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Stories, tips, and insights from the kitchen and bar of Cho Cho San Sushi and Hibachi.

Beautifully crafted cocktails at the Cho Cho San bar

Discover Our Bar: Premium Drinks at Cho Cho San

Cho Cho San Sushi and Hibachi is known for its incredible food, but our bar is a destination in its own right. Whether you are looking for the perfect drink to pair with your sushi or simply want to unwind after a long day, our bar offers an experience that keeps guests coming back.

Quality You Can Feel the Next Morning

One of the most common compliments we receive is about how our guests feel the next day — refreshed, not regretful. The secret is simple: we use only premium, high-quality spirits. When your drinks are made with pure, top-shelf ingredients, your body notices the difference.

Our regular guests often tell us they can enjoy a full evening at our bar and wake up feeling great the next morning. That is the standard we hold ourselves to with every pour.

A Menu Full of Variety

Variety is the spice of life, and our drink menu reflects that philosophy. Here is a taste of what we offer:

  • Sake selection: From crisp and dry junmai to smooth and fragrant daiginjo, a curated range of premium Japanese sake served at the ideal temperature
  • Japanese whisky: Refined, smooth character — perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks
  • Craft cocktails: Inventive drinks that blend Japanese flavors with classic techniques — yuzu margaritas, lychee martinis, and sake-infused specialties
  • Beer and wine: A thoughtful selection of Japanese beers, imported options, and wines that complement our cuisine
  • Non-alcoholic options: Refreshing mocktails, Japanese sodas, and specialty teas for those who prefer to skip the spirits

The Perfect Pairing

The right drink elevates a great meal to an unforgettable one. Our staff is always happy to recommend pairings — a cold Asahi with your hibachi, a delicate sake alongside your sashimi platter, or a bold cocktail to complement our spicier specialty rolls.

More Than Just Drinks

Our bar area is a space to gather, relax, and enjoy good company. Whether you are waiting for a table, catching up with friends, or simply enjoying a quiet drink, the atmosphere at Cho Cho San makes every visit feel special.

Ready to explore our drink menu? Visit us at 275 S Middletown Rd, Nanuet, NY, or browse our full menu online. We look forward to pouring you something special.

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Artfully arranged sushi showcasing the craft of sushi making

The Art of Sushi: What Makes a Great Roll

Sushi is far more than rice wrapped in seaweed. It is a centuries-old culinary art form that demands precision, patience, and the highest quality ingredients. At Cho Cho San Sushi and Hibachi, every roll that leaves our kitchen reflects our deep respect for this tradition.

It Starts With the Rice

Ask any sushi chef what the most important element of sushi is, and most will say the rice. Perfectly prepared sushi rice — called shari — should be slightly warm, seasoned with a delicate balance of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. The grains should hold together without being sticky or mushy. Getting this right takes years of practice.

At Cho Cho San, our chefs prepare sushi rice fresh throughout the day, ensuring every piece you enjoy has the ideal texture and flavor.

The Freshest Fish

The quality of the fish defines the quality of the sushi. We source our seafood carefully, selecting only the freshest cuts available. Whether it is silky salmon, buttery tuna, or sweet shrimp, each piece is inspected for color, texture, and aroma before it ever reaches your plate.

Sashimi-grade fish requires an even higher standard — these cuts must be pristine enough to enjoy completely raw, with nothing to hide behind.

The Craft of the Roll

A great sushi roll balances flavor, texture, and visual appeal. Here is what our chefs consider when creating each roll:

  • Balance: Each ingredient should complement the others, not overpower them
  • Texture contrast: Creamy avocado against crispy tempura, soft fish against firm rice
  • Proportion: The right ratio of rice to filling ensures the perfect bite
  • Presentation: We eat with our eyes first — every roll is plated with care

Beyond Traditional: Our Specialty Rolls

While we honor traditional Japanese sushi techniques, we also love getting creative. Our specialty rolls combine unexpected ingredients and bold flavors that surprise and delight. These rolls showcase our chefs' creativity while maintaining the foundational principles of great sushi.

Ready to experience the art of sushi for yourself? Browse our menu and order online, or visit us at 275 S Middletown Rd, Nanuet, NY to enjoy the full dining experience.

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Chopsticks picking up a piece of fresh sashimi

Sushi vs. Sashimi: Understanding the Difference

Walk into any Japanese restaurant and you will find both sushi and sashimi on the menu. While these two dishes are often mentioned together, they are actually quite different. Understanding the distinction can help you order with confidence and enjoy each dish to the fullest.

What Is Sushi?

Contrary to popular belief, the word "sushi" does not refer to raw fish. It actually refers to the vinegared rice that serves as the foundation of the dish. Sushi can be topped or filled with a wide variety of ingredients, including raw fish, cooked seafood, vegetables, and even egg.

Common types of sushi include:

  • Nigiri: A slice of fish or seafood draped over a small mound of rice
  • Maki: Rice and fillings rolled inside seaweed (nori)
  • Uramaki: Inside-out rolls where the rice is on the outside
  • Temaki: Hand-rolled cone shapes filled with rice, fish, and vegetables

What Is Sashimi?

Sashimi is much simpler in concept but demands the highest quality ingredients. It consists of thinly sliced raw fish or seafood, served without rice. The focus is entirely on the purity and freshness of the fish itself.

At Cho Cho San, our sashimi is sliced to order, ensuring every piece has the ideal thickness and temperature. Popular sashimi choices include tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and octopus.

Key Differences at a Glance

  • Rice: Sushi always includes vinegared rice; sashimi never does
  • Preparation: Sushi involves shaping, rolling, or pressing; sashimi is simply sliced
  • Ingredients: Sushi can include cooked items; sashimi is always raw
  • Accompaniments: Sushi is often dipped in soy sauce as a unit; sashimi is served with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger on the side

Which Should You Order?

If you love the interplay of flavors — the tangy rice, the creamy fish, the crunch of vegetables — sushi rolls are the way to go. If you want to truly taste the ocean and appreciate the quality of the fish, sashimi lets the ingredient speak for itself.

The best approach? Order both. At Cho Cho San, our combo platters let you experience the best of both worlds. Check out our full menu to find the perfect combination for your next meal.

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Fresh ingredients used in Japanese cooking

Why Freshness Matters: Our Commitment to Quality

In Japanese cuisine, freshness is not just a preference — it is a principle. The delicate flavors of sushi, sashimi, and hibachi depend entirely on the quality and freshness of every ingredient. At Cho Cho San Sushi and Hibachi, this is something we take very seriously.

The Difference You Can Taste

Fresh fish has a clean, oceanic aroma — never fishy. The texture is firm yet yielding, and the flavor is subtly sweet. When you bite into a piece of fresh salmon or tuna at Cho Cho San, you should taste the sea, not the storage.

This extends beyond the fish. Our rice is prepared in small batches throughout the day. Our vegetables are crisp. Our sauces are made in-house. Every element on your plate is as fresh as we can make it.

How We Source Our Ingredients

Quality starts at the source. Our approach to ingredient sourcing follows these core principles:

  • Frequent deliveries: We receive seafood deliveries multiple times per week to ensure peak freshness
  • Careful inspection: Every delivery is inspected by our chefs for color, texture, and aroma
  • Small batch preparation: We prepare ingredients in smaller quantities throughout the day rather than all at once
  • Seasonal awareness: We adjust our offerings based on what is best and freshest at any given time

Freshness and Food Safety

Freshness is not only about taste — it is about safety. Raw fish dishes require the strictest standards of handling and storage. Our kitchen follows rigorous food safety protocols, and our staff is trained to maintain proper temperatures and hygiene at every step.

You Deserve the Best

When you dine at Cho Cho San, you are not just getting a meal — you are getting our promise that every ingredient on your plate meets our high standards. We believe that great food starts with great ingredients, and we will never compromise on that.

Come experience the difference that freshness makes. Order online or visit us at 275 S Middletown Rd, Nanuet, NY. We look forward to serving you.

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