We’ve gone to Taka many times in the past couple of years. I can’t say that I’ve ever been disappointed. The food is consistently good. The sushi is always fresh and interesting. The non-sushi dishes are outstanding. The ribs and Japanese meatloaf are examples of two such amazing selections.

The service is also consistently good. I think we’ve probably been served by every member of the wait staff at one time or another. Each and every one is very professional, very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu.

It becomes obvious that the common thread which connects all these things is the owner, Takahiro Hirai. Taka, who descends from a Samurai family, pays an enormous amount of attention to all the details of his restaurant. He personally supervises the preparation of the meals. Occasionally, he’ll even work behind the sushi counter himself. He always makes a point of stopping by tables and chatting with the regular customers, even if only for a few minutes. He’s always watching to make sure that everything is running smoothly.

Overall, this is an excellent dining experience. I suppose I could gush over the scrumptious Ocean rolls, rave about the exquisite Tuna Tataki appetizer or rhapsodize about the excellent Mexican rolls, but there’s almost no point. Each and every item on the menu is carefully designed, wonderfully prepared and delightfully tasty.

If you haven’t tried Taka, take a chance to do so. It’s a BYOB, with reasonable prices and one of the jewels of the new Asbury Park.