50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Lexington

“Absolutely wonderful experience with Chef Mike Monaco at Akame Nigiri. Totally humble sushi master who has the in depth knowledge of fish crucial to being a top tier sushi guy. My wife and I celebrated our 10th anniversary and it was exactly what we wanted— world class omakase but humble low key and very comfortable.

Chef Mike makes you feel at home with a buddy who just happens to deliver the tastiest morsels! We will be back, thanks again!!“

“Fresh, clean and authentic. Incredible menu. You won't be disappointed.“

“A really good, quiet, and friendly environment. They all welcome you and say bye afterwards. Their sushi and ramen are really good and had a beautiful presentation. If you are looking for a quiet place where to read and eat this is your place but go between 4:45-5:30!“

“Amazing place! Got the spicy tuna, spicy yellow tail, and the tuna hand rolls- spicy tuna was my fav the sweet potato was super good. the service was amazing! they refilled the water and changed out the napkins without you even needing to ask.“

“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 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. 🍣❤️“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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“

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

“This is a unique Asian restaurant in the heart of Cambridge - very cozy with exceptional service, many vegetarian options and beautiful decor and ambiance. We ordered several vegetarian options including the fried rice, tofu, edamame, oyster mushrooms all were brought piping hot to the table and devoured in the next few minutes! The entire meal was simple yet extremely enjoyable. The dessert selected was a strawberry tapioca pudding in coconut milk - just sweet enough and extremely flavorful.“

“Great food and great service“

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

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

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

“Thank you to Chef Jon for allowing us to pick up a package of frozen dumplings during our visit to Artifact on Memorial Day. Cooked them up tonight and they were delicious, as was the edamame salad!!“

“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.“

“Best authentic Sushi I had in the US! They brought Sushi chefs from Japan! 🇯🇵“

“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.“

“Delicious food and clean environment and friendly people here“

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

“Great sushi Great service“

“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!“

“Cafe Mami is a Japanese comfort food spot that focuses on simple, hearty dishes like curry rice, katsu, hamburg steak, and donburi-style meals. The space is fairly small and tucked away, with more of a functional, casual feel rather than a polished dining room. It’s the kind of place people go for a quick, filling meal rather than a long sit-down experience.

The standout here is definitely the Japanese curry and katsu combinations. The pork tonkatsu curry in particular is a go-to, with a thick, crispy cutlet served over rich curry sauce and rice. The portions are generous for the price, and the curry itself leans comforting and slightly sweet-savory in a way that feels very classic and approachable. The hamburg steak and oyakodon are also solid options if you want something different from fried cutlet dishes.

Service is fast and handled by a very small staff, so things move quickly once you order. Because of how busy it can get during peak hours and how limited the seating is, there’s often a bit of a rush feel to the experience. It works well as a quick lunch or casual dinner, but it’s not really a place you linger for long.

The seating situation is probably the biggest drawback. It fills up quickly, and the space feels tight, especially when there’s a line forming. That said, the turnover is fast enough that you usually don’t have to wait too long, even when it looks crowded from outside.

Overall, Cafe Mami is a reliable spot for Japanese comfort food in the Porter Square area. The value is strong, the portions are generous, and the curry dishes are consistently satisfying. It’s not fancy, but it does exactly what it’s meant to do well, which is serve quick, filling, and comforting Japanese meals.“

“The owner was one of the nicest people I have ever met. The customer service was so good and the food was so delicious. They also had a free Pac-Man machine that was very fun and made the wait time seem like there was no wait time. Highly Recommend!!“

“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.“

“Tres velar experience!! Top chef!“

“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“

“Great sushi, particularly liked the Around the World roll if you’re in to salmon tempura.“

“Excellent salmon bento box!“

“Excellent food, service and ambience, highly recommended!“

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

“fish amazing but also blown away by vegetable roll!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Excellent food, servers were so friendly and fun, and the atmosphere is amazing in there! So cozy and dimly lit. The bar space has room to watch all the food and drinks being made as well. My favorite thing though was their yuzu beer, goodness that thing was delicious! I don't drink much but I'm craving another one!“

“Absolutely excellent sushi and bento boxes. Probably the best I've had in Massachusetts. I've been going for years. The servers are very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The atmosphere is excellent as well and very quiet and easy to talk in. It's a hidden gem.“

“Green curry was fresh and delicious and the Thai basil rice , not heavy in oil but looks of flavor. Especially for New Year’s Eve. Everything taste very good and fresh.“

“Thank you Alan and Lotus Xpress for catering my husband's surprise 50th birthday party. Alan, you were wonderful to work with during the planning process- providing options and tending to all the details. The food was AMAZING! Delicious and a great variety. The day of the event, it was such a relief to have you there- catering to our 75 guests. As the host of the party, it gave me great ease knowing you were tending to the buffet and I was able to relax and tend to the guests! The food made the event. Thank you for helping make the event a success!“

“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.“

“Open til 1am. sushi is decent. i got the red sox maki and the unagi with rice. got free edamame with my purchase. it's a very small place, so take out is better. i got a spot on the street right in front so parking wasn't an issue. it was 9 pm.“

“Excellent Poke bowls. Lots of options to choose from including diced mango and avocado is included! Great addition to the Burlington food scene.“

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

“The food at Fuji is outstanding. Far and away the best fusion Japanese food in Newton and around.“

“the lunchbox meal was delicious! reasonable prices“