanted to catch food in her mouth and she said yes -- but he never actually did it. None of the fun hibachi elements we were expecting happened. Service overall was very lacking. The chef asked if we wanted water, but no one ever brought it. No one came by to check on the table or refill drinks the entire time. Portion sizes were also an issue. Everyone at the table was supposed to receive vegetables, but by the time they were divided up my friend and I literally got about three pieces each. I mentioned it, and only after that did he cook an additional side of vegetables. The fried rice and noodles were both very bland and lacked flavor. When we asked for soy sauce or teriyaki sauce, the chef seemed annoyed and squirted it on our plates with attitude. After reading other Yelp reviews later, it seems like the lack of flavor in the hibachi meals is a common complaint. My friend eventually went up to complain because they never tossed the food or did the lemonade squirt -- the two things her daughter was really looking forward to. At the start of the night they asked if we were celebrating a birthday, and we told them. Later at dessert they asked again whose birthday it was, but they simply brought out dessert without clearing any of the dinner plates and one man sang and hit a gong. Overall, it felt like many hibachi restaurants are going downhill, and this was no exception. For the high price, the small portions, bland food, and spotty service, it just wasn't worth it. Unfortunately, I wouldn't come back. I expected much more from a hibachi restaurant in Franklin Lakes. read more

Just celebrated my younger daughter's birthday at Naru. Nice modern feel. Staff were all pleasant and professional. The hibachi chef was polite and cooked very well. The entertainment was restrained and that was perfect for me. I ordered the ribeye hibachi, most of the rest of our group had the chicken. The ribeye was amazingly tender. We also had a Godzilla roll and a Philadelphia roll. Excellent quality rolls. The hibachi came with fried rice, noodles, vegetables, soup, salad, shrimp, and a scoop of ice cream. Great amount of food. Definitely worth a return! read more

Naru Restaurant - Hibachi Rib Eye was so tender! - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

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We went to Naru's for my dads birthday and had a great time. You can sit by the cook with a group of 3 or more, otherwise there's table seating. This place was jamming on a Saturday night so be prepared to wait a little. My mom says that there no wait at all during the day for lunch. My parents got calamari & scallop hibachi. My mom wasn't too happy with the calamari and my dad loved the scallops. The vegetable sushi was excellent and I was delightfully surprised because I didn't know mine came with Tofo. The meal came with salad, soup and ice cream. I had to try the green tea ice cream. It was a little weird but not bad. I recommend this place for great atmosphere, service and food. The prices were reasonable. read more

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Great lunch special! 2 of us each ordered the Chirashi (comes with soup or salad) and were stuffed! At $18 it's such a great deal! The sashimi pieces were giant and fresh! We even got otoro, which is rare for lunch specials. Another one got the Tonkatsu bento which came with shumai and croquette, soup and salad. Service was super quick and friendly. There are two sides with 3 Hibachi tables on one side and regular seating on the other. I would highly recommend it for lunch as there was plenty of seating. The waiter did recommend making a reservation for hibachi as that likely fills up on the weekends. read more

Naru Restaurant - Chirashi Don - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

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It was a great time to have some foods. It was very nice cook and no salty at all. I went to Mt. Fuji Restaurant before I came this place. Unfortunately, there was any exception for going into restaurant without reservation at Mt. Fuji. I started looking for substitute restaurants and I found Naru. Thankfully, I found much more better place than Mt. Fuji. I strongly recommend this place for lunch or dinner. read more

Excellent food and service! The sushi was fresh and delicious ( best around the area), and the hibachi was cooked perfectly. Our waiter greeted us with a warm smile the whole time, which made the experience even better. Highly recommend! We will be back. read more

How does this place have 4/5 stars? Maybe I ordered on a bad day? The food is 2.5/5 at best but giving an extra star for friendly service and smooth ordering process. I ordered a platter that included sushi, sashimi, and some rolls for a family gathering and this was the first time ever that we had leftover from a sushi meal. The fish was NOT fresh. The tuna was discolored (some dark spots) and looked so unappetizing that it was left untouched. For one of the special rolls, they used what looked like canned tuna?! A family member looked at it and asked if it was pate. If canned tuna was being used, they should explicitly write that on their menu- because I wouldn't have ordered it! The rolls were made sloppily, with uneven rice distribution and falling apart due to poor sealing. However, the greatest downfall was the unfresh fish. It was unfortunate and we won't be ordering here again. read more

Went here for lunch with a friend and it was absolutely delicious! The wait staff was very attentive & and quick with their service. Luckily, it wasn't a busy hour when we chose to go but I'm sure it's busy on a Friday or Saturday night. The sushi was so fresh and the soup was SO tasty. I cannot wait to come back & try new things on the menu. read more

Naru Restaurant - Dumpling Gyoza Soup - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

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Verry good food and the feeling of the restaurant is so nice the service is great and the people there are so kind

Habachi was fun! Food was good! Happy place for birthday celebration! We will return. read more

The food is delicious with a calm ambiance, and the service is great. Chef Leon is especially great with kids.

Good sushi but slow service and a little disappointed that our hibachi dreams were foiled. We made reservations on a Saturday and wanted to get hibachi but the tables were full and they would have taken over 30 additional minutes to satisfy our request. So sushi it was. (They really should have a better reservation system to specify what you want, though you can't very well kick someone off hibachi if they're already seated). Sushi turned out to be fresh and tasty: veggie roll (plain), fantastic roll, and California. After getting our dishes, our server disappeared because she was busy with other tables. We had to flag her down for the check. (She was very nice when she was present.) The hostess seemed disinterested and handled our seating in the beginning, which we weren't thrilled about. She also moved several customers off their table to accommodate others... and that's what we observed in a short period. That seemed odd too. Guessing that you'll need to be prepared to wait when you come here. This little small complex has a Chinese takeout and pizza joint and seemed to be fine parking for all the other businesses. read more

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Horrible experience. Accepted my order, then much later called to tell me they can't deliver.

We just ordered dinner here. Positively the WORST Japanese dining experience I've had in many years. Small quantities. High price. Poor quality food. Tasteless, and just downright odd. I've been eating Japanese food for 65 years, since the first Japanese restaurants opened in NYC. I've eaten Japanese food all over the world, including in Japan. I've eaten Kaiseki cuisine in Osaka and Kyoto. I know good Japanese food when I encounter it. Naru is the exact opposite of this spectrum. Don't waste your money. Sayonara. read more

Prompt service, had reservation - made easily on line. Also called/texted us earlier today to confirm rez. Excellent hibachi meal tonight by Chef John. Food fresh, good quality scallops, shrimp, filet & made quickly but nicely. Prices good. Birthday songs & dessert too - nice touch! Clean & efficiently run. Will return. FYI - It's a BYOB. read more

Awesome food and even better service ! Very clean and delicious! The atmosphere was very family friendly as well

We were a party of nine for lunch yesterday and I must say I was disappointed in the food. By the time we got our main dish, the rice was cold. The sauce was thin and tasteless. The noodles came at the very end so we really couldn't enjoy them and the chef really wasn't very entertaining. I could think of many better restaurants, for a fraction of the tab. read more

Ordered the lobster and filet mignon hibachi. The salad was extremely fresh with a great ginger dressing. The soup was a clear mushroom type that was the perfect start to the filling dinner. The steak and lobster were seasoned well and very fresh. The meal came with a sweet soy sauce and an orangey sauce that always comes with hibachi. It's the best for dipping steak and other proteins. The lomein was very delicious. I felt like the fried rice could have used more seasoning/flavor. The service was absolutely phenomenal and all of the staff was super friendly and made me feel comfortable! Cheers! read more

Naru Restaurant - a plate of food and a bowl of rice - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

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Tried them for take out during Covid and we were so impressed by the presentation flavor and freshness ! We were very excited to actually tho amd done there once they were able to have customers in! We have gone twice and we try something different each time . They have so many special rolls to choose from and you can't go wrong with whatever you choose! The Godzilla roll is really cool looking too lol! The only two things and I wasn't thrilled with was there golden tofu I thought it could've been a little bit more firm and maybe a little bit more tempura on it to make it crispier. On my other complaint is they do kind of rush you which I almost understand because they have to make up for so much loss business but while you're eating your soup and your cold appetizer comes out along with your hot one it just was a little bit much. All in all a very great sushi spot ! read more

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Naru by far is one of my favorite sushi spots for specialty rolls. Not only do they have a variety to choose from they are giant and flavorful. Service is always friendly and quick. You can sit on the hibachi side of the restaurant or sushi bar side. Either is a great option you will not be disappointed. read more

Naru Restaurant - Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

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We order take out from here occasionally. I like the gyoza and harumachi (spring rolls). The sauce for the harumachi is so yummy. Hubby gets sushi rolls. They are not the neatest rolls we've seen, but they still taste good and are fresh. Delivery is usually prompt and courteous read more

Naru Restaurant - Gyoza - Japanese Near Me - Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

Terrible quality food with lot of MSG, kick you out in 40 min. Portions are small, included desert was not provided. Was on birthday dinner, everybody was disappointed. read more

Very friendly staff. More available times than most places. Lunch. Pleasant space and great decor.

So many great things about this place! - Had hibachi and the staff is so thorough in checking a day before and day of the reservation. - They also were very thorough on any food allergy explanations. - Staff was very friendly all around (bus boy, servers, etc.) - Always checking in with you to ensure we are OK Thanks guys! read more

I'd like to give a balanced review, so let me first say that we were a party of 11, so it may have been a bigger group than normally comes to Naru. That being said, our experience was sub par. Half of our party was vegetarian, and this was clearly a problem for the restaurant. We called ahead of time to ask for tofu hibachi, which they said they could accommodate. When we got there, I confirmed with the host, who again said it wasn't a problem. He was so nice and even substituted our shrimp appetizer for vegetable gyoza. But that didn't make up for our chef. When the chef came to the table, he did not have any tofu and got visibly annoyed when I asked for it. He was not personable at all and barely talked. An obvious expectation of going to hibachi is the performance and show. But there was zero of that. The food was average. And just an FYI, this is the only hibachi restaurant I've ever been to that charges extra for fried rice. It does say it on the menu, but it's something you should know before going. I always thought that was standard as part of the experience... On top of it, the vent was leaking oil onto two of our guests and stained their clothes. Not going back. read more