Aoi Japanese Restaurant & Bar

Me and my Son Jathik had a mama & son dinner date at AOI Japanese Restaurant, and from the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with genuine warmth by Jennifer, our host for the night. She set the tone immediately. Amazing hospitality, attentiveness and courtesy from Jenifer The atmosphere makes you feel like you’ve stepped into another country or another time altogether. Japanese culture is beautifully preserved here, and the level of authenticity is honestly mind blowing. Words won’t do it justice, so I’ll be sharing photos and videos. The food was incredible, authentic and mouth watering. so I’ll let the visuals speak for themselves. One unforgettable moment was when my son accidentally ate a chunk of wasabi… I honestly panicked because I didn’t know what was happening and then Jennifer jumped in to action to attend to him and the chef suggested oolong tea after making sure he was fine without hesitation, I joined him in the pain by eating an even bigger chunk of wasabi which felt like dying and coming back to life yet even without oolong tea, took it like a champ! I told him that’s how the OG does it. So I could remind him that when he starts fighting with me lol. A core memory unlocked. My son also learned how to use chopsticks in under three minutes n so did I. The chefs did an outstanding job the food impressed my son, which says a lot because he’s not easy to please. I rambled on for so long just because the entire experience was amazing. I can’t thank the GM Brian enough for having an excellent team of staff that made me and my son feel at home and for giving us an unbelievable amount of joy. We are eagerly waiting for the next experience at the hotel.

As a newly engaged couple, my fiancé and I decided to host our parents’ meetup dinner at AOI, and we were blown away by the service and hospitality. Our waiter Ben was an incredible host and made us all feel so comfortable— he even memorized all our names by the end of the night. We ordered the sushi dinner + sashimi boat w additional appetizers and rolls and enjoyed every dish. We particularly loved the uni and spicy scallop roll. Thank you AOI for making this a special night for us to remember!

Aoi Japanese Restaurant & Bar is an absolute gem! From the moment you step in, the atmosphere feels warm and inviting, with an authenticity that instantly transports you to Japan. The fact that the owner, sushi chef, and staff are all Japanese really shines through in both the hospitality and the cuisine. The food is nothing short of outstanding. Every bite was fresh, full of depth, and crafted with care. The menu is refreshingly authentic, offering a true taste of Japan that I have never found in NJ. Dining here honestly made me feel like I was on vacation in Japan without leaving town. If you’re looking for exceptional Japanese food paired with a genuine cultural experience, Aoi is the place!

If you want authentic Japanese and don't want to travel to NYC or northern Jersey, Aoi is the place to go. High quality sashimi and sushi. I always go for the Chirashi bowl. For rolls, I go with the caterpillar roll. They do omakase (I believe on the weekends only) and offer hot noodle soups and rice dishes. For dessert, you can never go wrong with the black sesame panacota!

Surprising find in Woodbridge. Hope this place does well so I can keep coming back! Fish was fresh, rice nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked.

Absolutely loved our experience at AOI Japanese Restaurant in the APA Hotel Woodbridge! From start to finish, everything was perfect. We ordered the miso soup, two rolls, calamari, edamame, chicken, Shrimp Tempura (my fav) and finished with fried ice cream — both red bean and mango flavors. Every single dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The fried ice cream was the perfect sweet ending! The atmosphere is cozy yet elegant, and the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive — they really made us feel welcome and taken care of. If you’re in the area or staying at the hotel, this place is a must-try. Can’t wait to come back again soon!

Full disclosure, I didn’t have my meal in the restaurant, I chose Chicken Teriyaki takeout and it was excellent! The quantity of food was remarkable. I wanted to have dinner there again, and I will, next time it will be to enjoy the dining experience. Great for solo, business, family and couples. Consider me impressed!

Amazing food! The price is for both the food and experience. Our waiter is the most friendly and professional we’ve ever had and he is also very friendly outside of business hours as well. The fish is very soft and the nigiri here is not like any other local sushi spot. They also give you some free appetizers which is great!