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Spring Shabu-Shabu

4.3 (1.1k reviews)
ModerateHot Pot, Japanese
Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Spring Shabu-Shabu Photos

Business Info

SPRING SHABU-SHABU ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Casual
Trendy
Good for groups

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Reviews With Photos

Jin S.

With the cold weather here in New England I have been on a hot pot binge! Im so happy I found Spring Shabu Shabu. A perfect way to spend date night or out with friends. Spring Shabu is a nicer hot pot spot in the area with lots of seating, multiple sauce stations, variety of meats, seafood, and dumplings and even has a icecream station for dessert! I love their noodle station, so many different options. They had a homemade pumpkin noodle and it was delicious. Service is always quick and friendly. The location has plenty of self parking.

Rachel S.

My friend really enjoyed the vegetables at this hot pot all you can eat restaurant, so as a vegan, I was looking forward to it! Their variety of veggies (and sauces!) truly was impressive, with a few things I'd never even seen before. Everything I got tasted amazing, and the broth was so good. For only $25, we stuffed ourselves for 90 minutes and walked out quite full and satisfied. There's even ice cream, but it is not vegan and has milk powder in it. Would definitely recommend though, and service was great too!

Kevin W.

Tl;dr Just ok, slow service not great if you like to eat a lot of meat. Decent selection of non meat all you can eat options. Came here for dinner and had to wait a while for a table. It can get very busy during dinner time so plan ahead. The service was extra slow. This is definitely not the spot for you if you like to eat a lot of meat; the overall system or portions felt constrained. We were trying to get extra broth added in, and just adding the broth took a good 5 minutes because no one wanted to help. I had the spicy broth. Unfortunately, it was not very flavorful. I prefer broths that stand alone and do not need extra sauce, but this broth was neither spicy nor salty enough. On the positive side, there is a decent amount of all you can eat options if you do not need meat, and the noodle selection was good. Overall, the food was okay, but the extra slow service, especially for basic requests like broth, and the bland broth made the experience just average.

Kimchi broth and mix-ins
Dina A.

This was my first ever hotpot experience, so I had a learning curve in a number of areas. Service: First, this hotpot restaurant is always packed, with folks waiting outside it. Luckily, my friend and I had no more than a 7-10min wait. The sign up process to obtain a reservation for 2 was extremely easy; we logged our names and received a text/phone soon thereafter. After being seated, we met our server and expressed that it was our first hotpot experience. She kindly provided instructions and we commenced our dining experience. Throughout our time at Spring Shabu-Shabu, our server was great about returning to our table periodically to ensure we had enough broth and to tend to drink and napkin refills. Food: The good part. The mix-ins are presented buffet style. As someone who doesn't dine out at very many Asian restaurants, I was both overwhelmed and impressed at the array of unique vegetables (all kinds of mushrooms, different kinds of bok choys, etc.), noodles (gluten free mung bean, spinach noodle, udon noodle, etc.), and meat/fish (pollock fish ball, jalapeño fish cake, squid pork, etc.) mix-in options provided. There are also numerous sauce/oil/toppings options (e.g. soy sauce, ponzu, chili oil, chopped garlic, cilantro, sweet and sour sauce, etc.). All of the buffet items were replenished in a timely manner, which enhanced the experience as a patron since time to dine is limited. I had the kimchi broth, and I selected lamb meat as well as white fish. The lamb was delicious, while the white fish tasted basic. I liked the lamb best because it cooked so quickly. The white fish was fine, but it was nothing to write home about. I maintain that the matcha ice cream was a brilliant addition to this restaurant's offerings! They also offer vanilla -- with the option to pull the 'swirl' lever for a vanilla-matcha fusion, in either cone or cup. My friend and I took ours to go! Ambiance: Speaking of time, during the restaurant's "rush hours," there is a 90-min time limit for patrons! For someone like me, who was trying hotpot for the first time, this felt rather brief. The sheer amount of options and the learning curve that is becoming accustomed to dunking veggies/meats/fish into broth to cook them throughly makes 90-mins feel short! Seating/the ambiance is casual here, which I love. You can show up on a whim with a friend or family wearing jeans, and you'll fit right in. It's a no-frills restaurant. Something to keep in mind is that the restaurant is a bit loud -- it can feel like you're straining your voice to be heard across the table, especially given the close proximity of tables to one another. Overall, I give the restaurant a 4/5. I would highly recommend Spring Shabu-Shabu to folks, especially hotpot first timers!

Clarissa L.

Come early because this place gets packed. It's a casual hotpot restaurant with an all you can eat buffet section with a big selection of veggies, fishballs and noodles. If you want any meat or seafood that gets ordered separately. We each got an individual hotpot to cook with. I had the pork bone broth which was a little bland but the dipping sauce made up for it. Most of the food was pretty fresh, except maybe a clam. Service was a little slow and lacking, they forgot a drink and didn't automatically refill the broth when it was running low. They also really follow the 90 minute time limit because they are so busy.

Meats, broths, vegetables, and dumplings
Samantha C.

Spring Shabu-Shabu is a Japanese hot pot restaurant, with an amazing assortment of meats, broths, vegetables, sauces, and add-ons. Each person gets their own pot of the broth of their choice (they had a gluten free broth option!), which they then can cook their meat, dumplings, and vegetables in. I chose the kimchi broth, which was the perfect amount of spicy, and then beef top blade and pork dumplings for my meats. While you wait for your broth and meat to arrive at your table, you go over to a buffet to pick out your vegetables, sauces, and add-ons. The restaurant had an a large variety of noodles (including gluten free!), vegetables, sauces, and toppings (kimchi, green onion, etc). Once you are done choosing all your items from the buffet, it was very fun to cook your food in the pot while enjoying good company. Feel free to accompany your meal with their various non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages, and be sure to end your meal with some green tea soft serve! For the price, Spring Shabu Shabu was definitely worth it due to its variety. The restaurant was also very clean, and the staff were polite! My only tip would be to go on the earlier side (~5PM) because it starts to get very busy past this time; we arrived at 5:30PM as a group of 5, had trouble parking, but only waited about 15 minutes even though we were told it would be 45 minutes.

Maria B.

Spring Shabu-Shabu is my go-to hotpot spot in Boston. Every time family or friends come to visit, this is the first place to bring them for a satisfying and memorable meal. The all-you-can-eat buffet features a huge selection of fresh vegetables, noodles, fish cakes, and more--with individualized pots and customizable broths that let everyone craft their perfect hotpot experience. The value is unbeatable: expect to leave completely full and absolutely feeling like you got your money's worth, especially with the wide variety of ingredients that come with the base price and generous meat portions available for a little extra. The matcha soft serve at the end is the perfect sweet finishing touch. Service is consistently quick and attentive, even when it's busy (and yes, it's popular, so sometimes there's a wait but it's always worth it) Whether introducing newcomers to Boston or just craving a hearty meal, Spring Shabu-Shabu never disappoints, great for groups, families, or anyone who wants both delicious food and a fun, interactive dining experience

Matcha soft serve
Mehaa S.

One of my fav hotpot places, I always make is a point to stop by here when I'm in the Boston area As a vegetarian spring shabu shabu is a great way to enjoy hotpot. Hotpots are individual and there are many sauce, vegetable, and noodle options to choose from. I will say the first time I came was pre covid and there were multiple tofu options but the last time I went (Dec 2023) the only vegetarian protein option was plain tofu which was a bit disappointing. Despite that, I am always impressed by the sauce and noodle bar - it's definitely filling and fun and love the matcha soft serve for dessert after

mala broth
Lilian W.

This is my favorite hotspot place! There's often a wait on the weekends but weekday dinners are quite open. I've liked the dashi and pork bone broth and my husband enjoys mala. We don't usually order additional meat or seafood because the buffet options are so good. There's a variety of vegetables, mushrooms, noodles, and fish balls. Making the sauce is fun because you can try a mix of different ones. Overall, a very delicious, satisfying dinner!

Jeffrey J.

Food was fresh and our server was great! It was our first time having Shabu Shabu in Boston, the parking was very convenient. Pricing was very reasonable for ayce hotpot

Rosanna N.

Go to hotpot place in Boston. They do buffet style for all items except for meat/seafood. Always super packed but still very tasty and filling

Green tea soft serve
Darian C.

For $22 base veggies and fishballs, I thought it was a great deal! They had a large selection and you can order meat for extra cost. When I eat hot pot I mostly eat veggies but my boyfriend eats a lot more meat than I do so it was not as worth it for him. They also have green tea soft serve which was yummy. The service was super quick and we were able to get seated immediately on a weekday night even though it was during the holidays and pretty busy.

Vegetables
Alyssa P.

Fantastic hot pot restaurant with tons of options for vegetables and other items! For me, it had every ingredient that I love in hot pot (lots of different mushrooms, taro, squash, cabbage, bean sprouts, rice cakes). They also had a variety of different noodles. One really unique one was the matcha noodles. These were surprisingly good. They also had a bunch of sauces for you to make. My favorite combination is garlic, soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, green onion, cilantro, and hoisin sauce. The matcha ice cream here is also amazing. I think it's actually the best matcha ice cream I've ever had. Service is pretty quick and there's a lot of seating for lots of people to come and eat. It is popular though so expect a 20/30 min wait.

Hot pot

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Spring Shabu-Shabu Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Spring Shabu-Shabu

If I want to go at dinner time, will there still be quite a wait if I get there right at 5?

lunch time is less crowded very late works too

Can you open more Spring Shabu-Shabu in Boston?

helll noo! ;-0~

Do you serve alcohol?if you don't can we bring our own bottle of wine? Thank you

Yes, they serve alcohol! Wine, beer, and sake.

Can they waitlist you over the phone or does it have to be in person?

In person only. Also, they won't seat until everyone in party is present.

Where do I make a reservation? Or do I just call to make a reservation?

Reservations are not accepted any longer. During COVID they were taking them but not any longer.

Is there hotpot buffet or what?

So it's a buffet. They will serve you the soup base you want, and then you have to go pick up the food you want to cook in the soup base. ( that's the buffet portion). It is a hot pot place. Everyone gets his or her own small pot. Not the… Read more

Is this restaurant open now for dine-in? Thank you!

It opened on the 29th on July!

Can someone expain how the "base broths" work? is it 1 prcie for all the boths or do i only get 1 broth for the price? if we have 3 in our party but want to try all the 5 "base broths" can we do that?

You get 1 for the price and unlimited refill. But everybody will get a mini pot of their own with their own choice of broth! Unless you really want to pay for 3 and try the 3 in your own pot one by one (never heard of anyone doing that but I'm sure… Read more

What is the last seating time if we were to come for dinner? Thank you!

Usually about 1-1.5hours before closing

Hello! Not familiar with the area...does this place have parking on site? Thank you!

Hi Chan! We’re located in a shopping center and have ample parking.

Is the green tea soft serve vegan or does it contain dairy?

Our ice cream flavors contain dairy. Apologies for any inconvenience. 🌱

Fatty beef or Pork?

Yes but extra charge... between $5-7 a plate

How much time do we need for dinner? Our show starts at 7:30, they don't start dinner on weekdays till 6pm...

I would say at least 2 hours min

What are the opening hours for public holidays?

Holidays when we've been to Spring (such as Labor Day), they've been following a weekend schedule where they are open all afternoon starting at the 11am lunch time.

When is the best time to go on Sunday for lunch with dinner menu?

No difference with the menu... it just the waiting, same price the whole day

So do u pay 16.95 for dinner and then all the meat prices as well?

The meat are separate charges to the regular price (range $4-$7 a plate). However, the regular offerings are plenty! Many veggies, noodles, fishballs to choose from!

Do they take reservation?

Hi Qui! Thank you for your inquiry. The Brighton location takes reservations for parties 10 or more from Monday-Thursday (lunch and dinner by 7:30PM) and Friday lunch only. Please call the restaurant at 617-202-5422 and a Spring representative… Read more

I'm curious to hear what other people's favorite dipping sauces and sauce combos are; I like the sweet chili sauce with vinegar, a tiny bit of soy sauce, and scallions, SO good on sweet potatoes and greens, especially bok choy. What's your go to?

Garic, chili pepper, scallions, cilantro, Japanese soy sauce, vinegar, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil and shallot sauce

Do they have peanut sauce?

They do!

Do they offer gift cards?

Hi Marie! Gift cards are available for purchase at each restaurant location.

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Maguro

Maguro

4.3
(387 reviews)
1.6 mi
$$
Family-owned & operated
Free WiFi

First time here and it was great! We did the AYCE all-you-can-eat on a Monday (they only do it…read moreMonday and Tuesdays) - got there around 7:30p and even though it was very full, we got seated quickly with a table for 3. It's $50 for the regular AYCE or $80 for the Premium AYCE. We opted for the former, and it was plenty great. We have done lots of AYCE sushi and I will say this is the BEST of them - I think it's because it's the same grade sushi as they would normally do Ala carte on other nights. The $50 menu had plenty of sashimi and regular nigiri (sushi with rice) options and some Thai too. We had mostly the sashimi Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Octopus, a few rolls, some edamame, gyoza, shumai. My favorites were the salmon, as the cuts were large, thick and amazing silky, and the gyoza, as it was perfectly crispy. The Pad Thai was bit way too sweet for my taste - a skip for me next time. The decor is very nice - reminded me of a dive Tokyo bar. Service was quick and very attentive. We will be back!

Have been hearing about their Mon & Tue AYCE, so went on to try it a month or so ago. With what…read moreseems to be a recent price increase, now $50++ allows access to a good variety of sushi/sashimi, on top of apps, ramen, poke bowls, and cooked rice/noodle dishes. Whereas $80++ offers diners a set of amount of uni, plus unlimited amount of everything else, wagyu included. Sounds like a good deal, especially when one can eat a lot. Even as we are no longer Team Eat Till You Burst, we went for the premium, mainly for the nicer cuts such as toro and wagyu, and because uni!! Jumping in shortly after 5pm, we were promptly seated, marked a bunch of stuff on paper, and soon after submission, we got food brought to our table. It was a decent meal overall, so why 3 stars? Let's recap. Menu variety is fantastic, though of course we didn't get "one of everything", coz that's simply impossible. While the premium did cover a lot of grounds, it would have been nice if they also included anago (sea eel) which is currently only available on the a la cart menu, and maybe even offer couple lesser-known items such as monk fish liver app, sea grapes, off-the-beaten-path fish cuts, what have you. Would be happy even if we only get an allotment of those like we do with the uni. Now, service - great overall. Servers circulated around and were alert of customers' needs. Approached at appropriate times to take our order sheets, refill water, provide new order sheets, and ask if we wanted more food. So kudos on that. Their denotation of serving "regular portion" of cooked food had us hesitant in ordering, since we didn't want to be wasteful (or use our limited stomach space for dishes we can easily get elsewhere). But from other tables' orders as well as the one noodle dish that we ended up getting, it seems that the portion size was what I would like to see at AYCE places -- about 50-60% of regular Asian dish size, where 3-4 people can each have a couple bites "just to try". However, to think if that is what they call "regular portion", then it is definitely "Brookline pricing" on a la carte, which I would not recommend one to do such things on these items. Food is fantastic in general; we got a variety of stuff, and everything was really of top quality and taste. The meal would have been a "highly recommended" if they didn't serve the uni that we got. Out of the 12 pcs of uni sushi, all of them were... while not "foul" to a point where one cannot safely consume, they were definitely more sub-par than "ok but not great". Colors aside (which I understand there can be a range depending on origins and such), the uni was a "splat" of yellow stuff on rice, without distinct shape of the flesh. On top of the fishy smell (I'm talking about slightly ammonia-ish), the presentation and taste-texture upon them hitting our tongues... really left the ENTIRE room to be desired. In retrospect, we should have sent them back even if they weren't going to replace them. But instead, we stupidly forced ourselves to shove them all down in cowardly silence, then ordered another round of wagyu just to make us feel a little better about it. Yes, we weren't smart as customers. But if the restaurant is going to charge $100++ per person (after tax and tip), someone from the kitchen should have known better than pushing this thing out for customers to deal with. In their defense, yes, the uni itself was still "edible" in a sense that it didn't make us sick, but I'd maintain that better judgment should have been made. Once the shell was cracked open and you see this pale-gray yellow mush, it should have been decided that it is better repurposed, than be served straight to your customers as your star/featured product. As seen in other diners' experiences, it could just have been a one-off mishap, so I'm not knocking them entirely. But I do hope the restaurant would improve on their QC accordingly. It was such a disappointing low point in an otherwise wonderful meal.

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Two favorites ..
Two favorites ..
Variety is good ..
Variety is good ..
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Miraku Boston

Miraku Boston

4.4
(68 reviews)
1.5 mi
$$

Miraku has become one of our go to ramen places in Boston and for good reason: after spending time…read morein Japan sampling authentic ramen, Miraku, with their well deserved Michelin Bib Gourmand, is the only establishment that can compare. The noodles are wonderfully textured with the right amount of chew. The broth is wonderfully balanced. The other ingredients are also well balanced and in the right quantity. The zangi fried chicken is to die for! It's tender, juicy, flavorful, and has the right amount of crisp sitting above a flavorful complementary sauce. Lastly the staff is very pleasant and interior is cozy and comfortable.

Came here with some friends as this was their favorite ramen spot and they were having a popup…read morewhere a Japanese chef came here to make some limited bowls of seabream and shellfish white soy sauce ramen. As this was limited pop up, we did wait about 1-1.5 hours to be able to get inside and order the food, but it was a relatively organized experience. We got sat at the bar at the side where the waiters/waitresses entered/exited which was mildly annoying and flagging them to get more water was a little hard as well. I didn't order the limited bowl as that's not usually my choice of flavor for ramen broths but I got to try it. It was very mild and had a nice taste but still wouldn't be my go to order. For myself, I got the spicy miso which was nice and flavorful. My friends also ordered the Takoyaki and the Zangi Fried Chicken which were both good. For dessert we also ordered the Monako Ice Cream and Hojicha Chiffon Cake. The Hojicha Chiffon cake didn't have as much flavor as I would've liked and the ice cream that came with it, kind of just overpowered it, should get hojicha ice cream with this one to taste more hojicha.

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Bar seating
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Matcha cheesecake
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Maruichi Select

Maruichi Select

4.2
(80 reviews)
1.5 mi
$$

Cute little Japanese shop and food spot. Some street parking in the area and a small paid parking…read morelot in the back of the Coolidge center with 4 hour parking. We got here right when they opened so they were still preparing the premium onigiri for the day. Service was very friendly - order at the register and pick up your food when ready. We did order one of each - Chashu & Aji-Tama (Braised Pork & Egg) - this was one of my favorites, flavorful and fresh. Karage - Probably our second favorite - the chicken was tender. Spicy Karage - similar to the regular karage but I wasn't the biggest fan of the spicy mayo Takana (Pickled Mustard Leaf) - this one was surprising but very good and a little spicy. I also ordered their Cherry Blossom Tea and the Hojicha Latte. Both were good teas. I did some shopping here too as they had a variety of snacks, teas and other trinkets. They have a small little refrigerated fresh food section where you can also get onigiri and other foods. Very cute spot and good amount of seating inside. Nice, quiet and calming inside. Would definitely come back.

I got sushi from Maruichi across the street, cashier suggested me to go Maruichi Select to sit down…read moreon any table with self serving water, chop sticks and found perfect spot near by entrance and all windows, sushi was too attractive to take any photo and disappeared very quickly But table next to me had mind blowing shrimp dish, biggest one I have ever seen on my whole life !! I asked young French speaking lady if I can take photos !!! Trust me guys ! Recent improvements at both Maruichi place across the street each other would rock your whole world, even Most of Japanese ourselves couldn't do like this. Talked with Kitchen Staffs (sorry my Spanish is ...) cashiers and organizer (Japanese) are just way ahead of tough games in food industry Take look at Ebi katsu dish photos. Appreciating genevieve.t.b of Instagram Thanks for letting me take photos of your greatest lunch time in Maruichi Select ! https://www.instagram.com/genevieve.t.b?igsh=eWRqdHl6dm43Z2No Next time I got order this !!!!

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Premium Chirashi Bowl
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Chiharu

Chiharu

4.7
(205 reviews)
2.3 mi
$$

This is my second time here and I still love it. Will recommend to reserve a table if you have a…read moreparty of more than 2 as the space is limited. However, I haven't seen people wait too long. I love the options and sushi is very fresh. The ramen is also delicious. The staff is friendly and efficient. The sake selection is great and the price is affordable. I highly recommend to come back to this place if you want an affordable yet quality sushi experience.

I feel like Chiharu is a bit of a hidden gem! Despite its unassuming exterior, I was pleasantly…read moresurprised with how nice my food was. We came on a weeknight and easily snagged seats. The hostess was very kind and accommodating. I have high suspicions this place is owned by Chinese people based on some clues, such as Chinese style noodles on the ramen menu and steamed pork buns as an appetizer. We got the beef noodle soup which was excellent (albeit not expected in a Japanese restaurant!). It was actually a little spicy. Came with lots of beef and a flavorful and rich broth. We got two of the special rolls, Kiss of Fire and (I think) Torched Yellowtail, which were both tasty. No complaints there! For our appetizer we got sashimi salad, composed of strips of several kinds of raw fish (salmon, tuna, white tuna, yellowtail) and some surimi and avocado on top of a bed of greens. There was a ponzu like sauce on the side. Although fresh and not bad tasting, I think this was a bit plain. Overall though, the prices and vibes were good and I'd come back!

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Omori Izakaya Brookline

Omori Izakaya Brookline

4.0
(247 reviews)
2.3 mi
$$

This is a go to for us in Brookline with great service, a variety of food and a casual environment…read more It feels like a local Izakaya that I have been to in Japan. You can get a variety of items from Yakitori (grilled meats on a skewer over a hibachi), Kushiyaki (the same with veggies), different types of sushi, tempura and classic hot dishes. You are quickly met at the door and seated and the restaurant. While it's a little bit dated, it is a pub and it is comfortable. The service is super attentive and always prompt. When you seated at the table, you immediately get water and a delicious cabbage salad gratis. You can get a picture of beer for $25 and a great selection of Sake and other cocktails. The food prices are very reasonable for the quality and value that you get. The food is always super tasty with the yakitori served hot. The sushi is fresh and delicious. The grilled salmon with vegetables is wonderful with a nice accompanying savory sauce.

This was my most recent visit of many to Omori Izakaya! The food is consistently delicious and the…read morefish very fresh. We split the salmon don, Alaska maki, and makimono combo. The spicy tuna this time brought the heat and balanced well with the sweet crazy maki roll. The miso soup was not as flavorful as I remembered but everything else was perfect. The izakaya salad is free at dinner which tastes like yummy pickled cabbage in sesame oil. Conveniently located right by the T stop in Brookline Village.

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Grilled Squid
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Akami

Akami

4.2
(33 reviews)
1.8 mi

Akami Omakase is such a great addition to the omakase scene around Boston. It's the first omakase…read morein the area that I've seen come in under $100, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Even with the lower price point compared to many other omakase spots nearby, the quality and freshness of the fish never felt like it was lacking. Every course tasted thoughtfully prepared and well balanced, and you could really tell care was put into the ingredients. What really makes the experience stand out though is Chef Jam. He keeps the atmosphere fun and engaging while still delivering a great omakase experience. It doesn't feel stiff or overly formal like some sushi counters can -- just great sushi and good energy. If you've been wanting to try omakase but were hesitant because of the price tags around Boston, this is the perfect place to start. Great value, fresh fish, and a really enjoyable experience.

The omakase at Akami could make any day a special occasion and even more so if it is a day worth…read morecelebrating! The full staff puts in the work to ensure an amazing experience. Food: The menu was a perfect blend of new unexpected flavor combinations, decadent fish cuts prepped with great care, and even normal fish cuts elevated to new flavor peaks! Service: The chefs gave enticing descriptions of the dishes that really emphasized an appreciation of food and the wait staff kept the meal flowing with ease. Atmosphere: The standard sushi bar was great for watching the staff, so even between bites we had something to talk about and get excited by. The interior is not only neat and clean it helps take your mind off of everything beyond the front doors.

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Interior
Interior
Uni hand roll special
Uni hand roll special
10 - Scallop (Hokkaido hotate)

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10 - Scallop (Hokkaido hotate)

Spring Shabu-Shabu - hotpot - Updated June 2026

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