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    Tora Japanese Restaurant

    4.4 (953 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    TORA JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Tora Japanese Restaurant

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    N1. Niku Udon & K15. Kuromon Don
    Sharon M.

    Fresh fish. Good kaisen don (specifically the kuromon), but not life changing. Recommend checking it out at least though.

    A5 WAGU
    Rachael P.

    This place is in the heart of Chinatown, down some stairs. Got the A5 wagu and Alaskaka Tempura roll. For it being ranked one of the best in Chinatown, it was OK, think I've definitely had better, but maybe I didn't try the right things. I will note it is very clean in here, the food was beyond fast so if you are in a rush, this is a great place, and it was busy for a fairly rainy Sunday.

    K3. Sake Aisuru Don
    Iris L.

    Extremely fresh fish with generous portions in a casual, underground space. 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!

    Anna S.

    I always thought this was a hole in the wall spot but when we came it was busy! We were lucky enough to get seated right away and sat at the bar. The server and workers were very friendly and helpful. Our food was so delicious and flavorful compared to other sushi places. The quality of the fish is fresh and flavorful. This is my new go to for a sushi don, I will be back! Wish I had something like this near me

    Tiffany C.

    Came to Boston for a work trip and really wanted to eat something light and healthier. I loved it so 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!

    K5. K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don, A11. Takoyaki, A7. Cha Shu Bun
    Lizzie Y.

    Today was the first time I dined in at Tora for lunch! I usually go for dinner but had some extra time to grab a quick lunch. We ordered the LR2: Sake Hamachi Hotate Don & the M1: Pinku maki roll. All of the lunch menu items come with miso soup and 2 slices of pickled radish, just like their dinner menu! ***lunch menu only available on weekdays & non-holidays*** The LR2 came with 2 of each fish: salmon, yellowtail, scallop, & tamago egg. It made for the perfect portion size for lunch. We had to order the pinku maki, it's our favorite roll w/ torched salmon. Once we ordered, our food came within 5 min! Granted, it wasn't too busy when we visited at 3pm but love how fast the food comes even during dinner hours when it's packed. Tora is definitely one of my favorite spots to go to in Chinatown! Highly recommend it for anyone looking good quality sashimi bowls.

    Lily G.

    Place was great. If you love Tora ramen, Tora Japanese needs to be the next spot on your list. Note: not many vegetarian things, but the staff made some great recommendations. Ambience is modern, clean, and chic. The food was beautifully cooked and prepared! Good amount for the price, too. The soup was 10/10 delicious.

    K3. Sake Aisuru Don
    Tiffany K.

    If you're looking for high quality sushi for a great price in Boston, this is the spot. For dinner on Saturday, we waited an hour... I would say it's worth it. I'd wait again! Upon looking at the menu, you can tell that this place definitely specializes in their dons (aka sushi bowls). So many to choose from, but I decided to go with their most popular: Sake Aisuru Don. I like that it comes with miso soup. The salmon was so fresh! The salmon belly was so buttery. I was sat at the bar so I was able to watch the chefs assemble the dons. Wow, the cuts of toro looked amazing. I want to go back and try their tuna bowl for sure.

    K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don
    Chris T.

    Stopped in on weekday (usually we here for dinner) so first time going for lunch! Hit the lunch menu kept it light grabbed the LR2 sake hamachi hotate don! And a Pinku roll! Our server was very nice. Thank you. Fish was fresh, good texture today and flavors blended well! Parking was light today for once and lunch time mid week was great, not crowded!

    K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don
    Meghan L.

    Located in Chinatown, a cute slightly hidden space. Be mindful that they only take walk-in! First come first serve, you go in and make sure you put your name down, if the host is not there, you need to write your name down on the notepad. This is my go to sushi place for casual eats. Decently priced. The fish is always fresh! I went with a friend after work and we both shared a drink, Yuzu sake carafe (dangerously good, tasted like citrusy sprite. It is bubbly). For food we both got individual servings of Sake Maguro Hamachi Don. Thick cuts of salmon, tuna, and hamachi. Every don came with miso soup and pickled radish. Perfect amount of food.

    K3. Sake Aisuru Don
    Tiffany V.

    Perfect meal for sushi over rice bowls. Service was very attentive and fast. Food came quickly too. Definitely stop by for a late night bite! I'm still thinking about this meal.

    Bengie M.

    The crowd speaks for itself. Every time we went to past , this place was packed. We showed up early one evening for dinner. We're fortunate to get a seat at the sushi bar. A service and food were outstanding. We were visiting Boston and very happy that we make this visit to Tora. Just a word of advice, the restaurant is downstairs from another restaurant and can be easily missed , but it's worth taking an extra look to find it

    K17. Itadori Don
    Ying X.

    I got off at the South Station and wandered over here. The restaurant is located in a basement with limited space, and mainly serves seafood donburi丼, making it more suitable for a quick meal for 1-2 . Itadori Don虎杖丼: Sea urchin, salmon, tuna, salmon roe, scallops, octopus, crab sticks, avocado, tamago玉子, and cucumber - a mixed dish, perfect for first-timers wanting to try everything. The sashimi was indeed quite fresh, with a firm yet tender texture, and the open display on the counter showed the restaurant's confidence in its freshness; however, I personally felt the quality could be improved. The sea urchin wasn't smooth enough, and the salmon and tuna were too lean, lacking in fat aroma. The rice itself was also lightly seasoned, becoming dry and less smooth towards the end, and ultimately uninteresting. Finally, I couldn't resist drizzling some shoyu醤油 on top, which instantly elevated the experience. Matcha Cheesecake: Absolutely not recommended. The cheese was too heavy and hard, the matcha flavor was very weak, and the accompanying cream had a very weird foamy texture.

    Highly recommend!

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    Ask the Community - Tora Japanese Restaurant

    Do they currently have outdoor dining?

    No outdoor dining

    Do I need to make a reservation?

    I don't think you can, it's quite a small place and can get packed quickly.

    Will you have order online and pick up?

    As for online orders, you can go through doordash, postmate or ritual. Thanks for your interest!

    What is the difference between a Poke Bowl and Kaisen Don?

    Kaisen don is a Japanese dish where sliced sashimi is put on top of a bed of rice. Poke is a Hawaiian dish, where the fish is cut into small cubes and marinated in seasonings… 

    When will this restaurant start doing delivery, if at all?

    This restaurant does takeouts for poke bowl and others

    Are you opened on Christmas?

    Yes we do Alysssa.

    Would like to know if Tora serves any alcohol?

    Sorry we don't at this moment.

    View All 10 Questions

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    Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern

    4.1(174 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Back Bay
    Free WiFi
    Outdoor seating

    I was recommended this place by one of my friends, and I really loved it! Definitely appreciated…read morethe wide variety of the menu as well as the kindness of the staff, especially the hostess! I'm not sure how many there are, but she was Asian with long black hair. Unfortunately, I was having a pretty bad day before heading over, so my attitude was not what it should have been. To my surprise, the hostess didn't retaliate or display any bad attitude toward me, which in turn motivated me to be kinder :) It definitely costs nothing to be kind, and I was definitely grateful that she provided such impeccable service! Great casual spot; prices are fairly reasonable. I'd definitely recommend!

    My friend and I ended up here spontaneously while we were both running errands on Newbury St. I was…read morein the mood for something Asian, we decided on sushi, and we vaguely remembered that one of our colleagues, who is from Japan, had said something about this place. That sealed the deal for Sakabayashi. I have to admit, though: we both got a little sticker shock when we opened the menu. The menu was extensive and everything sounded good, but it took us a while to figure out what we actually wanted to spend. At one point I told my friend, "If you want to leave, it's okay. I won't mind. We can just go." He said, "I'm fine if you're fine." I said, "I'm fine if you're fine." And then we basically just stared at each other and continued struggling with the menu. Eventually, we accepted that dinner was going to be more than $30 and shared the chicken karaage ($10), then each ordered the chef's pick nigiri ($30). The karaage was solid: crispy, yummy, nicely presented, and good with the mayo dipping sauce. But the nigiri made my eyes POP. MAN OH MAN was it FRESH. It was so good. That was basically all I could think about while eating it. I've eaten a lot of sushi in my life, although I still have the palate of a college student...and sometimes the wallet, too. I've definitely had sushi where I've thought, "This tastes like nothing," or "Why isn't the rice seasoned?" or, worse, "This doesn't taste right...I don't think this is very fresh." This was the opposite. The fish actually had flavor. Everything tasted fresh and delicious, and the rice and fish worked together the way good nigiri should. I wish I had slowed down and appreciated each piece more instead of inhaling it. I will absolutely be coming back. Now I know where to go when I'm craving genuinely good-quality sushi and am willing to spend a little more for it. The restaurant itself is classy, bright, neat, and polished without feeling stuffy. It would be a great place to catch up with a friend or for a date night. Although for a date, maybe don't feel bad about splitting the bill. It's the modern era anyway.

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    Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern - Wall decor

    Wall decor

    Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern - Chicken karaage

    Chicken karaage

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    311 Boston - Omakase - 7/18/2025 - Anagi

    311 Boston

    4.8(58 reviews)
    0.8 mi•South End

    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!

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