o ya
Japanese restaurant · Leather District ·
Inventive sushi & Japanese small plates with a curated flavor journey
Inventive sushi & Japanese small plates with a curated flavor journey
"Still reliably glorious after almost 20 years, this opulent, decadent omakase tucked near South Station comes with a wink—an alt-1980s playlist heavy on the Cure and the Smiths, with a little Lana Del Ray to keep things sexy—and offers a single $295 tasting (about $383.78 with fees and taxes) of 20 courses of nigiri, sushi, and surprises. One maki is made otherworldly by a dark cloud of squid ink bubbles hovering over a fried Northern Belle oyster, a brine-on-brine bite with both soft and crunchy textures atop a sweet rice-nori base. A version of the foie spoon has been served for a while and still hits: house-cured foie gras is frozen, shaved into tiny crumbs, dehydrated, and served on a wooden spoon with miso and a sliver of preserved yuzu; popped whole, it melts into a creamy pool of foie and miso with almost chocolate notes. The beautiful fatty tuna is bluefin chutoro cut a little thicker than expected—enough for two bites—with only a small pool of wasabi oil adding slight heat to balance the tender, rich meat. The industrial space is welcoming with exposed brick walls and warm lighting, seating guests at a long wooden bar or a few tables, and for an add-on that doesn’t break the bank, the under-$15 fingerling potato chip topped with truffle plays beautifully against the chip’s crunch and oil." - Tanya Edwards
"Tucked into a 30-seat Leather District dining room, this cult-classic sushi and omakase destination offers pure sushi and sashimi magic where both traditional dishes and decadent surprises—like foie gras and truffle—take diners on a curated flavor journey best enjoyed by sitting back and letting the kitchen lead." - Todd Plummer, Shannon McMahon
"If you’ve ever wanted to blow your whole paycheck in one night (first off, please get a financial advisor), or you have access to a corporate credit card, you’re not going to do much better than this Leather District sushi restaurant. Expect lots of over-the-top touches of truffles, caviar, and gold leaf to go with perfect cuts of fish. The $295, 20-course omakase menu will be an exceptionally memorable meal. We can’t tell you exactly what the chef will choose to serve you, but expect the unexpected, like kombu-cured spring mackerel nigiri or Atlantic wild ika crisped gently with a torch." - tanya edwards, jonathan smith
"The 20-course omakase at O Ya will run you $295 per person before tax, tip, and drinks, and you’ll need to pay in advance. Is it worth it? Yes. Everything you’ll eat is stunningly good, like the super thin wild ika that’s crisped up with a torch and topped with cherry blossoms and fresh lime juice. If you have the cash to go regularly, by all means, please do, and enjoy your box at Fenway (please invite us sometime). But if you’re not balling quite that hard, head here to celebrate something big, like getting a promotion and no longer having to deal with that boss you hate." - tanya edwards
"The ultimate in special-occasion sushi, O Ya will take your wallet, politely squeeze hundreds of dollars out of it, and hand it back to you, along with hours and hours of gorgeous, high-end dishes. Pay attention to the restaurant’s sophisticated sake program as well." - Erika Adams
