I came upon Ponzu by word of mouth, and I'm grateful I did! A co-worker/friend and I arranged to get a catered sushi lunch from Ponzu. They were the one place in the area willing to work with us and our large group and our finicky-ness (read: we had $400 to spend, 2 vegetarians, 10 people with sushi-phobia, and 20 sushi-philes who were going to starve themselves for 24 hours beforehand so they could stuff themselves silly during lunch). Ponzu sent us awesome kung pao for the die-hard sushi-phobes. And then, in a rare gift of empathy and insight, they presented us with a fantastic range of sushi for everyone else: some very creative vegetarian sushi for the vegetarians and a large batch of fish-based sushi that ran the gamut from the simple and the tempura-fried for the uninitiated to the tobiko- and panko-topped tastes of perfection for those of us who were jaded veterans. While I don't know anything about the atmosphere in the restaurant. The owners came across as friendly and prompt. The food was very cheap (for sushi) and very fresh. We told them to send us a range of foods based on the people we were trying to feed. And I think that their insight into that decision-making process was keen and far better than I've seen from most other restaurants I've worked with. I look forward to going there as a non-giant-business customer... and I will update when I do. THE LONG-ANTICIPATED UPDATE: Finally went to Ponzu as a normal, non-corporate lunch customer. We sort of showed up as a party of ten without calling ahead, but the staff of Ponzu was completely unflummoxed. Service was still great. Food was still delicious. Everyone decided we had to go back again, preferably sooner rather than later. read more

We decided to try this place and ended up leaving before ordering entrees. First impression was of a grimy take out joint that had added tables and chairs. We had an emotionless waiter come over to help us. He showed no pleasantries and was short on advice. We were taking his time and the place was half empty. We were waiting for another member of our party to show up so we ordered 2 "Asian tapas" apps to start. The chicken satay was terrible. It tasted as if they had wrapped pieces of chicken in fat and put them on a stick to cook. Inedible. The other dish was Indian chicken and potato with Roti bread. The Roti was from a package (the waiter told us) The app consisted of some sauce, 2 dice size pieces of chicken and 2 dice size pieces of potato. Scared to order anything else, we asked for the check which came to $13 for this. Maybe this Malaysian place has a good Sushi chef but for what we experienced, 2 stars is generous. read more

this review is based on a foodler order. i struggled with how to rate this place. i feel J would have said he loved it and for me it was just okay. we ordered on a tuesday night and the delivery was quick (showed up ahead of time) and the guy was very friendly & followed instructions (to call as the downstairs bell is broken). we spent $60 and each got three items. the portions seemed a bit small but i always think this about sushi and then end up completely stuffed and that was true for this order. still, i personally would have rather spent that money at a different establishment for a truly awesome sushi experience. (thelonious monkfish in central sq, for instance.) one thing that bugged me was that the ingredients listed on the foodler menu didn't seem to quite jive with what we received. the tuna lover is listed as spicy and supposedly has both habanero sauce and wasabi tobiko. this roll was delicious but was not spicy at all. like...not in the least, never was. the goldfish roll is supposed to have eel & egg in the center but mine had eel and cucumber. the outside was to be wrapped in salmon & shrimp, but half of it was wrapped in avocado. the super white roll which was supposed to have avocado, only had it in half the pieces. when you order a certain thing...you kind of want it as advertised, and yet, they all tasted good or great so it wasn't as big a deal, just seems kind of careless. the super white was described as being wrapped in radish. i imagined paper thin fresh radish slices, but what it actually is is a *lot* of thick slices (see photo) of something that to me tastes like the pink pickled ginger. i would order this again but probably peel off a layer or two as it was a bit much. the hurricane roll comes topped with "sweet and crispy taro strings" - you can see from the photo they basically filled the whole box with these things...which were hard, chewy, and flavorless. the roll underneath was good but those bits were just inedible. the sea urchin...ugh. this was my fault, though. i have no idea why i chose to try sea urchin for the first time from a delivery place with mixed reviews. i also have no idea why i ate the second piece after i didn't like the first. maybe i just don't like sea urchin, i don't really know having nothing to compare it to. right now i'm wishing i hadn't eaten it though, i'll say that much. in the end i think if i had ordered the same rolls J did (tuna lover, spicy ponzu, and hurricane) this review would be much more positive. we're only in waltham for a week but if we lived here i'd give them another shot. (ETA: just kidding, no i wouldn't. it's now midnight and while i didn't feel so hot writing this review, i can now say for certain something there did not agree with me. not something i'd chance again esp for this kind of money.) read more

Ponzu - clockwise from top left: hurricane roll, super white, sea urchin nigiri, goldfish, ponzu spicy roll w/ salmon, & the tuna lover. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

I'm amazed to read anything other than glowing review from here. I have been here a *TON* as have many people I know - I work literally two buildings down. Their sushi/sashimi lunch is amazing - so much food for $10. And dinner is even better... plus every time I've gone they've given us an appetizer for free. And boatloads of saki for free, too.... but THAT is probably just because we go there twice a week. Go here with friends and tell the waitress you want $100 of anything, and let the sushi chefs pick. It's an incredible experience. read more

Some of the special sushi rolls are good. Overall it is a bit pricy for what you get. The people are nice but it is always empty. I think that the food is average, not great - not bad. I do think there are much better choices around the corner and just as good if not better. read more

Truly the best sushi I have had in a long time (and I eat a LOT of sushi)! The service was excellent and the food was delicious and fresh. We loved the assortment of free small plates they brought us to try and will definitely be going back again. read more

Ponzu - This was the sashimi bibimbap. This bowl was huge and had a large serving of assorted sashimi, veggies, and rice. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Have tried Ponzu a few times now and have been favorably impressed. The menu has some great choices including the ponzu hot ribs and the wasabi pork dumpling! Very spicy and great!! For Sushi we tried the uni shooter, a very clever presentation. The x max maki was delicious. Volcano roll also quite nice. Service was pretty good and we didn't have to wait to be seated, The food is worth the trip. City Parking lot is behind the stores across the street. read more

I went there for the elm rice several times and always consider favorites. But one time I ordered sushi which turned out to be pricy and not fresh as I expected.If u have choice, do not order sushi only noodle and rice would be better. read more

The good: pretty decor, attentive staff, including tasty complimentary tapioca at the end of the meal. The bad: I asked for no rice with my entree, so the waiter suggested a sub of vegetables. I was given sliced fresh asparagus, which was fine, and a medly of the frozen veggies you get in the freezer aisle at the supermarket, which was decidedly not fine at all. The seaweed salad is the kind that is dyed extremely bright green. gs I had the duck. The duck meat itself was cooked PERFECTLY. Falling off the bone, juicy and delicious in a sweet sauce. That duck is the only reason my review was 3 instead of 2 stars. However, the skin was very disappointing, revoltingly soggy- the same texture as it is raw- when it should have been crispy. I would not come again. If I had to, I would ask for the duck with no skin! read more

Not sure why this place has generated mediocre reviews. Perhaps you ordered wrong. Believe it or not the sushi is unreal as are the crab rangoons! This is also phenomenal, Stuffed fried inari (tofu) skin with spicy crabmeat and sushi rice $8.95 I went here with a buddy who goes often and the chef took great care of us. Got a free appetizer and a round of beers. Please make sure this place stays in business. go here now and get the sushi dishes and not the asian fusion! Enjoy! read more

First time ordering from Ponzu and I'm pleasantly surprised ... much better than I expected! I arrived home from a business trip to a snow storm and no food in the house. Being a non-native New Englander and not wanting to endanger anyone with my (lack of) snow driving skills, I called around to see if any of my go-to restaurants were actually delivering in this weather. Got a resounding NO from the usual spots so I decided to call here. Sure enough, they said they'd deliver! A small downside is that there is a $25 delivery minimum, so I had to order a lot more than I was originally prepared to eat. Not too upset over this now, because the food is awesome, and in decent weather I usually opt for pick-up anyway. I ordered the spicy maki lunch special (five spicy tuna, five spicy crab stick maki), the snow mountain maki, and a side of tempura vegetables. I have no complaints about the size of the rolls. The snow mountain roll was huge, actually. All three were really good -- the spicy crab stick maki is the best crab-stick-anything I've ever had. Tempura vegetables are pretty hard to screw up I suppose, but they also really hit the spot, and the sauce was good. My only real complaint is that they forgot my miso soup, but I have more than I can eat here anyway, and the prompt delivery in a pretty impressive snow storm more than makes up for it. Pleased to have found good sushi in Waltham! read more

Ponzu is delicious. It is definitely Asian Fusion - their chef's creativity results in a large menu with a wide variety of dishes and sushi options. As such, I find there are three way to approach a Ponzu meal: a series of small dishes, a big dish and appetizer, or sushi. Well, okay, some small dishes and sushi works too. If you're ordering one of the more expensive sushi rolls ($10+), know that you're getting more than just sushi. It's probably covered in some sort of delicious combination of fish, panko, and roe. So it can be quite filling. Particular sushi favorites: fried clam roll (as the menu says, if you like clams, you have to try this), X'max Maki, house maki (whitefish = yum), Bejing duck roll (interesting, at the very least). Honestly, I have nothing to say about their "Big Dishes" as I rarely order them. I'm all about their sushi and small dishes (Asian tapas). My fave of those: spicy tuna quesadillas, baked scallop in the shell (rare time that sea legs (fake crab) works quite well; plus a rare appearance of cheese in Asian cooking), Ponzu hot ribs, beef Negima (little pricy, but good), everything in the appetizer sampler, and the salt & pepper calamari. So yeah, most of the small dishes menu. Pretty much everything is good. Only thing that disappointed me was the tuna lollipops - pricy and wasn't much to them at all. The seafood Kim Chi soup is also quite yummy (good on a cold Winter's night). The delivery guy is really nice too. read more

So yummy!! Very kind staffs and clean place. I'm Korean and it's hard to find the place to meet my expectations. I ordered spicy cod fish soup and stir fried kimchi jeyuk. The soup was served with special Korean hot stone pot so kept warm till I finished food. Taste like just from my Korean mom. Kimchi Jeyuk was very delicious, too. Side dish was so goooood!! What I like the most was very clean place, fresh and ingredients. Healthy and yummy place. I definitely want to back with my kids. Strongly recommend! Hang out city can be headace due to the parking but Check out this parking lot. Cheap and close to this place. I paid only $1.50 for 3 hours. 42 Crescent St Waltham, MA 02453 United State read more

I was pleasantly surprised how good the sushi was here. The fish was fresh and the chefs could not be more helpful in helping me decide which rolls I wanted to order. This is now my Go-to spot in Waltham. Great fish with out breaking the bank. I recommend "Moody Maki", "The Red Dragon Maki", "The Maki" (the gold flake was impressive). Everything I have had here has been delicious. Very nice staff and atmosphere. Great Value! read more

Fate brought me here one day. I've been meaning to try out Ponzu but never had a chance. I was on my way to Bison County for lunch and it came to my attention that they're not open for lunch. Looking around, I scoped out somewhere else to go instead and so across the street I spot Ponzu and head on over. I entered this small, but delectable restaurant. Simply decorated in the yellow walls and black ceiling and not overbearing, it was... modest. I would say their menu has something for everyone. While I do not eat raw foods, they have raw tapas as well as various forms of sushi/maki. I would have loved to try to their cooked tapas, but alas I was alone and would have to come back to try these out when I can bring along a dining companion. Instead I had something off their luncheon special menu. For $7.95 I enjoyed a savory dish - the Malaysian Red Curry Chicken. This came with salad (which I respectfully declined since i was not in the mood for salad), miso soup, and a choice of coconut flavored rice, chicken flavored brown rice or jasmine white rice. I chose the coconut flavored rice and felt as if I was dining on a tropical island. The chicken was served beautifully on a banana leaf. Ponzu - you can be sure I'll be returning regularly. BTW they deliver after 4 pm. read more

After finding out that Asian Grill was closed on a Sunday afternoon, and being too far from Sushi Yasu for laziness to allow walking... my brother and I decided to try out Ponzu. I suspect that I feel the same way about tapas that professional golfers feel about mini golf... and Ponzu seems to be trying to bring that Spanish miniaturism to Asian cuisine. Having said that, though... the food was quite good. I had the kimchee seafood noodle soup from the lunch menu, and am convinced that it could be made a meal. The unagi don did not really satisfy my craving for teriyaki donburi, unfortunately, but it was tasty. My brother and I steered clear of the beer list, but the green tea was nice and I noticed that they also had a selection of Spanish wines and even port...? So all in all, I was happy with the Ponzu experience. I think it offers some fairly creative pairings. If you're not on a shoestring budget and feel like indulging in some trendy asian fusion, look no further. read more

I give it four stars for it's unique sushi plates, diverse menu and delicious Ponzu hot ribs. If you are looking for a light quick meal that still holds its elegance and taste Ponzu is where to go. There is an array of creative sushi dishes that will just hit the spot. The appetizers and small plates are a bit over priced but the sushi and entrees are proportional and enough to fill you up. You must try the Ponzu hot ribs - they are amazing! As for sushi.. I am the type that tries a different roll every time I go and I have not disappointed (some of my favorites; godzilla, Ponzu spicy roll, any rice paper maki, and crazy maki). I have not tried any of the entrees but I have not heard any complaints. read more

Good fresh sushi at Ponzu. we had some other appetizers that were O.K. but not great. It was really expensive for the portions IMO. I haven't tried sushi box or any of the other places in the area, so I don't have anything to compare it to. They have plenty of seating. We went in on a weeknight and there were only a few other people in the restaurant. I thought the spicy tuna maki was pretty good. Also the torched maki was good as well with some kind of sauce drizzled on it. The curry pork dumpling soup was ok but I wouldn't order it again. Vegetable egg rolls were pretty standard. Chicken satay appetizer was descent. Worth checking out if you can get a groupon. read more

Identity crisis at this tapas-like Asian eatery. Things are listed as small plates, large plates, sides, etc... I was confused by why some sushi-style rolls are only available in certain circumstances, and not a la carte. Fresh ingredients, decent quality, but something about the majority of dishes we tried just didn't work. The menu announces that they have a 'food stylist.' That's great, but maybe they should worry less about how things look (some dishes were very striking) and more about how the flavors come together. I'm all for fusion, but it takes something away from the food experience when a restaurant uses what appear to be the exact same spices on both the filet mignon tataki and the yellow tail carpaccio. The only thing different was that the tataki had a vinegar-like sauce that was too sharp for the flavor of the meat. The tuna lemongrass tar-tare with coconut milk and cilantro was nice and smooth.. .perhaps a little too smooth. It could have used something citrusy (like mango or blood orange) to offset the mild flavor. And I'm not someone who deals well with spicy or overly seasoned foods, so if I think it borders on bland.. well...). I did enjoy the pork gyoza with balsamic glaze, though they were a bit stingy with the glaze. (Perhaps the food stylist thought it might ruin the visual aesthetic of the dish?) The steamed coconut-flavored rice was aromatic, but a bit dry, not at all like the sticky rice I was anticipating. A note for those who dislike spicy dishes- MOST of the hot 'n spicy options are written in red text on the menu. However, make sure to read carefully, as I found wasabi listed as an ingredient in a supposedly non-spicy dish. Someone should congratulate the interior designer, as they turned what could've felt like a small, narrow space into something soothing and pleasing to the eye. Oh, and there's a waterfall (not the tacky indoor kind) near the front window. Service was friendly, and did not always seem to understand my questions, but none-the-less things arrived as ordered (nothing spicy, no peanuts...). Would I return? Maybe. read more

Despite the not-so-great reviews below, I took my friend to Ponzu for her birthday dinner. I love the idea of fusion tapas, as I always like to try a little bit of everything. I find the restaurant space strange. It's a long narrow space with a sushi bar on one long side and then sparse seating along the other and in a strange group in the front of the restaurant. To me, the high ceilings made me feel small, and the furniture and colors made the space feel cold. So I don't think I'd use zen to describe it. That said I found the food to be excellent. We had miso soup, which was your traditional miso plus enoki mushrooms, a very generous seaweed salad, some pork gyoza that were drizzled in a thick syrupy balsamic soy sauce (delicious!). We also tried the ponzu-marinated tuna, which came chopped and topping a paste made of spicy edamame, and a fried cracker, with a sprinkling of black fish eggs. Definitely the highlight of the meal. We picked one maki, the Godzilla, which was fresh and delicious. I would definitely go back to Ponzu to try some other tapas, as well as some of the very interesting larger plates. read more

Had my first experience yesterday and I wasn't impressed, but I wasn't disappointed either. The lunch meals are reasonable and the cuts of fish are well sized. The miso soup is better than average with the long stemmed mushrooms. However, it is served in a modern (square) bowl with a metal spoon. Both of which look nice but not particularly my taste. I'd surely go back and give them another try for dinner. read more

It's 90 degrees and I din't want to cook. Ponzu was the answer! We were so lazy and had them deliver us some yummmy food. My tastebuds were refreshed and delighted by the following: Mango Salmon Salad=shredded cucumber, mango and crab meat with tempura crumbs and topped with thinly sliced salmon sashimi. Perfect in the hot weather to the point I was practically moaning with delight! Red Sox Maki=it was an easy choice since they were on tv and winning. The roll was small, but surprisingly filling and tasty. My husband was drooling over the filet mignon teriyaki (could have used a bit more filet). And we shared the chicken satay with highly addictive peanut sauce. Overall portions were a little small and kinda pricey, but can't wait to dine-in when the heatwave is over. read more

Been their dozens of times, always great food. It's a bit more expensive than other local sushi places, but well worth the premium. Probably my favorite restaurant. read more

Food is fresh, wholesome, beautifully cooked. The little appetizers were such a nice touch - little dishes of kimchi, cubes of potato with a sweet/salty glaze, seaweed and sauteed green beans. Delicate and tasty. Our server was gracious and polite. read more

Good upper-mid-range sushi. Entrees are so so. Ambiance is pretty nice; the place was packed with trendy couples. But the quarters are a little close. I've heard bad news about the non-sushi entrees, but the sushi did me well. Oh, but miso soup isn't even on the menu, and when you ask for it, it's quite salty. But there's free dessert, so...you know, I can't get too mad. read more

As far as delivery sushi goes, this place hit the mark. The rolls are smaller than what I'm used to (especially for the price) but the freshness, quality, and presentation were on point. I ordered through Grubhub.com and the estimated delivery time was about an hour. To my pleasant surprise, my food arrived in 30minutes! If you are looking to satisfy a craving and aren't in the mood to leave home, Ponzu delivers pretty good sushi. And dont worry, nothing about it resembles or tastes like the crap you find in grocery stores :-). However, be prepared to spend about 25.00 for two rolls that are small enough to fit in the same container. What Im trying to say, is 25.00 will feed on person. And trust me, I'm not a heavy eater. read more

Ponzu - Delivery - Sushi Bars Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

As a bit of a sushi snob I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and presentation of Ponzu's sushi and maki. I had the spicy salmon maki which was a great deal at $6 for 6 regular sized pieces, the volcano maki which was HUGE and very very good but the same price as other places I've been ($15). You could easily split this between two people and be pretty satified with another small dish on the side. Crazy maki also gets five stars and I think it was a great deal at $8 for 4 large pieces. I will definitely be back! read more

Good sushi. A little pricey if you are eating dinner in, but it gives a decent dining experience. Fantastic lunch menu and killer soups. The curried pork dumpling soup is very tasty, and can also be used to completely clear out your head if you should happen to have a cold. read more

Best sushi in the area. And honestly, I'd take this over any other similarly priced joint in Boston. Consistent quality sushi, and some pretty creative rolls. Also, if someone in your group doesn't like sushi, they have a pretty extensive Chinese food menu as well. read more

Most of the complaints I saw about Ponzu were regarding their customer service, and I have to say those were fair. Their service is pretty slow; they need one more server on their busy nights. However, the food is pretty great. The gyoza with balsamic glaze is amazing. My date ordered the General Gao's Chicken, and I stole about half of his plate, it was so good. My one gripe is that the vegetables on many of the dinners are the frozen cubed carrots/peas/corn. Overall, a nice restaurant with some really interesting dishes. Brandeis students - parents' weekend is coming up fast! read more

I was impressed with the quiet serenity of the place, the quick and attentive service, and the free fried salmon skin appetizer that appeared on our table while I was reading the menu. I had the Avocado Seafood Salad. It was a delightful, light, subtly tasty appetizer, which was exactly what I was looking for. My friend had sushi and sashimi, and said it was excellent. The prices are good, the quality is high, the staff is professional, and it's a lovely place hidden in plain sight. read more

I went for lunch with some co-workers. It's very quick and the prices are awesome. However, I wasn't really impressed with the freshness of the sushi. It was obvious that it had just been made, but the actual ingredient seemed old. For example: I ordered a california roll (adventurous, no?) and the avocado was the mushiest, slimiest avocado ever. I couldn't finish the roll because of the awful texture. parking tip: park in the huge lot/garage off of Pine st (by the Landmark Embassy Cinema), its a quick hop&skip away and then you don't have to deal with Moody st. read more

I can only comment on the sushi but let me say it is delicious! Really fresh and creative combinations. Definitely among the best sushi I have had in the Waltham area. They also have online ordering and delivery through their website which is super convenient. read more

This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the Boston area. It has charm, friendly staff, fast service, and of course excellent sushi. I order and eat here regularly, so much so, that the staff knows me by name! If you are looking for great sushi and reasonable prices, this is a great place to dine. read more

First I got a Groupon, then I read the Yelp reviews- which made me have second thoughts about my purchase. Based on Yelp, we avoided some of the more criticized dishes. What we did order was, for the most part ok. The coconut shrimp was juicy and not greasy. The pork gyoza were 6 nice sized steamed dumplings with a rich hoisin sauce, and the vegetable spring rolls were mediocre. A main course of duck teriyaki had plenty of nicely seasoned hacked duck pieces, quite delicious, surrounded by fresh asparagus- and, unfortunately white american mushrooms instead of shiitake or other asian varieties AND they dumped in some frozen mixed vegetables, which, frankly is unconscionable, especially this time of year when fresh corn, green beans and carrots are readily available. I guess we got the indifferent, bored, perfunctory waiter who was mentioned in other reviews, but he did take care of business and was relatively efficient, even if he didn't care whether you lived or died. Some good beers at $3.50 a bottle, a great selection of sushi and fair prices suggest the possibility of a return visit- but we won't rush. read more

Love, love, love this place... The entire staff is consistently efficient and friendly, the entire menu is quality... (Hint: Go beyond the sushi pages!!) The chefs at the sushi bar are hard working but will chat and make you anything you want, feel free to invent whatever your taste buds desire! read more

Ponzu is a Japanese restaurant on moody street in Waltham, MA. Some street parking is available as well as some parking lots within the area. The place is pretty nice looking (sort of fancy) and the service is relatively good for the most part. We ordered two sushi rolls (dragon and caterpillar) as well as side orders of egg rolls, miso soup, and seaweed salad. Everything was good and if anyone lives locally then this is a nice place to go to when you want to avoid the headache of going into boson for good sushi. I would recommend. read more

I give it a 4 for its less than perfect interior design, but that's beside the point. I go here... for their Spicy Salmon maki and Spicy Seafood Kimchi Soup. B.E.S.T. spicy salmon E.V.E.R. I cannot get the same thing ANYWHERE. I know there are sushi joints that sell spicy salmon maki, but I go to PONZU for THE Spicy Salmon maki. Like I said, I go here... for their SPICY SALMON MAKI. The spicy seafood kimchi soup is wicked good as well and actually, everything else on the menu is pretty awesome including their small plates and big plates, so they don't only sell sushi. S.P.I.C.Y S.A.L.M.O.N M.A.K.I. No where else makes it the same way. I cannot emphasize this anymore than I already have. read more

Billy is the man! Ate there for lunch today with a client and will be having them cater lunch for another client meeting tomorrow. I had my first sushi experience at Ponzu and it totally spoiled me. I work in Waltham but live on the North Shore and I've never been able to find it's equal anywhere else. Have a conversation with Billy (the owner and top sushi chef) one time, and he will remember you always. The Dragon, Caterpillar, Four Seasons, Ponzu Spicy Rolls...all AMAZING, fresh & delicious. You can't go wrong at Ponzu, my favorite thing about working in Waltham! read more

We got take out bibimbap. The ladies working were super nice and helpful but the beef on our bibimbap was soooo tiny. Maybe like 1/3 cup? Not enough when we paid $30 for both. The miso soup was great and service was good read more