Sushi-forward pan-Asian eatery right in the center of town on Main Street. Decent atmosphere (more bistro yearnings than a "joint"), friendly service, and just-okay food if not getting sushi. First visit in a few years: -- Salt and Pepper Wings: Small, fried, seasoned, and unsauced, with jalapeños and such for assistance. Decent tenderness and moistness, but light on flavor without the jalapeño and a little bland despite the name. -- General Tso Wings: One fewer wing, but much larger ones, with a sweet, thick sauce, good crunch, and decent moisture underneath. No heat to counter the sweet, but that's the case for most General Gao or Tso these days. Still very solid. -- Teriyaki Salmon: Lunch special with choice of salad or soup, choice of Rangoons or gyoza, and choice of white or fried rice. The salmon itself was sensible of size, but dry inside and topped with a gloppy sweet sauce that helped the dryness but not the cause. The gyoza were small and most likely frozen. Overall, seems like going to an Olive Garden that happens to be serving Asian cuisine. I've been a few times before, with similar thoughts (and half the coworkers I've gone with agree, and half love it). Pleasant enough, and easy street parking, but I don't see myself rushing back. Maybe sushi is the way to go. read more

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Our favorite place for take out! We definitely have our order down of our favorites-- from sushi, to honey chicken, and our favorite appetizers. Don't skip on the gyoza or spring rolls! They're so good. Service is always kind and quick. Food was delicious! read more

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We stopped by and were surprised by the quality of the food and serving sizes here. They have an extensive Asian fusion menu, and the sushi here was actually good quality! I got the color dragon and a salmon avocado roll and everything was fresh, rice was neatly packed. My husband enjoyed the sweet and sour soup (I have never liked this at any restaurant lol) and the kung pao chicken was really good. It was different from the usual and more of a fried dry texture on the outside, but juicy on the inside and very nicely seasoned. We have since ordered a couple of times and the chicken with broccoli is also very good. This has definitely quickly become a new favorite of ours. read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

The service was terrible. We walked in and everyone working in the restaurant just looked at us. We had to ask to be seated. We sat for 15 minutes before anyone came to get our order. The honey chicken was terrible. It tasted liked they dumped a bottle of ketchup in the bowl. We came in an hour before closing and they began cleaning around us. The Miso soup was cold. Really terrible experience and it's disappointing because even though the service has always been bad here, the food use to be good. read more

I'm shocked at the negativity of my last review (from over 4 years ago) - my opinion has significantly improved since then! Parking here is easy. Around noon, there's usually ample street parking available, rarely requiring parallel parking. It's conveniently located on Main Street, where you'll typically find numerous open spaces before reaching the end of the block. The restaurant is quite spacious, which makes sense since it's popular for larger groups. Even my workplace often visits in groups of 10+. The interior is nicely decorated, making it suitable for a casual date as well. I decided to revisit the Pork Katsu lunch special and I can say that it is a solid choice for lunch. Unexpectedly, it actually comes with 2 layers (slices?) and I found myself quite full from such an affordable pick. One of my regular orders is the "Unagi Poke Bowl" ($16). It includes a generous portion of rice topped with avocado, pickled radish, masago, bisected shrimp, and the star of the show: delicious eel. Upon ordering, you choose from several sauces--I always pick spicy mayo and eel sauce. The portion size and flavor balance make it a great value, and I always finish feeling stuffed. Their "Lo Mein" exemplifies exactly what I think Lo Mein should taste like. The savory brown sauce is perfect, and having tried it dozens of times, I've never felt the need to order Lo Mein anywhere else. My favorite pick is the "Korean Kalbi" for $20. It's fairly expensive for most people, but the amount of kalbi you get for $20 is FANTASTIC. The meat is very tender and it is delicious. The mountain of meat rests on a ton of onions if that's your thing, and the dish comes with a bowl of rice and very helpfully a steak knife. This is my top recommendation if you have a craving for delicious beef. My absolute favorite dish is the "Korean Kalbi" ($20). Although it's pricier, the generous serving of tender, perfectly marinated beef is outstanding. Served on a bed of onions that still have a "raw" kick to them, it also comes with a bowl of rice and a helpful steak knife. This is my top recommendation for anyone craving delicious beef. Finally, I'll add that I always order their dumpling soup--it's consistently satisfying--and their extensive sushi menu is always tempting. Highly recommended! read more

We recently moved into the area and this has been our go to for both sushi and Chinese food. It's standard fare, nothing to write home about, but they handle gluten allergies well, so it's a safe spot for the family so we will definitely be back for dine in or takeout whenever the mood strikes us! read more

This is my go to sushi place. Very busy, especially Saturday and Friday. Absolutely amazing bar and good staff. Everything comes quickly. Within reason considering it's handmade sushi. Average interior very casual. read more

5 stars for great food and quick service! The sushi was really good, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. We were also impressed by how fast the food arrived. Make sure to save room for dessert because they are amazing! The whole vibe is a good part of it, the decor is cool, and the lights aren't bright. They also give you these Japanese candies at the end which are yummy. read more

This was some of the worst sushi I've had. It was late on a week night and maybe that's the reason the food wasn't good. I won't be back.

My family (with young kids) favorite. Great food, service and atmosphere. Always good! read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - My grandkid's dessert! Mmm! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

I have been to Osawa 4 times now, and everything has been excellent!! Great service, food arrived quickly, and taste as well as ingredients is top of the line. Affordable and a hidden gem that is well worth the commute. read more

I have not dined here nor do I get the Sushi. I've had the Miso Soup, Hot & Sour Soup & Pad Thai and I will say that I will only have it from Osawa moving forward. read more

Osawa is one my favorite restaurants by far! I love their Fried Rice- we get it with beef, which is excellent! The friend rice is so tender, and full of beef, and vegetables. The Massaman curry is beyond delicious!! I love that it is unique, it doesn't only have chicken in it, but it has slices of potatoes, avocados and cashews in it, with just enough spice. So good! Also...Service is above and beyond. I ordered online, and immediately received a call letting me know that they couldn't do what I asked for (zero spice, haha), which I appreciated! read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Massaman Curry - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

Food is always consistent- some dishes are better than others. We stick to a select few & get something else every once in a while to try- sometimes we're pleasantly surprised. Our last takeout order included trying the Pad Thai- it was really the worst rendition of pad thai I've ever experienced. The flavor was not good, the vegetables (vegetable pad Thai) was just 2 pieces of broccoli and nothing else- and the noodles were overcooked to mush. A few weeks ago, we encountered a belligerent patron & that was unsettling. Osawa handled it poorly- just ignored his yelling and verbal abuse to other customers. I was very disappointed. Last night we went once again, because for years this has been our go-to for sushi- and the sushi took WAY too long. We sat there for over an hour waiting, despite putting in our order immediately when we arrived. The individual who had gotten a cooked meal had her meal first and was trying to wait to eat with us, but we told them to eat and it's a good thing we did because our sushi came out 25 minutes later. The other person was totally done their meal way before we had ours. It got to the point that we thought they forgot about us and were looking around for our server to ask to just wrap it up to go. I looked back at the sushi chefs- 5 or 6 of them and they seemed disheveled & were joking and appeared to be working less than diligently. I saw what looked like half of our order being plated for a long time. Im hoping this was a one-off. I saw sushi chefs and some waitresses I've never seen before, so I'm going to give Osawa the benefit of the doubt. I hope to try again. read more

We have been at least ten times. The fall in love roll is the best! We also really like the spicy crispy wings. The service was also great. read more

Overall excellent local place! Service is friendly and fast, even when it gets busy. The sushi's always very fresh, and equally as important is the rice! Someone has been trained to prepare sushi rice back in the kitchen. The food is always consistently prepared and dependable. We have had many different dishes and they have all been great. The curry was very good, Singapore noodles are great especially with their huge shrimp. No joke, the shrimp they use is always cooked perfectly and large sized. I'm impressed with their shrimp preparation. The chicken Katsu is very good also! Large portion and the crispy breading stays on to the chicken! The chicken is also very good in all their dishes, very tender. We just tested them out for a birthday party of 14 and we were accommodated quite well for such a large party. This place is fast becoming our "go to" spot we didn't imbibe on alcohol but the table of 6 nearby did and the6 were getting all these exotic drinks and having a blast. It was just a fun night! The host topped the night off with a big piece of cake with a candle and ice cream for the birthday girl! Thanks again Osawa for an enjoyable evening. read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - The birthday girl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

Excellent reasonable price sushi on Main Street of Ayer. Great presentation of boat sushi platter. Recommend: - shrimp tempura roll $9.50 - eel avocado roll $7.50 - Spider roll $10 has nicely crispy soft shell crab - Osaka roll $15 Good: - Dragon roll $15 has nice avocado outside, could be bigger - salmon roll $6.50 is small, but comes with nice fresh fish - Sashi 14 pieces regular $24 comes fresh and nicely served on ice Pineapple rice looks gloriously served in a pineapple - next on the list to try! read more

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Foods good, service is good, good place. I've only eaten inside once but gotten takeout many times and it's always quality, sushi is great and the standard Chinese food is also well done. read more

Another OK item for the Ayer/Shirley area, but prob the best thing going in it's category. Everything was ok but tasted like it was just shy of being great. It's like they held back on the flavors but kept the size and appearance. Still, price and quality were good enough for a night of Japanese/Chinese from a small town shop. Love oks like it might be an interesting place to sit at the bar and have a couple cocktails. Ambiance was that of a place once thriving but now limping along. Humid and smells old. Service was great and friendly. About $30 will have you leaving full. read more

If I were rating the sushi alone, it would get 5 stars. The sushi is one of the best i've had, and i've been to a lot of sushi places. The raw tuna in the poke bowl melts in your mouth. The quality is excellent. When it came to their crab rangoons, pork belly, general gaos, etc. it was... good. As good as any decent chinese place. Would I drive an hour for their raw fish? Yes. Would I drive an hour for their other dishes? No. read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Tuna Poke (mixed with sauce) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

Once again an outstanding meal at the sushi bar. I love the salad appetizer that they present to you before the sashimi and rolls arrive. read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Tuna, mackerel, octopus, salmon roe; as well as a spicy tuna roll and a golden island roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

I went for the sushi. It was very tasty. The selection was good, they do have eel, although it's not on the sushi/sashimi menu. The rice is very good, which is important for nigiri sushi. The only complaint may be that the fish servings are small. Still the order price gets two servings so there's that. The edamame was good and the sake warm. Would I go back? YES, but next time ask them not to put the jalapeño slices on the tuna, not the right flavor and lingers even after you remove them. read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Sushi order - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

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I ate dinner at Osawa recently while visiting wih some friends who live nearby. The staff was friendly and accommodating and the restaurant quite comfortable. We began with fried and steamed dumplings. The fried dumplings were hot and had obviously come straight from the pan while the steamed ones were only luke warm. The skin and each was not overly thick and the fillings flavorful. Next I had the cold summer roll which while rolled tightly was a bit bland. Adding rice noodles and either mint or cilantro would have improved it. The accompanying peanut sauce was similarly a bit bland but still flavorful. We also ordered sesame chicken whose sauce was so overly sweetened that it would have been better as a dessert! Overall a good restaurant 3.5. read more

I stopped by on a Saturday for a midafternoon meal. I stared with a cup of miso soup which was delicious, followed by seaweed salad that was excellently prepared and seasoned. The sushimi lunch special was very tasty and presented well. Overall, I was very happy with the atmosphere and service of Osawa. read more

Been here twice. The first time by myself during A lunch rush hour. Service was friendly quick and attentive. I don't recall what exactly I had ordered but it came out quick and very fresh. The sushi was great but the other item I had got - chicken teriyaki maybe?? Well it wasn't that good. Second time around, I got take out. Also for lunch. This time I had placed the order online. Very quick and very user-friendly. I got the volcano roll and a side of vegetable lo mein, around $30 with tax. OMG. Some of the best sushi I've ever had, and I have had plenty from various locations! So amazing and perfectly prepared. The lo mein was great as well! Hot and fresh and A very good portion for $13. Overall the food is just amazing and I cannot wait to order here from again! My new go to spot for sushi in the area for sure. Lastly, I apologize in advance for the poor pictures. I was starving when I took the pictures and had consumed almost my entire lunch ... oops! read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Volcano roll , 8 big pieces came. Only 3 are pictured here - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

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Ate here two nights in a row while in Devens on business travel. Really enjoyed the food and especially the sushi. Really generous portions, great flavor, really great service. I highly recommend Osawa, great food and prices were very reasonable. I know I'll be back next time in the area. read more

Hi. My name is Laura and I'm an Osawa addict. I don't need reforming. I started driving for Door Dash and Grub Hub to supplement my income for my cooked and veggie sushi roll Osawa habit. Shrimp Tempura roll my fav for a sit down treat. The spicy crab roll has some delicious tempura type crunch in there too. California, green roll, and traditional combos of avocado and cucumber make me feel like a million bucks after eating on the go instead of some processed fast food trash! My husband loves the 5 spice soup with udon noodles, and I am crazy for the Thai curry (red my fav with chicken). Whether you are getting Thai, sushi, traditional "chinese" or any other version of proteins, veggies and rice or noodle, the place can't be beat. I have gone in for sit down for a long, 3 hour lunch with a friend, and they offered great service and never made us feel rushed. Ambience is classy with prefect light (on the dimmer side) so everyone looks and feels amazing! I was hesitant to try this place for the first couple years, as I'm a creature of habit, but I have to say that was my loss. PS - I saw some whacky reviews that are in no way reflective of the 50 times I have been there so far in 2024, so maybe it was when they were first opened or something. I assure you, they are a well oiled machine. When I order online it is always done before the time they specify, and when I run in to pick up a door dash, they are the ONLY restaurant that I don't have to hang around waiting for the order to be done. They have nailed every aspect of the experience and I'm picky. Though prices are reasonable, I really need to keep it to 3x a week. I have a 5x a week habit currently This area is blessed to have some great local restaurants like Lucia's and Bull Run, but wow Osawa has something for everyone and it's all amazing! Check Osawa out, you won't be disappointed. read more

We were very disappointed with our Thai Basil Shrimp and Szechuan Shrimp. The quality of the food has really declined since our initial visits. This time, I was startled by breaded shrimp in a stir fry, noticeable sweetness and virtually no Thai basil in the TBS. read more

Had the lunch Teriyaki chicken. It was very yummy. But the crown jewel of my meal was the salt & pepper wings. OMGoodness. It's been a loooong time since I ate wings that good. Definitely recommend! read more

Came in for lunch. Loved our meal. I ordered the sashimi lunch. It came with 3 salmon, 3 maguro, 2 butterfish and 2 hamachi. It was outstanding! It came with miso soup and a lot of seaweed. Son and husband both ordered the pad Thai. It was good but needed some more spice (chili paste) they didn't ask for more. Husband also ordered a side of Tom Kah Gai soup. Delicious!! Our food came out quickly and we were out of there quickly. Would definitely go again! read more

Not greeted at the door waited awhile to be seated. Ordered the crab rangoon it was overstuffed which made fried dough very soggy. The tray of dipping sauce was just plunked on top of the garnish! Lunch special was $13.00! It was messy to eat and the napkin was so very thin paper. Also , ordered a spider roll. It is usually served in the upright position but this was laid down horizontally. Seaweed wrap was chewy , it had avocado in it( unusual ) but the fried crab was greasy. I wasn't given any water, nor did they offer to refill the tea . Used the bathroom which surprisingly was dirty, with a dirty vent and dusty plastic over t paper rolls. Not a good first impression. read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Bathroom fan in Woman's room ceiling. Also cobwebs and dusty plastic over toilet paper rolls ! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

The quality of food was on par with a gas station. Had sushi, teriyaki, a couple of soups, rolls, and an avocado salad. The salad was the best part but could have been served as a meal on a flight. Low quality, high prices. Win some and lose some. read more

Service was good, wait staff was attentive and courteous, the host (young girl) was helpful but not engaging. The food was worth returning for, the fried chicken appetizer was excellent. I enjoyed my Sashimi Deluxe. The place was clean, nice atmosphere. Thank you for a pleasant Father's Day meal with family. read more

This place was usually okay but today I get no shrimp for ordering shrimp tempura. Just potato broccoli. If I knew I would of never order at This place! Real ripped off!!!!! read more

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Wow what a decent place out of nowhere! Clean, friendly, proper and delicious crab Rangoon! Yum delicious masaman curry nicely thick well done sauce. Cubic sushi was also impressive with flavors. We will be back for sure to try more plates. read more

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Absolutely AMAZING!!!! Very friendly staff. Cool sushi bar! Although I have never actually sat at it ( I don't eat fish) - but have WATCHED and seen how wonderful the Chefs are and the guests appear to LOVE the sushi. I usually come here for lunch. The $13 special is delish! I eat either chicken or steak - and they are both perfect! You get a salad or soup and a side. So, I will say, prior to CCP Virus the prices were reasonable, however, since CCP and Biden, the 10$ lunch is now a 13$ lunch - quite a hike in price for such a short time. Anyhoo ... the food is good, the place looked clean, and the people were friendly. Check it out if you are in ayer. Blessings. read more

There are better options within 5 miles. Service is awful. We walked in 20 minutes before close and were treated like sh!t. They would only take to-go orders. We asked to sit at the bar while waiting for food. Were refused service because last call (again-not closed according to all posted hours. It was still 30 minutes before their posted close time. The place was still filled with customers. Weird. Inflexible. NEVER EAT HERE read more

My first time here was a great experience! Everything was fresh and delicious! The staff was very welcoming and polite! I was skeptical at first because there is also Chinese food and Thai food on the menu but I tried a bit of everything and it was all great! Very clean cozy ambiance. I will definitely return read more

From the start we walked in they were so nice and sweet they had merch that we immediately thought was adorable.She sat us and she was so incredibly attentive the place was so nice and so much room the design for the place was amazing the fake orchids to die for.The crabragoons we're stuffed the duck sauce paired perfectly with them.overall it was a 4.5/5. read more

Osawa Japanese Bistro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ayer, Massachusetts

Service, food, convenient location: the sushi is to die for and the rice is not too sticky.