Everything about this meal was excellent. Crispy karaage with fresh lemon, a rich tonkotsu ramen with perfectly jammy eggs, a fantastic bao sandwich, and a bento box that covered all the bases -- teriyaki, tempura, sushi, and more. Every dish was well executed and full of flavor. Service was warm and attentive from start to finish. Already looking forward to going back! read more

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Came here on a Wednesday night and was seated right away. Pretty spacious and clean inside and looks much classier on the inside than it does on the outside. Our server/service was excellent overall and food came out very fast despite the restaurant slowly filling up! We started off with the mentai potato, zaru soba, and tempura appetizers and those were the stars tonight. The mentai potato were steak fries with a mentaiko and wasabi dipping sauces. Fries were large, crispy and perfectly saulted. The zaru soba was also a nice find! We usually have go to NYC for it so it was a nice surprise. Pro tip, add wasabi to the sauce to mellow out the saltiness. We ordered a few rolls, a sushi dinner and some uni. Unfortunately the uni didn't seem as fresh as we had hoped and had a very overwhelming ocean taste to it. The rice on the rolls and sushi also were a bit mushy as if the rice wasn't cooked enough or too much rice vinegar was used. We also ordered a white christmas roll expecting seared white tuna, but it wasn't seared. Fish quality was ok overall. Overall, the experience was fine and we would love to try some more of the hot food. We really loved the apps but were a little disappointed tonight with the sushi. We'd come back soley for the apps! read more

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I went last night with my girlfriend and almost drove right by because it looked closed due to construction on the entrance. I'm very glad we double checked that they were open. I couldn't decide on what to get because so many options were tempting. So we decided to get the omakase tasting menu. Want planning on doing a review so I don't remember all the dishes but they were all delicious. The chefs are able to beautifully season their food while still allowing the freshness of the fish to shine through. I can't wait to go back again. Also, a special shout out to Matt our server who explained every dish and about the restaurant in detail with great enthusiasm. read more

Wasabi Kaizen - Sushi samples - Japanese Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

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They were short staffed when we got there, but our server quickly recovered despite having many tables. The food was great, we had the bao bun appetizer which was a special and a few rolls, all were delicious. The Japanese Crepe Cake for dessert was very good and light. Definitely recommend. read more

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From the moment we arrived at Wasabi Kaizen, we knew we were in for a treat. The sushi was beautifully prepared, incredibly fresh, and absolutely delicious--every bite was outstanding. We can't wait to return to try their ramen, which we've heard is just as amazing. The restaurant has a charming, welcoming atmosphere, and Flavio, the owner, truly sets it apart. He was warm, attentive, and genuinely engaged with his guests, making sure everyone was enjoying their dining experience. As an added bonus, it's BYOB, which makes an already wonderful meal even more enjoyable. We highly recommend Wasabi Kaizen to anyone looking for exceptional Japanese cuisine and outstanding hospitality. We're already looking forward to our next visit! read more

I got the sushi and sashimi lunch combo! For the price, the food is pretty good. The lunch combo comes with a salad and miso soup which were all pretty big portions. I felt like I just ordered salad tbh with how much they gave, but it was nice and filling so I don't mind. The soup was good because they added real tofu! The sushi itself was yummy. My favorite pieces were the black skin fish, salmon, and squid. I would say the sashimi is better than the sushi though, next time I would just get sashimi because the rice wasn't rly contributing anything. I came during lunch so it was very quiet. The parking is amble but very gravely and odd which is a minus. Overall solid lunch special for around $20 read more

Wasabi Kaizen - Sushi & Sashimi Lunch Combo - Japanese Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

I am a huge ramen fan. There are a few new ramen spots in my area, and I wanted to check one out today. This used to be Wasabi 34, so I was surprised to see it was now Wasabi Kaizen. I placed an online order of tonkotsu ramen for takeout. The online ordering process was simple and convenient. I think the prices are fair, especially for the lunch menu ($14+tip and tax = $17). My order was ready within 15 minutes. Pick up was easy, and I saw that they upgraded the inside of the restaurant. It was a pleasant surprise to see they included a small miso soup and small salad with my order, as I wasn't expecting it. Ramen was packed up nicely with the broth in a separate container. Egg was cooked perfectly. Lots of utensils and napkins. Here's where it goes a bit sideways. I probably should have considered the ingredients better, because I was surprised to see a load of bean sprouts added. That's unusual for ramen. The pickled ginger (radish?) had a super strong sour taste... and I enjoy ginger. Bamboo shoots were chewy, I spit the first bite out. There was no seaweed and not many scallions. The braised pork was tough (one piece was kind of like jerky - 2 pieces of pork altogether). The broth, though - it tasted unlike any tonkotsu I've had. It put me off a bit. A bit sweet/sour(?), kind of gamey(?). Noodles were okay, slightly over-soft IMO. Anyway, I removed the sprouts and tucked in. I'm not super loving it but I'm hungry... and then, I pull out a small silver wire thing. Immediately stop eating. I now have a giant bowl of ramen sitting on my counter. Good news is I fill up quickly. Onto the other new ramen spot I found, for next time. read more

Wasabi Kaizen - It was sharp. Glad I found it before it went into my mouth. - Japanese Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

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The sushi here is really good, but I like their ramen more. Their tonkatsu ramen has a rich broth with amazing slices of roasted pork. It was really delicious. Wasabi Kaizen also has lots of little Japanese eats. We ended up ordering several of these appetizers to share. The karaage (fried chicken) was really crispy and so were the mentai potatoes. The age tofu and star crab salad was yummy too. The waitress was very friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. It's an unexpected place to find good Japanese food so I try to stop here for a meal whenever I'm in the area. read more

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LOVE the food here. They have amazing vegan/vegetarian options. All dishes are fresh and healthy. Will definitely be back soon.

The food was delicious. They renovated the place so it looks a lot nicer than it used to. The waitress was very sweet and again the food was delicious. BYOB read more

Awesome new sushi place, very good quality, nice staff. Wasabi shumai, special rolls, all great.

Excellent food quality has become a new staple for my wife and I as we eat out with clients multiple times per month.

We can back again! Ordered the Tonkatsu again! Hubby ordered it with me this time! Again, the broth is outstanding, the pork belly was scrumptious, enoki mushrooms , bamboo shoots etc! There are lots of Ramen noodle places opening up all over the place and I always choose to drive right back here. Tonight, we met the young man named Wally who is one of the owners.!! It's refreshing to see owners come to the table and making sure that you enjoyed the food! We drive all the way from Freehold. What does that tell you read more

Wasabi Kaizen - Wagyu beef ramen - Japanese Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

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In a culinary landscape where great sushi is so often confined to coastal capitals and expense-account zip codes, it is genuinely startling to encounter something this accomplished in Matawan. I have eaten sushi at Sugarfish in Manhattan and at Jade in Beverly Hills--two benchmarks for quality and consistency--and I can say without hesitation that this experience surpasses Sugarfish and stands shoulder to shoulder with Jade at roughly a third of the price. With sushi, the truth is unavoidable: three-quarters of the experience is determined long before the knife ever touches the fish. It lives in the discipline of daily market sourcing, in restraint, in knowing when not to interfere. Here, that philosophy is not only understood but executed with confidence. The fish is pristine, the rice balanced and restrained, the flavors allowed to speak without excess. What makes this place remarkable is not merely its technical proficiency, but its ambition. This is not "good for New Jersey" sushi; it is simply excellent sushi, full stop--an experience that would feel entirely at home in Manhattan, Los Angeles, or Tokyo. I gladly made the trip from Montclair, and I will gladly make it again. This is the rare kind of restaurant that recalibrates expectations, proving that greatness does not require a skyline--only rigor, taste, and respect for the craft. read more

Real good authentic Japanese. The waitress was so sweet. She let me have shrimp tempura with no vegetables. I would definitely try this place. We're going back try something else. I like the cherry blossom tree in the center with fishies in the ceiling. read more

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This sushi restaurant is getting better and better every time I go there. They not only offer more variety of dishes but also more fresh delicious salads. The service is always great. The surrounding area is quiet and inside decor is very artistic. read more

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I placed an order tn and it was not good all around, they gave me the wrong roll, I ordered the red dragon roll and got mushy brown tuna on top no avocado or the red hot sauce drizzled on like the picture and last time I ordered. Second I order two pepper tuna, and it was disgusting I loved it from the last time I ordered which made my family and I get two this time, I had to run back to the restaurant after they forgot the sauce to dip it in and the fish looks old it's more brown then pink and the texture and taste is very off. * Management was very gracious, and rectified the situation. Food has always been good here, it was an off night, and appreciate the help that the team at Wasabi Kaizen provided, thank you again. read more

Wasabi Kaizen - Japanese Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

We've been here a few times already and the food was amazing! So fresh and delicious! The staff and their service was great too. We got a variety of sushi, hot entrees and the ramen. The whole dining experience was awesome. We look forward to coming back soon! read more