14 Best Japanese Restaurants in Brookline

“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!“

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

“For $99, this meal offers excellent value, as the quality of the food is genuinely good. The fish, aged for a few hours, was fairly fresh and tasty. Furthermore, the main chef was highly enthusiastic during the introduction of each course, which was a welcome highlight.

However, the experience as a whole failed to deliver what I would consider a high-quality omakase. The core issue is the scale of the operation: accommodating 10 guests at the counter plus an additional 6 or 7 at surrounding tables, all served the same meal, makes the interaction with the chef minimal.

This approach detracted from two key joys of the omakase format. First, the fish was pre-prepared and cut away from the counter, denying guests the traditional experience of watching the chef prepare the full course in front of them. Second, there were two apprentices beside the chef, who appeared to be learning basic hand-roll techniques and even inventing their own methods right there. As a place striving to establish itself as true omakase, this awkward, visible training significantly affected the overall professional presentation and appearance.

While the food is good and the price is right, the structure and execution prevent this establishment from achieving an authentic or intimate omakase dining experience.“

“This sushi spot is more of a take-out place than a dine-in restaurant, though they do have a few small tables if you want to eat there. The focus is definitely on the food, and they do it really well. The rolls are fresh, and nicely put together — easily better than what you’d expect from a casual take-out place. Prices are fair for the quality, making it a solid value. If you’re looking for a quick sushi fix without the full sit-down restaurant vibe, this is a great option.“

“Great food and great service“

“Great food ! 🧡✨ quick responses“

“favorite cafe in the area! the ambiance is conducive for studying so i come pretty often- it's quiet, sunny, with a fixed playlist that is very jazzy compliments the interior decor well.

their green tea is bright in color and is super smooth. it's not bitter after seeped in water for a while compared to the higher grade green teas i own. the matcha tea and latte are great as well- both vibrant green and a perfect level of sweetness. the matcha used is very good quality & remind me of the matcha i had in japan :,)

as for food- i haven't tried much of the options yet but the spicy salmon, tuna, shiitake onigiri is yummy and rice usually fresh and soft. also the taiyaki and other deserts are light, not too sweet

overall, i'd definitely recommend! the workers are kind and super attentive. there's a very detailed list of allergens which was so helpful for me, and my sibling who has allergies to wheat (no soy sauce), among other restrictions“

“The kushi yaki beef is really good. Would recommend trying.

Tonkotsu ramen was fine, but didnt taste how I expected a tonkotsu ramen to taste. It tasted more like a vegetable pork soup. On the flip side, not too salty compares to other ramens so I drank a lot of it. Lastly, the egg tasted weird...it wasnt bad per say but I liked the eggs from other ramen places a lot better.

Overall solid place. Worth a try.“

“The shoyu 1910 was delicious. Broth just right, pork belly tender and juicy, and the noodles tasted fresh.“

“Unique, delicious pastry. Best croissants and sourdough bread. Nice people. Can sit inside or outside.“

“Somehow my girlfriend and I can always find the stomach space for dessert here if we’re in the area. I would hesitate to suggest any dessert here even ones I haven’t tasted because the quality we’ve experienced so far have been so good.

Food: The shaved ice was the dessert that brought us in and the one we go back because the ice is so fluffy and the combination of sweetness and texture makes it so easy to finish. But everything else we’ve tried even dishes completely new to us were a serious treat.

Service: Staff is always welcoming and pleasant and really do a great job keeping the place clean especially with all the sticky foods.

Atmosphere: The shop really captures childish joy where you can just dig in and devour some sweets. The anime and the figures also give you endless things for your eyes to wonder off to.“

“Don’t be fooled by the somewhat outdated interior and hole in the wall feel. The focus here is on the food!

Good quality fish, creative rolls, and efficient service. The price-to-value ratio can’t be beat. Tastes that much better with the reasonable prices. Note that you can tell the fish is not top-notch quality, but it hits all the right notes for an everyday sushi craving. Some rolls are more outstanding than others. My favorite so far was one that incorporated crunchy tempura bits into the minced tuna topping (forgot the name!).

We loved our recent visits so much that we’re getting platters from here for a holiday party. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be a hit.“

“great sushi and udon. adorable place“

“My partner and I eat here once or twice a month and last night’s meal was exceptionally good. They’re our local little sushi shop and we’ve found the rolls that are consistently good (spicy tuna and salmon/avocado), and we get a combo each and feel super happy with our soup, salad, roll, and drink for a good price :) service is also great“