The 30 Top Sushi Restaurants around Boston

Akami

Did someone say omakase-for-under-100-bucks? Yep, that’d be this exciting 2025 newcomer, named for lean tuna (as opposed to toro, the fatty part). The Coolidge Corner spot is quickly earning fans for its relatively affordable pricing (as far as upscale sushi goes), offering a 13-course meal for $89 or 16 for $109. Expect a modern, playful meal, complete with smoke gun. Reservations required.

187 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-383-5524, akamiboston.com.

Scallops with miso butter at Blue Ribbon Sushi. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Blue Ribbon Sushi

Boston has so many excellent homegrown sushi spots that it’s hard to recommend an out-of-towner, but we can’t help but be delighted by New York-born Blue Ribbon Sushi, sibling and neighbor to Blue Ribbon Brasserie in Kenmore Square. While the sushi itself is fantastic, we love to devote a lot of our stomach space to the starters: the miso butter sea scallops, crispy rice with spicy tuna, and fried chicken wings with wasabi honey make for memorable bites. Take the guess work out of the rest with a chef’s choice platter, available in a variety of sizes.

500a Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-264-0410, blueribbonsushikenmore.com.

Café Sushi, delivered. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Café Sushi Shoten

Best of Boston winner, 2013 (Best Sushi, High-Brow), 2014, 2015, and 2018

Café Sushi has lived a variety of lives, particularly since chef Seizi Imura inherited the restaurant from his parents in 2007. Until the pandemic, the Cambridge restaurant—located in an unassuming strip mall-esque space on the edge of Harvard Square—maintained a reputation as an affordable omakase gem (and favorite of restaurant industry workers). It got a beautiful renovation in 2018, but following COVID shutdowns in 2020, Imura decided not to resume dine-in service. Now known as Café Sushi Shoten, the mainstay offers takeout and delivery sushi (prepared with ultimate care) and a vast array of Japanese pantry items, sake, and more. We miss dine-in, to be sure, and hope it returns one day, but in the meantime, we’re loving this version of Café Sushi, too.

1105 Mass Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-492-0434, cafesushicambridge.com.

Chiharu Sushi & Noodle. / Courtesy photo

Chiharu Sushi & Noodle

There’s a reason why this Route 9 restaurant has become a local favorite in recent years around Brookline and beyond: Chef Qun Li’s consistently creative, well-balanced sushi rolls. Since 2017, he’s been serving up always-fresh and reasonably priced maki like the mango and gold leaf-topped house tuna roll; the Boylston roll, with tamago (Japanese omelet) and lobster salad; and the “kiss of fire” spicy tuna roll.

370 Boylston St., Brookline, 617-487-8684, chiharusushi.com.

Douzo

Best of Boston winner, 2009 (Best Sushi, Affordable) and 2010 (Best Sushi, Affordable)

If Douzo’s modern, lounge-like dining space doesn’t promptly set an izakaya tone, appetizers like sweet pepper octopus ceviche and torched salmon with a sweet crab meat salad will definitely do the trick. The sushi, though, is also top-tier at this favorite Back Bay sushi spot from late restaurateur Jack Huang—from the toro jalapeño roll, filled with asparagus and layered with torched toro, to the sweet miso yellowtail roll with mango and fried onion. And if it’s a special occasion, start with the XO toro: slices of fatty tuna on a flaming stone, spattered with sturgeon caviar and a spicy sauce.

131 Dartmouth St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-859-8886, douzosushi.com.

Ebi Sushi. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Ebi Sushi

Somerville’s bustling Union Square attracts new diners every day, and they’ve taken notice of a local darling: Ebi Sushi. The spot is beloved for its raved-about torched salmon belly (the bottom dish in the photo above), a 10-piece omakase for $58, and the box-molded Somerville roll, topped with sesame-sprinkled tuna tartare and scallions. A post-pandemic makeover added date-night vibes—with creative cocktails to match. (Note: Ebi will move across the street to an expanded space at 10 Prospect St. around winter 2025-26—and will open a ramen spot called Dashizen adjacent to the new location. The latter is a partnership with ramen chef Tsuyoshi Onishi, who owns Tsurumen in Davis Square.)

290 Somerville Ave., Union Square, Somerville, 617-764-5556, ebisushi.com.

Maki at Fat Baby. / Courtesy photo

Fat Baby

A sleek wood-paneled interior, salmon sashimi with truffle oil, larger-than-life portraiture on the walls, and plenty of sake and sangria—what more could you ask for from an über-mod Asian fusion restaurant from the Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar crew? Along with pan-Asian plates like dumplings and noodles, expect unexpected sushi rolls such as the “golden hour” (torched tuna with asian pear and kimchi sauce) and the “so beefy,” a short rib roll with spicy queso fresco. The vibrant atmosphere is also a prime place for fun drinks like apple soju spritz and the peppery, Ghost tequila-spiked “cry baby.”

118 Dorchester St., South Boston, 617-766-3450, fatbabysouthboston.com.

Seared salmon nigiri from Fuji at Ink Block. / Courtesy photo

Fuji

In 2016, the opening of Fuji at Ink Block marked the transformation of the formerly industrial-commercial South End strip into a hot scene for day and night dining, shopping, and gathering. And as the 10th restaurant opened by chef Jimmy Liang’s JP Fuji Group, Fuji at Ink Block stands out for graceful service and elegant plating, enticing both experts and novices alike for omakase and approachable à la carte menus. The JP Fuji Group’s flagship Fuji at WoC in Quincy Center, meanwhile, is also revered for its fine touch, with specialty maki-menu items like the honey-drizzled “siren’s kiss,” filled with katsu-style tempura shrimp, avocado, and cucumber, and topped with spicy honey-grilled kanikama, scallops, and black tobiko. Find other locations in Cambridge, Somerville, and beyond.

352B Harrison Ave., South End, Boston, 617-936-3282, fujiatinkblock.com; 1420 Hancock St., Quincy, 617-770-1546, fujistwoc.com; and more locations; jpfujigroup.com.

JP Seafood Cafe

Its casual, comfortable dining room is a fine place to unwind, but this Korean-Japanese restaurant is regarded as a reliable takeout mainstay in Jamaica Plain. The sunshine maki is a menu staple and a bright taste of summer, with salmon, lemon, cilantro, and cucumber; that said, there’s a huge menu with something for every craving, from spicy seafood soup to sashimi to a selection of vegetarian maki rolls.

730 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, 617-983-5177, jpseafoodcafe.com.

Karma Asian Fusion’s otoro with caviar truffle. / Photo by Anthony Tieuli

Karma Asian Fusion

Drama is the name of the game as this suburban stunner, a mini-chain with locations in Burlington, Wellesley, and beyond. Each dish is more eye-catching than the last, from tuna nigiri garnished with gold leaf and caviar to giant platters of assorted sushi, sashimi, and wagyu.

Multiple locations, karmaasianfusion.com.

Chirashi with brown rice at Laughing Monk’s Mission Hill location. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Laughing Monk Cafe

Best of Boston winner, 2022

Sushi chef Nick Korboon’s enthusiasm for brown-rice rolls bucks conventional sushi norms, and may perplex traditionalists. Yet his particularly artful constructions, which invoke microgreens and flowers grown in his personal greenhouse, nonetheless entice hungry diners. Though Laughing Monk Cafe also offers a large and can’t-miss Thai food menu, Korboon’s creative maki is a highlight, thanks to selections like the spider roll, composed of soft-shell crab and shiso leaf, with sauce spiked on the plate in the shape of a gauzy spider’s web. Snag a reservation for the omakase for a truly special night—maybe followed by some board games nearby? (Note: Laughing Monk’s Allston location exclusively serves Isan Thai cuisine, so head to Mission Hill or Wellesley for sushi.)

737 Huntington Ave., Mission Hill, Boston, 617-232-8000; 90 Central St., Wellesley, 617-232-8000 x2; laughingmonkcafe.com.

LoLa 42

Along with a robust selection of specialty sushi, this Seaport restaurant—an offshoot of Nantucket’s LoLa 41—serves up a wide-ranging bistro menu that pulls inspiration from countries along the 42nd parallel. That means your table might simultaneously dine on Italian gnocchi Bolognese and Japanese fare. On the latter front, that includes tasty make like the “hoka sake,” a roll of hamachi and avocado topped with torched salmon, unagi sauce, and scallions.

22 Liberty Dr., Seaport District, Boston, 617-951-4002, lola42.com.

Related: The Best Restaurants in Boston’s Seaport and Fort Point

Matsunori Handroll Bar’s miso cod with pumpkin puree and mustard seed. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Matsunori Handroll Bar

As the name suggests, it’s all about the handrolls here. We’re particularly fond of the “O.G. miso cod”—O.G. since it’s been kicking around on the menu since the restaurant’s early 2023 debut. The 72-hour-marinated black cod is torched briefly, yielding caramelized edges, and punched up with unlikely accompaniments of pumpkin purée and pickled mustard seed. But whatever seafood you eat, be sure to save room for one of the A5 wagyu options, a specialty of this restaurant group. (See also: sibling spot Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House in Chinatown, offering all-you-can-eat wagyu hot pot.)

Momi Nonmi

Readers’ Poll Winner, 2025

It’s hard to sum up the offerings at this ultra-petite sushi spot in Inman Square, because chef-owner Chris Chung always has something new and creative up his sleeve. Perhaps you’re settling in for one of the more affordable options, like “Momi’s shiki omakase” at $138/person—a selection of three appetizers, eight nigiri, and a mini kaisen donburi. Or maybe you’re dropping $500+ on the “prestige” option—20 courses highlighting luxury ingredients, aging and house-curing techniques, and rare, luxurious ingredients. Whatever your budget and sushi style of choice, you’ll want to keep an eye on Instagram for the options of the moment; you might even spot the occasional collab with, for example, Momi Nonmi alum Derrick Teh and his Malaysian pop-up Sekali, or other fun events and one-off menus.

1128 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-945-7328, mominonmi.com.

Nagomi Izakaya’s uni spoon. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Nagomi Izakaya

A serene pond and cherry blossom tree inside the entrance of Nagomi sets the tone: Escape the bustle of Kenmore Square to eat high-quality sushi in a space equal parts laidback and classy. The massive menu offers sushi choices both traditional and modern, with touches of luxury—take the “bomb” handroll, for instance, with roasted foie gras, torched scallops, toro, uni, caviar, truffle oil, truffle mayo, truffle, and chives.

636 Beacon St., Suite A, Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-267-8888, nagomiizakaya.com.

Chef Colin Lynch behind the sushi counter at No Relation. / Photo by Reagan Byrne

No Relation

Chef Colin Lynch might be best known for the coastal Italian crudo and pastas at his first restaurant, Bar Mezzana, but he’s a talented sushi chef, too, having honed his slicing and ricing skills with a stint at O Ya. At No Relation, the nine-seat sushi counter housed within his second South End restaurant, Shore Leave, his 14-course omakase offerings—think hamachi nigiri with soy, onion, and black truffles, or sunomono-style aji sashimi with sesame and dashi—showcase the same mastery of flavor combinations that’s earned Bar Mezzana’s crudo so much praise. Bonus: The unexpected selection of unique wines and sake.

11 William E. Mullins Way (located within Shore Leave), South End, Boston, 617-530-1772, norelationboston.com.

Oishii

Best of Boston winner, 2000, 2011, and 2012

As a kid, chef Ting Yen went to work in his father’s restaurant, learning a respect for the culinary arts that has persisted to this day. Of particular importance to Yen and his father was the freshness of their fish, which he picked up from the market each morning. Yen devotes the same careful attention to his own restaurant: Experience his mastery of the craft with creations like savory seared hamachi and truffle maki, or a California roll elevated with real snow crab.

1166 Washington St., South End, 617-482-8868, oishiiboston.com.

Oppa Sushi

This tiny restaurant stowed in a basement on Harvard Avenue continuously exceeds expectations. When in need of affordable, fresh sushi in Allston, pop in for impressive rolls like the “fire Bruins maki,” a shrimp tempura roll tucked in an aluminum foil boat and served flaming hot—literally. Even with folding chair-style seating and eclectic decorations, this humble sushi restaurant has earned its stripes as a neighborhood staple.

185 Harvard Ave., Allston, Boston, 617-207-8960, facebook.com/oppasushigogo.

O Ya. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

O Ya

Best of Boston winner, 2007, 2010 (Best Sushi, Upscale), and 2019

When newbie restaurateurs Tim and Nancy Cushman opened their first restaurant in the Leather District in 2007, they could never have imagined it would be named the best new restaurant in the U.S. And yet, as their company continues to grow with Fenway’s Hojoko, Bianca in Chestnut Hill, and a couple food-hall spots at Time Out Market Boston, their original sushi bar is still the crown jewel. With an extensive sake menu and a hefty price tag (the grand omakase will run you $295 per person, before beverages, tip, etc.), O Ya offers a menu packed with opulent bites that might include house-smoked wagyu nigiri, scallop sashimi with burgundy truffle, and the renowned “legs & eggs” nigiri with Maine lobster legs, white sturgeon caviar, and tomalley aioli.

9 East St., Leather District, Boston, 617-654-9900, o-ya.restaurant.

Phat Thaiger’s DIY temaki setup, including A5 wagyu nam tok, unagi foie gras, uni ikura, scallop tom kha, ika salted egg, and more. On the side, two of the restaurant’s nonalcoholic drinks: Momoiro Sparkle, with strawberry puree and soda water, and a matcha latte. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Phat Thaiger

What happens when you fuse Thai and Japanese cuisines? A whole lot of fun, from khao soi maki to DIY temaki (handrolls) stuffed with tom kha scallops, A5 wagyu nam tok, and more. This new venture from the team behind Malden Thai restaurants Crying Thaiger and Thaiger Den puts some of the tastiest bits of both cuisines in an izakaya-like space, resulting in a festive spot for dates and groups to celebrate over wasabi martinis and shochu highballs.

166 Eastern Ave., Malden, instagram.com/phat.thaiger.izankaya.

Madai usuzukuri (cured sea bream) (left) and Nantucket Bay scallop ceviche at Ruka Restobar. / Photos by Toan Trinh

Ruka Restobar

The ultra-modern yet earthy decor of Ruka’s dining room is compelling and complementary, just like the nikkei menu of Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine. On the sushi menu, that results in a few rolls distinctive for their South American touch, like the “nasu dragon” with panko-fried eggplant, shiso chimichurri, and aji verde. Located in the Godfrey Hotel, Ruka comes from the team behind Yvonne’s, Coquette, and other glam spots.

505 Washington St., Downtown Crossing, Boston, 617-266-0102, rukarestobar.com.

Sushi Sang Lee

Sushi lovers flock north to Gloucester to chef Sang Hyun Lee’s eight-seat counter to explore Edomae-style sushi highlighting the seafood bounty of both New England and Japan. Some ingredients are sourced right from Gloucester, the nation’s oldest fishing village, such as monkfish liver, while Hokkaido uni, goldeneye snapper, and others are imported. Lee takes diners through 18 minimalist, hyper-seasonal courses. Note: BYOB.

76 Prospect St., Gloucester, 978-381-3818, sushisanglee.com.

Related: Top 5 Seafood Restaurants in Gloucester

Sushi @ Temple Records’ nigiri: hon-maguro chutoro (medium fatty bluefin tuna) from Mexico, kanpachi (amberjack) from Hawaii, and hon-maguro akami (bluefin tuna) from North Carolina. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Sushi @ Temple Records

Restaurateurs Jamie Bissonnette, Andy Cartin, and Babak Bina decided to drop a whole trio of new restaurants on Downtown Crossing in early 2024, and somehow they pulled off a hat trick, with each as excellent as the others. Below their listening lounge Temple Records, a subterranean sushi bar draws inspiration from the Tokyo neighborhood of Ginza, where Bissonnette recounts stumbling on lots of great sushi spots hidden downstairs. Sushi @ Temple Records is as minimalist as its name: “There’s so much great omakase and so much innovative new-style sushi out there that sometimes I long for a place like where you could go in the Osaka subway and just get a simple plate of shiso, uni, and umeboshi,” Bissonnette told us shortly before opening the place. “Generally, [our menu] is all pretty minimalistic and traditional. We don’t want it to feel precious.”

17 Temple Pl., Downtown Crossing, Boston, 857-449-9003, sushiattemplerecords.com.

311 Omakase’s kegani (horsehair crab) uni caviar. / Photo by Anna Arriaga

Three 1 One

Descend to the basement of a South End brownstone for a reservation-only, intimate omakase journey that might include rarely-seen-in-Boston seafood like kegani (horsehair crab), served with uni and caviar. Open since 2023, this is the first restaurant for chef and owner Wei Fa Chen, who honed his Japanese culinary knowledge under Masayoshi Takayama at Masa in New York. The sushi skills and warm hospitality will have you believe Chen and Three 1 One have been here for much longer than two years.

605 Tremont St., South End, Boston, 781-831-0311, 311boston.com.

Umami owner Gary Lei torches some fish. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Umami Omakase

Best of Boston winner, 2021 and 2023

In the fall of 2019, the longtime Cambridge home of Hana Sushi became a new, dream restaurant by chef Gary Lei (formerly of Uni): Umami Omakase is an intimate spot offering progressive, set menus driven by the freshest ingredients. Can’t splurge on a full dine-in experience? Umami also offers some takeout, including mini omakase and various à la carte nigiri and don.

2372 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-868-2121, umamiomakase.com.

A variety of nigiri at Uni. / Courtesy photo

Uni

Best of Boston winner, 2009, 2016, 2017, and 2024

The best way to experience Back Bay’s modern izakaya, overseen by chef-restaurateur Ken Oringer and executive chef David Bazirgan, is the daily tasting—about a dozen eclectic courses of both sushi and non-sushi. The restaurant’s signature uni spoon (with caviar and quail egg yolk) tends to kick things off, followed by surprising combos like hiramasa with rhubarb yogurt and cherry or branzino with canteloupe aguachile. As you get deeper into the feast, the kitchen takes over with, say, squid ink lo mein studded with surf clam and chorizo, or Colorado lamb loin with morels. Add an intriguing cocktail or two, and it’ll really be a party.

370A Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, 617-536-7200, uni-boston.com.

Wa Shin. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Wa Shin

Best of Boston winner, 2025 (Best Sushi, Classy)

Executive chef Sky Zheng arrived in Boston with a resume any aspiring sushi chef would envy, mentored by Daisuke Nakazawa (behind the Michelin-starred New York restaurant Sushi Nakazawa), who in turn was mentored by Jiro Ono (of Jiro Dreams of Sushi fame). The pedigree is evident as you sit at the hinoki counter and dine your way through approximately 18 seasonal, wonderful courses, with Zheng and his team providing warm service throughout.

222 Stuart St., Downtown Boston, 857-289-9290, washinboston.com.

Washoku Renaissance

Chef Youji Iwakura closed his ambitious modern kaiseki restaurant Kamakura during the pandemic, so it’s been a real delight to see him resurface at a tucked-away Charlestown food hall, serving seasonal, narrative kaiseki and omakase experiences depending on the night. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, he tends to offer a laidback “Tokyo downtown sushi club” with 15-plus “introductory omakase” courses, mostly nigiri with some other bites. More elaborate omakase and kaiseki meals come out to play on the weekends. Whichever you choose, there’ll be plenty of conversation, fun, and—most importantly—the freshest, most delicious fish.

32 Cambridge St. (Foundation Kitchen at the Graphic Lofts), Charlestown, Boston, washokurenaissance.com.

XOXO Sushi Bar’s hiramasa. / Photo by Joe St.Pierre

XOXO Sushi

Executive chef Kegan Stritchko took what he learned at Uni, Fat Baby, and other sushi spots and headed to Chestnut Hill to open one of our favorite restaurants west of Boston. Here, he offers a playful spin on the Edomae-style sushi traditions (which involves various curing and aging techniques). The cooked dishes are worth trying, too, from robatayaki (charcoal-grilled dishes such as pork belly with sweet chili miso or brown sugar soy chicken thighs) to wagyu porcini dumplings.

1154 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-505-3378, xoxosushi.com.

Chefs prepare a wagyu, truffle, and maitake appetizer at Yoshida. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Yoshida

This summer 2025 debut feels quite upscale (from the pricing, $300 per person, to the “smart business” dress code, to the hushed soundtrack), but the friendly staff will have you feeling right at home by the time you hit the third or fourth appetizer in the 18-course omakase. While Yoshida comes from the same owner as Karma (see above), it doesn’t share the theatrics of its older sibling. Yoshida’s nigiri is simple and traditional, letting the fish’s natural flavors star. A bit of wasabi, a brush of nikiri shoyu—that’s about it, aside from the occasional squeeze of lime or dab of sea salt, depending on the course. Try a carafe of sake, served in beautiful glassware, to accompany the meal; we enjoy the mellow Dassai 39 from Yamaguchi, which seamlessly pairs with every course.

51 Massachusetts Ave., Back Bay, Boston, yoshidaomakase.com.

With additional research by Marley Penagos