Yuki Hana Serves Sushi With a Side of Ambiance

Yuki Hana may sit on the busy highway of Route 23, but as you walk into the restaurant, you are transcended into a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere with Japanese flair.

The restaurant, which is named after the Japanese concept of “different beauty,” even has a Cherry Blossom tree and beautiful fish swimming around large tanks inside.

Yuki Hana is not large, however it is extremely comfortable and inviting. My guest and I were seated at a booth that had a very large waterfall display at the end of the table, surrounding us with serene sounds during dinner. The lights are dim and the walls are lined with images of the New York skyline, which help immediately wash the day away and helped us enjoy the here and now.

We began with edamame ($2.95) and Gyoza ($4.95). Gyoza are dumplings that are offered in beef, pork or vegetable. The Gyoza was presented beautifully and the delicate dumpling was served with a crispy exterior. The sauce served alongside had a slight kick to it, bringing together a wonderful flavor.

For our meals I ordered the Shrimp Tempura ($8.95) with a side of rice ($1.50) that was served hot in a single-serve round ball that opened into a bowl. My guest enjoyed the Dragon Roll ($9.95), Yellow Roll ($10.95) and the Viagra Roll ($12.95). The sushi tasted of good quality and you can watch it being made if you look over your shoulder towards the sushi bar.

After we enjoyed our meals, our waiter walked over with two small glasses that included ice cream with small delicately cut strawberries and crunch from what appeared to be almost like a corn flake crushed over top the ice cream. It was absolutely delicious and was a nice treat to end our meal.

Some other customer favorites is the Chef Special Appetizer and the Yuki Ceviche ($14.50), according to our waiter, which is a layered tower of tuna tartere.

Although sushi tends to be pricey, I did not find that Yuki Hana was any more expensive than other sushi restaurants. You are definitely getting quality product for your buck here, in my opinion.

After a successful seven years in Butler, owner Jong W. Lee, along with his wife Lisa Heekyung Lee, opened a second location in Little Ferry in February 2009, he said.

Yuki Hana is a BYOB restaurant.

Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner; Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for dinner; and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for dinner. They are closed on Sundays.

Yuki Hana is located at 1370 Route 23 North, in Butler.