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Five different pieces of nigiri are lined up on a long black rectangular plate on a wooden table. — Nigiri at Ebi Sushi in Somerville.

The 16 Best Sushi Restaurants in the Boston Area

From simple perfection to mountains of gold flakes and truffles

by Eater Staff Updated Feb 8, 2023, 4:11pm EST

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Nigiri at Ebi Sushi in Somerville.

| Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

by Eater Staff Updated Feb 8, 2023, 4:11pm EST

There's no shortage of seafood in the Boston area, and sushi has carved out quite a niche for itself among the lobster rolls and fried clams and crudos of the region. Want to go on a Boston sushi journey? Here's some of the best around, spanning a variety of neighborhoods, prices, and styles. From a quick order of salmon sashimi to an hours-long omakase feast, there's something for every sushi lover.

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Umami Omakase

Only open since late 2019, Umami Omakase is a fairly new addition to the Boston area’s high-end omakase scene, but the young spot has been wowing diners since day one. Uni alum Gary Lei is at the helm, and plenty of luxury ingredients come out to play, from wagyu to foie gras. Umami is currently offering only 18-course omakase meals for dine-in customers, no a la carte options. A la carte items are available for takeout, though, which you must preorder at least a day ahead of time.

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2372 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

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A rare, barely torched piece of A5 wagyu sits atop white rice at a sushi bar — A5 wagyu at Umami Omakase.

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Washoku Renaissance at Foundation Kitchen

Chef Youji Iwakura’s outstanding downtown Boston Japanese restaurant Kamakura has sadly closed, but fans can still experience his sushi skills via takeout at Foundation Kitchen, a shared culinary workspace in Charlestown. Keep an eye on the schedule and plan ahead for modern sushi and chirashi takeout boxes.

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3 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Ebi Sushi

Open since 2011, Ebi Sushi is a neighborhood favorite in Somerville's Union Square, and it got a really snazzy remodel in 2021, making it a great spot for a date night. 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.

290 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

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A pyramid of sushi rolls topped with a crunchy coating sits on a large black plank, which also holds several pieces of nigiri — Omakase nigiri and volcano roll at Ebi Sushi.

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Momi Nonmi

Momi Nonmi opened in late 2017 as a cozy little izakaya in Inman Square with just a few sashimi options among items like grilled meat skewers, rice balls, and hints of Hawaiian cuisine, not to mention an enviable sake list. Over the course of the pandemic, though, the restaurant has doubled down on sushi, offering extensive omakase meals — currently available for dine-in as well as takeout, which you need to preorder at least 24 hours in advance — and some a la carte sashimi, too.

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1128 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Very thinly sliced circles of daikon are arranged in a delicate circle on a black plate with raw black sea bass piled in the middle with some other ingredients. — “The rose,” a dish previously available at Momi Nonmi, featuring black sea bass, daikon, aka nori, smoked tea ponzu, and tsukemon.

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Cafe Sushi

Ask any chef in town: Many will say that Cafe Sushi — open for the better part of four decades — is the best not-so-hidden gem around. In pre-COVID times, the reason to go was the epic omakase, a seemingly endless parade of dishes that alternated between traditional and unusual. During the pandemic, Cafe Sushi pivoted to only doing takeout and delivery, which is how they’re serving up the sushi now, including a variety of chef’s choice samplers, bento boxes, and maki.

1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Visit Website

Three pieces of sushi are lined up on a speckled blue-ish gray plate. A carafe of sake is visible in the background. — One course of omakase at Cafe Sushi, from left: kanpachi with aged soy, poblano taki-miso, kaiware; o-toro with aged soy, shiso, hon-wasabi; shima aji with wasabi oil, mint orange.

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The Mad Monkfish

Though this restaurant is no longer named Thelonious Monkfish, it retains other music references: Prepare to eat Mood Indigo maki, Gaga's Monster rolls, and Monk's Dream rolls. Plus, there’s live jazz on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Aside from sushi, the Mad Monkfish menu also offers a huge variety of Asian fusion cuisine.

524 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Ruka

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 avocado, aji amarillo mayo, and crispy rock shrimp, for example, as well as yellowfin tuna with cucumber and puffed quinoa.

505 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111

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A round plate of sushi is garnished with an orchid and chile oil. — A pretty plate of sushi at Ruka.

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Fish Market Sushi Bar

Over a decade old, this tiny Allston staple, helmed by a couple of Oishii alums, remains 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.

170 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Several pieces of sashimi sit on a white plate on a wooden counter — A sashimi lunch combo at Fish Market.

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O Ya

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 of gorgeous, high-end dishes. Pay attention to the restaurant's sophisticated sake program as well.

9 East St, Boston, MA 02111

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Several pieces of lobster sushi topped with caviar sit on a white plate. — O Ya’s “legs and eggs.”

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Oppa Sushi

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.

Open in Google Maps

185 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Uni

Truffles and caviar. Wagyu and quail eggs. At Uni, which expanded into its big sibling Clio's space in early 2016, Ken Oringer and David Bazirgan offer beautiful sushi made with luxurious ingredients and a price tag to match. This one’s a worthy special-occasion splurge — or any night you’re feeling a little fancy.

370 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

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Also featured in:

Douzo

This Back Bay destination has been charming sushi lovers for over a decade, 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.

131 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Best Boston-Area Sushi Available for Takeout or Delivery

Oishii

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 sushi, foie gras, and things on fire.

Open in Google Maps

1166 Washington St #110, Boston, MA 02118

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Raw salmon is draped over a wooden dowel suspended above a fire, which is searing the fish — Flaming salmon at Oishii Boston.

Laughing Monk Cafe

This Brigham Circle spot has quietly gained a following for its impressive omakase in particular, which can be ordered for takeout and delivery. There’s plenty of sushi on the regular menu as well, and it’s all made with brown rice. (Laughing Monk has a second sushi spot in Wellesley.)

Open in Google Maps

737 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

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A single piece of sushi sits on a turquoise plate with dots of a yellow sauce to its side — The Golden Naga at Laughing Monk Cafe.

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Chiharu Sushi & Noodle

Open since mid-2017, Chiharu is owned by Mei Pan, of Allston’s now-defunct May’s Cafe, and Qun Li, an alum of Haru and Mix-It. At this Brookline restaurant, the duo is serving up plenty of sushi alongside ramen and more, all the while maintaining stellar ratings across all corners of the internet. Chiharu is the ideal solution when one part of the group is in the mood for sushi and others are looking for noodle-filled soups.

Open in Google Maps

370 Boylston St, Brookline, MA 02445

Visit Website

JP Seafood Cafe

A pre-2000 old-timer, JP Seafood Cafe has been pleasing throngs of Jamaica Plain fish lovers for decades. Filled with aquariums and artwork, JP Seafood Cafe offers a large range of sushi, both traditional and a little outside the box, as well as Korean and Japanese snacks and entrees from the kitchen.

730 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Visit Website

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Umami Omakase

2372 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Only open since late 2019, Umami Omakase is a fairly new addition to the Boston area’s high-end omakase scene, but the young spot has been wowing diners since day one. Uni alum Gary Lei is at the helm, and plenty of luxury ingredients come out to play, from wagyu to foie gras. Umami is currently offering only 18-course omakase meals for dine-in customers, no a la carte options. A la carte items are available for takeout, though, which you must preorder at least a day ahead of time.

Open in Google Maps

2372 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Visit Website

A rare, barely torched piece of A5 wagyu sits atop white rice at a sushi bar — A5 wagyu at Umami Omakase.

Washoku Renaissance at Foundation Kitchen

3 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

Chef Youji Iwakura’s outstanding downtown Boston Japanese restaurant Kamakura has sadly closed, but fans can still experience his sushi skills via takeout at Foundation Kitchen, a shared culinary workspace in Charlestown. Keep an eye on the schedule and plan ahead for modern sushi and chirashi takeout boxes.

Open in Google Maps

3 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

Ebi Sushi

290 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Open since 2011, Ebi Sushi is a neighborhood favorite in Somerville's Union Square, and it got a really snazzy remodel in 2021, making it a great spot for a date night. 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.

290 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

A pyramid of sushi rolls topped with a crunchy coating sits on a large black plank, which also holds several pieces of nigiri — Omakase nigiri and volcano roll at Ebi Sushi.

Momi Nonmi

1128 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Momi Nonmi opened in late 2017 as a cozy little izakaya in Inman Square with just a few sashimi options among items like grilled meat skewers, rice balls, and hints of Hawaiian cuisine, not to mention an enviable sake list. Over the course of the pandemic, though, the restaurant has doubled down on sushi, offering extensive omakase meals — currently available for dine-in as well as takeout, which you need to preorder at least 24 hours in advance — and some a la carte sashimi, too.

Open in Google Maps

1128 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Very thinly sliced circles of daikon are arranged in a delicate circle on a black plate with raw black sea bass piled in the middle with some other ingredients. — “The rose,” a dish previously available at Momi Nonmi, featuring black sea bass, daikon, aka nori, smoked tea ponzu, and tsukemon.

Cafe Sushi

1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Ask any chef in town: Many will say that Cafe Sushi — open for the better part of four decades — is the best not-so-hidden gem around. In pre-COVID times, the reason to go was the epic omakase, a seemingly endless parade of dishes that alternated between traditional and unusual. During the pandemic, Cafe Sushi pivoted to only doing takeout and delivery, which is how they’re serving up the sushi now, including a variety of chef’s choice samplers, bento boxes, and maki.

1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Visit Website

Three pieces of sushi are lined up on a speckled blue-ish gray plate. A carafe of sake is visible in the background. — One course of omakase at Cafe Sushi, from left: kanpachi with aged soy, poblano taki-miso, kaiware; o-toro with aged soy, shiso, hon-wasabi; shima aji with wasabi oil, mint orange.

The Mad Monkfish

524 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Though this restaurant is no longer named Thelonious Monkfish, it retains other music references: Prepare to eat Mood Indigo maki, Gaga's Monster rolls, and Monk's Dream rolls. Plus, there’s live jazz on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Aside from sushi, the Mad Monkfish menu also offers a huge variety of Asian fusion cuisine.

524 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Ruka

505 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111

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 avocado, aji amarillo mayo, and crispy rock shrimp, for example, as well as yellowfin tuna with cucumber and puffed quinoa.

505 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111

Visit Website

A round plate of sushi is garnished with an orchid and chile oil. — A pretty plate of sushi at Ruka.

Fish Market Sushi Bar

170 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Over a decade old, this tiny Allston staple, helmed by a couple of Oishii alums, remains 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.

170 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Several pieces of sashimi sit on a white plate on a wooden counter — A sashimi lunch combo at Fish Market.

O Ya

9 East St, Boston, MA 02111

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 of gorgeous, high-end dishes. Pay attention to the restaurant's sophisticated sake program as well.

9 East St, Boston, MA 02111

Visit Website

Several pieces of lobster sushi topped with caviar sit on a white plate. — O Ya’s “legs and eggs.”

Oppa Sushi

185 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134

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.

Open in Google Maps

185 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Uni

370 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Truffles and caviar. Wagyu and quail eggs. At Uni, which expanded into its big sibling Clio's space in early 2016, Ken Oringer and David Bazirgan offer beautiful sushi made with luxurious ingredients and a price tag to match. This one’s a worthy special-occasion splurge — or any night you’re feeling a little fancy.

370 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

Douzo

131 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

This Back Bay destination has been charming sushi lovers for over a decade, 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.

131 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Oishii

1166 Washington St #110, Boston, MA 02118

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 sushi, foie gras, and things on fire.

Open in Google Maps

1166 Washington St #110, Boston, MA 02118

Visit Website

Raw salmon is draped over a wooden dowel suspended above a fire, which is searing the fish — Flaming salmon at Oishii Boston.

Laughing Monk Cafe

737 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

This Brigham Circle spot has quietly gained a following for its impressive omakase in particular, which can be ordered for takeout and delivery. There’s plenty of sushi on the regular menu as well, and it’s all made with brown rice. (Laughing Monk has a second sushi spot in Wellesley.)

Open in Google Maps

737 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

Visit Website

A single piece of sushi sits on a turquoise plate with dots of a yellow sauce to its side — The Golden Naga at Laughing Monk Cafe.

Chiharu Sushi & Noodle

370 Boylston St, Brookline, MA 02445

Open since mid-2017, Chiharu is owned by Mei Pan, of Allston’s now-defunct May’s Cafe, and Qun Li, an alum of Haru and Mix-It. At this Brookline restaurant, the duo is serving up plenty of sushi alongside ramen and more, all the while maintaining stellar ratings across all corners of the internet. Chiharu is the ideal solution when one part of the group is in the mood for sushi and others are looking for noodle-filled soups.

Open in Google Maps

370 Boylston St, Brookline, MA 02445

Visit Website

Related Maps

JP Seafood Cafe

730 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

A pre-2000 old-timer, JP Seafood Cafe has been pleasing throngs of Jamaica Plain fish lovers for decades. Filled with aquariums and artwork, JP Seafood Cafe offers a large range of sushi, both traditional and a little outside the box, as well as Korean and Japanese snacks and entrees from the kitchen.

730 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Visit Website

Related Maps