10 best sushi restaurants in Boston

O Ya tops this list as well. Owners Tim and Nancy Cushman set a new bar for special-event dining with O ya’s opening in 2007; even today the restaurant regularly wins accolades as one of the best restaurants in all of New England. The sushi and omakase menu is a marvel of both flavor and presentation, with every morsel—from the foie gras nigiri to the bluefin tuna and smoked salmon sashimi—a delectable work of art. 

Uni built its reputation on incredible sashimi offerings, and the sushi menu still shines. Creative sushi rolls like the lobster BLT roll and whitefish taco roll are worth a try. More traditional sashimi and nigiri also feature innovative twists, like sea bream with watermelon aguachile soda, pickled rind, and coconut furikake or striped jack with yellow chive and crispy kale. The saké list is impressive as well, with unfiltered and unpasteurized options.

Oishii’s South End location and swank interior suits the luxe sushi served within. High-concept and high-priced, each piece is like a work of art. Toro, hamachi, wagyu — all fish and other ingredients are exceptionally fresh. Creative rolls feature truffle and caviar, microgreens, and delicate sauces. Seared, torched, or tempura fried, you can’t go wrong when your sushi is the hands of Oishii’s highly-skilled chefs.

Cafe Sushi has produced high-quality, reasonably-priced sushi since the 80s. Maki and nigiri are fresh and beautifully assembled, and signature rolls offer something different. Try ceviche maki (tako and shrimp topped with tomato and lime juice), hamachi ssam jang temaki (a handroll of yellowtail, oshinko, iced onion, shiso, korean miso), summer vegetable (marinated eggplant, oshinko, avocado, wasabi oil, grape tomato, balsamic, truffle salt), or oshi-zushi (pressed sushi). After checking out the innovative specials and reasonable prices, you may become one of the loyal regulars too.

Located inside the Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, the Boston outpost of the globe-spanning Japanese izakaya serves sophisticated plays on sushi, robata skewers and tempura. Enjoy pristine nigiri and top-shelf sake in classy environs.

For the sushi lover, Karma Asian Fusion is a fun choice. From their mega sushi platters to fun tableside experiences like the “salmon on fire”, to the stellar cocktail list, your date is sure to have a great time. In addition to the standard cocktails on the menu, each month there are limited-time additions worth trying as well! So, if you are looking for a spot outside of Boston to book for sushi, Karma is a great choice.  

This Brookline standby is always packed for good reason. Sit in a booth, a table, the tatami room, or the sushi bar and choose from an extensive menu of standard and creative sushi offerings. Go traditional with rich salmon sashimi, daring with foie gras nigiri (foie gras with spicy daikon radish, scallion, sesame, ponzu sauce), or cute with ladybug maki (spicy seafood salad and sweet potato tempura inside, cherry tomato and black tobiko outside). A menu of cooked appetizers and entrees is available too, for sushi-averse dining companions.

Combining sushi bar fare with a cocktail lounge vibe, Duozo is a popular date spot. Elegant nooks and sleek lighting set the stage for standout sushi. The sashimi, sushi, and maki menu is straightforward; classic special rolls like the rainbow and the spider don’t disappoint, while unique specials like the Back Bay (asparagus, cucumber, and avocado wrapped with seared tuna) and the Douzo Special (shrimp tempura, seafood salad, tobiko, eel sauce, sriracha, and avocado, wrapped with tuna and soy paper) offer a tasty change of pace.

This Seaport stalwart offers specialty nigiri and signature maki with interesting ingredients including marinated chinese celery, Wild Sockeye salmon, and yellow pepper sauce. A highlight for sushi-lovers is the unlimited sushi menu available on Wednesdays starting at 5pm. Get more than your fill of some of the most popular rolls plus some smaller bites from the regular menu. For those who can’t get enough sushi, this is the spot.

Sleek but accessible, the sushi menu at Fuji is refined and innovative. The “Finer Nigiri” section of the menu features composed bites like tuna with mustard ponzu, black truffle, fresh wasabi, and scallions. “Finer Maki” selections include luxurious options like the the Queen’s roll (spicy tuna and popcorn shoots inside, Wagyu beef, caviar, and jalapeno outside) or the Shogun maki (seared calamari, cucumber, scallion inside, uni, ikura, and gold flakes outside, topped with a sweet pepper sauce). For groups, Fuji offers elaborate boats with up to 64 pieces of sashimi, nigiri, and maki.