Reviews - Hot Fish

#2 - Seafood - Hackensack, #28 - Asiatic - Hackensack, Szechuan

Reviews summary

Nestled in Hackensack, Hot Fish stands out with its elegant decor and inviting atmosphere, making it a promising destination for Sichuan cuisine enthusiasts. While the service is commendable, opinions on the food are mixed. Some diners rave about the authentic flavors of dishes like the spicy chicken and hot fish, while others find certain offerings, such as the Dan Dan noodles and grilled fish, lacking in taste or overly oily. Despite some inconsistencies, the restaurant's accessibility and BYOB policy add to its appeal, allowing for potential future visits to explore the varied menu.

Overall Total Score
4.5 out of 5
Outstanding | 1085 reviews

Reviews from various users

Sirved

Last update : 16.05.2025

4.4 ★ from 5 reviews
shawn-prince-1
16.05.2025

Absolutely amazing and authentic sichuan food. Probably the best Chinese restaurant in NJ and outside of NYC. Highly recommend spicy chicken, house special ribs, cumin lamb, dry pot cabbage and of course any of the hot fishes! W Drive a half hour eachway to eat here and it is always worth the trip!

nishtha-choudhary-ch
16.05.2025

Really nice place for schezuan food! The staff is very nice. Bonus: it is a BYOB! We got their red pepper chicken with extra spices. We were hoping for it to be like our favorite place's chongquing chicken but it was less spicy than we expected. We alsogot the dan dan noodles, which were okay compared to my previous experience at other places.

mu-yi
25.09.2023

The fish dish we got was delicious, a great balance of spicy and flavorful. We also tried the wonton in chili oil but there was barely any filling. The fish dishes are definitely the star!

yossawadee-c
25.09.2023

I had a craving for spicy food, so I decided to stop by Hot Fish for their lunch menu deal. I ordered the basa filets with spicy sauce along with a hot and sour soup. Both were quite spicy and absolutely delicious! I definitely plan to return to try some other dishes.

nehal-ahmed-1
25.09.2023

We decided to visit Hot Fish on a Saturday afternoon and were promptly seated since the restaurant wasn’t busy. I must say, the decor is quite impressive—it's one of the more attractive Chinese restaurants I've experienced. We ordered several dishes to share, starting with the Dan Dan noodles. However, the sauce was too thick and reminded me of peanut sauce. We also tried tofu, string beans, and a chicken dish, but unfortunately, all of them were just average. For our main course, we ordered the Baja fish in chili oil sauce, but that didn't win me over either; it was overwhelmed by too many peppercorns. The service was good, but the food didn’t live up to my expectations. I know of better options in the area.

Google

Last update : 16.03.2025

4.5 ★ from 91 reviews
peter-xia
16.03.2025

Fantastic Food. However, I stopped eating as soon as I could and would never return. A co-worker hosted a Friday dinner at this place during the Chinese New Year. The food INDEED was Michelin quality. But I didn 't finish my meal and would never return. There were two waitresses taking care of ordering etc. Both seemed welcoming. I appreciated that. As we were halfway through our appetizers, a young couple sitting next to us finished their dinner and left. From my seat, I can 't help but watch how the two waitresses cleaned that table, plate by plate, glass by glass. They took leftovers to the trash can, which was just outside the kitchen area, readily visible from our table. I also saw one waitress sweeping the floor area, taking the full trash bag out, and replacing with a new one. During that process, both waitresses were wearing the same gloves that they had when taking our orders and serving our drinks. A disturbing thought emerged. No way! However, I can 't concentrate on the food anymore. I just stopped eating. Before long, a middle-aged couple came in and directly took that table just being cleaned . They appeared regular customers and started chatting with the taller waitress who replaced the trash bag a moment ago. After the small talk, she took their orders and brought out drinks, with the same gloves she used to clean that table and work the trash. During that time, the other waitress, the chubby one, came to our table and asked if we needed anything. Disgusting. I can 't eat anything there anymore. My eyes were on their gloves when they started to do the cleaning. I was positive they still had the same gloves when we left the restaurant. The restaurant was located in a busy shopping plaza with a Home Depot store as its neighbor. We were there on a Friday night, and the parking lot was almost full when I arrived around 6 p.m. The restaurant was busy, too. However, throughout our time there that night, I didn 't find one non-Asian customer. Those were disposable blue gloves. Less than 10 c each. The waitresses likely had the same pair for a long time. To be fair, both waitresses were busy working. I was positive neither took a break in the lady 's room during our time there. However, I didn 't want to know what else had happened prior to our arrival. Anyway, I stopped eating as soon as I could and would never return. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $30–50 Food: 5 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 1 Recommended dishes: Spicy Pork Belly Appetizer, Pork Soup Dumpling, Dry Pot, Hot Fish

james-n-restaurant37
16.03.2025

Serving up all the classics, Hot Fish fills a need for spicy, well made Sichuan food with plenty of options to choose from. From tripe/tendon, dan dan, drunken noodles, crispy green beans, mapo tofu and the hot fish, all available in family sized portions. Spiciness can be high but wash it down with the BYOB of your choice. Located in a shopping mall with plenty of parking. Medium sized restaurant but can accommodate large seatings. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4

hien-nguyen-mushroom
16.03.2025

This was our first time here. We ordered the cucumber salad, soup dumplings, and fish soup with sour cabbage. The food was decent, servers are kind and friendly, the ambiance great. At the end, they offered Yakults in the house with a cute little snake stuffy for the 2025-year of snake-sweet surprise. They have pretty great appreciation discount policy as well. Would definitely come back to try more stuff on their menu. Price per person: $20–30 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

max-matrix-vine35
16.03.2025

Hot Fish Sichuan Restaurant in Hackensack offers an authentic Sichuan dining experience. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with friendly staff and a well-organized menu. Must-try dishes include the spicy fish fillet, mapo tofu, and cumin lamb. The flavors are bold and true to Sichuan cuisine, with just the right amount of heat. While the service can be slow during peak hours, the delicious food and reasonable prices make it a great spot for a special meal or casual dining. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $20–30 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Vegetarian offerings: Large vegetarian selection

ong-yc-1
16.03.2025

We ordered the salt and pepper squid, 辣子鸡 and 四季豆. They provided a complimentary tray of nuts which served as a great appetiser. The salt and pepper squid was the perfect amount of chewy and the long beans were crunchy and well seasoned. The 3 dishes were more than enough for 2pax and the service staff were extremely friendly and on the ball. Would definitely come back again if we’re in the area ! Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $50–100 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: Salt and Pepper Squid, Nuts

Yelp

Last update : 17.11.2023

4.1 ★ from 138 reviews
moon-p-4
17.11.2023

If the menu indicates that a dish is spicy, prepare yourself for some serious heat! We accidentally ordered three spicy dishes alongside one mild option, and by the end of our meal, our mouths were definitely on fire. However, every dish was absolutely delicious, and the bonus of being a BYOB establishment is fantastic!

erica-n-bank5
17.11.2023

I ordered takeout and tried the chili chicken, but they forgot to include any rice! I was really excited about this dish, but the chicken was dry. I also had the beef drunken noodles, which turned out to be quite bland and really needed more flavor. After spending $50 on these two dishes, I was left feeling disappointed and didn’t think it was worth the price.

christopher-p-cat32
17.11.2023

The restaurant’s interior is quite attractive, featuring a modern Chinese design that adds to the overall ambiance. The staff was incredibly friendly and genuine; when we asked if we had ordered too much food, they graciously suggested that we might have gone overboard, but we decided to stick with our choices anyway. This resulted in us taking home a bag of leftovers, and we’ll definitely heed their advice next time! In summary, 'Hot Fish' boasts a diverse menu with a range of delicious dishes. Having recently moved from Jersey City, it had been a while since we found a spot that serves spicy fish, lamb, frog, and other tasty items all in one place. It's truly a hidden gem in the local dining scene, and I hope it continues to thrive. We will definitely be returning for another visit!

douglas-b-snake82
17.11.2023

The food is outstanding, but it’s essential to appreciate authentic Sichuan cuisine, as it tends to be quite spicy.

Tripadvisor
4.9 ★ from 1 reviews
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FAQ

The restaurant can be referred to as one of the top spots of its visitors. This can be inferred from the average rating of 4.5.

The second closest parking lot is The Shops at Riverside, located 509 meters away from Hot Fish.

The community at Menu has uploaded these Pictures of Hot Fish from Hackensack. They depict the meal space at Hot Fish, including the interior, location and of course, striking Images of delicious dishes from Hot Fish.

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