50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Newton

“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.“

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

“Sushi Man is a restaurant with a long history in the Newton area, first being located in a smaller area right off of Route 9 before moving to their current location a few years ago.

The staff are really friendly and make the food quite quickly, reminds me of the service we used to get in the past.

The food was of good quality and how I remember it. It does tend to be on the expensive side for these meals, but was still pretty good and tasted well. The sushi was fresh, with good rice to fish ratio and presented well. The udon had a good broth that went well with the noodles, and had some toppings and sides that were crisp and tasty.“

“Hands down, cheapest, highest quality stuff you'll find in the Watertown area, The owner Yoshi is so nice, he literally just handed me an extra piece of fish he was working on one night. Not sure if I came in at the end of the day, or because I spent X amount, but he straight up just gifted me this chunk of Tuna. Amazing owners, I will continue going back as long as I live in Boston.“

“Good cocktails and food“

“Very tasty food, great service. No reservations, first come first serve. Prices are not super inexpensive but it is worth the cost. We were only grabbing a snack as we had some commitment afterward. Only pitty is that it is difficult to share bites if you are like me and want to try it all. I guess we will have to come back! 😜
My favorite was the shrimp tempura, but the eel was great too.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Kenzoku Mazesoba is a great eatery for comforting, brothless ramen (mazesoba). The interior is bright and the staff are accommodating.

The meal started with three warm Kurobuta sausages that were topped with pickled red cabbage and a mustard-based sauce over fresh greens. Overall, a well-rounded appetizer with a nice balance of textures, richness, and acid.

Next, the torched Hamachi roll had fresh fish slices laid on a roll and then torched. The hamachi was then topped with black tobiko and complemented with fresh ginger and wasabi. The roll was light and tasty.

The Yuzu Shio Ramen was the standout and featured braised pork chashu and a delicious poached egg. The medium-bodied noodles were a pleasant to chew with the toppings.

The vegetable mazesoba (vegan) included tofu soboro, mix of corn, quinoa, red pickles, and other goodies. It was a lighter flavor and we appreciated the opportunity to order the truffle oil on the side.

Overall, recommended for a casual and pleasant dinner among family and friends. The food quality and atmosphere make this hidden gem a great choice.“

“As close to an authentic omakase experience as it gets outside of Japan. The quality of the food (texture + flavor) as well as the presentation were all mind blowing. Service was also great. Dan was very polite and knowledgeable about the menu, being able to give a detailed description about each item he was asked about. I’m definitely coming back!“

“レベル高いうまさです“

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

“Visiting Boston, I stopped here because I wanted to come back and have lunch in Chinatown. The place was empty besides another couple of friends that were sitting parallel to me. The service was excellent, and the food was excellent. I had some shrimp tempura and a ribeye soup bowl. I recommend visiting for a quick solo or friends lunch.“

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

“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!“

“I was lucky enough to be able to host a private event with 311 for my birthday and they exceeded my expectations! Chef was able to create an incredible menu with a diversity of dishes and flavors. We were also fully enveloped in an extremely high level of service. The attention to detail on plating, quality of the bites and table management were unmatched. Having dinner here is an experience not to be missed!“

“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!!“

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

“We celebrated my wife’s Birthday last month and we had a great time with my family.
We had never been to a BBQ place like this before so we had no clue what to do.
Our waitress was very helpful and answered every question we had and explained what was going to happen and how it would work with the food.
Needless to say everything went smoothly and we had a great time.“

“I love this place. It is my local go to for sushi twice a week. Always fresh and delicious. Favorite Chef Specials: Honey Bear Maki, Beauty on the Beach, Volcano Maki and Building Department Maki and the Sushi Roll Futo Maki. Friendly staff and very clean.“

“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 😆🌺)“

“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.“

“Great food and service. Will go back.“

“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.“

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

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

“Love this little Japanese family eatery!

The atmosphere is so friendly and feels like being fed yummy food by lovely Japanese family.

The Tempura is fresh and delicious! The presentation is also really beautiful and just like shown on the picture!

The lady was very nice to give us two bowls of miso soup since I was going to share a combo meal with my kid.

This place is a wonderful diner that feeds you yummy food with great attention and care! I will come back and strongly recommend!!“

“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“

“The uni udon was one of my favorite meals in Boston! Noodles were chewy and the uni, crab and roe made it a decadent meal. Super pleased with the quality, taste and service. I came around 5 pm on a Sunday and did not have to wait. Recommended if you love seafood and udon!“

“Outstanding and delicious!!!!“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“We catered an event with Nagomi Bento and ordered inarizushi and onigiri. I only got to try the miso negi onigiri because everything went so fast and it was delicious! I also loved working with them as they were responsive, timely, and professional. I would cater from them again and hope to eat at the shop soon!“

“Great food and great service“

“No longer cash only! This tucked away eatery serves delicious curries and chicken cutlets. Feels like a legit Japan-style restaurant where you can get a comfortable, familiar meal, by yourself or with friends and family. Delicious sesame salad and miso soup! The red pickled radishes with the curry were best. Attentive service and dishes are served at just the right pace. Plus enough for two meals!“

“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!“

“Awesome Dumplings!! Great Service!☺️“

“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“

“While they aren’t set up for dine in, they go above and beyond for their customers. Let me tell you as it is, one of the best places in the area. We came hungry after a game of tennis and the moment we came in, the owner’s upbeat greeting made us feel so welcomed. Cannot describe how happy we feel during and after the meal. Please support this small business that’s doing everything right.“

“Very good ramen bowls and great service“

“Tres velar experience!! Top chef!“

“We love this place and we usually go there probably once every two or three weeks.

Food is amazing, service it really depends while they trying to keep the atmosphere authentic, part of that is getting a waitress who barely speaks English and sometimes it can be perceived as a little bit impatient.

For us it's just part of the experience.“

“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!“

“Sushi tastes great and awesome selection than typically, love to see the creativity. All the food is great but the hot scallop appetizer was yum. Fish is fresh and place is chill vibes overall. Service is very casual place for lunch or dinner.“

“Excellent salmon bento box!“

“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.“

“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!“