Restaurants
From to-go grocery store rolls to fine-dining omakase menus, Greater Boston diners have plenty of sushi options to choose from.
The gold recommendation set at Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern on Boylston Street. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
It’s a good time to love sushi if you’re a Greater Boston diner.
Boston has its classic spots; a few all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants have survived past the pandemic and inflation; and the city has seen a boom in the higher-priced omakase options.
The spectrum of sushi style — from fried rolls covered in spicy mayo to the finest cuts of fatty tuna topped with caviar — is also evident in Boston.
Our ultimate guide to sushi, done with the help of Boston.com readers, is a great tool to use for sushi lovers of all kinds, because as reader Matt from Brookline put it:
“All sushi is not created equal. They serve different purposes and satisfy different cravings.”
Sushi at 311 Boston in the South End prepared by chef Weifa Chen. Kegani, caviar, Hokkido hairy crab, crab tamales, caviar, and dashi jelly decorated with sea salt flowers. Served in an antique Japanese shell dish. – John Tlumacki/Globe Splurge-worthy sushi in Greater Boston
Looking for an occasion dinner to impress a date, or celebrate an anniversary? Our readers have been to their fair share of Boston’s finest spots, like O Ya and Three 1 One.
“If you’re going to get sushi only occasionally, might as well make it superb,” said Alex of Cambridge, who loves sushi from O Ya and No Relation in the South End.
“For fancy sushi, Judy’s Bay sushi is the highest quality,” said Hannah E. from Cambridge. “Their menu is fire. Nothing average on it.”
“For the best, most authentic Omakase, you can’t beat Momi Nonmi in Cambridge,” said Aiden M.S. from Allston. “Chef Chris’ dedication to tradition and flavor will not disappoint you.”
“Best sushi in Boston is Sushi @ Temple Records — absolutely incredible, said Al B. from Medford. “Unagi Nigiri and the Kanpachi Maki are top tier. No other place I’ve tried in the city has come close.”
“For a very special meal, I recommend the omakase at Wa Shin,” said Dana S. from Needham. “They only seat 10 or so diners at a time for an intimate experience. It’s amazing to watch the chefs prepare the dishes in front of you, and they will engage in conversation (and answer all your questions). We walked out full but also learned a lot! We went 4 months ago and still tell everyone about it.”
“XOXO Sushi Bar is the absolute best,” said Melissa M. from Holliston. “I love their tuna nigiri and dry aged trout. Unreal.”
Chirashi from Cafe Sushi Shoten in Cambridge. – Chris McIntosh for Boston.comEveryday sushi spots in Greater Boston
But what’s also great about Boston.com reader recommendations is the abundance of options for those with a daily or weekly sushi habit — otherwise known as “sushi that doesn’t break the bank.” At least not like a bill at an omakase would.
“Cafe Sushi Shoten near Harvard is the epitome of ‘better than expected’ take out that clearly has a lot of care put into it,” said Joe S. of Arlington.
“I lived in Japan for 4 years, and [Kura Sushi is] the closest thing that reminds me of being back ‘home’ since moving to Mass,” said Eve of Hanscom AFB. “It’s a sushi-go-round, so you pay by plate but super delicious, and the drink robot that brings your drinks is adorable.”
“The sushi at [Sugidama Soba & Izakaya] is incredible, and so is the Yellowtail Crudo, Tuna Tartare, Uni Shots, Chicken Karaage, and the list goes on,” said Sunil N. of Medford.
“Mad Monkfish is usually worth the parking challenge, especially for a solid donburi and fun cocktail,” said Allison C. from Malden.
“Laughing Monk in Mission Hill [has a] chill vibe and the best rolls,” said Liz from Roslindale. “Their omakase is also out of this world: fresh, unique flavors, and beautiful presentation.”
“Nijiya’s all-you-can-eat sushi in Medford is my favorite spot,” said Jess G. from Somerville. “Service is fast, the food is delicious, and the best part is you can eat as much as you want for an amazing price! Sushi is too expensive anywhere, but especially in Boston, so this hidden gem in Medford center was a great find.”
Fire dragon special roll at Laughing Monk. – Chris McIntosh for Boston.comWhere to find the best sushi in Greater Boston
We heard from 150 readers who recommended 100 sushi restaurants around Greater Boston. Use the list or map below to find your next sushi spot and what readers said about each, whether it’s for Friday night takeout or a date night restaurants for schmoozing.
311 Omakase Boston, 605 Tremont St., South End
7 Nana Japanese Steakhouse, 199 Boston Rd., North Billerica
Akame Nigiri And Sake, 1707 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington
Alba, 1486 Hancock St., Quincy
All Seasons Table, 64 Pleasant St., Malden
Bamboo, 55 Ariadne Rd., Dedham
Blu Karma, 6 Purchase St., Danvers
Blue Ribbon Sushi, 500a Commonwealth Ave., Fenway-Kenmore
Cafe Sushi Shoten, 1105 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Chopsticks and Forks, 116 Front St., Scituate
Crazy Stone, 1009 Boston Post Rd. E, Marlborough
Douzo Sushi, 131 Dartmouth St., Back Bay-Bay Village
Ebi Sushi, 290 Somerville Ave., Somerville
Fin’s Sushi & Grill, Multiple locations
Fugakyu, 1280 Beacon St., Brookline
Fuji, Multiple locations
Fusion Taste, 19 Franklin St., Stoneham
Genki Ya, Multiple locations
Ginger Exchange, Multiple locations
Hanami Sushi Bar & Grill, 89 Trapelo Rd., Belmont
Ichigo Ichie, 837 W Central St., Franklin
Ichiro Sushi, 538 Adams St. A, Milton
Jin’s Fine Asian Cuisine, 329 Harvard St., Brookline
Jindu, 131 Boston Post Rd., Wayland
JP Seafood Cafe, 730 Centre St., Jamaica Plain
Judy’s Bay, 279a Broadway, Cambridge
Junji’s Fine Japanese Cuisine, 114 Pleasant St., Marblehead
Kaizen Sushi Bar & Grill, 479 Main St., Fiskdale
Karma Asian Fusion Cuisine, Multiple locations
Karma Concord, 105 Thoreau St., Concord
Koto, 76 Merrimack St., Lowell
Kura Revolving Sushi, Multiple locations
Laughing Monk, Multiple locations
LOLA 42, 22 Liberty Drive, Seaport
Lotus Blossom, 394 Boston Post Road, Sudbury
Mad Monkfish, 524 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Mahi Mahi, 40 Cummings Park Drirve, Woburn
Market Basket, Multiple locations
Matsunori Handroll Bar, 900 Beacon St. Unit A, Fenway-Kenmore
Minzu Sushi, 142 Canal St., Salem
Miyuki, 547 Washington St., Brighton
Mojo Sushi, 316 Main St., Wakefield
Momi Nonmi, 1128 Cambridge St., Cambridge
Nagomi Izakaya, 636 Beacon St. Ste A, Fenway-Kenmore
New Ginza, 4503 63, 65 Galen St., Watertown
New Moon Garden, 701 S Main St., Haverhill
Nijiya, 9 High St., Medford
No Relation, 11 William E Mullins Way, South End
NoBo, 18 Boston Road, Chelmsford
O Ya, 9 E St., Chinatown-Leather District
Oishii Boston, 1166 Washington St., South End
Oishii Too Sushi Bar, 365 Boston Post Road, Sudbury
Peppercorn House, 318 Main St., Woburn
Phat Thaiger, 166 Eastern Ave., Malden
PickN’Roll Sushi, 134 Boylston St., Downtown Boston
Ponzu, 286 Moody St., Waltham
Ruka, 505 Washington St., Downtown Boston
Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern, 665 Boylston St., Back Bay-Bay Village
Sakanaya Boston, 232 California St., Newton
Salt Society, 146 Front St., Scituate
Sho Yu, 124 Broadway D, Saugus
Shore Leave, 11 William E Mullins Way, South End
Star Market, Multiple locations
Sugidama Soba & Izakaya, 234 Elm St., Somerville
Sunny Cafe, 1000 Bennington St., East Boston
Super Fusion Cuisine II, 54 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown
Super Fusion Sushi, 690A Washington St., Brookline
Sushi @ Temple Records, 11 Temple Place, Downtown Boston
Sushi by Bosso Ramen Tavern, 163 Newbury St., Back Bay-Bay Village
Sushi Kappo Toraya, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington
Sushi Sang Lee, 76 Prospect St., Gloucester
Sushi Yanagi, 83 Parkhurst Rd., Chelmsford
Sushico, 761 Beacon St., Newton
Symphony Sushi, 45 Gainsborough St., Fenway-Kenmore
Taku Sushi, 211 Rantoul St., Beverly
The Mad Monkfish, 524 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
The Oysterman (Duxbury), 30 Railroad Ave., Duxbury
Umami Omakase, 2372 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Uni, 370A Commonwealth Ave, Back Bay-Bay Village
Wa Shin, 222 Stuart St., Back Bay-Bay Village
Wang’s Table, 46 Washington St., Haverhill
Wasabi at Porter, 2088 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Washoku Renaissance, 32 Cambridge St., Charlestown
Wegmans, Multiple locations
Whole Foods, Multiple locations
XOXO Sushi Bar, 1154 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill
Yama, 245 Washington St., Wellesley
Yama Zakura, 369 W Main St. #3, Northborough
Zen Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar, 21A Beacon St., Downtown Boston
Ōmori Izakaya, Multiple locations
Katelyn UmholtzFood and Restaurant Reporter
Katelyn Umholtz covers food and restaurants for Boston.com. Katelyn is also the author of The Dish, a weekly food newsletter.
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