Tora Japanese Restaurant

Delicious and filling. I recommend coming early if you want a seat since we had to wait 2 hours, but once seated the food came pretty fast. The portion sizes were reasonable for the price. Would come here again.

The food is so-so. First, the Salmon Maguro Don was pretty good but I don't think its worth the price for a small portion like that. Second, they mixed tempura flakes with the spicy tuna gyp you with the amount of fish they put in it. You can see on the pictures 50% tempura flakes 50% spicy tuna. And lastly, they used ready made microwavable shrimp tempura in their shrimp tempura roll (most likely from Costco cause I know what it looks like.) Makes me wonder why this place has a good rating when they serve you sushi like this 🤷🏻‍♂️ Edit: I just finished my second spicy tuna roll and that ones even worse. 75% tempura flakes and 25% spicy tuna.

Tora offers a visually appealing experience in Boston’s Chinatown, but certain aspects fell short during my visit. The fish was slightly warmer than expected, which affected the sense of freshness. While some warmth can be attributed to the rice, the fish itself still felt noticeably too warm. From the counter, I observed sashimi being left out rather than kept chilled when not in use, which gave me some pause. The salmon didn’t stand out in terms of flavor, and while the overall presentation was polished, the taste didn’t quite match the visual appeal. Tora seems to thrive more on its unique concept and visual presentation than on delivering truly exceptional flavor. More style than substance.

Tora was amazing!! Prices were so so reasonable for the amount of fish you get. I e have been to so many Japanese restaurants and I can guarantee their quality of fish was also good. Out of the places I’ve been in Boston as well it is definitely inexpensive for the amount of fish and the quality of food they serve.

An unforgettable experience. I absolutely love this place every time I visit Boston. This intimate spot is Boston’s first kaisendon specialist—think fresh sashimi over perfectly seasoned rice. They also offer poke bowls, nigiri, and other rice dishes, all at reasonable prices  . With friendly, straightforward service and consistently high quality, it’s a top pick for a quick sushi‑style lunch .

The cuts were fresh and delightful. I can’t believe that these bowls were just $20-$30! I think it’s very reasonable given the location and the quality of the fish. They give you a whole platter with rice and miso and you are definitely left full after. Given its sushi, I think that this spot not only shows its strength in great prices, but most importantly in outstanding food. Would definitely recommend!

Cozy little spot with amazing sushi! Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation, and every bite was delicious. The warm, intimate vibe made the meal even better. Prices were very reasonable for the quality 😊 definitely worth it!

I was expecting more from the photos i saw online. Though the price wasn't bad, the quality wasn't too good either. I got the salmon maki. The salmon was fine, but the rice was really dried. After I was done eating I staffed collected my plates and made me pay right away though I was the only one at the place. I might've taken it the wrong way, but it just feels like they're saying "Now that you're done eating, please leave."

Tora never lets me down! Hands down best bang for your buck sushi in Boston. Everything is super fresh, even when delivered. I added toro (3/5) as an extra to my bowl, really reasonably priced but not as good as other toro. Octopus (1/5) is hard to chew, wouldn't recommend getting. Everything else is 5/5.

I'd recommend this place if: 1) You go during non-peak hours (huge long and slow moving lines), 2) You're ok with their 90 minute table limit not planning a longer leisurely dining experience, or 3) You're ok eating at the counter instead of a table, which is what you get when the 4 small tables are all taken. Otherwise, this place has good quality and decent-priced Japanese food on the whole. I can recommend their cold ramen which was nicely spiced, their cooked eel rice plate (actual white rice was excellent quality not the cheap stuff), and their matcha cheesecake. Soba wasn't great because it came in a soup so it was not as firm as I'd like plus the soup was a bit miserly with the meat (just two 2" round slices perhaps 1/4" thick) and on the bland side. The nice surprise was that both the soba and the cold ramen bowls were filling enough on the whole, as opposed to many American ramen places giving you tiny appetizer-size portions of ramen at full entree prices. Miso soup didn't have much miso in it, a bit bland, but that seems to be the norm for Japanese restaurants in the US compared to in Japan for some sad reason. Sushi rolls tasted nice and fresh, even the pickled ginger tasted much fresher than what you usually get elsewhere. Matcha ice cream and matcha tiramisu were not bad but nothing to write home about either. Ambience was pleasant, though it's a small place and as mentioned, quickly fills up. We came at 5pm so it was relatively quiet then, but by the time we left there were at least 12 people in line! Service was quick and attentive.

Tried the Sake Aisuru Don and unagi sashimi and really enjoyed both! The bowl was huge and I liked having salmon in three different forms. Came with miso soup, which was a nice bonus! The eel was delicious - I'd been craving unagi for so long, so this was perfect. The restaurant itself is small (not in a bad way) and super cozy. The servers were nice and our food came out way faster than expected. The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars is because I thought it was a little pricier than it should be.

I ordered on the phone for pickup and it was ready by the time I arrived. The shop is underground in Chinatown with horrible parking. I recommend commuting in for dine in but I was just picking up to go. It is a small place with maybe room for only 10ppl from just a quick look. 8/10 Maguro Toro Don $31 - came with seared tuna, minced tuna, and tuna sashimi. Fish quality was amazing and quantity was ok. Overall just a basic tuna bowl so there really wasn't much in terms of flavor. 8/10 Sake Aisuru Don $26 - same as the tuna bowl but instead it's same all salmon. 9/10 Pinku Maki $17 - this was a very good roll! Seared salmon with crab salad and unagi sauce was bomb. Overall good ratings for food quality but very overpriced items. Would go back and try other things.

Tora is one of my favorite restaurants EVER in the Boston area! The service is always great, and the interior/ambiance is amazing for a night out with friends. Although on the smaller side, they have seating at the sushi bar and multiple tables. Recently, they have added a lunch special as well which is a great way to try more of their menu at an even more affordable price. Overall, the quality of the fish is incredible. My partner just returned from Japan recently and felt that Tora was comparable. When I want to impress someone who is visiting me, I definitely take them here! My favorite are their chirashi bowls, I am slowly making my way through their many available bowl options.

I love it here. I've been about 3 times now and it's some of my favorite sushi/sashimi in Boston. It's unassuming when you see it from the outside but you have to walk down a few steps to see how amazing it is! It's definitely gotten more popular these past few years so nowadays there's a line for service. For food, I always get the salmon don (bowl) that comes with minced salmon, salmon belly, and salmon sashimi. The different cuts of salmon make the bowl so engaging to eat and you don't get sick of the taste! I love the minced salmon specifically because it has extra flavor. Each dish also comes with miso soup with balances the meal well. The fish is super high quality too! I will most definitely be back here. So delectable.

It's a Hidden underground sushi spot in Boston! I recommend getting the sashimi platter bowl. I liked the small dining space for a hidden spot .

Updating my review for their takeout option. Been here recently and they have the most consistent quality. The take out is also just as good as in person. I was a bit worried since it was takeout but I was surprised with how similar it is to eating in person. Props to the great quality of food here!

I still love it here! I love the vibe its just a cute little Japanese restaurant where you can really just sit and relax with some good food. I got the Pinku Maki and its so yummy! Its finished off with a torch and I really like the taste that the torch leaves it with. The Gyu Don has really tender slices of beef and its just a really nice and simple dish with rice. Also it seems that their menu doesn't reflect a recent price upcharge. The Pinku Maki was listed for $17 but it was actually $19.

Food: sushi was fresh and full of flavor. I really loved their chirashidon as the portion was great and fish were fresh. Definitely will come back Staffs and ambiance: Staffs were friendly and the area was clean :)

I originally visited Tora Japanese Restaurant on Tyler street during a visit to Boston way back in 2019. It was one of my first experiences eating raw fish and it truly changed how I viewed sushi and sashimi. I was blown away by the flavor, quality, and vibe that this space had. Now, I returned to Boston 5 years later in 2024 and made sure to visit this place again. I decided to try something different than the first visit and get Kuromon Don. Now having been eating raw fish regularly for years, I can safely say my original impression was perfectly on the mark. The fish I had was all so incredibly fresh and the presentation was gorgeous. In addition, the prices are so reasonable, especially in comparison to many of the other restaurants I visited when I was in Boston. The space is really small so don't expect to fit in a large group, but definitely make sure to go to this place if you have 4 or less people. The ambiance is quite pleasant and relaxed, very sleek. I will make sure I return to Tora on every trip to Boston I have!

Another great time here at Tora!!! The dishes are excellent and the fish is fresh and amazing. I still haven't had a bad meal and I'm always picking different things. This is a must for all you sushi lovers in Boston. Oh and they have amazing Wagyu for you ballers out there lol. The service is top notch and the fish is fresh, what more do you need? If you're a sushi lover then be sure to visit Tora. You won't be disappointed

The food was really delicious and fresh! Absolutely would eat here again next time I'm in Boston.

Tora is one of the best hidden gems in Chinatown. Homey, no frills, excellent food, and prices that (imo) are unbeatable for what you get. While this restaurant offers a variety of good food, the kaisen dons (rice bowl dishes) are where they really shine. If you want to try a sampling of their different cuts of sashimi / fish, I'd strongly recommend the sake maguro hamachi don, which comes with salmon, bluefin tuna, and yellowtail. The bowls are prepared just behind the counter, and the fish is super fresh. You're given generous amounts too, which more than makes up for the $25 price tag. Overall, I'd highly recommend trying out Tora. The food comes out quickly, everything is delicious, and you walk away feeling both super full and extremely satisfied.

I had no idea about this place until the lady brought me here. It's got the Asian street stall feel, small and good. Getting a seat is pretty quick, but you'll definitely be in everyone's conversations so just carry on with your own. I usually get the tuna chirashi bowl (tuna 3 ways) and enjoyed it very much. The fish cuts are thick and the flavor is fresh. The salmon bowl is also good, thick cuts. Quick eats in chinatown. The rolls aren't my favorite i think it needs some texture contrast maybe add some crunchies. Have been back twice and recommend the spot. Saw another gentlemen's plate and he got the sashimi platter, it looked great will have to try next time!

Ordered the chirashi bowl and the cold udon. The sashimi was fresh and had good variety! The udon, on the other hand, was not worth it! The noodles did not taste fresh and there was very little meat. Flavors were lacking in the udon and it was very pricey.

TL;DR: great quality sushi bowls, cute interior vibes, nice service My friends and I were doing a food tour all around Boston, and we stopped by this spot to get some more sushi. We were able to snag a seat since it was right before dinner time. FOOD: ~Uni Ikura Don (5/5): came with heaping amount of ikura and uni. The rice was tasty and everything was fresh ~Tora Don (5/5): This came with SO much fish. The assortment was great and all the fish was so fresh Highly recommend for high quality and quantity sushi bowls!

Without a doubt, this is one of the best sushi (donburi) restaurants in Boston! Their fish is by far one of the freshest, and I always have a good dining experience here. I've tried several different versions of their sushi bowls, and each fish has been great. I also recommend trying their a la carte/ seasonal sushi options as well! I tried their a5 wagyu nigiri and it quite literally melted in my mouth! Only thing to note is that they do not take reservations, but walk-ins are usually painless. Totally worth checking this place out!

We wanted to eat sushi and don and searched near my hotel. It was in China town area we wish Japanese people own this restaurant but it wasn't. But taste was not too bad. My friend ordered sushi don which was my friend favorite from In LA sushi restaurant. I didn't eat uncooked fish so I ordered my favorite sushi which was cooked. Also we ordered octopus for appetizers. Octopus was a bit too salty from their sauce, hope less sauce is tastier. Sushi was just ok, nothing special taste. I've been eaten better sushi anywhere else. My friend said sushi don was ok. Everything so fresh which was really important. I thought every seafood place had fresh seafood from there ocean. We ordered extra miso soup. Sushi don was came out with miso soup but sushi wasn't so have to ordered. Pretty small place and we seated sushi bar. Pretty busy place.

Goodness gracious. What a find in Chinatown. About as fresh as you will get. Everything we ordered was amazing. Fast and friendly service too. There aren't a ton of tables so expect to wait if you're going during a busy time of day.

Amazing food quality, service, and presentation! The staff also gave me suggestions on which don to choose. The wait was pretty short as a solo diner and the food came out extremely fast. I had a dinner at the bar with the sake maguro hamachi don, which came with three fresh and thick slices of each fish type and was paired with sushi rice, fresh grated wasabi, ginger, pickled daikon, and miso soup. It was nice to try the different types of fish, all really fresh and tasty paired with soy sauce and toppings, and the set was definitely filling. I definitely plan to come back and try their other dons!

Nice quiet Japanese place in Boston's Chinatown. Super chill place to get a fairly quick bowl. Service- fast and easy. THEY HAVE A WAIT SYSTEM Food- It's hard to mess up fresh fish unless its not fresh. This is fresh. Again, fast but good. Lowkey wanna try the wagyu next time. Nagahama was right for me this time.

Was getting delivery so didn't want to chance getting the sashimi since sometimes delivery takes a while. However, I did order a spicy tuna maki and the beef (gyudon) rice bowl. The spicy tuna maki was average, tuna didn't seem that fresh and taste was just okay. The beef rice bowl was below average - had a strange smell and tasted like boiled beef with no flavor. I literally took two bites and threw it away given the smell and taste. Would not order from here again unless I was at restaurant and just tried the sashimi/kaisen don bowls which everyone seems to rave about.

I used to like this place, but it has really gone down in quality and quantity over the past couple of years. The salmon sashimi pieces were very mushy and did not look "clean" or fresh. The texture was almost like someone had chewed it up. There were pock marks and rips all over the pieces. There were also little specks of seaweed on the sashimi (presumably from a different order), which made it a bit unappetizing. Also makes me wonder if it was another customer's leftover food that was recycled.. Quantity has also gone down. They gave me half as much minced salmon as they used to.

Got lucky to be seated right away on a Saturday evening (6pm). The place is small so on the menu I saw "90 min dine in policy" You can view menu by scanning the QR code. When ready the staff will take your order. I got the torched yellowtail and tuna maki (shurayuki). It was ok, hoping for white truffle flavor but tasted like kewpie mayo instead. Tuna don was filling but I didn't care for the "special sauce." The slimy film on top of every tuna pieces was weird. No sauce available on the table. When we asked for ponzu sauce, it was an additional charge ($2) for a shallow dish. The star of the night was the hamachi collar (put the order in asap because it takes 20 mins to grill). It was juicy and flavorful. The picture I took was blurry but it was a decent portion.

Location - okay.. it's in Chinatown, you just have to walk a bit to get to it but not too far away. Sushi was very good. Specially the shrimp tempura maki and the California maki. Wagu fried rice was not good. It's over priced and very bland. I wish we stuck to the sushis, Would have saved us $30. It's quite small place, but great to see always packed. There were no empty tables. I saw there was a constant flow of people. Service was fast too but the tables were too close to each other. There was a family sitting beside us and they were extremely loud and additionally one lady in the group was constantly coughing. I didn't feel okay about that experience. Overall one time you can try. Try the sushis. I think they are famous for Don too but I didn't try.

Excellent service & food!!! We came on a Saturday around noon and there was magically no wait to be seated. They do request your full party to be there before you are seated. Our waters were always full and they were very attentive throughout our meal. We ordered a pretty good variety of their menu and everybody enjoyed their dish! I got the cold niku udon with an egg and it was delicious! Although $3 was a bit pricey for the egg, it was yummy. Overall, wonderful food, a bit pricey but worth it!

Cute refurbished Japanese restaurant in Chinatown. There's always a wait on weekends so be prepared for that. Has a huge menu for different meets over rise or noodle bowls, as well as sashimi dons. my favorite was the ribeye cold noodle (spicy) featuring a homemade hot sauce. I heard that this place is actually famous for sashimi dons so I will definitely come back to try next time!

Simple and decent izakaya. Nothing mind blowing to be honest but I think it's a standout in the Boston area for Asian food. That being said, the level of Asian cuisine in Boston is not high as say New York or California. Still, solid place.

We found this place by chance while wandering through China Town! The place is so small and cozy and was a perfect stop for a quick dinner. We were sat right away (we happened to get there just as another table was leaving) and the service was extremely quick. I think all of our sushi rolls arrived within 5-10 minutes of ordering them. I ordered the caterpillar roll which was delicious. The fish was extremely fresh and the roll was filling. My friends ordered the California Roll, the Niji Maki, and Akasaka Maki. I tried a bite of each of them and they were all equally delicious and fresh. I will definitely be going again next time I'm in Boston and will recommend to all my friends in the area.

Food is ok, without being anywhere near great. ambience is close to nonexistent. Price does not seem to match the quality, or the lack thereof, offered.

I've ordered Tora for takeout in the past and loved their food, and I was equally impressed when I visited this time. I love that their fish literally melt in your mouth and I am constantly surprised by the price vs the quality of the food. It gets packed quickly and they don't take reservations. It is a small and cute dining area with space to sit at the sushi counter. Only reason why I gave this a four star is because I thought the lady at the hostess counter was rude but I'm sure this is a one time thing.

This is one of the best sushi experiences I have ever had. We popped in around 5pm on a Friday night and got a seat right away. I have also never had food come out faster anywhere else! It started to get super busy but the service was very prompt. The Aburi Toro Nigiri was to DIE for. Melts in your mouth. All of the sashimi was very high quality and served cold which paired perfectly with the warm rice. Edamame steamed to perfection-- some places overcook theirs. I could go on and on, but everything we had here was a slam dunk.

I was indecisive with dinner options and my friend recommended coming here cause the food is always promising. I was pleasantly surprised with my experience here and would definitely frequent this place if I lived in Boston. Apparently we got lucky with the seating, because we were able to snag a table with minimal wait. The restaurant has ample, but not plenty of seating and for an early Friday night, it was already packed. We ordered a few things to split between us: ABURI TUNA NIGIRI: it comes in 2 pieces and this was absolutely divine. It was fatty and melted right in your mouth. They gave a pretty generous serving too! I think this might be a weekly special, but if it's on the menu, I highly recommend getting it. TORCHED SCALLOPS APPETIZER: the scallops were nice and fresh and the ikura and microgreens topped with it complemented the pieces really well. There was a little too much brine on the plate and made the plate hard to maneuver around the table LOL ITADORI DON: This was probably my favorite kaisen don out of the two. This bowl was loaded with diced pieces of sashimi. There were so many options in the bowl everytime I dug into it. They give two pieces of nori you can make handrolls with. Every piece was fresh and with so many options, the handroll combinations were endless. NAGAHAMA DON: I enjoyed this because the slices of fish were bigger and they gave generous slices of salmon, yellowtail, and mackerel. They curated the squid to look like a rose, which I thought was really cute. The spotted shrimp and squid were the best pieces of the bowl. Uni at that time was a little fishy, but who doesn't love uni? While the restaurant seemed busy and full, it seems like a great place for friends to enjoy a casual dinner when you manage to snag a table. There's a steady flow of people coming in and out, so I honestly don't think the wait is too bad and coming here is well worth it. Hopefully I'd be able to return here someday :3

Found this hidden gem in Chinatown Boston. No reservation needed! They took us as a walk in and sat us down immediately. My partner and I both got the Sake Aisuru Don. You can add additional fish/toppings for an additional charge. The salmon was extremely fresh! I enjoyed everything in the bowl but was not a big fan of the minced salmon. I couldn't get over the mushy texture but aside from that everything else was delicious. We also got the Niji maki roll. I thought this was just okay. I will be back for the Don bowl! Quick, affordable, good quality fish! - no parking lot. street parking Sake Aisuru Don ($23) Sake Aisuru Don + Amaebi (sweet shrimp) ($23 + $4) Niji Maki ($15)

I got the kuromon don bowl with salmon, yellowtail, mackerel, tuna and red snapper which was delicious. The uni rolls were very good. The place was very cozy and clean and the service was fast.

Discovered during a recent trip to Boston, this was easily one of the top meals I have had in the city. For the price point (less than $30 a bowl), their sashimi donburi / rice bowls are quality dishes - seafood was fresh, portions were generous, and the variety of ingredients offered was extensive. If the numerous pre-set combinations from the menu are not to your liking, I appreciated the a la carte option to add-on additional seafoods. Would recommend especially the salmon and spot shrimp! Service was fast and efficient. Nestled in the midst of Chinatown, the space is limited to small tables and seating at the bar. Likely there will be a waitlist to get a table, although our wait for 2 was not long (~15min) on a Fri night. Probably not ideal for hosting a large group.

Food: 5/5 ‍ Drinks: did not order Services: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Pricing: reasonable Overall: 4.5/5 What we order: - Sake Maguro Hamachi Don - Unagi nigiri - Sake Aisuru Done - Niji Maki The fish quality is A+ here at this restaurant. The salmon tastes really fresh and buttery. All the slices are thick and they do not cheap out on how much fish they give you. My friends also ordered a sushi roll and an udon which were delicious as well. I did not like the roll because the rice was not as good as the one they serve us in one of the special bowls. I also think the unagi was good but not the best. The place is a little small so it might not be able to accommodate a large party; however it's very cute. If you sit at the bar, you can watch as the chefs prepare your food. Overall, I have had a lot of sushi places and Tora is definitely up there at the top of my list. 10/10 would recommend if you're ever in chinatown Boston, MA.

Tora is a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant that's located in the heart of Chinatown. The interior is low lit and primarily consists of 4-6 small tables and low bar seating that's very reflective of some restaurants in Japan. Don't let the small space and lack of lighting fool you though because the food is really good. We ordered some takoyaki to start and shared a buta shogayaki don and sake aisuru don. Everything was brought out quickly despite us coming during the lunch rush. The cuts of salmon were super fresh and decadent and the marination on the pork belly was incredible. I was impressed by both bowls by their quality and presentation - well worth their prices ($17 and $23 respectively). In terms of portion size, I would say they're right up to par and can be shared between one or two people. If you're flying solo, the bowls are perfect for one as well. Service is pretty quick. Since we were seated at the bar, I imagine it was a little quicker. We barely had interaction with the servers here with it being so busy, but they seemed nice enough and were willing to accommodate space for us. Needless to say, I will definitely be back. The food was amazing. If anything, I'd recommend to show up right during opening if you want to be sure to grab a table. The extra room there in comparison to a bar might be worth it! Highly recommend!!

One of my favorite spots in Chinatown. Yes, it is on the pricier side, but Tora's offerings are always fresh and delightful. Tora doesn't allow substitutions with their kaisen dons, but has a list of a la carte items that you can add to your chosen bowl. The tottori don is one of my favorites, I just can't get enough of the spot shrimp! Other honorable mentions: the caterpillar maki, their fun sake and japanese beer selection

I've heard amazing things about Tora for a while but never got the chance to try it out since I hate parking in Chinatown. I finally got the chance to try it and I was quite happy with my experience! The restaurant is located in the building of a basement as other reviews have mentioned. It's very small and probably can hold no more than 25 people at a time. Usually, there's a wait (even on weekdays!). I went on a weekday and I waited about 10 minutes. But on a weekend, I hear it can be much longer. Even though I went on a weekday, the place was packed and there was a waitlist to be seated. Once we got seated (we were a party of 2) service was so fast. They wanted to take our order almost immediately and the food came out within 10 minutes. I got the Nishiki Don and the fish was so fresh. I liked how there was an assortment of different types of sashimi. It's a little bit on the pricier end (~$30) but totally worth it in terms of quality and freshness. I like how it also came with a bowl of miso soup. Will be coming back soon to try other types of Don!

Honestly I thought this place was fricken awesome. The ambiance was w.e. The service was w.e But the food was great! Don bowls were amazing! Fish had so much flavor. The seasoned maguro bowl was my favorite. Great portioning. Super flavorful. I honestly swallowed everything Kirby style. Eel nigiri has a nice plumpness. Not too fatty. I mean over all impressed. Would definitely come back for sure!

Tora is known for their sushi and raw seafood bowls. The seafood here doesn't taste very fresh but they have a good variety, rare you get this much seafood for this price. I got the Tokyo bowl, the scallops were tender but weren't flavorful, squid was cut nicely for dipping in soy sauce. There is bar-seating and restaurant seating. Bowls come with a serving of miso soup, which is lovely especially with the cold bowls. Shumai was fine but not outstanding. Their cream soda is just milkis in a glass with ice. Service was good and waiters were friendly, was seated after a 15 minute wait but it was a Saturday night.

A hidden gem in Chinatown for good quality sashimi bowls! Whenever I'm in the area and craving salmon sashimi, Tora is usually my go-to. I've been coming here for about 5 years now and the one dish I always get is the Sake Aisuru Don. I don't think I tried anything else here and I don't think I'm open to it because I'm attached to the salmon bowl!! It has the salmon sashimi, salmon belly (the rolled up one) and the minced salmon. I love love the sushi rice and just dipping the salmon in soy sauce is all you need. Everything is super fresh and filling, but I know the price has increased since I last came. Tora is a super small, intimate spot. There about 4 tables (seating 2-4 people) and the rest are seats at the sushi bar. In terms of wait time, it does get busy during peak hours, but I never had to wait too long and the food also comes out super quick

This is my favorite restaurant in Boston by far. There is a line at peak dinner time since this is a very small space and it's first come, first serve. If you are coming with a large group, I recommend coming slightly before or after peak times. The service is always very fast. The fish is always so fresh. My normal go to is either the sake aisuru don or the tottori don.

Was craving sashimi and this place hit the spot. We arrived at 7:20pm for a party of 6 and were seated at 8pm. Although it took a little bit for the waiter to come take our order, the food arrived quickly afterward. I ordered the kuromon don, which came with a miso soup, three pieces of mackerel, and two pieces each of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and red snapper. I was pleased overall with the quality of the meal, and would probably try a bowl with salmon or tuna belly next time for something more fatty/melt-in-your-mouth.

I had been wanting Tora Japanese Restaurant for the longest time and was able to go last week for the first time. This place is extremely busy and suitable for individual parties or parties of 2 since the restaurant is very small (but they are able to put tables together for more than 2). Tora Ramen is one of my favorite restaurants and I knew Tora was a popular spot for those who love raw fish. I am somewhat new to eating raw fish so I was hesitant to try Tora because the Kaisen dons can be intimidating, as they are just raw seafood and rice. I had the gyu don which was really good and flavorful. My only wish was that it was more meat and less rice but they do give you an option to add more beef. I will note that although this was good, they are known for their Kaisen don so I would recommend that over any of the non-fish dishes unless you don't eat raw fish. I believe all rice entrees come with miso soup which is a plus. I also split the shirayuki maki which was one of the best rolls I have had before. It was an assortment of raw fish torched with mayo and fried garlic and some other flavors as well. Torched sushi adds such a nice smoky flavor without taking away from the fresh fish and I highly recommend this roll. My friend got the sake maguro don (tuna and salmon sashimi) and had no complaints. Lastly to finish, we split the matcha tiramisu which was light and refreshing. If you love sushi, sashimi, or raw fish, I would definitely recommend trying Tora out. If you don't, there is a good selection of other rice bowl/noodle options that are also very good so you can't go wrong.

I can't speak for any of the other menu items, but for what we ordered, we really enjoyed what we got. This place is in a small basement-looking exterior, but the inside was really cozy and had plenty of seats. We wanted to split two Dons - one hot, and one cold, so we got a cha shu don and a Nagahama don, which was topped with spot shrimp, salmon, yellowtail, squid, mackerel, and uni (sea urchin) sashimi. We also added tuna to our Nagahama don for more fish options. Each don comes with yellow pickled radish and miso soup on the side. The cha shu don was good, and it seasoned the rice underneath perfectly. There were 4-5 massive pork belly pieces, and were perfectly saucy and tender. However, the meat to rice ratio felt a little off, as there was a ton of rice still left at the bottom. For the Nagahama don, we absolutely loved the fish we got, as each piece of fish was tender, fresh, and delicious. Especially the tuna and the salmon, these just melted in my mouth. Was not a huge fan of the shrimp or squid, as these were a little slimy. I don't typically like uni, as there was a bit of a weird aftertaste, but overall I did enjoy the uni as it was super creamy and had a slight sweetness to it. I think the Don bowls are super worth, as they come out in pretty big portions and are tasty, so I would definitely come back for more!

Wow! This place was amazing from the moment we walked in. Super chill vibe, excellent service and the most delicious sushi I've had this year. It was gobbled up so quickly I missed the best pics. It is a tiny place so I recommend coming early. I can't stop thinking about our meal and look forward to coming back.