I had to change my review. Why? Because I ordered dine-in. So my last review I was a little confused why I paid $50 to take out roughly 8 square inches of sushi. Now I realize why. Because I should have paid $50 for 8 square inches of sushi served elegantly in a really nice setting. Let's be honest, this place isn't cheap. But if you want a nice relaxing sushi meal, it's pretty darn good. And the sushi is good, definitely better in person than it was from delivery. They may have changed it since the first time I ordered. Or maybe I just had better company. I don't know, but what I do know is this place is pretty good. I'd say Cafe Sushi for takeout, Sakana for sit-down. read more

Absolutely love this spot! The restaurant itself is relatively small and cozy, so there is usually a wait! The fish tastes very fresh and delicious! I usually get their Nigiri Dinner, and each chef's selection is fun, special, and different each time. Their shrimp and veggie tempura was good too. I would definitely recommend this spot for their great tasting sushi and good value! read more

Honestly some of the best sushi we have ever had. Sakana is top notch and affordable, a combo not easily found. Our new favorite! read more

My partner and I really enjoyed our visits to Sakana pre-COVID, and have been getting takeout here relatively regularly since restaurants reopened. The fish is always fresh, and I really enjoy the presentation (even in takeout containers!). I got the sashimi lunch last weekend: There's a lot of variety (salmon, tuna, etc.), and I especially enjoy the one with the garlicky dressing. A lot of their lunch specials come with miso soup and salad, and I like that the miso soup is flavorful but not overwhelmingly salty. The lunch specials feel like fairly balanced meals. The takeout process is fairly clear. According to the website, orders should be ready 20-30 minutes after placing the order. Someone called me to let me know when my order was ready too. Pro-tips: 1) You get 10% off if you order online through their website for pickup. 2) The lunch specials are very affordable. read more

Sakana - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Nice ambiance, good sushi, fast service. I particularly enjoyed the specialty rolls I tried, the inside out and the dragon, as well as the nigiri which had a delicious sauce coating. Everything else I ordered was pretty standard but made well, though odd to me to see a rainbow roll with no avocado. Definitely recommend to a sushi lover! read more

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I heard excellent reviews about this place, and I was excited to try a new sushi experience in Cambridge. Food I've tried: - MAKIMONO COMBO SPECIAL ($34): comes with snow mountain (8 pieces), caterpillar (8 pieces), and spicy crisp shrimp (3 pieces). The rice was not overly salty and everything was well seasoned. I especially liked the crunch of the tempura on the spicy crisp shrimp. The fish quality was good, not the best I've ever had but definitely still good. I was decently satisfied by the portion of the food I got. Atmosphere: - I really loved how the inside is very sunny and bright. - The store is pretty small with few tables. I visited during an off peak time, but I am not sure how crowded it becomes during peak times. Service: - The staff was extremely friendly! I actually visited on my birthday and mentioned it to the waitress. They were kind enough to bring out a plate with a small dessert and happy birthday written on it :) I truly appreciated the thoughtfulness of the staff and the chef. Overall: - A lovely place to visit for sushi. The price is pretty average for sushi, not too high considering the quality of the fish. Depending on what you get, the price may be a smidge on the higher side. - I gave it 4 stars because for the same quality, I have been to other sushi restaurants that have offered better pricing. Additionally flavor wise it was a pretty standard sushi experience, nothing mind blowing. That said, if you are in the area craving sushi this is a solid place to come by. read more

Sakana - Makimono combo special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Very nice person who answered the phone and took our order. Great value for the sushi you get. Ordered the Nigiri Dinner and Makimono Combo Special as well as the Seared Salmon Belly. Really hit the spot. read more

Unexpected gem on our walk through Cambridge. We got the katsu and eel bento boxes as well as some gyoza. Food came out fast and everything tasted fresh and delicious. The way they make their sushi rice was especially good and the miso was rich and flavorful. Only thing I wasn't a fan of was the shishito pepper tempura as I didn't think it went well with the flavors of the other tempura items. We went for a late lunch around 1pm and were seated immediately. It's a small space but it was after the lunch rush. Also looked like they were fielding a good amount of takeout orders. Service was great. Prompt, efficient, cleared our tables of used plates often and refilled water often. Only complaint was bathroom was out of supplies like toilet paper and paper towels. Would definitely stop by here again and highly recommend! read more

Sakana - Gyoza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I got the nigiri dinner for 22$ so delicious for its price. This dinner comes with 8 pieces selected by the sushi chef and 8 piece of spicy tuna roll. The freshness of the sushi was up to par. I ordered hot tea because I was cold and the server would refill the cup every time (tiny tea cup) I felt bad they had to keep refilling it. The service was very good and informative about how long the wait was going to be. -meter parking -small area -there is bar seating read more

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Excellent service . This is Japanese restaurant with affordable price. The sushi and sashimi is great. Nice cut of fish and feel fresh. We ordered 5 different plates and rolls they were all great. read more

This was my second visit, and I ordered the same thing as my first visit: the nigiri dinner. On my first visit, I was disappointed because each nigiri was covered with this inexplicably sweet sauce! It was the weirdest tasting nigiri I've had. This time around however, although they looked similarly covered in sauce, thank goodness it was shoyu and not some sweet sauce--which explained my first visit as probably some sort of mistake from the kitchen, maybe a new guy. The nigiri dinner was in fact great tasting, the neta used were varied, with only salmon being used twice (one for raw nigiri, the other was torched abura salmon style). It's not exactly very affordable at $28 (8 nigiris and and 6 spicy tuna rolls, I'd rather have 10 nigiris and 3 rolls...), but with the quality offered I think it's worth it, and one of the few great sushis in greater Boston. I'll definitely be back for the nigiris. read more

Sakana - Nigiri Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stopped by for the first time for lunch. This may be my favorite sushi spot in Boston. Each roll had a large portion and variety of fishes. The fish and sushi was quite fresh, and there were a variety of great options on the menu. I got the Inside Out and the Salmon Garden rolls. I would highly recommend the Inside Out roll as it was extremely flavorful, with both tuna and shrimp in the roll. The sushi was presented expertly and the inside of the restaurant was quite homely. I will definitely come here again. read more

Sakana - Inside Out Makimono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place is AWESOME!! It's right near my work so I decided to stop in for their lunch specials. $15 makimono lunch special gets you 3 maki rolls, soup and salad. I think that's an amazing deal for what you get. The quality of the sushi was great for the price -- I hate it when cheaper places load up on the rice and they didn't. The salad dressing was also not your typical sushi restaurant ginger dressing -- I loved the addition of crunchy onions on top. They also have the convenience of ordering ahead online, which I love. I can order it to be ready right when my lunch break starts!! I will definitely be returning here in the future. read more

Pros: + Knowledgable staff + Friendly service + incredible service + plenty of sushi options - if you're not in a mood for a roll, they do have these great sushi/sashimi/nigiri lunch specials which give you a little taste of everything at the restaurant + Sushi cuts tasted so fresh and well made + Gorgeous presentations for the food as well Cons: - N/A read more

Was in the mood for some sushi so we decided to hit up this spot. This place was awesome! We started with the roasted scallops, which was super fresh and tender. Just the right level of smokiness with a light dressing. Excellent palate opener. For the main course, we got the party boat and an extra spicy tuna roll on the side. Party roll had mixed sushi, nigiri, and sashimi. Perfect amount of food for 2 people. Fish was fresh, rice was perfect, and everything was made to order. One of the best sushi spots in Boston for sure. The ambiance of the place was upscale yet relaxed. A little on the pricier side but nothing unexpected given quality. Will be coming back. read more

Sakana - roasted scallops - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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My favorite sushi place in Boston. I like the vibe and quality of sushi. Usually spend around $30/person every time. The seared salmon belly is great. read more

Favorite spot for sushi in Cambridge. The fish is always great and the staff are very friendly. There is not a lot of space so on a busy night there can be a wait for a table. It can also get a little loud inside and you might feel very close to the next table over. For Cambridge it is also pretty reasonable for the sizes and quality. My favorites are the Salmon Donburi, Sakana roll, and the crispy rice tuna tots. Always a safe bet for great sushi. One of my favorite restaurants in the area. read more

Had dinner on a Wednesday evening here. So we sat down at about 7:30pm and ordered our meal, we ordered the Sakana Sushi Boat, a spicy Tuna roll, a rainbow roll, the truffle tuna and spicy tuna and rice along with several beverages. So we ordered a good amount of food for 2 people At 8:30pm the waiter came and told us they were closing in 5 minutes and we needed to finish. This was ridiculous given the amount of food we still had on the table. Bottom line is we were forced to ask for a to go box and take a good amount t of food home to finish. Overall the food was good but the experience was poor. read more

Pro Tip: Come here on the earlier side to ensure you get a table. Sakana unfortunately does not take reservations. The seating is limited in the restaurant and the wait time can be around an hour or more. We waited 45 minutes to be seated at a bar nearby. We were called when the table was ready for us. The seating was a bit tight at Sakana. We were seated at the end table/half booth. Our table was dangerously close to the table to our right but we made do. We ordered A LOT of sushi because the prices were incredibly affordable here! $28 for a sushi boat?! Unheard of! Here is what we ordered for a total bill of ~$100 (for 4 people): 1.) Sashimi Cucumber Wrap- 5 stars 2.) Sakana Sushi Boat - 5 stars 3.) Sakana Roll - 5 stars 4.) Crimson Roll - 4 stars 5.) Spicy Tuna Roll - 4 stars 6.) Salmon Roll - 5 stars 7.) Spicy Tuna on Rice Tots - 5 stars The food is wonderful here as are the prices and service. My issue is the tight seating. I also wish the Tuna here was not FARM raised. I am thankful the salmon is Norwegian though. We will definitely be back for dinner again soon. read more

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Delicious sushi at very reasonable prices!! The spicy tuna on rice tots was a delicate, more refined version of Gyu-Kaku's spicy tuna volcano, and I'd definitely recommend it. The sushi boat was great; I especially liked the hot chili roll because it was very flavorful (it was seared, which added further depth to each piece.) The other rolls, the sushi, and the sashimi were also great. In particular, the salmon avocado roll was very fresh and had a good ratio of salmon to avocado, and the fish in all of the pieces was very fresh and had a great texture. Our server was incredibly kind, and he even gave us an extra miso soup (the sushi boat only comes with one.) It would be nice if the boat came with two miso soups by default since a number of other Yelp reviewers seem to agree that it is a good amount for two people (with an appetizer of course :) ). We'll definitely be going back to try out the lunch specials! read more

Sakana - Sushi boat! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Ordered the nigiri dinner to go and the nigiris came with just the right amount of rice underneath. Though the rice were kinda loosely packed, it still tasted good and I will be ordering again. read more

Sakana - Nigiri Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Exactly what you expect from this area. Good food, not life changing. The katsu was crispy and delicious, the miso soup comes from a pre made mix, and the sushi was good! It's a busy spot and the bathrooms are clean, spacious, and are a single room. Had a very good experience there even though you have to wait to get a table. read more

Sakana is an amazing addition to the neighborhood! I had a beautifully arranged sashimi lunch platter which came with sushi rice, miso soup, and salad ($12). Others at the table had salmon teriyaki bento box, sushi lunch, and sushi and sashimi lunch which were all around $15 and looked amazing. Give Sakana a try, you won't be disappointed: -The prices are reasonable (lunch specials from $12 to $16) -The decor is simple and classy (looks completely different from how it was when café Anthony was there) -Dining room is small, but arranged in a way to make it seem roomier (there's also sushi bar seating) -The service is great -Sushi was fresh and delicious (the flavor, texture, and the garnish all added to make each bite amazing) -Plating was awesome! (dishes on which the food is served as well as the way each item is arranged makes for a picturesque meal) -They were very open for feedback and suggestions and asked us for our opinions Few things that they can improve over time: -The server seemed a bit overwhelmed, maybe it will get better with experience or they will need more servers -The natural lighting during day time is great, but depending on which seat you have, it could be too bright. Adding a set of blinds may be good. -Sushi rice was slightly under cooked, but I'm sure it'll get better with time. -Add Matcha flavored desserts to the menu, that will definitely bring in Matcha addicts like me into the restaurant more often. Overall though, Sakana exceeded my expectations and I will definitely be back for another delicious sushi lunch. read more

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I don't think I have a very accurate impression of their sushi since I got their takeout box from Grubhub, but from what I had I was very pleased. I got the sushi/nigiri lunch box which came with a nice variety of sushi, and I really enjoyed it--it was a good amount, and I personally thought the fish tasted nice. I also got the truffle tuna appetizer (I can't remember what it was called on the menu). I thought it tasted great and was a unique sort of dish that I hadn't eaten before. I don't know if I have a good sense of what super high-quality sushi tastes like but to me I liked what I had gotten a lot, especially given that it was take-out. read more

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I'm not usually a sushi fan but this stuff was great! Nice little restaurant which my friends and I were lucky enough to get a table for 5.

*This is a review for take out only* Sakana means fish in Japanese. Sakana sushi does indeed serve up good fish! We did take out for dinner and was very happy with the sushi, the quality was good too. We got the sushi boat for 1, as well as rocky road roll (salmon, tuna, salmon roe), and spicy tuna roll. They were very generous with the salmon roe on the rocky road roll. The restaurant also included little dishes for the soy sauce, as well as chopsticks. If you are craving sushi, order from Sakana! read more

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Best sushi for the price in the area. Like yes, you can get marginally better for twice as much if you go to Zuma. But I'll take Sakana any day of the week. It's just GOOD. It's cozy if you eat in, but I usually take out. read more

Every so often (like 2x a year at most), I get a hankering for sashimi. I have to be careful about sushi due to my shellfish allergy and frankly, I only like sashimi made w/ milder types of fish (no mackerel for instance and as stated before, can't do shellfish). I hate seaweed and miso soup too. I tried out Sakana in Cambridge (between Central & Harvard Sq.). Excellent quality, very fresh, and the staff is awesome. They're doing take out and delivery. I'm so lucky I have this place and Cafe Sushi right up the hill from my house. If you're in the 'hood, check them out. Those who are true sushi lovers would appreciate this place (and could eat more than I could on the menu). read more

Sakana - Sashimi. Yellowtail, tuna and salmon. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Have only had takeout but their special veggie roll is AMAZING! Cool space too and great service.

Subpar sushi. I make homemade salmon rolls and the ones I make are better than this. The rolls were also super tiny. The rice had barely any flavor and was just ok. The salmon itself was kind of chewy as well. Will not be coming back. read more

A lovely little spot is nestled between Central and Cambridge, but don't let it's size fool you! I cannot speak more highly of the sushi, it's tasty, fresh and truly incredible! We went for the Edamame, Salmon roll, Rainbow roll, and the Shrimp Tempura roll -- everyone left the restaurant with a big smile on their faces, and I have actually been back since snapping these images. The staff is super sweet and very attentive to all of the customers. The place may feel somewhat small, but it has the perfect balance of privacy and feeling cozy. I love this place and will definitely be back soon!! read more

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One of my new favorite sushi places! It's one of those small places that's always busy and you can just tell it's going to be good. The service was amazing and staff is so friendly. The spicy edamame was delicious. Not extremely spicy but great flavor. We ordered so much. We ordered 3 entrees for 2 ppl and a couple sushi rolls as well. The sakana sushi roll was my favorite! So flavorful. The shashimi was so fresh and delicious. Miso soup was served with the entrees and it was also delicious. I was even obsessed with the green tea, which they come refill for you periodically. My boyfriend and I will definitely be back! read more

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I ordered take out from Sukana and it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the crimson and Hokkaido rolls. The were some of the best makis I've ever had. They were packed with flavor but a little salty. You don't need soy sauce and wasabi at all. The yuzu on the Hokkaido roll brought a nice tangy flavor and it was very refreshing. The salmon salsa was good but just okay to me. read more

Sakana - Salmon Salsa with Taro Chip, Crimson Makimono, Hokkaido Makimono, Sakana Makimono, Dragon Makimono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Yum yum yum! Decided to try out a new sushi spot for dinner and sushi really is the way to my heart. Sakana has so many unique rolls that it hard to choose which to get. The takeout experience was super easy. We ordered everything online as well as pre-paid. When we arrived at the restaurant they had a huge plexiglass window and a table blocking the entrance. To say they are taking COVID seriously is an understated. We ordered pan-seared gyoza for an appetizer and they also threw in a free miso soup. For our main meal we settled on the Makimono Combo Special which had a Rainbow Roll, Caterpillar Roll and Snow Mountain Roll. The caterpillar was the hit for us out of the three! We also ordered the Sakana Roll and Seared Salmon Belly Nigiri. The Sakana Roll was good but didn't blow us away and the seared salmon was pretty similar to the Sakana Roll in terms of taste. I would totally come here for take out again to try other things on the menu. read more

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I've been told that mediation is about deep, active focus on the feelings and experiences within or around you. If that's the case, then Sakana is my temple. This gem, tucked away in a cozy corner in Cambridge, keeps the focus on the fish. I was impressed to see lightly seared salmon belly and scallops in my chirashi bowl. An unexpected yet very welcomed surprise. The sashimi was generously sliced and served slightly colder than room temperature. My friend had the nigiri dinner, which was also phenomenal and came with a 6-piece spicy tuna roll, definitely a lot of value for the price we paid. read more

Sakana - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We stopped here right when it opened at five and it was a little out of the way and empty. Weren't sure if we should look for another place. But yeah... really glad we ate here. Fantastic food. Very friendly and attentive staff. Music was a good volume. Excellent experience. By the time we were leaving more people showed up and the atmosphere was chatty, happy, and warm. Really recommend. :) read more

This place is a hidden gem in Cambridge! My friends brought me here for lunch and it exceeded all my expectations. Within a couple weeks, I brought my family here for my sister's birthday and they loved it. First off, the service here is great. They do all the little things right, and goes to show that they really care about their customers. For example, we ordered a Gyu Donburi, and they accidentally forgot the miso soup. When I reminded them, the manager brought over 5 miso soups for the table and apologized. These people care!! I highly recommend ordering a bunch of different rolls and dishes to share. Both times I got the Gyu Donburi - soooo good and flavorful. Gyozas, Truffle Tuna and Avocado Salad are all great to start. Sashimi Dinner with 15 pieces for $26 is a pretty good steal. It's fresh and they have different varieties besides your typical Salmon and Tuna. For rolls, the Sakana Maki with torched salmon and Hokkaido with seared scallop are my two favorite. But you really can't go wrong with any of them! All in all, this place has moved up my ranks very quickly. It's a small spot near Harvard Square, and even with all the other restaurants in the area, I will always recommend this place as one of my go-to's. read more

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Been wanting to try Sakana for a long time but had to wait until I could go with a friend that likes sushi. I don't eat much of it myself, but they had plenty of selection for non sushi options while still having a streamlined menu. The teriyaki was a wonderful and exciting experience since it came out in a scalding hot dish. Delicious and fun experience. read more

Sakana - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sakana is open for takeout and delivery currently. They have hand sanitizer in place and plexiglass installed for safety. The seared salmon belly was delicious with yummy seasonings and a crunchy topping. The Makimono Special Snow Mountain Combo was okay. I liked the Snow Mountain roll, which was soft on the bottom and crunchy on top with a bit of spice that gave this roll the perfect balance, but the miso soup, rainbow roll, and caterpillar roll were average. read more

Sakana - Seared Salmon Belly a la Carte, Makimono Combo Snow Mountain Special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sakana never fails to impress. Don't overlook its unassuming exterior; it serves up a level of deliciousness that Cafe Sushi could never even dream of achieving. Here, the sole focus is on the food. The fish is some of the freshest I've tasted in Boston (their supplier gets an A+), and the rolls contain flavors that I could only describe as umami perfection. Beyond that, level of personal attentiveness from the waitstaff here is not something you come across every day. Here, they genuinely care. One of the things that impresses me most is the care that they take in plating your food here. Order two nirgiri on top of a couple sushi rolls? They'll plate them together, arranging them in perfect harmony on a large plate. Little thing, but it gets me excited to eat every single time. Harvard Square area has lacked a good sushi place for quite some time, so I'm glad Sakana is here now. And hopefully here to stay. read more

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