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!“

“Great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Everything was fresh and delicious. A special shoutout to the manager, John, for making sure everything was perfect and for providing outstanding customer service. I’ll definitely be back!“

“What an amazing place! The portions here are soooo big I loved every bite. The cheesy ramen is delicious and the yuzu one is super refreshing also delicious. The roll was incredible and very fresh salmon bowl also looked incredible, they serve it with miso. Prices are also super reasonable for the quality.“

“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!“

“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!!“

“First-class dining right in Chestnut Hill. I’m so glad I discovered this place.

I visited during a tasting event, which offered a great opportunity to sample several dishes from across the menu. The fish was beautifully prepared and expertly seasoned throughout. The standout was the black cod, perfectly balancing savory richness with just the right touch of sweetness.

The shiromi ususukuri — Japanese white fish sashimi — was delicate and refreshing, with candied quinoa adding an unexpected and satisfying crunch. On the meat side, the pork belly bao bun was superb: melt-in-your-mouth pork tucked inside a pillowy, perfectly steamed bun.

Every dish felt thoughtful and polished without being fussy. Hands down one of the best meals I’ve had in the area. I can’t wait to come back.“

“My first time at Akame Omakase was absolutely exceptional. Every course was carefully explained, the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh, and the entire experience felt thoughtful from start to finish.

Some of my favorite dishes were the Aki Dashi Tofu, with an incredibly rich and comforting umami broth, the Tom Kha Gai, the sweet Ebi shrimp that was simply delicious, and especially the Otoro with Uni, which completely melted in my mouth.

For $99, this omakase was an amazing experience and easily exceeded my expectations for a first omakase dinner. I’ll definitely be coming back.“

“レベル高いうまさです“

“The presentation was impressive; each course arrived like a small work of art, and the kitchen clearly takes pride in the visual experience.

Where it falls short is value. Honestly, it just wasn’t worth the price.

Worth noting: I experienced some stomach discomfort during the meal, which I’ll attribute to possible sensitivity to raw fish rather than anything on the restaurant’s end.

Beautiful to look at, but there are likely better options at a friendlier price.“

“It was a cozy place. Interior brought me back to Japan.

My only complaint is the amount of meat. Very little meat in my hot spicy beef udon.

Flavors were nice though. Broth was light and enjoyable.

Service is quick.“

“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!!!“

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

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

“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 love their food jun our server she is great“

“Great food and great service“

“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.“

“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!“

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

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

“the accommodated us some good“

“We had a wonderful experience at Sakura. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. One of the highlights of the meal was the sushi boat, it arrived looking like a work of art and offered a great variety of sushi and rolls, all incredibly fresh and well prepared. It’s perfect for sharing.
The shrimp fried rice was also excellent, perfectly cooked with great flavor and generous portions.
The ambiance is just okay, but the overall service was very attentive and friendly. Sakura is a great spot for delicious sushi and a relaxed casual dinner.“

“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“

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

“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.“

“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“

“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!!“

“Chicken katsu and takoyaki were great. If you get the lunch special, the prices were good for the portions.
The sushi was okay.
I don't recommend the una don (eel bowl) at all, worst ive had. The salmon roe on the Salmon Oyako Don tasted bad, the marinade was off.“

“M&J Teriyaki is a cute restaurant which I highly recommend if you’re in the area! They offer both dine-in and takeout and have, frankly a very nice atmosphere. The food too was really amazing (I recommend the chicken in particular) and the drinks are also very nice. I enjoyed the flavor of the strawberry smoothie.

I personally went right after having visited the MFA and so, if you’re on the lookout for a bit to eat after a museum visit then please consider it!“

“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.“

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

“Tres velar experience!! Top chef!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Delicious food and clean environment and friendly people here“

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

“Love this place, one of the only spots to serve more traditional Japanese dishes. But I wish they would play some music or even background noise. It’s not a super crowded restaurant so I always felt weird talking because you can hear everyone else.“

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

“I randomly went to Tori jiro for dinner tonight when I was out by myself. I sat at the bar and started with a Yuzu beer, which was very refreshing. Then I ordered my meal, which was the spicy tuna maki and curry ramen. It was a fantastic experience all around- I love food and service here. Will definitely be coming back!“

“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 sushi and cocktails. We ate at the bar. And the bartender was excellent!“

“I've been here about five times over the past few months, which says something. The food is consistently good, the menu has a great selection, and the prices are reasonable. It's definitely good enough to keep coming back.

I do wish there were more comparable restaurants locally because it's hard to judge it against much else in town. Of course, if you're comparing it to some of the great places in the Metro Boston area, you'll find better overall dining experiences. But for this town, Hanami is very good and a welcome addition.

Service has always been fine, although it could be a bit warmer. I don't think I've ever seen anyone smile while working there. Lol. Everyone has been professional and attentive enough, but a little more friendliness would go a long way.

Overall, a solid spot for sushi and Japanese cuisine. I've returned several times already and will definitely be back again.“