Oct. 14, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET
The newly reopened Rio of Japan, located next to sister business Moon Hair Studio, offers both traditional Japanese sushi as well as Latin fusion sushi.Already named Rio of Japan, the restaurant was meant to be theirs, Ceballos believes.
A sushi roll with a dash of Latin flair? Yes, please.
Or perhaps “Hai, por favor” is more appropriate for this new Japanese-Latin fusion restaurant in Metuchen.
The newly reopened Rio of Japan, located next to sister business Moon Hair Studio, offers both traditional Japanese sushi as well as Latin fusion sushi like its samba roll, Latin roll and Mexican roll. It honors the restaurant’s beginnings as well as its new owners’ heritage.
In June, best friends Perla Ceballos and Santy Almonte relocated their salon, Moon Hair Studio, to Metuchen after nine years in Perth Amboy. In Metuchen, it shares its 257 Central Ave. address with Rio of Japan. The restaurant immediately became the beauty professionals’ go-to dining spot.
The following month, it also became a surprise business opportunity.
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Ceballos discovered that Rio of Japan’s owners were planning to close it. She saw the potential − and didn’t want to lose her new favorite dining spot.
“I saw good quality food − I really love the food − and I didn’t want this to just end here,” Ceballos said. “I told the owner that if the chef stayed, maybe we could come to an agreement and I could take over the restaurant.”
Ceballos and Almonte, along with restaurant partner Juan Perdomo, Almonte’s cousin, became the new owners of Rio of Japan.
Already named Rio of Japan, the restaurant was meant to be theirs, Ceballos believes. The trio are keeping all that was great about Rio of Japan and adding more Latin touches alongside Rio of Japan existing chefs Vladimir Tavarez and Elemmer Flores.
“I love the concept of the Japanese food but now we’re giving it a twist of Latin,” she said. “I like how it’s called Rio because “rio” in Spanish means ‘river.’ It was meant to be ours.”
Hibachi, teriyaki and sushi remain the staples. However, steak and pastas with Latin twists, as well as dishes such as beef empanadas and hibachi chicken diablo, have been added. Latin-inspired sushi rolls include the Mexican roll with chicken tempura, cucumber with guacamole; the dice roll with deep fried smoked salmon, cream cheese, avocado and jalapeno salsa; and the Latin roll with crab, cucumber, avocado and fried sweet plantain.
But to Ceballos and her team, the end goal is just good food and good service.
“That is our passion,” she said.
Go: 257 Central Ave., Metuchen; 732-767-1120, rioofjapan.com.
Staff Reporter Cheryl Makin: cmakin@mycentraljersey.com
Dining and Cooking