Momoya Brings Something Special to the Table

A glimpse through the window of , the Japanese restaurant in the North Center business district, reveals a warm and welcoming space adorned with painted Japanese murals and splashed with a rosy orange wall.  Owner Cindy Chen greets customers with a smile, making them comfortable at cozy tables and pillowed banquettes.

When Momoya opened its doors in August 2010 (in the space formerly occupied by another Japanese restaurant, Kira Kira) Chen and husband/co-owner Louis Lin knew they wanted to bring something different to Bloomfield.

“My husband was working as a sushi chef at a high-class Japanese restaurant in New York,” explains Chen.  “I was working as a waitress at Haru, another Japanese restaurant in Times Square.”  The couple moved to Bloomfield with their two young children and opened the “high quality New York style” restaurant they had always dreamed of.

“In the beginning, it was slow,” remembers Chen.  “There was no one here.  It was hard because we couldn't [afford to] hire anyone to help us.”

Working long hours, they were able to turn the formerly quiet Broad Street space into a charming and popular neighborhood eatery. But getting their business off the ground was a learning experience for both of them, who discovered that while their customers appreciated their New York expertise, there were some key differences between Bloomfield residents and New Yorkers.

“In New York they order octopus or squid but here, it's not popular,” smiles Chen.  “Only a few people like that.  What's popular here are salmon, tuna, chicken and tempura.”  She adds that the “special rolls” are also bestsellers, especially the “Spicy Twin Salmon” roll and the “Momoya Spicy Tuna” roll.

Because keeping an array of super-fresh ingredients on hand is the first order of business for a sushi restaurant, Chen and Lin must buy high quality food from a variety of merchants in New York and New Jersey.

“We get special fish deliveries from many companies every day,” says Chen.  “We get fish depending on the season -- sweet shrimp or special clams, for instance.  It depends.  Sometimes a company will call us and say, ‘we have something special today’ and we’ll order it.”

Due to the combination of high-quality ingredients and Chen and Lin’s attention to detail, Momoya’s food is delicious. The fish is fresh and flavorful and the soups are wholesome and rich.  Lin's experience as a chef is evident when sampling tasty cooked foods as well, such as vegetable tempura and steak teriyaki.

But flavor is not the only thing that customers come to Momoya for.

Patrons who like exotically prepared food will be delighted by the festive presentation there.  Carefully-designed dishes arrive at the tables in colorful tiers enhanced by leaves, garnishes and sauces drawn with a flourish.  Some dishes are even served with glowing iridescent lights. 

“What’s special is the way they do presentations,” declares Momoya waitress and neighborhood resident, Bassant Ahmed.  “You get the same quality food as New York but less expensive.  A pretty plate for a cheap price.”

With most entrees priced between $12-18.00, a couple can dine for about $50.00 at Momoya, and even a family of four can have a fairly reasonable night out for $100 or less. 

And with each artistic dish created by hand, it’s no wonder Momoya is fast becoming a popular place to host a unique, exotic party.

“We have birthday parties for children and adults.  Speak to Cindy, she’ll give them a good price,” says Ahmed.

For her part, Chen says she’s happy she moved to Bloomfield.  With their children attending public school in town and their restaurant thriving, Lin and Chen have the life and the New York restaurant they always wanted – right in the heart of Bloomfield.

Momoya Japanese Restaurant
390 Broad Street Bloomfield, NJ
973-748-0077