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    Sando Cafe

    4.5 (23 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Sand
    Rosa R.

    This is place is just average. It's the only one of its kind in downtown Montclair and maybe people don't have anything to compare it to but it's honestly just average. It's lacking flavor which says a lot for a Japanese spot. It's a good spot it you want to get introduced to JP eats.

    chicken katsu & tamago
    Tina K.

    Awesome local gem! The chicken katsu & tamago sandos are very good and the service is great as well.

    Sakura Tea
    Christian R.

    I was eager to try Cafe Sando ever since reading about the special egg salad sandwiches they serve in Japan. This is not your standard deli egg salad sandwich. It's prepared with special sweet mayonnaise, "milk bread," and the egg itself is more pulverized--all to create a creamy, sweet mouthfeel. It also features a full split hard boiled egg and shredded cabbage. I was not disappointed. The ingredients of the "tamago sando" were fresh and flavorful. Since this is my first taste of the genre, I can't compare it to others like it. But I enjoyed it very much. To drink, I tried the Sakura tea, green iced tea flavored with cherry blossoms. The server asked what level of sweetness I preferred, since she was to make it fresh in a shaker. I said "regular" in order to establish a baseline. Next time I'll ask for light (but not zero) sweetener. Your mileage may vary, but you'll want to have an answer to that question if you order it. Finally I ordered a fruit sando for dessert. This is like strawberry shortcake served on the sweet, fluffy milk bread instead of shortcake. I found the ingredients delicious and fresh, but felt a bit stuffed afterwards. Cafe Sando is a nice atmosphere. Japanese pop music plays, and there are about five small tables and seats at the coffee bar. If you want a taste of Japan in Montclair, I recommend it.

    Vivian C.

    so excited to see more asian food in the area, especially a new japanese restaurant! the prices here are very affordable, especially compared to the rest of the neighborhood. most of the menu was around $10 or below!! the food here was delicious!! we plan on coming here often, the katsu sando and curry over rice was delicious and so flavorful, but the katsu sando definitely was the best! so tender and crispy and delightful! making good food takes time, so be prepared to wait a bit during the food rush hours for your food, but it's worth it! staff was friendly and constantly busy with all the customers, but they have a button on each table that helps you call the wait staff. there's only 4 small tables, so takeout is definitely a good option as well if you can't get a table. street parking only.

    Gyudon
    Victoria P.

    The food and service is excellent! amazing staff and so quick!!! We were in and out within 35 mins with our belly's full!

    Fruit sando

    Food here has consistently been great! Their mango or passion fruit with hojicha tea best option and it comes served in the cutest cups. The potato croquettes are perfectly crisp and full of flavor. The real stars, though, are the sandwiches (Sandos) -- from tamago and kani salad to chicken or pork, every option hits. Don't skip the booster combo: chicken katsu with tamago is hands down the best pairing. Everything is made fresh to order, and their gyozas and rice bowls are excellent too. This spot definitely shouldn't be slept on -- plus, they've got a great playlist! Highly recommend checking them out.

    Pork Katsu

    A quaint little area with a lot of options. The food was good for its price and I plan to return to try their sandwiches.

    Chicken Katsu Curry

    This place is a hidden gem! The food tastes amazing and the prices are affordable. Definitely will come back! The chicken Katsu Curry is amazing!

    Curry Gyudon

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    27 days ago

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    6 months ago

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    25 days ago

    Amazing customer service and cozy atmosphere! I had the pork katsu sando and enjoyed it.

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    2 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Tasty sandwiches, friendly service. We tried the egg salad and the katsu pork sandos and they were excellent.

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    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Had the katsudon, a rice bowl with a pork cultlet. The best! Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu.

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    Minoru

    Minoru

    (65 reviews)

    I've had this spot saved in my bookmarks for so long, I'm so excited I finally got to come here!!…read moreReservations are easy and they allow cancellations for at least 4 hours before without a fee. But who cares about that right? Let's get to the food. Everything on the menu sounded and looked delicious but we were most intrigued by the kaisendon and the hitsumabushi. The Mentaiko spaghetti as well -- which was unlike any other Mentaiko spaghetti I've had before ! Everything was so delicious, fresh, and full of umami. Our favorite dish was definitely the hitsumabushi, which you can enjoy 4 different ways. Staff are all so kind and sweet and explains everything to you thoroughly. 10/10 recommend and 10/10 will come back!

    Came here to celebrate my birthday with family. Giving this a 4.5 and looking forward to coming…read moreback again! Really liked the mushroom salad. It had lots of lotus chips and greens...delicious! We also got the assorted tempura which was good - the dipping was came out very warm - so it was a nice addition on a windy cold day. The sabazushi was a bit too fishy for me. We tried both the Eel and the wagyu bowl sets between 4 people. I liked the wagyu more than the eel but mixing it was a bit rough. I'd recommend mixing the egg yolk with the rice and then adding the wagyu pieces back in. The service was well timed for our food and things came 1 after another. Unfortunately, they sold out of the matcha mochi the day we went so we opted for the mango parfait instead. It tasted ok but I would have rather had the mochi instead.

    MM by Morimoto - Kushiage app with Bonsai Bloom drink

    MM by Morimoto

    (98 reviews)

    Finally was able to get around to trying Chef Morimoto's New Jersey venture. On arrival, We did…read morehave a reservation and we were seated immediately upon arrival. The Space: gorgeous space inside. Very modern looking, clean and inviting space. Service: excellent service, from the front of house, to our server, to all the other staff, everyone was attentive and knew the dishes inside and out. Drinks: I had the Tokyo smoke, which was a solid Smokey whiskey sour, was very delicious. My wife had the sake verra matcha, which she also loved it was like a refreshing take on an espresso martini with matcha instead. Would definitely recommend. Food: Toro tartare - small starter, excellent taste, the dashi it was sitting in was very delicious, really enjoyed the crunch with the caviar. Overall solid dish Surf and turf roll: really delicious roll, they blowtorch the roll in front of you. Has so much flavor and the meat just melts in your mouth. Main dish: my wife and I opted for the special Which was a marinated coulotte cut of beef, cooked to perfection, was the perfect mix of sweet and savory, the pickled ginger and wasabi added such a great element to the dish. Sides: if my mother made broccoli like this, I probably would not have been so picky growing up, would absolutely recommend. And I cannot say enough about the 100 layer potato gratin, must try. Dessert: we tried the tiramisu, unfortunately I think this is skippable. Not enough coffee flavor, just have had better. Overall great experience, it is definitely on the expensive side, the food and service were great, cannot say that I would do the tiramisu again though. Otherwise, would recommend for a special event or special dinner for sure!

    Space is pretty expansive with private rooms, bar, booth and table seating…read more The booths along the back wall are against a large screen which could be a bit of sensory overload for those facing it. Other than that everything was really comfortable and music and overall ambience was enjoyable and allowed for conversation. Staff was helpful and friendly while also not making us feel rushed to order. We had a round of drinks 2 apps and entrees. Their take on the Negroni was really refreshing, strong but not in a way that overpowered the drink. Tuna pizza (5/5) I really enjoyed the thin wafer they used and topped with ample tuna and fresh garnish and jalapeños for a nice kick Soft shell crab roll (4/5) it was yummy morning spectacular in terms of value/price but executed well Black cod (5/5) really outstanding, flaking off at the touch of the fork, great caramelization and seasoning without being too much tender deliciousness! MORE PLEASE! Parking is a valet, a paid lot across the street or street parking. I would probably reserve this spot for a special occasion vs just a regular night out but appreciated feeling like we were somewhere else for a bit. They did a nice job of making it feel like you stepped into a new and sophisticated space without being pretentious.

    Nami Nori - Vegan Temaki

    Nami Nori

    (162 reviews)

    Nami Nori in Montclair was such a great experience from start to finish. Walking in, the ambience…read moreimmediately stood out, the space has a picturesque Japanese aesthetic that feels both modern and calming. It's the kind of place that feels thoughtfully designed without trying too hard. Our waiter was incredibly welcoming and friendly, which set a great tone for the meal. For drinks, we ordered the Raspberry Moon and a matcha latte. Both were colorful, well-presented, and really tasty, a nice way to start the meal. The food itself was an experience. We ordered the temaki set and got to learn how to assemble our own hand rolls, which made the meal interactive and fun. The sushi arrived in a beautiful presentation and everything tasted fresh and high quality. Overall, it was a memorable dining experience with great service, creative drinks, and delicious food. Definitely a spot worth checking out in Montclair.

    Hand roll heaven! I booked this spot for a weekday birthday dinner for my friend for 7 people (5…read moreadults + my two kids, 9 and 11) on OpenTable. The reservation required a credit card but I was able to mention a birthday. We were seated right away at a nice window table with a bench, which made it easy to fit everyone. We ordered a bunch of small plates and not a single miss: Tuna Crudo -- fresh, simple, and kid-approved Japanese Potato Salad with Ikura -- lightly creamy with a salty, briny pop Asari Clam Soup -- loaded with clams, miso; buttery and comforting Furikake Cottage Fries -- hot, round crispy ridges with a ketchup-y dip, very snackable for everyone Spicy Tuna Dip -- gone in about 60 seconds For the temaki (hand rolls), they recommend 5 per person. They do something a little different and honestly pretty fun. The fillings come out on flat sticks in a wooden holder (kinda like a taco stand), and you get boxes of nori (seaweed sheets) on the side. You slide the filling onto the seaweed yourself and eat it right away, so everything stays nice and crisp. It's a little DIY, but in a good way. While they offer 3 Temaki preselected sets, you can also order a la carte. I went with the Signature Set (tuna poke, XO scallop, coconut shrimp, salmon serrano, cucumber black sesame) and was really happy with it. We also got also got 2 sets of California rolls for the girls. My brother's Everything Bagel hand roll was a fun surprise. It tasted just like one. We finished with the Lemon Curd Churros- fresh, hot, and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. The curd was a little on the firm side, but still good. Everyone left full and delighted. NOTES/TIPS: **BYOB, Wheelchair-accessible. Clean bathrooms. Modern vibes. **Entire menu is gluten-free **Vegan options available if you ask, plus a strong plant-based roll selection **Plan for ~5 hand rolls per person (including the kids) **Several parking decks a block or two away

    Wabi Sabi

    Wabi Sabi

    (347 reviews)

    $$$

    Wabi Sabi by far is one of the best sushi restaurants in New Jersey!…read more As a restaurant owner myself, I know how much work goes on behind the scenes to create a great dining experience -- and this sushi spot is doing it right. The fish was incredibly fresh, the rolls were well balanced, and everything came out looking as good as it tasted. What stood out to me most was the consistency and attention to detail. The staff was friendly, service flowed smoothly, and the atmosphere made it easy to relax and enjoy the meal. It's always nice to support places that clearly care about their craft. If you love good sushi, this restaurant is absolutely worth a visit. I'm already looking forward to coming back.

    If you are a true sushi purist, you know that the best experiences often hide behind the most…read moreunassuming storefronts. This place is the definition of a hidden gem--a masterclass in traditional sushi sitting quietly on a culinary wasteland of a street. The commitment to quality here is staggering. This isn't your standard neighborhood joint slinging spicy mayo rolls; the seafood here boasts absolute freshness, with rare fish flown in weekly directly from Japan. You will find cuts here that are nearly impossible to source at standard sushi restaurants, elevating the experience to something you'd typically only find at an exclusive omakase counter. Let's talk about the tuna. The vast majority of sushi spots try to pass off cheap, frozen yellowfin as a premium offering. Not here. They source incredibly high-quality Spanish Bluefin--the exact same caliber of fish utilized by Michelin-starred establishments. What truly sets them apart is their ability to offer the complete trinity of bluefin cuts: the deep, ruby-red lean akami, the perfectly marbled chu-toro, and the rich, melt-in-your-mouth o-toro. The menu reads like a love letter to the ocean. Finding high-grade yellowtail belly can be a challenge, but here, it is a staple of exceptional quality. For those with an adventurous and educated palate, the chefs regularly feature incredibly hard-to-find selections like itoyori (golden threadfin bream), mejina (opaleye), and a luxuriously rich fatty bonito. The uni deserves its own paragraph. Sea urchin can be a gamble at lesser restaurants, but here it is pristine. On any given night, you might be lucky enough to find both creamy California uni and the briny, delicate Hokkaido uni available for side-by-side comparison. Another testament to their traditional approach and culinary respect is how they utilize the week's fresh catch to craft a warm, incredibly tasty fish head soup. It is a deeply comforting, umami-rich broth that extracts every ounce of flavor from the premium seafood they bring in, showcasing a level of authenticity you rarely see anymore. While the menu does offer French-inspired dishes and various hot kitchen items, let me be clear: you are here for the sushi. The hot food isn't bad by any means, but if you truly want a culinary experience, do not waste precious stomach space on it. You are here for the raw fish. The singular exception to this rule is the pork gyoza--they are remarkably juicy and absolutely worth the order. Do not skip dessert. In many sushi restaurants, desserts are an afterthought, but here they are top-notch and entirely homemade. The Japanese flan is impossibly silky and decadent. However, the true star is the crème brûlée cheesecake--it is remarkably smooth, slicing effortlessly at the touch of a fork, with a deeply satisfying flavor profile that entirely avoids being overly sweet. I have to address the elephant in the neighborhood: this place absolutely destroys Morimoto down the street. Morimoto has become a tourist trap resting on a recognizable name, employing inexperienced chefs to cater to the sheep-like masses who prioritize a flashy dining room over authentic taste. If you actually understand and respect true sushi, you skip the theatrical nonsense down the street and come here. Let's also be brutally honest about the price point: excellence comes at a premium. This is an uncompromising, high-end culinary experience, and the bill reflects the quality of ingredients flown in from Japan. If you are a bargain hunter, looking for cheap eats, or aren't willing to pay for top-tier craftsmanship, save your time and look elsewhere. This establishment is for serious diners who understand the value of good sushi and aren't just looking for a good enough "AYCE" experience.

    Nori

    Nori

    (294 reviews)

    $$

    Came here on a Tuesday night with some friends. The restaurant was very empty, but they did have a…read morelot of takeout orders ready. We were able to be seated right away and the person who greeted us was incredibly kind to us. The restaurant is fairly spacious. They have lots of tables and some booths. As we were looking through their very large menu to the side, what to order, the waiter brought an appetizer on the house, which I believe was some kind of tempura fish, which was pretty good! We ordered four rolls and one miso soup. I do have to say that other places give you the miso soup when you order more than one roll, so it was different that we had to order it separately and pay for it separately, but I understand that restaurants are different. We got the Montclair, the Caldwell, the salmon avocado, and their Hawaiian roll. The one that truly stood out to me was the Hawaiian roll, it had kiwi and mango on top which made for a delicious combination and very refreshing. The other three rolls were OK, nothing outstanding. That miso was a bit sweet, which was different for me. At the end of our meal, they gave us orange slices and they were actually delicious! It was a cute surprise and truly showed the vibe of the people who run this place. Overall, the bill came around $50ish which was incredibly cheap for all four rolls and the soup. I definitely would come here again to get the Hawaiian roll and maybe try out some other stuff!

    Is this the best sushi in NJ? No, but you get a friendly staff , great selection of apps and rolls,…read moresome unique menu items like sushi pizza and fried banana on sushi (digimon roll), but the number one selling point for me is the prive point. For how expensive everything is nowadays, they keep it affordable hell without it feeling like budget sushi. All the fish tasted fresh, no complaints here

    pastaRAMEN - Wagyu skirt steak

    pastaRAMEN

    (538 reviews)

    Finally made my way to NJ to check out pastaRAMEN after seeing the feature on Eater! As a fan of…read morewafu restaurants, I enjoyed my meal but didn't find it to be as impressive as hyped up to be. Started off with the clams and the calamari. The clams featured an addicting onion-forward and buttery sauce. The clams themselves were generally fresh, although one or two were a little sandy. The clams were served on top of a bed of focaccia bread. While it soaked up all the sauce and flavors, I'm not sure if I want all my bread to be soggy from the get go. The calamari were also solid with spicy mayo sauce, teriyaki sauce, and shiso leaves. Calamari were fried in a light batter. The mochi ramen carbonara featured the delicious and chewy ramen from Sun Noodles. It was cooked nicely and remained al dente throughout. The egg yolk flavors were very prominent for sure and the richness was temporized with the citrus flavors. The spicy miso ramen offered an interesting concept, but not sure if it really came together. Noodles again were very solid. The broth had more mushroom, umami flavors. Didn't quite get a taste of the butter or pork, but the leeks were good. Made a reservation for 8:30 but didn't actually get seated until past 9pm on a Friday night. Staff were polite. Should have utilized the BYOB but they also offer drinks. Dim lighting, faux cherry blossom trees, and walls of anime give it a nice intimate date-night vibes!

    Ridiculously small portions. Unless you are ordering a bowl of ramen noodles, it's pretty much a…read moretapas place. Bao buns are something you can get anywhere. Got the chicken Bao buns, and they were alright. Drowning in shredded Parmesan. My complaint was the black cod I ordered tasted fishy. It came with a Yuzu tart vinaigrette or yuzu purée that didn't work. At the top, is a bed of pickled turnips. The pickled flavors clash with the Parmesan flavored broth. Why am I sitting down for fishy fish? I went here once last year and found the portions to be good. I go now and the portions are ridiculously small. It's no different from a tapas place. And you have to order a bowl of ramen even to be satiated. Concept is good. But everything is drowning in a Parmesan flavored broth. They don't know how to balance yuzu/sour notes with their Parmesan, creamy, rich broth. That their flavors are all over the place. Did I mention how much they put raw scallions on top of everything. It was a one and done deal for me. It's too pricey when the meal kinda felt flat for me on every note. There's potential for them to balance out their flavors. But I'm not waiting for that to happen, not when I had to grab dinner elsewhere because I was still starving.

    Sando Cafe - japanese - Updated May 2026

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