Best sushi I've had in a long time--and I try a lot of sushi restaurants!…read more Not only was everything delicious, but the seafood was incredibly fresh, especially the tuna, which is surprisingly hard to find this fresh. My dad was as a tuna fisherman when I was growing up, so I'm extra picky when it comes to tuna, and this absolutely exceeded my expectations. The staff was incredibly friendly and fun to chat with. I sat at the bar, the service was quick, and everyone made me feel welcome. It was the perfect meal after a long day of walking around the city. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Boston!

Two of my kids thought this was the best restaurant of our weeklong trip. I thought it was good,…read morebut the sushi was pretty standard. Don't get me wrong - the quality was good. But didn't stand out. Nice dining room. Good drinks. Favorite part by far was the crispy rice appetizer.

Super small and cozy place! Right after we arrived, the entire place filled up. We tried some…read morespecialty sushi rolls, miso soup, and beef teriyaki and everything was delicious. I'd definitely go back!

2 weeks later and we're back again. My husband and I were feeling for a light lunch so we split a…read morescallion pancake and the seafood massaman curry with chicken added. We enjoyed them. This curry was a little nostalgic to me with the hints of nutmeg and cinnamon in it. My husband got an iced thai green tea to go and this also was was goid, also nostalgic because it tasted like those jelly cups with chewy cube in the center. Chinese jello I think?

Had a lovely time at Umai with some friends during a weekend trip to Boston. We weren't sure where…read moreto go for relatively affordable food and stumbled upon Umai by accident. When we arrived, there were two groups ahead of us in line, but we were still seated quite quickly. I'm not always the biggest sushi person, but I am a big fan of mangoes and thought the butterfly maki was absolutely delicious. My partner and my other friend both got the beef udon which was delicious as well, so there are certainly some good options for anyone not in the mood for sushi. The restaurant was small but we were well taken care of, and our waiter did a great job of checking on us and keeping our water cups full. I would recommend Umai to people in small groups, definitely not larger than 4 people since the space is not large.

Not bad sushi, pretty tasty, nothing fancy. The restaurant was small inside but that's how Newbury…read moreStreets set up is. The spicy mayo mixed with rice made all the difference, might not return but you'd never know.

At Zuma, we ordered quite a few items from the menu, and somehow each one was more delicious than…read morethe last. Our waiter made the experience even better. He took his time explaining the menu, made thoughtful recommendations, and made us feel very well taken care of throughout the meal. We ordered the sashimi platter, several crudo dishes, tempura shrimp, miso cod, skirt steak, tuna tartare, calamari, rock shrimp, and finished with two desserts. Every dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavor. The standout for me was how consistently good everything was. It is rare to order so many items and not have a single disappointment. If you're dining at Zuma, I would confidently recommend every item pictured below. The food, service, and overall experience were all exceptional.

Great atmosphere, excellent customer service, and wonderful food. All three of these made the price…read morepoint worth it. The menu is tapas style and makes it easy to try multiple things and share with others. I went there alone -- was in the area for a conference -- and still had an easy time trying multiple things without it being too much food. I had the romanesco, edamame, mirashi sushi, and hamachi sashimi. All of them were wonderful, but the romanesco was the highlight for sure. Stephanie was my server and was an absolute delight. Highly recommend and would definitely come here again if I'm ever back in the area!

There are meals you remember because they taste good, and then there are experiences that change…read morethe way you think about food. Three 1 One Omakase was one of those experiences. It introduced me to new textures, flavors, aromas, and, most importantly, a deeper appreciation for the culture behind the food. From the moment we arrived, Chef Wei, his wife Carrie, and the staff made us feel genuinely welcome. The atmosphere felt intimate, as though we had been invited into someone's home rather than a restaurant. Every detail felt intentional, from the minimalist design and calming ambiance to the subtle aromas throughout the space. Learning that Three 1 One was originally a one-bedroom apartment made the experience even more meaningful. The evening reminded me of a trip to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, where local islanders welcomed my fiancé and eight friends into their home to share a meal prepared from that day's catch. Coincidentally, there were ten guests gathered around the counter at Three 1 One, just as there had been ten of us in Vietnam. In both places, strangers came together over exceptional food and genuine hospitality. That feeling stayed with me throughout the evening. My fiancé and I celebrated our 11th anniversary here as we began exploring Michelin-starred restaurants together. After traveling throughout North and South Vietnam, where his family is from, we returned with a renewed appreciation for food and the stories it tells. We were excited to discover such a thoughtful Michelin-starred restaurant so close to home. The 19-course omakase felt like a journey. The opening truffle sea bream with mizuna and sudachi sauce awakened the palate with bright citrus and earthy richness. The Kegani Hokkaido hairy crab with dashi jelly and tomato dashi mousse became my fiancé's favorite. Once mixed together, it was creamy, savory, delicate, and refreshing. His reaction said it all: "Wow." The tako (octopus) with house-made sweet soy sauce highlighted the natural flavor of the seafood beautifully, while the Tokobushi somen with abalone, wheat noodles, yam, okra, and cold dashi became one of my favorite courses. It was refined yet bold, layered with umami, and unexpectedly reminded me of the haenyeo women of Jeju Island, whose tradition of free-diving for seafood gave me an even greater appreciation for the ingredients. Another standout was the Amadai Uroko Yaki (crispy-scale tilefish). The contrast between the crisp scales and tender fish created a texture I'd never experienced before. Along with the abalone course, it was one of the highlights of the evening. The Aji horse mackerel with ginger, chives, sesame, and nori provided a refreshing transition before the sushi. The sushi alone deserves its own review. Every piece reflected remarkable craftsmanship and precision. Watching Chef Wei prepare each bite was part of the experience itself. The rice was beautifully seasoned, and every ingredient felt balanced. My favorite piece was the uni (sea urchin). It was incredibly smooth, rich, and almost buttery. My second favorite was the Hokkaido hotate (scallop), with its delicate smokiness, sweetness, and juicy texture that left me wanting another bite immediately. We also tried selections from the additional menu, along with a pear-toned sake that paired beautifully with the meal. More than anything, what stayed with me wasn't just the food, but the feeling of the evening. It was an experience built around craftsmanship, hospitality, culture, and sharing a meal with others. Thank you to Chef Wei, Carrie, and the entire team for making our 11th anniversary unforgettable and for giving us such a memorable first Michelin-star dining experience. We look forward to returning.

This was my first Omakase experience, and I honestly don't know how anything will ever top it! From…read morethe moment you walk in, the atmosphere is personalized and incredibly welcoming. We went through 18 courses of the freshest, highest-quality fish. Chef Wei's precision is amazing to watch, and the progression of the meal was perfectly paced. He is truly an artist! If you have allergies, they are exceptionally accommodating. I have a crab allergy, and they didn't just skip the course, instead they prepared a thoughtful, high-end substitution so I never felt like I was missing out on the full experience. While it is a splurge, Chef Wei ensures you get your money's worth through the quality of the ingredients and the flawless service. An absolute 10/10 for a special occasion!

South End gem unlocked. Zaku Izakaya absolutely delivered from start to finish. This Japanese pub…read morehad excellent food all around and every dish was packed with flavor. The oxtail bites were easily one of our favorites and the Boston Red Sox sushi roll was such a fun must try. Everything felt creative while still being really well executed. Overall food 9/10 If you're looking for incredible Japanese food in Boston, this spot definitely deserves a place on your list.

My favorite Izakaya to date and that's saying a lot since I've tried most, if not all, izakayas…read morewithin a 10-mile radius of Boston. We were in town this weekend dropping off our big kid back to campus and strolled in for a quick bite to eat after and we left the place a little speechless -- in the best way. The best highlight of our meal was their 6-course special for $44 -- what a steal! We ordered with the ika wasabi, spicy tuna avocado salad, chicken yaktori, saba naban, Buddha Dragon roll, and mochi as dessert, and paired it with a sashimi combo entree, beef takati and an order of Ikura and Hotate nigiri. We loved this option since it gave us a little of everything, and absolutely EVERYTHING was 5 stars. Dishes were beautifully plated, fresh, and tasted heavenly. Even our 2-year-old ate a hefty helping of chicken yaktori and grilled saba. Waitstaff was professional, friendly, and super efficient. Ambience is great for a date night and not as casual as other izakayas. There are also semi-private booths available so I made sure to make a mental note for the future as a larger party option.

Best meal my girlfriend and I have had in a long time. The owner was our server and he was…read moreextremely kind & thoughtful with our whole experience! We were greeted with a complementary matcha green tea (the good stuff) while we looked over the menu and was topped off throughout the night. We proceeded to take all of his recommendations for a tasting of his favorite dishes! Fantastic night, amazing atmosphere, fairly priced, & authentic as it gets. Thank you!!

Not impressed…read more There is an all you can eat sushi experience on Sundays. Quite a few items have an upcharge. The fish was OK. It had me wondering if they run this deal on Sundays when the fish is ready to be discarded soon. I won't be returning. For a spot on Newbury street it was surprising. It felt more like something you would find next to a college where students are seeking a cheap and easy sushi meal. $200 for two people with tip. It was not worth it. Not coming back. So many other great spots for sushi and at this price point I want better quality

Extremely fresh fish with generous portions in a casual, underground space…read more I think this is a reasonably priced establishment for the level of fish (phenomenal) and service (reasonable and attentive, but not like a fancier sit down restaurant) that you get. I am always surprised at how full I am when I leave! I'm stuffed every time. There is complementary miso soup with all of the bowls I've tried, outlined below. I really loved all of the bowls I've tried but my favorites are probably the Sake Aisuru Don and Kuromon Don. I just prefer more salmon to more tuna though, and they're all very good! Food: - Sake Aisuru Don: their classic all-salmon bowl! I loved the larger cuts of salmon, and I was pleasantly surprised that even the more pulverized salmon was flavorful! - Kuromon Don: loved the yellowtail in this! Each fish comes with two pieces (except the mackerel for which there are four), and I liked the sampler style for the salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and izumidai. - Maguro Toro Don: so much tuna! And all such high quality. The otoro was so fatty that it practically melted in my mouth without chewing. - Sake Maguro Hamachi Don: a mix of salmon, blue fin tuna, and yellowtail. I liked the yellowtail in this a lot and found that it stood out the most from the other two fish in this particular bowl!

Came to Boston for a work trip and really wanted to eat something light and healthier. I loved it…read moreso much I came back twice! I came during lunchtime on a Monday. It was adequately busy but still had seats open. The lunch menu is very affordable! If you can, I'd highly recommend going for lunch instead of dinner. Service was really quick! Received my meal in like 5-7 mins after ordering. Fish was super fresh and I really liked the different textures in the Hoseki Don. I also added in negitoro. They gave me a big clump of it! The second time I went back, I ordered take out so I could eat it at the airport for dinner. I ordered the Sake Maguro Hamachi don, added ikura and negitoro. Again, so impressed with the quality of the fish and the size of it. They didn't skimp out and really enjoyed the thickness of the sashimi despite it only being 3 pieces. It was a very satiating bowl. Cant wait to come back next time again!