One of the few authentic Japanese sushi bars in around Boston. The sushi and sashimi is the best I've had other than maybe in Japan. Chef Ito is a master sushi chef. The wait staff are very friendly and kind. Sometimes the weight can be A little bit longer if it's very busy. So you should order everything you want at first have a beer and enjoy this lovely restaurant. Also if you're not into sushi or sashimi I recommend the Tata Chi beef appetizer chilled thin sliced shoulder steak garnish with green onion and ponzu. read more

The only reason why I gave this place a 1 star rating is because when my fiancée and I walked in here it took them 5 minutes to seat us, and 15 minutes of us sitting there being ignored before we got up and walked out. Let me go on record by stating that I never walk out after being seated. I have no problem waiting at a place if they are busy as long as they acknowledge us. This was not the case. They sat down two women after we were seated, got them water, and took their order before we finally walked out. No water, no "I'll be right with you", nothing. While we were waiting and attempting to wave down the two waitresses (FAIL) we over heard someone say "this place is great except for they have no concept of American time." I was really really excited to go here based on all the yelp reviews. I'm actually fortunate that this happened because I found my new sushi spot, Sushi 55, as a result. I may give them another shot, but it will be a while and will be take out. read more

Hey, an actual Japanese place in the burbs? Nice one! This is a sushi place in Newton run by a Japanese couple. The sushi is great. Not just from being fresh, but also from being killed the right way, stored the right way, cut the right way, and served the right way. Besides sushi, the pickings are slim. No grilled fish or yakitori or other Japanese things. But they do have the standard American stuff like teriyaki and sukiyaki. read more

This is a wonderful, small, comfy place. Looks like family-managed, very friendly. Quality fish, good size portions, decent prices. I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Great sushi and friendly staff. It's not a large place and filled up fast, so get there early. Everything is always fresh and delicious and the drinks are generous read more

This is the best sushi restaurant in Newton. Ran by real Japanese people, you can not get this experience anywhere else. Everyone around here know it, so be prepared for a wait, and one of the greatest sushi experiences you will ever have. There is a reason it is always packed. read more

Shogun Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Been coming to visit Ito for 20 years. Have enjoyed his Sushi each and every time I've gone. The food is very good. Ito is very knowledgeable and has always been pleasant to me while discussing Sushi or Japanese culture. Since I don't live in Newton any longer, I unfortunately only get to visit about 8 times a year. Shogun has a good variety of Nigiri, Maki, and Temaki. All of the regular items are done well, but jump at any chance to have something special that Ito feels like making! It's a great little place that reminds me of some of the Yakatori restaurants in Tokyo. The prices are reasonable. The parking can be a challenge. The staff is very friendly. read more

Only 1 sushi chef and 1 waitress. Food is good but it takes a long time to get the food and service.

Just moved to the neighborhood and was excited to try this spot based on the great Yelp reviews. Unfortunately we didn't even get a chance. We were trying to get take out around 730 on a Tuesday and they didn't pick up 3 calls from us over a span of 10 min. We drove down to the restaurant (which was nearly full) and there were no staff members to be seen. Numerous patrons looked to be anxiously awaiting some assistance. I went to the back where I saw the older (male) sushi chef and an older female employee. Took them a few minutes to acknowledge me--they were frazzled and clearly overwhelmed trying to accommodate an entire restaurant by themselves. He politely let me know that a sushi order would take quite some time, so I left. Clearly they had serious service issues tonight, so maybe I'll stop in again to check out the staffing situation when I'm in the neighborhood and not necessarily expecting a meal. An extra star for honestly / politeness. read more

Shogun has been our #1 restaurant for 25 years. We love it! The quality is excellent and consistent, the prices very reasonable. The sushi is fresh and always beautifully presented. We have had sushi in Paris and London for three times the price, and never had anything that surpassed this wonderful jewel in West Newton Square. read more

Went today for lunch - signs on door and info online say OPEN AT 11:30 AM... we arrived at 11:45 AM... closed up like they were not even in business any more... their loss!!! ‍‍‍‍‍ read more

While it took me a few circles to find this place the first time I went, it has rapidly become my local go-to place for Japanese food and sushi. I've been for lunch 4 times in the last two months, taking family and co-workers and everyone's been impressed. The food is light, perfectly balanced, and exquisitely Japanese. Yes, there may not be a lot of meat in the soup, or the sushi/sashimi is cut to different thicknesses depending on the fish but this is not carelessness; it's perfection. The octopus is cut thin so that it chew's lightly, the thick tuna has a delightfully solid mouth-feel. The rolls have a casual feel, ends untrimmed, garnishing the sushi plate and are a delight to eat with the extra bits of fish and vegetables. I mentioned this to our server (a little old Japanese woman) and she said that Ito-san, the chef, has been preparing sushi for over 30 years! As mentioned before, the salad dressing is excellent. As is the agedashi tofu lunch special, the tempura udon, and the teriyaki chicken. I have never had anything here be anything other than excellent and look forward to trying out their whole menu. While parking can be a little difficult, especially during lunch hour, by arriving closer to 11:30 when they open you can usually get a spot either in the public lot across the street or at one of the metered spots. If you're in a little later or for dinner, I'd suggest the metered lot next to the police station. All of my work lunches have taken under 45 minutes, from the time we sat down until the time the check was paid and we were out the door. Round trip from the office (1 stop down the pike) is 1:15 ... not a quick lunch, but certainly a reasonable time for something of this quality. read more

My boyfriend and I decided to check this place out one night during the week. It was quiet; there were only three other tables full at the time plus a few people at the sushi bar. We were seated quickly and brought waters while we decided on other drinks and our meals. The owners and employees are exceedingly friendly, and I got the impression that some of the people there were regulars. I ordered a miso soup and the sashimi appetizer. The soup was great, and the "appetizer" was huge! It had 9 pieces of sashimi plus salmon roe (yum) for only $9.95. My boyfriend got a few sushi rolls, but the one that stood out was the "popeye". It had spinach on top, something creative I've never seen before. It was delicious! All of the sushi was really fresh and tasty. This is definitely our new go-to spot. read more

Just a note that Ito San is open and doing take out orders. Have gotten take out twice in the last week, and everything is as fresh and tasty as ever. Please Support Shogun by ordering takeout (and tipping well!)!!! read more

The food was plentiful, the waitresses swamped with customers. ? maybe sunday has fewer staff. Sakei (cold was yummie). Overall good food. Fresh too. Denise Patnod Acupuncture read more

I really wanted to like this one because they do have one of the best hibatchi chefs ever, but walked away feeling flat. The soups were good. Ginger dressing was weak and watery. They don't do the traditional shrimp appetizer. Instead you get crab Rangoon. Again nothing exciting. The salads were small but the dinner portions were plenty big. But the food quality was underseasoned and underwhelming. The sushi was boring and flavorless and the rice was dry. I wouldn't bother with it there. The eel and avocado roll was mostly avocado. With the exception of our favorite chef and one hostess, the staff there was as cold as the walls, not smiling, and didn't make us feel appreciated. Even if your party wants hibatchi but you don't, expect an eye roll from the server when you tell her you don't eat hibatchi. And the entertainment value was just not exciting. It really too bad. I love these kind of places and had really hi hopes for this one! Worth taking the kids on a birthday. Other than that... read more

I spent a year in Japan, and worked at the South End Oishii, so I know my sushi, and this was very good. I was thrilled to see hamachi-kama on the menu, as well as many other Japanese dishes which I don't often see. The hamachi kama was just a bit on the dry and underseasoned side though. The sushi rolls were very good though, with a good balance of flavors. As other reviewers said, the fish was all fresh, but what really stood out was the perfect sushi rice. I thought that the service was exceptionally friendly, but I did bust out a little Japanese with the sushi chef and our waitress. It also wasn't very busy when we went, so I'm sure that helped. read more

We have been eating at Shogun for over 30 years since we have lived in the area. We are grateful that our neighborhood 'go to' restaurant is such a friendly, authentic Japanese restaurant with fabulous sushi made with the freshest of fish. Ito-san has been the sushi chef behind the counter for all these years, and we've never once had a sushi platter that didn't look appealing and taste delicious. One of my favorites is their spicy tuna roll, which includes chinks of tuna, rather than the chopped up tuna with filler and sauce. A favorite lunch item is the "Handroll Set"- three sushi handrolls served with either soup or salad, at a very reasonable price. Their salad dressing is unusually good and many of the appetizers are wonderful. We've explored many other sushi restaurants in the Boston area, many with more exotic menu choices and fancier decor, but we are always happy to come back to Shogun, where the sushi is great, the environment is conducive to conversation and we are treated with a warm welcome. read more

My boyfriend and I had dinner here recently on a Saturday night. I think it must've been during a shift change or something, because the person who sat us, (at a dirty table) said someone would be right with us...Then another man who dropped off waters, said someone else would be by shortly. We almost walked out, when finally our waiter came, apologized, and took the order. I'm leaving a 4 star review, because the food was fantastic! I'm guessing these first few issues were due to a busy Sat nite dinner rush. The food came quickly, the waiter was polite and attentive, food was reasonably priced, and the selection of sushi was huge. We will def be coming back... Maybe not around 9pm on Saturday night again though! The pan fried pork dumplings and house salad we got for starters were so good, and the sushi was fresh and delicious. read more

Came here because of the good reviews, but must have picked an off night. Rice was mushy, not great sushi. Service was friendly but needed work (promptly apologized for mistakes) - easily forgiven when the food is good. Noodles in the soup were overcooked. Newton can do better! table felt kinda grimy, would have benefited from a place mat or something. maybe just bad timing? read more

I have been coming to Shogun for about 4 years and am completely loyal to it. The sushi is consistently delicious. We always get the special for two which comes on a big wooden boat accompanied by salad, noodles, and miso soup. The salad dressing is exceptionally good. And its all reasonably priced. The owners are so nice and friendly, greeting us with a big hello as soon as we walk in. The service can be a little slow, but sushi isn't, and shouldn't ever be, fast food. I don't know why people say that there's no parking. There's some street parking, a decent sized lot right across the street, and courthouse parking next door that you can park in after business hours. We have never ever had trouble finding a place to park. read more

Supermarket grade sushi might be better. Fish had several bones. Service was very slow. Never going back for sure.

A little hidden sushi gem of West Newton. A very small intimate place run by two cute little old Japanese sisters whose works their heart out every night to keep their customers happy with good quality food. They only serve dinner and are not opened everyday. I would call first. Either arrive early around 5 or wait for 2 second round to be almost finished. It tends to get packed early and there isn't must room for waiting. Overall, I feel that Shogun's food and service is put together with allot of love and care. Staff are VERY NICE. Only down side is that service can run a little slow. If you are in a hurry, Shogun is not a place to go. read more

The unagi don is pretty good. The chef's sushi combination has a decent selection of sushi. The place is not crowded, conveniently located in a neighbor friendly place. A place you can try to see if it suits your taste. read more

Finally, a Japanese restaurant run by Japanese people. What a concept! We order take out all the time and their chicken teriyaki bento box is delicious. You get miso soup, a small salad, the chicken, rice and some noodles and a slice of orange for $8. Great deal. Sushi is also very fresh and great rolls. Forget Ginza! read more

Great Sushi. Nice people. But SLOW service. I would strongly suggest you have a seat at the bar and enjoy some Sake and Japanese beer while you wait! The time will pass much quicker! Not a place for picky diners. However, a great place for good food when you have a lot of time on your hands! read more

I really liked this place. Small, quite, japanese ambiance, music, cook & waitress, reminded me of the small neighborhood places in Tokyo. Nobody hurry you, The food? Great, of course. read more

Came here last week for a late dinner and really enjoyed the meal. I got a bunch of sushi rolls and my husband enjoyed the chicken teriyaki entree that he ordered. The Sushi chef was very friendly too! I would go back! read more

Great food with slow service. Well worth the wait, but be prepared to wait for a while. Otherwise a great meal, in a comfortable atmosphere in a restaurant run by a very nice Japanese couple. read more

Best sushi restaurant!!! cheap, fresh, and friendly restaurant. It's not like a fancy/expensive restaurant so I recommend to stop by for lunch or weekday dinner. But you need to wait forever for your meal to be served when the restaurant is crowded because there is only one sushi chef... So plan ahead if you have something to do after. read more

Very good sushi if you are looking for the basics: sashimi, basic rolls. If you are looking for more exciting and innovative rolls this is not your place. Service is relatively bad: they don't pay a lot of attention to each table and take a long time to serve. read more

Reminds me of sushi bars I frequented 20 years ago in British Columbia. Fresh fish expertly presented by a master sushi chef. Sit at the bar and engage Ito. He has a great sense of humor. Salad dressing is delicious. read more

While the tiny restaurant is cute and the owner and staff very sweet it isn't a place I would go out of my way for. It is hard to find and has almost no parking. The rolls were a mess and fell apart. Some of the fish was cute into big awkward chunks and some of it was so paper thin it tore when I tried to pick it up. The rice was so sticky and dense I almost had to scrape each piece off the plate. I think it is OK for a quick lunch or a trainer sushi place for people who don't know any better. The taste was fine and the fish is fresh. I just feel there are better options for the same money. read more

A very good small sushi restaurant. Ito-san, who has been the chef here for at least a decade, and the staff are friendly and remember you if you come often. The sushi is fresh and the prices are reasonable. A good place for a date or a (sushi-loving) family. read more

The best spicy tuna ever in the world. This includes spots in NYC and San Francisco. Ito is the most amazing sushi shef!

I've been coming here for over a decade. Ito-San is still on top of his game. The fish is always fresh, and preparation is spot on. If you want awesome sushi without all the pretense this is it! read more

The sushi is nice....the tea is great...the ginger was good with the sushi (which is why i think they charge you for more ginger). The folks here are so nice and it really reminds me of a family run restaurant. Like others have said...don't come here for fast service. Do come here if you bring a friend you'd like to catch up with and have a good long conversation with. The service is slow but the folks are so nice you don't feel so bad about it. read more

Great Japanese food! coming from California, I didn't know if I could find a real authentic Japanese sashimi place... the sashimi here is EXCELLENT. I've only tried it once... based on recommendation. We will go again soon! read more

Had the 'roll set' lunch special and thoroughly enjoyed it! The Big Roll is very traditional Japanese and a fun addition, and the dressing in the salad was great. Fantastic $10 lunch from an awesome little restaurant run by two very sweet owners. Give it a try! read more

Used to be not big fan of raw seafood, but this place totally changed me! Really genuine Japanese restaurant with a reasonable actually good price! I came here couple of times with coworkers, all of us love it here so much. Unlike most fake Japanese restaurant in the town this is somewhere you would definitely want to try some real Japanese food but don't want to pay too much. read more