UPDATE: We tried the Dragon Roll (deep-fried shrimp), and omg, I think this might be my favorite roll ever from this place! So perfectly crispy and soft, and sooooo flavorful. Snow mountain roll (part of the Makimono combo) is a very close second though. Makimono combo special was delicious -- the combo came with 3 types of sushi rolls: snow mountain, caterpillar, and rainbow. Snow mountain was my (and my sister's) favorite roll from this combo. It was SO delicious and flavorful with tons of different flavors and textures that all balanced each other well. The softness of the red crab complemented really well with crunchiness of the tempura bits, which stood out for me. The caterpillar roll was my second favorite; actually, it might be the best eel sushi roll I've ever had. I had tried eel rolls before and thought they were okay (sometimes too slimey/fishy), but this one was fantastic, very on point and not slimey at all. The rainbow roll was very solid, just not as delicious/special. We also got the Hokkaido roll, which contained seared scallops (my first time trying that in sushi) -- the scallops added a smoky (and slightly fishy) flavor to the sushi. Pretty interesting but good. Service was fantastic, incredibly attentive and kind. We needed more quarters for street parking outside and asked them if they had any change. They didn't have any quarters in the cash register, but one waiter offered 4 quarters from his own money and refused to take our $1 dollar bill in exchange. Really kind of him (we gave him the $1 back with a good tip). read more

I was desperate for sushi during the quarantine and found Sakana was open for take out so I took my chances to get my sushi fix and let me say it was pretty worth it. I didn't get to dine in so I don't know what that experience is like, but take out was pretty straight forward. I placed an online order and got 10% off (sign up & make an account!!) which was neat. I got all of the food in the photo for about $50? Which isn't bad at all. I typically eat sushi from Fuji and I'm only mentioning this because their Sakana maki is very similar to Fuji's Secret to Success maki so that was a big hit for me!! Their sushi was fresh and delicious. I'm giving a 4 star because their rice seemed like it was a little undercooked, but otherwise everything I had was worth it. Thanks for staying open during the quarantine Sakana! read more

Sakana - Spicy tuna, spicy salmon, sweet potato, eel avo, shrimp tempura, & Sakana maki with an avocado salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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

Seaweed salad was a decent portion and tasty. We ordered the tsunami, inside out and the dragon maki. I preferred the dragon and inside out over the tsunami personally because I found the texture to be slightly too mushy, especially expecting them to be fried. The sushi was decent but not exactly crazy about it. Service was incredibly accommodating, wouldn't mind going back if in that area. read more

Sakana - Tsunami Makimono (top), Inside Out Makimono, and Dragon Makimono (bottom) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We ordered take out here the other night - the nigiri dinner for me, the sashimi dinner for my husband, and for our 3 year old daughter (who would gladly eat sushi but we don't give it for safety reasons!) we got the teriyaki chicken dinner. The fish here is quite fresh and I got a great variety in the nigiri dinner. The charred salmon was interesting, it was dressed up in onion or garlic seasonings and while tasty I sometimes just really love a good charred piece of nigiri on its own. The spicy tuna roll was fine, it actually didn't have much spice to it at all and had tempura flake in it as filler. It was ok but the nigiri was why I was there. My husband enjoyed his sashimi, was hoping for a slightly more interesting selection though. We were happy with our sushi - I give it a 4 stars based on sushi alone. But the chicken teriyaki was truly atrocious. It has char marks from the grill that just tasted bitter and burnt. Not a great flavor. It was dry to boot. And the added teriyaki sauce didn't do much to cover up the unpalatable flavor. I felt bad serving it to her. Luckily it came with a seasoned hard boiled egg that she seemed to like and she's also a big fan of rice. It also came with a couple stalks of raw broccoli that were not of much interest to her. Would have been better cooked. 4 stars for sushi - 1 star for cooked food. I know the cooked food is not their main focus so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and giving them the 4 stars, in reality it should be a 3.5. read more

Good food, fresh and good service. Nice small place Miso soup was very tasty and rice with eel even better! read more

I was walking by this place since it opened, but it never lured inside. Probably, because I couldn't see the menu from the outside or the interior and exterior did not look much as if real sushi are being sold in Sakana. However, later on it all became welcoming and music there is good always. ~~~ However, a few days ago, decided to go for a lunch. Sushi lunch and salmon maki were delicious. The choice of rice for sushi was right and fish was very fresh and tasty. People at the next tables were ordering larger sets of sushi and sashimi and it looked incredibly visually appealing. ~~~ Lunchtime during the weekend is not a busy time in Sakana so you can go and be sure that there will be no waiting time. Staff is friendly as well. Overall, Sakana provides great sushi experience unlike anywhere else in Boston; for affordable price. Update: has come to that place several times since the review and it has always been great, people remember regular customers and teriyaki chicken is juicy and awesomely tasty! Tempura is very delicious as well - an interesting thing is inclusion of salmon in tempura, which is rare, unique, and tasty. read more

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Sakana is a small sushi restaurant on the border of Harvard and Central Square. It can get pretty busy but they only do walk ins so having a smaller party is probably easiest. The staff are very nice and the sushi is very good, probably one of my favorites in Harvard Square. It is a little more pricy for the specialty rolls but the signature Sakana roll was very good. Definitely recommend checking it out! read more

Sakana - Sakana Makimono Salmon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I liked the flavor of the rolls but the seaweed had a weird chewy texture instead of a crunchy one. The service was nice but the restaurant is tiny so expect to have a wait if you're coming during meal times. read more

Very reasonably priced, and delicious sashimi and sushi. The service was excellent. The tables are close together but it's all good vibes.

I finally got around to trying Sakana with three friends this past Monday evening! Another friend had recommended this place as an alternative to Cafe Sushi a while back and I'm so happy he did! The service, food and ambiance were all on point - a Cambridge gem for sure! The attention to detail in the presentation of the food was incredible. I'd read reviews about this place having a long wait so I called ahead to ask if there would be space for four at 6 o'clock on a Monday and was pleased to hear that there was space. Upon reaching the venue, I totally understand why this place can get packed! In addition to a small sushi bar, there are only a handful of tables and two had to be placed together for us to all fit. Luckily there was only one or two other parties dining when we went so *protip* - eat there early on a weekday if you want to go for dinner! On to the food + drink - we all started off with some delicious hot green tea that was promptly refilled throughout our dinner. For appetizers, the table shared some well steamed and seasoned edamame and the sashimi cucumber wrap. I cannot recommend the latter enough! The crisp cucumber combined with the different types of fish is just delicious and made me wonder why all sashimi isn't consumed in this way. For their main course, my two less ravenous friends decided to share a sashimi dinner while my boyfriend and I split a makimono combo special to start. The food came out promptly and plated wonderfully. According to my friends, the quality of their fish was super fresh and the waiter, unprompted, carefully explained each type of fish. The makimono combo includes a snow mountain, caterpillar and rainbow roll - all of which were delicious. However, my boyfriend and I liked the snow mountain the best and after deciding we still had room for more, ordered another snow mountain in addition to a Hokkaido roll. It was the perfect amount of food and if you enjoy rolls packed with flavor, I would highly recommend the last two we ordered. In the end our total for four people came out to just over $110 which I thought was super reasonable for the quantity and quality. Also, my friend has a gluten allergy and they were super understanding of it and brought out some gluten free soy sauce for her, so extra points there! Our waiter was incredibly patient and kind which just rounded out an awesome meal. We will definitely be back! read more

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Hands down one of the best spots for sushi in the Boston/Cambridge area. I was ecstatic when I had first heard about a sushi spot opening in the Harvard/Central square area so I had to try it out when they had their soft opening. It did not disappoint and I've been back many times since! The seared salmon belly is out of this world. It has a great combination of flavors and textures which makes for a very tasty bite! I LOVE the spicy salmon roll here. I think it has the PERFECT balance of tempura, mayo and salmon. It has just enough mayo so that it does not take away from the flavor of the salmon. I've had many menu items here including the chirashi, salmon oyakodon, etc. and nothing has disappointed. The staff there is also extremely friendly especially Kevin and Jerry. They are very attentive to customers and enjoyable to talk to. I've never had a bad meal or a bad experience here. Everything has been exceptional and I can't wait to go back! read more

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I'm not unfamiliar with this restaurant but today I ordered the salmon teriyaki dish and it is prepared with the same attention to detail as their cold dishes. The salmon was cooked perfectly. I make it a point to always get the Hokkaido makimono and the yuzu on top is such a satisfying combination. Best of all, the cost is reasonable for high quality fish. read more

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Solid neighborhood spot! They're not doing eat-in right now, but you can do pick up / to go. Got a salmon oyakodon ($19) and tempura ($10). read more

Sakana - Salmon Oyakodon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

You really can't go wrong with Sanaka. A small local restaurant with great service, food, and overall experience! Definitely a go-to place for sushi when you are in Cambridge! Huge variety of sushi to choose from & side dishes are delicious as well read more

Sakana - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sakana was good when it opened but the level of care for their food has gone downhill. Our delivery today was a mess. The sushi and chicken katsu looked like a mangled mess. To top it all off the katsu was undercooked and our beef was really low quality. Look at the photos, it looks gross. Not only is the presentation terrible, the food much worse, but they've also raised prices. Head over to Wasabi at Porter, it's way better in every way. read more

Sakana - That's how our food came. We're not ordering this mess again. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Sakana is my new favorite place for sushi in Boston! They have high quality fish at a good price and unique rolls. I love how much time and effort they put into the presentation which makes everything look (and taste) amazing. Their entire staff is so great - Kevin and Max was able to help me plan my birthday dinner here last week and was super accommodating. A few I highly recommend: - nigiri dinner, especially the salmon belly & sweet shrimp - chirashi - crimson roll - sakana roll - smoked scallop app - creme brûlée read more

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This is the old Simon's coffee shop, turned Anthony's, now Sakana! We had a party of 4 adults and 1 baby, so we needed to wait around 1245 pm on a snowy day. The staff was nice enough to let us know the other 2 tables of 4 were closing their checks; and fortunately we only waited 7-10 minutes. There was metered parking nearby and I used the Boston app on my phone to pay! Easy. We were seated and all four of us ordered the sashimi lunch. We also ordered the black forest roll----so yummy! Tuna, asparagus, yellow tail and truffle! And the yellow tail scallion roll also hit the spot! The sashimi lunch was clean and was presented quite beautifully. It was on a grill rack over a piece of ice along w shiso leaves as garnish. The cuts were not large but the fish quality was very good. 8 pieces of sashimi and a bowl of sushi rice w tobiko sprinkled on top. The lunch special came w miso soup and a small salad. I requested the waiter for more ginger and hot waters and he very pleasantly obliged. Got an order of Cali rolls Togo but I'll be back soon to get more of their specialty rolls and cooked foods! read more

Sakana - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

You know what they say - do not judge a book by its cover. Sakana is one of those restaurants that looks incredibly unassuming from the outside, but when you walk inside, you are presently surprised by the well lit ambiance, the pleasant service, and the overall comfortable seating. On service: the food came fast. As a ravenous individual, generally, I really appreciate it when the food comes quickly, and the service is on point. But I generally understand that speed is often a tradeoff for excellent food. However, Sakana far exceeded expectations by having some incredibly fresh food. It tasted like they had caught it that morning.... Their rolls were fantastic: we had the Sakana Roll, Black Forest Makimono and a Philly Roll. I am not generally a fan of the Philly Roll, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fish, and really enjoyed it. The Sakana Makimono took the cake of being one of my favourite rolls I have had in a long time. Cost: I would say it is on par for a central restaurant... it's on the same playing field as its neighbours (Cafe Sushi and Thelonious Monkfish). read more

Sakana - Philadelphia Roll, Sakana Makimono, Black Forest Makimono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

A recent addition to the Cambridge culinary scene, I'm glad that there's another sushi joint around to challenge Cafe Sushi's monopoly! And Sakana does a pretty good job with the food (quality and originality), ambience, and service. As to the food, their menu has a full slate of sushi as well as other Japanese dishes. They have several specialty rolls that seem like innovative mixes of flavors, but each time I've gone, I have ordered the more predictable rolls. I also LOVE their presentation of dishes -- see the attached pic of the sashimi lunch special for a fabulous example of a beautiful blue ceramic plate contrasting with the orange hues of salmon, yellowtail, tuna, etc. The space is quaint (there are maybe 8 tables and 4 seats at a bar) and becomes so light filled during the day that they usually have the blinds fully pulled down during lunchtime. With the large windows and location right on Mass Ave, I love how you really feel like you're in a community area. Service was super friendly and attentive from start to finish both times I went (one for dinner on the first month after they opened and then again a couple of weeks ago for lunch). Their prices are comparable to Cafe Sushi and quality seems great, though I'm admittedly not a sushi expert. Comparing Cafe Sushi to Sakana is inevitable and there isn't a winner in my opinion: they're both very good but have different offerings regarding vibe (Cafe Sushi is much larger; Sakana is more intimate and personal). I hope to go again soon to try some of the non-sushi options :) read more

Sakana - Sashimi lunch special! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I ordered to go and all three signature rolls were good. My fav--inside out roll. It just melted in your mouth and I will definitely eat next time I'm there 100%. Next my second favorite is the household name--Sakana roll. I really enjoyed the Sakana roll and it is truly unique. I liked the crimson roll, but it wasn't my favorite out of the three. I still recommend all 3. It was reasonably priced for sushi: $13-15 per roll. Super filling and they do a great job on to go meals provided the soy sauce cup, plenty of soy sauce, chop sticks and etc. Highly recommend for great quality sushi. read more

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Very much enjoyed our recent visit to Sakana for dinner during their soft opening and welcome the addition of a new sushi restaurant between Harvard and Central. Housed in the former Simon's Cafe and later Cafe Anthony (seized!) corner space, the inside has undergone a refresh with around 12 tables and a small sushi bar. Staff was very attentive, eager to answer questions and refill water, and make us feel at ease. Tables were close together, but I could see this being a good low-key date place. What we were really impressed by were the quality of the sushi and the price. We opted for the makimono combo special which had three large makimono rolls at $22 (snow mountain, caterpillar, and mango). It was more than enough for two people, was fresh, and had a great mix of flavors - highly recommend! The meal was also served with miso soup. We also tried a basic spicy tuna roll - also fresh and a good value at $6.50. Our bill came to around $30, but at other restaurants in the area it would be much higher. Overall, a nice addition to the local sushi scene that I imagine will get very crowded soon. read more

Sakana - Makimono combo roll with spicy tuna in the background - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We were traveling through the Boston area and needed to grab a meal and decided to order pickup from here. We ordered several rolls of sushi - more than enough for two people. They gave us literally one pair of chopsticks for the whole meal -- so we had to alternate sharing and eating with our hands Sushi is fine. read more

So glad to have this in my neighborhood! I came for dinner with a couple friends recently, and we were pretty happy with our meal. They both got the salmon rice, and I got the crimson roll. It was really good with a variety of contrasting textures, but I wasn't yet full so I also got a steamed gyoza. Spent about $16-18 per person. The servers are also very professional and nice. Would recommend stopping by! read more

Sakana - Steamed gyoza ($4) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I'm so glad this opened, the food scene around here had been getting pretty stale! Sakana serves the best sushi in Cambridge, and at about 3/4 the cost of its next door neighbor, Cafe Sushi. I got the crab shumai, which was tender and delicately flavoured. Followed up with the nigiri lunch special, which was a steal at $12. Also I lowkey really appreciate that they clip the tail off the shrimp nigiri so I can just pop the whole thing in my mouth. Get in and try this place now before the line starts going out the door! read more

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Fabulous service, clearly newly opened but I hope the service stays impeccable after a few years of operating. The prices were absolutely affordable - I ordered the sushi boat pretty much for myself and it was probably enough food for both of us! My husband ordered the sweet potato roll and philly roll, as he does at all sushi restaurants, and this sweet potato roll was probably his favorite in Boston. Some of the rolls were really very delicious, while I wasn't a huge fan of the torched sushi (nothing on the restaurant, more of personal taste I think). The "plain" sushi rolls were fresh enough, although my husband thought them too bland. We weren't a huge fan of the matcha flan that we got for dessert, but overall a very sleek and clean meal, fast service, and tasty sushi. read more

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

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Very fast, very good, super fresh. Great service. Sashimi cut and plated so fast, I had not even finished the great miso soup. Best of the trip so far. read more

My new favorite sushi place. Food came out fresh and it came out quick. I got the miso soup which seemed more flavorful than other restaurants. This house salad was a really good size with avocado and tomato. The spicy salmon roll was very fresh. read more

Sakana - Miso Soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This is a boutique and warm place on mass Ave. They have around 20 seats, 16 of which are table seats and the left are at the bar. They have one mutual genter bathroom. They also have baby seats. There was a very cute toddler sitting behind us playing with his chopsticks. I like the food here! It's slightly more sauceful (Three of the dishes we ordered are all topled with some sauce.) than other sushiplaces. I'm usually not a big fan of sushi because it tastes too light for me, but I like the sushi here. I ordered a hakkaido maki and a miso soup. My friend had eel donburi. The serving size is small but anyways worths it. I recommend their matcha flant. It's served with small cup of tea, very smooth and light sweet dessert. Great for a sushi dinner. I will come here again. read more

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Definitely our new favorite sushi spot in the area! This time we got the sushi boat which was perfect amount of food for two people who aren't heavy eaters. Really affordable and fresh tasting. The hot chili roll was spicier than I expected but I loved it. The only small gripe we had was that the menu said 4 seared nigiri sushi which I was super stoked about but then when the sushi came none of them were seared. Not a huge deal, still delicious, just wished the menu wasn't misleading because I love seared fish! read more

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

good sushi and immaculate vibes at an affordable price? yes please. sakana is one of my favorite go-to quick dinners in cambridge. perfect for dates, friendly bites, or even a solo/take out meal. sashimi is yummy, miso soup is heart warming, and rolls have not disappointed me yet. ambiance is fun with lively music and eclectic wall decorations. sit down, get a sapporo, and stuff yourself with sushi here for an evening you won't regret! read more

Got takeout on a weekday night. Order was ready really fast but I was kind of disappointed by the portion and taste especially at the price point. I'd seen lovely photos of their special rolls but it didn't stand out that much for me. Perhaps I'd need to try it again in person or earlier in the day. read more

Sakana - Smoked Torched Scallops Sakana Makimono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My wife and I were skeptical at first given the location and what used to be here (a cheap sandwich shop called Cafe Anthony) but we were very pleasantly surprised - food tasted great and everything felt clean and upscale. We got the Sushi set and the Makimono set for dinner, and both came with great quality sushi. (For perspective, I went to high school in Tokyo so I know when sushi is good). Highly recommend the desserts as well - we got both desserts that they had on the menu (creme brûlée and matcha flan) and both were incredibly delicious as well. Lastly, the service was also great - the servers clearly care about their establishment and were very attentive to us. Overall, we are stoked that this place opened up so close to us, and will be coming back! Edit: we went again for lunch and it was awesome again! Can't wait to be back. read more

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Amazing service and high quality sushi. Ordered the Nigiri dinner which has 8 pieces of sushi and spicy tuna roll. I loved everything about the sushi and the explosion of flavors with every bite. There was a pretty good variety including octopus and shrimp. I do wish they they would have walked me through what each piece was as there was some guessing involved. Limited beer selection but they do offer a good variety of wine - I think they just got their liquor license, so perhaps they will expand. Overall great experience! read more

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

Great service and their sushi is amazing! Small dining area on the inside but they serve everything in a timely manner and we didn't have to wait on a weeknight for dinner. Very affordable prices. Will definitely be back! read more

Sakana - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Environment is very cozy, not large but seating arrangement makes it feel comfortable for a sushi restaurant. Doesn't have a liquor license so would be better if can do some sake pairing as well. I started with the toasted scallops special which I loved. It came covered with some smoke and upon opening it, the smell of fresh wood chips elevates the flavors. The scallops themselves were seasoned with caviar and a sweet glaze. They were cooked nicely and had a creative taste. The nigiri dinner was a mix of the chefs' recommendations. The spicy tuna roll on the side was nothing too special. Most of the fish was very fresh. In particular, I liked the sweet shrimp (ama ebi) and the toasted salmon belly, both had great taste and texture. read more

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

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Visiting from Virginia and this restaurant had excellent reviews. My daughter and I stopped in and were very pleased that we did. The server did an excellent job accommodating my shellfish allergy and the chef created a special roll that incorporated some of my favorite items. The eel roll was phenomenal, read more

Sakana - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place was AMAZING! So attentive quick and the food taste great and fresh plus looked visually appetizing! The staff was amazing so hospitable. My Chicken Katsu was fried perfectly and my salad was so refreshing. I tried raw sushi for the first time ever with the Black Forest and it was great. I got the crispy shrimp maki as well and it tasted as amazing as it looked! The hot tea and fresh water felt endless!! Overall a great experience I will defintely be back and again and with friends. read more

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I've passed by Sakana a lot when I go to work but had never tried until the quarantine began. Let me just say that despite never having been able to sit down at their restaurant, their sushi is freaking awesome. I usually order the sushi or sashimi lunch special. Frankly like everyone else has mentioned - their sear salmon belly with crunchies on top is a godsent. I've ordered take out from them 5+ times during the quarantine, usually as a treat. Support your local businesses! They take COVID regulations super seriously, I've always felt safe going to do pickups. They have a plexi glass barrier so you can pay there or prepay on their online ordering website. Order through there instead of any of the food delivery websites since those take a large commission from the restaurants. I literally can't wait to go back for dine-in when COVID is all over. read more

Quaint little hole in the wall with a tasteful menu. Perfect for a quick bite or stay for a while.