Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern

Cozy atmosphere here for a snowy night. Went across this place and it caught my eye so I gave it a try. The menu has a large variety of Japanese foods at a very good price too. The dishes are delicious in my opinion and the service was helpful too. We were lucky that we arrived early, it gets crowded quickly after 7PM and reservations are highly recommended. Would definitely recommend this place to my friends and will return!

The rice is something new for us. It is different from another sushi rice in Boston for sure. It has a lot of dimensions on it, you have to try! The salmon over rice very fresh and good combination with their rice. The space very clean and well organized. The waiter seem new but have a very good service mind.

Went with my buddies and 3 of us ordered the Dinner Set. Surprisingly we were full and the food was DELICIOUS! The Crabby Cheesequake is def our favorite. It’s so flavorful and we were begging for extra bread. The Miso Deluxe soup was loaded with seafood - clams and Salmon! The Chawanmushi was smooth, light and tasty! Appetizers were great, the carpaccios and the Sweet & Sour CK were delish! Sushi rolls - were ok. But the rice they were using with the brown vinegar is perfectly made and seasoned. Staff - the servers and the manager all welcome us with great smile and really go extra mile to introduce us the food and drink. And both manager and the servers are also good looking ;) Overall, we love it. And it’s great to finally Boston has great Japanese restaurant with standard. Can’t wait to go back and try their main menu!

We had a fantastic dinner at Sakabayashi with friends. The sushi is fantastic. We loved the Spicy tuna trifle and crispy tuna rolls, then ordered a sashimi boat, magnificent8 and other sushi to try. The fried tofu was a surprise hit. The quality of the sushi is great and the drinks and staff are very good

I had a delightful dinner at Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern. The food was truly excellent—each dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The sushi was some of the best I’ve had in a while, and the sake collection was impressive, offering a great variety to complement the meal. The service was outstanding; the staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and made the dining experience even more enjoyable. However, the atmosphere was just okay—while it was cozy, it lacked the vibrant energy or ambiance that could elevate the overall experience. Overall, it’s a great place for sushi and sake lovers, and I’d definitely recommend it. With a bit more attention to the atmosphere, this place could easily be six stars!

Got the Nigiri 12 ($24) for take-out. My order was ready within five minutes, and service was friendly during the short pick-up interaction. They also threw in a free soy sauce bottle for the new year, which was cute and unexpected. There was nice variety in seafood, everything tasted fresh, and the price was reasonable for the quality. I liked the rice, which was cooked perfectly.

Went here with my sister in a pinch looking for dinner on a budget. She was never really into Japanese food but we decided to stop in. Thank god we did. This is the BEST Japanese food I’ve ever eaten and the most cost friendly too. Service was great everyone was so kind and happy to serve you. Food came out so fast and tasted so good and fresh. You can hear and see the cooks hard at work to get your food out as soon as they can. The decorations are very nice and authentic. Wonderful experience 5 STARS!!!

I really enjoyed a dinner at Sakabayashi. Their menu is creative and everything exceeded my expectations. They have a wide variety of Japanese tapas dishes, and we can enjoy beer and sake while eating them. The sushi rice is made with an original blend of black vinegar and balsamic vinegar, so it is very flavorful and fresh, unlike the sushi served in other restaurants. Great value for money and I will definitely visit again!

BEST SUSHI OUTSIDE OF JAPAN I have ever eaten! This might also have been our most fun dining experience in Boston. We made a reservation on a weekday night during Dine Boston week, but chose to order off the menu and share items. We were seated immediately, and the food came out quickly as it was prepared. Some of the sushi items took longer, but that was fine as we had plenty to eat in the meantime. I was a little hesitant to bring my eleven-year old twins to a sushi restaurant, but they loved the fries, fried chicken, and miso soup, making this a rare kid-friendly sushi spot. My daughter even tried the salmon nigiri, and loved it. Overall, the food was great, and the total bill was reasonable for the Back Bay. I also liked that it was a casual, fun atmosphere, but we could hear each other talk without screaming. Specific items: Tokyo Cha Cha Cha Edamame - Like regular edamame, but with a slight kick Umai! Chawanmushi, Mentai Addicting Cabbage - Also has a slight kick Karaage - Excellent fried chicken Wakame Miso Soup - my kids loved it, much more substantial than average miso soup, big chunks of tofu and seaweed Can't Stop French Fries - Solid crispy French fries Selective Salmon nigiri - Really good, the salmon is fresh and the sushi rice has an interesting flavor to it (it looks like brown rice, but isn't) Sakabayashi Boston Roll - I got it without the mayo, the tuna was super fresh, overall incredible! Yuzu Lemonade - Sparking lemonade, not too sweet Sakabayashi Potato Salad - Very nice presentation. The waiter spent a few minutes discussing the history of it. I didn't try this, but my wife said it had a lot going on (including a raw pasteurized egg yolk). Ebi Tempura - awesome!

The first word that comes to mind is luxury and quality. We came during the Dine Boston week, and ordered off the set menu. The miso soup was not your usual thin gruel. Rather it had salmon and clams on the shell and was awesome. I ordered the salmon sushi and ikura as an off the menu item. It was fresh and tasty, but the wasabi caught my eye. It was freshly made, and dissolved easily in the soy sauce. The sweet N sour chicken was dark meat ( my favorite) and was moist and tender. The fish on the nigiri was good sized and flavorful. Throughout the dinner, staff kept the water glasses full and cleared all the small dishes. This is an ensemble effort that wraps great service around the customer.

Along with Ittoku, this is the closest to real Japanese casual izakaya dining you can get in Boston without having to buy a plane ticket. Absolutely lovely experience. Awesome food, kind staff, diverse and unique menu with lots to explore - and it's all quite affordable. Great drinks too! Highly recommend, I can't think of anything I'd change.

I went here this weekend for lunch, and the food was great! The fish was so fresh and tasty - probably some of the best sushi in Boston, and their soy sauce is something special. It's hard to describe but it has this depth of flavor that is so much more than just salty. Plus, their rice has black vinegar in it and it just makes every bite so much more savory. We were seated almost immediately and the water refills were constant, which is always appreciated. The inside of the restaurant is cute as well with a huge lantern in front and nice wood finish on the interior. I ordered the Nigiri10 lunch special and we shared a potato salad and a spicy tuna avocado sushi trifle: Potato salad ($9): I love this. Normally, potato salad at a sushi restaurant is something I'd stay away from, but the pickled ginger, and seaweed in the potato makes every bite delicious! On top of that, it's god fish eggs and a gooey egg yolk in the middle - this is not like any potato salad I've ever had. I love the presentation and the innovation factor here - definitely order this! Spicy tuna avocado sushi trifle ($8): This looked a lot bigger on the menu than it actually was, but it was only $8 so the size makes sense. There was a lot of mayo in here and not too much fish unfortunately, and the jalapeno was a little overpowering. Not bad, but I wouldn't order this again. Nigiri10 ($20): I'd absolutely come back and order this again. For just $20, you get 10 pieces of deliciously fresh sushi (my favorites were the eel, sweet raw shrimp, and fatty tuna mince, but all of them were really above average) and a bowl of miso soup. The egg was so nice and custardy as well and a perfect way to end the meal! The overall quality of the fish is really high here, and the price isn't bad at all! All in all, the lunch special was great but I was a little disappointed in the tuna menu item. On top of that, we weren't seated very close to the door but it was awfully cold in the restaurant and we had to put our coats on halfway through the meal. However, the quality of the fish in the lunch special and the unique-ness of the potato salad make this a solid 4/5 - I will definitely be back for the lunch special again!

Came here for lunch on a Saturday with a reservation, but there was plenty of seating. The lunch specials are a great deal! My husband got the 12 nigiri set ($24) and I got the lunch special ($27) with the pickled affair, chicken karaage, and the salmon ikura don. We shared the greedy seared basil, which is seared salmon, shrimp and scallop with some basil/mayo topping, which I also highly recommend. The food came out somewhat inconsistently--some people got their food before others, but it still all came out relatively fast. The pickled affair had tomatoes, cucumbers and daikon with truffle oil, but it wasn't particularly flavorful. I like pickles, but there was barely any hint of vinegar in it. The chicken karaage was pretty crispy and came with a mayonnaise dip. The fish was really fresh and tasty. All the sushi here comes out with brown rice, which was interesting.

Tasty food but very small portion. Their dinner menu is also pretty limited in options, in my opinion. We loved the Wow Omlette. Their sushis weren't bad either. Fresh Karaage as well.

Overall: 3.9/5 [dine in] We were walking by and their handroll ken caught my husband's eyes. We stopped by a quick snack before heading to Quincy Market. We were seated at the sushi bar and ordered 2 hand rolls which came out quickly since there was only one other table besides us. We were in and out in less than 30 minutes! Eel & Avo Fusion Handroll ($7): My husband thought it was average. Golden Duo Handroll (MP - $15): This came with toro and uni. My husband thought this was a bit expensive for the quality. Overall, he thought the handrolls were not bad but nothing special. The only thing I thought that stood out was the rice. It was really good since it was seasoned with their housemade soy-based sauce I believe.

A Distinct Sushi Experience on Boylston Street While visiting Boston and strolling down Boylston Street, we stumbled upon Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern and decided to give it a try. The first thing to note is that the restaurant is quite spacious, with a back area that isn't visible from the street, offering plenty of seating. The service was good--not excellent, but not mediocre either. The staff were efficient in taking our order and settling the bill, but they weren't particularly detailed in explaining or describing the menu. What sets Sakabayashi apart is its unique take on sushi. The rice is prepared with a dark vinegar, giving it a distinct flavor profile that differentiates it from the traditional sushi experience. During our visit, we tried the miso soup, potato salad, and a selection of sushi rolls and nigiri. All the dishes were good--not the best sushi I've ever had, but fresh and enjoyable. The main downside to the experience is the pricing. The restaurant leans toward the expensive side, and they offer a menu deal that's actually pricier than ordering items individually, so be cautious when selecting your meal. Overall, Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern is a solid option if you're looking for sushi with a distinct twist in Boston. While it's not the best sushi spot out there, it delivers a unique dining experience in a comfortable setting. My Criteria: 5 stars: The best food I have ever had, or an excellent option given the price. 4 stars: Good food, a restaurant I look forward to trying again. 3 stars: Good food, a restaurant that I am indifferent to. 2 stars: Below average experience, will not go again. 1 star: This restaurant should be closed.

Fast and friendly service with the traditional Japanese restaurant welcome. Casual sit down place with plenty of options. The prices are fair with great lunch specials. Their sushi rice is seasoned with their own blend that makes it look darker. I got the premium meguro which was great though personally not as much a fan of the marinated portion of tuna. Funamori lunch special had great variety. Have been here for lunch and dinner which we enjoyed both times. Definitely recommend a visit!

4.5/5 Funamori Don ($18): this was such an incredible value for the price! The rice had the perfect texture, seasoned with different vinegars for extra umami flavor! I believe the selection of fish rotates but mine had salmon, tuna, negitoro, sea bream, mackerel, squid, and tamago. Highly recommend stopping by for lunch! Came on a weekday around 1pm and service was very fast!

We came on opening day and were able to snag reservations last minute when we called. This apparently is a restaurant chain in Japan with its first restaurant here in the US. The restaurant has a small but high sushi bar, so sitting at a table was preferable. It has a bright and casual feel for quick dining. The value of the sushi is superior. Such fresh fish for such an affordable price. I docked one star for our service as our server was out to lunch...he may as well should have taken a seat and joined us. We thought at first it may have been a hearing problem but he just seemed a little dazed and confused.

Sakabayashi is probably my favorite sushi spot in Boston right now. I always feel like the prices are really reasonable -- I've certainly paid more in this area (and not for a significantly better experience or food). The ambience inside is really nice, enhanced by the cute wall art, and service is always quick. Both times I've been here, I've been impressed by how quickly our food is ready. Drinks: I wish there were mocktail options, but the green tea was nice, and the matcha doing was really good for a special occasion. Non sushi food: The anchovy corn made a positive enough impression that I made another friend split it with me the next time I was here, lol. Calamari was nice too. I'd imagine the selection is probably good enough if you're with someone who's not into sushi. Sushi: Good quality fish, tasted very fresh. There's a decent variety including rolls, but I liked the chef's pick best.

Super fresh, high quality, giant pieces of sushi! I came in as a solo diner around 6 pm and the place was nearly empty. I thought the prices seemed a little high for what looked like only 4 pieces of sushi per roll, but I had no idea they were mammoth sushi pieces, which was a nice surprise. Truly didn't have a bad bite this entire meal. The Boston roll is fantastic, the tuna scallion roll was super flavorful, even the avocado roll was great. The rice the use in their rolls is arguably the best part. Not your traditional white and sticky sushi rice, it has black vinegar in it which adds a great umami flavor. The pari pari veggie sticks are a cool appetizer to get with the salmon roe mayo to dip and bonito flakes on top. Only $6 too. Service was excellent and VERY fast (I was in and out I kid you not in 25 minutes). Restaurant looks a bit fast casual for the quality of the sushi but they have a sushi bar in the back that looked nicer to sit at. Highly recommend! Take their survey on the table and get 5% off your meal too!

Came here for lunch and took advantage of their lunch special. It was interesting because the fish itself was excellent and so was the rice part. But whoever was making these nigiri sushi didn't know what they were doing. They clearly shaped the rice then laid the fish on top as if laying sashimi on top of rice so they weren't "stuck" to each other. If they can fix that then I'd say this is worth a return visit.

The food and ambiance was great! I've been here twice already and have never been disappointed. The inside of the restaurant is also really cute! I love the decorations. The first time I went here I tried their lunch specials. I rarely find places that have lunch specials on the weekends, so I was glad my friend recommended this place. I got the ramen sushi combo and the portions were actually pretty good for the price point. The second time I came during restaurant week! My favorite items during restaurant week was the potato salad, karaage, and chef's special sushi set. The cheesy ajillo was super interesting: string cheese and seafood dip. The desserts were okay in my opinion. Overall, great place for affordable sushi! Make sure you make reservations for dinner because it can get pretty packed.

It was a new Japanese restaurant that I regretted trying. The place was a freezing. I was planning to make reservation for 5pm but the first slot was at 6:30pm but when we got there the place empty and by the time we left, the place was not half filled. I was planning to order from the dine-out Boston menu but just ended up ordering from the menu. This place, you get what you pay for, the sashimi quality was low, added too much vinegar in the brown rice, and the sashimi are poorly cut. The food was underwelmed even service is quick. SAKABAYASHI FUNAMORI $32 - poorly cut and not too fresh YAMTASTIC TUNA $6 - bland FUJIYAMA CARPACCIO $16 - nicely present but salmon aren't fresh SAKABAYASHI POTATO SALAD $9 - nicely present but too much seaweed HOMEMADE KATSU STICK $12 - crispy but the oil that was use to fry is old oil - need to change to new oil CRABBY CHEESEQUAKE AJILLO $12 - too much roe and too salty MAGNIFICENT $45 - poorly cut and too much rice

This place is ok. Maybe I was expecting too much. The lunch menu looks good. And it's somewhat full Saturday noon. But the quality of the sushi is ok. And not sure why, the rice looks loose and I was so afraid that the chopsticks would break the rice. Surprisingly, I like the egg sushi the most. The wasabi is good too. But the fish or shellfish was ok. I usually want to order more after I try something good, but I don't have that urge in this restaurant. Maybe I'll try something else next time. The service is ok.

Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern provides incredible sushi that is fresh, delicious and affordable. The lunch specials are great. Nik and I got the Funamori Don and lunch tasting menu to share. The Funamori Don is a sashimi boat with sushi rice and miso soup. The sashimi was very fresh and decent sized for a lunch. The picture on the menu is pretty accurate for what you get. For the tasting menu we chose the Foie Gras by the Sea, Aji Fry and Salmon Ikura don. It came with miso soup which was good. Foie gras by the sea is seared monkfish liver with ponzu. I had never had this before, but this was super tasty. The monkfish was umami and smoky from the light seared outside. The Aji fry is fried horse mackerel which was also yummy. The fry was a light fry with moist fish inside. It came piping hot which I loved. The salmon don was super fresh and a generous amount of salmon and roe eggs. I definitely recommend coming here for satisfying your sushi cravings.

I was looking forward to trying this place after seeing videos about it on IG. The restaurant was spacious and well decorated and the servers were attentive, but the food left me feeling underwhelmed. Their lunch sets were decent value, but you really get what you paid for. We got the Nigiri 12 ($24) and the Ramen Sushi Set ($25). The sushi was mostly rice with thin pieces of fish. The fish was poorly cut up with uneven edges and the presentation was inconsistent amongst all of our plates. This was shocking considering they are a sushi restaurant. The ramen was supposed to be tonkotsu shoyu, but it tasted as if they put the seasonings from Shin instant ramen in there and the noodles were overcooked. Overall, the food was a letdown and I would not come back. With other sushi places around, you're better off going elsewhere to satisfy your sushi cravings.

My friend and I arrived on Saturday for lunch. While we had a reservation, it was not too busy. We ordered the Ramen sushi set and Special Maguro Zuke Chirashi, and the assorted greedy tempura. The ramen was surprisingly really good. The broth was flavorful and savory without being overly salty. My only complaint is that the noodle strands are very short. Each nigiri was very good and I ended up enjoying the inari one a lot. The maguro zuke chirashi was also really good. The chopped tuna on the side was just alright, but the marinated slices were delicious. I found the tempura a bit lackluster although I did enjoy the matcha salt that came with it. This is not the most amazing sushi I have had, but the quality is not bad for what you pay for. Service was alright and food came out in a timely manner. I will come back to try their dinner menu next time.

This was my second visit to Sakabayashi and it did not disappoint. The taste is the most authentic Japanese taste I had in Boston. The atmosphere is certainly authentic. Please note the folding boxes under the chairs where you can store your belongings during your visit; standard in Japan, rare in the US. The service is super friendly, fast, and patient (when we were studying the long menu). It seems very well run. The emailed receipt helped recall the orders. Nihonshu: * Hitakami Ex. Dry, from Miyagi prefecture. I like this dry sake a lot! Izakaya dishes: * Sakabayashi Potato Salad (signature, must have) * Aosa Agedashi Tofu (staple) * Anchovy Butter Corn (buttery, light on anchovy) * Assorted Greedy Tempura (will get the veggie version next time) * Karage (jucy, delicious, recalling from my previous visit) Sushi/sashimi: * Otoro (good, not exceptional) * Classic Trio: Aji, Katsuo, Anago & Saba, Aji, Amaebi (yummy, I like it oily) * Sakabayashi Dragon Roll (great) * Salmon Sashimi (so so) I look forward to my next visit!

Overall, food was ok. But brownie points for the lunch course menu that was only $27 for 3 dishes. I chose the tuna sashimi, chicken karaage, and salmon ikura don. Not the best Japanese food I've had in Boston, but an option when hungry while shopping on Newbury. Super cozy and clean with great Japanese decor. And the service was great!

Lots of stand outs at this new restaurant. The rolls were absolutely huge, picture doesn't do it justice. Sashimi pieces were also fatty and had great taste. Their signature potato salad was so unique, great twist on an Americana classic. My favorite was actually their tofu dish, great texture with the tofu. Would come back for a more elevated sushi night.

Been wanting to try out this new restaurant after finding out that it originated from Japan. The restaurant is conveniently located by train, just a couple minutes walk from Copley station or several minutes walk from Back Bay station. Food wise, we tried out their nigiri sets, calamari, and shoyu ramen. The fish here was the absolute main highlight for me. Very fresh, to the point, and oceaney (specifically their $30 dinner nigiri gold set). Chef's kiss! The sushi rice however needed A LOT more work as it was extremely mushy, packed, dense, and distracting. Management should seriously consider doing a QA of the rice here....... The calamari and ramen portions were TINY (see pictures) and probably not something I would order again.

Got the Nigiri 12 Fun variety Rice and fish didn't stick tgt at all, ended up just eating bite of fish then bite of rice haha There was no tofu in the miso soup? But a lot of seaweed so that was decent Rice was seasoned and vinegary / soy saucy? Different from classic rice but I liked it! Cuts of fish were p variable Salmon wasn't super buttery But yellowtail felt nicely fresh and chewy The eel was actually also rly good and tender Raw shrimp surprisingly good and the fresh octopus felt nicely chewy too Decent variety and fun presentation for decently affordable price Service was quick and friendly Interior is nice sleek clean vibe, green tiles, light wooden benches / walls. Table was a bit narrow and booths a bit shallow for 4 people but its a cozy vibe

TLDR: great food! Loved the variety on the menu. There's tempura, maki, sashimi, even a ramen bowl in a small size! We ended up getting the tuna on tofu, chefs choice, potato salad, small ramen bowl, and tempura fish cakes and it was all excellent. It's definitely one of those places that feels like it's on a higher plane.

This newly opened sushi place Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern located in the Back Bay Area replaced the space formerly B Good. I came for lunch and looking at the menu, they offer lunch sets, which price point-wise is very reasonable. Mainly we ended up ordering plenty of nigiri dishes that came with ramen or tempura. Food-wise, it was adequate, no dishes stood out. I did like the portion sizes and because we ordered mainly nigiri, we were full to the stomach brim. There isn't a particular dish I would say you must try. Though I wasn't in love with the sushi here, if you're not particular about your sushi, this place delivers decent food and good value.

Cute presentation, more "fusion" and modern foods aka not strictly traditional Japanese, and tapas style. My friends and I spent about $30pp and were able to try multiple of the dishes. It was enjoyable but not mind blowing. We ordered one of the eel rolls but instead of telling us that they're out, they just gave us different roll, and were sort of like "this is what you get." Surprisingly they later were able to conjure up the eel roll and gave it to us on the house. Never Ending fries are NOT never ending. Quite busy on a weekday night! You can make reservations ahead of time.

I had the three course lunch menu and a sake flight. Yeah you read that correctly, they have sake flights. Enough said right?

Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern is a new Japanese restaurant located in Copley, Boston. The restaurant is located at 665 Boylston Street. My family came during lunch hour during the weekend. Although parking can be difficult in that part of town, we were lucky and found parking. There is also plenty of paid parking available as well for this area or the MBTA public transit option. The lunch menu is only one page long with a variety of sushi set options. There is also a drink menu. The expanded dinner menu is from 5pm and onward. The restaurant closes from 3-5 between lunch and dinner service. For lunch, my family ordered the tempura and sushi set, the ramen and sushi set, and the Funamori Don. The Funamori Don is a variety of sashimi served on a sushi boat and comes with a bowl of rice with ikura topping. All sets come with miso soup except the ramen set. I was hesitant as to whether I would enjoy my sushi rice because I am not a fan of brown rice. Luckily, however, this was NOT brown rice. In fact, the chef said it was white rice that had been seasoned. The sushi was fresh but I was surprised by how good the tempuras and the ramen were. The Ume drink was also nice. All three sets we tried were so good. I think I'll rotate who is eating what next time and order the same exact meals again if I were to visit again. There is plenty of indoor seating available and also a few outdoor seatings available for when the weather gets warmer. Overall, I found the pricing to be very reasonable for the quality. I was very happy with the service staff that day. I would recommend making a reservation in the event you come during the lunch rush and to avoid a long wait for a table. We got lucky as a table was ready in less than 5 minutes. I will definitely be coming back for dinner service. See my pictures.

On a Wednesday evening, I decided to try out this new Japanese restaurant, having passed by opening day a week ago. I ended up ordering a variety of small plates, tapas-style (or more appropriately, izakaya-style). I started with the Chawanmushi, a steamed egg dish ($8). The salmon roe added a splash of savory without overpowering the the sweet umami of the silky steamed egg. The next item, the Tuna Yakko, consisted of tofu and minced raw tuna ($6). There wasn't a hint of fishiness from the minced tuna, and the tofu texture was both creamy and firm, cutting almost like a cake. A bit of sesame oil at the bottom accented the dish. The Greedy Shio Lemon, a 3-piece nigiri sushi set ($8), had 3 different pieces of raw fish, all over a rice seasoned with lemon, salt, and shiso. The seasoning added just a bit of flair to the nigiri. The fish seemed fresh and the did not arrive refrigerator cold, more importantly. The Aji Fry consisted of two pieces of deep fried butterflied horse mackerel ($6). The butterflied fish remained flaky and juicy and came with a sauce that seemed like a cross between tartar sauce and a potato salad. Since the nigiri sushi seemed decent, I decided to finish off my food orders with some sashimi, in this case the Sakabayashi Funamori, consisting of multiple pieces of sashimi served atop a small wooden boat ($28). Every piece of fish seemed decently fresh, outshining many other dedicated "sushi" restaurants in the area. I also ordered some sake to try. I expected to receive a cup of sake or something similar since I ordered the small 90ml format. I did not expect the servers to adhere to Japanese tradition in pouring the sake. A small glass (like a shot glass but longer) sat atop a saucer. The server intentionally overfilled the small glass so some sake would fall onto the saucer. This traditional method which emphasizes plentifulness (ie you have enough to "waste" by overflowing the sake). Overall, I enjoyed everything I ordered. Being able to provide both decent hot appetizers and maintain quality for sashimi impressed me. This restaurant offers a modern rendition of izakaya dining that doesn't adhere purely to tradition but also doesn't blend random ingredients together. It's clear that a lot of care and consideration has gone into the menu. Hearing the proprietress give instructions to staff in Japanese proved reassuring as well.

3.5 stars It's a great sushi place overall, but out of the five items I ordered three tasted overly fishy and meh. I feel a bit disappointed about how the Chawanmushi turned out. The other two (anago & salmon) are good. The service is great. Staff is attentive and friendly. The atmosphere felt nice and welcoming.

I visited here for dinner after reading the all the rave reviews, and can't say I agree with a single one of them. The fish wasn't fresh or high quality, and for the total bill (~$130 for 2 with tip) we could have had the same meal - but infinitely better - around the corner at Duozo. It's honestly the worst sushi I've had in Boston or elsewhere. I will say, the service was great though - everyone was kind and friendly. The ambiance was ok - a little too fast casual for the price point IMO.

It was nice and the waitress was very friendly and don't get me started on the food. It was amazing.

Great place to go to food food and vibes! Took a friend out to eat here while he was visiting from Vietnam, and we were lucky because of the special deals that they have throughout the year! The service and food here is incredible. Honestly, some of the best yet affordable sushi I've had, one of my favorite dishes I had was the the Sushi-ade Trio. The location of this restaurant definitely puts it up there! It's located right across the Boston Public Library in Back Bay! Definitely a place to check out, especially with the different deals they have.

I found out about this restaurant through social media and was very excited to try it, however, I was a bit disappointed in the limited selection and quality of rolls. Between my friend and I, we shared chicken karaage, unbelievable monk nigiri, fancy pants scallop nigiri, scallop uni dream nigiri, uni nigiri, otoro nigiri, and sakabayashi funamori assorted sashimi boat. After all of that, we were still not full so we ordered two rolls, the sakabayashi california roll and dragon roll, these rolls just seemed like big california rolls with salmon and eel on top, they were a bit underwhelming. The best part of the meal would have to be the nigiris, pieces were small but everything was fresh. I wish the assorted sashimi boat came with rice, I think it would be a little more filling. At the end of the meal, we picked tickets for prizes; we ended up picking out cool stickers. It is a cute restaurant with decent amount of seating. Service was great! Everybody was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly! This restaurant is worth a visit, but I'm not sure if I will come back a second time since there are many other great sushi restaurants with more menu options.

A spectacular sushi restaurant right across from the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. I came here with a friend for lunch on a Saturday afternoon to get their triple threat deal (double portions of tuna, salmon, and fish roe, & drink for $5). We also got their fries, and I got the lunch set ramen. The quality of the fish is great and the service was good as well. There are amazing wall murals painted and plenty of tables for seating that stretch to the back of the restaurant. The lunch deals are amazing bang for your buck with the ramen lunch set being $25 for a small bowl of ramen and 10 piece nigiri. I would absolutely love to come again and try out the other things on their menu and would definitely recommend trying if you're in the area!

I tried going here when they first opened and they were only doing reservations or outdoor seating, and I was immediately turned off because I stood by the door while several employees walked by ignoring me. I went recently because I wanted some sushi but decided to try this place because it seemed cheaper, and now I know there's a reason why (it's also not cheap if you eat a normal amount of food). I'm not sure if it's just me but something about the vibes here are very off. It doesn't feel welcoming and some of the staff are unsettling. The first issue I had was running out of martini glasses when getting the matcha and espresso saketini. When walking through the restaurant I only saw a few martini glasses and I understand it's the same drink, but martinis should be served in a martini glass. The drinks were okay but too expensive for sake cocktails ($14). The food was another disappointment. The sushi here is just so weird. I got the Boston roll first and the tuna was some of the worst quality fish I have ever had, if not the worst. Not only was the roll bland but two of the four pieces looked like they were made with different fish. The tuna on the right was dark red with white tissue lined through it and the other two were pink. I wish I had asked for these to be taken off instead of remade because the roll was terrible anyways. The scallop and salmon nigiri were okay, the sweet and sour chicken was probably the best thing and it was fried chicken with tartar sauce, and the two decent sushi were the cheesy aburi and the three piece tuna set. My server was nice but never mentioned the martini glasses. The sushi here is not good and it seems cheap but there's so few pieces you have to keep ordering. I really did not like this place I don't understand how a piece of straight connective tissue was served to me. I was going to try Sushi by Bosso or go to Douzo which is a place I love and I wish I had just spent the difference and got much better sushi.

The food is so fresh and never disappoints! I love everything Sakabayashi has to offer, including the great prices! My favs are the furikake caesar salad, aji fry, bonjto french fries, karaage, the hotate, any of the tuna and eel dishes, the agedashi tofu, and the omelette bowl! Everything is so good and the servers are all very welcoming and slay! Anybody complaining about the fish quality is full of bs. The fish is *chef's kiss* and very filling!

Came here for lunch and the food here was very delicious. The salmon is fresh and the rice well seasoned. Definitely recommend the lunch tempura sushi set

A new sushi place just opened up in Backbay and it heavily leans into salmon, which I am a huge fan. We didn't get a reservation but was seated immediately on a Saturday night. They were doing the salmon special for the month of September. We ordered a few samplers and was surprised by how good the flounder sushi tasted as well. Would come back for the flounder and smoked salmon sushi again!

Wanted to try out this spot because it was new. The inside was nice and so was the patio. Our male server was so quite dull and monotone, he seemed completely uninterested. We had a woman who came over a few times and she was great. Then the host came out onto the patio near us and vaped, so service all around was their downfall. So it set the wrong tone for the meal. The soup and assorted tempura was good and the shrimp tempura was the best I've ever had. The gold set was good however weirdly enough the fatty tuna was the worst one. It had a firmer hard texture which was not the best. Had such high hopes for this spot and was sadly fairly disappointed by the service in particular

Food is great. Fish is fresh. Love the fresh wasabi. Service is fast and attentive. Ambiance is nice and bright. Definitely go back for more.

Nice addition to Backbay casual dining. Visited for lunch and dinner. Great menu selections but portions are small tapas style for dinner. Probably a better lunch spot if you have a hearty appetite. Overall their nigiri had too much rice with very thin fish slices. Most of the fried food lacked taste. Food comes out fast. Nice ambiance setting but overall it is a 3 star for the food.

I was super excited to try this restaurant as I've been WAITING for it to open. It's such a great location being on Boylston and amazing for pre or even post shopping meal! I went for lunch before shopping in the area and had the Special Tantalizing Maguro Chirashi rice donburi and my friend had the Maguro Don. They were both AMAZING. The lunch rice donburi even comes with miso soup. We only ordered from the lunch menu but the restaurant allows you to order from the dinner menu if you'd like! Although the rice may look like they use brown rice, it's actually a special blend of vinegars that gives it its color and my god it was delicious. The servers were great and attentive! I plan on coming back very soon for their dinner menu!

Got the Ramen set + sakabayashi dragon roll. Ramen actually pretty good. Maybe 4.5/5 good almost buttery like flavor. Dragon roll good but has cream cheese which I feel like de elevates 4/5. Nigri better than irashi but brown rice. Obviously not as grab at Japan. 3.75/5 Vibes good

Was excited to see that a japanese chain opened in town - I'm always on the prowl for good affordable sushi in Boston. One thing I noticed was that the staff are still getting acquainted with the offerings. Our server was friendly and attentive but wasn't able to give us more in-depth descriptions than what was listed on the menu. However, I think it was their first few days on the job and they were very pleasant and eager to please! Ambiance is very casual with mostly 2 and 4 person tables. Food: Assorted tempura - not soggy or too oily. Pretty decent. Comes with matcha salt! Tonkotsu shoyu ramen - surprisingly decent. Definitely not as good as a ramen place but if you want warm soupy noodles this should hit the spot. Bowl is on the smaller side - more like a side ramen. Sushi - tried a variety of nigiris. Honestly at 3 for $8, that's great price for Ala carte in boston. Nigiri is made with brown rice and didn't quite have the flavor/texture I'd expect. The fish itself was okay as well, but I did appreciate the large cuts of fish served. Overall a bit underwhelming for a place that prioritizes sushi. All in all, it was not a bad experience, especially for a recently opened restaurant that's still gathering its bearings. Considering its location in Back Bay, price was fair. Surprisingly the non-sushi items were better than the sushi. I would consider it for a quick bite (perhaps especially for lunch deals) but may prefer other establishments if I was explicitly craving sushi. More likely a 3.5 star but will give this place the benefit of the doubt as it's so newly opened! Would be curious to see how it evolves in the coming months after their opening!

Everything was yummy! Service was quick and friendly and food was a great value. The rice has the perfect amount of vinegar! This is my new favorite sushi place.

New sushi restaurant by Copley, location is good. The restaurant is new, interior design is simple and clean. Food is a little on the pricy side but you do get a decent portion for the combos. Probably won't come back again.