Sushi Hana, Montclair, NJ

Another sushi post! Yes it's true. Like I mentioned in my last one about sushi, I love it, can't get enough, and figured I may as well report back from my latest sushi venture: Sushi Hana in Montclair, NJ.

I've been coming to Sushi Hana for about 8 years now and I still haven't found any other sushi restaurant with the same variety of maki, quality of fish, and tasty hot dishes all around. The staff here is always friendly and on point, and the place has historically been packed. The problem lately it seems is the opening of other more "hip" sushi restaurants in town. Sushi Hana used to have the monopoly in Montclair; now it's one of several. As a result, the restaurant isn't nearly as packed as it used to be.

The decor is obviously Japanese. Simple tables both inside and out, and your standard sushi bar. There's no fanciness about the inside of this place, which may be why some folks find the other restaurants more appealing.

The food is a whole other story. The menu really doesn't do it justice...ever since they switched to a newer menu, the font is a lot smaller and much harder to read and it takes awhile to skim through the entire menu since it's several pages. Some of the hot dishes, like Nabe Yaki Udon, a stew of udon noodles with fish cake, chicken, veggies, shrimp tempura, and an egg cracked right on top, give you the warm fuzzies and is even more satisfying than a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup on a stormy night. If you aren't a fan of sushi, try the chicken maki: cheese and other goodies wrapped in chicken and deep fried with a panko crust. The other standards, like the bento boxes and teriyaki dishes are equally as satisfying and appealing to the eye.

You MUST check out the list of "special rolls" that Sushi Hana has to offer. Each table has one, as well as being posted above the sushi bar itself. If you are squeamish about raw fish, try the Sari or Jodi rolls; the Sari roll is a California roll topped with the chef's special crunchy peanut sauce, and the Jodi roll is topped with the same but filled with vegetable tempura. One of our friends has also tried the Samba roll, which is warm and crunchy on the outside thanks to the panko crust, and has a perfect partner with the sauce that dons the bottom of the plate. Another big hit is the Hana Summer roll, which is featured on the "low carb roll" part of the menu. Shrimp and crabmeat, masago, and greens wrapped in rice paper served with a smooth and creamy peanut sauce. To see a full list of Sushi Hana's special rolls, and the rest of their menu, click here.

I can't get enough of the eel hand roll that comes with the sushi for two. Served on a wooden boat, this option is for sushi lovers only! A combination of different types of sushi, including tuna, salmon, shrimp, tobiko, red snapper, amongst others, and tuna maki and a california roll. I can't even finish my portion anymore. It's definitely worth the money if you're down for the challenge! The sushi portions themselves are perfect, and the rice is always sublime.

Sushi Hana is BYOB, and they will gladly store your extra beer in the fridge until you call for it. Want to have a small party? Check out their private back room, with pillow ledge seating, or feel free to sit outside. Sushi Hana has something for everyone and is a huge hit in my book.

Food: *****
Ambience: ****
Service: ****
Overall: ****1/2