Open since 2011, Ebi Sushi is a neighborhood favorite in Somerville's Union Square. The always-cheerful spot features ample seating, kind servers, and — most importantly — great sushi. Sit at the sushi bar and order any of the day's specials, especially if there’s torched salmon belly. The owners are longtime alums of the now-defunct Blue Fin in Cambridge's Porter Exchange. There are plenty of solid options from the kitchen, too, so feel free to bring friends who don't want to eat raw seafood. As of late 2017, Ebi also has a Fenway sibling, Sushi Kappo, a counter-service spot that features sushi burritos.

It's common to spot industry folks at this old kid on the block (open since 1984). Ask nearly any chef in town; many will say that Cafe Sushi is the best not-so-hidden gem around. Diners will certainly be satisfied ordering from the menu, but the real reason to go is the epic omakase, a seemingly endless parade of dishes that alternate between traditional and unusual — and at an extremely reasonable price. Depending on the day's catch, the omakase can ring in as low as $75. Want to spend a little bit less? Try a chef's sampler for $15 or $20, smaller arrays of creative sushi and sashimi. Bonus: The place is newly renovated.

Seeking to devour giant portions of affordably priced sushi? Look no further than takeout/delivery staple Super Fusion Cuisine in Watertown. (Note: Though once part of a small local chain, this location is no longer affiliated with the other Super Fusion restaurant in Brookline or the recently shuttered ones in Cambridge and Jamaica Plain.)

It's not just the former name (Thelonious Monkfish) that includes a music reference: Prepare to eat Mood Indigo maki, Gaga's monster rolls, and Monk's Dream rolls, not to mention the fairy tale collection — Sleeping Beauty rolls, Red Riding Hood rolls, and beyond. Of course there's frequent live jazz as well. Aside from sushi, the Mad Monkfish menu also offers a huge variety of Asian fusion cuisine.

Open since 2001, this classic Watertown spot complements its sushi selection — which features a number of non-traditional rolls — with noodle and rice dishes and other entrees, including some that can be grilled by diners right at the table.

This elegant San Francisco import opened in late 2016 and is already holding its own among Boston's established high-end sushi scene. Be prepared to spend a lot for the impeccable sushi at Pabu (not to mention fancy steaks and robatayaki — a variety of skewered things). Try the eight-course omakase for $99 per person.

At Ruka — one of the most attractive spaces in Downtown Crossing — it’s all about Nikkei cuisine, the intersection between Peruvian and Japanese food. On the sushi side of the equation, that means rolls made with Asian pear, avocado, and crispy rock shrimp, or yellowfin tuna with cucumber and puffed quinoa, or spicy salmon with hamachi and coconut. Plus, there’s a killer cocktail list.

This nearly decade-old Allston staple, a tiny space helmed by a couple of Oishii alums, is always a crowd-pleaser, featuring lovely dishes that push the bounds of tradition (as well as some more classic options). There are some hot dishes from the kitchen, too, for those in the mood for something other than sushi.

The ultimate in special occasion sushi, O Ya will take your wallet, politely squeeze hundreds of dollars out of it, and hand it back to you, along with hours and hours and courses and courses of gorgeous, high-end dishes. The biggest splurge, the grand omakase, costs $285 per person (before drinks, tax, and gratuity) — 22 perfect little courses, ending with a chocolate and foie gras creation that is unlike any sushi you've ever seen or tasted. (An a la carte menu is also available if the omakase or grand omakase tastings are too extreme.) Pay some attention to the restaurant's sophisticated sake program as well. Further reading: The Road to the 38: O Ya in Boston by Eater's restaurant editor Bill Addison. (For something a lot more casual, check out O Ya’s energetic little sibling, Hojoko, in Fenway, which serves a variety of fun sushi and sashimi options, not to mention DIY “lazy susan handrolls” and “wasabi roulette.”)

Avana provides solid sushi at decent prices — especially when it comes to lunch combos — but the real charm is its location. It's part of a weird little food court in Chinatown, sharing space with a cell phone vendor, an egg puff cart, and a few other options. You'll feel like you've stumbled into a truly secret place, and your reward will be good sushi that won't break the bank. Don't forget to leave them some art on a plate. Or head to Avana's newer, larger location in Downtown Crossing.

Fish Market doesn’t hold the monopoly on Allston sushi: Oppa, right on bustling Harvard Avenue, is another neighborhood favorite. It debuted in mid-2014 and serves a giant menu of sushi — including plenty of combos and boats — as well as Korean food, including bibimbap and lots more. Keep an eye out for specials.

The focus at this calming basement hideaway is kaisen don, rice bowls topped with sashimi, but Tora’s love of raw seafood and rice extends to poke bowls, sushi, and sashimi as well. Sushi lovers can’t go wrong with any of the options.

Truffles and caviar. Wagyu and quail eggs. At Uni, which expanded into its big sibling Clio's space in early 2016, Ken Oringer and Tony Messina offer beautiful sushi made with luxurious ingredients (and a big price tag to match). Feeling extra spendy? Go for a full caviar service ($125 and up) or omakase ($135 and up). On the opposite end of the price spectrum, Uni has a popular late-night menu (ramen and more) from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

This Back Bay destination has been charming sushi lovers for over a decade, hospitably serving up a variety of sushi, sashimi, and special rolls, such as the neighborhood homage, the Back Bay: asparagus, cucumber, and avocado with seared tuna and wasabi mayo. It's an easy lunch choice for those in the area thanks to the variety of sushi combos and bento boxes available.

With locations in Brookline, Cambridge's Alewife area, downtown Boston, Dedham's Legacy Place, and now Somerville’s Davis Square as well, Genki Ya has been serving sushi all around town for years. (The original location opened in Brookline in 2008.) Genki Ya's focus is organic ingredients. The menu offers gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options as well, and all sushi can be made with brown or multigrain rice upon request.

This swanky addition to the JP Fuji Group is located at the Ink Block development in the South End, where it offers up attractively plated sushi, including four- to six-piece composed sets of "finer nigiri" (such as toro with caviar and gold flakes) and omakase that runs from $100 to $200 per person depending on the number of courses. There are also a variety of other combinations and sushi boats available, as well as a la carte ordering. Look for Fuji’s sister spots in Quincy, Cambridge, and Somerville.

Its tiny older sibling in Chestnut Hill closed in late 2018 after 20 years of accolades, saddening a loyal fan base, but the larger and flashier South End location of Oishii is still going strong, full of gold flakes, foie gras, and things on fire.

With ties to other nearby hot spots Loco and Lincoln, Fat Baby is a fun, noisy spot for non-traditional sushi (not to mention dishes influenced by the cuisines of several Asian countries, from tonkotsu ramen to kung pao Brussels sprouts). Sushi rolls include the miso Philly (smoked salmon, miso cream cheese, cucumber, and caper dill crema), the sneaky Russian (butter-basted scallops, black garlic aioli, cilantro, avocado, and jicama salsa), the so beefy (short rib, spicy queso fresco, and stout aioli), and more.

Laughing Monk Cafe features two chefs named Nick, one of whom specializes in sushi while the other specializes in Thai food. This fairly new Brigham Circle spot has quietly gained a following for its impressive omakase in particular — but good luck getting in for the omakase, as reservations tend to book up pretty far in advance. There’s plenty of sushi on the regular menu as well, and it’s all made with brown rice.