50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Boston

“Cozy spot and can have a long wait time, but it’s well worth it. Miso butter cod was one of the best things I’ve had in the city. Service was good, waiter explained everything and answered any questions we had. Definitely a spot I would return to Boston for.“

“Great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Everything was fresh and delicious. A special shoutout to the manager, John, for making sure everything was perfect and for providing outstanding customer service. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Absolutely amazing!! I can’t wait to go back.“

“What an amazing place! The portions here are soooo big I loved every bite. The cheesy ramen is delicious and the yuzu one is super refreshing also delicious. The roll was incredible and very fresh salmon bowl also looked incredible, they serve it with miso. Prices are also super reasonable for the quality.“

“It was a cozy place. Interior brought me back to Japan.

My only complaint is the amount of meat. Very little meat in my hot spicy beef udon.

Flavors were nice though. Broth was light and enjoyable.

Service is quick.“

“The presentation was impressive; each course arrived like a small work of art, and the kitchen clearly takes pride in the visual experience.

Where it falls short is value. Honestly, it just wasn’t worth the price.

Worth noting: I experienced some stomach discomfort during the meal, which I’ll attribute to possible sensitivity to raw fish rather than anything on the restaurant’s end.

Beautiful to look at, but there are likely better options at a friendlier price.“

“Great small plates, gyoza, soft shell crab, maki is excellent Mt Fuji a favorite. Delicious drinks, fried green tea ice cream hard to find in New England!“

“Yum!! The sushi closest to the camera was the Southie , the back one is the coco salmon. Both delish but I think the Southie was the winner for me-

We also got the bim bam bop. It was so good I forgot to take a photo!

10/10“

“Ordered teriyaki chicken, rice, edamame and spring rolls. Everything was delicious! The spring rolls were extra yummy. 😋“

“Yume Ga Arukara is a Japanese udon shop located in the heart of Boston's Seaport District, expanding from its other location in the Cambridge area.

The staff are friendly and welcoming, there is typically a longer line at this location so they take your order ahead of time and when you're seated, it comes out quite quickly.

The udon is quite good as well. The broth is flavorful, and the noodles are quite tasty and chewy as well. The extra ingredients go well with the noodles and broth, and the portions are good for the price.“

“M&J Teriyaki is a cute restaurant which I highly recommend if you’re in the area! They offer both dine-in and takeout and have, frankly a very nice atmosphere. The food too was really amazing (I recommend the chicken in particular) and the drinks are also very nice. I enjoyed the flavor of the strawberry smoothie.

I personally went right after having visited the MFA and so, if you’re on the lookout for a bit to eat after a museum visit then please consider it!“

“Great sushi and cocktails. We ate at the bar. And the bartender was excellent!“

“Wife and I stopped in on a whim for a quick bite for lunch.

Wife had a bowl of miso soup, we got a spicy tuna roll, vegetable tempura, and pork belly fried rice.

We agreed that it is our favorite fried rice in Boston.

Great food, great service, awesome atmosphere. Will be back!“

“Best authentic Sushi I had in the US! They brought Sushi chefs from Japan! 🇯🇵“

“Deluxe Sashimi Platter ⭐️ It was great! It's really fresh and there are a lot of varieties, except for the sea urchin, which is a bit fishy Octopus Carpaccio ⭐️ The seasoning is very refreshing and the octopus is very chewy, I love it Torched Japanese Scallop ⭐️ It was very light, I couldn't really taste the seasoning, but it was very tender Unagi Don ⭐️ A friend ordered this. Gyu Don + Onsen Egg ⭐️ The beef is very juicy and the onsen egg is very flavorful“

“We got the split broth and the meat/ vegetables were amazing but the best part was definitely the mango smoothie and pork gyoza. The mango smoothie was the best mango smoothie I’ve ever had and the gyoza was very delicious. I can’t wait to go back, definitely a great place for friends/ family to go“

“I cannot believe it took me a year to try this place!! If you’re looking for a casual, yummy, take-out lunch, definitely give this place a go! Over the past month, I’ve tried the chicken teriyaki bowl and multiple sushi rolls. Everything is so delicious, so reasonably priced, and always ready to go within just a few minutes of ordering. The portion sizes are large and reasonable for what they cost, and the service is very quick and friendly. This has definitely become one of my staple lunch spots in the area!“

“Awesome Dumplings!! Great Service!☺️“

“Basho is an incredible restaurant. The black cod is the best I’ve had and I have been around the world twice. I love your soup. The miso ramen is incredible the right amount of tofu spice and noodle makes it so delectable anything that ails you it will cure. The shrimp fried rice had nearly a dozen large shrimp in it the taste was sublime and full of vegetable, completely disheveled for easy consumption.. the pork Gyoza was just a vine, and the sauce that came with it was not salty, but added just the right amount of zippy flavor. Their cocktails are amazing and go without saying that they’re inventive and delicious as well as refreshing and light……. As always, I would will return to Basho even after these five years, it is one of the best restaurants in the fenway, and it is a must visit.!!!!!“

“On our Wednesday Night Culinary 🧑‍🍳 Travels we ended up in Roslindale Village at The Village Sushi & Grill🥢. We sat outside on the Patio and were Greeted by our Waitress who was Welcoming and Helpful with Menu choices. She took our Drink and Appetizer orders for the 😋Tempura Starter, 😋Chicken on Skewer, 😋Don Shumai (deep fried), 😋Scallion Pancake, Sushi Starter, 😋Miso Soup,😋 Unagi (Eel) Sushi and an Entree of Bui-Go-Ki 😋. Everything was 😋 Delicious and Tasty. 😋 The Drinks were Ice Cold 🍷🍻. The Service was Excellent 👍.
Highly Recommend Village Sushi & Grill . ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Absolutely criminal that this place only has 3.5 stars. I went here April 3rd & April 28th before going to house of blues for a concert. Hit both times. Is it expensive? Yes, but when has sushi from a restaurant been cheap? When has eating out in a city been cheap? Value is there. I really talked this place up and when I brought my SIL there the second time we went and she agreed. Her word was “impressive”. If this place was closer to home I would have a budget problem. Nori tacos are a “can’t miss” and the avocado roll is the best I’ve ever had. Seriously good eats.“

“Sushi Today, is by far my favorite place to order form during quarantine. I ordered from them before quarantine whenever I would babysit for my neighbors. Even though a lot of places are busy and haven't gotten my orders wrong, sushi today has not disappointed me yet. Sushi Today is the only place I will ever order sushi from. They make eel avocado rolls, which are surprisingly rare and hard to find when looking for take-out. Overall the accuracy, taste, and packaging of my orders from Sushi Today have been awesome.“

“One of those places you never notice even after passing it a dozen times. Casual noodle spot aimed at the students nearby, but I'd never heard a word about it from friends or colleagues. The dining room was fairly big, yet completely empty when we came in for a quick takeout on a Saturday evening.

The menu was split mostly between noodles and casual Chinese. Not much of it looked convincing, so we skipped the popular stuff and just ordered what we were in the mood for. Most of it was ok at best, but the scallion oil noodles with crispy pork strips were pretty good. The noodles were soaked in a good amount of scallion oil, and the pork strips added a nice textural contrast.

Probably a place I'd have frequented as a student in the neighborhood, but with better casual Chinese and noodle spots in Downtown Boston and Chinatown, I doubt I'll be back.“

“We love coming to Zuma. The hospitality is incredible and the vibes. Want to personally thank Sara the hostess that was able to squeeze in the 3rd person in our party to joining us. Thank you Sara. It made our night. — Roman“

“Everything was great …. Nothing Negative I Have. Our hostess Fatima was Amazing … a BIG shout of to her … thank you for everything you did for us.“

“The food is amazing and the service was outstanding. Very friendly and quick.“

“Really great food! I ordered a bunch of different food like the chicken teriyaki roll, shrimp tempura roll, sweet potatoes, spring rolls, chicken dumplings and the Japanese cake. All tasted really fresh and I love that it wasn't salty! The portion is also excellent. Would definitely order again.“

“Good food, friendly staff, fair price. Not something I got from any other food place at Fanueil Hall.

We got the chicken teriyaki, with vegetables, and noodles.

Chicken and noodles were awesome! Some of the vegetables were on the cold side, which is my only complaint.

Employees were very friendly and you tell they cared about their customers.

Definitely will get food from there again on our next visit.“

“Friendly service and tasty dishes! Would go again.“

“Great food and drinks! Definitely try this place if your in the area.“

“The food at Fuji is outstanding. Far and away the best fusion Japanese food in Newton and around.“

“Best udon noodles ever 🥰 beef with kimchi nice and warm on a rainy day.“

“The staff are always friendly, polite and helpful. Highly recommend the Chicken Shrimp Bento. The food is fresh and tasty although the portion could have a bit more shrimp.

I come here regularly and I’m generally very satisfied with the quality and service. Overall it’s a place I enjoy visiting and would recommend.“

“If you’re a student or worker on the go, you need something fast (within 5 minutes), filling, and nutritious (meat, veggies, carbs), this is your best bet in Longwood Galleria.

Options are simple, my go to is the chicken and shrimp plate with fried rice (has never done me wrong). Ask for extra sauce at the end when they’re about to finish plating (if they haven’t asked you already).

The one issue is that there usually isn’t enough sauce for all the food, but honestly, we as a nation would benefit from eating less sodium ?.“

“This Gachi location is tucked away, small and cramped—yet still a decent atmosphere. On a recent visit, I remember being impressed with how fresh and tasty my food was. Not particularly my favorite cuisine, but as far as airport food goes, this restaurant does well, imo.“

“Food was fantastic.

The reason I took off a star isn't a great reason because we didn't all for this up front, but they refused to give separate checks or split the check more than two ways (we asked for 3 since we couldn't get our own check), that was frustrating.“

“Mind-Blowing Culinary Experience at UNI Dining at UNI is nothing short of extraordinary. Chef Take's talent is truly remarkable, turning every dish into a masterpiece. The sashimi is unbelievably fresh, each slice practically melts in your mouth, showcasing the incredible quality and craftsmanship that UNI is known for. One of the standout dishes was the Foie Gras sushi with pop rocks and strawberry. The combination of flavors and textures was nothing short of genius—a perfect balance of richness, sweetness, and a playful pop that left me in awe. It’s a daring creation that speaks to Chef Take’s innovative spirit. My personal favorite, though, has to be the Toro topped with caviar. The buttery, luxurious texture of the Toro paired with the briny burst of caviar is an experience I won't soon forget. It's the kind of sushi that dreams are made of. The service at UNI is also top-notch. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and makes you feel like a VIP from start to finish. They are well-versed in the menu and make excellent recommendations, ensuring that your dining experience is seamless and memorable. UNI is, without a doubt, a dining destination that should be on every food lover’s bucket list. Chef Take’s talent shines through in every dish, making it an unforgettable experience.“

“Great foods and Great services !!! Stop by and try it out !!!“

“Great place to stop by. The staff are great and you can always find a food option that you'll like. If your just starting off, try the chicken katsu bento. You will have to wait for this meal, but its a great starting point. I find the meals are great to eat between work and school since I don't have much time to eat in most places.“

“Ive been looking for decent teriyaki bowl places around Boston. Many places have sushi in addition to teriyaki bowls. This place just does teriyaki bowls at a decent price and pretty tasty. They have a limited menu, so you cannot get lost in the items. Had a beef and shrimp teriyaki bowl with some rice and was good. For the quality, price, and taste, I give it a 5/5. Highly recommend.“

“Went to this establishment this week. The customer service ( Sawyer - our Table Staff professional ) was out of this world. The food was tasty, professionally presented and Portion size was large with a price point that is never seen these days. Pricing is beyond reasonable. Classy, elegant, yet very comfortable!“

“The best in Boston.“

“I came here to try their ramen noodle. We ordered their grilled zucchini and pork belly bao bun for starter. My colleague ordered their spicy beef noodle soup while I ordered their duck noodle soup. Our starters came within 10 mins despite they are busy. Kudos to them. Grilled zucchini was okay, lack of seasoning. Pork belly bao buns on the other hand are deliciously good!!!

Beef noodle soup broth is thick and rich, beef slices are tender and juicy. Duck noodle soup broth is light and bland. I will definitely stick for their sushi on my next visit.“

“Decent sushi option in Downtown.

First tried this place years ago through a catered event, and the sushi quality back then was pretty underwhelming, so I never felt the need to return. Recently, while looking for a quick takeout option around Downtown Crossing, I decided to give it another shot.

As a rule of thumb, for spots that focus heavily on takeout and delivery, I stick to maki rolls rather than nigiri. This time, I ordered the Black Pearl Boy roll and the Crazy Tuna maki, and both were solid. Not on par with some of the more popular sushi spots, but fresh enough and well-balanced.

The vibe was also cozier than I expected. Booth seating and counter spots, with Ghibli music playing in the background, gave it a relaxed feel. If you’re looking for a casual sushi dinner downtown without high expectations, this works.“

“Came here to try the new bubble tea line. The new favors were brown sugar, ube milk, Thai milk and matcha milk . We also grabbed the Fenway special and spicy Hawaiian. Staff was really friendly and helpful. The drinks were all Delicious. They came with matcha boba balls and brown sugar boba balls. My favorite definitely the ube milk. The Fenway Special was so spectacular. All the ingredients just went well together. The spicy mayo was definitely clutch on it. The spicy Hawaiian was a well balance of flavors and textures. It's a bit pricey but worth every penny for the quality. Definitely, will be back to get my poke bowl fix.“

“The taste is very good, the service is very good“

“25 years I have been charged mine here. In all that time, never any less than fabulous!“

“We had such a great time learning how to shuck oysters! Everyone was so friendly, nice and knowledgeable. Would definitely go back again and have already recommended to others!“

“Easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I walked in, everything was dialed in clean, welcoming atmosphere, fast seating, and a level of organization you don’t usually see in most places. The service was top notch across the board; every staff member was attentive, respectful, and genuinely made sure everything was perfect without being overbearing. The manager clearly runs a tight ship because everything flows smoothly orders come out quick, nothing feels chaotic, and you can tell there’s real leadership behind the scenes keeping everything running at a high level. And the food? Honestly exceptional. Every bite felt intentional, fresh, and cooked with care. This place sets the standard for what a restaurant should be. I’d give it more than 5 stars if I could.“

“Love them. Highly recommend the spicy eel coconut maki.“