Queens Chronicle 2008 Review

  T.J Asian Bistro, at 50-19 Skillman Ave. in Woodside, will keep you satisfied for those light meals you crave in the summer. Don’t miss this gem. Look for the small brown awning with the T.J name in white letters.

   After honing his skills as a sushi chef in Manhattan, owner-chef Danny opened T.J in January 2007.

   Danny and his staff have created a relaxing atmosphere with soft lighting, a lovely earth tone decor and modern Asian music. Reasonably priced, the menu is remarkably extensive for such a small restaurant. Over a dozen hot appetizers include chicken or beef satay, rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce.

   Try the special Baby Tako (baby octopus). It is a surprising treat for the eye and the palate in a delicate barbecue sauce in a glowing presentation. Hot and cold appetizers are varied and artistically presented.

   We were wowed by the flavor of the Godzilla Roll, which is lightly fried in a seaweed wrap and was spectacularly engineered with just a touch of layered sauces.

   The chefs are artists, so be bold and try the unique creations. Prices are so reasonable, you’ll want to keep coming back to try new daily specials. What a pleasure to find a number of unusual salads and soup selections on the menu. Try the tempura, so delicate the shrimp and vegetables never tasted so good. These Asian delights are lightly fried with your health in mind.

   The sushi bar features the highest quality sushi and sashimi deluxe, including white tuna, hamachi (yellow tail) and striped bass elegantly served, accented with an orchid, presented like a gift to our table.

   Sushi fans will be thrilled by dozens of special rolls, all very expertly prepared and thoughtfully presented. Check out the Special Rolls. They are so reasonably priced you might want to order a few. We enjoyed the Kimono Roll surrounded by a kaleidoscope of fantastic dipping sauces with spicy tuna, salmon, avocado, tempura flakes, rolled in soy paper, topped with toasted eel, wasabi caviar and black caviar, garnished with spicy sauce. The Rock-N-Roll, shrimp tempura, crab, eel, avocado, cream cheese with tobiko (caviar) on the outside roll was simply divine.

   There is a low-carb alternative roll on the menu as well. Naruto rolls are rolled with paper thin cucumber instead of rice. Don’t forget to look at the kitchen selections at T.J, offering some fabulous hibachi plates, tempura, yaki, udon or soba noodle soups and dishes with chicken, shrimp and vegetables. We savored the aroma and taste of a sizzling teriyaki steak platter, a generous portion of tender beef served with white or brown rice and choice of miso soup or salad.

   If you want a bit of everything, try the popular bento box. You’ll be delighted to see that you can customize a "meal in a box.” Layouts on the menu let you fill in the entree compartments with your choice. Great for take-out and available for lunch or dinner. A huge variety of lunch specials are offered seven days a week.

   Try the special Asian desserts. The mochi ice-cream with red bean and green tea flavors is a great ending to a delicious meal.

   The attentive and friendly staff including hostess Yoki Shi, chefs Danny, Leo and Peter in the kitchen make your dining experience most enjoyable.

   T.J Asian Bistro serves wine, beer as well as an extensive and unusual selection of premium sake at very reasonable prices. Open seven days for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; dinner is served Monday to Friday, 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 3 to 10:30 p.m. Free delivery is available. Credit cards are accepted. Reservations are not necessary. For more information call (718) 205-2088.

Customer Reviews

“what I've had from their delivery menu has been superb. Not to mention quick. The phrase, "When is the sushi going to get here?" has yet to be uttered in my apartment. When my gf and I decide that it's a sushi night, we call TJ's everytime. ” N. C., Long Island City

“a great little place i can walk to for my japanese fix. the bento boxes are tasty, everything tastes good and fresh and the atmosphere is pleasant and clean (a plus for anyplace that serves raw fish, right?) ” Melissa B., Woodside, NY

“Really, really great sushi. It gives me just one extra reason to be compelled to visit my boyfriend's Queens neighborhood. The other evening I ordered the Oyako Don bowl, which wasn't actually on the dinner menu, just the lunch, but they made it nonetheless, and it was delicious. It was prepared perfectly. I've not met a roll there that I didn't like or wasn't bowled over by. It's a nice, quiet, comfortable setting, not too overdone and not skimpy and sparse. The service was great and friendly, and really, I find myself incredibly jealous that he gets to have such a great sushi spot so nearby. All I get are Mexican dollar stores and McDonald's. Bummer. ” Gracie G., Woodside, NY

“An enjoyable little surprise! I expected this place to be really small, kind of generic, and have flimsy wooden tables. I really loved the interior. It was so tastefully decorated with cool colors. It felt very balanced inside. There are maybe 15 or so tables and a sushi bar in the middle on the right side. The menu was extensive with at least 30+ rolls (a cooked roll section also for those that do not eat raw fish) to choose from. They also had hibachi specials and bento box dinner combos. We were not incredibly hungry and only tried a few rolls. I particularly enjoyed the black pepper tuna and the fantastic roll. The fish was very fresh, and the rolls were generously proportioned, which means more fish than rice. ” angela h., Brooklyn, NY