There’s no shortage of seafood in the Boston area, and sushi has carved out quite a niche for itself among the lobster rolls, 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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Boston’s 14 Best Sushi Restaurants
From simple perfection to mountains of gold flakes and truffles

Sushi Kappo Toraya
At this lowkey sushi establishment, chef and owner Shinji Muraki has helmed the kitchen since 1999 at its first location in Arlington, which amassed a local cult following. Fast forward to 2023, and Kyoto-born chef Muraki is still behind the counter making sushi but the shop has moved into a brighter, more airy spot on Mass. Ave with added seating. The place offers a good selection of dishes, some giving away Mr. Muraki’s Kansai roots, such as the broiled fish marinated in saikyo miso, which originated in Kyoto. But be sure to leave room to sample a few sushi a la carte, each carefully prepared by chef Muraki himself.
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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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.
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.
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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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Blue Ribbon Sushi
Hailing from New York City, the flagship brand of the restaurant group Blue Ribbon Restaurants takes over the space that previously housed beloved cocktail bar the Hawthorne. The well-executed menu features sushi a la carte, maki rolls, or chef’s choice platters. If you aren’t feeling seafood, the restaurant also offers wagyu and vegetable rolls.
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.
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Matsunori Handroll Bar
This newly opened restaurant serves temaki-style sushi, which typically consists of rice and a piece of sashimi or other toppings wrapped in nori and served as a handroll. The handroll options are plentiful, from crab legs to A5-grade wagyu from co-owner Kevin Liu’s farm in Miyazaki, a prefecture known for its highly coveted breed of wagyu.
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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.)
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.