This was my first Boston Omakase after having just experienced Kashiba in Seattle (opened by a Jiro disciple), and I have to admit. Very good! The flavors were carefully crafted and Chef Seiji definitely took the time to connect with us, which is half the experience. Once we were "done" with our courses, he recommended that we try the live eel they prepare and that was out of this world. My wife loved the uni, one from California and the other from Maine. The restaurant was crowded on a Saturday night and it was uncomfortably hot when we walked in. However, the service was great and the dining thoroughly pleasant! We'll definitely be back to enjoy the full menu next time! Found ourselves looking over our shoulders a lot at the different maki's they brought out to other guests. read more

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This small, unassuming spot between Harvard and Central serves up some of the most authentic sushi I've savored! Saturday night and the three of us land spots at the sushi bar. The best seats in the house! From here, we can witness art being created as the chefs shape the nigiri and mold the rolls. What are you drinking? They have a variety of affordable beer options for $4, but we're going all out and searching the sake list. Our helpful waitress explains the differences between some of the bottles and recommends a sparking one for us to try. Great call! It's a sweet, fizzy sake-fied version of champagne and just the right amount of light and alcoholic to complement our fish. The waitress also explains how the restaurant operates - many of their offerings are seasonal so the fish they serve changes based on the time of year. Awesome. A bit overwhelmed by all the deliciousness staring up at me from the menu, I opt for the signature sampler ($15) which is 5 pieces (you can pick for them to be either sashimi or nigiri) chosen by the chef. I can't even tell you what each one was, but they were all incredibly fresh and creative! The mastery in their creation was evident. Each piece of fish was placed on a perfect pillow of rice and was topped with small amounts of sauces or other elements to truly bring out the seafood's natural flavor. Extraordinary! Because of their seasonal seafood as well as with the extensive offerings beyond raw fish, I see myself becoming a Cafe Sushi regular. Especially if they keep the sparking sake flowing and continue to serve up samplers which relieve my indecisiveness. read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Sparkling sake on ice and the signature sampler. Some of the best I've ever had! - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cafe sushi is one of the best qualities at its price point. There really aren't that many sushi restaurants in boston (in my opinion) that serves high quality sushi (omakase level). This place is nice that it's casual, and also has a wide range of rolls. Signature sampler is a good portion of sushi, they do add some garnishes that some of the people in my party was not accustomed to on traditional sushi. Also, some of the rolls had stuff like asparagus, which did not complement the rolls very well. I would pay close attention to the menu before ordering! read more

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One of the most incredible sushi restaurants I've ever encountered in my life. Try the hamachi crudo, which comes as nigiri or sashimi, and is yellowtail, basil olive oil, slices of mini tomato, and is absolutely wonderful. It's like a caprese salad, only instead of fresh mozzarella, it's raw fish. One of the best nights of my life in Boston was the night we came in and sat at the counter, and just asked the chef to create whatever he wanted. We ate trout, salmon, mackerel, yellowtail fluke, and fish after fish after fish. Each duet of sashimi and nigiri arrived with excellent presentation and perfect pairing. We've eaten a wide variety of Cafe Sushi's offerings, and are impressed every time with the special care and innovative touches (sauces, seasonings, plating) that I've come to expect from only the most high-end of restaurants. By the way, one main way we judge a sushi restaurant is in its smell; Cafe Sushi smells (lightly and pleasantly) like rice vinegar, and not a hint of fish. This is exactly right. You don't want to smell the fish you're about to eat, raw or not. read more

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The chirashi bowl was so disappointing. There was a Huge bowl of rice and very few thinly sliced fish to cover it. At first it looked good but as I dug in, Ive never had this little fish in any chirashi bowl I've had anywhere!!!! Literally 5 thin pieces of fish, shrimp and eggs. While they tasted great it is way too skimpy!!! I had to order more sashimi on the side. It's a $20 bowl. And uni cost $10 or $30 a pair. Wtf. read more

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I've tried to come to cafe sushi many times, however, there is always a huge wait. So, my friend and i were celebrating so we made a reservation to try the omakase here. We had a ~7pm reservation to sit at the bar and try the omakase. We were seated promptly and began this experience. It was my first time trying omakase and it did not disappoint, It was such an exquisite meal and unique dining experience. We had i believe 8/9 courses, and the sushi chef would serve them to us, describing each course in extreme detail. They have special omakase rice they get from japan and some of the fish is also flown in, it changes depending on whats in season. Each piece of sushi was incredible, this is definitely the best sushi i've ever had. The second course, was a bit of salmon, was definitely my favorite it really just melts in your mouth. They also gave us a complimentary dessert, so we ordered the black sesame ice cream and thai tea mochi which was a little tiny, but they tasted great. The chef is super sweet, we had a conversation with him after and he was so humbled by not only our compliments, but those around us also having omakase. I cannot recommend this place enough, it's a must go, get the omakase! read more

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Why did it take us so long to come here? Cafe Sushi has been one of my more impressively deliciousness meals since moving to Boston three years ago. One may say why 4 Stars then? Well, that's because the food alone cannot carry the experience in my book. And service was not exactly exceptional. It was not terrible, but it bordered on bad and slow. They were quite busy though, so I just took away one star. We had the edamame and one of each on the seasonal menu - and I cannot say that anything disappointed. The fish was incredibly fresh and meticulously displayed. Of course, there were some things that I loved more than others but everything was good like I said. If you love sushi and haven't been here - you are missing out. I cannot wait to come back. With some better service, it may get 5 Stars! read more

I love the fact that the omakase here tends to focus on seasonal, sustainably farmed fish (correct me if I'm wrong plz). At the same time, that means not everything from the omakase menu will wow you. When I was here in February 2019, I thought the weakest links in the omakase menu were the uni and kinki (thorny rockfish), unfortunately, they were also the last two items to be served. But that's alright, because everything else was excellent. I've never had ankimo served like what is shown here. And the way they prepared it was better than anything else I've tried. Outside of the omakase, their signiture nigiri are amazing. I've only tried the seared salmon belly with ikura. But I will definitely come back to try the other items!! read more

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Cafe sushi is one of my go-tos in the Boston area. I always get the vegetarian bento box, and for $18 it is quite a bit of food & is extremely satisfying. I also love that it comes with miso soup and a mini salad. Usually vegetarian options are pretty weak in sushi places, and cafe sushi has done a near-perfect job of not only having vegetarian options, but offering veggie options that are actually good!!! Every time I've been here, the place has been packed! I would definitely recommend making a reservation beforehand. read more

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Sampler had only five small nigiri (as expected) BUT they were among the best five pieces we've ever had! Delicious, and possibly even perfect portion for a very lite, refreshing dinner. We also had the sashimi deluxe which was much more filling, and almost as tasty! Staff are very friendly and attentive. We had made a reservation , and they had us seated promptly. We now think of Harvard as sushi town. read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Delicioso. - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Probably the best sushi restaurant in Harvard Square. Came here at 6pm on a Sunday night and the place was packed. We didn't have a reservation and almost didn't get a table without a wait, but luckily there was one table for 2 open (as well as some seats at the bar). I would definitely recommend making a reservation beforehand since the space is quite small and seems to be quite popular. I tried the crunch roll ($14), which consisted of 8 pieces of eel and avocado maki topped with spicy snow crab, tobiko, tempura flakes, and eel sauce. The fish was fresh and the maki was well-made, although on the expensive side. Most of their dinner entrees were also $20 and above. Service was fast which we appreciated. True rating was probably around a 3.5, but I rounded up to a 4. read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Crunch roll ($14): eel and avocado maki topped with spicy snow crab, tobiko, tempura flakes, eel sauce - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My friend and I decided to eat at Café Sushi on a Saturday night and got there right at 5 PM. By the time we got there, there was already a line out the door, but luckily we were able to snag a table. We were a bit overwhelmed by all of the menu options, but finally ended up deciding to split the Salmon Avo-Aburi Maki, the Ceviche Maki, and the Spicy Citrus Roll. Our waitress misunderstood us and thought that we had also ordered the Hamachi rolls, so we were a bit befuddled when our order came, but it ended up being a pleasant surprise. Although my personal favorite was the Salmon Avo-Aburi Maki, all of the maki was extremely fresh, tasty, and very filling. Café Sushi has some wonderful sushi and I will definitely return if I am in the area! read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Words cannot describe the INCREDIBLE experience I had with the Omakase last night. My boyfriend and I made the reservation 2 months in advance (which might not have been necessary, but we knew we wanted to go). I have quite a few unique allergies which I was able to write down when making the reservations. Upon arriving, we were greeted and brought to our seats in front of our sushi chef. I WISH I could remember his name, but he was amazing and friendly. Once we had arrived he already started preparing our first course. The Omakase was 8 courses (8th was complimentary - will explain later). As mentioned in other reviews, the Omakase varies on what is served based on the season and it just shows how fresh and incredible the quality is. Everyone there was incredible and friendly and probably had the best customer service I've seen in recently. So, I'm going to try my best to describe what we got (pictures attached) as I can't possibly remember it exactly...so bare with me and I'm so sorry if I butchered it in anyway/was wrong... 1. ) Course 1 was these 3 little squids that only appear in the Spring in a specific Bay in Japan. It is paired with Spinach and Pickled Watermelon Radish, topped with Cured Blood Orange Peel and Scallion and drizzled with some type of "mustard" sauce. 2.) Course 2 was 3 pieces of Nigiri Sushi. (Left to Right) 1 Piece of a type of Beakfish topped with a Chili Pepper thing, Scallion and brushed with..in house made Soy. 1 Piece of a type of Seabrim topped with Wasabi Root, Cabbage and brushed with...in house made Soy?. 1 Piece of a type of Seabrim (different from the other) topped with Chili Pepper stuff and Lemon Zest 3.) Course 3 was 3 pieces of different types of Salmon Nigiri Sushi. (Left to Right) 1 Piece of a type of (I THINK) Steelhead Salmon topped with a type of Kombu and some type of herb that wasn't scallion even though that's what it looks like. 1 Piece of Salmon topped with a Chive mixture and Lime Zest drizzled with Tuscan Olive Oil. 1 Piece of a different type of Salmon topped with Blood Orange Peel & Caramelized Onion. 4.) Course 4 was their take on a type of Japanese salad. This dish had Monkfish Liver, Dashi Jelly and Blanched Snow Pea. 5.) Course 5 was 4 pieces of Nigiri Sushi. (Top to Bottom, Left to Right) 1 Piece of Jackfish topped Asparagus Top, Sliver of Radish and brushed with Lemon Sake (Alcohol burned off). 1 Piece of Amber Jackfish topped with a Cherry Blossom Leaf and Rhubarb, brushed with in house made Soy. 1 Piece of a type of Red Snapper topped with Wasabi Root and brushed with in house made Soy. 1 Piece of a different type of Red Snapper - Torched topped with Caramelized Onion. 6.) Course 6 was 3 pieces of different types of Uni Nigiri Sushi. (Left to Right) 1 Piece of Uni from Maine topped with a crispy Nori Chip, Wasabi Root, Lemon Zest and brushed with in house made Soy. 1 Piece of Uni from California (Santa Barbara) topped with Wasabi Root and Lemon Zest drizzled with Tuscan Olive Oil. 1 Piece of Uni from Japan topped with Wasabi Root and Lemon Zest brushed with in house made Soy. 7.) Course 7 was 1 Piece of Salmon Belly Nigiri with a Crispy Nori Chip, Salmon Roe and Salmon Belly on top topped with a Ponzu type sauce, Scallion and Lemon Zest. 8.) Course 8 was complimentary as it was our Anniversary (reason why we did the Omakase). They gave us hot Green Tea (made in house), Green Tea Mochi and Ginger Ice Cream and Green Tea Ice Cream. In between one of the courses, we were given in house made pickled ginger, though not a fan of ginger, was clearly made in house and was very delicious. Every course was phenomenal and I couldn't fit my descriptions in this review, but I did write it in my Facebook Review on their page. This place, hands down, has the best sushi I've had in Massachusetts. I look forward to coming back to try their regular menu. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND and if you can swing it, try their Omakase menu - but you have to be open to trying new things! read more

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We made a reservation early on and it's a good thing we did cause there was a long wait of at least 10 people when we arrived. You could do the omakase of 18 pieces for $100 / each. However, the better way to experience this place is to go off the regular menu of rolls and assorted nigiri plates. Ultimately, we spent $35 each for 8 pieces and it was still an amazing experience. The ceviche maki is lime dripping over salmon and avocado that has the perfect hit of tingy. The hamachi crudo was topped with pretty basic ingredients of balsamic, basil oil, and tomato but was still fantastic. The maguro zuke was cured tuna with a spicy kick and you should let the spice linger! read more

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Excellent omakase for roughly an end bill of ~$85/pp. Our chef was very knowledgable and attentive when serving our selection; I have been to some omakases where you eat quickly and peacefully, but this was definitely one full of interaction and conversation with the chef behind the counter. Additionally, I took my mom here for her *first* omakase, and was slightly afraid since she traditionally can only eat sushi that has some sear... she enjoyed every piece! I think it helps that our chef took a creative spin on each dish, with condiments that augmented the flavor of each fish. I like the environment too, it's pretty casual since it's near the university, and the sushi bar felt very homey. read more

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BOSTON'S BEST: Omakase, as described by the Boston Globe's Devra First: "...Cafe Sushi isn't your average Japanese restaurant. Take a seat at the bar and that becomes clear. This is a destination for people who care about sushi -- not rolls filled with 12 different things, draped in avocado, drizzled with spicy mayonnaise, and named for mythical beasts, but sushi in its purer, more pared-back form, sushi that adheres more closely to its traditional roots..." http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/food-dining/2018/01/22/what-she-having-story-told-bite-bite/2cnXCT5YYOROVNqp3Pf3GK/story.html Last night was one of the best omakase meals I have ever enjoyed at Cafe Sushi. The "In Season" fish board was particularly impressive, with 15 different selections from Hawaii, New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, Santa Barbara, Nantucket, Maine... It was also fun to have the cedar-torched Kamasu (Japanese barracuda), the same day that it was pictured in Devra's article. We ordered the sake pairing as well, and the umami-laden Tengumai Junmai Umajun was particularly well-paired with the mackerel course. I'm going to have to buy some of that for home. BTW, check out my first ever food video below, featuring omakase from several visits to Cafe Sushi: youtu.be/ECJ0RZ0KzRY read more

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Didn't get to make a reservation because I just stumbled upon this place searching through Yelp on my visit to Boston. The wait wasn't too bad for an early Sunday dinner, but I would certainly suggest making a reservation if you are planning dinner ahead of time. If you plan on having the Omakase experience, that menu needs to be requested along with the reservation as well. Went through the In Season section and picked a few interesting finds. All were melt in your mouth gems, fresh, and delicious. A simple tuna roll was great as well. This place has definitely earned my respect and i would love to try the Omakase menu on my next visit. read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Tuna, Snow Crab, Hokkaido Uni, Murasaki Uni, King Salmon, Amberjack, Kinmedai, Kasugodai, Ishigakidai - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Very solid sushi if you are around Harvard Square! The restaurant is hopping around peak hours and has a fair amount of take out traffic as well. Dishes come with miso soup and salad which is nice as most sushi restaurants make you choose between them, even if the soups was a bit salty. I got the unagi (eel served with sweet soy sauce glaze) bento box. The unagi was good but there was too much sauce and the sauce was too sweet for my liking. The shumai were also disappointing as they were mostly dough with very minimal shrimp inside. This bento box comes with a choice of california roll or sashimi, and I am very glad I got the sashimi as it was the star of the meal (I suppose understandably so since it is a sushi place). It came with two salmon, two tuna, and one white fish. The fish was fresh and generously cut as well. The box also came with sushi rice, assorted pickled vegetables, and a small seaweed salad. tl;de--stick with the fish and skip the rest read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - unagi bento box - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Very good quality sushi and sake. Pricey (~$40 a meal) but worth it. Their collection of sake is unique and well curated. Also very great service. I would recommend. read more

It is possible to eat good sushi without breaking the bank. Sure, there is your cheap generic sushi with fake crab meat, or your super expensive omakase that is not easily affordable. Cafe sushi serves authentic sushi at a moderate price. The quality of the food is outstanding- think of super fresh fish, and delicious rice. YUM. I ordered the sushi dinner for $22, it was quite filling. They also have a good variety of sake, including Dovetail, which is locally made in Massachusetts. This place isn't super fancy, but the food is excellent. Here is a tip: go to JP Licks after for dessert! read more

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So happy with our food! Me & my friend came for lunch and ordered the Crunch Roll to share, while getting the Teriyaki Bento and Chirashi Don for ourselves. Everything was fresh and tasty and I couldn't think of a negative review! Our server was very helpful and friendly and helped us answer some questions about the menu. Will definitely come back to try more! read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Chirashi Don & Salmon Teriyaki Bento - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I was visiting the Harvard area and decided to try this place for dinner. It looks like they only do takeout right now. We had the maki of the week and the sushi dinner. All of the nigiri was fresh and the maki of the week was very flavorful. Even the ginger and wasabi were perfect. As other posts have mentioned, I do think it's on the pricey side but I feel like that might just be New England pricing + inflation right now. Overall, it's a solid sushi place. read more

Outstanding dinner at Cafe Sushi. Each bite of food was memorable - from the chilled silken tofu appetizer to the specialty nigiri (must try: ikura topped with torched salmon) to the unbelievable signature maki. The seared hamachi roll was great but the winner of the night was the Salmon-Avo Aburi Maki: spicy crab with oshinko and eggplant (a combo I've never had in my life) topped with seared avocado and seared salmon. Totally unique and fantastic. Very reasonably priced, too. I cannot wait to return! read more

One of the best quality and price for a proper omakase menu in MA. It's authentic, fresh ingredients, and great presentations. We like sitting at the sushi bar so we can get served directly by the chefs. Even other sushi chefs in boston will come here for a meal on their day offs! I like bringing my friends and families there when we have something to celebrate. read more

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After many years of blank, I visited this place with a friend who recommended me highly. So, I at least try to check this place out. It was a dinner time and inside was fully occupied. Luckily my friend made a reserv. Just after a few minutes of waiting at the door, we got seated. I noticed that they now have Chef's Special items on a board, which I did not notice before. It showed quite seasonal items. We chatted with one of waitresses who seemed to have a good idea about what they offer. I wanted to try some of those chef's selections...so, went with it. Honestly, sushi pieces were a lot better than my last visit (many years ago). We enjoyed number of sushi pieces together along with several drinks. Glad to see that they offer good selection of Japanese Sake. One wish...if chef's special can be selected from number of available items rather than actual chef's choice with toppings. read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I looked around for sushi places in the area and this came with some really good reviews. We got there about 1:15 or so in the afternoon and were seated promptly. The place was packed for lunch. We waited about 10 minutes before a server came to our table. She took our drink order and returned shortly after with drinks. Then we put in our appetizer order of edamame and miso soup. We also put in our lunch order since it was super busy. We received our edamame and soup about 20 minutes later. I know it was a busy lunch time but seems excessive to get edamame and soup 20 minutes later. Thought that would be something constantly being prepared during lunch and ready to go in under 10 minutes. We received our sashimi about 10 minutes after that. It was pretty good, fish seemed very fresh. Our maki rolls came after that. We got the shrimp tempura, advocado roll, cucumber roll, and the rainbow roll. My son loved the rainbow roll. The shrimp tempura and other rolls were fresh and very good as well. At the end we got some mochi, which is always good. While the food was fresh and tasty, this place didn't blow me away. I guess I have gotten spoiled with the more creative rolls I have had at other places. And the service being really slow was kind of a bummer. Our server was very nice and friendly however. She checked in on us after we got our food and kept our water glasses full. I may return if I am in the area again but I won't be running back. read more

Excellent sushi restaurant in Cambridge that does not break the bank. The fish here tastes so fresh and enjoyable on its own - don't need the soy sauce! Here's what I've gotten: Excellent Signature sampler: each piece is beautifully presented with a unique flavor profile Ceviche: excellent combination of flavors Toban jan: hearty and the tempura has perfect crispness Spicy salmon: love how they don't squeeze spicy sauce on top of the roll to give it a spicy flavor. The salmon inside comes with spice. Futomaki: didn't think i could love a vegetarian roll so much! Variety of filling, all crunchy and fresh-tasting Salmon avocado roll: generous portions of both salmon and avocado Miso soup: one of the best I've had, you can really taste the miso Seaweed sampler - seaweed with soft tofu on the side. Good, but portion rather small Dewatsuru sake: smooth and mild, perfect for a cold winter day Okay Shumai - meh Tip: make a reservation. I came with a group of 4 on Saturday night at 7:30pm and was told there would be a 1-1.5 hr wait. We were willing to wait (it's that good!), but luckily something opened up and our party was seated at 8:10pm. Can't wait to come back here again! read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Salmon/avocado roll and signature sampler - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This review is exclusively for their sushi. It is DELICIOUS! I have been 4-5 times, brought a few friends along and cafe sushi does not disappoint! Sometimes I worry about frequenting a restaurant too much because the probability of a bad experience goes up. Not with this place. I've loved it each time, tried my faves and some new stuff and all of them have been amazing. Their sashimi and maki options are decadent. Close your eyes and pick! You can't go wrong! read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I think to me cafe sushi is like two restaurants in one. You can have your normal rolls and sushi, and sashimi at the table, or you can also do what I did: Reserving a seat at the bar for an awesome omakase experience. I can't name all the different fishes we tried, but they come from various places like Japan, Iceland, Hawaii, New Zealand, etc.. they are served with Japanese sushi rice dipped in vinegar and other seasonings. I've never eaten anything so slow before because I want to enjoy every bite. I think picture in this case is worth more than my words can describe but this is definitely worth trying. The price isn't too bad either: 110$ omakase plus sake and tips only comes out to 150 read more

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Crunch roll was outstanding, perfectly soft and crispy, sweet and salty. It was my sister's and my favorite sushi roll here tonight. We also ordered salmon-avo aburi maki, which was great, but it just paled in comparison with the more exciting crunch roll that just delightfully exploded in your mouth. Futomaki was great, but I didn't realize that it is a "fat/thick" roll with lots of rice, so I would've preferred less rice and more flavors. The in-season Murasaki Uni (Santa Barbara sea urchin) was fascinating (in a good way). The texture was very smooth and creamy-like. In fact, it was very fatty-like, but my sister (who hates all kinds of fat and skin, even fish skin) actually liked this dish, so that says a lot! Seaweed salad was great, too. read more

One of the best sushi restaurants I have been to in the Boston area. Note that you need a separate reservation for the omakase (we didn't know this and had a reservation for the restaurant only). But definitely want to return to try the omakase after a great meal here. The place is crowded and loud but serves quality sushi in a casual atmosphere. It's a great value for the quality/quantity you get. We tried the chef's sampler and two rolls. I would highly recommend the chef's sampler because you're able to try different types of fish with different condiments. Highly recommended, but I wouldn't try to go in without a reservation. read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Covid service was great. Place the order online and you pick up through a side window. We ordered the weekend sushi platter for 2. We loved the sashimi- tuna and all of the nigiris!! The fish was so fresh and topped with good pairings. The makis were average. There was a tuna one with pickled vegetables that was a little strange...the other one was a spicy scallop with salmon, that wasn't anything in particular special. I would come back and order al carte, but it was nice to try the platter. read more

Cafe Sushi Shoten - Weekend Sushi platter for 2 - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here for the first time last night for a anniversary dinner. We did the chefs special/ omakase. The fish were all very fresh, my favorite was the uni. The fish varied from Japan to Europe to different parts of the states, it was quite interesting. I wished there was more diversity since I felt like we got a lot of mackerel pieces but at the same time I understand it's about what's in season. It was still really good and the chefs style is unique. He adds a lot tiny elements to his dishes which definitely helps enhance the taste of the fish. They were very kind, our last dish was on the house. We also didn't get charged for the tea and desserts we ordered. Fun fact: this is a family restaurant. I definitely recommend trying out omakase here. read more

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My family celebrated my sister's graduation with omakase here, and it was amazing! For the rest of my family, it was their first time having omakase, and they were not disappointed at all. I savored every piece we were served, and the friendly chef explained what we were eating as the dishes were presented to us. They even gave us our last piece (salmon with roe and a crispy nori flake?) on the house because it was a graduation dinner! For me, standouts were the uni dish (three different ones on a plate) and the dish with three pieces of white fish (can't remember exactly what they were now sadly). I'm only not giving 5 stars because we all felt the meal was too spaced out (maybe 5 minutes or more between dishes)--this is personal preference. Ambience was also a little bit lacking because it was a small, crowded restaurant, but I can see why it's so popular--we were seated at the bar and salivated at watching all the chefs prepare the sushi not for omakase as well. Compared to Sushi Dojo in NYC, the ingredients were not as 'exotic' and imaginative, but this is probably due to chef's preferences as well as what was in season the day we went. I thought the experience was well worth the price and would definitely come back. read more

Wow such unique dishes... Ate here with a dear friend and we savored every subtle spice and sauce they added. The sampler dish seemed small and pricey but then proved to be an amazing introduction to flavors we wouldn't otherwise have been exposed to, and probably what the individual pieces would have been anyway. This place is busy, but they take your cell# so you can take a nice walk while waiting. read more

Hands-down the best sushi in Harvard Square. The prices are also pretty reasonable. I ordered the chirashi ($20) during my recent dinner. It came with miso soup and a small appetizer salad. The miso soup was not as flavorful as some others I've had, but it was also less salty so that might be better for some people. The cuts of fish on the chirashi were very good. Not the best I've ever had, but way better than anything else in the immediate area, and $20 is a reasonable price for chirashi. The sushi rice was also well-seasoned. If you plan to come here, it is best to make a reservation first. The wait can get pretty long. Even when we made our reservation a couple days in advance for a Sunday night dinner, the only times available were 5 pm or 8 pm. read more

I would give this place 100 stars if I could. They deliver every single time. We used to go pre-covid, but they are currently only doing takeout which we've had a handful of times over the past couple of years. We usually get a bunch of rolls, so I'm not as familiar with the platters. Every single time the food is fresh and consistent. The flavors and quality are unmatched. Really just SO GOOD. read more

Such great sushi!!! Always busy so make sure you have a reservation. Got their salmon avocado special maki roll which was delicious!!! My friend loved her spicy tuna special roll. My friend who is vegan had plenty of delicious options to choose from (and they modified the rice so there was no fish sauce--so just be aware they may put fish sauce in the vegetarian options). read more

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Cafe sushi is truly a hidden gem. It is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. The quality of the food is next level and I always enjoy seeing what cuts of fish are served there. The fish is always very fresh. During the pandemic I have also appreciated the sushi "box for one" that's available on Fridays and Saturdays. They often curate new versions of this and it's always a treat. Guaranteed way to end your week 10x better. The price can be on the $$ side but it is worth every penny. I've done omakase at way flashier places and have felt that Cafe Sushi is continually one of the best. read more

A myriad of great reviews brought me to Cafe Sushi recently. Came there for lunch to test out the water, before committing to their omakase dinner. Chef's Special Sushi Lunch: 5/5. It consisted of 6 pcs of salmon rolls and 6 pcs assorted nigiris: salmon, tuna, mackerel, hamachi (yellow tail), escolar, and branzino. I was very impressed with how buttery and yummy the nigiris were!! And I wasn't just talking about the escolar, but all of them! No need to dip them into the soy sauce at all! Same thing with the salmon roll. Very fresh, and I was pleased with the perfect mix of ingredients that were put into the roll. No dipping to the soy sauce needed! The salmon sashimi was also great, though it wasn't the best I've ever had. Friendly servers, and I was happy to be seated by the bar area. That way I could observe the chefs crafting their sushi while eating :) I'd definitely come back to check out their omakase dinner. Will update my reviews accordingly by then. Stay tuned! [UPDATE]: The omakase was spectacular! A 7-course meal that was absolutely above par! Each meal was prepared with a delicacy, simple but intricate at the same time. Note: they require a prior reservation specific for the omakase dinner. Make sure you indicate that when you RSVP. read more

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