50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Allston

“For spicy lovers, Gamjatang and Shrimp Papaya Salad are recommended! Must try!!!“

“Spontaneously chose place after my graduation. First time being here. Party of 10 and we all enjoy ourselves, and the food. Our servers were friendly and organized. Definitely a place reserved for celebrations, our bill was over $600.

Side note: if they had a buffet style, One Price all you can eat, it would be realistic to come here more often. I like a balance between quality and practicality. The quality was good, but not practical on a consistent basis due to the high (accumulative) prices. Everything is priced individualy and separately, including the broth. This can add up quickly. Hope this helps!“

“This is honestly my favorite place! The two owners are always so kind and welcoming, and they make every visit feel special. The food is absolutely delicious, the portions are generous, and everything is always fresh and clean. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get.

I truly hope the two owners stay here for many, many years because this place has become my go-to spot. Highly recommend! ❤️“

“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.“

“The additional noodle option was very worth it (nearly doubles the amount) and the soup base for the Umami Ramen is delicately seasoned and has a rich taste. Crew was also extremely friendly and helpful, a flawless experience for the price point.“

“This was our second time dining at Ebi Sushi, and just like our first visit, everything was fantastic. The food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared every time. Our server, Amanda, was wonderful friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. It’s service like hers that really adds to the experience. Jose, the owner, has truly outdone himself with this place. You can tell he takes great pride in what he’s built from the quality of the dishes to the amazing team that brings it all together. We’ll definitely be back again before the new location opens, and we’re looking forward to visiting that one as well. Ebi Sushi has become one of our favorite date night spots consistently great food, great people, and a great vibe. 🍣❤️“

“Run don't walk to Pagu for absolutely scrumptious food that weaves together Japanese and Spanish Basques Cuisines! A must order is the Tuna Collar - I've never had anything like it - it's huge, great for a crowd, bone-suckingly good (literally have done that) served with rice and nori! Also make sure you don't miss Tracy Chang's homemade nonalcoholic sparking teas - my favorites are the genmaicha and the hojicha - again I've never tasted a drink like this anywhere else. And then you have to end the night with a Basque Cheesecake - I particularly love when Pagu makes a seasonal Matcha or Ube Basque cheesecake! Pagu's dishes and drinks are across the board innovative but also welcoming and absolutely delicious!“

“This place doesn’t get enough play, (selfishly) I’m ok with that. I don’t need Mai to get busier than it already is.

Drinks are awesome. Food is unreal. Service is top notch…never a bad time/meal.

The host/hostess, bartenders, runners, and everyone here are the best. Ashley is THE best. Cannot recommend this place enough.“

“This was one of the BEST omakase experiences I have ever had. The attention to detail was extraordinary. I ate at several two and three star Michelin restaurants last summer in France and I was happier with my dining experience at Umami. The quality of ingredients is absolutely stellar and it is truly a treat for all the senses. Go!!“

“Decided to go out for dinner with a few friends and it was delicious. I liked the citrus dressing on the avocado salad. The filet mignon was tender and flavorful. For dessert, green tea ice cream is a must!“

“We sat at the bar and were assisted throughout the evening by Zenish who was a great tour guide for our evening. Every recommendation he made was spot on. We eat sushi regularly but it is still in a lot of ways new to us, having help on what to choose and the order in which to choose it was just amazing.

The food was spectacular in every respect. This will be a regular spot for us.“

“Unfortunately, my party made the waitress' job harder than it had to be. Thankfully, she decided to still give us the best customer service possible and even took the time to come chat with us. I am so glad she was gracious to us. I got the takoyaki and duck udon noodles and I love that the duck was both crispy and juicy. I will definitely be back.“

“Kenzoku Mazesoba is a great eatery for comforting, brothless ramen (mazesoba). The interior is bright and the staff are accommodating.

The meal started with three warm Kurobuta sausages that were topped with pickled red cabbage and a mustard-based sauce over fresh greens. Overall, a well-rounded appetizer with a nice balance of textures, richness, and acid.

Next, the torched Hamachi roll had fresh fish slices laid on a roll and then torched. The hamachi was then topped with black tobiko and complemented with fresh ginger and wasabi. The roll was light and tasty.

The Yuzu Shio Ramen was the standout and featured braised pork chashu and a delicious poached egg. The medium-bodied noodles were a pleasant to chew with the toppings.

The vegetable mazesoba (vegan) included tofu soboro, mix of corn, quinoa, red pickles, and other goodies. It was a lighter flavor and we appreciated the opportunity to order the truffle oil on the side.

Overall, recommended for a casual and pleasant dinner among family and friends. The food quality and atmosphere make this hidden gem a great choice.“

“I recently visited this omakase restaurant and was truly impressed. The quality of the fish they use is exceptional, and I enjoyed every single dish they prepared. The presentation of each course was beautiful and thoughtful, adding to the overall dining experience. The atmosphere in the restaurant is cozy and inviting, and the service was excellent—attentive, friendly, and professional. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a top-notch omakase experienced! 10/10“

“Gyu-Kaku is always a fun time, but our server Andy L really made tonight's visit spectacular! Consistently checking in and refilling our water, changing our grill 3 times so that we could have the best flavor on our premium meats, and he was so charismatic and funny to boot! When we had questions about the best sauce to pair with each meat, he was so knowledgeable. And wildly patient when we took a little longer than planned to drink our pitcher - we will be back again SOON!!!“

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

“Overall ingredients + service + ambiance, I give it 3 stars 🌟🌟🌟 (Hawaii's is a bit better 😆🌺)“

“I love their food jun our server she is great“

“レベル高いうまさです“

“We enjoyed our meal at Judy’s Bay. We got the scallop crudo, the gochujang mussels (great flavors), the lobster roe pasta (good), the oyster mushrooms (relatively plain), and the stuffed hake (very good). For the price, I would have expected the dishes to be a little more complex. We were a group of three and it was a full but light meal, and we paid about $55 per person including tip. The servers were very good - they gave unhurried advice on the menu, they were unobtrusive when refilling our water glasses, and they always preemptively brought clean dishes when we needed them.“

“I was lucky enough to be able to host a private event with 311 for my birthday and they exceeded my expectations! Chef was able to create an incredible menu with a diversity of dishes and flavors. We were also fully enveloped in an extremely high level of service. The attention to detail on plating, quality of the bites and table management were unmatched. Having dinner here is an experience not to be missed!“

“This small Japanese husband-and-wife business, which has been running for 34 years, is closing down this June due to retirement, so I rushed over for a meal.

Pork Cutlet Curry: The restaurant specializes in fried foods, with the pork cutlet being their absolute signature dish. Although the cutlets were on the thinner, leaner side, each one was fried to order, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, fragrant but not greasy. The breadcrumbs were especially fluffy and light, bursting with flavor on the palate, which was incredibly satisfying. The curry was authentic Japanese curry—rich, mild, and slightly spicy with a distinct fruity aroma, perfectly suited to my taste. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for a runny egg for the $2 additional egg; otherwise, it would have been even better. And at only $15 a serving, including a salad/miso soup, it's incredibly good value for money, perfect for lunch.

Fried Oysters: Also crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the oysters were fresh and juicy. The lemon juice and salad dressing were refreshing. I felt they were even more delicious than the pork cutlet.

The place is located in Lesley University's Main Hall and has only four tables, so you may have to wait.“

“This is a true gem. This is our first time but will not be the last. The sushi is made to perfection. We had sushi, super fresh, udon with beef and chicken katzu. Dessert was fried ice cream!!! The place is small so reservations are recommended.“

“Definitely some of the freshest and tastiest seafood and innovative sushi and asian food I've had in a while, very fresh and tasty!“

“Yoki in Medford is the best Sushi by far Staff is totally awesome and the place is so so clean and their sushi chefs are spot on service is exceptional and very friendly ownership cares about about your dining experience cant miss place you will not be disappointed go and enjoy. we have been a customer for years and love everyone there DiNonna Inc Joe & Rosemary“

“Chiharu House Roll! Almost too pretty to eat. Almost.“

“Great food as always, and the staff are really nice once you walk into the restaurant they always say hi to you“

“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“

“Omori hits again. I frequented the location in Brookline when I lived in the city. Now that I’m outside the city, I was so pleased to see Omori had another location. Service is friendly and efficient. The food is incredible too! Highly recommend any of the yakitori!“

“Genuinely don’t understand why this place is empty save for my family when we come in - The waiters are attentive, and the food and milk tea are both spectacular. They offer a lot more options than most sushi restaurants as well! Seems like a really lovely family business and I would definitely recommend.“

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

“Great food and great service“

“Underrated!!
Service is so friendly and communicates very well on ETA on food and expectations.
I got the shrimp stirfry udon and my wife got the crazy maki, both incredible.
The udon is fresh and flavorful, and has a generous amount of small shrimp throughout the dish, no tails!! A lot of similar places around here give you maybe 4-5 medium shrimp, tails on. This was perfect and exceeded expectations. I'm not sure why I can't find how to add the photo I took of it to my review, once I do I'll add it asap.
The crazy roll was perfectly wrapped and presented well even for a ToGo box, and was delicious as well.

Definitely regret not finding this place sooner. A new favorite for us ♡“

“this place is such a cute, amazing spot hidden behind a parking lot. Absolutely loved the food, came back for more. This will be my sushi/poke bowl take out spot from now on. The gentleman in the register is so sweet and made great suggestions. Such a nice atmosphere. Food taste so fresh, and yummy.
They don’t disappoint!!“

“Love the food but their delivery is getting worse and worse. If you order before 5 p.m. it is nice if it can be delivered by 6:30 pm (especially if that is the window they promised). Did all we can to keep this place open during the pandemic but may need to start looking elsewhere for our family's sushi fix. VERY disappointed about their service.“

“This place has been here forever and for good reason. The have The Best Japanese Curry you're likely to get outside Japan. Several of the other dishes are winners as well (Hamburg steak) and everything is good. The hostess/waitress is also very pleasant, but wow, she is working hard.“

“Everything we had was tasty, and the prices weren't too crazy. The sashimi was great, edamame was tasty, and I liked the specialty roll we got, the Hawaii roll. The only caveat is the chicken teriyaki was a bit overcooked, but it was a good portion.“

“Tried it for the first time at the farmers market, it was super delicious. I will absolutely be buying it again.“

“I would've added photos but everything was delicious. 10/10 will always recommend and this is now my go to in Brookline for lovely sushi with a quaint atmosphere. Plenty on the menu to try!

Update 4/11: After trying all of the House Rolls my review is still the same, there's an attention to detail and commitment to quality meals that you can only get from Kamiza. 10/ 10 will be back“

“Excellent salmon bento box!“

“Delicious food and clean environment and friendly people here“

“the accommodated us some good“

“I had an outstanding experience at Yama in Wellesley. From the moment we walked in, the customer service was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The food was incredible — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. You can really tell they care about quality and consistency.

The atmosphere was just as impressive — clean, comfortable, and perfect for both a casual meal or a special night out.

Thank you to the entire team for such a great dining experience. We will absolutely be back!“

“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!“

“Tres velar experience!! Top chef!“

“Hidden gem in greater Boston. Omakase beats my expectations, and the pork belly is probably the best I’ve tasted this year. Considering I’ve spent 2 months in China and Japan this year, the bar is pretty high, but the chef here did it.

Only thing to improve is probably the fact that there’s no high chair, but understandable as I think the chef would want it to be quieter and the sofa seats could handle most kids as long as they’re not too little. Wait time could be long, but worth it.“

“The food is fresh and sooo yummy, just incredible! New favorite lunch spot! Definitely recommend!“

“Cozy place with window seating, I can't wait to eat here more often! I got the brisket noodle soup and, while it wasn't piping hot as I'd liked, the brisket was tender, there was soybean curd, and the perfect combination of 5 spice, crispy garlic, and peppers. Very worth the promised 15 minute wait - they should add another crew member because that phone was RINGING so you know people love this place!!
Chewy boba - it was a divine eating experience“

“We love this restaurant! The food is delicious, the service is incredible and the experience is fun. Great sake menu. Highly recommend it for a fun night out. If you have the chance to participate in the tuna cutting event, it is spectacular!“

“Fabulous as always!“