Ichi Umi - Edison, New Jersey

Japanese buffet, Ichi Umi, located in Edison New Jersey offers many different condiments and sauces to satisfy the spiciest, saltiest, and sweetest tastes

Overall ratings
Food: 9 out of 10
Price: 8 out of 10
Service: 5 out of 10
Atmosphere: 8 out of 10

Japanese and Chinese tapas, braised and sauteed meats, specialty and classic rolls, hot pot throughout many tables, stuffed crab, and fresh raw bar --- These are some of the things that you can find at Ichi Umi located in Edison, New Jersey.

Situated next to a bumpin' Fox & The Hound, this BYOB Japanese restaurant is a Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food lover's dream of a smorgasbord.

The first and primary cuisine found in this restaurant is the never-ending oval-shaped serving station of classic and specialty sushi rolls, generously sized nigiri, and crunchy, panko covered tuna rolls.  However, as you can imagine, their sushi tastes even better when you pair it with their endless Japanese mini appetizers, including black seaweed salad, egg and bean canapes, and three different kinds of pickled relish.

Unlike other Japanese buffets where your choices are limited to the chef's entrees, here, Ichi Umi offers ten different kinds of sauces and condiments for whatever cuisine one decides to feast on while buffeting at Ichi Umi.

Stuffed Crab and Raw Clams and Oysters.  Yum!

Moreover, the thing that differentiates this buffet from others is that this Ichi Umi's delectable non-raw hot entrees easily stand on their own without the raw food.  Unlike other buffets where non-raw entrees are limited to fried race, dry chicken wings, and soft french fries, here, Ichi Umi offers stuffed crab, multiple different seawood salads, sauteed beef ribs, sea bass, and seafood pancakes.  

Hot Pot (or what's left of it!)

For the Taiwanese and Chinese authentic food connoisseurs, such as Ama and Agong, they can help themselves to their own hot pot of comfort-filled ramen noodles, egg, shrimp, clams, and whatever their hearts desire.  They may also appreciate the stuffed buns and sticky rice that the restaurant keeps in its own little steamer in the center of the buffet floor, which keeps the food warm and fresh.  The authentic connoisseurs will also appreciate the pork belly and the roasted pork.

One drawback to this otherwise excellent buffet may be the price.  Even though I personally believe that it is reasonably priced and you can easily get your money's worth from one meal, the $28.95 weekday and $31.95 weekend prices may scare some money-conscious diners.  If money is tight and if you get the chance to splurge from time to time, Ichi Umi is certainly one of those places that it's worth exploring.

Another drawback to Ichi Umi is the medicore service.  Even though Ichi Umi is a buffet and your interaction with the waiters and waitresses is fairly limited, nonetheless, sometimes the plates are not cleared fast enough from the table.  However, this doesn't seem to be a consequence of laziness or neglect.  Rather, the staff seems quite overworked and are cleaning 10 to 15 tables at the same time.  My advice is to be patient with the staff since they are clearly doing their best.  Ichi Umi is so fabulous that the mediocre service is hardly a reason to not come back.