50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Needham

“Cute place with a good selection expected at a Sushi restaurant. Nice atmosphere, quick and friendly service. Plenty of parking around the restaurant as well

Vegetarian options: Vegan dishes are clearly marked on the menu, and the menu has an okay amount of them to appease the vegans in your party.“

“Our take out dinners tonight were SO good! The filet was absolutely delicious and the goyza was best I’ve had. Everything was cooked perfectly everything was packed so nicely and obviously tons of effort went into each detail. You guys did a fantastic job.“

“What a great new spot! I’m always on the hunt for good ramen and this place certainly hits the mark. It’s a small place with a cozy atmosphere and an open kitchen so you can watch the magic happen. The food isn’t cheap but it’s not exorbitant either, and you certainly get your money’s worth. Service was speedy and we didn’t feel at all rushed taking our time over our food.

If you’re looking for a lower key date night or an extra delicious dinner with friends this is the perfect place!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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 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 have tried many different dishes, and none of them disappoint me. I love having my lunch or dinner here because the food is always fresh and staff is courteous. I highly recommend to eat here.�����“

“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 😆🌺)“

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

“the good was great the drinks were even better. Definitely coming back again“

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

“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!“

“Food was really delicious and the service was so kind! The crab rangoons were so good and I get their eel maki everytime. The rice is never dry and the portions will fill you up! The owners are a lovely and sweet immigrant family and they’ll pay lots of attention to you. The restaurant is very clean and the atmosphere is perfect.“

“Visited here based on ratings and it did not disappoint! Tried to find a weak spot with so many things on the menu but could not. Sushi was great, sauces complimented the fish without overpowering. The Ramen bowl was good, flavor was more complex than expected from Ramen. Poke bowl was great with nice with a good balance of various flavors. Service was timely and polite! Even the drinks were great. Will be 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.“

“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“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“Very good ramen bowls and great service“

“I love Takara in Medfield. The staff is wonderful. I eat here almost every week. Even during COVID, my family did take out weekly. This is my go-to restaurant. My wife takes me there as a reward!! The food is wonderful and well prepared. I think that I have tried almost everything on the menu over the years. My favorite meal is the spicy tuna avocado salad! The rest of my family enjoys the sushi, sashimi, and various maki rolls which I always help them finish. Korean inspired food is a nice twist on typical sushi. Great place with great service. Great bar and wines too!“

“Good options for meat, fish and veggies“

“My spouse and I have been coming to Yama for over 20 years, and we have always enjoyed meals together, with family and with friends. The meals are well prepared and attractively plated. Service is personable and excellent even when they are busy. [As an observation more than criticism, Asian restaurants in general have had to struggle obtaining and affording top quality rice of all sorts, from Japanese-grown short grain to premium Indian basmati. Unfortunately, it seems Yama is no exception — the rice is good and acceptable, but not exceptional.] Lunch bento boxes and sashimi/sushi specials are excellent and good value.“

“Great food and great service“

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

“A gem! The owners were very friendly and attentive. The sushi was amazing! It was nice to just hang out at the sushi bar and enjoy a lovely dinner and share it with a friendly & thoughtful staff.“

“Tres velar experience!! Top chef!“

“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.“

“Fantastic experience dining-in. Small and cozy atmosphere inside the restaurant. Food was tremendous and could tell was carefully created by the chef. Sushi was very tasty. Simplicity heightened the experience. Small restaurant with a gentle kind lady serving us. Very friendly chef who kindly asked how our meal was.

Quiet compared to the other typical yuppy sushi places around. Allowed for a casual laid back and homey feel. We certainly prefer this place over any loud and crowded sushi places in Brookline. They have great take out options available too!

We ordered 4 rolls and edamame and were extremely budget friendly and affordable. The rolls were very fresh and had great structure. Nothing worse than when the sushi falls apart. This delivered. Give it a try and appreciate the simple setting and a cozy/quiet feel.

Tremendous value. We will certainly be coming back to support this local business.“

“Great food ! 🧡✨ quick responses“

“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!“

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

“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! :)“

“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.“

“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!“

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

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

“Sushi Today, is by far my favorite place to order form during quarantine. I ordered from them before quarantine whenever I would babysit for my neighbors. Even though a lot of places are busy and haven't gotten my orders wrong, sushi today has not disappointed me yet. Sushi Today is the only place I will ever order sushi from. They make eel avocado rolls, which are surprisingly rare and hard to find when looking for take-out. Overall the accuracy, taste, and packaging of my orders from Sushi Today have been awesome.“

“Take out food ready at the expected time. Everything was wonderful! Fresh ingredients, well presented, followed our allergy restrictions exactly as requested, and really friendly staff who remember us from pre-pandemic days. Highly recommend.“

“Over the past couple of years I have been to U Sushi countless times. The owners are always helpful and the food comes out quickly, whether for dine-in or takeout. A cozy spot to eat in, or perfect to takeaway and eat at home. The food is reasonably priced and delicious. Open late, which is rare in this neighborhood!“

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