Aja Asian Bistro & Lounge

My few friends and i went to Aja for drinks after work. if you order food with drinks before 6:30PM, you get 25% off your whole purchase. When our bill came and credit cards were run, the bartender "forgot" to add the 25% off which would have deducted $50 from our bill. Rather than telling us or voiding the transaction and placing it correctly, he simply said nothing. The next day when my friend and I went to the resturant inquiring about what happened with the discount, the manager said that happens alot and they would have to see if anything could be done. If you want your money taken, go to Aja. The drinks were good, but dishonesty and false advertising is unacceptable.

Pros: Descent Drinks

Cons: Dishonest Bartender, Overcharging Bills

Posted 08/19/09

I absolutely LOVE Aja! I live not far from the location, so it's become our "local" Asian restaurant. We've occasionally ventured out to try new theme/Asian restaurants but we always wind up coming back to Aja. While the space isn't large, I reccommend making reservations for groups or on weekends, the seating is comfortable and service is always good. The Giant Buddah surrounded by water/fountains and the clear floor so you can see Koi fish swimming beneath your feet is very cool. The food is delicious, I love the chicken satay appetizer with a side of rice (as my main meal) my husband has loved everything he has tried from sushi to chicken served in a pineapple. The drinks are unique and very tasty as well. I wouldn't change a single thing!

Pros: Delicious food & drinks, friendly & quick service, great value for the $

Cons: Can be crowded because the space is not very large, make reservations on weekends!

Posted 02/10/09

My friend and I have been frequenting Aja for about 5 years now. We love it. It is a discreet and peaceful place to have an intimate rendevous as well as having a wonderful meal. The service is exemplary, the sushi is beautifully pesented and very tasty, the music is entertaining (but not too loud, so as to be inducive to quiet conversation) and the drinks are first rate. I highly recommend this place for "adults" on a date or in an intimate group. Families with screaming kids need not bother...you will spoil the "zen" atmosphere.

Pros: Great for dates, good food, great drinks.

Cons: None

Posted 12/28/08

The service was simply fair throughout the evening, even though we went late and the Saturday night rush hour was over (only a few tables left dining). Apparrently, they were "updating" their wine list so none of the bottles we asked for from their list were available. We had a gift certificate which we gave to them when seated, however, they conveniently forfot to include it in the total bill. When we pointed it out they calculated the gift certificate against the total and arbitrarily added a 25% service charge!!! If the service was good we might have been okay with it, but we were justifiably upset. The food was good (not great) and we would have considered dining here again, however, we will not return after this experience. There are certainly other and better places to eat in Manhattan.

Pros: Nice decor, good food

Cons: Average service, arbitrarily imposed service charges

Posted 12/21/08

The atmosphere and ambiance of the place is really relaxing. The people there where very nice. There dishes where quite good. One of the best Asian food places I've eaten so far. And not to forget the drinks which quite strong and great. Will definitely go back

Posted 11/26/08

When my husband and I walked in it seemed like it would be hectic.. the computers were down, the bartender was running to the back to place orders.... so we took a seat at one of the tables by the bar and in spite of everything had AMAZING service and the food was outstanding! Everything about this place is top notch, consumer friendly and all about service from their food to their drinks. I recommend this place to anyone who wants a kicked back swanky vibe with great food, excellent drinks and no attitude.

Posted 10/30/08

My husband and I love this place! The food is some of the best asian in the city, I love the atmosphere and the pond and water flo under a glass floor so that you can see fish swimming under your seat... Wonderful decor and a great idea ! The service is great too, everyone is so polite and nice! Every time we go there we are never disappointed. Whatever you chose from the menu is prepared with fresh, great quality ingredients. If you love Asian food that is the place to go for a romantic dinner or entertain friends and family. One of our favorite restaurants in NYC! ! !

Pros: Mid town,Great food,Fish river !!!!

Cons: Friday and Sat. Night Resv. a must !

Posted 09/06/08

My friends and I (a group of 5) came here to eat dinner to celebrate my 16th birthday. I honestly didn't know anything about this restaurant (besides reading a few reviews), but I definitely enjoyed my time there. There was techno music playing (when I was there) and the restaurant was pretty filled up with customers already (but no worries! I made reservations and if you plan to go, I recomment that you reserve seats too!). It's not a formal restaurant, so dressing up nicely wouldn't be necessary. The food I ordered (White Rice, Spiced Lemon Grass Seafood, Philadelphia Roll, Spicy Salmon Roll, and Crispy Seafood Tempura Roll) was excellent. Infact, this restaurant made the best sushi that I've ever tasted! Most of the waiters/waitresses were young, patient, and aware of your needs. They do speak good English (just incase if you're wondering) and they do act as natural human beings (yes! just like you and I!) Aja Asian Bistro & Lounge has pretty loud customers (which for me, is good for celebrating), is cozy (my way of saying... not spacious), and does help with birthday cakes (meaning, if you bring a cake with candles, they WILL help light up candles, start the tradition birthday song for you, AND serve you the cake in plates)! ALRIGHT, maybe that wasn't so surprising, but I was extremely satisfied. Forgive me?

Pros: Food, service, and environment.

Cons: None!

Posted 08/13/08

My husband and I visited Aja this past Saturday night - I'd always wanted to go there because we drive past it all the time, and it looks so interesting. Of course, before we go, I check the reviews on here, and as I expected, there were about 20% bad reviews and the rest were good or so-so. So we figured what the heck, we will try it - we make a reservation for 8:30, turns out we don't make it there until 9pm (completely our own fault) and were asked to sit at the bar for a short time until a table turned up. The bar was really fun, the bartenders very cute and friendly,and we hung out there for about 15 minutes before the manager came to get us for the table. I was actually really impressed by the staff there - they were very attentive, and really tried to make us happy. They were very kind and eager to please, we couldn't have been happier! We had a fun table against the wall, and I had the view of the Buddah, which was kinda kitschy but cute, and it totally complimented the feel of the room. The Koi fish are just adorable - I really like fish, and they are so cute - it was such a pretty pond set-up!! I just loved it; I went over to it several times just to watch the fish. The music was excellent (upbeat), drinks were very good (I had a Mai Tai, very large and well-made!) and the food was yummy!!!! We ordered several rolls - spicy tuna, spicy salmon, dragon roll, 2 salmon sushi and something else I can't remember- and it was great!! I always judge a sushi restaurant based on the quality of its salmon sushi pieces, and they were large, firm and very good!! The dragon roll rocked, I almost ate the whole thing myself. In conclusion, I think Aja has been reviewed by people in the past that went there expecting one thing, and got something else - and of course, they will be unhappy....and there are always those people that hate everything! This place is fun and good, so try it out!! Be open to it, and you won't be unhappy. Highly recommended!

Pros: Good sushi, fun atmosphere, koi fish, good drinks

Cons: May have to wait for your table - don't go there starving!

Posted 06/29/08

I was totally unimpressed with this place. The servers were rude and tried to increase the bill every chance they got. I am a huge sushi person and this sushi was simply NOT GOOD despite being relatively pricey. There are so many "melt in your mouth" sushi joints in this city and Aja is not one of them. I would NOT go back here.

Posted 03/01/08

I felt Chinese style Japanese restaurant, it means no highly skilled for all foods.
We had patty last night. my waitress tell me Aja is # one sushi in the city.I was felt funny to ask her 'How about NOBU" she give me a very good answer "NOBU is Japanese restaurant'
If I'm a Rater, I only can give Aja one point, and I'll give a good advice for this restaurant should be close early,can be save our America taxer $$$.
Ok here is Aja deal ;
1 Restaurant are typical, but no in the NOBU.
2 Food was little expensive, but no delicious .
3 Sushi little over price, but no fresh.
4 Waitress are good looking, but no friendly

Pros: no

Posted 02/29/08

My friend and I happened upon the Aja Asian Bistro by accident. We were actually heading somewhere else for sushi, and when we passed Aja, it caught our eye. To start with, the ambience is great. Pleasant music, dimmed lights, a huge Buddah statue and koi pond all add up to a wonderful atmosphere. Even the bathrooms are clean and stunning! The wait-staff was very attentive, without being overbearing. we were each given a sanitarily wrapped, warm towel to clean our hands when we first sat down. We were given plenty of time to decide what we wanted. Even when we were finished with our meal, neither of us felt rushed to leave.
As for the food, it was some of the best sushi I have had. I ate a tuna roll and a salmon roll. The tuna was about the freshest I have had, and tasted great. The salmon, while quite good, seemed a little more bland than I am used to. My friend, who is a vegetarian, had the shitake-cucumber roll, and the vegetable tempura roll. She said both were very good, and the piece of shitake-cucumber roll she offered me was indeed delicious. The menu is extensive, and it seemed to me there were a very decent number of vegetarian selections. The beer and wine list was lengthy as well. Price-wise, I would place it in the average/slightly cheaper than average range for a sushi restaurant. ABSOLUTELY worth the money! I know that both my friend and I were craving more of Aja Asian Bistro sushi over the next few days. We look forward to eating there again, very soon.

Pros: Great food, excellent service, very pleasant atmosphere.

Cons: Lights were a bit dim for reading the menu.

Posted 02/08/08

This past friday, We have a group of people having Dinner in Aja. It was a GREAT experience. Their sushi is the best in town, so fresh. we have the sushi/sashimi combo, it was just PERFECT. And you have to try the stone grill, we have the fillet, it was so funny and delicious. We grill it by ourselves on that stone, the best fun we have..HA. The staff is so welcome from the first step we walk in to the restaurant. That was just a Great night. You must go there and check this place out, you will love it and never want to go other place. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED..

Pros: Great Food, Services, Decor.....

Posted 11/01/07

My friend brought me to AJA and it's my first time here. I like the environment here and of course the food is amazing. Especially the appetizers that was not in the menu. We tried the crab fondue and the seared toro, it was so delicious and feel so different. I will definitely recommend my friends to come here with me again.

Posted 10/18/07

This place looks great, there is no doubt about that. It seems some reviewers may have let the decor cloud their vision of the food.

Anyone who says it has the "The Best sushi in town!!" has not ever had top notch sushi.
There is nothing particularly special about the food, raw or cooked. Fusha, across the street has equally good food without the loud groups and a manager who plays favorites.

Pros: decor

Cons: average food for the price, overly loud

Posted 08/31/07

I have eaten here many times. The last time was with a large group for a birthday that I planned. We must have miscalculated the bill or they overcharged us. The credit card receipt I signed and the amount that showed up on my bill were two different amounts.

I am currently disputing this with my credit card company. I have received the receipt Aja submitted to the credit card company - not only does it show a time where my friends and I had already left to go to a bar, but it also has my full credit card number displayed, and a signature that does not belong to me.

The food at Aja is always good but due to this issue I WILL NEVER go back! If they had called me and told me there was a discrepency on our bill I would have been happy to authorize the payment instead they used my credit card without my authorization for an amount I never signed for.

If you eat here pay in cash!

Pros: Great Food

Cons: Shady management

Posted 05/28/07

i was scrambling for a place on city search and came across aja
i loved this place it was very romantic and the decor was on point. nice touch with the buddha waterfall in the back. try to grab a seat back there it is really nic e.
i took my girlfriend for her birthday and the staff was very atttentive although the food took a bit it was definately worth it. prices were very fair and they had a nice selection of drinks

Pros: staff was very polite and food was delicious

Cons: can get loud @ times!

Posted 04/15/07

Ate at Aja because we could not get reservations for Tao; Forget Tao, Aja is much,much better. The food is very fresh, Sushi excellent-and I am a Sushi hound. Had grilled thai chicken, better than Bangkok. She had Sea bass, excellent;very large portions. Only drawback is they are really packed in, a small restaurant, and they do try to move you; but on the whole great dinner. FORGET TAO-go HERE. A little problem understanding the wait staff, mostly Indonesian, but very polite and clean. Bathrooms look like a Shinto shrine. Also has a big Buddha.

Pros: Fresh , large portions

Cons: cramped space; very busy

Posted 03/23/07

I went here for my birthday with a dozen friends. A great place to have a fun, festive time without breaking the bank. We could be loud and have a good time without feeling bad, but it was still classy. Sushi was really fresh and inventive. Good service. Zero complaints. Can't wait to go back.

Pros: Good for a big group, fun food.

Cons: Slightly cheesy buddha decor, nothing too bad.

Posted 01/03/07

The dark, cozy atmosphere is great for a date night. If you're into sharing sushi, there are many, many choices that will keep you satisfied. While the cooked dishes are good, the sushi is MUCH better. I've never made reservations and never had trouble getting a table, even on a Friday or Saturday night.

Pros: Great atmosphere for a romatic date, sushi

Cons: Kind of pricy, waitstaff on you every second

Posted 11/11/06

Place was small and cute, food was average. the sushi was good but the cooked dishes were very mediocre. the waitress never wrote down some of our dishes and forgot that we ordered it, so by the time we reminded her (at least 45 min later), they had to start making the dish and we had to wait even longer, while other people in our party had already eaten or their food was cold from waiting for us. wouldn't go back, there are much restaurants in the city offering similar food and atmosphere

Pros: cute atmosphere

Cons: mediocre service, okay food

Posted 11/11/06

Tierd of all the same sushi restaurants in town, and never quite finiding a favorate, we were always on the lookout for a GOOD sushi restaurant. A friend reccomended Aja, and we now have our favorite spot! This place, besides having a striking decor while still remaining cozy, has literally the most amazing Sushi I have ever tasted! The menu was incredible, my husband and friends who did not order sushi (fish, beef, etc) were just as impressed as I was! They even make sushi in brown rice if you request it and the crunch spicy tuna roll was to die for! The service was impeccable and very friendly. Can not wait to go back!

Pros: amazing food, beautiful decor

Posted 11/02/06

We were excited to try this gorgeous Pan Asian spot with mood lighting, a decorative waterfall, and goldfish swimming under glass floors. The night we went, we ducked in from a storm and the management wouldn't hang our jackets in their coat closets "because it would get the other coats wet." We received plastic bags for our coats, and were grateful to not have to sit drenched. Aja's menu was dazzling, extensive and diverse; we thought the cuisine was amazing. Too bad Aja charged an additional $2 for rice with each entree; something that shouldn't occur, particularly in an Asian restaurant. Before dinner arrived, we were disturbed by two little girls, screaming, running up and down the aisles. They belonged to a large, loud dinner party, but no one was supervising them. After more screaming, my friend and I spoke to the group. A man identifying himself as the father agreed to control the children and there was a moment of peace before the girls started up again. Diners at the table next to ours also reacted to the disruptive children, and asked another man (who also claimed to be the father) to take the children outside until they could collect themselves. He told the diners to get themselves a table outside instead. Outraged, they went to the manager, who point blank said he would not take a firm hand with this dinner party because they were repeat customers who rung up a huge bar/dining tab, and he was not willing to offend them. Worse yet, the manager didn't try to patch things up by offering us anything on the house or a discounted bill. You will never again see us patronizing this restaurant where the management rewards bad behavior and treats some customers "more equally than others."

Posted 09/10/06

Aja has a great balance in terms of its ambience. It's a perfect place whether you're in the mood for something low key or lively. The service is attentive and the decor is nice. The food was excellent. I highly recommend the tuna carpaccio which is not on the menu and the rolls were tasty. For 1 appetizer, 2 rolls, 2 glasses of wine and 1 dessert it came out to $66 tax/tip inclusive- very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food.

Pros: Tuna carpaccio, ambience

Posted 09/07/06

Aja offers sushi, and very good asian fushion food. The decor is lush and beautiful with great attention to detail and lighting. A must try if you're in the neighborhood!

Posted 08/24/06

A bunch of friends and I went to Aja last Saturday. Nice peaceful atmosphere. Small Tao-like Buddha...plus goldfish ...The food was well prepared and well-presented. We only had appetizers, many of which were really good: the Thai Spice Chicken Wraps were delicious and spicy in a good way. The crab dumplings were average. The Wu-Xi baby ribs were "the usual", but good. I don't recommend the "Gold Coins"...just a bunch of fried minced seafood stuff (probably a lot of that imitation crabmeat thrown in). The peking duck roll was excellent and well-stuffed with plenty of poultry. Oh, and lest I forget, the Pad Thai "side order" was some of the best I've ever had anywhere, and the Lichido lycheetinis were perfectly made...not too sweet, not too tart. And strong. All in all, a very noteworthy dining experience.

Posted 07/08/06

I made a reservation to eat here for my husband's birthday on 3/17. We were quite early for our reservation, so we decided to have some drinks at the bar. In between the fabulous sake-tinis and Sapporos we got to taste their green tea margaritas which were excellent. The bartender was very friendly and we never had to wait for a drink. When our reservation time came, we were seated right away. The service was excellent and the only thing that beat it was the phenomenal food. We never felt rushed and enjoyed every minute of this restaurant from start to finish.

Pros: Ambience, Friendly service

Posted 04/24/06

Simply love this restaurant. The sushi combination is excellent as are the rolls. The Ikura (salmon roe) is excellent and always very fresh. For drinks I prefer the Lychee Martini; strong and sweet.

Great pulsating music plays while you stare at a cool lit up Buddha center stage in the restaurant.

Pros: Atmosphere, Great Service, Good Value

Posted 03/16/06

This is a nice place to come for dinner for couples...it has a nice vibe, nice decor. Not so great for a weekend gettogether for a group of people unless you plan to leave early, this place closes pretty early so be careful...The food was excellent, as was the service. Prices are standard for a NYC trendy lounge/restaurant...But definately worth a try, I will be coming back.

Pros: Food, Service, Decor

Cons: Kitchen closes early

Posted 03/06/06

Great place really, great vibe, nice date place, beautiful setting and the manager will do sake bombs if you ask which was brilliant, plus!!

Posted 01/24/06

I wouldnt say the place is stunning but it is a very nice place. If you make reservations request a seat in the back of the restaurant where the Buddah statue is. I did but still got stuck in the front but was too hungry to make a big deal. Service was too fast. My girlfried was still eating her appetizer and the waitress takes my plate away without asking. Next time I might stick a fork in her hand if she tries that again. Food was excellent however. Sea bass skewers,ceviche both excellent and Mongolian steak was fantastic with nice portions. I would go back but only if I eat in the back of the restaurant and if they let me enjoy my dinner instead of rushing us.

Pros: Trendy decor, Excellent food, Nice portions

Cons: Service to fast

Posted 05/29/05

Great food and Great view/ delicious sushi and chinese dinner

Pros: average price, prefect dating, good parking

Posted 02/22/05

The service at this place is atrocious. A place this average has no right to have such an attitude. Avoid this place if you want a pleasant dining experience.

Cons: service

Posted 02/01/05

This restaurant and lounge is one of the most beautiful spaces in the city. It has a giant buddha with a lovely fish pond and it is a perfect place for a quite dinner with a date or to gather friends in the lounge. I have been telling all of my frineds about this hidden gem on the upper east side and they have all agreed after visiting that it is one of the best new places in the city!

Pros: Decor, Service, Atmosphere

Posted 10/12/04

This is the perfect place to meet someone for an evening drink - someplace you can actually have a conversation without battling unnecessarily loud music. Love this place- almost didn't want to write this review for fear of inspiring the masses to investigate this hidden gem- but Aja deserves all the success it's building on.

Pros: Staff, Vibe, Clientele

Posted 09/29/04

This place is amazing. All around I was very impressed with my first visit to Aja. Everything from the ambiance to the wait staff and most important the food was first rate. Everything was done to perfection. The Chilian sea Bass was out of this world and the Salmon tartare was worth going back for more! I need to go back and try more on the menu... I highly reccomend this place!!!!!!!!

Pros: ambiance, wait staff, Great FOOD

Posted 09/22/04