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    Mai

    4.9 (78 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    MAI ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Mai

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lemuel L.

    Came here for a light business dinner, and Mai did not disappoint. From the superb food, great service, and warm atmosphere (including the Labubus), it was a really great experience. Christian was also around experimenting with some new cocktails, and we were willing subjects - awesome touch there. The four of us probably downed two dozen handrolls. Miso butter cod was the standout for me, and the snow crab ikura was a close second, but you could honestly not go wrong as they all looked amazing. Solid spot in Seaport. Would definitely go back here. 5/5

    Valentine's Day Decoration
    Nhung N.

    I visited Mai, a French and Japanese restaurant located in Boston's Seaport area. I visited during lunch hours and on a Friday during the noon-3:00pm window. There is a 2 hour break before dinner service at 5:00 PM. There was limited street parking as expected for this part of Boston but plenty of public parking lots in the area to park your vehicle. Their Japanese hand rolls made up their entire lunch menu, so keep that in mind if you want something other than hand rolls, visit during dinner service instead. You'll have to come during dinner service when the restaurant open again 5:00 PM onward for their full dinner menu and expanded alcohol selection and French inspired dishes. You can view their lunch and dinner menu on their website. My husband and I tried a selection of hand rolls. My husband ordered the Best Sellers hand rolls. This set included three hand rolls, the toro, the miso butter cod, and the spicy scallop hand rolls. I ordered the toro, the duck foie gras, and the salmon with added ikura hand rolls. Our sets came with a complementary miso soup. Of the six rolls that we tried, my favorite was the toro hand roll. This is followed by the scallop hand roll and the salmon a with added ikura. The duck and foie gras hand roll was dripping with duck fat. I wouldn't say that it wasn't tasty, but that it was very rich and very messy to eat. My least favorite was the miso butter cod. I dislike the taste of cod fish in general so there is that to consider. The interior space is rather crowded. This was not expected as the online pictures made it look more spacious, likely a wide angle lens/filter was used. I felt as though there was barely enough elbow room between tables and it feels like even less room when I was trying to put on my oversized winter coat (a must for the cold New England weather in Boston) to leave. It was much cozier than I liked. Hence, not recommended for large groups. Because it was Valentine's Day weekend, the restaurant was decorated with heart shaped balloons. If you look up toward the ceilings, there are tons of Labubus on top of the wooden beams. I thought it would be cute for a lunch date or date night with my daughter who is currently into the Labubu trend. I'll definitely be back with my young daughter to try more items. See my pictures.

    Spicy Tuna, Toro, Spicy Blue Crab, Spicy Scallop, Uni, Eel, Miso Black Cod Handrolls
    Brendon T.

    The food and drinks were delicious across the board, and you can tell a lot of care goes into both quality and presentation. We started with the Wagyu Fat Fries, Chicken Tempura, and the Hokkaido Uni Toast--all great, but the uni toast was especially rich and indulgent. The handrolls were the star of the night. We tried the Spicy Tuna, Toro, Spicy Blue Crab, Spicy Scallop, Uni, Eel, and Miso Butter Cod. The eel was my personal favorite, perfectly balanced and full of flavor, and the uni was incredibly rich and creamy. Drinks were also well done, especially the nonalcoholic options. The Melon Kanso Highball stood out as the better of the two highballs with more flavor compared to the Lychee Kanso Highball. We also enjoyed the Matcha Yuzu Sour and the Strawberry Matchatini, both refreshing and thoughtfully crafted. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable, happy to explain the menu and offer recommendations. The space itself is small but clean and well-kept, which adds to the intimate dining experience. The main downside was the long wait, since the restaurant doesn't take reservations and relies on a waitlist, which can be tough during busy hours, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. That said, the food, drinks, and service made it worth it, and I'd definitely come back again, just prepared to wait.

    Wagyu fat fries
    Evelyn W.

    When I found out one of my favorite handroll spots, Matsunori, was getting an elevated sister restaurant, I was very excited to try it. Especially for the price point, I found this experience lackluster compared to Matsunori. The layout of the space is quite cramped and it gets loud, which I think made it difficult for servers to check in on guests or refill water or clear plates efficiently, leading to below average service. Not necessarily the servers' fault. I was most looking forward to the miso butter cod handroll (my favorite dish at Matsu) and was very disappointed. The sugary marinade lacked miso and soy flavor, it wasn't very caramelized/broiled, and the pieces of fish were small. The drinks were good, but good drinks are easy to find in Seaport/Boston.

    Miso cod
    Lizzie Y.

    I swear hand roll spots have been opening left and right lately & I fear I was traumatized for the longest time by this one place I tried a while back. So, I was a little hesitant to try Mai, BUT I can't even lie, we had such an amazing dinner here! The restaurant is on the smaller side but was so cute inside. We arrived with a party of 3, no wait time. Menu mostly consisted of hand rolls, some entree dishes & a few apps. We stuck to 3 hand rolls each & shared one appetizer. The hand rolls we tried: -spicy blue crab (x2) -spicy tuna w/ fried sweet potato (x2) -spicy scallops (x2) -miso butter cod (x2) -salmon w/ avocado Appetizer: -Wagyu fat fries All the hand rolls we tried tasted super fresh & they did not skimp on the fish at all. In terms of the size of the rolls, I would say they are decently sized but not as big as Matsunori's (for reference). Our favorites were the spicy blue crab, miso butter cod, & the spicy tuna w/ fried sweet potato. I loved the crunch the fried sweet potato gave, for the spicy tuna hand roll! All rolls had good flavor, w/o overpowering the fish so I honestly really enjoyed the experience we had here for dinner. I think the prices were reasonable, especially for it being in SEAPORT... very similar prices to other hand roll spots. Could totally see myself coming back, maybe for their lunch handroll set specials!!

    Chris T.

    Quick eats at Mai's for the first time where most hand rolls aren't 20+. Hand rolls range about $8+ so definitely some good buys. The size of the rolls are a decent size, it's not large or dinky with no filling. We ordered: (2) spicy blue crab (2) spicy tuna with fried sweet potatoes (2) spicy scallop (2) Miso Butter cod (1) salmon avocado And a wagyu fat fries appetizer Our orders came out timely, they did forget 2 orders but when we flagged our server down, the kitchen got started on it. The proteins were fresh, nice bite thru and flavors blended really well. Wagyu fries were crispy, taste was good, haha reminded me of potatoe sticks chips though. My favorite was probably the miso butter cod and the spicy tuna with crispies. I think our bill was like 140 for 3 people.

    Handrolls
    Lydia C.

    Disappointingly not worth the price tag - or even the trek to Seaport. I've been to the sister location, Matsunori, which is in Fenway. That's a slightly less expensive and higher quality meal with improved service over the new location. Though Mai is small, the setting was the highlight of our visit. It definitely feels like a pricey cocktail bar, with dim lighting casting a glowing blue, romantic ambiance over the handful of tables. However, we noticed a string of labubus hung up around the store, which were... odd. We eschewed the apps and each ordered 3 or 4 handrolls, which are the specialty. I was intrigued by the toro tea cups, but was turned off by the $19 price tag for, you guessed it, a single bite. Unlike Matsunori, table service at Mai was lacking, as all the handrolls came out together. That meant that even the second handroll I ate was soggy. I first tried the salmon gravalax, which the server lauded as a highlight and an incredibly unique dish with bold, innovative flavors paired together in a new way. In fact, it felt like a plain, albeit satisfyingly thick, slice of salmon wrapped in nori. I couldn't taste the "beet cured salmon" and there was absolutely no kick from wasabi at all. I wouldn't recommend it if you're hoping for a new experience. Similarly, the eel handroll was served with a solid slice of avocado, but was also frustratingly average. I ordered the miso butter cod because I tried and loved it at Matsunori, but I certainly remember it being better. Finally, the toro had a good amount of tuna, but otherwise did not knock my socks off. Overall, I would not recommend Mai, especially not for the price tag.

    Lydia L.

    Great addition to the seaport food/drink scene! It's a small spot, about 30 seats, so you'll probably have to wait a while during peak hours. We snuck in right before lunch ended and it was totally empty though, so pick your time. The duck foie gras roll is a can't miss, it's dripping with oil in the most decadent way. The salmon apple is also exceptional and showcases the excellent quality of fish Mai has. Personally I would skip the yellowtail hand roll next time--nothing wrong with it, but the texture is a little smoother than I prefer, and it's just a little bit simple with everything else on the menu. Don't skip the free miso soup either! For drinks, the Tokyo 75 would be a good but not crazy take on the French 75 but for the blue "electric dust" rim, which will make your mouth deliciously tingly and change the flavor of the drink as you sip. The Wasabi Sour is also delicious -- the kind of spicy that will clear out your sinuses without causing you pain, even if you're a spice baby like me! Prices are pretty standard for seaport (which is to say, high), but this is one of the few places in the area that I would say make them worth it.

    Kristyn C.

    Mai has been on my list of places to visit as soon as I saw it was opening. I am a huge fan of its sister restaurant Matsunori and I was very pleased to see that Mai exceeded my expectations in being similar to Matsunori with its own unique twist. This location does not take reservations so be prepared to wait or get there early. My party of 4 arrived about 15 minutes before open on a Saturday night and a small line was already forming. The interior is quaint and intimate with small tables for patrons. I really like that Mai offers cocktails - I went with the wasabi sour and absolutely loved it. I also really enjoy that in addition to handrolls, there are heartier appetizer and specialty options. My group decided to split an order of wagyu fat fries and duck risotto before ordering our individual handrolls. Everything was phenomenal - I really loved the duck risotto. It was rich and flavorful but the cranberry sauce it comes with perfectly cut the richness of the dish. As far as the handrolls, I tried some familiar rolls from the Matsunori menu like the miso butter cod and snow crab but also the Mai-specific rolls like the salmon gravlax and lobster California rolls. I ordered an extra lobster California because I loved it so much. Everything was absolutely delicious and I left very happy and very full. I will definitely be coming back to dine in at Mai in the future.

    Melanie W.

    This place reminded me Matsunori Handroll Bar in Brookline. Got their few minutes before 5pm, there were people waiting in line. When I went in, I needed to join their wait-list which was around 45-60min wait since they don't take reservation. Lobster California ($15) - bland and lack of lobster Eel ($12) - I should added foie gras, don't know why the eel taste a little different than the eel avocado maki that you eat at other restaurant. Duck Foie Gras ($16) - My favorite, a little messy since is oily Toro ($19) - High quality and generous portion This is a place for a drink and snack since the portion for the handroll will not fullfilled my stomach but I do enjoyed eating their handroll.

    Miso cod hand roll
    Katelyn P.

    Truly an incredible meal, I'm already excited to go back! It may have helped that we ran into an actor from on of my favorite TV shows, but we had a great time here regardless. It's a really small space with a decent wait time, but there are plenty of spots nearby to get a drink and wait. Service was super friendly and helpful, and the food came out so quickly. Wagyu is tender and flavorful, but the fries and truffle/pate ketchup were the best part. I could've eaten them all night. The fish is such high quality and generous servings for the price. I personally thought the miso butter cod was a little overrated (still great), but the scallop and toro are a must have.

    Wagyu steak frites
    Peter C.

    Amazing place! Great spot in the seaport. It's a bit small, so be prepared to wait... not sure if they do reservations yet. I was there for the soft opening. It's very cute inside. Modern and the seating is well spaced for being so small. There is counter seating by the windows, if you want to people watch. The food is so good. Handrolls are among the best I've had. Everything was good. There wasn't a single dish I did not enjoy. The Hokkaido Uni was sweet and fresh. I could have eaten so many. The best part of the handrolls are the fact that the fish is diced, NOT minced. Too many places mash the fish into a paste style and mix with things. This was either a whole slice or fish or diced like a Poke bowl. I very much prefer that. For appetizers, the Uni toast was tiny and you only get one. For the price I would have expected maybe two pieces. Be prepared to spend alot for small portions. It's the seaport and it's sushi... those two things automatically mean high prices. I would say you might run $160 per person with drinks, food and tip. You might have seen the bubble drink on IG, but it's pretty cool. It was very popular that night. I think for the ability to film the bubble and smoke. Staff was awesome. They came around to make sure everything was ok on several occasions. For a brand new place, the staff was pretty good. A couple of items from my order were forgotten, but the staff made sure to make it right and get the order in again. Overall this place is pretty awesome. I enjoyed it so much. I will likely return when the new restaurant excitement settles.

    Wendy D.

    I'm generally not a huge Asian fusion fan, but this new Japanese fusion place had some great hits and I can see it becoming a very popular place in Seaport. It's from the creators of the Matsunori handroll place, which I'm already a fan of, so it's quite an easy sell if you enjoy similar tastes. I went to the soft opening and the interior is already giving upscale vibes. I personally enjoyed the labubu decor lining the upper beams, and the lighting definitely sets the mood for a fun date night. We had a larger group so apparently they bought a bigger table that day to accommodate, what great service! We were given a set menu and the first dish knocked our socks off. It was a chicken tempura topped with mayo(?) sauce and caviar, similar to the $100 chicken nuggets being served at the US open and it was SO good. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but the meat was very tender, the tempura perfectly crispy, and I'm not particularly a bougie eater (as in I don't believe things taste better just because you sprinkle caviar), but I thought the caviar here was a great touch. Honestly putting this appetizer first may have been a mistake because everything after it couldn't compare haha. Also don't make the same mistake as I did, the little bowl of cabbage isn't a salad, it's a palate cleanser. The other dishes were great, particularly enjoyed the eel hand roll, duck hand roll, steak and fries. I'll be honest, the duck risotto was a bit too salty/heavy for me by the end of the meal but I'd def recommend the truffle fries.

    Wagyu tenderloin frites

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    Wonderful food, atmosphere and experience. Kayla was my server and was wonderful with recommendations and service. I highly recommend!

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    Ask the Community - Mai

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