50 Best Japanese Restaurants near East Boston

“The food is fabulosooooo .“

“Delicious Enmi ramen! First time seeing a citrusy yuzu-based ramen on a menu, and it was yummmy! Our server Justin was also so warm and welcoming, subbing the broth out for a vegan one. And the atmosphere is so cozy and intimate, will be back the next time we're in Boston for sure!“

“This spot offers a truly unique and delicious food concept, with everything made fresh and packed with flavor. We’ve already been twice, despite living over 30 minutes away! The food is undeniably top-tier—worthy of a high-end dining experience—yet it’s served in a casual diner setting, which creates a bit of a contrast. The space is bright but lacks an atmosphere that matches the excitement of the cuisine. Additionally, they don’t have a liquor license, so no sake pairings, which feels like a missed opportunity. Overall, the food is a solid 10, while the rest is a 7 or 8—not because anything is wrong, but simply because it doesn’t quite align with the quality of the dishes. Definitely worth the trip for the food alone!“

“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!“

“There were two of us and this was our first time at this restaurant. Therefore we ordered the Chef's Choice for Two. The food and the experience was nice but we needed a bit more to eat. We ordered their Beef Sushi which initially comes with the meal.
A bit pricey for what it is but also a bit touristy as well.“

“It's almost the only Mazesoba restaurant in downtown Boston, and the rolls and Mazesoba are delicious!! However, the inside of the store is small and there is a long line on weekend evenings, so you have to wait outside and it is very cold in the winter.“

“José and his crew always serve beautiful, fresh, delicious sushi with innovative flair! The newly designed space is stylish and comfortable.“

“Oh Somenya~

Saturday night was my first time dining in. Line got out the door quickly by 5:30! But I love how the hostess took down me and my friend’s names the second we got inside, rather than keeping us guessing for the wait time.❤️ Fortunately there was a table of two available shortly after and we got to skip a few bigger groups ahead of us.

Inside there is a beautiful ambiance and it felt so cozy! We were quickly given glasses of water and menus at our table.

We started off with their Hiya Yakko Japanese Cold Tofu. So delicious and perfect size for two. I highly recommend the Beef Sukiyaki with Soba Noodles! My friend got their Curry Beef Udon. Both were DELICIOUS and the perfect hot temperature for a rainy day in Boston.

Would I come back? Yes!?

Thank you Somenya waitstaff and kitchen for your hard word and hospitality.???“

“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!“

“Incredible experience. High quality ingredients. Creative and beautiful presentation. Service is impeccable and informative. It is a bit traditional and on the serious side, so just be aware. The music though....... Overall this this place is master class and worth your hard earned money and worth your time. If youre a serious sushi lover come here ASAP!!!

Tip:
Do yourself a favor and get these add ons:

Black bass
Sardine roll
Auction uni“

“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!!“

“レベル高いうまさです“

“After noticing Sushinoya open for a year or so I finally decided to try it. I was craving sushi and ordered take out. We ordered California rolls, spicy tuna, eel, salmon, and shrimp tempura for take out. The order was ready in under 30 minutes. After eating some of the sushi I instantly knew it was special. Sushinoya made some of the best sushi I've ever had. It was fresh, delicious and perfectly balanced. I am looking forward to going back and trying their other offerings. Their prices are also very reasonable.“

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

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

“Came here around 6-630 on a Friday night and was able to get a seat without waiting. Ordered some takoyaki and edamame for starters which were pretty solid. For udon, we ordered the pork kimchi udon and the sukiyaki udon. Both were really good and I would recommend both. At the end, the waiter poured my leftover noodles in the takeout cup perfectly and I was in awe. Coming earlier around 6 is perfect on a weekend night because when we left there was a line out the door waiting for a table. Definitely would come back again for a hot giant serving of noodles.“

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

“I recently decided to try pork katsu curry at as many restaurants as possible in the Boston area to try to find who has the best one. It’s this place. I previously ordered takeout here a few times during the pandemic, and it was consistently good back then and still is now. This is a small family owned business. Don’t expect the fastest service or modern decor. Just come for the incredible, simple yet delicious, home cooked style Japanese meals. You won’t be disappointed.“

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

“Great atmosphere, excellent food, unique drink menu, fabulous music, great vibes“

“We were seated and ordering before the restaurant told us that half the menu was out of stock. The lobster roe pasta and black sesame dessert also didn’t live up to the hype. Overall, had an average experience here, but bumping it up a star because their baby cauliflower was actually a pleasant surprise“

“Got this place for the first time when I was craving some terriyaki chicken and milk tea!!! Was so delicious. I love the cabbage and broccoli they were steamed and seasoned perfectly over the white rice. Definitely ask for extra sauce it was so, so good. Quality ingredients, tummy felt so happy and satisfied after. Love that they're open late too!! Will be coming back many times“

“Deluxe Sashimi Platter ⭐️ It was great! It's really fresh and there are a lot of varieties, except for the sea urchin, which is a bit fishy Octopus Carpaccio ⭐️ The seasoning is very refreshing and the octopus is very chewy, I love it Torched Japanese Scallop ⭐️ It was very light, I couldn't really taste the seasoning, but it was very tender Unagi Don ⭐️ A friend ordered this. Gyu Don + Onsen Egg ⭐️ The beef is very juicy and the onsen egg is very flavorful“

“Great food and service. Will go back.“

“We live in Winchester, and we have ordered takeout at Umi Sushi twice now. The sushi, the entire order has been extremely fresh, well-packaged, and just delicious. Umi Sushi will be our 'go-to' going forward. The staff are all friendly and responsive. It's a home run for people who love fresh sushi and a local setting.“

“Very good ramen bowls and great service“

“Elegant spot in South Boston. We had a reservation for a table but requested to sit at the sushi bar since the available tables were quite close to the door, which had no vestibule to buffer the cold air rushing in. The host graciously allowed us to tuck in at the sushi bar (there's a regular bar too and they seemed to be serving food there for those guests as well). My husband and I shared a fried softshell crab, which was helpfully cut into pieces that allowed easy eating with chopsticks, as well as pork gyoza. For dinner he had sushi and I had shrimp and vegetable tempura. Both came with miso soup, which was comforting on a cold night. The space is "cozy" with tables close together. I use walking sticks but had no trouble navigating the tight space; I'm not sure whether wheelchair users could do so, so ask when reserving if you have a wheelchair user in your party.“

“Started going to toraya when it was smaller. I would not say I know much about Japanese food, but I can say this is the restaurant I go to.

Fish are fresh.
Service is friendly and knowledgeable
Price is great
Presentation is pleasing

I know it is not easy to get a table even on weekdays. But it is worth it.

Parking: Typical Mass Ave Street parking expectation. If you don't mind 5min walk. You can find a spot“

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

“Great food and great service“

“Great sushi with good flavor combos. I enjoyed all my rolls (tokyo, omori kaigan, jalapeno toro). Reasonable prices and if you spend $50 they allow you to choose a free app. They offer lunch specials. Nice surprise was that they offer fried ice cream as a dessert, and it was great. Have been searching for a replacement place for fried ice cream since my last place no longer offers and this is my new spot! Service was good.“

“Straight up some of the most authentic and delicious Japanese food I've had outside of Japan.

Nagisa and crew also experiments with things like a katsu hotdog. The whole operation is incredibly earnest, and I'm so stoked they got their own location after spinning out from nibble kitchen next door.

Wishing them all the best!“

“The food at Café Mami was good, but the service was truly exceptional. The lady working there was incredibly kind, attentive, and made sure our dining experience was as pleasant as possible. One downside is that the restaurant is quite small, with only two or three tables, so on a busy day, you might expect a long wait. However, the overall experience was very enjoyable, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.“

“Tres velar experience!! Top chef!“

“Excellent salmon bento box!“

“the accommodated us some good“

“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!“

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

“We been here so many times and we really enjoyed the food specially sushi ? is excellent The staff and the service is great! Great atmosphere, great people, excellent Live Music some nights. It’s welcoming to all ages, including families. It has couched and an art room to self entertain younger people! The fish is so so fresh - great sushi chefs from Japan, a great long bar. Hats off to Yen and to Debra the Bartender, two of our favorite staff members! Awesome drinks and appetizers and entrees too! Go try Hanami!! Five BIG Stars all around!“

“Every city, county, town I visit I must try the sushi! This place had your typical sushi choices. I just felt there were so many choices and without pictures it can be hard to choose. Some items were the same but had 2 different names because one ingredient was different.“

“This restaurant is run by a very sweet husband and wife duo. I was the only customer there around 9:30pm on a Tuesday night so it was just the 3 of us! This wasn’t the best sushi I ever had, but it was good and I did enjoy the intimate, quiet setting, also I appreciated their great service so I’d love to return some day and try more from their menu. I’d probably go for the beef bento box next time.“

“I'm new to the Boston area and this place has the best poke bowl I've ever had in my life. I will drive the extra distance just to come here.

The freshness of the fish and the quantity in the poke bowl was simply amazing. I will come back here many times I just wish it was closer to my house.“

“Decent sushi for a takeout place, considering the low prices. I tried the spider maki and the scorpion maki. The fried crab in the spider maki was not crispy at all, but the scorpion maki was very good. The ginger on the side was also good.Good and fast service. My order was ready within 10 minutes. I made a mistake ordering online and somehow ordered an extra of a roll. I called within a minute and there was no trouble getting it changed to a different roll and paying the difference in person (in cash).There is another takeout place just a block away that has similar prices, with some things better and some things worse. I would try this place again.“

“Everything fresh, delicious, and artfully presented by the husband and wife team who run the place all by themselves.“

“I visited this restaurant with a friend after our trip to the MFA—just a 10-minute walk away. This place exceeded my expectations. Their menu features a variety of meats, including lamb, beef, chicken, and eel. We ordered the beef with onion and the stewed beef with curry—both dishes came in generous portions with fantastic flavor, served with rice and vegetables.

They also offer skewers, and the lamb skewers are the best I’ve had in Boston—only $7.50 for two! The pricing is excellent for the quality and portion sizes. Absolutely loved it—so delicious!“

“What a cozy & cute place! We got the spicy tuna roll, salmon/avocado maki, & the beef udon, & it was soooooo TASTY! We also go the Dumpling Miso Soup & it was the BEST we ever had! Thank you to your team for such a cozy & tasty experience! :)“

“Great food and drinks! Definitely try this place if your in the area.“

“Wonderful service, clean restaurant, and really good selection of all you can eat Sushi. Was visiting Boston from New Jersey and will definitely come back when in the area. Highly recommended!

Parking: During my experience, at the time of my visit there was no charge on the meters for parking.“

“In the heart of a bustling city, tucked away on a vibrant street, stood the Berklee Noodles Factory. Its charm lay in the sight of hand-pulled noodles dancing through the air, the warm glow of lanterns, and the inviting laughter that echoed from within. The atmosphere was a blend of culinary artistry and community spirit, where the aroma of spices mingled with the joy of shared meals.

My own life had grown dimmer with each passing day. After losing my job, I found myself wandering the city, burdened by unfulfilled dreams and a sense of hopelessness. One rainy evening, seeking refuge from the storm, I stumbled into the Berklee Noodles Factory.

The moment I stepped inside, the earthy aroma of broth and spices enveloped me. The chef, a master of his craft, was busy crafting a fresh batch of noodles. With a welcoming smile, he approached me and offered a steaming bowl of his famous pho—a gift for my first visit.

“Try this,” he said, placing the bowl in front of me. “It’s good for the soul.”

With the first taste, memories of family dinners flooded back, and I felt something shift inside me. The flavors wrapped around me like a warm hug, awakening a part of me that had been dormant for too long.

Over the following weeks, I returned to the Berklee Noodles Factory, finding solace in the routine of sharing meals and stories. Each visit felt like a balm for my restless spirit. The chef’s passion for cooking was infectious; he spoke of food as an art form and a bridge between people.

One evening, I noticed a flyer on the counter: “Noodle-Making Workshop: Discover Your Flavor.” My heart raced at the thought of participating, but self-doubt crept in. The chef, noticing my hesitation, encouraged me to join.

“Don’t let fear hold you back,” he said. “Everyone has a story to tell through their food. Come join us.”

I signed up, and that workshop changed everything. As I learned to knead dough and stretch noodles, I felt the weight of my worries lift. The experience reignited my love for cooking, a passion I had buried under layers of anxiety.

But life can be unpredictable. Just as I began to reclaim my spirit, I received a call that shattered my newfound peace: my father had suffered a heart attack. Panic consumed me as I rushed to the hospital, guilt gnawing at my insides.

In the midst of those turbulent days, I sought solace at the Berklee Noodles Factory. The chef noticed the change in me—the way my laughter had faded, replaced by a heavy silence. One evening, he pulled me aside, his gaze steady.

“Life can be brutal,” he said softly. “But you’ve got the strength to overcome this. Remember, every noodle we make has a story. Don’t let fear dictate yours.”

His words struck a chord deep within. I decided to channel my fear and grief into something positive. Inspired by the chef’s kindness, I organized a fundraiser at the Berklee Noodles Factory to support my father’s recovery. The community rallied together, filling the restaurant with warmth and laughter as we cooked side by side, sharing our stories and forging connections.

As I stood before the crowd, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Their support reignited my spirit. Months later, my father was recovering, and I had found a renewed purpose in my culinary pursuits.

On a sunny afternoon, I stood outside the Berklee Noodles Factory, watching the world buzz by. The chef joined me, a knowing smile gracing his face.

“Ready for your next adventure?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

I nodded, feeling the weight of the past lift. “Thanks to you, I’ve learned that life is a blend of flavors—some sweet, some bitter—but all worth tasting.”

With a new recipe in hand and a heart full of hope, I knew I had not only found a passion but also a mentor and a friend. The Berklee “

“Tori Jiro is an absolute gem for anyone who loves authentic Japanese cuisine. From the moment you walk in, the warm and welcoming atmosphere makes you feel right at home. The yakitori is perfectly grilled with just the right balance of flavor and tenderness, and the variety on the menu ensures there’s something for everyone. Every dish is beautifully presented, and you can tell the ingredients are top quality. The staff is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, always happy to recommend something new. Tori Jiro has quickly become one of my favorite spots for a relaxing, delicious meal. Highly recommend!“