I was recommended this place by one of my friends, and I really loved it! Definitely appreciated…read morethe wide variety of the menu as well as the kindness of the staff, especially the hostess! I'm not sure how many there are, but she was Asian with long black hair. Unfortunately, I was having a pretty bad day before heading over, so my attitude was not what it should have been. To my surprise, the hostess didn't retaliate or display any bad attitude toward me, which in turn motivated me to be kinder :) It definitely costs nothing to be kind, and I was definitely grateful that she provided such impeccable service! Great casual spot; prices are fairly reasonable. I'd definitely recommend!

My friend and I ended up here spontaneously while we were both running errands on Newbury St. I was…read morein the mood for something Asian, we decided on sushi, and we vaguely remembered that one of our colleagues, who is from Japan, had said something about this place. That sealed the deal for Sakabayashi. I have to admit, though: we both got a little sticker shock when we opened the menu. The menu was extensive and everything sounded good, but it took us a while to figure out what we actually wanted to spend. At one point I told my friend, "If you want to leave, it's okay. I won't mind. We can just go." He said, "I'm fine if you're fine." I said, "I'm fine if you're fine." And then we basically just stared at each other and continued struggling with the menu. Eventually, we accepted that dinner was going to be more than $30 and shared the chicken karaage ($10), then each ordered the chef's pick nigiri ($30). The karaage was solid: crispy, yummy, nicely presented, and good with the mayo dipping sauce. But the nigiri made my eyes POP. MAN OH MAN was it FRESH. It was so good. That was basically all I could think about while eating it. I've eaten a lot of sushi in my life, although I still have the palate of a college student...and sometimes the wallet, too. I've definitely had sushi where I've thought, "This tastes like nothing," or "Why isn't the rice seasoned?" or, worse, "This doesn't taste right...I don't think this is very fresh." This was the opposite. The fish actually had flavor. Everything tasted fresh and delicious, and the rice and fish worked together the way good nigiri should. I wish I had slowed down and appreciated each piece more instead of inhaling it. I will absolutely be coming back. Now I know where to go when I'm craving genuinely good-quality sushi and am willing to spend a little more for it. The restaurant itself is classy, bright, neat, and polished without feeling stuffy. It would be a great place to catch up with a friend or for a date night. Although for a date, maybe don't feel bad about splitting the bill. It's the modern era anyway.

Best sushi I've had in a long time--and I try a lot of sushi restaurants!…read more Not only was everything delicious, but the seafood was incredibly fresh, especially the tuna, which is surprisingly hard to find this fresh. My dad was as a tuna fisherman when I was growing up, so I'm extra picky when it comes to tuna, and this absolutely exceeded my expectations. The staff was incredibly friendly and fun to chat with. I sat at the bar, the service was quick, and everyone made me feel welcome. It was the perfect meal after a long day of walking around the city. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Boston!

Two of my kids thought this was the best restaurant of our weeklong trip. I thought it was good,…read morebut the sushi was pretty standard. Don't get me wrong - the quality was good. But didn't stand out. Nice dining room. Good drinks. Favorite part by far was the crispy rice appetizer.

Food is good. Good vibe. Highly recommend this Thai restaurant. The location is also very good, can…read moreexplore the Newbury street after meal.

The food is good here. Also the vibe is great. Highly recommend this Thai restaurant.read more

Had a lovely time at Umai with some friends during a weekend trip to Boston. We weren't sure where…read moreto go for relatively affordable food and stumbled upon Umai by accident. When we arrived, there were two groups ahead of us in line, but we were still seated quite quickly. I'm not always the biggest sushi person, but I am a big fan of mangoes and thought the butterfly maki was absolutely delicious. My partner and my other friend both got the beef udon which was delicious as well, so there are certainly some good options for anyone not in the mood for sushi. The restaurant was small but we were well taken care of, and our waiter did a great job of checking on us and keeping our water cups full. I would recommend Umai to people in small groups, definitely not larger than 4 people since the space is not large.

Stopped by for a lunch and had a very nice unagi lunch bento with my spouse who had the sashimi…read morelunch special. Both were excellent and the server was very nice too. We sat in one of the front window tables where we had a nice view of Newbury Street. Definitely will be going back in the near future!

At Zuma, we ordered quite a few items from the menu, and somehow each one was more delicious than…read morethe last. Our waiter made the experience even better. He took his time explaining the menu, made thoughtful recommendations, and made us feel very well taken care of throughout the meal. We ordered the sashimi platter, several crudo dishes, tempura shrimp, miso cod, skirt steak, tuna tartare, calamari, rock shrimp, and finished with two desserts. Every dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavor. The standout for me was how consistently good everything was. It is rare to order so many items and not have a single disappointment. If you're dining at Zuma, I would confidently recommend every item pictured below. The food, service, and overall experience were all exceptional.

The food was very tasty every dish I left no crumbs lol. Service was top notch from the door to…read moreexit, everyone was welcoming and wished me a HBD Trista was my server she was very attentive:). I enjoyed the ambiance and being seated in front of the kitchen.. getting to see the fire grill and the chefs create was a plus. I enjoyed the artistic atmosphere.

There are meals you remember because they taste good, and then there are experiences that change…read morethe way you think about food. Three 1 One Omakase was one of those experiences. It introduced me to new textures, flavors, aromas, and, most importantly, a deeper appreciation for the culture behind the food. From the moment we arrived, Chef Wei, his wife Carrie, and the staff made us feel genuinely welcome. The atmosphere felt intimate, as though we had been invited into someone's home rather than a restaurant. Every detail felt intentional, from the minimalist design and calming ambiance to the subtle aromas throughout the space. Learning that Three 1 One was originally a one-bedroom apartment made the experience even more meaningful. The evening reminded me of a trip to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, where local islanders welcomed my fiancé and eight friends into their home to share a meal prepared from that day's catch. Coincidentally, there were ten guests gathered around the counter at Three 1 One, just as there had been ten of us in Vietnam. In both places, strangers came together over exceptional food and genuine hospitality. That feeling stayed with me throughout the evening. My fiancé and I celebrated our 11th anniversary here as we began exploring Michelin-starred restaurants together. After traveling throughout North and South Vietnam, where his family is from, we returned with a renewed appreciation for food and the stories it tells. We were excited to discover such a thoughtful Michelin-starred restaurant so close to home. The 19-course omakase felt like a journey. The opening truffle sea bream with mizuna and sudachi sauce awakened the palate with bright citrus and earthy richness. The Kegani Hokkaido hairy crab with dashi jelly and tomato dashi mousse became my fiancé's favorite. Once mixed together, it was creamy, savory, delicate, and refreshing. His reaction said it all: "Wow." The tako (octopus) with house-made sweet soy sauce highlighted the natural flavor of the seafood beautifully, while the Tokobushi somen with abalone, wheat noodles, yam, okra, and cold dashi became one of my favorite courses. It was refined yet bold, layered with umami, and unexpectedly reminded me of the haenyeo women of Jeju Island, whose tradition of free-diving for seafood gave me an even greater appreciation for the ingredients. Another standout was the Amadai Uroko Yaki (crispy-scale tilefish). The contrast between the crisp scales and tender fish created a texture I'd never experienced before. Along with the abalone course, it was one of the highlights of the evening. The Aji horse mackerel with ginger, chives, sesame, and nori provided a refreshing transition before the sushi. The sushi alone deserves its own review. Every piece reflected remarkable craftsmanship and precision. Watching Chef Wei prepare each bite was part of the experience itself. The rice was beautifully seasoned, and every ingredient felt balanced. My favorite piece was the uni (sea urchin). It was incredibly smooth, rich, and almost buttery. My second favorite was the Hokkaido hotate (scallop), with its delicate smokiness, sweetness, and juicy texture that left me wanting another bite immediately. We also tried selections from the additional menu, along with a pear-toned sake that paired beautifully with the meal. More than anything, what stayed with me wasn't just the food, but the feeling of the evening. It was an experience built around craftsmanship, hospitality, culture, and sharing a meal with others. Thank you to Chef Wei, Carrie, and the entire team for making our 11th anniversary unforgettable and for giving us such a memorable first Michelin-star dining experience. We look forward to returning.

This was my first Omakase experience, and I honestly don't know how anything will ever top it! From…read morethe moment you walk in, the atmosphere is personalized and incredibly welcoming. We went through 18 courses of the freshest, highest-quality fish. Chef Wei's precision is amazing to watch, and the progression of the meal was perfectly paced. He is truly an artist! If you have allergies, they are exceptionally accommodating. I have a crab allergy, and they didn't just skip the course, instead they prepared a thoughtful, high-end substitution so I never felt like I was missing out on the full experience. While it is a splurge, Chef Wei ensures you get your money's worth through the quality of the ingredients and the flawless service. An absolute 10/10 for a special occasion!

Zaku Izakaya has a warm, rustic atmosphere with exposed wood throughout the restaurant, giving it…read morethat cozy izakaya feel Everything was perfect for sharing, and the cozy atmosphere made it a great spot for a casual dinner with friends‍ Here's what we tried: Sashimi Deluxe Budda Dragon Special Maki Crispy rice with spicy tuna Yakitori Sampler -- chicken thigh, lamb cumin, beef ribeye, shrimp, pork belly, and zucchini Miso soup Dumpling soup

We were excited to try this new place. Although I wish their selection of rolls would be more…read moreinteresting and include more options with raw fish, this is izakaya after all, not a sushi bar. The presentation of the dishes was great, and the food itself was fine. What put us off and left a bad taste from our experience is the service. We arrived a bit later than we expected, past 7:30pm as we spent too much time on parking (the lot adjacent to this restaurant is tiny and the rest of street parking is reserved for residents). Still, the restaurant advertises everywhere, including on yelp and its doors (!), that they close at 10pm so we intended to enjoy our meal and a lively conversation with our party. Our server was courteous for the first part of the meal, however, slightly before 9pm he began doing everything he could to kick us out, collecting unfinished dishes aggressively, pushing the bill in front of our noses and coming 5 seconds later with a machine so we pay and leave. The cherry on the top was when that server had the audacity to demand a higher tip (I was about to tip way more than that service deserved, but he said "the minimum amount has to be higher"). With so much great choices in the Boston area, I really don't see a reason to come back to this one...

Not impressed…read more There is an all you can eat sushi experience on Sundays. Quite a few items have an upcharge. The fish was OK. It had me wondering if they run this deal on Sundays when the fish is ready to be discarded soon. I won't be returning. For a spot on Newbury street it was surprising. It felt more like something you would find next to a college where students are seeking a cheap and easy sushi meal. $200 for two people with tip. It was not worth it. Not coming back. So many other great spots for sushi and at this price point I want better quality

Food was amazing, the potato salad was done so well, the sushi and sashimi were all generous…read moreportions and incredibly fresh, and the staff were all very kind. It's a small cozy restaurant on Newbury with all hand written menus and a very authentic feel. Recommend going for their all you can eat or à la carte, some of the freshest and best sushi in Boston!

Casual, popular, and bustling Japanese spot in Chinatown. Very tight for space and limited seating…read moregiven it is a basement spot in one of the Chinatown complexes! And it is popular for a good reason. Service is quick, I'm sure they are trying to get people in and out. Very fresh kaisendon (fish bowls) with delicately cut, plump fish. A friend and I got the salmon and tuna don, which were appropriately priced under $20 if I remember correctly. Lots of different cuts of salmon and tuna, which were all covering fluffy white rice, and served with a side of miso soup and Japanese radish/pickled vegetable. If you were to compare this place with other casual Japanese spots serving sushi or sashimi, there is an easily discernable difference in quality. You can tell by the texture and appearance of the fish in your bowl! This is a classic in Chinatown for a reason, and I will never say no to a kaisendon from Tora.

I came here on my last trip to Boston and liked it so much that I knew I had to come back again!…read more Tora Japanese is located in Chinatown--in the basement area of one of the buildings, so seating is pretty limited. I came for lunch with two friends, and they didn't have a table for three, but the hostess was able to quickly accommodate us by rearranging another party that just sat down, and we were able to get some seats at the bar. Service was really fast and friendly throughout our dining experience. I ordered the sake don from the lunch menu, which came with a good-sized portion of rice topped with salmon sashimi and a side of miso soup. Definitely a great spot for a quick and affordable lunch in Chinatown!

Yamato 2 has great lunch specials if you aren't looking for AYCE sushi. The sashimi lunch was…read more$13.95 for 7 pieces and it came with soup and salad. The fish was very fresh but the white tuna was still half frozen and I had to let it sit and thaw.

The fish was meh, and the other dishes were also meh. If you want to have ayce meh sushi for a…read moredecent price then this is for you. The service was honestly pretty quick with how much was ordered. The rest of service seemed standard. 6.5 - meh food, decent price and ayce