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Sando Cafe

4.6 (29 reviews)
ModerateJapanese
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

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SANDO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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Sara B.

Absolutely loved Sando Cafe - everything was 10 outta 10. The space is really tiny and cozy. I'd imagine they do a good amount of takeout business. We were able to snag a table though which was nice! A katsu sando is a must and the crispy fried chicken was perfection. I've had sandos a few times and don't always see an egg on it. I really liked this! Sharing a sando and a few small plates was the perfect meal. We also loved the pork gyoza, seaweed salad and fried potato croquettes. They have some really fun drinks that come in the cutest branded cup. Loved the sweet peach tea! Service was super friendly and overall this was a great pick for a delicious lunch in Montclair.

Karaage.  Perfectly fried thigh bites Japanese style.
Frederick M.

A delicious home made Japanese spot for katsu sandwiches and much more. We loved the trendy options and really enjoyed the karaage chicken and gyoza. Not many seats but it's cozy for a quick bit to eat or to do for delivery. In person will likely taste best given the fried and pan fried options we chose.

Kusa Dango Red Bean
Aimee C.

Stopped by for a little montclair lunch and was excited to try their sandos! I brought in quite a group, but luckily it was a slower day so they allowed us to put some tables together, but otherwise, expect to come with just a friend or two as seating can be very limited. My service may have been impacted by inclement weather, but while the server was very nice and courteous, after ordering, it did take about an hour to recieve food, even as it came out in waves as it was ready. The chicken karage was not your typical style, fried with a light coating of what seemed to be tapioca starch, which was less crispy but still flavorful and delicious. We were expecting wafu fries to be waffle fries, but they were instead similar to okonomiyaki style fries which was a pleasant surprise. Their okonomiyaki was fantastic, crispy yet still moist inside, and seasoned generously. Their sandos on the otherhand were pretty well-packed, but didn't stand out flavorwise to me and any of the selections we made. Their niku udon on the otherhand was a warm, comforting bowl of bouncy noodles, and quite a large portion for its price. To finish off our meal, we had their mitarashi dango (grilled sweet soy sauce that was definitrly the star of the meal, warm and chewy and tasted like honey) as well as their kusa red bean dango (served cold, and generously coated with red bean, but the cold temperature made them extra tough to chew and a very mild grassy flavor). Overall, one of the many solid choices for a mid day meal in Montclair. Parking, as per usual in Montclair, have plenty of street parking options, or thr crescent parking tower is not too far a walk.

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.

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.

chicken katsu & tamago
Tina K.

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

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

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2 months ago

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11 months ago

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

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5 months ago

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7 months ago

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

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11 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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Minoru

Minoru

4.4(87 reviews)
2.1 mi
•$$$

Honestly I had incredible conger eel in Japan and have never had a better experience since. Every…read moreeel I have had in the U.S. has never compared, even the eel I had in Seoul, so I was hesitant to order it at Minoru. But this was absolutely worth it. I'm so glad my husband pressured me to. The eel was incredibly tender and delicate on the inside with a delicious crispy exterior and a rich flavor with every bite. The contrast in texture was so so good and it honestly exceeded my expectations in every way. I wish I had more. Easily the best eel I have had in the U.S. I'm still thinking about it weeks later. My husband ordered the Wagyu donburi, which was excellent. The Wagyu was incredibly tender. The waitress also cracked an egg over the beef. It came with rice at the bottom, miso soup, and broth. I also really appreciated that our waitress came over and explained the different ways to enjoy both entrees. There were four different ways to eat each one, which made the experience feel much more thoughtful and interactive. I enjoyed eating mine plain and mixed with broth, scallions, and seaweed. These were the only two dishes we ordered and both were excellent. I will definitely be back for the eel again. It is definitely cheaper than flying to Japan to get my fix.

Overall, I found the food to be decent but unfortunately not particularly impressive compared with…read moreother similarly priced restaurants in the area. The uni was a particular disappointment as it did not taste as fresh as I expected and had a noticeable fishy flavor. The portions also felt quite small relative to the price. The bowl was fairly modest in size with a thin layer of seafood on top and the majority consisting of rice. Additional seaweed comes at an extra $5 which given the overall price point, made the experience feel less worthwhile. I was also disappointed with the Mango Hanaho mocktail. It was described as containing mango purée but what we received tasted much more like a lightly flavored seltzer and did not resemble what I expected based on the menu description. Again, considering the price, I felt that the drink did not provide the value I was expecting. The ambiance was also fairly unremarkable and did not add much to the overall experience. I certainly appreciate that taste and expectations are subjective but for the prices, I expected a more elevated experience in terms of food quality, portions, drinks, and atmosphere. Unfortunately, I left feeling that I did not receive the level of value I would expect at this price point and I don't anticipate returning.

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Minoru - Restaurant

Restaurant

Minoru - Shrimp Bun

Shrimp Bun

Minoru - Mushroom

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Mushroom

MM by Morimoto - Wagyu carpaccio

MM by Morimoto

3.9(115 reviews)
0.1 mi

The quality lives up to his name - Morimoto. Uni, ikura and sashimi also very fresh. No vinegar or…read moreany sweetness added to the ikura, which some places do to preserve it. It was straight up fresh ikura. Uni as well, no additives or bitterness. Super fresh . The A5 Wagyu could have been more rare. I wish it would have been sizzling when it arrived at our table, and we could add our own course salt. The sauce that came with it was not special. The presentation could have been better even though it came with the certificate. Maybe more Japanese desserts. None of the ice cream or sorbet flavors were Japanese. Black sesame ice cream or yuzu sorbet would be nice. The cocktails were amazing. There was a handicap stall in the restroom. There is paid parking garage right across. There is also valet and paid street parking. Two doors to open before entering into the restroom. Overall, excellent service, trendy vibe, and very high quality food.

First of all, the restaurant was absolutely beautiful inside and very clean! Our waitress was…read moreextremely kind and attentive, and the food was absolutely delicious! The sticky ribs literally fell right off the bone, and the sushi was incredibly fresh. We ordered oysters, and although they accidentally brought us 11 instead of 12, we let our waitress know, and she kindly came back with 3 extra. Such a thoughtful gesture! For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu, and the server brought out the tray and scooped a huge piece onto our plate right in front of us. It was such a nice touch! What a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary! Between the beautiful atmosphere, amazing food, and outstanding service, we had an incredible experience. We highly recommend this restaurant. Worth every single dollar! We can't wait to come back!

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MM by Morimoto - Inside

Inside

MM by Morimoto - Kushiage app with Bonsai Bloom drink

Kushiage app with Bonsai Bloom drink

MM by Morimoto - Tiramisu

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Tiramisu

Nami Nori - a la carte selection of Temaki (hand rolls)

Nami Nori

4.4(175 reviews)
0.1 mi

My friend and I met for lunch at Nami Nori Saturday. She had been there before and recommended it…read morefor us. This was my first time there, and after that meal, it will not be my last. I love temaki! We started with shishito peppers with a smoked honey miso. I was curious to see how they did vegetarian options, so I went with five plant-based temaki. I'm hard-pressed to pick a favorite; each one was so delicious! -- avocado "toast" -- cucumber black sesame -- tofu chimichurri -- sweet potato tempura -- maitake truffle Our waiter was so nice and welcoming. She checked in on us and answered questions that we had about the menu. That kind of genuineness and hospitality always makes the dine-in experience a notch above. I hope to return again soon. The eatery is close to the Welmont, so I made a mental note to remember it next time I'm seeing a concert or show. Nami Nori in Montclair is highly recommended!

We made a reservation for a Friday night and I would definitely recommend doing the same as I saw…read morepeople walk in and no tables were available for a couple hours. The interior is very minimalistic and modern, although the tables were a bit close together for my liking. We both ordered the signature temaki set and had the mushroom dip to start. The dip came with only a couple chips, but fortunately, our waiter brought out a refill for us. The dip was surprisingly good and I would get it again! Unlike other places, the handrolls are semi-DIY as you put the rice and toppings onto the seaweed itself. As a slow eater, I've found that the seaweed usually gets soggy at other places by the time I get to the last couple pieces, so this was a fun alternative! For dessert, we ordered the matcha basque cheesecake, which had a strong matcha taste, and the cookies, which I could have lived without.

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Nami Nori - Ocean trout

Ocean trout

Nami Nori - Japanese Potato Salad with Ikura

Japanese Potato Salad with Ikura

Nami Nori - Signature Set of Temaki - tuna poke, xo scallop, coconut shrimp, salmon serrano, cucumber black sesame

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Signature Set of Temaki - tuna poke, xo scallop, coconut shrimp, salmon serrano, cucumber black sesame

Aozora - The front

Aozora

4.0(301 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$

It's always a little sad to say goodbye to a place that meant more than just good food. Thank you…read morefor all the wonderful memories, incredible meals, and experiences over the years. We always looked forward to coming here, and the food never disappointed. The environment was inviting, and you could have privacy in a booth or be front and center at the window and enjoy the view. What made it even more special was the people. Mem was always so incredibly sweet, remembering us and asking about our cats, while happily sharing updates and stories about hers. Those little personal touches are what you remember long after the last meal. We're truly going to miss this place and everyone who made it special. Thank you for the food, the hospitality, the laughs, and the memories. Wishing everyone who was part of it nothing but the best.

Came to Aozara last Saturday to meet up with some friends for lunch and didn't take a single…read morepicture :( We were seated quickly along the left wall which had tables. The other side of the restaurant had these big white booths which were pretty cool. I ordered the Spicy Scallop Roll and Sexy Girl Roll for myself. We all ordered on the provided menu sheet and were able to check off the items we each wanted. Because we got there so early, the food came out fast. I LOVED my scallop roll and plant to come back here just for that. Aozara is located on Bloomfield Ave right across from the Wellmont. I'll be honest, I go to the Wellmont for shows at least once a month and had never been here before but I plan to come back now that I know the food and service are good. It's BYOB - so make sure to bring your fave wine with you!

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Aozora
Aozora
Aozora

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Nori

Nori

3.7(294 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$

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

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Nori
Nori
Nori - Decor

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Decor

Kurobuta - White Charcoal Grille - Skewers from right to left (set of 2): pork , pork and leek, Chilean seabass

Kurobuta - White Charcoal Grille

4.5(154 reviews)
4.0 mi
•$$$
Locally owned & operated
Wheelchair accessible

I went to Kurobuta last night( Thursday at 6:30pm) with my boyfriend. We didn't have reservations…read morebut we were seated promptly. Great customer service and warm welcome when we entered. Restaurant was nice and quiet, and very casual. It was my first time coming here, but his second time. He ordered Sashimi Salad which he said was amazing. We shared a Niku meat set, which is basically 6 skewers with different combinations of meat, ( pork belly with lettuce, pork belly with tomato, pork belly with leek, pork skewer, chicken thigh, and baby potatoes) The flavor on each skewer was so delicious. We also shared their signature sliders with fries. The pork burger was extremely juicy and flavorful, and the fries were so crispy. And we also had their chicken fried rice. Wow it was savory. My bf doesn't really like rice but he kept eating the rice. That's how savory it was. I'll definitely be back to try new items. I heard their brunch is awesome.

Honestly one of the best unknowns I've ever picked. Needed some food after a day of shopping and…read moremost things were already closed, so went a little out of our way to get some food. The place is a simpler local eatery, so decor wasn't exactly a designed by some of the best New York interior decorators, but it was pleasant and very calm. The food is a fusion of various Asian cuisines but it is picked very well and cooked to perfection. Kids loved the Baos and Ramen which is probably one of the best indicators of the quality. From what I can tell it is family owned and run, so service may be a little slower than most similar places but it is definitely attentive and friendlier then most.

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Kurobuta - White Charcoal Grille
Kurobuta - White Charcoal Grille
Kurobuta - White Charcoal Grille

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pastaRAMEN - Wagyu skirt steak

pastaRAMEN

4.0(551 reviews)
0.2 mi

10/05/2026 I (we) love anything "Robbie Felice" puts in…read morefront of us. We have visited 3 of his restaurants and it's clear this man has a flair for putting really great meals in front of you. This was only our second time visiting PR, but I'm sure it won't be our last. We hesitated coming because with our first time the music was a bit loud and with my hearing loss in one ear, just messes with my head. This time (my birthday) we were the first to arrive and had our choice of seating and the music was at a very nice level. Our server, Anijan (sp?) convinced us to try the 5 course Omakase, (chef's choice) although my wife and I had discussed the possibility before we came. I was a little afraid I would leave hungry, but that wasn't the case. Portions are not huge, but we were well satisfied when we left. I can't remember the all the finer points of these 5 wonderful dishes, but they were as follows: Porcini mushroom arancini, unagi gnocchi, shrimp scampi, porcini rubbed hanger steak with grilled fingerling potatoes and finally bao bun Zeppolis or mochi ice cream. (one of each) I was pleased that the room was at nice level of noise, but like I said, we were early on a Monday night. Anijan our server was very attentive and explained the wonderful dishes as they came out. This is a BYOB, which we love and will definitely help bring us back again, very soon.

First off I love this chef\owner's work. I've tried all his places here in NJ…read more that being said pastaRAMEN is very good, but now we're getting to a point where it's more about the VIBE than anything else. Don't get me wrong, the food we all tried here was good to excellent, but maybe we're headed into the direction of "the scene" rather than what we came there to do ( EAT!) and this is a BYOB so no cocktails or wine\beer program to talk about here. Great concept and a new FOODIE term out there " Wafu-Italian" which is a meld between Japanese & Italian ( heck, someone had to eventually invent it ) Street parking and a huge parking garage about 1 block away. There is no sign during the day at this restaurant; at night an overhead spotlight beams the name on the sidewalk; Considering the street # ( 13) is painted to blend in with the facade, we walked past the place 3 times before realizing this was it......Really? Is that supposed to make it seem like a "speakeasy \ in-the-know" kind of place. ( Hope not, it's pretentious if it was) Staff was great. Our waitress ( from Boston) was super helpful & friendly. Ambience is "city vibe". Splashes of paint here & there with plenty of black painted walls & Asian accents. (I personally am not a fan of bathrooms that are so blacked out anything could be in there with you..it's about maintaining a clean environment) THE FOOD---We tried many apps & entrees; Keep in mind the menu is altered frequently. I attached a pic of one from mid-August. Portions are fair\healthy. You'll be full, not stuffed. APPS...... -The Cucumber Salad is one of the freshest, best items on the menu. -The Porcini ( mushroom) rice-balls were ok; but not at 5 small ones for $40 -The clams on focaccia bread was very good. Need more focaccia for dunking! The sauce was killer! -The cacio & pepe Gyoza ( dumplings), just "meh". ENTREES... --the Miso Cod; is a dish I just love; very good example here --Hanger Steak Carbonara was good, nice mashed potatoes --Wagyu short rib also a "good" choice. ( yes, I mean JUST good) --the brothless Ramen Shrimp Scampi was the winner here. An excellent pasta dish full of flavor. Great choice. DESSERT... not here....plenty of coffee shops, etc in Montclair within walking distance. We were told no coffee ( only tea) and only 1 dessert ( a bao bun confection with Nutella & powdered sugar). How boring ! No coffee? Never heard of such a thing. and isn't EVERYONE doing a version of zeppoles in Nutella sauce these days. Really disappointed in this. Let's hope a few tweaks brings this new Felice outpost inline with some of the other restaurants he has.

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pastaRAMEN - Inside

Inside

pastaRAMEN - Delicious octopus skewers

Delicious octopus skewers

pastaRAMEN - Cacio e Pepe Gyoza

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Cacio e Pepe Gyoza

Sando Cafe - japanese - Updated November 2026

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