Came for lunch Sunday and there's 2 other groups eating already. I got the chefs 6 rolls and my bf got 5rolls+ wagyu. I really enjoyed mine, uni, salmon ikura, snow crab, eel avocado, toro, wagyu cucumber. Was honestly surprised how the wagyu cucumber came out, meat was grilled that looked like scrap pieces. Still had a good flavor but I didn't get much meat. The Wagyu my bf ordered individually were much better and as expected. Overall I thought it was good value for the price and is tasty! The chef also gave us a complimentary bite of the crunchy garlic hamachi. It was delicious and I would order next time! read more

Lab 13 Handroll Bar feels built around a single idea: serving hand rolls at the exact moment they are meant to be eaten. The restaurant is small, intimate, and centered entirely around counter seating, creating an experience where guests sit directly across from the chefs as each roll is prepared and handed over one by one. There is a minimalist quality to the space that keeps the focus on the food, while the compact layout gives it an atmosphere that feels more like a traditional sushi bar than a typical Boston restaurant. We ordered takeout for this visit, which is also an option, and the build your own format gives you flexibility to customize your order while still providing a decent amount of meat per roll. The hand rolls are naturally the main attraction, with an emphasis on fresh fish, balanced rice, and crisp nori served immediately after assembly. Hamachi, bluefin toro, spicy yellowtail, snow crab, bay scallop, and eel are among the offerings, each highlighting the quality of the seafood without relying on excessive sauces or toppings. The bluefin toro roll is especially memorable for its rich texture, while the hamachi showcases the clean flavors that define much of the menu. For those looking beyond the traditional selections, specialty rolls and premium additions such as A5 wagyu provide a more indulgent side of the experience. The set menus are particularly appealing, offering a chance to sample a range of rolls while showcasing the variety of fish and textures that make hand roll focused dining so enjoyable. That said, not everything landed equally. We did not enjoy the scallops, which lacked flavor and felt rubbery in texture. The salmon also stood out as unremarkable, essentially just chunks of salmon sashimi without the thoughtful preparation or seasoning that made the other rolls memorable. For a restaurant built around fresh ingredients and precise execution, those two items fell short of the standard set by the toro and hamachi. What makes Lab 13 stand out is how focused it remains on doing one thing exceptionally well. Rather than offering an expansive sushi menu, the restaurant embraces the hand roll format and builds the entire experience around freshness, timing, and simplicity. When it hits the right notes, which it does more often than not, it delivers the kind of meal that reminds you why this format works so well in the first place. read more

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Stopped by Lab 13 Handroll Bar recently and it was a great sushi experience. We ordered the 6 handroll set which came with spicy bay scallop, salmon, spicy yellowtail, bluefin toro, lobster avocado, and eel avocado. The rolls come out one by one, which keeps the seaweed crispy and the fish super fresh. The toro was easily one of the highlights -- rich, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth. We also tried the Chef's Choice set with snow crab, salmon ikura, wagyu cucumber, toro, uni, and eel avocado. The wagyu cucumber was really interesting and flavorful, and the uni was creamy and fresh. They also had some tempting daily specials like crunchy garlic hamachi, tuna tataki, wagyu uni, A5 wagyu handroll, and truffle king salmon. If you're into handroll bars and high-quality sushi, this spot is definitely worth checking out. Everything felt fresh, simple, and well executed. read more

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I'm really glad I stoped by this place. I did the 3-handroll special and each was very fresh and tasty. I enjoyed reading handrolls should be eaten one at a time to preserve crispiness and flavor. A little bit on the pricey side but it's what you get from great quality seafood. The only critique is that I'm used to cone-shaped handrolls which I can eat to the end without any filling coming out. Overall delicious. The 3-handrolls were enough for me but glad they have the 4- and 5- option for those who are hungrier. It's a very clean, modern place with a relaxing touch of zen. Great spot to hang and eat. The chef was very nice and respectful and would go back to him. read more

Lab 13 Handroll Bar - Shelf decor - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

I was excited to try out Lab 13 Handroll Bar as a new handroll location in the Boston area. I will say that I came during the soft opening so things may have changed since my stop in. The host staff was friendly and my party of two was almost immediately seated for lunch. The restaurant is modern and clean with a small number of seats directly at the bar. The orders are made right in front of you and served immediately. I ordered the 6-handroll set menu as I was excited to try the lobster avocado handroll. I also ended up ordering an a la carte snow crab handroll. My favorite ended up being the snow crab. Overall, I would say that the sushi was good - nothing mindblowing but the ingredients were of good quality and tasty. I also think that the prices here are reasonable. I will say that compared to other similar styles I've been to, it was a tad awkward at the counter. When I went there was a single chef serving about 15-20 people so there was a little bit of a wait between servings (I didn't mind at all!) but this lead to a lot of the patrons watching expectantly to see if it was their food being made. Since we were seated so closely together, everyone could hear each other's conversations so people were a bit on the quieter side. I also don't believe there was music playing in the restaurant but I think that could help to break down some of the awkwardness in the space. Overall, a very solid handroll location! If you're craving an intimate sushi experience in the Chestnut Hill area, definitely try it out. read more

Lab 13 Handroll Bar - Snow crab hand roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

First off, I had no idea this place was opening in the old Oath Craft location near Wegmans. Love that we have a handroll place in Newton...technically Chestnut Hill. This is a welcomed addition to the area. The staff is awesome. They seem to be totally cool with keeping this place under the radar and manageable. Not sure how long that may last given that this plaza gets a ton of foot traffic . The chef is awesome. He chatted the entire time and I learned a ton about tuna cuts and sourcing fish. This is still the soft opening so be prepared the the menu to change. Right now the sashimi is limited and will likely become a full thing next month. On the main menu are handrolls. The "combos' basically amount to $6 a roll. So $30 for 5. $36 for 6. You get the picture. Add on rolls can significantly more so the combo is the best deal. Couple this with Nigiri or sashimi and you're good to go. Variety is awesome. Eel avocado. Snow crab. Salmon. Lobster. Otoro. There's something for everyone. The inside is nicely setup with counter seating only and maybe 12 seats or so. No reservations as of this moment so once this place is discovered, the wait will be long. Staff was awesome. They were so friendly That was the best part of my visit. You must try! I will be back again for sure. read more

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We were excited to try this new handroll spot, and overall the food was fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and a good value given the quality of ingredients. The flavors stood out and made the rolls worth coming for. Our favorites were the lobster avocado and bluefin toro. That said, the service was quite disorganized, which made the experience less smooth. Even though I clarified our order a few times, there were mix-ups both with our group and with nearby parties, and the mistakes weren't handled very well. The staff seemed overwhelmed by the busy crowd, which affected the overall atmosphere. Hopefully, as they settle in and refine their workflow, the service will match the quality of the food. I'd come back for the handrolls alone and look forward to seeing how they improve over time. read more

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Newly opened, Lab 13 Handroll Bar brings a unique dining experience to the Chestnut Hill area. Lot parking with plenty of parking available. It's currently in a soft opening phase but there are a few handroll set options to choose from and they are all reasonably priced! I had their 4-handroll set which included the Bay Scallops, Salmon, Yellowtail and Shrimp. The first three rolls were absolutely delicious and fresh - the shrimp was a bit spicy for me so I wouldn't go for that again. I ordered a toro handroll on the side and it was so delicious - melted in my mouth! Highly recommend that one! The space itself is small with counter seating only which is great because you get to see the chef prepare it fresh for you. Service was attentive friendly and everything moved pretty fast! read more

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Love the hidden gem in a plaza near Wegmans, plenty of parking in the lot. There's 20+ bar seats once you enter. Handrolls made to order! Chef pays attention to your pace to ensure eating these fresh! I love the feel of a hand-roll omakase. Right now they have --Toro, salmon, scallops, yellowtail, lobster, eel and more... Soft opening menu includes: $36 for 6 rolls $30 for 5 rolls $24 for 4 rolls $19 for 3 rolls Sashimi Can't wait to see what gets added to the menu next! read more

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Wow what an incredible new restaurant! If you like sushi you have to try this. Located right in Chestnut Hill with lots of easy parking. Easy to find and right between Dry Bar and Sweetgreen. On entry the staff were so friendly and seated us right away. It's all counter seating so everyone has a great view of the rolls being freshly made. The restaurant itself has a pretty light wood color scheme. We each ordered 5 hand rolls and collectively we tried the Salmon, Shrimp, Snow crab, yellowtail, toro, bay scallop and eel avocado rolls. They were all incredible (no notes!) but our favorites were Toro, snow crab, and scallop. The scallop roll is just scallop and mayo which really highlights the flavor of the scallop. The toro roll is paired with a mild daikon which adds a perfect crunch. All of the fish was incredibly fresh and high quality. And best of all the prices were SO reasonable. The five hand roll set was $30 which is so affordable for the size and quality of the rolls. We also had the chance to speak with the owners at the end who shared that the full menu will have 13 kinds of hand rolls, nigiri, and take-out options. Their goal is to provide a light meal that fills guests 80% of the way without being heavy. The rolls are also on average only 100 cal each (lobster/shrimp are less, eel/salmon are more) which makes it a diet-friendly place to eat. Overall this place is incredible and I cannot wait to go back for the full menu launch later this month! read more

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Overall:A solid hand roll spot that feels worth it for the price. The interior was clean and pretty. I ordered the 5-piece hand roll set and substituted the shrimp for scallop. The staff mentioned there would be a $1-2 upcharge, which made sense since the scallop roll costs more à la carte, but the final charge ended up being higher than expected. Service:Service was decent but nothing particularly memorable. They were efficient and straightforward. Snow Crab:Flavorful and surprisingly good. Definitely better than most snow crab hand rolls I've tried elsewhere. Salmon:Fresh, clean, and classic. Exactly what you want from a salmon hand roll. Spicy Yellowtail:Not actually spicy, but it had more depth of flavor compared to some of the other rolls. Bluefin Toro:Loved this one. Rich, buttery, and easily one of the highlights of the set. Scallop:I usually don't gravitate toward scallop, but this one changed my mind. Sweet, fresh, and very enjoyable. Final Thoughts:A good option for hand rolls when you want quality fish without completely breaking the bank. Just double-check substitution pricing ahead of time. read more

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This review is honestly so overdue haha, but I went to Lab 13 Handroll Bar for their opening week! They're located in the same plaza as Wegmans--Chestnut Hill. We each ordered the 6 hand roll set ($37 at the time) and noticed prior to visiting that the price had gone up from days before. My personal favorite rolls ended up being the eel avocado & salmon! The hand rolls weren't bad... a little basic. I think I would've liked the rolls more if the seaweed had been crispy. It wasn't soggy but soft & made it hard to bite. Leads me to believe the seaweed must not have been sealed/stored properly? I'll admit, we were still STARVING so we ended up going to get sushi dinner elsewhere afterwards. I like the concept though, just didn't feel fully satisfied. Pretty small restaurant with mainly bar seating, ~10 seats or so? They were playing radio pop music through a JBL speaker & it kind of messed with the vibes, in my opinion. Overall, I thought Lab 13 was just okay and would consider coming back but there was nothing memorable. read more

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A good hand roll sushi place in Chestnut Hill, but nothing over the top extravagant. I came during a weekday during dinner and there was one other party at the bar. We ordered the 6 hand roll meal as well as snow crab and eel. The service was super quick and we were in and out of the restaurant with in half an hour. The quality of the fish was good, but I thought the lobster hand roll was a bit strange with too much mayo sauce mixed in. They don't have any hooks for your bags, but they do have a coat rack at near the bathroom entrance. Overall, a nice place to try out, but I wouldn't come back regularly. read more

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my husband and i went there for the first time! Love the atmosphere! Got the chef special and it was prepared very well! staff helpful with suggestions since it was our first time! Got a great parking spot! i believe there were 6 pieces of hand rolled items. Each unique in flavor & taste. i recommend trying this place ! read more

I dined here recently and enjoyed the quality and freshness of most of the rolls my partner and I ordered. Favorites were toro and lobster avocado. The rolls were decent, but didn't blow us away or anything. If I had one critique, it would be the scallops -- they seemed to be the tinier, more budget-friendly kind you'd see at an AYCE hot pot place rather than larger Hokkaido-style scallops. One more observation: this is a counter-style restaurant where you sit directly in front of the chefs. While I appreciate the concept, it did feel a bit awkward at times to have three or four staff members hovering in front of us and staring while we ate and tried to have a conversation. A little more space or movement behind the counter might help the experience feel more comfortable. If you're reading some of the harsher reviews, including the one comparing this place to Wegmans and criticizing the hand-roll shape -- please take them with a grain of salt. This is a hand-roll bar, not a grocery store sushi counter, and the cylindrical style is intentional. Complaining that they're not cone-shaped feels a bit like missing the point entirely. There are plenty of upscale sushi spots that serve rolls this way like Matsunori in Boston and a million spots in NYC (KazuNori, Temakase, etc.). read more

Lab 13 Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

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Cute place in chestnut hill. I love Kazunori and that has set the bar for me as far as hand roll bars are concerned. Lab 13 could add a few more non-shellfish options to the menu. The 3 rolls that I could wet, were good. The server was very friendly and tried his best to make our experience be enjoyable. They do not allow any substitutions in their set menu even due to dietary restrictions and for similarly priced items. Seems too rigid a rule. read more

Lab 13 was excellent! The space was bright and clean and service was quick. The space is counter seating only, but we didnt have to wait long as the line moves quickly. We ordered a variety of handrolls which were all super tasty, fresh, and prepared right in front of us. Highly recommend trying the lobster and eel rolls and I look forward to trying more of their menu once they have their grand opening! read more

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Rating specifically on service and management. Made reservations 2 weeks in advanced for Valentine's Day at 2pm. Walked in and the place seemed empty and one of the staff said they weren't open. Such a weird experience and the fact that we never got any notification left a bad impression on management overall. We never got any explanation either. read more

I've been waiting for Massachusetts to finally get a hand roll bar like this style ever since trying them in New York and California and I'm happy to say this spot definitely holds up! We stopped by during their soft opening and overall, we left satisfied. The menu is by combo (3, 4, 6 rolls, etc.) or you can order each rolls individually, and the pricing is fair for the quality you're getting. My husband and I both went with the 6-roll combo plus a snow crab hand roll add-on (since it wasn't in the set). By the end, I was comfortably full. Each roll had its own seasoning that really elevated the fish/seafood instead of overpowering it. Simple, fresh, and delicious. It is all bar seating since the chef serves your rolls one by one as they're made. Very straight forward with casual vibes. Since they're new, the service could use a little improvement. My only real feedback: the chef was making rolls very quickly. As a slower eater (and honestly, someone who likes to savor each bite), I felt a bit rushed. If they slowed the pace just a touch, the experience would be even more enjoyable. This is a great addition to the MA food scene, and once people catch on, I can already see lines out the door. Go now before it gets too popular. I'll definitely be back. read more

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I celebrated an early birthday at Lab 13 Hand Roll, and wow... what an experience! From the moment we walked in, Jun, Chef Kenny, and the entire staff made us feel right at home--warm, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do. I went with the Lab 6 and every hand roll was a knockout. The toro absolutely melted in my mouth (easily my #1 pick), and the scallop roll came in strong as a close second. Each bite was fresh, flavorful, and crafted with so much care that you could taste the quality right away. If you're looking for hand rolls that set the bar high, this is the spot. Trust me--you'll leave already planning your next visit. Hidden gem for sure! read more

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Relatively new hand roll place in town. My overall experience here was solid. I walked in and was immediately seated on a Friday night. There is about 15ish seats at this restaurant. A few more parties trickled in after and they had to wait 20-30 minutes. My favorite was the bay scallop and toro. The only downside is I feel like each roll could have a little more rice and filling. The seaweed is also not super crispy read more

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Hand rolls are the newest trend and it's honestly overhyped. It's pretty much a sushi restaurant, call it what you want but it's raw fish, seaweed and sushi rice. Lab 13 is very clean, modern and simple but I'm surprised by the amount of people that can't tell when it's Chinese chefs compared to Japanese chefs. In this case here, the chefs are Chinese, Taishan China. The food is still good but it can get pricey easily, like any sushi restaurant. Worth trying once but nothing ground breaking. read more

Would 1000% recommend this place! so yummy... the chef puts a lot of thought and attention into detail and the ambiance is 10/10! read more

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We shared a 6-roll. Tastes great and felt like good value. Tastes fresh and was made fresh in front of us. They're new so we got some free hot tea. Restaurant is clean and modern. Friendly staff. read more

HOLD THE PHONE. This place had a soft opening that I had me judging it prematurely. Now that they're solidified here, they are GOING OFF. Such nice customer service, the roles are honestly so satisfying. Some of the HR places miss the key flavor palette... this place NAILED it. Crab HR is unmatched. Toro too. Chill music, lots of seats, I'm a fan! Great work and hope these guys last in this spot. read more

Lab 13 Handroll Bar - Ummm wow - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

It isn't often that I am inspired enough to write a positive yelp review. We'll start off with the food. Excellent the sushi was fresh delicious and a good value. A rarity especially in Chestnut Hill. The restaurant was clean and very presentable. The staff was professional efficient. The chefs were good at their job and let's talk about the manager/owner for a second. I am not one that deviates from his usual misanthropic tendencies when I go out to eat. I generally like to get in, order, eat in peace and be left alone. This was an unusual situation for me, I don't know if it's because I was the surprisingly only guy in there at the moment (it was an odd hour at 330PM to be in a restaurant understandably). This was however different. Riad was welcoming, approachable, and an excellent conversationalist that asked the real questions and responded with real answers. Not just about the food to which he was an excellent guide and provided excellent service, but also in the actual real world conversation about real life stuff normally I wouldn't wanna talk to anybody, but I found my conversation with him to be unusual and lightning positive and refreshing. The kind of conversation I would have with a real friend not just an acquaintance. Unquestionably real none of this is to take away from how excellent the food was if you're only interested is the food go here! You won't be disappointed it's top shelf food presented at realistic and very reasonable prices, especially for the area. As an aside, if you wanna develop a relationship with a local restaurant and an owner, that definitely deserves it and cares about developing a rapport, this is the place. Don't bother with the hoighty-toighty BS down the street that's costs four times as much for half the food. Go to this place, with good people, good food, and good value, and an owner who is passionate about the food and the service. Tell Riad I said hi while you're at it. read more

Fresh hand rolls, very tasty! Service is friendly and warm. We love the place for a casual dining out.

We were very happy with our experience. It's a small but beautiful space. We had many, many rolls and they were all delicious. Just the right amount of fish/rice ratio. Our favorites were the yellowtail, scallop, wagyu qnd ikura. The o-toro sashimi was also very good. Service was great. Everyone was very nice. We look forward to returning! read more

I had the salmon and toro rolls--both were very fresh and delicious! My wife had the wagyu and shrimp, which were also excellent, especially the wagyu. The service was outstanding, with no issues or delays. Definitely recommend it! read more

We were excited to see a new sushi hand roll spot in Boston and brought our kids to try it. Unfortunately, it was a big disappointment for all of us. The sushi rice was off, the seaweed wasn't even toasted, and the rolls were inconsistent. It was clear that the staff behind the counter weren't experienced sushi chefs or well-trained. We've had much better hand rolls in NYC. Save your money. read more

Beautiful ambiance, lovely music, delicious food. Each hand roll comes out one at a time making it a mindful eating experience. Server was very polite and attentive. Chefs prepare the hand rolls right in front of you. They were a little stand offish if that matters to you. read more

Low key quiet place with very fresh ingredients. No need for reservations so perfect for spontaneous visit which is not easy anywhere else in Chestnut Hill. Patrons sit at the counter on high chairs. We will definitely be back. read more

Bar seating only, really nice vibe for a quick lunch. Sushi is made right in front of you and comes out quickly, one dish at a time. I got the lobster Handroll, toro handroll, and the salmon truffle nigiri special and the salmon was my favorite by far but all were good and fresh. read more

Lab 13 Handroll Bar - Salmon nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

I like the concept but the price paid doesn't quite match the experience for $37 you get 6 mini rolls and they serve it to you on a paper and it gets messy, so would've preferred a plate. The service was great but the price value ratio was a bit off and was still hungry after dinner read more

Everything tasted super fresh. My favorite dish was the crunchy garlic hamachi special! Runner-up was definitely the Toro handroll. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back. read more

Not sure why this place has such high reviews. The hand rolls were not good, especially if you prefer fresh cuts of fish. Everything was chopped up into small pieces, which really took away from the texture and overall experience. Not a place I would return to for hand rolls.p read more

For $25 you get four handrolls. Like small burritos. Very tasty. And since we don't eat shellfish they were very accommodating to remove the shrimp and substitute salmon. Friendly pleasant service and very clean tasteful furnishings. Looking forward to going back read more

The six piece handroll menu was excellent. Everything was incredibly fresh. The eel and lobster rolls were standouts for me. Service was friendly and prompt. read more

I've visited a second time and am getting really discouraged that the critical things that have been identified are not fixed yet. They still have the cylinder shape handrolls, probably because they are easier to make (and does not require an experienced person to make) than the traditional cone shape. And they are S M A L L in size. If you instead request handrolls at Wegman's they are much larger, cone shaped, and taste infinitely better. Plus, they cost less. Why in the world would I ever want to return to Lab 13? And I never plan to go back. read more

Really good was very full from the 6 hand roll order. Nice staff clean. Great atmosphere for date night