Cafe Sushi
Japanese restaurant · Mid Cambridge ·
Sushi with truffle oil & cherry blossom plus sake
Sushi with truffle oil & cherry blossom plus sake
"Operating since 1984 and now reborn as Café Sushi Shoten, this Cambridge spot delivers an of-a-Tokyo omakase-like sushi experience in bento-box form with an overall traditional slant and standout experiments like kelp-cured branzino with wasabi oil and lemon and salmon nigiri with poblano pepper miso and 12-spiced pineapple—sushi that remains delightful and exquisite even if some dine-in ambiance has shifted." - Todd Plummer, Shannon McMahon
"Cafe Sushi Shoten is a top takeout and delivery option in Cambridge that does cute little set boxes of nigiri, maki, and chicken teriyaki, complete with a cat sticker. But they also have a few window seats where you can hang out with a bottle of sake and some creative nigiri, like salmon with poblano miso and yellowtail kingfish with basil, balsamic, and tomato. You’re definitely going to want to order the amigo maki, too, which is packed with spicy crab, marinated eggplant, and oshinko and topped with seared salmon, avocado, and ponzu. On your way out, grab something from their small section of Japanese snacks, a bottle of fancy sesame oil, and a jar of housemade furikake." - tanya edwards
"Ask any chef in town: Many will say that Cafe Sushi — open for the better part of four decades — is the best not-so-hidden gem around. In pre-COVID times, the reason to go was the epic omakase, a seemingly endless parade of dishes that alternated between traditional and unusual. During the pandemic, Cafe Sushi pivoted to only doing takeout and delivery, which is how they’re serving up the sushi now, including a variety of chef’s choice samplers, bento boxes, and maki." - Erika Adams
"In the same way that wearing glasses doesn’t actually make you ugly, being an uncreatively named sushi spot in a strip mall doesn’t mean you can’t be a great place to eat. Cafe Sushi is only available for delivery and takeout where they offer a la carte menu of rolls and nigiri and weekly specials." - dan secatore
"Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived.Around since 1984, Café Sushi was not a place that you went for ambiance exactly—it was located in a nondescript building near Harvard Square, between a shoe-repair shop and a Dry Bar—but now, in its new iteration Café Sushi Shoten which has been around since 2022, there are new reasons to love it. What's the vibe? Who are your fellow diners?The dine-in omakase counter has sadly departed, but in its stead, Café Sushi Shoten has adopted a to-go model paired with Japanese groceries and sundries that is no less authentic, engaging, and delicious. Peruse the shelves as you wait for your to-go order, and you’ll seeneighborhood residents exchanging a smile with the host before grabbing takeout, and Harvard kids pushing in for a break from the dining hall. Great sushi demands good sake (or at least a Sapporo). What's on offer here?Sake, reasonably priced Japanese beer and wine are all available for purchase. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown.The magic of experiencing a could-be-in-Tokyo omakase counter doesn’t quite translate to an (albeit gorgeously packed) bento box, but the sushi is still excellent here. The menu skews a lot more traditional than some of Boston’s other sushi joints, but there are still some experiments that are worthy of attneiton, like the kelp-cured branzino with wasabi oil and lemon, or the truly wow-worthy salmon nigiri with poblano pepper miso and twelve-spiced pineapple. Sure, the dine-in ambiance has been sacrificed; but the menu here is as delightful and exquisite as ever. Anything else we should know?On a beautiful evening in the warmer months, we can’t think of a better date night than grabbing some sushi and Japanese beers to go, then strolling a few blocks over to Harvard Square for some people-watching. If anything, Café Sushi Shoten has only helped to further integrate excellent sushi into the surrounding community." - Elizabeth Wellington