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Name: Minado
Address: 1282 Worcester Rd, Natick, MA, 01760
Telephone: (508) 647-0495
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.78

Minado

1282 Worcester Rd, Natick, MA, 01760

(508) 647-0495
Store is closed

Minado Menu

Cold Entrees And Salads

Asian Black Noodle Salad

Asian Chicken Salad

Asian Coleslaw

Asian Mixed Green Salad

Asian Pasta Salad

Asparagus Salad

Baby Bokchoy

Baby Spinach W/ Mushroom Sauce

Bean Sprout Salad

Bean Thread Noodle

Bean Thread With Spinach & Shrimp

Beef Tataki

Broccoli & Baby Corn Salad

Caesar Salad

Calamari W/ Vegetable Salad

Cocktail Shrimp

Corn Vegetable W/ Tomato Sauce

Crab & Daikon W/ Peach Sauce

Crab Louie

Crispy Noodle Salad

Dashikombu Seaweed Salad

Edamame

Green Bean Salad

Green Mussel Salad
Hot Entrees

B.b.q. Pork Ribs

Baked Stuffed Mushrooms

Beef Teriyaki

Blue Crab In Oyster Sauce

Breaded Crab Sticks

Calamari In Wispy Lemon Sauce

Calamari Rings W/ Paprika Sauce

Chicken Teriyaki

Calamari W/ Carrot Sauce

Chicken Teriyaki

Corn Crab Cake

Crab Cake Ball

Crab Soup W/ Seaweed

Deep Fried Fluke W/ Wasabi Sauce

Dynamite (seafood Medley)

Egg White Fish W/ Kabayaki Sauce

Fried Rice

Fried Rice W/ Soy Bean & Seasoned

Seaweed

Fried White Fish W/ Asian Sauce

Grilled Butter Fish W/ Ginger

Grilled Salmon W/ Asian Sauce

Grilled Scallops

Grilled Seafood Cake
Sushi - Maki Sushi

Avocado Roll

Beach Boy

Boston Roll

California Roll

Caribbean Roll

Dragon Roll

Dynamite Roll

Esmeralda

Fried Salmon Roll

Garlic Roll

Green Roll

Grilled Salmon Roll Guacamole Roll

Ika Roll

Kappa Maki

Orange Roll

Spicy Tuna Roll

Vegetable Roll

White Fish Roll

Unagi Roll

Tofu Roll
Nigiri - Sushi

Shiro Maguro

Anago

Avocado & Crab

Ebi

Fluke Hamachi

Hirame

Hokigai

Ika

Izumi Dai

Kani

Kani Karaage

Maguro

Stripe Bass

Spanish Mackerel

Salmon Tataki W/ Red Onions

White Tuna

Tuna Tataki
Temaki - Sushi

Salmon Skin

Spicy Tuna

Ebi

California (crab & Avocado)

Unagi (fresh Water Eel)

Tempura

California

Unagi

Spicy Salmon

Fresh Salmon

Tempura

Tempura

Spicy Salmon

Fresh Salmon
Dessert - Pastry

Almond Chocolate Cookie

Almond Jell-o & Mixed Fruit

Apple Tart

Banana Cake

Blueberry Cake

Blueberry Cheese Cake

Blueberry Yogurt

Brownie Cake

Butter Walnut Cookie

Carrot Cake

Chocolate Biscuit

Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Coconut Cookie

Cream Cheese Cake

Healthy Meal suggestions for Minado

Cold Entrees And Salads

Asian Black Noodle Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Coleslaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Mixed Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Pasta Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagus Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baby Bokchoy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baby Spinach W/ Mushroom Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Sprout Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Thread Noodle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Thread With Spinach & Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Tataki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli & Baby Corn Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari W/ Vegetable Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cocktail Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corn Vegetable W/ Tomato Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab & Daikon W/ Peach Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Louie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Noodle Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dashikombu Seaweed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Edamame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Bean Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Mussel Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Hot Entrees

B.b.q. Pork Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baked Stuffed Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Crab In Oyster Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breaded Crab Sticks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari In Wispy Lemon Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Rings W/ Paprika Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari W/ Carrot Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corn Crab Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Cake Ball [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Soup W/ Seaweed [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deep Fried Fluke W/ Wasabi Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dynamite (seafood Medley) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Egg White Fish W/ Kabayaki Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Rice W/ Soy Bean & Seasoned [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seaweed [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried White Fish W/ Asian Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Butter Fish W/ Ginger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Salmon W/ Asian Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Seafood Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sushi - Maki Sushi

Avocado Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beach Boy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boston Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

California Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caribbean Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dragon Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dynamite Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Esmeralda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Salmon Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Salmon Roll Guacamole Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ika Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kappa Maki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Tuna Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Fish Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Unagi Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tofu Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Nigiri - Sushi

Shiro Maguro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Anago [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado & Crab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ebi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fluke Hamachi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hirame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hokigai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ika [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Izumi Dai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kani [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kani Karaage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maguro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stripe Bass [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spanish Mackerel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Tataki W/ Red Onions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Tataki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Temaki - Sushi

Salmon Skin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ebi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

California (crab & Avocado) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Unagi (fresh Water Eel) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

California [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Unagi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert - Pastry

Almond Chocolate Cookie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Almond Jell-o & Mixed Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple Tart [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Banana Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry Cheese Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brownie Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Butter Walnut Cookie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carrot Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Biscuit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Chip Cookie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut Cookie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cream Cheese Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Natick for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 189 Worcester St )

Subway ( 251 W Central St )

Auntie Anne’s ( 1245 Worcester St Ste 2046 )

Visit below restaurant in Natick for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 189 Worcester St )

Subway ( 251 W Central St )

Auntie Anne’s ( 1245 Worcester St Ste 2046 )

Write An Anonymous Review

Grace C.

If you're looking for variety for sushi and various Japanese food for a descent price, this place is a good choice. I would say that the consistency on hot and cold food is good, and both got a fair amount of selection; from sashimi, to sushi, to teriyaki meat, soup and noodles. Good salad section too. The desert section is nothing amazing, typical stuff, come in small sample size so you'd get to try different ones. However, sometimes you'd have to wait for a long time, even if you reserve yourself a seat prior to the visit. When you have a big family, the wait is quicker, which to me, doesn't seem fair. They are pretty attentive with the food; you don't ever have to stand there for them to load up a new tray for too long. Especially the sushi line, these guys are so quick they're almost like an assembly. In general, I think this is a descent place but I don't LOVE it. Price is descent for the various selection and parking is always good too.
(4)
Pat K.

One of the best buffets I have ever eaten at. The amount of fresh sushi and other Japanese delicacies was great. My boss took us out for lunch and I was very surprised. The staff was very attentive and a dish didn't sit for more than 30 seconds once you were done with it. What I really liked was that aside from all the sushi that was being made, if you wanted a special roll that was not being served that day or if you wanted a sushi cone the chefs would make it for you. You usually do not find that at other buffets places Aside from the rows of sushi there were all different types of dishes. They had many different soups, cold/hot salads, and everything from Gyoza to cooked whole fish. Overall I enjoyed my lunch there and plan on going back. It was a very large space, and from what I hear it can get very busy, especially at night for the dinner service. But there is definitely allot of space in there for everyone.
(4)
Hannah C.

Been here a few times now. Food is pretty good, including the sushi. I like how diligent they are about refilling the buffet dishes and service is always friendly and efficient. I always enjoy my lunches here, but can't say the food is anything special. Definitely worth a try though! It's a nice place to gather with a small group of friends. Oh, and their green tea soft serve is super yummy, so save room for dessert. Cost: approx. $22 for lunch buffet and $32 for dinner buffet
(3)
Morgan W.

All you can eat sushi and lots of other goodies! A great place for the "annual gorging!"
(5)
Jessica N.

Minado used to be one of my favorie sushi restaurants but the quality has gone down and they are no longer as good as they were before after the opening of maki maki. I think that the rolls are beginning to lack in flavor and the attention to the hot items isnt there anymore. Honestly, not going to come back anytime soon unless I really want to eat at a buffet.
(2)
Martin A.

One of my favorite places to eat. The selection is huge, the price is reasonable and I find the food quality good. Certainly not one of those cheap, poor quality buffets. Lots of sushi, lots of salads, lots of hot dishes.
(5)
Chad G.

"Chad's Eats" review of Minado Cuisine: Japanese buffet / Sushi Location: 1282 Worcester Rd, Natick, MA 01760 Parking: No problem at all. Ample free parking in the parking lot out front. Can be a bit full during busy times but in all the times I have been there it's been no issue. We are always able to get a spot out front of the restaurant Decor / Ambiance: This place is big and open. Ready to Handel big numbers and I have seen an occasional tour bus pull up. Super clean. Greeting: Full team on point ready to great you and get you sat and eating in minutes. Sometimes there can be a short line but I have never had to wait long at all. Very welcoming staff. Menu mix: To the left is an enormous sushi buffet. Great selections! Lots of creative creations and flavors. To the right is an extensive salad line with a huge variety made in small batches. The next line has a hot food buffet with many great selections. They have a great soup/dumpling/noodle section and a hibachi station too. Water / Bread service: No bread at this place. Water always tastes great. Drink pour: We have no drank here so nothing to say here. I think it's full bar Food quality: One of the best if not the best in regards to food quality for a buffet of this class. Dessert bar is average standard. There is a good selection but these are large sheet pan desserts cut into mini pieces. It's ok for a sweet bite but not in house made. The soft serve green tea ice cream machine is nice Service: Probably the most friendly and attentive staff I have every encountered. This company has a great training program and seem to only hire the best of the best. Value: For what you get in regards to food quality, variety and service it is a great deal. They have a points program for frequent flyers which we are and we have used these points to take significant deductions in our bill. Bathrooms: Very clean Would I return: We always do! Comments & Tips: Try to get there right when they open before the rush comes in. Even when full the lines move quickly.
(4)
Jeannie D.

Top notch sushi buffet! Pros: -delicious food including raw and cooked sushi, crepes, all kinds of meats, rice, noodles, snow crabs, cocktails, etc. -lots of seating/large restaurant -from what I remember, the food gets replaced pretty quickly -clean -minado customer card! I don't know if they still do this but if you eat on your birthday, then you are free. Also, if you spend a certain amount, you get $10 credit for the next time Cons: -Expensive :\ -A lot of people so the wait can be long if you come later
(5)
Lucky P.

Big, large, fat asian buffet! Very good value for the money - big discount for little kids. They are not and don't pretend to be fancy, but appropriate if you're looking for a friendly and family environment (can be a bit noisy though). They are not exactly japanese (actually chinese) so most of the sushis are more oily and fat than original jap rolls, but hey, still tastes good. The asian salad bar with some seafood is great, maybe the best for more refined tastes. Overall a great place to go w/ friends and family for an honest price.
(4)
John D.

3.5/5. Came here on a Sunday evening and it was packed! But even for a table of 16 we still got seated fairly quickly. There is a large sushi selection, but as a buffet, don't expect the highest quality fish ever. Sure the sashimi isn't cold, but it's still alright. Also the rolls aren't the freshest either LOL. Some have been sitting out and about. My favorite roll was the one with peanut sauce on it. I'm not sure what it was called but I kept getting it every time. Also the salmon tataki(?) it was served on a little bowl near the ginger and wasabi and that was pretty good. For small chunks of coated salmon, it was better than expected. For the entrees nothing really stood out to me to be honest. Maybe the sweet chili wings? Those were pretty okay. Shumai and gyoza definitely tasted a little sour which threw me off. The soup doe. That got me LOL. The udon soup is noice. I enjoyed that the most out of everything. It had udon noodles, shrimp tempura, tempura flakes, green onion, fish cake, and some seaweed. Dessert was alright. Had a large selection as well. Cakes were ehhhh. Ice cream was ehh too LOL. Only green tea ice cream was served tonight, no vanilla for me. The crepe was bleh too. Don't get any of the fruit except for the bananas, since it's the only fresh fruit they have.
(4)
Rachel B.

For a sushi & seafood buffet meal, this place is solid! They've got a ton of things to try, including some great salads and veggie sides, items which are often ignored by patrons but genuinely appreciated by the likes of me. I managed to fill and eat three plates within the window of my one hour lunch break, yay! This place is great. Next time, I'm wearing stretchy pants and a baggy sweater.
(5)
Gina R.

Pretty good. They have a lot of options, more so then I may have seen anywhere else so far! So much to choose from. There sushi seems fresh, and there is just so much to choose from! Service is good too.
(4)
Saurabh H.

This is my favorite places for sushi in the area. The first thing you will notice is that the place is HUGE and I really like the hustle and bustle of such places. Go for the sushi buffet on weekdays since it is much cheaper than weekdays. All the sushi that they make is great, there is little options for vegetarians if you have any in your group.
(5)
Dedania M.

Driving from Lynn, MA to Natick was a hike but was it worth it? For the experience, yes. I went with my s.o. around opening time and there was already a little line. We were seated pretty quickly and our waitress was quick to ask us for drinks. The lunch special is about $22 plus tip/drinks and the selection was very limited. There was a wide selection of sushi which was very nice! There was a lot of rolls that I never heard of but don't expect too much- this IS an ATCE (all you can eat) buffet. Round 2 with sushi made me sick after a while and I didn't enjoy it as much. There wasn't a lot of good hot/cold food. The dessert along with the green tea soft serves make up for the lack of tasty food though.
(4)
Hoba B.

Not worth the money. Its very cheap layout with plastic plates. Everything looks exactly as a cheap chinese buffets.
(2)
Joanna Y.

I have been going to this Minado establishment since 2007. Minado has both a hot food and sushi section. Unfortunately, I find that the sushi quality has been going down. Their variety of sushi is also not too impressive. I am finding myself skipping over many of their sushi as I make my rounds. If you like sushi buffets for their hot foods, then I would recommend you to come here. I only come here because my fiance likes the hot food and I could still eat the sushi. If you want a great all you can eat sushi experience, I recommend Takusan in Brookline. Minado does have crab legs and oysters during dinner. You need to keep your eyes out though. Every time they reload the oysters and crab legs, customers hustle like crazy to get it before it runs out in 5 min. I also do like that they have a crepes station. The crepes man with the handlebar mustache is really sweet. Green tea ice cream here is solid.
(3)
Gavin W.

The sushi here now horrible, they use prepared rice which make the taste worse. It's a shame for them and I am sure they will lose business for keeping doing this. And their decor and tables are old.
(2)
Melissa M.

Yummy sushi, they have all type of seafood you want. Oysters, crab legs you can eat :) .
(5)
Thomas S.

This place is AWESOME. It can get very expensive, but for the price of a deluxe sushi roll and a regular roll from another place you get all you can eat sushi. It's not the absolute best (the fish falls off the sushi rice a lot), but the quality is quite good especially for all you can eat. Lunch is a great deal here and I plan to come back often. The waiter said dinner on the weekends can have huge lines and the price shoots up to $33. I plan to only go at lunch time if that's the case!
(4)
Michelle T.

Can't say this was the most impressive japanese buffet i've been to, but it was still...alright. Went for lunch service but toward the last hour and it was obvious they weren't refilling their food. A lot of the salads/cold dishes were emptied out, but the chefs behind the counter couldn't be bothered to refill them. While the hot bar was still hot, most of the food was fried and it looked like they'd been baking under the heat lamps for quite some time. I guess in general, it looked a tad on the sad side, but there was still a good variety if you like friend foods. Tempura vegetables, fried chicken pieces, etc. The sushi had a decent variety and it was the one section where they were actually still refilling actively. After you pick up 4 or 5 varieties on your plate, everything starts to taste the same. Crunchy something. Mayo something. lotsa rice. Plenty of little pastry cakes and a couple fruits to choose from at the dessert bar, but everything was forgettable. The green tea softserve however, was pretty good. Didn't feel like it was really worth the $20+ I paid, but I was pretty full...I think mostly from the rice.
(3)
Hind N.

Delicious food,BUT i left it there.I just finished eating and I went to the restroom.i was siiiiiick with diarrhea :( Be careful , I don't think is fresh ....
(1)
Joe S.

Was there for a birthday dinner.. It's a huge buffet... And a huge place.. Noisy and crowded .. The sushi were OK, but i would not go there if i just wanna eat Suchi... Rather go to a real Suchi place because the rice taste was the dominant ! The hot dishes were OK too.. Nothing exceptional, but the dumpling were tasty... The BBQ part was not interesting.. The octopus chewy and not eatable! Huge variety of dessert ! I taste the green tea ice cream.. It was really good and not full of sugar ! If u have a huge hunger and you need to fill that stomach, it's the place to be! But if your looking for tasty and elaborated food, don't go!
(3)
Mimi N.

Best sushi buffet I've ever been to. A bit pricey but completely worth it. Even though it's a buffet, the sushi is just as great or even better than some high end sushi restaurants. For dinner, there is a wide selection of sushi along with crab legs, steak, salmon cakes, soup, and so much more. There's even crepes that someone makes for you on the spot in which you can choose the toppings!! The dessert options are endless and actually very delicious for an asian buffet. They had really good tiramisu cakes. I was overall very impressed and would definitely go back.
(5)
M T.

They have a pretty good selection of food here. Sushi is decent and dessert is hit or miss. I've been during dinner and lunch- lunch is definitely a better value. Weekends get busy, so come early.
(3)
Katherine P.

I went for lunch and it turns out they don't serve sashimi then, though their site doesn't specify so. I talked to management and he had nothing constructive to say in response. Their salads and cooked food were pretty innovative, though, and the fish was good enough quality. The design of the restaurant is also fairly nice and the place is clean. My waitress was nice, too. I'm going to email them about getting a discount on dinner sometime. Otherwise I might not go back. Tenichi down the street is $10 more with higher quality fish and you get a hotpot, too. They don't have the same range of items, though - I think it's the hotpot, some appetizers, and sushi/sashimi. UPDATE: I emailed other management and they eventually gave me a free dinner so I could have sashimi. They serve it in little portions, which is nice, but there isn't much variety. The salads and veggie dishes are very nice, though. I would recommend it if you're not just going for sushi. It's a better than average Asian place for cooked dinner stuff and salads.
(3)
Robert C.

Fresh high quality sushi. Consistent. Delicious. Fulfilling. Plentiful options. A great place to dine. Wish they had a full bar! Also wished they had turned oysters, crawfish, and crab legs quicker! Muhaha
(4)
Fatimazahra F.

Plenty of choices for sea food and fish lovers!! Great place to be for that....awesome sushi Fresh !
(5)
Claire B.

My family loves coming here for family dinners! We all stuff ourselves to get our money's worth and leave happy campers! The sushi is always stocked and Plentiful. Better hope you get to the crab legs before they are gone during peak times! Enjoy!
(5)
Mark M.

Minado continues to get better and better. When you go, there may be a wait, but it is well worth it! Most people on the planet would cringe at the thought of an all-you-can eat sushi bar but it's just that they have never been to Minado! Minado's hot food seems to have gotten a makeover recently with more emphasis on plating and freshness. The teriyaki beef has a little bit too much fat on it but it is marinated extremely well (still no need to reduce stars based on just that!). The shumai and gyoza are cooked perfectly. The cold food and salads are also very nice, especially the seaweed salad (which is second best to Oishii). The king crab and oysters are great but you have to pretty much fight off other people and be incredibly lucky to get any! Smartly, Minado limits oysters to 6 per person. However, wait patiently and hope the person in front of you doesn't take forty of the crab. Minado has many different types of excellently prepared sushi and I think that they have re-vitalized their offerings. Rarely have I eaten an unsuccessful piece of sushi and I have learned about some creations for the very first time at Minado. The desserts are very nice especially the tiramisu, berry and mango mousses and you can't leave without the green tea soft serve. Servers work hard, probably harder than servers at a regular restaurant because they have to bus all of your dishes and attend to your beverages while checking in on you as you stuff your face. All in all, Minado is expensive and you may have to wait, but it continues to be worth the time and price of admission.
(5)
Lisa A.

Based on food alone it's o.k. Huge selection, fairly fresh and replenished often. However, for the price you pay per person, it's not worth it. Lunch is cheaper than dinner but still not worth the price. With that being said, I will never dine at this establishment again. My credit card was overcharged, for no apparent reason. It took 3 days to get an answer/follow-up. With no reason given as to why I was overcharged, just a "sorry". It then took another week to get the credit back into my account. So based on just them overcharging my card, I will never go back. That to me is completely unforgivable. If you really don't mind overpriced buffet food, I say check it out. But be cautious with credit card payments.
(2)
Lindsay M.

Where do I begin??? First off, this place is HUUUUUUUGEEEE. So many seats, service was superb. Our waiter kept refilling our waters and asked how we were doing. My friend and I got the buffet and we went to townnnn. Sushi, fish, so many different kinds of food!! And what I loved about this place was that NOTHING was American. No mac and cheese, pizza or french fries that you would see at a Chinese buffet. The food is awesome. So flavorful and tasty! It's not that cheap, nearly $80 for two people including a glass of wine, but it is definitely worth it. I would come here again in a second!
(5)
Jowanna G.

I'm not sure if I'm angry or disappointed but I know that I left this establishment hungry, nauseous, and $150 less richer. Now I honestly loved this location years back, the seafood was fresh, the hot plates stayed full, and the selections were immaculate. My last visit there was exactly the opposite of everything that I just said. The food was never stocked on the lines, if you are lucky enough to get something the food is subpar, filled with grease, and bland. I did not eat one plate of food and I returned home to an rude awakening for my bathroom. Save your money and time do yourself a favor, unless you love heaps of bland tasteless sushi and fried greasy everything else.
(1)
Alyssa S.

I've been to Minado several times, and I usually leave happy. I've only been here for the sushi buffet during brunch hours since I find it to be the best deal. The freshness of their sushi is hit or miss. However, $18 per person for all-you-can-eat sushi is pretty spectacular. They also have a soup line as well as large trays of food from the kitchen. I usually don't venture over there except for the miso soup, but I'm really picky when it comes to oriental foods. Unlimited sushi from the sushi chefs that just keep on refilling the platters is what keeps me coming back here a few times a year. For the finale, they offer a variety of mini desserts, but I prefer the green tea frozen yogurt over everything...it's refreshing and cleanses the pallet after all that food. For my "Sushi" list: 2.5 stars or 3 stars (depending on your luck)
(3)
Denise F.

I went to lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The prices were amazing and the food was really good. We hit the hot food area and went crazy over the udon noodles, tempura and the variety of great salads. The sushi selection was huge. I really enjoy the variety of the rolls. There was this really bright red beet juice sushi that was really pretty. The only thing that I did not like was the dessert cakes were frozen...BUT the ice cream machine was a great way to end my meal. Our waitress was really amazing. She was sweet and constantly refilling our water and tea! I hope to go there for dinner because I heard the selection is even better!
(4)
Nadine W.

My husband and I regularly crave Minado sushi (at one point we went once a week). The selection of sushi is great and they also have some hot food available which just gives it so much variety. When we first started going, I actually didn't like sushi and only went because my husband loves it. I was able to get my money's worth, however. Their vegetable tempura is great and I also never miss the fried rice, blanched asparagus with remoulade and the japanese green salad. Asian restaurants are usually not known for dessert but I always save room for it when I go there. They have a crepe station and I personally LOVE the green tea cheesecake. Do not go on a weekend night unless you're prepared to wait about and hour to be seated and don't mind fighting with people in the food lines. This is the only reason I'm not giving it five stars.
(4)
Garett N.

I've been here several times over the years. Overall, they serve good sushi, hot foods, and decent seafood. On the flip side, the price has gone a bit crazy and it's now pretty expensive. A place you want to go to frequently? No. Once in a while? Well, maybe. On a side note, they need to improve how they setup the queues for the food. There is some major bottleneck issues getting to food. At my table, I saw the line just to get a plate grow from a few folks to stretching across the restaurant. Not good.
(4)
Julie T.

This place does not impress me in the slightest bit. I feel like sushi-wise, there is a lack of variety. Sashimi is a huge plate with a whole bunch of what looks like scraps on them. The hot foods are okay, but I don't really go to Minado to get hot food. I go to eat unlimited sushi, but after a couple rolls, I get bored. My family is a huge fan of the sashimi, but honestly, they never eat out. Not to sound cocky, but I really do eat out a lot and after tasting so many different types of sushi, it's so clear that Minado is mediocre and blah. Honestly, my family enjoys it while they're there, but once they get home, they always wonder where their money went. I would much rather throw down extra bucks and get much better quality sushi elsewhere than eat here. At $25-$30 a piece without tax and tip included for each person for dinner, it's totally not worth it and if you like blah sushi or are new to it, still, don't come here. It'll be a terrible representation of what REAL sushi is like. The service isn't all that great either. I'll spend 15 minutes looking for something to eat and when I return to my seat, my dirty plate is sitting where I left it while the servers stand around and talk at the beverage section. They're slow with drinks and when you need them, they're nowhere to be found. Honestly, I hate to be such a downer, but everything that they have here could be found with better quality and taste somewhere else. This place just straight up sucks.
(1)
ashley m.

I came during a busy time of day and I found that they had a very low supply and several kinds of sushi were out,which was pretty disappointing. Very nice variety with many choices, Quality was Ok Miso soups and edamame were delicious and they did have some hot food options as well Server was rude, unhelpful and impolite. OVERALL: Great variety, with ok quality
(3)
Annie c.

Count on a feast when you come here. It's best to skip the prior meal before coming here and wear your stretchy pants. There's more selection at dinner but it's also pricier. Sometimes you have to wait a while for the ngiri to come out...iThe desserts are so so - but they are bite size so you can get one if you need to finish your gorge fest with something sweet. Beware prices go up for certain holidays like mother's day - then it's not worth it. It's probably the equivalent to Todai on the west coast.
(4)
Lyan K.

sooo I gotta say I'm not a big fan of raw seafoods and sushi. But this place is "food heaven". I mean they probably have enough food to feed the whole army..I love the vegetable row. And their food are always fresh. Def. Go back!!!!!!
(4)
Josie G.

I absolutely love Minado. When someone says "buffet," usually I think of the Chinese food buffets we have in upstate New York, where the best things there are the sugar biscuits. I was surprised walking into Minado. Although packed full of tables, it was very clean and modern. A great sushi and maki selection, with salads, desserts, soups and more. The first time I went it wasn't busy at all, and I didn't have to wait online. The second time, it was a bit longer to get through the buffet line. But well worth the wait.
(5)
Mara K.

What makes sushi great? The answer to that question will be covered in this review, but first, I have another question to ask and answer: What makes Minado not great? It's not just the mediocre food prepared with the intention of getting it out and onto people's plates as quickly as possible, cutting corners, watering dishes down for Western tastes, or the bland desserts (though I do like the fresh fruit, mostly because it's kind of hard to wreck fresh fruit). I won't even go into the neglected, freezer-burnt ice cream. It's not that the last thing Americans need is more encouragement to be gluttonous. Go into Minado, and you'll see all manner of average, everyday folks loading up their plates with every new piece of nigiri that the chefs put out. You'll see moms and dads stuffing their faces with food while they wait in line because the walk from buffet to table is apparently just too long to wait. You'll see people that look like they could be in the cubicle right next to yours blatantly cut ahead of you so they can load up on gristly chicken skewers before you do. It's not the price, the thirty-odd dollars to spend on food that's comparable to what you'd find in a mall food court. Yes, It's the rude customers with greedy sausage fingers that really ruin this place for me, but that's not it. It's the crappy sushi that is rolled badly and falls apart before it makes it into your mouth. It's the abysmally mediocre food, dishes that have been replicated in a much more appetizing way elsewhere, even in this very state. It's the strip mall location if you want to be a snot about it (and I do). It's the fact that it's been held up as an example of "just the right place to go" for special occasions when I can think of many other places that could probably do the job and do it even better. It's that I've gone several times and told by people who don't know any better that they make "great sushi." You guys, I have to tell you something, and please don't take it personally: this place isn't even half-assed. It's not quarter-assed. It's sixteenth-assed. At the start of this review, I asked what makes sushi great. Well, what is the criteria for great sushi? There is criteria. From what I've read about sushi, there's an art to it that gets lost in translation over here on this continent. The greatness starts with the chef. A great sushi chef will be able to do justice to every ingredient used. The chef will use quality pieces of fish, and the chef will cut them well. Rolls will be tight and certainly won't fall apart when cut. Rice will be chewy, maybe a little sweet. There should be a medley of delicate and distinct flavors and textures to be savored. They should look as beautiful as they taste. Given this criteria, you can find some okay and even some good sushi in Boston, Great will be a challenge because there just aren't any great chefs making sushi in this state. The sushi at Minado isn't even good sushi. This is a sloppy, mayonnaise-coated impersonator of good sushi. You can do better. You deserve better!
(1)
L T.

Is it the best sushi out there? No. Is it the best sushi out there for the price? Oh, hells ya! $18 all you can eat and it is really delicious. My husband try to go on weekday lunches so it isn't completely mobbed. Love the sushi, the fried rice and the green tea ice cream. Love it.
(4)
Jon B.

This is a great deal for what it is - all you can eat Japanese food at a reasonable price. Is it the best sushi in MetroWest? No. Is it a thrill to enjoy a full plate of well made sushi and sashimi, and know that you can have as much more as you'd like - yes! We mostly go for events: birthdays with lots of relatives, friends in from out of town, and the like. Its more fun with many, because you don't miss your table companions while they are up at the buffet. You can also see what they had and find out if they recommend it. My favorites are the made to order Udon noodle soup, the seaweed salad, the oysters on the half shell (always competition for those), the hand rolls, and some of the more creative rolls that have been appearing recently. In my family, we don't eat much of the hot food, not because its not good, but because we love the sushi. There is always a wait on weekends, but if you have a big party, you can get a reservation. Weeknights are best, both for smaller crowds and lower prices. You're having dinner in a warehouse, but its cheaper than Jaspers Summer Shack. Go and enjoy the food and your family and friends.
(5)
Florina K.

Sooo much selection of seafood!! This place is great and so is the service. On weekends make reservations!!
(4)
Karla M.

I've never been for dinner, and I was skeptical at first. The idea of sushi mixed with my experiences of buffets left me hesitant. It's fresh! It's good! Wait! I am a big fan of white tuna, and being able to eat my fill for $16 is more than worth it to me. My charges (two 2-year-olds) LOVE this place, and it is very kid friendly. I judge many places on how they treat my kids, and the staff here is very attentive to the children, and very friendly in general. That's worth a star in my book. There is an entire cooked buffet that is very good, soup that is hit-or-miss, and hibatchi I've never tried. The rolls aren't anything creative, but they are good. The sushi is fresh, and they now offer hand-rolls as part of the buffet, if you ask the sushimen behind the glass. (It's not well-advertised.) Great bang for your buck if you are hungry and need a sushi fix. GREAT for children and large crowds. It can get very very very busy around holidays, school vacations, and lunch time on any given day. Go at 11.30am or wait until 1pm, unless you don't mind a bit of a wait and a slight decrease in waitstaff. Because of the pretty constant stream of people, nothing sits out or gets the typical buffet crust.
(4)
Scott S.

When you think asian buffet or even sushi, you think small and only offered on some off saturday but when we met up with another couple to eat here I was amazed at the size and selection. We went on a friday night which was quite busy but were told they put out all the stops and wow, there was pretty much everything from crab legs to sashimi by the fishtul to soups and things for even the vegan in our group to enjoy. Table service was quick in picking up used plates and getting us fresh beers when we ran low. Always keep the water and bevs coming as you'll eat til you explode when you try to engorge on all the different items. Great for a group more than for a couple out or to impress an out of towner. I loved it. Only downside, is it can get crowded and form lines to some dishes so go in the off hours and avoid the long lines.
(4)
Zachary Sam Z.

Ah, Minado, the place we couldn't go to for lunch very often at work because the main developer was a steak and potatoes guy. But I wasn't really complaining. As much as I love sushi, the only gimmick that Minado has going for it is the quantity, and that is only interesting for so long. The food itself is fine, but I don't crave it like I normally crave sushi. I only ever ate here if someone else was paying (but, honestly, for me to pass over free sushi, there'd have to be some major problems). A few people have commented about how busy it can get, and that is also a turn off for me, but for more than just the inconvenience of waiting around. When I think of sushi, I think of a particular experience, and it doesn't include an assembly line. Yet, when there's masses of people swarming around food dishes, it feels too mechanical for me.
(2)
Jocee Z.

Love the sushi and cake there! Too far away...
(4)
Hiroko S.

All you can eat Sushi. I can give one star for the selection of foods. Even though it was all you can eat sushi, tastes are pretty good. The thing is it is soo hard to eat a lot of sushi because rice makes me so full quickly. I recommend you to come here at lunch time. Dinner is a little bit expencive and more option for foods. Still you can eat a lot of sushi during lunch time.
(4)
Nancy L.

I've been here numerous times with a big party. Seafood was always fresh. Sushi rolls are delicious and made fresh. Cooked foods, especially the teriyaki are awesome! Highly recommend this place if you need a sushi/seafood fix!
(5)
Stephanie F.

Wonderful for a Buffet! I'll be very honest, I am not a huge fan of all you can eat buffets. The food is mediocre at been and been lying around for hours, which makes me highly uncomfortable with sushi! Also, I'm a huuuge fan of raw oysters, but the few buffets that have them are usually watered down because they've been soaking in ice cold water, yuck!. Minado is different. I went on a saturday night and the place was packed (despite how huge it is)! Overall, the quality is good, or at least its fresh and doesn't sit there all say. There constantly making the sushi trays, and the variety is decent, though not impressive. The crab legs are great, because there is plenty to go around and you can have as many as you want. Oysters are very tough to get! They're fresh, but there is only one guy shucking them and as soon as he puts them down they're snatched up in seconds by like the first 2 people (though if you talk to shucking guy in spanish and you're friendly he'll hook you up and put some directly in your plate!) Deserts are actually good too! The have made to order crepes (yum!) and they're serve serve green tea ice cream is the best i've had. So if you're looking for an all you can eat, this is the place!
(4)
Elaine M.

Most of the food here is pretty decent, as far as buffet places go. You are presented with a wide variety of different hot and cold food options, including a well-sized sushi bar, which is its primary draw. But when I think back to my particular dining experience here, two words come to mind: frozen sashimi. Sound weird? That's what I thought, too... but the salmon sashimi I had here was definitely still slightly frozen. I'd never experienced that before--and I don't think I want to again.
(2)
Becca P.

I haven't been here in a while and didn't enjoy it very much before but when I went for Mother's Day it was amazing! The sushi is good and surpassed my expectations. For a buffet at $30 it isn't bad at all for the sushi, hot food, and other types of food that you get. Talking about this place is making me hungry. I'm trying not to drool on my laptop at work. The desserts got better too! But what I disliked was the LONG WAIT and line for oysters (limit to 5 / person). The oysters aren't that great anyway..better off going to McCormick's where they have $1 oysters and they are fresh and delicious. Overall, I love Minado when I am craving sushi and have the time to drive from Boston to Natick..with a hungry stomach..and $30 bucks to shell out.
(5)
sondarya R.

My both the thumbs up for this place. Best for: Seafood lovers. I have been there for many occasions there now, love to go on Sundays as we enjoy Oysters and it is worth single penny we spend here. Mostly Chinese-style Hot steamy mouth watering dishes, are higher quality than regular buffets, not over-seasoned or oily. The selection include soups and dumpling, salads and raw foods, Vegetarian meal with some unique oriental flavors There is a large variety of sushi to choose from, some are very unique at Minados and can't be found anywhere else,great selection of Desserts. I finish my meal with fresh fruit. The staff is very attentive. If you leave your empty plates on the side of the table before you get another serving, they'll come by and pick it up for you. Minados is one of the few places where the price matches the quality and quantity, Minados provides a great atmosphere for everyone. My Favorite : Soup, Dumplings Oyster, Sushi, Stuffed Prawns, and Greens Note: In each visit we are allowed to pick few Oysters at a time, which keeps everyone have some and help keep Oyster supply fresh out on the table. * Place is mostly packed but we manage to get seating as soon as we reach.
(5)
Sushiman S.

Haven't been here for awhile, but what the heck, it was a shopping weekend along route 9 and I figured since the traffic and stores were so crazy, I might as well finish off the experience with an insane buffet. As always, I felt like an underfed minority...the place was packed with skinny Asian kids with bottomless pits for stomachs.. It was the usual madhouse at the sushi line.. Started off with some tempura udon, the broth was good, but the udon fell apart...yuck.... I always pass on the non sushi hot dishes, today was no exception, but they did look yummy and my dining companion said they were tasty, especially the yakatori and teriyaki and gyoza. There was also a huge fish that was literally being picked apart by the hoards... Sushi, well I went for the sushi, and as usual was not disappointed... Quality is OK, nothing world class, but it was fresh and the fish was tender in each piece/roll I had. I wish they would put a touch of wasabi under the nigiri style, but understand why they don't... Their creativity is nothing to write home about, but there is definitely enough variety to keep almost everyone happy and well fed. I do like the fact that you can get a "hand roll" if you ask for one... That's how I get a custom made portion.... just be patient... They even have a sushi rice rolling maching to make the rice sheets for the rolls... awesome.. Dessert, well I don't go there for the fake pastries, but the green tea icecream is pretty good!
(4)
Jay W.

Currently $31.50 to have dinner, which is a lot, but if you like sushi, you can sure get your moneys worth. I've been there several times, and went last nite and literally enjoyed 18 pieces of sushi. Many diff. kinds and an interesting one is the Shrimp Mayo roll. The Beef Tataki is exceptional, cocktail/coconut shrimp is great, remaining cold entrees/salads are average. Beef teriyaki is pretty good and remaining hot entrees are decent. All in all, if you go and have tons of sushi, it may equal or what you would spend if you'd buy them in 6 or so like at normal sushi places.
(4)
Eva H.

All you can eat buffet. The lines can be long sometimes but you get such a great variety for your money! I have hosted a few b-day parties there and am pleased with the food and service provided. Your not gonna get the best sushi rolls but it is buffet style. There udon station is pretty good, the broth is always delicious. The dessert station isn't so shabby either.
(4)
Alexandra Z.

Love Love Love this place! I can get get enough of it. Everything is sooo good!!! It's not a really cheap place, but it's well worth it!
(5)
Mayo B.

The place was just ok. Yes, the price is good for the amount of sushi/sashimi you get, but I thought the quality was just ok. I definitely have had better quality sushi. I was not impressed with the hot food. I would stick with the sushi as the hot food was tasteless and not very exicting. The desserts were...eh, ok. Like the other reviews, the green tea ice cream was good. The crepes were disappointing.
(3)
Ann S.

I came here a few years ago to celebrate my uncle and aunt's anniversary and for a party of 15, we were seated fairly quickly without a reservation. Walking in, I was in aw at the selection of food. There were lines and lines of food and I was super excited to start eating. At the end of my trip, I was highly disappointed. I decided to start with the sushi. One word: trash. The quality of the sushi was just terrible. **This is not the chef's fault.** I guess Minado's just didn't give the chefs fresh materials to use for sushi. Granted, I am very picky when it comes to sushi, so that comment can be side-stepped. Onto the main dishes, I had a lot to choose from. There was Chinese, American, and a bunch of things I couldn't even identify. The food was pretty decent. Onto the desserts: this was my favorite part. The crepes were delicious and made right in front of you. The ice cream selection was big enough. I wasn't a big fan of the food and unless someone is treating me, I won't be back.
(3)
Joe G.

This place is huge. The waitstaff was tremendously helpful and delightful, almost annoyingly so. I went with my partner mainly for the sushi. We usually spend about $160 for sushi for two but not at Minado's. $90-! I ate a lot of it too. The sushi was not bad, lots of choices to be had. As I write this this the very next morning, I can say that I am not ill and I will go back again! The only thing I was not thrilled with was the oysters. Just not thrilled. Vee Vee's in JP has $1 PEI oysters every Thursday night; they're delicious and I do love my oysters.
(4)
C M.

Highly recommend Minado! Great food and service! If you enjoy sushi, oysters and crab legs - this place is definitely for you! Yum!
(5)
Jeannette L.

For a buffet, this place is pretty good. The raw fish and oysters are fresh, the sushi and sashimi are decent and have a pretty good variety, the salad option is .. (well, who eats salad in a buffet), their cooked dishes are also worth tasting, so are their dumplings, udon, crepes, bite-size cakes and green tea soft serve ice cream. It is expensive, especially for dinner during the weekend, but for a sushi buffet, I think it makes sense. So I don't go there unless there is a get-together or I'm hosting some guests in town, plus I always end up so full, I can barely drag myself outta there. So if you are a buffet, seafood and sushi fan, this is the place for you. Come here with a game plan, don't eat too much rice (that totally fills you up!), people line up and go greedy for the raw oysters the moment they put them out. I once saw a lady pile two plates with raw oysters. I assumed she had a family, but no, she was eating all of them by herself. But anyways, if you like them, you gotta be quick about it.
(4)
Mimi W.

I only go here for the sushi and I can say straight off, that it's not anything special. I don't think sushi is one of those things that should be served/created in bulk. If you're not eating sushi here, I pity you, because your bill will likely come out to be 40 dollars per person on the weekend, and all you got were some noodles under a hot lamp. Went a few times with my family for birthdays, till we unanimously decided that eating there was too expensive to leave $ to buy a damn present for the birthday boy/girl.
(2)
Flora R.

It is a sushi buffet. I'm pretty much sold at the get-go. Everything is pretty fresh and there are tons of options. This is a good place to go with a small group as you can find what you want. Service is pretty attentive, even on busier weekend days. If you'd like to eat your weight in raw fish - this is the place.
(4)
Rita V.

Expensive for the quality... The place smells fishy (no pun intended), and its not because its all prepared center stage, I really think its the moldy humidity of the local. I saw a lot of asian folks going, so I figured if judged by native diners, then it should be a safe bet. Definitely mass produced sushi, and relatively pedestrian Chinese food. Dry pastries. If you are in a rush for lunch, it makes sense to do the quick buffet. But nothing to write home about. Average food, ok service. Pricey. Quite frankly, the Natick Collection food court sushi is actually better, they are fast and its more affordable - IF you want to go into the mall. Very spacious, so if you are in the mood for going out with the lunch crowd from work, you have enough space to create your own setting, stuff your face if you don't mind so-so for lunch price, and then say "adios amigos" time to go back to cubicle city and burp it up for the rest of the afternoon. Lately when really pressed for time, I've been doing take out - but at 15-$17 a pop, I think I should stick with cold cuts in my fridge or a happy meal (hey, I love Micky D fries!) and wait for better sushi elsewhere. If I'm going to part ways with my dead presidents... might as well enjoy them.
(2)
Tracy C.

Minado never fail to impress us. They change their food items from time to time so it is always refreshing to re-visit them. I would go for weekday because you pay less for the same selections. It is indeed a buffet unlike any other buffet. It is also a major attraction when my friends from west coast with us, hey, let's go to Minado, they told me that only minado rival the restaurants in Caliornia. Love love this place. The biggest concern is all that calories and how to burn them off.
(5)
Tiff L.

This is place is expensive but it's all worth it! An all you can eat sushi buffet is like a dream! I love it! It's not all sushi which is great because if you get sick of it, there's other food. My favorite section of the buffet is the ice cream machine. I'm addicted to their green tea ice cream!
(5)
Jack L.

Whoa, when this place opened up a few years ago, I was like omfgosh! It's an F-in' SUSHI/SASHIMI BUFFET!!!!!!!! Having gone to college in the Midwest, I thought these fairly priced fresh sushi buffets only existed in Chicago-land. Evidently not! This place serves lots of fresh sushi/sashimi for all you sushi lovers out there. It's a great place to hold office parties/dinners and group get-togethers. Since they have the non-sushi section with fries, BBQ chicken, steak chops, pasta, fried rice, chow mein, etc., they are also very non-sushi eater-friendly for those unfortunate friends whom faint at the sight of raw fish on rice dipped in lo-sodium soy sauce and wasabi. For only $20/person for a dinner buffet, this place is relatively cheap considering the high quality sushi they serve at their buffet lines! Plus, they have import beer and rice wine for all you Asian beer loving foodies! ^_^
(5)
Shannon D.

I've been to this place once before years ago, and it stuck in my memory so long that I recently rented a zip car for four hours just to drag my husband here. The food is really quite high quality. The creative salad bar, sashimi, oyster, and crab bars were amazing. My husband made the mistake of trying one of each kind of sushi they had -- it adds up to a whole lot of sushi, and no matter how good they are, once you've had 30 of them, they start to lose their charm. It is such a treat to come here. When my parents visit, this will be the place I'm bringing them.
(5)
Peter R.

This place is great and a real value any way you slice it. I LOVE the sushi buffet, I love the cold salad and hot food selections! The ONLY thing I don't love about this place is that I live about half an hour away and that car ride home (when I'm all stuffed and my epiglottis is struggling to keep open so I can breath) is the second LONGEST 1/2 hour I know! Second to the half hour there (when I'm starving and waiting to get wrist-deep in a big pile of sushi! Drag 8 of your friends along on your birthday and they'll give you a gift-card!
(5)
David Y.

Can't add anything new that hasn't been already mentioned before. This Japanese buffet serves a lot of seafood and sushi. There's also a teppanyaki station to grill up beef, pork, fish, or chicken. I stuck to the fish, sushi, salads, and deserts. For $21, the lunch was expensive but good. The sushi isn't high quality but it is not bad. I enjoyed every piece I tried. The hot line served a variety of fish, seafood, and meats. I enjoyed the various baked and fried fish the most and particularly didn't care for the noodle dishes. The cold lines had a few salad that I really enjoyed but the veggie salads were very limited and I wished there could have been more. The dessert line had a lot of small cakes and fruit. All pretty good although the fruit was below average quality. The service was nice and prompt, filling up our water and removing dishes pretty quickly. We did tip a traditional amount for this buffet but thought it was deserved. Wouldn't normally come here due to cost but I'm glad I tried it.
(4)
Kadin L.

Went here once for my cousin's birthday and eveything went well. i like how there's space between each table so that we dont have to squeeze our body to get out. I like how they display their food, very high-end. Also, the crepes are AMAZING, like really AMAZING!!! But my favorite of all is the green tea ice cream, oh so fresh! the only reason why i knocked a star of is that it closes too early, i mean 9pm? other than that, YAy! i'm a fan.
(4)
R B.

Kinda fast food sushi. Must be fresh because of the hordes that descend on the buffet, continually clearing it out and you can see the sushi guys rushing to fill stuff back in. Cavernous warehouse space, not very New England (different, but in a good way too). Great because there's a ton of stuff to try and their non-sushi items are very good. Really like the non-traditional salad offerings. Great place a for a big picky group. Danger is the "eat all you can" aspect. Lunch is a good deal -- dinner is obviously more $, for that I'd opt for a "real" sushi place vs. crazy big Vegas style buffet.
(3)
Sarah C.

I've been here about 10 times now. Overall Minado is okay. Of course you can not compare this Sushi buffet to Sushi restuarants in Boston (Douzo, O-Ya, Fukaygu) to name a few. The place is pretty big and clean. The waiters/waitresses I've had there were always pleasant and attentive to clear our plates when we were finished. I think the weekend dinner is a better deal than their lunches. Yes it's $10 more but you also get additional items that are not there during lunch (oysters, crablegs, sashimi and much more). If you do not like sushi or maki then do not waste your time here. Yes, they have hot japanese style food however it's not worth the $21 or $30. Go to a Japanese hibachi place for that. Now the sushi and maki rolls are pretty decent. They are fresh and quite delicious. It's definitely a place to go maybe once or twice a year. I do not frequent this restuarant as some of my other favorite places. But I like how they have a array of maki's and you can try one of each... and then go back for more! Finally- I do like their desserts. Why? Becuase they are small bite sizes so you don't have to get one big slice of cake. ALSO their green tea soft soft serve is awesome. I love it! Yes, I know, don't go there JUST for the green tea but it's a great way to end your gorging of sushi and maki at the end.
(3)
Lily J.

Not worth the considerable dinner price ($32 per person for dinner Fri-Sun). There's definitely a lot of food, but you can get better quality food for the same amount of money elsewhere. Minado might be worthwhile for people who just want to eat a ton of meh sushi, but I couldn't eat enough to tip the quality vs. quantity scale. We also had to wait forever in a crowded room before a table for two opened up.
(2)
Karman L.

Came here with a group of 8 people. Server was pretty attentive. Food is okay for sushi buffet - they do serve salmon and tuna sashimi in chucks? and they also serve raw oysters, white tuna sushi and sea urchin sushi (which I don't usually see at sushi buffet). I am always going to eat WAY too much...so I actually made it to the fruit and dessert this time. Pineapples were sweet and the red-bean ice-cream was good. Atmosphere was okay for big group people...but it's pretty loud there...so you can hardly hear what people are saying at the other end of the table. Also, be prepared to fight with other asian people when the raw oysters comes out....they either grab a WHOLE plate full of oysters....or they cut in front of you and take all the oysters even you are in line waiting to have a few oysters....
(3)
Erik O.

is place is very good, but its a bit pricey for a buffet... the sushi is alright, nothing special. but the rest of the buffet is spot on other than the price.
(3)
Courtney H.

I went here on a whim after getting my wedding dress at the David's Bridal next door. I'm really glad I tried on the dress BEFORE going to Minado. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet with sushi, sashimi, raw oysters, all sorts of hot and cold asian dishes, a hibachi grill, a crepe station, and an entire row of desserts with ice cream. And not lousy stuff, either! There were some pretty fancy items available, including salmon roe rolls and sea cucumber. The price is pretty good, too. It's $26, but think about how much you'd normally spend at a quality sushi restaurant. Just make sure you're hungry when you go. I stuffed myself silly. I also found out how many salmon roe rolls I can eat before I get sick of them. The answer is three.
(5)
Lilah L.

I'm sorry, despite what others say, sushi SHOULD be at a buffet. Umm, YES. The price of sushi is so high these days, it's riiidiculous. Absurd. So I think it's pretty awesome they make a variety of sushi at this place. And plus, I probably eat like $50 worth of sushi at this place, not to mention all the other foods I stuff in my stomach. The only thing that disapointed me last time I went was they dont serve avocado anymore. But understandable, I'm sure it's an expensive fruit now. The salads are delicious and very different...whether it be crunchy, sweet, sour, whatever. You want it, you got it; you dont want it, you get it anyway. But I would suggest coming here for lunch cuz it can be a little pricey for dinner if you're thinkin about prices. But it's you're thinkin about the shape of your stomach towards the evening, then I suggest not even coming here at all cuz it's guaranteed you'll leave a whole different person...shape, size, mindset on food (you'll never want to eat again), mental state (you might be experiencing some drowsiness cuz all your energy is being used to digest) If you aren't as mindful about the price, come here for dinner...then you wont waste much of the day sitting around stuffed to death, drooling all over yourself.
(5)
Adam Z.

I'm not a huge buffet fan but the fact that you can eat every single seafood type here makes this a place to try out at least once. They have more fish at this place then the ocean does lol. It's that insane. Eel, shark, crab, mussels, clam, salmon, everything! I could go on for days. The deserts are very lack luster. The sushi is very good and there's a lot of it. The wait is always huge. The waiters are great and friendly. A decent place all in all. I'd be willing to come here once a month to once every 2 months just to see if they change or add any different dishes. Minus 1 star for the price. Comes to around $37 during dinner if you leave a tip (you have to leave a tip IMHO).
(4)
Lynn D.

If you dine at Minado, you'll engage in a seafood extravaganza. I loved the sushi and the wide variety of seafood from which to choose. It was a bit pricier than I expected (about $40 per person), but I suppose that's to be expected for unlimited seafood. The seafood was fresh. I liked just about everything I tried.
(4)
Natalia T.

For a buffet, it's very very nice ... for $27/pp it better be! It's nice to dry all different sushi, rolls and verything ... but it's not great, it's good the other food is pretty good I'd go there once in a while when I'm staaaaaaaaaaarving!
(4)
Susan C.

Love this place! I go with my family all the time and my nephews love the place and food.
(5)
Hogger K.

I just read Andrew R.'s post on 4/3/2011, and some of you will wonder how our reviews could be so similar but we rate it so differently. Read on. The allure of Minado is huge. You hear about it all the time. Beautiful and huge dining area, huge selection, as many crab legs as you can eat, etc. It's the great American chow-down. However, you have to focus on the reason you go to a restaurant. If you are going for "value" (i.e. to eat a lot of expensive fish products that would cost you hundreds of dollars if you ordered stuff with the same name in a good restaurant like Shiki in Brookline), then give the place 4 or 5 stars. I have to underscore that the quality of their food is not close to a good sushi restaurant. But what do you expect for a buffet? If taste and value are important, then there is no way that this place gets above 3 stars. Pros: large selection, strong waitstaff, the salad bar is good (but you don't pay a lot of money just for a salad bar, the soda has the proper amount of carbonation (I hate when restaurants serve flat soda). Cons: long lines at the buffet, hot food is okay, desserts are terrible (except for the soft-serve ice cream), sushi rolls are terrible because they use cheap rice. Also, you can eat as many crab legs as you want, but they are incredibly salty (maybe it's to hide the fact that they've been sitting in the freezer for a while?). The sashimi is okay. The roe are also okay, but you don't go to a place just to eat roe. Bottom Line: if you want to feel like you received a great deal because you ate half of the ocean's living creatures (regardless of how long those creatures have been floating on the surface), then Minado is a perfect place for you. If you are looking for great-tasting food AND you have eaten at other good sushi places, you will be disappointed by Minado. I'm not sure how anyone can give a sushi place more than 3 stars when they write that the sushi is not good.
(2)
James H.

What more needs to be said than high quality, all you can eat sushi (and extras) for under $35? Heck, I could spend that on 3 or 4 rolls at some places!
(5)
Jeffrey L.

this place really is as good as it gets. The sushi is good quality and all you can eat. For this price, the amount of food and variety you get is great.
(5)
Allison N.

The food was all really good. Not the best sushi I have ever had, but close, and with everything else that is offered, it is totally worth the price. Make sure to try a bit of everything, don't just take what you know. You will find some new favorites.
(4)
Vu N.

Not a big selection of sushi for the buffet...pretty disappointed about that. Oysters are only for dinner and they're not even that good. The fish is not great either. Way overpriced for what it is. You're probably paying for the huge restaurant with plenty of seating and plenty of other regular normal buffet food. At least the frozen yogurt is good.
(3)
Kevin H.

Closes at 9PM on Fridays even though the door and website says 930. Smug MaitrD informed us they close early every Friday. Bummer
(1)
Sarah L.

my favorite buffet restaurant in Boston
(5)
Thomas L.

Went for the lunch option. Place was *packed*. Food quality and selection were decent. Shame that there are so many people jammed in there, hunting and pecking at all of the plates; the food moves fast and while the staff are attentive to refill the plates, it's not happening as quickly as one would hope. I do have one huge item of concern, and I wish management would take notice; please, please, please move whatever 'station' made-to-order in the hot selection area. I'm talking about the station to our right of the dumplings. So many folks are lined up here, there becomes a huge backlog that impacts the entire line. It's brutal.
(3)
Nicole C.

This place has many other chain restaurant. But this one is so so. The crab leg is not fresh as I visited before. But for the price in the area, it is worth to try it. Sushi is good.
(4)
Benjamin W.

Great food, lots of fun! Love the tariyaki section and the desserts. Lots of seafood too but ran out way too fast. A little bit pricy but still would recommend once a month or so!
(4)
Betty L.

I'm not sure why this place has a 4 star overall. If you've had any experience with decent Japanese food and sushi, then I would highly advise you to STAY AWAY. I was skeptical even coming in because of the nature of this place: a sushi buffet. Sushi is meant to be sliced fresh and eaten immediately after. However, buffets are run with the principle of displaying food for customers to grab. For me, this is highly contradictory. And I was right. When I got there, I saw that the sushi CURLED. Like rubber. Like dried leaves. Like OLD SUSHI. Alex craved sushi and he actually tried it. Not a good idea. Apparently it was tough and had that "old fish" taste. Even the rice that the tuna sat on shattered like a rock at the touch of my chopstick. Not exactly the best sign. The hot foods are OK. Typical asian buffet style - greasy, not authentic, and not fresh. My favorite of the hot foods was the green beans. The beef teriyaki was rough. Everything else was covered in grease. Now I actually liked the cold foods such as the spicy cucumber and seaweed salad. Good job, Minado, on those. They did have a noodle bar that made udon, soba, and ramen on site. I was able to taste both the udon (soup) and soba (cold). The soba was, at best, OK. It was cute that they tried to keep it authentic by serving it on a bamboo sheet, but the sauce ruined its attempt at authenticity. As for the udon, well, all I can say is I'd much rather cook it myself. Yup. That's it. Never going back, ever.
(1)
Tim Y.

Solid 4 stars. I would give it 4.5 if i could. We always make it a point to hit up Minado every time we are back east. This time we actually went twice in 3 days! The cooked food is solid although there aren't as many items as those other $7.99 Asian buffet places. However, You get what you pay for. There's a huge selection of sushi and rolls. I usually stay far away from buffet sushi but the fish here is fresh. The crab legs were great. Not sure why but I was addicted to their crab soup. Try a bowl!
(4)
Justin M.

Ok here is the deal with this place... GET THERE EARLY!!! I came here for lunch (which they could charge more for and I will still go) about right at opening time maybe 30 mins after and it was 25% full. After I was there for about 1 and 1/2 hours there was a line out of the door. GET HERE EARLY!! What more can I say, its high quality sushi, buffet style, and its delicious. The green tea soft serve ice cream is absolutely amazing. Mind you I HATE GREEN TEA ICE CREAM!! The set up of the buffet is nice and organized and crammed, when it gets busy and there are lines going from the beginning of the buffet table to the front door it gets a little crammed but WHO CARES its all you can eat sushi. I didn't really try any of the hot foods or salads only the soup which was terrible. The soup seemed as if it came right from a back to my table. You have to come here and try all the different types of sushi!! SUSHI LOVERS ITS A MUST!!!
(5)
Jesse W.

Great selection of food. So off the bat you may think that this is a buffet so there is no way the sushi will be anything I want to go near. But trust me give it a shot the sushi is above decent quality for a buffet and the variety of other options is well worth it. I always start with a huge helping of sushi including Octopus which is my favorite.
(4)
Jean-Paul M.

I've been coming here for years. The Sushi is great. The service is GREAT (Asian Eddy is the best server ever!!!!! ) Also When you go to the sushi bar, you can ask them to make you any roll you want.
(5)
Daniel S.

Minado doesn't pretend to be something fancy. They advertise themselves as a "Japanese Seafood Buffet" and that's exactly what they are. It just so happens that "Japanese Seafood" includes sushi. The buffet is divided into roughly two sections, one featuring cold food (i.e. sushi) and one featuring hot food. There is also a small soup station and an udon/hibachi area. Depending on whether you come for lunch or dinner, the experience is slightly different. Dinner features a few more premium options, such as sashimi and sea urchin. Lunch is more standard fare. The sushi is good quality and replenished relatively frequently. However, if you come during a peak time, there are some options that may be difficult (during the dinner rush, people hover around the oysters and they tend to disappear within a minute). It can also be a bit stressful during those times as you are competing with people for spots in line. Outside the rush hours, the experience is a bit more relaxed and more fun. You are also more likely to get the more popular foods and, during dinner, hand rolls, which have to be custom ordered. Overall, Minado offers a solid buffet with good quality fish and makes for a fun evening out.
(4)
Wendy C.

The foods are way soooo good. A variety of sushi, fish, vegetarian, desserts, chicken, and everything you want. The price is nice and you could really have a big, satisfied treat there!!!!!
(5)
Jocelyn C.

Great good, but very expensive. The slice of fish is getting thinner and thinner, the rice is getting bigger and bigger! The selection on cooked food is pretty good! Nothing really exceptional.
(4)
Anonymous J.

Make sure you are hungry before coming here to get your money worth! They have a lot of selection in regards to sushi and various food! I love the soup, steak, lobster, crab, clams. The waitstaff is very nice and clears your plates regularly and brings you drinks. The only con is when it is packed. I hate waiting in line!
(4)
Jon C.

It's been a long time since I've been here but when I came for dinner I enjoyed it.sushi buffets are hard to come by.normally sushi and buffets don't mix but they do a good job here.everything was pretty fresh.tons of different sushi to choose from. Is it the best sushi I've ever had? No. I know spots that are better but you will also pay 10$ plus per roll.at minados for around $30 you get it all.cant beat the price for what you get. Service was good.they were super busy if I went back I wouÅ‚d make reservations first.
(4)
Habib T.

I love this place, i always visit it when i am in the area. Freshly made all you can eat sushi, sea food, Japanese hibachi and many, many more. Nothing of the dishes is disappointing, stuff is very efficient and professional. The restaurant is clean. My only negative aspect is that it is always crowded. I would definitely recommended it and i will keep on visiting it when in the area.
(4)
Kartik P.

Every time I passed through the sushi buffet line and the seafood stations I had food orgasm! Been wanting to have sushi since long and given my appetite I refrain from going to a la carte. This place satisfied all my needs. Wonderfully set up array of fresh sushi and salads of all kind. Hot/cold salads are worth trying. But the strategy is ofcourse not going for the salad and having them in between sushi's to act as taste bud cleaners! :D The seafood was also amazing. Especially crab cakes, fish which was cooked in broth and ginger. The flavor of the fish stood out and was worth the try. There is hardly anything in the buffet line which you would consider as stomach filler. Top of the notch service and hospitality. They make sure your plates are away immediately and the drinks are refilled appropriately. If you have a sweet tooth, a huge dessert line awaits you! Clean place, plenty of parking and seating, good for large parties with or without kids! If am in the area its a definite visit again.
(5)
Korey K.

Second time for this place ! I really think it is the best taste buffet I have ever had before ! And that includes all the buffets I had in Vegas ! Reason I like this place is their food quality is very high! The taste of sushi, different dishes , cold dish , and hot dishes all well cooked! Unlike all other buffet , when they only get few dishes right.
(4)
Derek S.

Tried Minado last night after hearing there exists a true sushi buffet (not the scam that newish area restaurants like Nana in Billerica, Maki Maki in Woburn, or Nijiya are running - billed as AYCE but you're constantly harassed about ordering too much and they go out of their way to make the experience as awkward and unenjoyable as possible). Anyway, Minado was a mixed bag: Pro's: - huge variety of food: hot apps, salads, non-sushi entrees, and of course sushi. - some decent selections in that huge variety (except the sushi - see below) - attentive staff (constantly checking on you/refilling drinks) - dessert spread is great. The desserts actually have taste (not the flavorless sponges and bricks I'm used to at most other Asian buffets). Con's - ambiance: there is none. The place operates like a cattle call: get in, get as much food as quickly as you can (cutting other patrons in the process), and then get out. - sushi: it sucks. The pieces are small and dominated by rice. There is a wide selection, but everything tastes exactly the same (ie - no taste at all): spicy tuna tastes like California roll tastes like uni nigiri. - price: $33 is way, way, way too much for what you get. Dessert is great, and some of the non-sushi selections at the buffet are decent, but I'm talking "$12.95 with a bowl of hot and sour soup" decent. Bottom line: still searching for a true sushi buffet with good sushi in the Boston area!
(2)
Daniel P.

You will get full, sushi fish is decent but sometimes the nigiri sits too long and goes a bit off- if they would make it a habit to watch the nigiri trays and take away anything that had been sitting too long (In particular I got a piece of old ika that was quite chewy, alternately, just watch the chefs and see what has been added recently and only take the freshly made item on every given run through the sushi line)--- I could bump up another star if the nigiri quality could be improved because otherwise Minado gives serious value as a meal and the service is good.
(3)
Xiao Z.

Bottom line: One-Hit Wonder, lunch only. I love sushi and I like Japanese food, and I have to say, if you're a foodie with a large belly and a skinny wallet, this is certainly the place for you. Located in Natick, this establishment is just across the street from the mall with ample parking spaces and tables for large parties. As for the food, the sushi was very impressive, from specialty rolls to tamago-sushi to sashimi, the quality is certainly above average, fresh and constantly in circulation. The visual presentation may not have been as amazing as a 4-star sushi gig, but the quality is great (amazing per buffet standards). My favorite section, however, is the cold salads section with all sorts of pickled vegetables, seafood dishes that I find myself frequenting more than any of sushi sections. The warm food section, with teriyaki, grilled fish, soba noodles are also quite impressive, but I strongly recommend the grilled salmon, especially near the cheeks, it was amazing! As for the desserts...it's typical buffet standards with a multitude of delicate cakes, but if you've been stuffing your face with fishy goodness, a big bowl of soft-serve green tea icecream will definitely hit the spot. For the price, don't bother with the dinner, it's the exact same food but $10 more expensive. Lunch may be only limited from 11-2, but totally worth it. I've been here 3-4 times here now, and I think with all of the toll booth and driving, I'm done for now, but I strongly recommend checking it out! Food: 4 stars Price: 3 stars Service: 3 stars
(4)
Rick L.

For a buffet, the sushi was excellent. The nigirizushi portions were sizable. The noodle bar... I had ramen which was excellent. Lots of cold salads. The warm food on the steam tables were beautiful. A nice assortment of meats, fish, and vegetables. Desserts were exceptionally tasty.
(4)
Benjamin E.

If you like a lot of mediocre sushi then this is a good place to come to. The sushi is not exactly what would be considered traditional. After living in Japan for almost a decade, I can assure you that cream cheese is not found in sushi. The sushi here is very Americanized which is not a bad thing at all. It is a good bridge for those who are interested in trying Japanese sushi but are not ready to go all out and eat raw fish. The other entrees such as the noodle bar and the cooks foods are average. Nothing out of the super ordinary but again a good place to help those who are just trying raw fish for the first time and have the option to eat cook foods if the sushi becomes overwhelming. Good selection of desserts and fresh fruits. The service is good. Staff continually check to make sure all is well and to clear off the dirty dishes.
(3)
J M.

Exactly what I'd expect of a sushi buffet... y'know, sushi, and lots of it! I can usually find at least two or three rolls I want to go back for seconds, thirds, fourths........ only reason they lack a fourth star is the very understandable fact of mass-produced sushi, left out for a little while, is not very high-quality sushi.
(4)
Jiyea C.

Good value for your money if you can eat a lot, I guess. Not the best food I've ever had, but sushi buffets are so hard to come by in the Boston area. I liked the variety of sushi/sashimi, but I thought that they all contain lots of msg (based on how thirsty we were during/after our meal..that's usually an indication for my body that I consumed lots of msg) The sushi seemed a little dry though, probably because they sit out on those buffet lines. (This is why I prefer sushi buffets where the food is made to order, even if it means more wait time.) Oysters weren't stocked very quickly, and there was a line every time a new tray of them were brought out. Other than that, I did not experience a lot of lines on a Friday night. At the noodle station, the udon is good, ramen and soba are not. At the hibachi station, the shrimp was ok, the LA ribs were very dry and tough. Chicken and beef teriyaki at the hot food station were pretty good. So was the tempura. Green tea ice cream is delicious! Crepe station is kind of whatever, the fruits they use are scooped right out of cans and the crepes are made ahead of time and then heated up. It's a little weird that this place closes at 9:30 though. I feel like usually buffets should be open longer.
(3)
Bob L.

Their dinner buffet has gone down in quality for the price. It's no different than their lunch but with very few big ticket items. Not worth the bump of over $10 from lunch to dinner.
(2)
Kate M.

Went to Minado for the first time. My husband and I were so pleasantly surprised! The only other Asian buffet we had ever been to was on the Cape, and it was less than stellar. The price for the buffet was approx. $20 per person. Maybe a little more. We didn't look at any prices, and for two people the total cost was $54 not counting the tip. My husband had a soda, which I think included free refills. I had iced green tea, which did not include free refills. Anyway...the place was PACKED, which to us was a great sign. I was floored by the amount of sushi on the buffet. I love sushi and really enjoy trying varieties I've never had before, but I usually only try maybe one new type because the cost can get out of hand very quickly. There were so many choices on the bar, I'll have to go back several times in order to get to them all. There were many other types of foods that I was happy to try. Only a couple of them were, in my opinion, inedible because of the strong, unpleasant taste. Of course I realize that those items are probably favorites to those who grew up eating them. The one dish that I wish came with a warning was the Turbot fish. I had never had it before and had no idea how many bones were in it. The taste might not have been too bad, but I wouldn't know because my mind went into red alert trying to figure out how to get so many bones out of my mouth without offending the other diners who were seated around us. My brain just doesn't have enough processing speed to figure out if it tasted good or not too. Other items that were especially good were the chicken wings, crab rangoon, and the tiny chicken bites that were not on the skewers. Oh! And the green tea ice cream is really great if you like a dessert that is not super sweet. The lime pettifours (at least they're the size of pettifours) are excellent and not too sweet as well. As for the wait staff, they were quick with refills and plate removal, and though our conversation with them was brief, they were very sweet and attentive. And the gentleman who seated us was adorable with great spikey hair and a delightful sense of humor. We will definitely be going back again and again.
(4)
Gonzalo P.

Absolute heaven! Amazing and great selection of all you can eat Japanese Tapas, salads, sushi, soups and much more! If you go for lunch, you will get a great deal for all of the servings, but it gets really pricey at night, but still worth the price! Skip a meal and go crazy here!
(5)
Vivian C.

Gee, my stomach hurts. But that's what you get for going to an all-you-can-eat buffet! My first trip was for sushi. Then the second time for a visit through the "salad bar." Back again for some cooked foods. And topped off with a crepe where the line was slowest and sometimes longest. Crepes and the eel hand roll are only available at dinner time, I figure in order to help justify the significantly higher prices. Not advertised on the Crepe filling list was a mysterious yellow custard. Curious, I asked what it was - it was lemon flavored. Okay, I went for it, and found it yum! Another tip - Pick up a little cup of the soft serve and you can have your dessert a la mode. I particularly enjoyed the seaweed salad and the bone in grilled beef (kalbi?) from the grill table. For birthdays, they'll put candles on your cake for you, they also plated up some of the desserts from their buffet line and lit that up as well, and raised their voices in song. But yeah, no more gift card for the birthday boy or girl for a future freebie meal and no more pretty Asian umbrella to pose with for fun photos. However, if you pick up one of their frequent diner cards (free), you can accumulate points per dollar spent in actual food and receive $10 in credit towards a future visit for each 250 points accumulated. Speak to your waiter if interested. A 15% gratuity is automatically included for parties of 8 or more. Lunch Monday - Friday: $17.75 Saturday - Sunday: $21.75 Holidays*: $21.75 Dinner Monday - Thursday: $29.95 Friday - Sunday: $31.95 Holidays*: $31.95 Drinks are not included in the AYCE price, but it seemed that refills were included in the soft drink price. $1.50 for sodas, $1.50 for green tea (offered in tea bags), $5 for a bottle of beer.
(3)
Bob R.

Stayed at Fox Towers Friday 5/29/2015. Would not recommend.Horrible experience. Asked to speak to Manager at front desk refused to come out.
(1)
valerie d.

Obsessed and in love. 4 instead of 5 because the sushi itself is a little grody but the other side of the buffet is amazing. I swear to you, when I walked in it was like walking into heaven. It was disorienting and overwhelming and beautiful. All of the salads are amazing. The fried oysters are the best I've ever had. They have amazing little pieces of beef with bones in it, so so good. It never runs low and its hot and fresh. I am legitimately considering having a wedding there, although they probably don't do that. The sushi isn't horrible and it's fun to pick out but it's far from the best sushi I've ever had. Oh, but they do have one horrible practice. The waitstaff is super nice and clears your plates regularly and brings you drinks, unlike many buffets. But once you get the bill it suggests you tip 20%. I forget how it's written but it's tacky and obnoxious. First of all, it's a buffet. I thought at a buffet since you get your own food that you throw a ten on the table as to say, "thanks for taking my plates away." But at 30 dollars a head it seems wrong. It made me not want to tip at all.
(4)
P G.

Where can you go wrong with all you can eat sushi? My girlfriend brought me here for my bday and I was very impressed at the amount of food you can get. The quality of the sushi was great and the choices you can get are amazing. Can't wait to return!
(4)
Gregory F.

Garbage. This is the only word that describes the lunch buffet. When you walk in to the restaurant it smells of dead lobster which is not too appealing. They receive one star because the service is not horrible, they always refill your drinks and continuously resupply napkins. The food is lukewarm when it was fresh out of the kitchen, none of the advertised foods such as lobster, steak, crab, or salmon were available for lunch. The desserts were headlined by jello squares that any idiot could make at home so it's nothing special. For some odd reason Asians LOVE this lackluster Japanese food and I don't understand it. You're welcome
(1)
Minh N.

Sushi was terrible. Desserts was aight. Can't expect much from a sushi buffet. Good on presentation, but focusing on flavor and taste is a whole different story.
(2)
Avana S.

Having been to numerous all you can eat sushi buffets, I have to say this was the best I've been to yet. They offer unique sushi rolls, self-serve soft ice cream, salads, and warm dishes. The flavors are delightful and the service is friendly. Instead of filling out a form, you self-serve at the buffet counter. One of my favorite dishes was the cabbage salad with almond slivers, I could've eaten platefuls of that salad. The price is definitely worth the value. If I'm visiting Boston again, this is a sure stop!
(5)
Diana Z.

mediocre sushi, but a lot of it.
(3)
Thomas N.

What can I say, It's an buffet. It's not bad, give it a try if you enjoy all you can eat places. They've been around for quite some time so that should tell you something!
(3)
Rogaa S.

Minado.. honestly id rather just go to one of my regular sushi spots, just cause a lot of the sushi they have i dont usualy eat. But all the other food is great. A lot of shrimp dishes literally like every other one was some thing of shrimp something. Which I didnt mind, the dishes were really good but it kept my opinions low. The pork dumplins were on point though seriously. The selection is a lot better than the stuff you'd get at a regular chinese buffet for sure. You can definitely get your moneys worth even if you dont eat the sushi, trust me I did. The reason they got a 5 star instead of a 4 was our waiter Wei. This dude was honestly the best waiter I've ever had no joke. He was so attentive to us especially with how busy the place was when we got there, i was so surprised how well we were treated. We ordered a bottle of Sake and we had started going HAM on the crab legs like 4 plates of just legs piled high. Wei was coming by the table and fulling up our cups with Sake like every 5 mins, cause you know eating crab legs is a fulltime job. Dude was so legit Wei for president !!
(5)
Andrew R.

Standard buffet quality food.
(2)
Katy F.

Update: Always waiting for food to come out. They don't have enough of the popular stuff. If you go to close to closing at lunch or dinner, they just stop making food. What a rip off. And very expensive. Lot's of gangsta looking peeps in there, too.
(1)
Kristine R.

This grandiose sushi buffet is just plain amazing. There is a large selection of different sushi and sashimi rolls to tickle your fancy. You can rest assured that the food made fresh to serve since they make a new batch/roll right as they run out. Which happens pretty frequently since they make it so perfectly. Although their speciality is sushi they have other Asian foods that will suit your tastes as well. There are soups, fried or sautÃ©ed meats and even seasoned grains (rice, noodles) that will help fill you up! The options are endless! During dinners they can even make sweet crÃªpes for you at your request and they have tasty lobster too! The staff has always been extremely attentive, polite and friendly. It's definitely a bit pricey but TOTALLY worth it! Give it a try!
(5)
Jiexin P.

awesome! incredible!
(4)
Danielle K.

How on earth did an amazing all you can eat sushi buffet just minutes away from my office stay hidden from me for so long?! I'm very happy that a friend asking me to drive her to David's Bridal in the same plaza lead to a very delicious discovery of Minado. Yes, it seems a little pricey for lunch ($21.75 per person on Sat. & Sun.) but the quality sushi is worth it. Their buffet has more than just traditional sushi rolls & salad. The Miso soup was delicious, as was every piece of sushi & maki rolls that I tried! I was too stuffed to sample desert, but the spread there looked decadent. I highly recommend joining the free frequent diner program. You earn 1 point for every dollar spent (excluding alcohol, tax, and tip). For every 250 points earned you receive a $10 credit to be redeemed for future purchases at Minado.
(4)
Daniel K.

I love coming to this place. There is absolutely no reason to complain about it. I come here for dinner pretty much for one reason. All you can eat snow crab. Also the sushi is good and the hot foods are delicious. Just don't eat too much.
(5)
Shawn D.

Really great variety and worth the trip. Like previously stated, get there early. Our waiter Eddie was hilarious, and we thank him for the amazing water that made the best diet cokes. (Was the ongoing joke all evening) If you love sushi and a huge variety of Asian delicacies, give this place a try.
(4)
A L.

If you LOVE Asian food and you LOVE sushi, this is about as good as it gets, if you're in the mood to indulge. The all-you-can-eat Sushi bar gives many options for sushi, and there is a sushi chef on hand to make custom hand rolls. Aside from the sushi (which is what brings most people to this restaurant), there is a large selection of asian food: dumplings, soups, noodle dishes, veggie dishes, etc. You can't go wrong. The only downsides to this place are that it feels kind of industrial inside (due to its large size), so it isn't exactly an intimate setting. The other con would be that you can't leave here without feeling disgustingly full. However, it's worth the experience if you're in the mood for a delicious and fun eating experience!
(5)
Eliver R.

I have been to Minado's now about 20-25 times over the last 5 years. Great place if you're looking for good sushi and lots of variety. They usually have approximately 45-50 different types. They are all made fresh right behind the glass counters that they are place on. The restaurant is is pretty big but still plan to wait a few minutes to be seated on weekends. Since it is usually busy that is a good thing because the food is fresh and they are always bringing out new items The price is above average for a buffet but take into consideration that it's good sushi and that you would normally be spending a little more if you were going to a non buffet sushi restaurant.
(4)
Sally J.

Way too expensive. To get a decent priced meal you have to be shorter than 4'10. Unless you want to spend you're weeks earning on endless rice and assorted finger cakes then I recommend sawing off your calves to shrink to that height. However the line out of the door would be even worse without lower legs. Basically a loose loose.
(2)
Jane F.

In the scheme of choices a person has during the workday for lunch, Minado's has to be hands down the best choice for taste, health, speed, parking, and accessibility. I am almost mad at myself that I have worked in the area for a year, have eaten at lesser quality restaurants so close by, and never knew of this gem. No doubt it will become my "go-to" for lunch in Framingham-Natick.
(5)
Scott P.

After completely gorging myself and feeling slightly sick when leaving I made it to the car and immediately unbuttoned my restrictive pants and put my seat back. I was totally incapacitated and utterly useless. The wife drove home while I moaned with a belly full of the meat of at least 15 different creatures. I'm still trying to convince myself I got my money's worth and stuck it to them with all the oysters and crab legs I ate, but after seeing the bill, they are the ones laughing. I made it home and went right to bed. It's 3:40 in the morning and I'm coming around, but still dehydrated and full. My only regret about this whole thing is wearing jeans and a belt, and not my trusty buffet sweatpants. I'll get you next time, Minado!
(4)
Lucas M.

Minado has the best sushi in earth, it is just sooooo good/ It is not cheap like other oriental buffet but food is just awesome. I wish I could live near Minado but it is 30-45 minutes away from me :(
(5)
Christian H.

I felt using parts of Aragon's speech from "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" might help everyone understand that this place is amazing... Lovers of Buffet, of Japanese Cuisine, my brothers and sisters! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of this Yelp reviewer. A day may come when you don't feel like having all sorts of Japanese food, and your desire fails, when we forsake all other buffets, but it is not this day. An hour of deciding where to go and trying to order take-out, when the age wondering if want sushi, tempura or teriyaki anything comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we eat! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you come to Minado! Eat, ALL WHO LOVE JAPANESE BUFFET!
(5)
Tj V.

Loved this place! Walked in and sat down and was blown away at the quality of this buffet. Sushi was fantastic and the food...omg. New top 10 favorite place to dine!
(5)
Leandra G.

I lvoe this place. This is a place to go once in a while when you want to treat yourself because it costs about 32 dollars. However they always keep food rolling out and the staff is friendly. I really love the green tea ice cream ; it is very refreshing. Also I love the crepes bar as well. They never dissapoint me.
(5)
Aaron B.

Great place to eat. The food is very good and it's all you can eat so get a little or a lot i's all the same. The sushi is good, I'm more of a cooked guy so I like the volcano roles. The place can hold a lot of people, and usually does, but don't worry you will have no problem getting what you want. It's clean and looks nice on the inside. For kids they charge by height not age so if you have a short old kid it's free. I can't remember the height were you start to pay but for my kids that when they turned 2.5 years old and it was about 1/2 the full price. So not bad. Great place to have a long lunch.
(4)
Bryan R.

Anyone who is saying this is expensive or isn't worth it is confused. SEriously people, what do you pay for sushi family platter thing at any sushi place? I would bet it would be as much or more than here. Dinner is well worth the price of admission. They brought back the shrimp tempura hand roll which I can't resist at all. I love love love love love this place. I literally could go here everyday. I have noticed that Sundays at lunch the crowd has really died down to nothing, so if you want to take full advantage go then.
(5)
Jason F.

one of my favorite all you can eat places. its a little on the pricey side, about 18 bucks for lunch and more than 30 for dinner. but the sushi is great, and they also have regular Japanese hot food. the servers are all pretty nice, and they are quick to clean up plates. there's probably about 20 different sushi items you could get. the place seems to do really good business, as it was pretty packed right before closing time. I really liked the teriyaki chicken!
(5)
Thuy T.

This was one of the first sushi buffet i ever went too and at first it was great but now it seems like they are holding back on things, I use to love their spider roll and shrimp tempera rolls but when i went last week, they didn't even have any and said they switch things up all the time... well... i guess now that i know that there is a chance that i won't get what i want from here.. i won't be coming back anytime soon since there are so many other places to go too now....
(2)
Aldo A.

Great place . Clean . Same quality food every time I go there . I hope they can open another one in the city but still worth the trip .
(4)
Kockyo X.

The server was so nice and she was very helpful. The crab legs are fresh, but the tuna tastes like blood... Otherwise everything was very good. The location is a little bit far from Boston, and it was pricy. However, the foods definitely worth it though. Great selection of Sushi and hot entrees.
(4)
Marissa G.

What to eat: - Any of the cooked fish, especially the fried escabeche. Nothing was overcooked, everything was fresh and flavorful, and there was a huge variety. - Beef! Both the kalbi and the teriyaki beef were excellent. I was surprised by how tender the meat was. I went back time and again for these cuts. - Poke and avocado salad! Delicious mix and perfectly balanced dressing. - Crab legs! If you get to the buffet at exactly the right moment, you can get the most succulent claws, but wait too long, and you'll be left with the legs with little meat. - Many of us have had green tea ice cream that is simply colored green, without the flavor. This soft serve, however, does not disappoint. - Sashimi salads: much better than their plain sashimi counterparts just a ways down! Get the white fish in the cilantro sauce. Excellent. What to skip: - Unfortunately the sashimi is between okay to inedible. Please understand that I am a sashimi elitist, and so if it isn't super fresh and fatty, I am likely to spit it out. The salmon cuts would be find rolled up into a maki, but they are not up to snuff for sashimi. - Oysters. Damn. I really wanted to chow down on these all night, but they just were not fresh. Perhaps I caught them on a bad day, but after tasting one oyster, I didn't go back for more. - The maki were pretty decent. But I'm not crazy about filling up on fried tempura bits, rice, and mayonnaise, so I usually skip that stuff-- but for all the sushi beginners out there, this side of the buffet table might be your haven. Overall a great experience though. Good variety, lots of fun, and lots to eat. For $29.95, it's a bargain. And if you come on a good oyster day, even better!
(4)
Peter C.

Yes, it is expensive for dinners. The lunch is pricey as well. And the place can get super crowded. Minado has good Sushi. It's a great place for a buffet of sushi, if you can eat alot. I do enjoy Sushi, but there is a limit on how much I can eat. Whenever I go to Buffets of any kind, I tend to eat more than I normaly would, and leave feeling way too full. I try and avoid most buffet places because of that. What's nice about Minado is that they seem to constantly have chefs cranking out new sushi rolls right there in front of you. The popular ones go quick, but at least you know it's fresh. I don't really care for the buffet experience with people rushing to get new food and crowds forming in certain areas. It's a battle sometimes to just get what you want. To best honest, there's a few places in Mass that do an All-You-Can-Eat where they make sushi to order and bring it to you. That's my favorite experience. Minado gets SUPER crowded on weekends, and for the price, I can't see waiting for a table. I typically avoid Minado for dinner and try and catch a weekday lunch if possible. There are other Sushi places in the area, such as Oga, down the streeet. I usually go there, because for dinner, I get away cheaper and my dining experience is nice and romantic and I'm not having to get up to fight my way to the sushi line.
(4)
Mac C.

We went recently for lunch on a Saturday and were not impressed. Even though I am a sushi eater and my wife is not, we came away with the same opinion. Market Basket under Arthur T could give this place a run for the money in the sushi department. The rice tasted old and the fish slices were razor-thin. We felt the desserts were so-so even though we had different things. The best foods were the cooked fish on the right side. The bass especially was excellent. The tempura was also good. Afterwards we agreed that for similar money, we could have gone to a top flight sushi place and had a much better meal.
(2)
Bela S.

I am going to give this a whopping 5 stars, and I don't do that lightly. Is this the best sushi I have ever had? No (but it is damn good). Is this the best sushi buffet I have ever been to? Absolutely! To start, it's inexpensive for an all you can eat sushi place. We went for lunch and were out at about $45 with tip! While I wouldn't call that a cheap lunch, I would call it a cheap sushi lunch! The greeters and wait staff was extremely cheerful and we were seated right away. The place wasn't crowded, maybe 1/4 capacity, but we are talking Tuesday around 1:00pm, so I would expect it to be full (not to mention the fact that it seats 100+ I would estimate; pretty big for a sushi joint). We were pretty hungry so we asked for water and went right to browsing (for those picky about their water, tap is free, of course, but they do sell bottled as well). There were about two dozen different sushi rolls, alongside about a dozen various salads. There were also soba options and various cooked selections as well. For those not into fish, I believe there was chicken wings and some other poultry options. I did try some teriyaki chicken, however I wouldn't pay to fill up on anything like that. The grilled bluefish was also tasty. Everything (that is cold) is on plenty of ice and doesn't seem to sit around long. Even with the relatively few guests, the sushi chefs were hard at work making rolls and replenishing the plates. The attention to detail was what I noticed right away. Patrons make their selections using tongs. There is a set of tongs for each item, including sushi rolls. While we were browsing, there was a staff member swapping out the tongs for clean ones. We just thought this was wonderful; we KNOW that the same tongs touching raw fish don't end up sitting out all day. Excellent! There were also various bite sized cakes and ice cream soft serve available. I had a bite of the green tea cake and ice cream. Cake was great, green tea ice cream could have used more green tea. But I NEVER go to a Japanese place for the dessert. In my opinion, if you rate a Japanese restaurant on their dessert, then the part of the meal that actually mattered, the main course, was simply not good enough. Had I been hungry, I would say the dessert bar left something to be desired. But I didn't get a chance to leave hungry since there were so many fresh and delicious main dish options. Minado also recently added a perks card. The way it works is every $250 spent earns you $10 that you can either save up, or spend whenever available. While I have heard of better deals (like $10 per $50-100 spent), I can't complain. It is a card they didn't have before, and now they do. The way I see it, we will easily end up spending $250 in a year's time. So we will be getting $10 "gift" yearly, at minimum, just for eating at a place that I am going to go back to many times either way. It's a win for the business and a win for me. To the clever person complaining because she doesn't like sushi... it's an all you can eat sushi buffet. I wish reviews like this could be flagged and deleted. Maybe I should complain too because I wanted a filet mignon and didn't get one... sheesh.
(5)
Mark T.

I have been going to this place for over 10 years, it is out go-to place for celebrating birthdays (we are a small family). This used to be one of my favorite places to eat; but it is now in decline... 10 Years ago, the sushi and maki were made entirely by hand, now they are made with the assistance of machines. Because of this, the rice tends to fall apart much more. Also, after they started using machines, they store the "logs" of rice for sushi in the fridge; so when it is pulled out, it is not as fresh. Fish at this place is always fresh and of top quality, however, before there were boats full of pieces of salmon and tuna (sashimi) now, they have a small amount in tiny little plates, which takes up considerably more space on your plate. Especially if you want more than 2 pieces. But, they give them a little bit of sauce, and a quick blow-torching (adds to the flavor). Selection of maki/sushi is impressive, however most of them contain very little fish, they are filled, instead, with many different kinds of stuffs. If you are feeling ambitious, try the hand rolls - unagi (eel) (only available for dinner) is my favorite. Nice array of non-sushi/maki items, both hot and cold. (At the right side of the buffet) Cold stuff is great, hot stuff is nothing too-too special. Soups are pleasant but salty, and with the salt content of soy sauce, salty is not the best way to go. I cannot comment on the hibachi, as I have not had any (Yes, in 10 years going here I haven't got around to it) Desserts here are just plain boring, the deserts do not even come close to the price tag. If you still have room inside you for dessert, get some fruit, jello, green-tea ice cream, or a freshly-made crepe! Overall, despite a decline, $40 per person (at dinnertime) for all-you-can-eat japanese, is a deal that is very hard to beat, and still provides very good value. ------------------------------------------- ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------------------- TIP: Go Sunday-Thur at around 6PM, there are fewer people and a shorter wait time, if any. Note: It is very easy to over-eat at this restaurant, while sushi is not bad for you, avoid lying down or sleeping very soon after eating, let the food fall into you, and start to get digested. Also, before going to bed, have a bottle of water within arms reach. I once woke up dying of thirst with no water nearby. ALLERGEN Note: If you are allergic to shellfish - avoid this place. It is a sushi buffet, almost everything may contain trace of fish... but more importantly... They used to have Kikkoman Soy Sauce bottles, but then changed it to a different one (Yamasa I believe). When I noted to my waiter that I liked Kikkoman better, she told me that it is the still Kikkoman, but different bottle. The problem here is that the ingredients are slightly different, and people can be allergic to almost anything. So, if you have ANY allergies, go online, and check the ingredients in Kikkoman, and check the Yamasa bottle too, in the case that the waiter was wrong.
(4)
Jack C.

This place is the best ... sushi was awesome, great assortment ... came on a Saturday night with table for 12 ... seated immediately and feasted even faster ... would definitely recommend!
(5)
Chris G.

Good food, but come hungry or you won't get your money's worth. It's $35 for dinner per person, drinks are fairly priced, but a bit weak for mixed ones. The sushi is good here, but not quite as good as Asia Bistro or Oga's. It's a bit much for kids unless you don't mind overpaying. Their lunch buffet is less money, but it's kind of a dissapointment, if feels a lot like those other $7-$8 buffets, but at a much higher price.
(4)
Jeffrey G.

Let me start this off by saying - I HATE BUFFET's. Ok - now that I have that behind me - I LOVE this place. The selection, cleanliness, variety, freshness, service, etc, etc, etc, etc is absolutely amazing. When I first hear buffet I get a bit scared. When I hear sushi buffet, I get really scared. First thought - I am going to get sick. Second thought - 1000 California rolls. Wrong on every count. This place has very small, and continously replaced treats. From sushi, to cold plates, to hot items, to noodle soups, to green tea soft serve ice cream, this place has it all. They don't cheap out either. Very common to see interesting items that I love to see on a buffet - things that I might not want an entire regular meal of - but am dying to try. Salmon skin, surf clam, and calamari sushi. Entire lips to tail roasted bluefish. Flash fried smelts. Arame seaweed. Creamy tofo. I could go on. Don't let my descriptions scare you - they do have the standard salmon, tuna, avacado, and cucumber items as well. Go -and GO HUNGRY. Try everything. You will be back. Reading a number of the other reviews - I have to say, I think this place is a bargin. I am used to going out for sushi and spending $15 for lunch of 3 rolls. For the variety, and unlimited choices, I am more than happy to pay the same at Minado.
(4)
Bette S.

The prices are getting a bit high. Many times they run out of the most popular sushi such as salmon and waiting holds up the line. They should keep this a priority and have 2 people instead of one making the trays. The fish s always fresh.
(4)
Melinda L.

Always crowded esp for dinner when it opens at 5:30 on weekends
(5)
Wendy H.

Delightfully surprised. A lot of fresh salads, Hibachi to order, a lot of desserts including fresh to order crapes ... I'd recommend this for the fresh I sushi variety, warm foods, sea foods and tasty dessert varieties ... My favorite was the green tea ice cream. Tastes like Macha ...
(5)
B B.

Dinner is $32.00 a person. Pretty pricey. However, you're getting all you-can-eat quality sushi. If you've been around the sushi block, you'll know that it can cost up to 20.00 for a quality roll. But here, you aren't limited to one roll for your money. I ate almost 4 full rolls before starting on the other selections of the buffet. Great great place. Server was awesome too. Ask for a crab-leg eating demonstration! I will come back. Again and again.
(5)
Cong S.

For the price, the sushi is just average, I've had much better sushi else where. And there's WAY TOO MANY people on weekends! Prepare to wait at least one hour to sit down. Good luck with the crab legs because you won't get any unless you wait next to the pot, seriously.
(1)
Eunice E.

The original all-you-can-eat sushi buffet in Boston metro. You'll leave with an empty wallet, but definitely a full stomach. When I'm feeling HUNGRY, and I'm in the mood for sushi (and a drive), this is the place to go. I usually go straight for their rolls first. I like that it's all labeled with the ingredients (seriously helpful when you've got a crab allergy!), and that you're required to use tongs. Thanks, Minado folk. And a trick I picked up from a veteran Minado-er was getting a bowl of soup to go with your rice-laden rolls. I usually customize my own, starting with the clear seafood broth as my base and adding a pinch of spice, scallions, and a tempura shrimp or two for fun. Trust me, the food will go down easier. I then like to go back and take a look at the salads (an entire row of different salads), and opt for the Japanese egglant (mmm), seaweed salad, and perhaps some other ones if I'm feeling adventurous. The hot sides include your standard chicken teriyaki, tempura, etc., but the last time I went, there were also breaded scallops (omg, yum) and a giant bluefish. Verrry good. As many others do, I end the meal with a nice light green tea ice cream (okay, and a few of those ridiculously adorable, lightly sweet dessert cakes... green tea cake, strawberry cake, mango cake... all quite good). Mmm. The service is always good--friendly and fast. I came here with my family a few days ago, and our guy, Ricardo, was exceptionally quick at clearing plates, and always did so with a smile. Thumbs up for the staff... they make or break the experience at any restaurant, and thankfully for Minado, the waitstaff who helps out on the floor are a 'make it' kind of crowd. It *is* on the pricier side, but keep in mind it's an all-you-can-eat sushi place! You'd be hard pressed to order as much good and fresh food at a traditional Japanese place for the same price.
(4)
Yujin M.

My brother and his family really like this place, so I end up coming here every once in a while when I visit Boston. Accepting that the second word of "sushi buffet" pretty much means you shouldn't really expect high quality sushi, Minado is one of the better sushi buffets out there. They don't have a wide variety of nigiri and the ones they have aren't great. But if rolls are your thing, you'll do alright here. Their hot foods are fairly standard Japanese buffet fare, and they have a pretty good sashimi salad. What does make Minado better than other sushi buffets is that hot, cold, and dessert stations combined, they do have a wide selection of food. The presentation is always nice and clean, and you'll never see an empty tray of food. The dining hall is very wide, and my niece and nephew love to wander around and gaze at the giant fish hanging on the walls and from the ceilings. The staff has always been very understanding of the horrendous mess that the kids make everywhere within a three foot radius of their high chairs. Overall a good choice if you're bringing along a group of indecisive people who aren't picky about their sushi. I think the $17.75 weekday lunch price is a deal, but you won't find me here for weekend dinners paying $31.95.
(4)
Peter Y.

Let me preface this by saying, sushi is relatively expensive. If you go out for nice sushi, you know you will be spending at least $20. So why not spend a little bit extra for all you can eat? Minado is the best sushi buffet I've ever been to, in terms of quality and taste. The freshness is unbeatable, and the variety is extensive. Even their non-sushi food tastes superb. The three things I miss most about Boston are my family, my friends, and Minado.
(5)
Sung L.

When this place was first established, it had pretty good food. Over the year, the service of food has gone down hill drastically. They don't want to invest in good chef, but yet raised price steadily. The sushi used to have very good balance between rice and fish. Now, it is LARGE junk of rice and fish that is cut so thin like paper. The taste of other food has suffered greatly. Few months ago, I went there with my family. I have witnessed this one guy who was making sushi answered his cell phone while making sushi. He was rubbing the cell phone and around his ears while talking. After the call was over, he continues making sushi with same plastic glove he used to answer call. He did NOT wash his hand NOR changed the glove. That totally turned me off... I skipped that section, but I am wondering if that is how the overall place is. Would not recommend unless you want large quantity of sushi.
(2)
Brock W.

Best Asian food around and the biggest buffet as well. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because they are so darn expensive for dinner. You will drop more than $30 per person. Otherwise, great staff, HUGE selection of sushi (I'm talking like 30-something choices!) and tons of other cool food like every kind of Asian salad you could imagine, as well as some of the staple Asian dishes you would expect.
(4)
Ash C.

Their oysters are very fresh. Sushi rolls are regular size not a miniature size like other places. Their hot dishes like portobello mushroom and white fish tastes heavenly. Overall, the best all you can eat sushi experience.
(4)
Christina K.

When this place opened, the sushi and the food was ok(not great but ok) I have not gone there for years and yesterday I decided to go the for lunch..OMFG The sushi was WARM, tasteless and disgusting. The hot food section was made with I think left over fish from the sushi bar. No taste in either food section, long crazy lines. Then my sister and I still have good poisoning and my sister is still experiencing ABD cramps and cold sweats. How are this people in business? That's was the only meal we had yesterday. I do not recommend this place to my worst enemies..( not that I have any)
(1)
Tom C.

I love Minado! It's probably one of the best sushi buffet places I've been to. With the exception of a few things. The good: Ample amounts of cooked meats, fish, sushi specialty rolls, and salads. The bad: I was eating their teriyaki steak and some of it seemed under-cooked (ewww!). The dessert section needs more variety. Only had fruits (orange, grapes, melon, cantaloupe), 3 different cakes, and almond cookies. Service was good. If it weren't for the undercooked meats, I would've given it 4 stars.
(3)
Henrique P.

The best sushi place around here.
(5)
Keenan G.

This is the best sushi BUFFET I've been to, but the quality of fish is mediocre. I felt that the reviews were overhyped about the taste of sushi. If you just want sushi, then this place will satisfy your cravings in abundance. However, the sushi selection is definitely expansive. There are many kinds of specialty rolls with salmon, tuna, mackerel, scallops, unagi, giant clam, tamago, crab, and roe. There are also chefs who make hand rolls on request, though the eel (unagi) handrolls are dinner only. For lunch, there is just eel rolls. The rolls are rice-heavy (which is expected). The non-sushi selections were good. I liked the japanese eggplant and takoyaki. They don't have any standard American fare like mashed potatoes or chicken nuggets. Fish is cooked in authetic Asian style, with the bone left the fish so tell your children to be careful. Prompt seating, courteous staff, and dirty plates were taken away quickly. They also give a 20 minute advance warning near the end of business hours The bill comes out to ~$25 per person before tip for Saturday lunch. If it were ~$15, I'd give Minado's 4 stars. For the same price, I can eat to fullness with better sushi elsewhere.
(3)
Anne W.

Finally made it out here to Natick after trying Maki Maki and was told this place was awesome. So one of the biggest problems about this place is the distance.. I would pick Maki Maki near Harvard Square any day over this place. The price is about the same.. So I came on a week night so that is probably partly to blame. I actually was less impressed with this place than Maki Maki (I do want to note that when I went to Maki Maki.. it was during their grand opening month. The food could have gone down hill since then.. not sure). So most of the things in this place were just okay to bad... the things that were better than Maki Maki were: Giant Clam Nigiri Arctic Clam Nigiri Udon (they do not have an udon stand) Desserts (they have actual pastries and not just fruit) Oysters (they are better not awesome here) Steak Tartare and other various cold prepared raw fishes (that were not sashimi or sushi form) Korean bbq (beef short ribs were good) They do not have a lot of the foods you see at Maki Maki like: Lobster Other hot seafood choices We also ate a lot of seaweed salad. I don't know.. I just really wasn't impressed with this place. Waiters were friendly... Oh another thing.. they really start cleaning up 30 minutes before they close.. and it's kind of annoying because you have to run up and get everything you want before they close. It would be nice if they started putting everything away at 9:30 instead of 9 pm. This place is pretty pricey.. yup.. $36 with tip at the end. Meh.. not worth the drive for me. I think I will stick to Maki Maki or other seafood buffets.
(2)
Joseph K.

The service is pretty good, but some of the food are too dry. Maybe they are left on the table for too long. If you are hungry and you are craving for some sushi, this is the place for you. Otherwise you can find another place with much cheaper options with same quality food.
(3)
Amy D.

the sushi is so fresh and so very yummy. there is also a wide range of hot food to chose from. the one thing I wish I could change would be to serve the crab legs hot and not on ice... otherwise the food is phenomenal...the deserts are excellent, my favorite is the green tea soft serve!!
(5)
TinoX T.

.
(3)
Francisca W.

went for lunch last week, and here's what I have to say: boo, minado. boo!!! their sushi/rolls, while still fresh and of decent quality-wise from an AYCE standpoint, are getting more meh in terms of selection. Looks like the same 15 ingredients mixed and matched in various combos, so while they may all look different, they all taste the same. one cold appetizer I really enjoy is their beef tataki, I go straight to it every time. now, I generally go there for dinner (might have gone to lunch just one or twice), so I'm not sure Iif they only serve that at dinner time or what. But it wasn't here today. yet, replacing that with 5 different ways to mix and match some cooked shrimps and greens is not my idea of "variety". it may look great from a distance, but it's all the same things if you take a closer look. I guess the "benefit" (for them, maybe) of finding nothing "good" to eat is me finally advancing to their cooked food side (something I rarely, if ever, did)! it's a mixed bag there, but all pretty decent quality. just as I was selling my first-timer friend on their green tea soft serve, hub reported that a sign was posted stating that they didn't have any. the sign didn't say the machine was broken (vanilla was still serving), just that they were "not serving green tea today". judging from various accounts from friends and my own past experiences, this seems to happen quite a lot. either machine not working, or they ran out of the green tea flavor... now they simply "decide not to serve". now, I don't know if the mgmt is looking to cheap out to keep costs down, or its their way to save the better stuff for dinner to justify the higher entrance fees. either way... an experience like this is not going to make me yearn to come back, as I always have in the past. straighten it up!
(3)
Titi T.

YUMMY...FRESH... I have been coming here for many many years...but for the past 2 years we stopped going only because it was not as great as the good old days.. But this year alone we have been back 4 times already.. You can not beat the variety of fresh sushi, seafood, japanese salads, soups and my favorite.....the dessert bar..... DINNER, has crab legs, oysters, clams, hibachi, CREPES (ummmmm) Must have the udon soup...add everything..just no spice if you don't like it spicy.. The green tea ice cream... and the walnut mini round cookies...(only have it once in a while)
(4)
Christine P.

I went here not expecting to be impressed, but it was actually so great! My party arrived just before peak hours on a Sunday for lunch, so we were seated promptly, but it didn't take long for the space to fill up. Overall the fish was very fresh, and refreshed often. I didn't make it to the hot food line (I had other priorities) but others at my table who made it there assured me that it was also delicious. The only frustrating thing about this restaurant was the amount of children running around, but that's just me being grumpy! I'll definitely be back.
(5)
M I.

Minado is a place you come to if you want large quantities of food for an ok price. I thought this place was expensive compared other sushi buffets with much better food in MA. They have a very large selection of hot food and sushi. Nothing is great. Everything is kind of meh or average. I went for lunch so maybe things are better at dinner. The sushi is not good at all. The pieces are really small and have small amounts of filling. The sushi is poorly executed and looks really sloppy. The 6 workers at the sushi line just crank out sushi like machines. Large quantities but no passion. Although it didn't make me sick it also want very appetizing.
(2)
Vlad C.

Have you ever wanted to eat as much sushi as possible without needing to take to take out a second mortgage? I definitely have and after hearing about this place I had to try it. I have been here over a dozen times. The sushi quality is not the best, but for their lunch or dinner fee it is well worth it. They have every kind of average roll you would want for both lunch and dinner. However, soon as dinner time hits they bring out the crab legs, oysters and sashimi! On top of that they have their hibachi and their cooked food selection. Everything is fresh and the presentation is nice. The only problem you run into the wait at the front door and the inexperienced sushi goers that make the buffet line into a nightmare sometimes. If you can look past these two things and are not expecting world class sushi you will have a great time at Minado!
(4)
Alan C.

Pretty decent price for lunch buffet. Their selection is good, but obviously, you won't see Ikura level items there. Some of the food selection of the hot side mirrors that of other cheap chinese buffets but still, a little high quality. Don't bother w/ the udon noodle station, the soup base is terrible. Service is good and place is very clean. Atmosphere is excellent. They also offer a free membership card. You have to go there many times to make use of it though. Their green tea icecream is still the best.
(4)
Marcus A.

Great place, food is terrific, just be ready to run for some of it if your looking for the oysters or some of the best sushi, it can disappear quick and might take a while to get back on the buffet.
(5)
Jeff Y.

Food Selection: FAIR Price: $$$$ (very costly for the experience) Quality: 2/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Cleanliness: 2/10 Service: 7/10 Rather pricey ($32) per adult for WE dinner Was first meal that day, and ate nothing after. Next morning was experiencing food poisoning symptoms (nausea, vomiting, ABD cramps, chills, sweats, weakness, headache, diarrhea). At some point the food they were serving had not been prepared or stored appropriately and had cultured some nasty pathogens that my GI tract needed to expel as fast as possible. Food was plentiful, but had long waits for the popular items that were not kept well in-stock. The food illness was definitely a result of a pathogen from their food as (1) I am not bother by spicy food, (2) I generally have a very strong stomach, (3) some of their items were just "off" and tasted funky (fish that had a "chemical" taste. Has declined in quality and selection since they first opened. I will avoid going here from now on.
(2)
Robert H.

After finishing my meal at this place, the waiter asked me how was everything? I asked him, Do you know what this place reminds me of?" He said, "no." To which I responded, "a nightmare." This buffet is the opposite of what a Japanese restaurant and sushi place should be. The food is not, Not Inspired, Not creative, Not precise, Not served with any pride. Curiously the waiter, Ernest a sophisticated guy from Hong Kong said, You are absolutely right!" You start with a price tag of $32, add 200-300 people mostly Asians in packed lines trying to get their money's worth by eating 3-4 plates, and just above super market sushi and that's Mikado Some of the salads were pretty good, the barbecue area described by the host as "protein," was revolting
(2)
Admiral A.

It's a buffet. Sure it gets crowded...the food is not gourmet quality...there are others pigging out left and right...it's a bit pricey. Most people are here for the sushi. It's OK; tons of rice and fish thrown together. Simple right? Selection of nigiri is pretty basic. Sized at 2 bites. Offerings for rolls a little broader. Amount of fish given is on the small side. Cooked foods are pretty fair. Again, as long as you don't have super high expectations you'll be OK. It's food prepared in vast quantities. Desert selection is broad. Bite-sized cakes, pastries, couple flavors of soft serve, plenty of fruit. Again, it's a buffet. I would say Minado has better cooked offerings, Maki Maki in Brighton has the edge for seafood.
(3)
Binh N.

go for Oyster on Monday. Don't go on a Friday or weekend since it gets crowded and the food quality is not as fresh. But love this place.
(4)
Ambrose C.

3.8 stars out of 5. Located on Route 9 in Natick, about 20 miles West of Boston, I went to this all you can eat sushi buffet with a party of more than 30 people. The best suggestion I can say is that you should come really hungry before coming here and prepare to pay a lot ($21 for lunch on weekends, $31 for dinner) unless you are going there for a weekday lunch (about $17). The sushi line was a little long during a Sunday afternoon lunch. I had to wait for at least 6 minutes. I had a huge variety of sushi, and I got many of them in pairs, such as the spicy tuna rolls, the spider rolls, the purple "Galaxy rolls", inari (tofu with rice inside), salmon rolls and salmon nigiri, unagi (eel) rolls and unagi nigiri, squid nigiri, white tuna nigiri, etc. and overall they were decent. They tasted really well with the special mayonnaise I got from the sauce table, and the wasabi was a little strong but also went well with the sushi. I also had a salmon temaki roll, and it was also good, needed some good Kikkoman soy sauce to put some flavoring in. As for the hot dishes, the vegetable tempura was a little disappointing (I tasted more fried batter than vegetable) and the Yakisoba noodles with vegetables were slightly above mediocre. However, the beef teriyaki was tasty and the crispy chicken Katsu doused with the katsu sauce was also good. The bok choy with shittake mushrooms was decent. The udon soup was okay, there was not much udon inside, the peppers I asked for had plenty of spice into the soup and the shrimp inside tasted okay. They had this giant whole fish that was doused in a sauce, and I was able to get some pieces from that fish, and the fish meat was also decent. The Green Tea ice cream fused with the vanilla ice cream is not a bad choice when it comes to desserts. I was not able to get any of the other desserts because my stomach was too full after eating two big plates filled with food and one small plate of food. In terms of service, the waiters were pretty quick to make sure our cups of ice water were full, showing that they have decent effectiveness in making sure we have something to drink. However, some elements fell short. When I tried to get a temaki roll, I had some difficulty hearing the preparer and there were some near miscommunication issues but I got what I wanted. The person who prepared my udon noodle soup was a little rude when I tried to ask him what are choices I had because I did not see any labels on the garnishes and flavors I could choose. If you come here on a weekday during lunch time, it's a good bargain in terms of finding decent all you can eat sushi, however if you come in during the weekends at night, prepare to spend over $31. Overall, this is not a bad choice to splurge and pig out on decent sushi.
(3)
T B.

Best all you can eat sushi buffet! This place is huge, but it seems like there's always a little wait to be seated. They have the largest selection of sushi I have ever seen on a buffet. Most places that have sushi on their buffet do not have good sushi, I know, but this place really does have great sushi. I'd say that half the buffet is sushi. They have philadelphia rolls, tuna, salmon, california, yellow tail, salmon roe rolls, all the typical rolls and fancy rolls too. And they have a good selection of nigiri sushi as well. It all tastes fresh. The other half of the buffet has salmon filets, fried shrimp, chicken teryaki, dumplings, crab legs, etc. They have a lot of food. They have a crepe station! Totally unexpected. I've only ever gone for dinner so it's about $31-$33. I usually order about $40 of food when I get everything I want at a sushi restaurant so this is actually a good price. You should definitely stop by and take a look and I think you'll want to eat there. It is the best buffet I've been to.
(5)
W C.

It's about the quality of sushi you would expect to get at a AYCE joint. I'd stay away from the rolls as they load them up with a ton of rice so you're just filling yourself up on nothing. The sushi and sashimi are better options. It's also pretty pricey for mediocre food and wouldn't be worth the money unless you're in Man vs. Food mode and plan on going to town.
(3)
Phacops T.

2011 Wow - I don't know how this place got above two stars. It was just barely ok. The sushi rice was mushy, and most everything I tried all tasted the same even though there was a wide selection. Personally, I thought it was to worst sushi restaurant I have ever been to. I also tried the Teriyaki Chicken on a stick... it was ok but a bit dry. I tried the Teriyaki Beef - it was so tough that I had to chew and chew. The oysters were so small - barely a small bite. Also tried the ribs... not too bad. All in all - I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. Maybe the people that rate it high just haven't been around a great cook :) Time visited - Monday night around 6:30 - 8:00.
(2)
Marek T.

This place was cool, yeah. If you're not an experienced sushi person it has a huge variety and you can get a feel for things. But it's expensive and the sushi is both small and cheaply made. I realize that it is always packed and they want to give little bites so you don't fill up... but come on. For the 30 dollar dinner you can get proper sushi that doesn't fall apart when you try to pick it up. The rice, which is a bedrock of sushi, is pretty awful.
(3)
Nhu H.

The last time I was here made me so happy like a child. Food has been quite improved (they were never bad) with more choices, especially the fish dishes. Yes, very pricey but worth the money if you feel like spending once in a while. Try crepe the way I have it (line can take a long time on a busy weekend night), just plain batter crepe wrapping some green tea soft serve, a MUST!
(5)
Lynna P.

Traveled 45 minutes here for lunch and was happy with the food. I wish they had more food during lunch time like dinner time because it is a bit pricey. Not cheap here at all especially for a buffet. But staff is attentive and I did enjoy the food. Another thing is also not good choice of soft drinks, esp for a buffet they need to have more variety of soft drinks as well. I will be back when I am around but I've been to better buffet.
(3)
Elizabeth S.

I knew I loved you before I met you; I think I dreamed you into life. All-you-can-eat seafood buffet, with sushi, sashimi, freshly shucked oysters, king crab legs, marinated meats, soup, hibachi..... "Can we come back here for my birthday?" "Can we come back here for MY birthday?" Highlights: -oysters, miso-flavored -crab legs -salmon and tuna sashimi -shrimp tempura (all 6 or 7 kinds) -fall-off-the-bone barbeque spareribs -unlimited hot green tea, to wash it all down I certainly ate more than the equivalent of $31.50, let me tell you. Thank goodness I don't live anywhere near Natick, or I'd dine here daily and balloon to the size of a whale. As it is, I'm pretty sure I ate my weight in raw seafood. Attentive and friendly service. Wine, beer and sake options. The restaurant itself is huge, and factory-like. Extremely efficient. However, don't let any of those words deter you. Everything I ate was absolutely fresh, delectable and satiating. Amazing, and one-of-a-kind. Eat, (pray, and) love!
(5)
Alex B.

Really nice place, I have been here for both lunch and dinner, both great! What makes this place great is this lunch on weekdays is $17 for all you can eat sushi, on top of that they have a great hot food buffet as well. I just went back here yesterday to have lunch with a friend it was packed and loud, this is to be expected pretty much all the time. The reason Minado does not get 5 of 5 is because they have issues with stocking sushi. I think it may be a business ploy to pace people while they eat. That aside I made about 3 trips to get sushi and they were out of Philadelphia roles each one of those times. However, their sushi is always good I can not complain about it one bit. It always tastes fresh and is up their with other sushi places that charge a lot more. It is probably not the best place to bring a date but is a great place for friends getting together for sure. Once you are done with the main course(s), you can feel free to enjoy their dessert buffet which is pretty good and let me tell you - you can never have enough red velvet cake, and if that doesn't make you happy then they do have an ice cream machine (for all you ice cream lovers).
(4)
Erica C.

Why didn't I review this place upon my return from my MA trip? It was insane! Minado is a buffet unlike any buffet that I have ever been to. My friend was raving about how amazing this place was. I didn't believe him at first, but boy was I wrong. The sushi was fresh and delicious. I ate more nigiri here than ever before. Minado also had king crab legs, which are a guilty pleasure of mine. The choices were plentiful and it was hard to not attempt to eat myself to death. The desserts were very pretty, but weren't very memorable to me. The sushi was more interesting. They did have a creme section where you can get a crepe filled to your likeness. It was a bit pricey. I think it was $30 a person. They also gave discounts by height. I think that applies to kids.....or heck....short people eat cheap! I'm short, but alas, I was not short enough for the epic discount.
(5)
Jessica B.

1-2 Star rating because I got food poisoning last Wed. night/ early Thursday morning! I am an adventurous eater, and enjoy everything! So of course i was extremely excited to go here after reading reviews, hearing raves and seeing what they had to offer. Everything was very tasty, great selection for the price ($30+) a person. Everything seemed fresh for the most part. But unfortunately for me, one of my oysters had a bad taste (you know the one, when selfish goes bad... very distinct). I thought nothing of it at the time, besides trying to get rid of the bad taste in my mouth. Until... 3am that morning when i woke up with gut wrenching pain and oh yes.... instantly had food poising, and i know this from having it in the past and the symptoms. Wont go into detail, but it was horrific, and i thought i was on my death bed :(!!! Had to miss two days of work, couldn't leave my bed unless it was to run to the bathroom! I called to let the managers know, and of course no one would take the fall, and they did not return my money since they "had no other complaints for that night" Bad business i think. I was so excited to eat here, was excited when eating there and instantly bragged to people how great it was... then it all came crashing down. Now i'm scared to attempt these sort of restaurants again. So Good luck everyone, just beware of what you are eating!
(1)
Alexander L.

For those of you from the west coast / best coast, this place is a lot like Todai. I personally wouldn't go here very often because I hate stuffing my face, but if you've got a massive craving for asian / sushi, this is a pretty good place. They had kimchi side dish, but don't get it. It looks like soggy lettuce with hot pepper sauce smeared on it, and it doesn't taste much different either. Also, their philly rolls just tasted like a roll of cheese and not much else. I enjoyed their spicy tuna though. If you're looking to enjoy sushi and really let that fish swim on your palates, probably not the place. If you're looking to stuff your face with OK sushi, then yes, stuff it here. They have a lot of other japanese foods that aren't sushi either, so don't feel turned away if you don't like seafood / sushi.
(3)
Ross G.

Minado is an experience to say the least. Originally from NJ, I had the pleasure of having a Minado nearby to me and had been to that one too. When I went, prices were much lower than they are today. That is likely the only reason for a 4 star review. The main draw to Minado is clearly the unlimited sushi. The sushi is rolled right in front of you, and is quite good. It is not great, you will not get "special" rolls, and I would not categorize it as gourmet, but it is unlimited! I actually prefer the other food. The fresh fish dishes, bbq chicken and pork, crab, oysters, shrimp, hibachi grill, all very under rated foods at minado. I particularly like their udon soup. It is quite sweet though. Miso is very good too. All staff are very kind, and bust their tucus to make sure you have a good experience. Desert bar is standard, nothing to rave about. The price is what kills me when I go here. I work in the area, so I am lucky enough to take advantage of a $25 lunch (drink and tip incl.), but weekday dinners are in the $30s and weekend prices can run you $50/person if you order a drink. Not only that, but people on the weekend stand and make lines at the oyster area and clog up the line only to take all the oysters at once! It is good, and I would recommend weekday lunch if you can. The weekend pricing for the extras you get (crab legs, oysters, hibachi, crepes) is very expensive.
(4)
Jack S.

the staff was very friendly, food was good. Sushi was fresh but came in very small portions. The place is very clean and the price was reasonable. Only thing wrong was that they gave me the wrong beverage
(4)
Lauren B.

Great quality fish used in the sushi, amazing selection of both hot food and sushi, and an excellent experience overall. If you couldn't already tell, I love this place. I am not afraid to admit that I sometimes dream of going back here for the 184794th time. Since moving away from MA I have yet to find a sushi place that compares to Minado. Plus, they have green tea frozen yogurt, now what could be bad about that?! Go here. It's definitely worth the price.
(5)
Matt F.

OK, my 2 stars are as follows: 1 star for the food. 1 star for the flying sharks suspended from the ceiling. Seriously, this was the high point of the visit for me. Before I start, I'd like to state that I love sushi and seafood. The idea of going to a buffet that featured these two things was exciting. I didn't realize the Sunday buffet was $25. I think if it were $10 or maybe under $15, I wouldn't have been as annoyed. Definitely not worth anything over that. It's also really loud... buffets attract loud people, I guess. There seems to be a handful of categories at this buffet. Fried stuff, salads, sushi, and desserts. The salads and desserts are good. The sushi is gross. Really gross. In fact, I'm not sure why they even have sushi. Day old sushi from Shaws is better than this. The fried items were OK, but not stellar... a bit greasy, as fried things tend to get when sitting on a buffet for a while. The salads and desserts were good, which makes sense because it's hard to mess those things up. I don't ever plan on going back... unless I want to look at the flying sharks again.
(2)
Andrew R.

I'll keep this short and sweet. pros: Great food, great selection, great adventure. cons: really long wait time (get there when it opens), long lines at the buffet, hot food is just a 3 star, desserts are mostly a 2 star, the sushi rolls are 3 star but that's because the sushi rice is substandard (just eat around it or go for the non-rolls. Reason to come here: Everything else is fantastic! The raw/salad bar is great. Crab legs up the wazoo. The sashimi just melts in your mouth. Roe upon roe of things you'll only try here.
(4)
Dave M.

so now i'm able to compare this place to Maki Maki in Brighton MINADO: -a tad bit more in the grilled meat selection -dessert selection is much better and bigger -smaller variety of rolls and they all look the same (and rolls have too much rice) -not as nice presentation of food MAKI MAKI: -very clean presentation of food -better interior design -dessert selection stinks overall, i think Minado has dropped a little to where it's about even with Maki Maki. one thing they changed was their Minado Rewards program. It used to be earn 250 points (which is $250) and get a free buffet (can't remember if it was lunch or dinner). now for every 250 points you get $10 off, which is still cool but not as good.
(4)
Yaocheng L.

We uses to celebrate the spring festival there, but still doesn't feel the holiday warm of Oriental culture. Anyway, the food is great!
(4)
Rhianna C.

I was skeptical hearing about all you can eat sushi, but when I saw the sheer number of Asians in here my worries faded. If it's good and a deal (or Foxwoods at Christmas) they'll be there. And before you hop on the "oh, you're racist" train, that's out of the mouth of an Asian friend when I was asking her about this place. OK, so the Foxwoods part is mine, but I digress. This place is a clusterfuck of sheer awesome at dinner. Were we supposed to stick to the queues? Could you just hop in and grab what you want? Who knows! But everything goes! The non-sushi food was good. I agree with a lot of the previous reviews that mentioned it's a seafood lovers paradise. It truly is. I, however, am not a seafood lover. I enjoy sushi, but won't eat crab legs. I usually love oysters, but didn't want to chance them at a buffet. No offense, Minado. That didn't mean that I was scrounging for things to eat. There's a wonderful selection of a ton of other things that are meat- and veggie-based. I think I personally cleared half a serving plate of vegetable tempura. Yum. The sushi wasn't bad at all, but keep in mind that I stuck to the more benign stuff. Rainbow rolls, spider rolls, spicy tuna, some neat roll with beets, tuna sashimi, etc. I didn't do the seaweed wraps because a lot of the fish looked like there was way too much mayo for me to not get ill off. There were some great sashimi and nigiri selections as well. I was a little too wussy to try some of the more exotic types, but maybe one day. I did have a few rolls that were a bit questionable and tasted off, but being a buffet I just didn't eat the second one. No big deal. So what was bad about this place? They lost half a star because of only having a beer and wine menu that wasn't very extensive-- but again, I'm at a buffet so I have to take that into consideration. Sometimes, I want more than Asian Budweiser with my sushi. Good fish needs to be paired with good wines, not cheap $6 bottles. Another half star was lost because some of the reviews had me SO anticipating dessert, especially the green tea ice cream. What I found were Costco/BJs cake bits and green tea ice cream that tasted like nothing. Seriously, the cake bits tasted like frozen cardboard and there was no distinguishing them from each other despite being of different flavors. Blindfolded I wouldn't have known carrot cake from oreo cheesecake. The fruit on top tasted like bland cellophane, and some were still frozen. Now, I would have LOVED to give fewer stars for the clientele, but again, it's not the restaurant. It may have been because we were there for dinner and it was packed (we were initially told a 45 minute wait), but at times it felt like an exercise in futility trying to walk back to your table. I didn't experience the mens room, but the man in the party was disgusted by the vomit all over the floor. The ladies room was equally gross where apparently it was a myriad of diarrhea explosions and no one knew how to flush a toilet properly, if at all. Sorry for the visuals. Overall, I will most definitely be back here. The pluses more than outweighed the minuses, and feel that at the end of the day I spent less here than I do when I go other places. Now that could be just because I didn't drink a few bottles of wine with dinner, but I don't think so. In order to eat the range of things I sampled here, I would have spent WAY more elsewhere.
(4)
Ivy G.

If u are a person as I , like seafood hate beef and pork, like Japanese sashimi, like Greentea ice cream, like crab leg, come here! it is the best Japanese Buffet I have ever tried in MA. More than a buffet restaurant , it is also nice for dates or gathering with several friends. It has large space and enough waiters for u order food. Besides, drink and beverage also worth trying. For 40 something price , it is not too pricy for Japanese food and I would like to have another visit.
(4)
David S.

I used to think this place was the best bang for the buck in terms of sushi, but the actual quality is pretty mediocre. Poke is great as well as the kalbi (from what I remember), but for their prices, I expect a little better service and food quality. But when you gotta huge craving for sushi and want to eat your brains out; Minado is the place to be.
(3)
Kevin H.

My girlfriend just took me here, and even though its a little pricey, you get a HUGE selection. The only thing preventing me from giving it 5 stars is that there is no beds. You eat so much here, you want to take a nap. If I could take a nap and sleep off some sushi, wake up and say, "Is that sushi in your pocket or are you happy shashimi", then go back to eating, this place would be six stars. Fix this problem Minado!!
(4)
Ana R.

Not your TYPICAL Japanese buffet, but not far from it. I enjoyed my lunch, but didn't enjoy the $20 ticket. For a quick lunch, I'd expect to pay half that, especially since I'm doing all the heavy lifting and it gets BUSY quickly, so I had to hurry through the eating portion of my meal. The food was really good. Nothing wowed me except a few different sushi rolls I had not had before.
(3)
Joanna H.

I've only heard of and been to two All You Can Eat/Buffet sushi places in Mass: Yamato and Minado. This was a nice break from Yamato partly because you get to walk a little bit in btw your plates, as you walk around to get more food. Anyways, at a buffet, it's hard to keep track of what you eat, so I'll just mention the three things that stuck out for me: the Kalbi, the seared scallop sushi and the green tea ice cream. All three I would recommend. I would include the crepe, but I was pretty disappointed that they didn't have Nutella. Is that too much to ask? It's still a satisfying dessert with the canned strawberries and chocolate syrup. I ran to put some vanilla soft serve on the side, but thinking back, I should have just saved the stomach room for more green tea ice cream. That plus the green tea cake was green tea galore. Heaven.
(4)
Dana S.

Finally, after a few years iof knowing about this pace , I went there this past weekend with a few girlfriends. Pleasantly surprised! Sushi was abundant and fresh and the rest of the salads and cooked food were yummy as well. Maybe not 100% authentic(not sure- Im not Asian) but fun to go and eat there. Cavernous space for foodees . MY waiter was extremely attentive as well. THUMBS UP!
(4)
M T.

Since sushi is usually pretty pricey, going to a buffet is definitely worth the money. There is so much sushi to choose from and a large selection of hot and cold foods. I usually eat here and it fills me up for two out of my three meals out of the day.
(5)
Dana S.

I'd been wanting to try this place for quite some time and finally had the chance when I went with friends for my fiance's birthday. Since they don't take reservations for parties of less than 12, we waited the longer part of an hour for a table in a very cramped "lobby". When our number was finally called, we rejoiced, only to be sat at two back-to-back tables instead of one long enough to accomodate the 8 of us. Since we were starved at that point we kind of got over it, but it was definitely not easy to mingle. The food variety is enormous. I went to straight to the sushi buffet and was met with so many different maki i was overwhelmed. thankfully everything is labeled and I was able to choose some things i'd never tried (guacamole maki?! yes please) and some favorite (white tuna maki, which was surprisingly fresh). Since there are so many people, food is turned over quickly and I felt that everything was fresh, especially for a buffet. I dabbled in the non-sushi buffet line, opting for some tempura vegetables and stuffed crab, as well as a banana-chocolate crepe that was made at a chef station right in front of me. everything was hot and tasty. I'm pretty certain I ate my $32 worth, but I won't be back here for a while. It was an experience but I have had better sushi closer to home with no wait time.
(3)
Jamie W.

i came here a lot, even tho the price keep raising up. i like how fresh of the food. There are so many tables, so that i dont need to spend so much time for waiting on weekend. This is the place that you should go.
(4)
Sasha B.

Yes this is the best place for sushi if you wish to gorge yourself. Went here with a work group. Let's be honest people go to buffets so they can eat as much as possible in order to believe they got come sort of value. This stuff is aweful, why am I eating this? Oh they're not going rip me off by overcharging me for piss poor food. You end up eating crap and then more crap in order to not feel ripped off. For what they charge, you can easily go to much better sushi or Chinese restaurant nearby and have a normal serving of better tasting food. Again, let's be honest, this is an Asian Golden Coral.
(1)
Joojie R.

My only complaint about this place is the price. $32ish for dinner. Anyways, everything is delicious. A bit noisy, but the service is impeccable. No complaints. The desserts are adorable. They look like doll food. Although the desserts look great, they are meh, but that's not the reason you go to a All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Buffet. I am in love with this place.
(5)
Lisa B.

Sorry, had to remove a star. Today's visit, while still tasty, was a bit dirtier than usual. Empty sushi trays, spilled cake on the floor... bummer.
(4)
Henry Z.

lots of selections and tastes good, but really pricy and crowed on weekend nights.
(4)
Ellie W.

If you're looking to visit Minado, I really do encourage you to wear stretchy pants, or a breezy dress. This place is not for the weak. You may have to pump your chewing muscles and train your stomach for a month before entering the kingdom of all-you-can-eat sushi. I probably don't have to say it, but I really do love Minado. Yes, it's a little pricey, but when you consider all the sushi, oysters, soups, and desserts you are devouring, you're getting quite the bargain. There is a pretty wide selection of food, and I haven't met anyone who's been disappointed yet. For a seafood lover, you don't get much better than this. You're not going to find any elaborate sushi dishes here, but that's not really what you come here for anyways. Sure, it's a bit of a hike if you're not in Natick, but come on. All you can eat sushi? People have gotten married for a lot less.
(5)
Edison C.

I have to say the food here is the best ever. Besides, the price isn't high. It's really a good deal for eating buffet. BTW, it's open at 11:45 am. Just be here on time is fine.
(5)
Damon P.

Best place I've ever been for Asian buffet. Very wide variety of choices. Reasonably priced, especially if you are hungry!! Family friendly.
(5)
Georgina C.

I love Minado!! It is always packed with an eclectic crowd but the service is always wonderful. I do not eat seafood but I love all their vegetarian options and dessert bar. I have never had an unpleasant experience there and I would recommend the seaweed salad, fresh crepes and dumplings!!
(4)
Tony G.

This used to be the place to go for Japanese cusine. Unfortunatly the quality of their food is not as good as it used to be, the one thing I cant stand are the sushi servers. They take FOREVER to make the sushi rolls. If you like the salmon sushi forget it.... you will be luck to get served once. For the price it has to be good..but not anymore.
(2)
Reid F.

This place always surprises me; how they can move through so many customers and so many food items in an orderly fashion while continuing to serve good, high-quality sushi, salads, and cooked dishes. But they do, so hats off to Minado.
(5)
Jimmy H.

5 Rules of Minado, Rule #1 : Come hungry. Rule #2 : Come hungry. Rule #3 : Come hungry. Rule #4 : Come hungry. Rule #5 : Come hungry. Sushi won't taste like Fugakyu but it's descent and you can still enjoy them. Even if raw fish freaks you out, there are lot other dishes you can enjoy such as teppan yaki or fried rice. If you can't enjoy sushi or sashimi, you might find the pricing highway robbery. To stay frugal, come to this place for weekday lunch when the price is the lowest.
(4)
Victor K.

I have been to different all you can eat places throughout my life. They range from purely Chinese to the mix of all you can eat buffet at a university like RPI. With most places I can always expect the same starchy and greasy goodness that makes it a wonder that more people aren't obese. Enter Minado, one of the few places of it's kind that while still holds the same greasy and starchy food carries a variety of seafood that is pure heaven for seafood gluttons. While anything in great quantity is bad, seafood is one of the few health food alternatives to becoming a vegetarian. Minado is THE ultimate seafood buffet. Carrying all varieties of sushi, sashimi, raw seafood, and cooked seafood. The only thing sadly they lack is lobster. At $30+ person a head for dinner, it is a bargain for all the seafood you can indulge in. I haven't been to lunch which is half the cost but they lack some of the hot foods, oysters and snow crab legs that I hear about. Personally, people who don't enjoy the seafood and sushi and come just for the hot foods won't get their money's worth. My strategy for attacking this buffet is to come at least half an hour before opening. Usually 15 minutes before opening you can expect a crowd of people lining up ready to rush the food. Try to be at the front of the line near counter since it's basically first come first serve. They do not take names until after the first wave of people get in so don't bother asking to put your name down. At the exact moment the doors open a line of waiters and waitresses will be lined up and give the traditional welcome greeting and each one will guide each group to their table. Come with a friend or two who will follow the server to your table while you rush to the cold food section. Oysters and snow crab legs will be at their freshest and while there is no limit in the beginning, please be kind and take no more than 6 raw shucked oysters and a plate of king crab legs. After a while they will be limiting oysters by handing them out and supplies will be replenished as fast as one person is shucking them so expect to wait a while if you're not one of the first few people to get to the cold foods. Sushi selection is quite diverse and it's not the typical, just California or one or two fish per row. It is quite an exorbitant selection with pieces that would easily add up $50+ easy at any restaurant. Hand rolls are available upon request to one of the many sushi chefs rolling and making sure everything is stocked. Hot foods while I believe are a waste are plentiful and are actually better than the selection offered at Chinese buffets. The variety of mini desserts are actually quite delicious and they offer a crepe section near the hot foods where they're made to order so many options available for those that are looking for something sweet to top off the feast. Minado is one of the few places that I leave with a food coma and a bloated belly but none of the nasty, greasy feeling that other all you can eat places. Come here hungry and leave here stuffffeedddd!
(5)
David V.

If I was writing a comedy sketch for SNL to make fun of the stereotypical, fat, over-eating American buffet, it would look like Minado. It's like a cattle call getting into this place if you arrive just before dinner service on a weekend. I really do not see why so many people cram into this place to eat. I found this restaurant to be overpriced and not worth the headache. The service was excellent, but the food just ok. If you enjoy being pushed and shoved by lots of hungry people while trying to get your food, then this is your place. If not, save yourself the $30 and skip this buffet.
(2)
Lynn C.

it's expensive. But i'm also comparing that to all you can eat japanese food in Toronto and Vancouver. Perhaps for Boston standard, $38/person after tax and tips on a Saturday night for all you can eat sushi, Japanese and Chinese hot foods, grilled seafood, raw oyster, etc., etc., perhaps it's pretty standard. As a 5'3" Asian girl, I just don't go there expecting to be paying for the quantity of the food, or the quality of the food, but I'm paying for the variety that is possible. The quality is not top notch but to be fair, their sushi selection is commendable (a LOT of good and new variety). My favourite is one where they had cooked enoki mushroom in their rolls. Their hot foods and hibachi grill was not bad, and lots of selection in soup and noodle. I loved the beef short ribs. Their cold seafood bar was pretty good as well, my friends definitely got their share of raw oysters and crab legs. I just had a lot of seafood salad..haha. The biggest disappoint i think is their sashimi. Their salmon sashimi were cut into tiny thin pieces of filet, doesnt look like sashimi at all. looked pretty gross and was not at all satisfying. their soft-serve ice cream was broken the time we went, i was very disappointed. but their green tea cheese cake was really good. gotta save room for dessert when you go! i think going for lunch is probably more worth it, but it's really far from the boston core, so if you work, it's probably gonna be an extended lunch break. best part about eating at minado's is that there's an ULTA right next door. after i had my first round, i took a quick shopping break while all the men in the group continued to eat. then i came back for round two. muahahaha would i go back? unless i find another all you can eat sushi that can satisfy my craving in boston, i think i will have to.
(3)
Christine S.

This place is a bit pricey but they do have good/high quality items such as oysters, squid salad and tender delicious teriyaki. I do not think the food is as great for the price but I did enjoy some of the food. My only real complaint is that the sushi did not taste authentic, there were carrots in the sushi...carrots! I have never had authentic Japanese sushi that put carrots in their rolls. I was kind of disappointed. They also have green tea soft serve ice cream which is good.
(3)
Antonio C.

Uauuuu !!!! After so long I usually go there, only now I get the chance to writing this ..... I love that place, since I start to go there the price rise a bit, but still the best SUSHI BUFFET IN BOSTON, its clean get a lot space, beautiful people,great food and very professional staff. ITS HIGHLY RECOMMEND PLACE
(5)
Consuelo V.

I went with a group of ~7 at precisely -----11:30 on a Friday----. If you want the most bang for your buck, I would suggest going before the lunch rush, as early as you can. I got seconds WAY before the masses arrived. Overall, though, your standard all you can eat place: pace yourself. If you can walk around all the treats before you grab a plate so you plan out what you want to try and what you want to binge on while not wasting room in your belly on iffy items.
(3)
Jennifer E.

This is our favorite sushi place! The really great thing about this place is that you get to try things and be adventurous. We love it more and more each visit! Steak tartar and Philadelphia rolls are my personal favorites. They also have a crepe bar for dessert and not just the crappy Asian tasteless deserts in most buffets. If you want crab legs or oysters, be prepared to wait a while and battle with people. On the weekends, you will definitely have a wait at dinner. The only bad thing I can say is I went there once and didn't feel well 5 minutes into the meal. Although it was not the food, it would have been nice if they cut me a break and discounted my $30 buffet price since I was clearly not eating and couldn't take anything home.
(5)
Lesley N.

I have been disappointed time and time again at the quality of sushi that the Boston area has had to offer. So I've decided to get QUANTITY over QUALITY. The logic makes sense in my head. I was at Minado 12 hours ago for lunch and I am still full! Sushi quality all around was what I expected. In terms of nigiri there was salmon, tuna, squid, tilapia, smelt roe, inari, tamago, and some of their own creative choices. Roll selection was pretty good. There's this one with apples in it and I didn't realize it when I got it...but it was really tasty! They had fresh tofu with bonito flakes! My favorite! I also liked their salads as palette cleansers. I didn't eat much of the cooked foods...didn't look appetizing enough for me. Minado has surprisingly good desserts! The raspberry cake and ginger flan were my favorites and came in cute, little portions. I prefer my desserts not too sweet which is exactly what they were. The soft serve was at the perfect temperature- not melty. All in all, raw fish quality wasn't anywhere near mind-blowing...especially towards the end when I was absolutely stuffed but I felt obligated to finish my fifth plate (everything was unpalatable at that point)...BUT I had a good experience and would go again.
(3)
Mei L.

HUGE selection of sushi, hot food, dessert. Of the few times I went, the salmon sashimi were always fresh, hot food bar was always replenished. Maki rolls had too much rice so I usually eat half only..Had the crepes, but it was a little too thick I think. Downside: LONG LINE ON WEEKEND DINNERS and long lines for oysters and crablegs.
(4)
Ellen C.

Well, the lines are moving more swiftly, which means the servers are, too. It's not just raw fish, though the sushi is excellent. They have lots of cooked fish dishes an other Japanese dishes, like tempura. The food is sumptuous. It's well worth the $33.
(5)
Lisa W.

Don't come here on the weekend or a holiday - the place is pure chaos!! We waited over an hour for a table, and once we got in, we had to wait another 30 min in line to actually get to the sushi! The sushi itself wasn't bad.. it's sort of low-end restaurant sushi, but a good deal for the price. The hot food and desserts (much shorter lines) were actually really good! The lines and chaos was really of-putting, though, so I don't really recommend it.
(3)
Wen-fai F.

If you live in Boston proper, you HAVE to get out and come here at least once! My recommendation: deprive yourself of breakfast for a morning (even drink coffee if it speeds up your metabolism like it does mine), then take a 2-hour lunch break on a weekday if at all possible and head to Minado. There are NO lines and it is cheaper ($16.95 for all-you-can-eat). For the weekday lunch price, there is NO way you can't eat your money's worth. From dozens of salads, fried/hot foods to a large sushi bar, I don't know how they make money at all (probably off of their dinner and weekend prices which are pretty exorbitant). My favorites are the udon noodle soup they serve at the end of the hot food line (ask for "everything" and if you don't like spice, just ask for non-spicy), the Thai peanut noodle salad, the edamame, and the rolls. Their rolls are nothing crazy - just standard California, Philadelphia, spicy tuna, etc of decent quality. I really see no downsides to this place except the quality of fish isn't superb and drinks aren't included. But you can't expect too much for $16.95. Beware: I have been here on holidays, black Friday and weekends at lunchtime. The wait (to get a table) and lines (to get food) can get ridiculous starting around 12p and they stop making food 30 minutes before the buffet closes. It just goes to show how popular this place is! If you plan on going on a weekend, either go early at 11:30a OR make a reservation! They do take reservations but they must be made more than 24 hours in advance and no matter how much you beg the day of, they won't budge on this policy. I did this on my birthday which happened to be the day before Thanksgiving (crowded) and they were expectedly merciless.
(4)
June O.

For all the rave reviews, I would have thought this place have heavenly music play as soon as I stepped out of the car! Sadly, there was no music, and sadly, my experience at Minado did not live up to the 5 star ratings other yelpers have given it. I went for lunch--and I'm glad I didnt go for dinner! The sushi was just OK- the rolls were acceptable, even if alot of times it was a little over flavored. The sashimi was a bit of a disappointment. The little slabs of fish sat strangely on the nubs of rice, and I have a suspicion that the salmon may not have been sushi-grade. There was definitely a smell to it. However, for eating sushi of an acceptable level, the $15 lunch price was definitely worth the visit. I probably will even go back for lunch again! But if you're looking to be blown away by the super awesome quality of their sushi, I'd recommend that you go for lunch and be prepared for disappointment.
(3)
Willy V.

OK I have been here many times already and I am a fan of this place for sushi, but don't believe it is the best one out there in MA. I mean, the all you can eat sushi buffet is worth it for lunch time, but I don't believe dinner is great or anything except you get what you are paying for, with all you can eat. For me, the sushi is fresh and some of the other foods like seaweed salad or miso soup are great, but I still feel it is lacking something about the place and can't pinpoint out what it is. The staff is nice and the place has great decor, but I feel they can offer a little more sushi to get your money's worth.
(4)
Linda C.

The BEST time to go here is right when they open for dinner. Everything is fresh, the place is still empty, and everything is loaded to the rim.
(5)
Eamon M.

I love Minado. I eat a lot, and I'm cheap. So all you can eat sushi is great for me. The best part of this place is the quality and the freshness of the sushi. It is way better then I expected from a sushi buffet. Does it match up to the best sushi restaurants? It often does. I've rarely had the experience at Minado that I've had more commonly at other sushi restaurants where I put a piece of fish in my mouth and my eyes roll back in my head and I make a noice like a cross between a happy puppy and the air going slowly out of a bean bag chair, but I have done this at Minado from time to time. I will, however, almost always remark on how surprisingly good everything really is. Another nice thing is they seem to have something new everytime I go (2 - 4 times per year; like I said I'm cheap so even $31.95 for dinner seems like a lot to me). It was a lot better when the kids were shorter ($4.95 or half-price helped a lot). The lunch buffet is less extensive but still offers plenty of choices. The only thing I really miss is the unagi. The non-sushi side of the house is very good too. Nice refreshing salads and yummy hibachi steak. Bottom line if I want to be blown away with the best possible sushi experience (in terms of quality not quantity) and don't mind leaving feeling hungry, I won't go to Minado. But if I want a lot of really good sushi I'll pick Minado every time (which is probably about 3 out of 4 times).
(5)
George B.

Probably one of the better sushi places I've been. The dinner is really worth it. A wide assortment of rolls, along with many fried or cooked dishes, salads and more. The desserts could use some improvement but I guess you won't have much space left for dessert at the end. I've been there probably 7-8 times already and plan on bringing my friends there too!
(4)
Tom M.

I've been coming here since they first opened. The the food is okay....Theres better places without the long wait and high price tag!
(1)
Peter S.

Expensive $40+ buffet but the best sushi buffet and what all others are compared to! This place has all you can eat snow crab legs, sushi and Japanese, Chinese and other food. Haven't been to the area in a couple years but the memories of this place linger on!
(5)
Zoe T.

I love Sushi and I love this place. The sushi here is super fresh and its delicious. I love everything with salmon and eel in it. All the rolls are very well made. Since its a buffet style you can totally pig out on sushi without feeling too guilty. This is the main reason I am rating five stars. The hot food is good too, I really like the Shu Mei and the dishes with Tofu in it. There also a nice selection of soups. My mouth waters every time I go here. The desserts are hit and miss. The Ice cream is great especially the green tea ice cream. The fresh fruit is nice and refreshing. The crepe station they have at dinner time is always fun because they let you choose what you want in them. However the cakes and little treats like that are meh. The cakes at one point were frozen and sometimes they still are when they are put out at the buffet. Its quite depressing to bite into a creme puff only to find its completely frozen in the middle. But I still love this place especially when I have the money for it. This place is pricey, but come on, its unlimited sushi, go hungry and find a reason to spoil yourself.
(5)
Danny B.

The foods are not bad but too expensive!!!
(3)
Joanna F.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet. I came here a few weeks ago. I was very hesitant to go to an all you can eat sushi buffet. Something about "sushi" and "buffet" just sounded wrong to me. I was very pleasantly surprised. The sushi was being freshly made quickly since it was going so fast. For non-sushi eaters there is a huge hot and cold non-sushi section. There's also a large dessert bar. My only complaint is that it's necessary to wait in line at this buffet because of the set up. I went up twice. The first time went fairly quickly, but the second time took a good ten to fifteen minutes to get through the whole line. You can't beat the value. I went for Saturday at lunch and paid about $20. Considering you can get two sushi rolls at a normal sushi restaurant for that price, the value is unbelievable. I'll be back!
(4)
Fionn D.

It is very decent. When my family wants to have a good dinner out, this store is one of the favorites to pick. The food there weren't bad whenever I visited. However, the fresh seafood isn't served frequently that I think they try to save money. But, they do have a good layout and food.
(4)
Marty M.

Excellent sushi buffet. We only go during lunch because the dinner is quite expensive.
(4)
L K.

Let's be real, if you're a hard-core sushi fan like me (and, probably, you grew up in an Asian household), you're here just for a) sashimi, b) oysters, and c) king crab legs. Preferably all three at once. No shame in that, let's leave the pretty "distraction" dishes (full of very filling starchy foods) to those non-initiated to the fine art of sushi buffet-going. And by fine art, I mean gorging on tons of fresh raw seafood. Rule #1 is: do not eat empty starchy foods that will fill you up too quickly! Go to the cheap Chinese restaurant for that. Three and a half heaping plates of fresh succulent seafood later, I was one extremely happy customer. Think about it: that amount in salmon sashimi, raw oysters, and king crab legs is totally worth the $32! My Asian mom would be so proud. Conclusion? Minado was the most expensive sushi buffet I've ever willingly paid for, but it was also the very best sushi buffet I've ever had, period. What a pleasure...
(5)
Sandra C.

I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday as a surprise this Sunday, and it was nice. I was super hungry by the time I arrived, so the buffet was mouthwatering. Decorations were lovely, and the foods were delicious looking! You know the feeling you get...when you're so hungry you want to eat everything--but then...when you're full...you wish you weren't so that you can get more? That's what Minado feels like. One complaint is the oyster line. If there are 3 people in front of you, don't count on getting an oyster. Even though the sign clearly says "Be respectful of the other patrons by only taking SIX (6) oysters maximum" PEOPLE CLEARLY DON'T LISTEN. They should have more people making the oysters. Soft drinks should also be included in the high buffet fee. I don't want to be paying more for nonalcoholic drinks! The price is steep enough for a buffet!
(4)
Peter P.

The food is categorized into sections: Hot food (right) - Mostly Chinese-style dishes. Higher quality than regular buffets, not over-seasoned or too oily. The soups at the end are also very tasty and compliment the food quite well. Salads and raw foods (middle) - Vegetarian friendly with some unique oriental flavors Sushi and desserts (left) - There is a large variety of sushi to choose from, some are very unique to Minados and can't be found anywhere else. I like to take one of each piece of sushi as my first plate whenever I visit. Desserts are pretty tasty, but by the time you get to them - you'll already be full. Atmosphere: I love the lighting and how everything is displayed at Minados. There's just the right amount of themed decor to be fancy, but not tacky. The restaurant is sectioned into table sizes (large groups near the front, smaller groups near the food) - it allows for a reasonable amount of privacy. Staff: The staff is pretty attentive. If you leave your empty plates on the side of the table before you get another serving, they'll come by and pick it up for you. If it's someone's birthday, they'll bring out a nice treat too (if you tell them in advance). Final Thoughts:Minados is one of the few places where the price matches the quality (in a good way). If you're looking to go out with some friends for a birthday dinner, or a welcome back party - Minados provides a great atmosphere for everyone. Note: If you're signed up to Minados rewards program, you'll get some money credited to your account each time you bring people (or come yourself). You'll also get a free birthday gift card if you come on your birthday.
(4)
Jason M.

VERY authentic, nothing cheap or fake about this place. Although I usually only take advantage of the sushi buffet all the other food I have tried is extremely fresh, and flavorful. The sushi is definitely very high quality. If you're into Japanese food this is the place to go, I have never been disappointed with anything there; being this place is a bit pricy you get what you pay for. I have never walked away regretting I spent the money.
(5)
Paul N.

For sushi lovers, you'll really like this place. The reason I give it 3 stars is, in my opinion, the quality has gone down dramatically. A couple years ago, this place was AMAZING, I mean all you can eat sushi-how can you go wrong? Here's the problem. When we first started going a couple years back, Minado offered a fine selection of sushi, oysters, & king crab legs. They even had a special promo where on your bday, you get a free giftcard good for a future visit. Fast forward to today, Minado has done away w/ king crab legs and dropped down to snow crab legs (a big difference to me) and if you want oysters, A. prepare to wait for a while & B. the quality is subpar. They also did away with the birthday special. As a former regular patron, I had expected more. I think they lost touch with their customer base and are operating more on profits than what they used to be known for, which was an experience. There are so many sushi outfits around, I rarely go there now. Tired of waiting in line for oysters and seeing people fight for them (literally). Don't get me wrong, if you love sushi it's still a great place but for someone who used to go often, it's not on the top of my list. Very good customer service though, never had a problem. If you're in the Greater Lowell area, I recommend Nana 7 in Billerica instead.
(3)
Lynne A.

When I eat here, I don't eat until I'm full... I eat until I am in pain and wondering if I'm going to die soon.. the food is just so good that I am ready to accept hours of pain and sacrifice a bit of my dignity whenever I eat here. The sushi is fresh, delicious and sometimes creative. They have a lot of variety of all types of sushi, fish used etc. The pieces are tight, and held together well. I never had a bad piece of sushi here, or even a so-so piece of sushi... its just all so good. I don't have a lot of experience of the other food, because it will just waste precious real estate in my stomach that should be reserved for sushi, but I know that the steak is awesome as well. This place is always packed, and usually there is a wait, but trust me, it is so worth it.
(5)
JoMer M.

Food is fresh and the variety is insane. If you go here and don't find something you love, then you don't like Japanese cuisine. The desserts are yummy, esp the green tea ice cream. Clean. Staff is attentive. Lots of good experiences here.
(5)
Chris C.

It's difficult to mass produce food and still make it appealing, but Minado manages to do this very well for the most part. This place in one big (huge!) buffet. They offer about 30 different sushi choices, about half as many hot dishes (tempura, chicken teriyaki, etc.), some soups and appetizers (shumai, dumplings), and additional cold dishes such as salads and tartars. They also offer oysters, crab legs, and have a row of desserts as well -- all for one entry fee. For the most part the food was very tasty. However, I had to drop a star because the sushi was lacking. The presentation was very nice and each selection had nice details. But once I sat down with my selections I realized that a lot of the choices "spicy-" or "mayo-". The actual pieces were sometimes constructed sloppily, or made use of trimmings, giving it a left-over impression. The fish was very good but not amazing -- you know how great salmon sushi can be like butter? The oysters were likewise given a nice presentation, but not completely shucked and a bit bland. The dessert, while mostly delicious, all suffered from a lack of defrosting. Our waiter was very nice, helpful, and attentive. That always makes for a nicer evening. Bottom line: Would I go back? Certainly! But this wasn't quite worth the trip from Boston.
(3)
LuluandDaquan B.

YUM! Now this is a buffet that won't leave you unsatisfied. The food selection here is incredible, so much good stuff! Many types of noodles, rice dishes, meats, and fish dishes. Ok, now the sushi which is why I came here, huge selection of rolls! Behind the rows of buffet tables are chefs making the rolls right in front of you. I am a big maki fan and they had a great number of interesting maki combinations. I definitely had my fill. Seriously, how can you go wrong with over 40 types of sushi? I came here for lunch and the selection is as good as dinner. And lunch was $17 per person! Very good deal considering all the food available and most tasted pretty great. I even finished off 3 mini cakes for dessert. Can't wait to come back with DQ so he and I can eat to our heart's content!!
(4)
Tim W.

Summary: -Good quality sushi. -Good variety of sushi. -Hot bar food is kind of lame...but this is a sushi buffet. -No reservations for parties under 12 people. -15% tip added on for parties of 6 or more. -Would definitely go back. Note: I don't get why this place keeps getting reviewed by people who don't like sushi. That is like a vegetarian whining about the food at a steakhouse. If you don't like sushi...don't go to a sushi buffet...DUH!!!!
(4)
Prince D.

We went there on Friday night, and it was great I love the sushi and the ice cream~ even its a little bit expensive but really worth it, the shrimp and crab were tasty
(4)
nathan t.

A favorite of ours for awhile now, and something we always recommend to our friends that like sushi. (and even some that don't!). The sushi is very fresh (VERY key) with the sushi chefs making it literally at the buffet, so it's a GREAT touch knowing that your food is fresh. Overall, there's something here for everyone, but seafood lovers definitely will be very happy. As with most buffets, you don't expect 5-star food. And at most buffets, you'd question the quality of the sushi, or any one of the other 50824560 dishes they serve at the same time. HOWEVER, Minado CONSTANTLY has high quality stuff all the time, and it's always fresh and appetizing (the large volume ensures it gets replaced very often). While the sushi is not the best that I've had in Boston, it's without a doubt, good solid, fresh, sushi. Dinner can get a little pricey (though the increase in price is definitely reflected in what they serve!), so we usually opt to go for lunch on the weekends. Awesome place. Check it out.
(4)
Rahul S.

I dont eat sushi (allergic to raw fish) - so my review is only of the non-sushi aspects. This place is known for its big spreads for lunch/dinner buffets. I dont think that they even have a menu to order A la carte from. Their dinner buffets at around $30 seem to expensive to me. So I have always gone for the $20 ish lunch buffets - which are a good bang for the buck. Even though I skip their main attraction of sushi - I still have a lot of yummy japanese seafood, meats, sea weeds and noodles/rice to choose from. They also have a very good dessert offering with pastries and fruits that they make crepes for you with. Go with a BIG appetite otherwise you wouldnt be able to do the place justice!
(4)
Steven S.

When you walk in and look around, you're mezmerized by all the food choices. When you actually sit down and start trying everything, you realize that none of it is great, and very little of it is even memorable. Most of the sushi was poor and much of it looked drippy with too much mayo. The hibatchi skewers were OK, but small in size. The Odon soup was good - have it with all the ingredients. The tables are packed so close together, we kept bumping into people in adjacent seats and acutally had to get up when others at our table wanted seconds. Last work, I ate and ate and ate until I was quite full - I really wish I hadn't (for many reasons).
(2)
Hieu N.

This Place is REALLY GOOD. I had gone to this place around 4 years ago before I moved to Boston and recently revisited this place with my parents. SUPER nice looking place, like I really hate when you go to buffets, or just any restaurant in general and the tables are sticky or have that feeling of caked on dirty towel water. Luckily this place didnt have that problem. Its nice atmosphere and the "booth" dividers are nice and tall and allow for awesome privacy. Our waitress was a nice little lady, cant really complain about her. Overall service was great, the second I was finished with one of my many plates, she scooped it up right away. FOOD....arharhghhh. Theres a huge variety of sushi thats decent seeing as how its a buffet. The quality you get is probably the same as any 3 star sushi joint, definitely worth the money on that part. The salad bar is pretty big but I just ...went around it. The hot food was greattttt. Steak strips, fish fillet, omg I want to go back. The deserts were average, pastries and little cakes that are not that bad. The ice cream machine brought me skipping every time for that green tea ice cream though. LOVED THE FOOD. It will definitely get busy as soon as it opens seeing as how we were there 45 minutes after it opened and it was already at around 60% capacity on a Friday. If you go to dinner, theres a crepe station...if only.... Its a little far from Boston but its a short drive for a good meal. I wish all buffets were this good, ahem...Tin Tin step it up
(5)
John S.

Minado is a place of sin; gluttony, if you want to be specific. For $15 (lunch) or $30 (dinner), you gain access to a massive and constantly refreshed sushi buffet. And as far as the quality of the buffet sushi, it's probably the best you'll eat. It beats out anything you'll find in Las Vegas' famous buffets, and could hold up against anything you'll find in the suburbs. In terms of value, you won't find a better way to satisfy a sushi urge. Bring your friends and eat like a champion.
(5)
Andrew M.

Consistently good food for the whole family. I've been coming here on and off for 5 years and it never disappoints. This time we particularly enjoyed the soba noddles served on a wicker plate with soy sauce, veggie dumplings and veggie noodles.
(4)
Espresso T.

Have been here for the lunch buffet several times and I must say for the food selection, the general quality of the food and the not so expensive ~$18 (excld tax and tip), this is a satisfying experience. Service is fine as well and the place is spacious and clean. If I want a decent Asian buffet with sushi in the Boston area, I will come here. They serve quite a variety of sushi even for lunch. Granted this is not a place to get great fresh raw fish, their quality is comparable to average Japanese restaurants out there. They do sometimes have issues with the sushi rice though (undercooked). I actually like quite some of their hot dishes. The gyoza is actually VERY good (and I have lived in Japan). The udon in soup that they make in front of you is tasty as well (much better than the version at a lot of restaurants, where the udon absorbs no taste from the soup and the soup also tastes like MSG). And, the beef steak! It's tender and tasty. The tempura i also decent if you catch it fresh. For dessert, their green tea cake and the green tea ice cream are both good! And, they have fresh fruit!
(4)
Jen T.

I have been avoiding writing this review, because I had such high hopes for Minado. I love sushi and I've been begging my boyfriend to take me here for YEARS. I decided this was the year I would get him to finally agree... I asked to go here for my birthday, and he couldn't say no ;) Now, I'm vegan, and I would not normally expect a sushi buffet to have a lot for me to eat, so I checked the menu online and called ahead before we went in for lunch. They confirmed that they were serving a number of veggie sushi options that day. Horray! So, we get there mid-lunchtime on a weekend and it's pleasantly full with not too bad of a line for food. I eagerly take a plate and stand in the sushi line, eyeing every roll as the line slowly inched by.... all fish... all the way to the end of the buffet and all I found was a measly inari roll. I looked around wondering if they maybe even had a special section for veg foods! Unfortunately, they did not. We asked our server what was vegan and he named a few of the salads and the veggie dumplings. We asked if maybe they could make 1 or 2 vegetarian rolls and he said no. I think it was our mistake at this point to not talk to a manager and tell them that we had been informed there was sushi I could eat when there actually wasn't. My boyfriend said that his sushi was okay, but not fantastic, and that it was not as good as it was last time he went to Minado a few years ago. He also said that the selection is much less than before. My food was fine... nothing stellar about the sushi or dumplings I had, but I really loved the mushroom salad! The service was also very, very slow. The server was very nice, but was very, very slow with refilling our drinks, and we had to wave him over from chatting with the other staff. When all is said and done, it wasn't the worst experience, but was extremely disappointing to me, and certainly not worth the price! ________________________________________ TL;DR: Don't go here if you are vegan/vegetarian or have very high standards for sushi. Yummy mushroom salad.
(2)
Ian W.

This is my favorite sushi buffet restaurant in New England. If you're very hungry for sushi, then Minado is the place to go! Minado offers a vast variety of sushi (made at the buffet), sashimi (dinner only), hot foods (tempura, noodles, crab cake balls, red snapper, rice, salmon, & more), soups, cold salads, vegetables, and little desserts. The place is usually busy when I dine here for lunch. Once seated (chopsticks at the table) & the Diet Coke order is placed, I head left to the long sushi buffet and pile my plate with about 20 pieces of fresh sushi with ginger and wasabi. I always go back for more sushi!! My favorite items at the hot bar are the Tempura (vegetables & shrimp), Crab Cake balls, and the Red Snapper. At the cold bar, my favorites are the Seaweed Salad, Crab Louie, Octopus, and some Edamame. For dessert, I fill my big plate with a dozen bite size cakes, cookies, jello cup, and fruit. My favorites are the Green Tea Cake and Fruit Tart. Overall, the service is good (refills on soda when needed & used plates cleared) and the great variety food was very good and tasty.
(5)
Jay S.

I wouldn't say the food's all great and wow-ish. But if you wanted marvelous taste and top-notch freshiness, you'll probably go somewhere more expensive. Lunch was about $20, and I don't think that's bad for the quality they offer. Again, not top notch, but better than what you'd expect from a sushi buffet. This was my second visit here, and been to the original one in Jersey a few times... I'm sure I'll eat here quite often.
(4)
Rachel L.

I went here with this person who challenged me to an eating competition for lunch. We ended up eating 4 plates of food each, and 1 plate of dessert. From the hot entrees, I really liked the red snapper, the yakisoba noodles, the chicken and the beef teriyaki. We got the udon soup, but I wasn't a big fan of the seasoning put into there. Whereas for sushi, I'm not much of raw sushi fan but they had a few selections of cooked sushi. I especially liked the shrimp mayo and spicy salmon - there were a few more but I stuffed my face rather than remember the names of the sushi. And for dessert, I wasn't much of a fan of the ginger flan - but the green tea cheesecake and green tea soft serve was really good. But, I was too full to get seconds on desserts and I'm glad we didn't because it wouldn't have ended well but we did manage to wobble our way back to the car. Overall, this was really yummy and good - the waiter/waitress were friendly and refills were quick. Until next time, mhm - yeah, I'll come back fo' sure.
(4)
Mitch Q.

Best buffet in MA. Love the free for all king crab legs. Food is plenty and no naggy servers like most other place. The king crab legs and oyster get grabbed up pretty quickly though.
(5)
Julie N.

I just love this place for the selection and the consistency. The Bluefish is fabulous, as is the swett/tangy eggplant. The veg tempura is always perfect, the cold salads are fresh and abundant and the sushi is a great variety and quality. It's pricey but where else can you get such great items with such a nice staff for all you can eat? Lovely! p.s. best value is weekday for lunch when school is in session. no waiting at all! other than that, no worries though. just enjoy!
(4)
Josh R.

This place is suchi heaven on earth! Although it's pricey for a buffet, it's certainly not you're usual buffet selection, they have everything from hot foods, to sushi, and even Sashimi! I would give it 5 stars but I find the service to be lacking sometimes.
(4)
Nan S.

You should really answer this before you go: Do you like lots of/unlimited okay sushi, or would you rather have a few really amazing rolls of sushi for the same price? If you answered the former, you should try this place out. The rolls do look pretty delicious, and if you come here with a hungry stomach, you'll look at the place and think it's paradise. The presentation of the foods is really well done. However, they are not as good as they look. Some are a lot better tasting than others. But for the majority, they're just OK. The desserts look so delicious as well, and at first I thought "omg, i'm paying such a small fee for all this delicious fancy looking desserts".. However, on closer examination, you realize that they are basically all the same type of dessert- some type of dry cake (they have different flavors but they're pretty bland). The ice-cream/soft-serve was good though! I think the Chinese food made me feel a bit sick... they looked so good too, but it wasn't even warm! Anyway, I'm more of the type who really appreciates good sushi and would rather pay the same price for 2-3 really good rolls that I can savor in each bite.
(3)
Ale E.

Definitely worth it if you are hungry! Lots of delicious options on the buffet! Not very busy during the week before 1pm. You will eat so much that you will think the sushi making staff is judging you with every additional piece you add to your plate!
(4)
Matthew P.

This is the best sushi buffet that I know of. Not only do they have sushi but they have hot food as well. The best part is, it tastes great! I used to come here a lot back in the day. I always came out stuffed and satisfied. You won't get the best sushi in town, but you'll get as much decent sushi as you can possibly fit into your stomach. What is not to love about that? It's a little on the pricey side and the crowds are annoying. But it seems every time I come they have raised their prices and that seems to have weeded down the crowds a bit. And just a note to people who are absolutely obsessed with the oysters. They are not good! It tastes like water people. There are really long lines a lot of times for these gross oysters and a lot of times people will get into hissy fits because you have a pushy person that takes ALL of them when they come out. It's amusing to watch. They must be the only people that serve oysters in Natick? Go for the hot food and sushi. And soft serve green tea ice cream!
(4)
Ginger Y.

Unlike most people, I'm not a huge sushi fan. In fact, I prefer not to eat anything raw at all. This means that I was mostly eating eel rolls and their vegetarian rolls, and their nonsushi items. Somehow, I still managed to over stuff myself until I could barely walk, which says something coming from a person who doesn't like sushi that much. They have a pretty wide selection of eel and vegetarian sushi and all are presented VERY nicely. Plus they are flavored quite nicely. Nothing out of the ordinary, but this is a buffet after all. I also loved how they had a wide selection of other foods for non sushi lovers who were dragged here by friends. I tried their Mongolian BBQ and it was pretty good. Their udon was DELICIOUS and the crepes were to die for. They have SO MANY dessert choices and one thing I definitely have to recommend is their green tea ice cream. Was the meal worth it for me? Probably not since I didn't eat any expensive items and it was around $40. But was it delicious? Definitely! I would recommend Minado to sushi lovers and those that would, like my friend, grab plates of nothing but crab legs and raw oysters.
(4)
Chad F.

The food was fresh, and the sushi bar well stocked. But, at the price, bring your appetite and that of the guy sitting next to you at work in order to get your money's worth. Can't go wrong here if your hungry and into sushi and Japanese flair.
(4)
Dave B.

Stopped in here for Lunch last week with the boss after taking some time off from this extreme Japanese buffet. We were pleasantly surprised at the array of fresh sushi selections, soups, tempura and salads. You can most certainly find better quality fish in the Boston area but I promise nobody will show you a sushi buffet this good anywhere in Massachusetts. Do yourself a favor and get a driver, you'll be full as hell.
(3)
Gian S.

I really wanted to love Minados, and although I like them, I most definitely don't love them. My biggest compliant is that the sushi rolls have *two layers* of rice and one small piece of fish. I try to choose my calories wisely, and a pound of white rice isn't cutting it. The sashimi, on the other hand, is finely diced into tiny pieces and isn't appetizing at all. I prefer to take the sushi fillets and leave the rice behind for a well sized piece of sashimi. The hot food is tasty but quite over-seasoned. Even the cold entrees are heavily salted. Make sure to ask for the pitcher of water to accompany your sodium frenzy. For the best value, try Minados for lunch ($18) instead of dinner ($31). The atmosphere is great and the service attentive. I would only return with friends or as part of a party.
(3)
Shaina P.

Whoa. People LOVE Minado, as they should. I became an insta-fan as soon as I walked through the front doors of this enormous strip mall food establishment. It's clean and huge. It's a buffet. $20 for lunch. Fresh sushi, chilled properly. It's a free-for-all! Expect to return to buffet several times. Can't possibly fit all that you want onto one plate... Lots of seating, though VERY popular during the work week at lunch. And... Hot foods: Whole roasted blue fish, four kinds of soup, white rice, yakisoba, fried rice, tempura, plenty of seafood choices, plenty of beef, pork, chicken, tofu, and veggie choices, too. Cold foods: Salads of greens, tofu, calamari, cucumber, edamame. Plenty of adornments: A HUGE platter of packed and adorably decorated wasabi, piles of pickled ginger, two ways, sauces galore. It's truly an incredible experience worth every penny (all you can eat white tuna? Why, yes, I sure will) if you can shove enough down your throats and wash it down with one of 10+ chilled sakes or a beer. HOW CAN I FIND THIS GEM?? A little FYI for those non-F'ham or Natick-ites. It's kind of tricky to get into (and out of, for that matter). It's on the eastbound side of Rte 9 (Worcester Rd) across from Natick Mall and in the same parking area as the Pizza Hut. Enter at Dean's Street and just drive through the parking lot. I can't wait to get my sushi-lovin' butt back to Minado!
(4)
Aboud Y.

I feel you creeping, I can see it from my shadow Why don't you join me as I review sushi from Minado Let me preface this review by saying I really don't like any type of buffets. In short: Sushi+Buffet = a bad idea. Food made in mass quantities left to sit (sometimes under heat lamps) just doesn't appeal much to me. There are of course some exceptions but the thrill of pigging out from a trough and ensuring I got more than my money's worth was something I left behind in high school. Throw sushi into the mix and I start to get a little disgusted.
(2)
J L.

It's sad to see a great Japanese seafood buffet becomes so bad. Sushi was out of shape. No sashimi on Sunday lunch. A lot of varieties were missing. My favorite beef salad was gone.
(3)
Brian L.

The lunch here is ok. Nothing great. For $25, quite expensive. Not enjoying that. Def come for dinner, that's worth it. The lunch? Ehhhh.
(3)
Erin M.

I've been to Minado twice now: once for lunch, and once for dinner. Dinner is more expensive, but definitely worth it if you like the high end stuff like oysters or crab legs. It's also a couple of dollars cheaper to go during the week than it is on the weekend. I'm not sure why people are saying the sushi quality isn't that great. I've been to some pretty nice sushi places, and I would say Minado's sushi definitely holds its own! Sure, you won't get the really fancy crazy stuff that looks like fireworks exploding out of your plate... but you'll still get very fresh, very good fish. The selection is enormous, and the place stays busy enough that they are continually rolling out freshly made stuff. I took my sister here for her birthday because she loves sushi and she had never been before, and she called it "magical." I love that you can try so many different types of sushi without having to worry that you might not like it. You don't have to order 6 maki rolls of the same type... you can just take 1 or 2 to try. It's great for people wanting to experiment with different types! Your friend or significant other doesn't like sushi? Minado is still not out of the question for them, since they have an entire section of cooked foods, including seafood, beef, chicken, noodles, and veggies! Something for everyone... except for maybe non fish-eating vegetarians or people with serious food allergies. For dessert, you MUST try the crepes! They make them fresh with your choice of filling. So so so yum!
(4)
Isabella R.

Just went for lunch at Minado with my little brother. It was his first time and as a buffet newby myself we were both surprised at the freshness of the ingredients, the quality of the food, and the turnover of the plates as well. I went primarily for the sushi and my brother really took to the regular chinese food staples. Here's the only reason I gave this restaurant three stars is because when I took a bite of the chicken terryaki I choked on a chicken bone...definitely unexpected to have bones in a terryaki dish... it was a small one but it gave me hell ... just be careful
(3)
Sam G.

I have no use for food anymore.
(4)
Robyn E.

This restaurant is AMAZING! The food is excellent. It is a sushi buffet with so much more than just sushi. They have something for everyone. There is an amazing selection of sushi, all freshly made right in plain view, fresh crab legs, peel and eat shrimp, three or four different kinds of soup, several types of salad and many many hot dishes with everything from fried rice to coconut shrimp. There is also a wide selection of desserts and a man who makes fresh crepes with all sorts of fillings and toppings to choose from right in front of you. I have introduced several friends to this restaurant and made Minado lovers out of them. One friend now only refers to it as "Sushi Heaven." The only downside is the long wait for a table. Even showing up an hour or so before they opened a few times, I had quite a lengthy wait as several people had the same idea. Once inside, be prepared to either wait in a long line to get through the buffet or push your way in to get what you want. I am not a person who enjoys waiting in long lines or fighting crowds, but I have to say that I think Minado is worth it!!!!
(5)
Jenny C.

We ate so much crab....
(4)
Angela D.

so, upon a reevaluation and going back several times with friends, i find that while minado is exciting for someone who is seriously sushi deprived, i'd rather pay a la carte at a place that has better quality sushi than stuff myself with mediocre sushi. the quality of sushi here is extremely poor. the rice doesn't have too much flavor, which is a shame because rice makes up most of the sushi that they have. the rolls don't have much filling, and the filling they use is unusual. Whoever heard of having raw carrot sticks in a sushi roll? i'm not a fan.
(2)
Liz O.

Let me be clear: I am not a sushi snob. I wouldn't know top grade raw fish if it swam up and bit me. I love maki, and basically ignore traditional sushi and sashimi. So, the fact that I can try an ever-changing assortment of maki one piece at a time, plus hot dishes, and the service was quite friendly, made me happy. And full. Also, it was a good deal - we went for lunch on Memorial day and it was $18/pp plus $1.50 for a giant soda with free refills. So, even I could tell it wasn't that high quality. I'm not even sure there was fish in my maki, but there was a lot of variety, even if a lot of it started to taste the same. I loved being able to try unusual stuff that I won't normally order because a roll is so pricey and I'm afraid I won't like it. I was also surprised by the quality of the hot food. In my experience, Asian buffets (with the notable exception of Indian) are terrible, because stir-fried and deep fried food just can't sit on a buffet and taste good. But here, the cooked fish was really tasty, as was the tempura maki, shumai, and teriyaki. The waitress was Latina, and just super sweet. If you're bothered by a non-Asian working at a sushi place (like some reviewer I saw), you need to get over yourself. The desserts were pretty awful - no flavor, and the fruit was empty when I went up. That's the thing - it was crowded when we went which was good and bad: good because the food was really fresh and no worries about it sitting around, bad because they would run out of items quickly, and it took a few minutes to get stuff back, so next time I would make more smaller trips so I could try more things. And there will be a next time. Even my BF, who is super picky and super cheap, thought it was worth the money.
(4)
Jonathan L.

It's a buffet of sushi....there's really not that much to say. A little pricey, but that just means you gotta eat more sushi to make up for it! There's also a very nice collection of cooked food, salads, and an awesome crepe station at dinner. If you eat a lot of sushi and are really hungry, just come here. It's great and you'll save a lot more money than if you just went to a regular sushi restaurant.
(5)
BP Y.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this Japanese buffet! I was there maybe three years ago for lunch while I was in Boston and went again a month ago with three friends for dinner. This place has apparently got way better over the years and dinner has way more stuff than lunch. It costs quite a bit but for all you can eat, it's pretty worth it!
(5)
Biagio O.

Sushi is expensive and most buffet places mess it up but Minado does Sushi right! I wish there was a Minado in Burlington, MA . The sushi was very well done and there were great non sushi items too.
(5)
Jen H.

Do you like sushi? Do you like all you can eat? Do you like non-sushi items as well? If you answer yes to all of these... you're going to LOVE Minado. I don't eat sushi, and I try my best not to over eat... so for me... this place wasn't a great deal, money wise. I did, however, enjoy the food. It wasn't the best food I've ever had, but it was good. The line... was SOOOOOO long. I wasn't sure what I was going to like or dislike, so the 1st time around i patiently waited in line, and only took small bits of everything I thought I might like. Once I got back to my table and ate what I was going to eat... it was time for round 2. I'm sorry, but there was NO WAY I was waiting in that long line again just to get the 2 or 3 items that I wanted more of. Some people probably thought I was being rude... but I was just being efficient. I would go direct to where the food was I wanted, politely ask if i could just grab some, and then move on to the next item. I was already taking a long lunch with my team and we had a job to get back to! After my team members saw that I wasn't getting food thrown at me for "cutting" they all followed suit. The sushi, I heard it was good... but since I don't eat it, I can't speak on it. The desserts was a lot of different cakes and such, with green tea ice cream at the end. It was different... interesting... and tasty. All in all I'd go here again, but I'd only go if I was going with people who would enjoy the all you can eat sushi... otherwise I'd go somewhere else just for Japanese food.
(3)
Victoria J.

OMG. What a SHIT SHOW. It was 4:58 when my friend and I walked over from David's Bridal... And we could NOT get inside because of the massive hoard of gluttons blocking the entrance. The entire experience I can sum up in one word: Stressful. Possibly because of the gluttonious hoard that was vying for the same food as I, and possibly because I was ravenous. Finally get seated by the buffet - and I think I had an out-of-body experience. I lost 10min of my life; when I came to, I was sitting down with two (TWO!!) plates filled with food. WTF is wrong with me? I'm talking, shrimp skewers, pork short-ribs, oysters on the half shell, ceviche, seaweed salad, miso soup, mushroom caps, beef teriyaki. That was plate one, plate two had all kinds of sushi on it: salmon, spicy tuna, giant clam, regular clam, squid, octopus, sea urchin, flying fish roe, eel rolls, rolls with fish & avocado, rolls with randoms in it. Best: Shrimp skewers, oysters, seaweed salad, (it had vermicilli noodles in it!), sea urchin sushi. Worst: The sushi rice was a bit dry underneath - you could tell it had been sitting out for a while. Absolute Worst: The motherf*cking brick that I had in my stomach afterwards... Not that it stopped me from getting dessert. Yeah. I really don't know what is wrong with me but the cream puffs were delicious! After all this, I really don't know if I can handle EVER coming back here again. But it was a wonderful gluttonous out-of-body experience. DELICIOUS AND DEADLY!
(4)
Marc B.

Not bad for an all-you-can-eat Japanese buffet. The sushi was quite good. Very big selections. The hot food was just as good too. Plenty of choices. We arrived at around 8:30pm on a Saturday night. According to the waiter, we missed the long lines. He said there was a 45 minute wait earlier in the evening. It's now on our list of places we will return to.
(4)
Lan T.

Went there this past Monday with a group of 13 (first part of group) +8 (2nd wave of our group)= 21 . The buffet restaurant is HUGE. I have never been to a buffet restaurant where folks lined up in the waiting area and took off running towards the food ever before. Now I understand why. Minado offers a great assortment of thinly sliced sashimi, beef tataki, salmon tataki, smoke salmon, oysters and a huge assortment of roles. There is also a hibachi grill (cooked to order) and other cooked foods. The Green Tea Ice cream was not watery (it was perfection) and their assortment of fresh fruit and pastries was delish too. The made to order Crepes were a hit with our group. There wasn't anything that I didn't like. Our server (didn't catch his name) was superb. He filled our drinks promptly and cleared away dishes quickly (without anyone flagging him down) Next time we visit MA, we will surely stop here again. I wish I could take Minado home with us to California.
(5)
Michael A.

The best part about my experience here was the waiter, he was great! Runner up is the WOW affect when you see all the visually appealing sushi and how clean and fresh everything looks! I can say that for a sushi buffet, it's very well showcased. The really sad part was the taste of the food itself. With dinner costing around $32 per person I expected a higher quality meal. You can get better quality buffets in Vegas for $12 so why not here? Regarding the sushi, I literally tried every type of sushi they had. It also seems as though they add mayo to nearly half of their sushi choices. After little confused pondering (trying to figure out which type was the best) I realized that not one style stood out among the other. They all tasted basically the same... very bland and very sad. Now I'm very fond of sushi and make it at home from time to time and I prefer my basic crab-stick California roll over anything there. As for the other dishes (lo mien, teriaki, etc.), they were par but unfortunately I will not come here again.
(2)
Bill Y.

There are a lot of Japanese families eating here - good sign! I thought the sushi buffet was a good value. It was a little crowded and when I was there the fire alarm went off but that could happen anywhere. I would go back!
(4)
Janina T.

I don't really have anything negative to say about this place other than the fact that it can get ridiculously PACKED if you go at a "rush hour", which is really not the restaurant's fault. They have a pretty wide array of food and sushi from terriyaki to steak, all the way down to edamame pods. I'm a HUGE tamago sushi fan and low and behold, there's a plate on the buffet line waiting right for me. I noticed someone's review about it being rather expensive. While this is sort of true, you can also make the most of it by taking it for what it is, a buffet. You're paying a lot of money for the ability to eat all you can. So I strongly suggest going there hungry so you can get your money's worth. They recently instated a "frequent flyer" type of rewards program where if you eat there a certain amount of times, the next visit is free. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.
(5)
Andy F.

This is an amazing buffet. We've never had to wait but I hear weekend nights can be crazy. It's also expensive for a buffet-- get ready to fall out of your chairs you budget buffet lovers-- it's $25 a pop here. But it's amazing and worth every penny. The hot food section is as interesting as the sushi end and worth exploring. Come here when you're prepared to eat slow and try a LOT of new things. If the price scares you come for the weekday lunch-- it's a few dollars cheaper.
(4)
Ben G.

A few of my friends brought me here this past Saturday night. They all affectionately refer to this place as "SUSHI BUFFET" We walked up at 7pm to find about 40 people in the waiting area. They told us it would be about 45-50 minutes. Oh damn, a 45 minute wait for a buffet. OK, this place must be good, if the wait is this long. So we put our name in and took a walk. After returning an being seated, we immediately went to explore. This place is big, real big. There had to be about 200 tables in there. At the rear of the space were 5 buffet lines. One line is dedicated to dumplings, chicken, and beef, another line was predominately veggie based, another all sushi, another a raw bar and the last line was the dessert line. Hmm, which one to attack first? I followed suit and got some veggies and some dumplings, chicken and steak. It was all pretty run of the mill Asian cuisine. Nothing was really tasty. All the meats were pretty fatty. If I was going to get this type of cuisine, I'd call up my local Chinese restaurant and get a bunch of delivery and would have been a lot happier. OK, lines 1 and 2, kinda of a disappointment, but hey, there are 3 more lines to check out. Whats up next. That's right, the raw bar. This line was alright. I loaded up on shrimp cocktail and pieces of raw tuna and salmon and maybe a king crab leg or two. Nothing to really complain about here, other than i had to throw an elbow or two just to get into this line. Competition was kinda fierce around this place. Next time up I went for sushi. Now the sushi here is mediocre. Its not Oishii, its not Fugukyu, its not Genki Ya, its a sushi buffet. There are no designer rolls, there no customizing. There is a selection of about 20 different types of Makimoto to choose from. Now when it comes to sushi, I happen to differ in opinion than my friends, personally, I'd rather have quality over quantity. Not my buddies. One built his own rendition of the leaning tower of pizza out of sushi, another tried to recreate the great pyramids of gaza with sushi. Its not that the fish wasn't fresh, it tasted fine, I mean maybe it wasn't the quality of fish you'd find at some of the other spots I mentioned above. However you could tell the time and care that went into it was rushed and sloppy. I rounded off my meal with some green tea and vanilla ice cream avoiding most of the other desserts because well lets be honest, I just didn't have room for any more. One redeeming aspect of this dining experience was the people watching. With 200 plus tables in an establishment right across from the Natick mall, this place got a little bit of everyone. I wont go into detail, but my friends and I saw a few gems in terms of clothing choices. I will leave it at that. If you're really hungry, and think you can eat more than your share of Asian food for 31 dollars, go right ahead. I think I'll spend the 31 on a lot less food and be happier.
(2)
Abdulrahman B.

As soon as I heard of a sushi buffet I rushed in. I also was happy when I found out that other Japanese and Chinese dishes were there. With Tempura and Teppanyaki, I realized that I never should go there unless I am starving. The sushi buffet has many dishes. As soon as I pick up one of each kind I get full when I reach halfway and there goes my chance of enjoying Tempura and other stuff. I was never satisfied when I leave because I didn't have the chance of tasting everything :( A place for nice food and experience. Staff was welcoming and the decoration was good. It is also considered as a family restaurants. Especially when you go there at Sundays. So many asian families go there regularly. I once saw a beautiful asian lady with a local gentleman and I thought how lucky is to get a partner from a different country! At least you enjoy getting to extend your knowledge about new cultures and food :)
(4)
Biz F.

I just ate here last night, and I'm still full! Took a friend here for her birthday, and she couldn't have been happier. I was really pleased with the selection of rolls; it was so fun to try a single piece, you can never do that at a regular sushi place. There were upwards of twenty different types of rolls being made fresh. Lots of the rolls were "spicy" which meant they had lots of mayo in them. But I love mayo, so I really didn't mind. The nigiri/sashimi was a little bit more of a hit and run. The salmon was fantastic, on par with some of the sushi places in my neighborhood. The tuna was decent, and the octopus was chewy as always. The surf clam was very strange, but the salmon skin roll was wonderful. After you get through half an hour of eating rolls, there is a whole other side! Unfortunately, the crab legs and oysters were not good, but I didn't expect them to be fantastic. The crab legs were cold, overcooked, and watery. The oysters just didn't taste right at all. Next, they have an assortment of cold dishes. The mussels were delicious, as was the tuna tataki salad. The scallop ceviche was sad, and I didn't bother eating the other salad choices- I had rolls to eat! Then there is a crepe station, which is oddly hilarious to me. There is a hibachi grill next to that, with a whole assortment of dumplings and soup; if only I had a never-ending stomach! I would have eaten all the dumplings in the world if I didn't just eat my way through half the atlantic ocean. Next to that are some hot dishes, including teriyaki beef, more fish, and shrimp/veg tempura. The tempura was tasty, and the teriyaki salmon was great as well. Throughout this whole thing I was taking breaks eating the soft-serve green tea ice cream. Words cannot describe the joy of stuffing your face full of asian food and taking "breaks" with ice cream. Oh, and the desserts are whatevs, but the green tea cake is precious and the fruit is some welcome change. Overall, this place is my new asian food mecca. I will try coming here for lunch next time because it is half as much, and i think they only take away the food I didn't like. After my friends and I rolled ourselves out of here, we went next door to Pet World and looked at cats. So pretty much the best night ever.
(4)
Kayla H.

This place is fun and interesting. Great for those who are a little timid with their sushi. There are a lot generic, minor league sushi rolls, but a fair selection of more exotic stuff. The soups always seemed to be out though! This is buffet style, there is a wide selection of many things. Our waiter told us to look out for the oysters. We could always tell when they put them out, the line was a mile long. For $35 a piece, make sure you hit the dessert side, especially the green tea soft serve.
(4)
Jef S.

Minado is a seriously weird place. It's not really good, but then again, it's definitely not bad. My wife, on the other hand, has a violent hatred of Minado that compels her to rant and rave when I bring up the name. Parking in the busy lot sucks, but there are usually spots if you go when they open or when they close for midday break. Upon entering Minado, you can smell the buffet already. It smells like...lots of fish. You pay a flat fee that covers everything but drinks. This is a really good deal for parents with small kids...Junior eats for free. Lunch prices are reasonable for what you get ($16), but dinner seems to be a ripoff, as it's just the same stuff that they feature at lunch, only jazzed up. I'd stick to lunch if I were you. One of the encouraging things about Minado is that actual Asian folks eat here.I'm not trying to be flippant, but it really galls me when I walk into a sushi bar and only see gaijin white people eating there. In my mind, the equation works out like this: Number of Asian Patrons + Sushi Bar + $ Value = Quality I've found this to be true for most high quality sushi bars. However, Minado seems to operate more based on this inverse proportion: (Asian patrons / social class) + (cheap fish X rice) + ($ value/weird aftertaste) = Quality??? Maybe??? Yeah, I don't get it either. Anyway, the buffet line is loooooooooooong, about as long as the 1/4 mile buffet itself. Once you get there, you're likely to get stuck behind Grandma, who can't decide between STEAMED dumplings and FRIED dumplings...oooh, or look, they have POT STICKERS and...*smack*. Lucky for you, line cutting seems to be the norm here, so jettison all of your polite sensibilities and barge ahead if the fucker in front of you is moving too slowly. The food itself is hard to describe: 1. There's tons and tons of it, so you load your plate. 2. At first it's tasty, because you're so friggin' hungry from waiting in the line for 15 minutes. 3. Then you realize you've eaten too much, too fast, there's a funny taste in your mouth, and you may vomit. 4. But by god, you paid for a buffet, so you heave yourself back to your feet for seconds. The quality of the sushi is fairly standard. I like the more classic nigiri and sashimi style. It's definitely tasty, and if my wife ever allows me to go back, I'm going to stick to that and avoid the rolls. The rolls are interesting: mayonnaise-y spicy things with crunchy fried bits wrapped in rice and nori. They're heavy fare and two or three will weigh on your stomach like a lead balloon. The salads, especially the noodle ones, are pretty tasty. The appetizers should be eaten sparingly and at your own risk if you get anything fried. I've never made it to the crepes or hibachi, but the soups are extra nice. If you can make it to dessert, they have a variety of little cakes and pastries that somehow all taste the same regardless of pastry, filling, or color. A word about portion control: Minado, more than anything else, is an endurance test to see how much food your tummy can take. It's important to know your limits in advance and eat reasonable amounts rather than gorging yourself. You'll walk away from Minado stuffed to the brim regardless, but the real test is to do it and not make yourself really sick. The best thing about Minado is that you are so full that you don't have to eat for the next 18 hours. No joke. Service here is basically irrelevant. The server brings drinks and clears plates. It's a great place to go with groups and kids. That's the lay of the land around here at Minado: not good, not bad, but all sushi, all the time. My wife calls it "poor quality food for the masses" and questions the freshness of the fish, but I'm willing to give Minado some kudos.
(3)
Danan R.

I came here a few weeks ago and left as happy as a clam. Why you ask? 1 word: uni!!! Everything else was very similar to the East Norriton location, but the uni set it apart. It is a drive from Boston and Cambridge, but is definitely worth the trip. The rolls were all quite fresh, and I was able to tell the sushi chef exactly what I wanted and see it made in front of me. The temaki is a nice touch. Would recommend coming here if you're a sushi newbie just so you can try everything. The desserts, much like at the PA branch, are very small but intricately made and quite delectable. Just be prepared to call for a stretcher because you will overeat here. It's impossible to not do so.
(5)
Cynthia A.

One word describes it "Overpriced" 1 adult and two teens = $75.00, and not much the teens like other than rice, crepes and dessert. If you want an all you can eat Sushi place then this is it. I rate it one star because I think it is a rip off.
(1)
Brandon O.

Food was great. A huge buffet selection with not only sushi but also various diverse options. The waitstaff was helpful and courteous. I enjoyed my lunch there very much.
(5)
Sam M.

Ya know, I don't hate Minado, in fact it isn't bad to go say once or twice a year with a bunch of people cause it is a fun experience. However, for dinner it's really pricey ($30 pp) - the selection is obviously great since it's a buffet, but the quality is so-so. The warm food is ok, but nothing is that special and the sushi borders between OK - to meh - to sketchy. Don't get me wrong I eat tons of sushi when I go there and have never been sick from it, but would I be surprised if I didn't feel great afterwards - not really. In the end think of it this way you go with 6 people each pay $30 for the buffet, that's $160 which is like 3 sushi boats at a normal sushi restaurant.
(2)
Michael B.

I love sushi and hot menu, and well..I Love Seafood in general. Went for the Dinner Time, Best time for seafood lovers. This place has great sushi and their hot menu is fabulous. First let me say that it is a bit pricey but what can I say? It's seafood and whats good about dinner time are the King Crab Legs and Oysters on the half shell. I take advantage of that by getting Oysters that are huge. They have a great hot menu along with mini kalbi beef and skewers, and shrimp. Also, you get more of your moneys worth since they offer sashimi. I got to eat at a local sushi place before and it cost about $25 without tax,tip. for 2 special rolls and a regular roll, not really full but okay. Why not spend another $10 to get your money's worth once in a while i say.
(4)
David C.

Great buffet. I come here again and again because it's just that good. Selection is good, waiting staff excellent as usual, decor excellent. The price is a bit steep for a buffet, but I never have a complaint if I come here to eat. I think this restaurant and their staff have high standards for customer satisfaction and successfully keep me coming back.
(5)
An L.

Delicious food. Their salads are also quite spectacular as well.
(4)
Miguel M.

I LOVE ROLLS. Sushi Rolls, tempura rolls, veggie rolls, bread rolls, Rolls Royce, rolls of fat on a girl... if I can roll it and wrap my hands on it, I will love it. Even my love for rolls won't surpass the average-ness of this place. This is all you can eat place features sushi rolls and nigri. It also features chicken and beef teriyaki. The rolls are done in an assembly line and it feels more like a car manufacturer than a sushi place. The teriyaki meat is a paradox: its tough and juicy at the same time. Like all all-you-can-eat food troughs, this place has a dessert section, which is lackluster. The mini cakes are definitely not home made. How do I know that? Because they are always frozen in the middle when I try them. For the price ($20 lunch, $30 dinner) not worth it. Why give them 3 stars? Well, if you are an all-you-can-eat place, you will automatically get 1 extra star in my book. The other star goes to their unique decorations: 10-15 feet long plastic sharks hanging above you with their teeth wide open. About 15 of them. High Comedy.
(3)
Yukun L.

Great quality seafood entrees for a buffet.
(5)
Al Z.

Went to Minado on a Saturday night with another couple. The place is like Disney World with food. You name it and they have it. Steak, chicken, sushi, desserts. Food was plentiful, well cooked, and delicious. Worth every penny. Lines got longer as the evening went on. They could label the areas of the buffet a bit better - some people waited in long lines wieh they could have by passed this. Overall a fun delicious experience!
(5)
Brendan C.

This place is great. The buffet is fresh and tasty, with many sushi and non-sushi options. The wait staff are very friendly and helpful.
(5)
Kristin C.

We came here on a Sunday night for my husband's birthday. They open for dinner at 5:00 and when we arrived, at around 4:50, there was already a group of about 20 people waiting to be let in. By the time we left at 6:30 it was crowded, but not overly so. This is an AWESOME buffet for people that love sushi, crab legs, and seafood in general. There was a wide variety of creative maki rolls, along with sashimi and nigiri. I also really enjoyed some of the cold salads, scallops grilled to order from the hibachi, and a made to order crepe for dessert. The hot items on the far right side of the buffet set-up were only so-so. While the price may seem a little steep ($30.95 for dinner), if you like sushi you will certainly get your money's worth.
(4)
Alexandra K.

The great thing about Minado is if you try a new sushi and don't like it, you can go back up to the buffet and grab something you might like. I don't think the sushi is the highest quality, like my beloved Takara Sushi, but it still hits the spot. The mini soft shell grab ones are amazing.
(3)
Paul B.

*I shouldn't give the following gem away (for fear of longer lines), but PLEASE SEE MY REVIEW for: 7 NANA Japanese Steakhouse in Billerica, MA, it's worth the extra drive (even at the current rising gasoline prices). They have an all you can eat meal that puts Minado to shame (and it's served to you). If this place were within 5 miles of Minado, then Minado would be out of business. Let me know if you give 7 Nana a try! My office-mate recommended 7 Nana to me, and I thank him very much. :)
(1)
Eric S.

I've eaten here many times and the last time I went, on the 13th of July, it was still the same as before. The sushi was really good as was everything else.
(5)
Wen Y.

Sushi buffet with great quality foods. Especially recommend desserts they offered.
(4)
Claudine C.

I absolutely LOOOVVEE this place if I lived in Natick I would probably go there every weekend if I could. their food is amazing and the place is very clean
(5)
Kimberly H.

This is not your typical buffet with lukewarm offerings and rude service. With the volume Minado has during their peak hours, you can rest assured that even if you have to wait a couple seconds for something to be refilled, that it will be hot/cold and fresh. There are dozens of sushi rolls and sashimi to try and that is just the start. But keep in mind that the rolls are feeding the masses so there aren't any over the top adventurous/spicy rolls, unfortunately/understandably. It is a great place to take someone who is just starting in the sushi game because they can try a few things without committing to an entire roll. And if they don't like it, well there is a whole hot station, hibachi, and crepe assortment to keep them happy. The only let down for me is the dessert station which could stand to be beefed up a little. I don't come here often since I like to button my jeans, but it is a good spot when you are in the mood for some some sushi-gluttony. Dinner prices over the weekend are $31.95 so make sure you come hungry!
(4)
Cristina J.

I was skeptical hearing about sushi Buffet, but the food is great you can eat a little bit of everything, the salad are amazing as well. The best thing about this place is that you can go with anybody, because even if they don't like sushi they have plenty of food to try... Chicken, fish, crab, rice, beef teriyaky and make sure to save so room for desert they are AWESOME! I love this place!
(4)
Eric S.

This place is amazing. If you like sushi, this is a place worth traveling to. They have all different kinds of sushi but the highlight was the spicy salmon with peanut sauce maki. In addition to sushi, great hot foods ( rice, noodles, shumai , chicken and beef teriyaki, ribs) and a crepe station for deserts ( they also had pastries and ice cream). At $30 a person a great value an occasional treat for sure but well worth it.
(4)
Alan Y.

I've been to Minado ever since it opened several years back. The quality of their food has declined a bit, but the food is still quite decent. Their hot food is ok, with the exception of their sea bass, which is delicious. Their udon noodle soup is quite good as the broth is quite pungent. There is a pretty large variety of sushi, most of which is quite good. They also serve mini-sized desserts are well as good green tea soft-serve ice-cream. For a buffet, the Minado lunch buffet is a pretty good deal. They serve decent, but not excellent, food and have a wide variety of choices to suit every palate.
(4)
Chris C.

While the "unremarkable" decor was "not the most elegant experience," it's "definately no old Country Buffet either" and diners agreed there while the sushi was'nt "inventive", there was "an amazing array" of "fresh" "appetizing" food, "excellent [service] for a buffet" and "all in all, [it was] great fun"where "you get your money's worth!"
(4)
J W.

I probably frequent this place at least once a month, either for lunch or dinner. I must say that the quality is consistent every time I come here. It's above average sushi. Fresh, but not top quality. But it's a buffet, so I'm not expecting premium sushi for $20(not including tax + tip) for lunch and $30 for dinner. I usually go there for lunch because it's a better value for me sushi-wise. The differences between dinner and lunch besides the $10 is: 1. Raw Oysters - Their oysters are the size of little neck clams. 2. King Crab legs - I don't like them anyway, so having it doesn't make a difference. 3. Sashimi - You would think this would be the major selling point at a sushi place, but their sashimi is limited to tuna, salmon and sometimes red snapper. Also, they don't use the usual sashimi cuts of fish. It's more like the odds and ends from the nigiri sushi. 4. More varieties of Hand rolls 5. Crepes - Not fresh crepes, but crepes made during the lunch hour and reheated when you order one at the crepes station. 6. BBQ station with BBQ short ribs, chicken, and squid - Besides sushi, there's a salad section, which does have great salads. There's a hot section which has a variety of different japanese dishes that you would typically get at a sushi place. There's fried rice, noodles, shrimp & veggie tempura, gyoza, shumai(this is the only time I eat gyoza because the usual prices are $6 for 6 pieces and this is the same frozen gyoza that every sushi place serves. I know because a friend who owns a sushi place said that every place he's worked at buys gyoza(frozen), shumai(frozen) and seaweed salad(comes in huge buckets) in bulk.), chicken Katsu, chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, stir fried squid and more. There's also a soup station where there is miso soup, and 3 other kinds of soup that I've never tried. There's also a udon noodle station. Last of course is dessert. There's all kinds of cake, fruit , jello and soft serve ice cream. I usually get the green tea ice cream over the vanilla. I recommend the walnut butter cookies. The restaurant is clean and the waitstaff is great. They are always around to top water glasses and clear plates.
(4)
Jang David K.

I wish I could own minado. Not for the money but for the unlimited food I could eat. Thank goodness it's an hour away from my house. If not, my checking account would be crying and my belly would be screaming for mercy. I don't understand people who go here and are in lines for fried rice, wings, chicken, dumplings and lo mein. You crazy?? Really, ask yourself why you are paying like $40 for that. Go to a Chinese takeout near your house for that. What are you thinking... Go eat sushi, oysters, crab legs and king shrimp. Save room for some fantastic fruits and my fav. green tea ice cream. That's it. No freaking fried rice and fried wings....you gotta be kidding me. Also, let me share some veteran knowledge about eating at minado buffet. When you are eating sushi, make sure to scrape off as much white rice as possible. White rice is unhealthy and cheap...also makes you really full. I know they don't like it when you leave rice, so shove some inside your napkins, leave it on your friend's plate and drop some on the floor by accident, if you know what i mean. And No SODA. Drink tea instead. Finally, I know lunch is cheaper than dinner, but it's cheaper for a reason. They take out lots of goodies for lunch. Go dinner time and when you do, reserve and get there early because the lines are long or you will pay big time for your laziness. Oh yea, shout out to all those people who cut lines and take all 20 of the 20 oysters that they put out every 20min. You Suck.
(4)
Adam P.

AWSOME! Minados is a place you WILL want to come to again and again. I love the wide selection of seafood, sea like decorations, and finally the buffet. This place is just outstanding - the sushi is amazing and there are very good desert choices like fresh fruit jello and even ice cream, green tea ice cream! Minado is just amazing that is all I can say about it really. So just go to Minado already.
(5)
Bridget B.

What better way to follow up a review of Old Country Buffet than by writing one about a buffet that is actually surprisingly good. I went to Minado expecting it to be typical American stype Asian fare, with general tsaos chicken or fried shrimp dried to a crisp under heat lamps, but instead was met with a menu that (aside from the extensive sushi bar) had B.B.Q. pork ribs blue crab in oyster sauce, calamari rings w/ paprika sauce, fluke in wasabi sauce, a make your own udon soup bar, multiple seaweed salads, ceviche , giant stuffed shrimp, baked shrimp on skewers, a whole array of dumplings and tempuras, etc etc etc. This in addition to a teriyaki bar, and a plethora noodle and rice dishes. Everything is rotated out -constantly- to the point where I can't even figure out how this place is profitable, since they seem pretty stringent about not letting food sit out on the buffet for very long. In addition to all of that, they have a sushi buffet which includes all the standards, plus a battalion of sushi chefs behind the bar who will take orders for items not in the buffet. It's not the best sushi I've had, but it's good, though I typically go there more for the hot food. Their desserts are pretty good too, with ginger & green tea ice cream as well as all sorts of little cakes ranging from green tea to read bean chesecake. They also have a crepe bar, but the crepes are pre made and reheated to accommodate your requested toppings, and as such are kind of underwhelming. But with all the other dessert options, you shouldn't be entertaining eating crepes in a Japanse restaurant anyway. They also serve alcohol, so you can get beer and sake with your meal. I think this ends up making the waitstaff more attentive since you're probably going to be drinking a lot to match the vast amount of food you're probably going to consume. The restaurant is huge, like an airplane hanger with all sorts of odd fish statues hanging from the rafters. There's nothing like eating some mass produced sushi while sitting under a giant shark. It's no pricier than say, your typical vegas buffet, and i feel the quality is a lot higher. It's a great place to go if you like Japanese food, and it's also a great place to take someone unfamiliar with it since it allows them the chance to sample a whole host of dishes.
(4)
Jan H.

We are huge fan of sushi all-you-can-eat and we've been to this place quite a few times...We loved the variety of sushi they offered in this place, but we always feel disappointed at the end of the dinner. Their sushi is well composed and looked fantastic in the buffet counter, but they tasted the same to me. Same texture and same flavor. Piling up buffet sushi on a plate is definitely not the best way to enjoy it. I do suggest that you try their Sea Urchin Nigiri (quite a delicacy in a buffet ), Crepe dessert, and best of all their Udon noodles is the best.
(3)
dan o.

Hit minado for lunch. Amazing. Service is always great & the Food is always greater.a must try if you like Asian food. don't let the word sushi scare you away. It's not all raw sushi. staff is always welcoming. food is constantly be ing replenished so its never sitting around long. this is a favorite spot for me. I highly recomend checking out Minado....
(5)
Jason W.

Minado is a sushi buffet, which pretty much goes against every fundamental sushi principle. The chefs are all Latino and there is a machine that takes sushi rice and compacts them into the little rice logs you put fish on top of. This place is not in the least bit authentic. Given that, this place is pretty good. The hot bar with some version of Japanese dishes is quite tasty. The sushi is pretty good - better than sushi bars at the airport, but not as good as going to a quality sushi restaurant. Service is prompt, and parking is not bad. We went for lunch, which was a great deal. $20 for all-you-can-eat sushi lunch is a great deal. Dinner is $30, which is still not bad, though we have not gone for dinner. Despite its incredible lack of authenticity, the sushi is still a good deal and is pretty tasty.
(3)
Paul M.

Minado is like some kind of weird, wonderful though slightly terrifying dining experience. Brass tacks: $30+ adults. Children I think they weigh or measure you or something (seriously) to figure out how much you cost. All-you-can eat. Mayhem abound. Specifics: When you enter Minado's dining area you may initially be overwhelmed by the size of the room; especially given how small and strip-mallish the waiting lobby area is. This place was probably a department store like Marshalls or something before it became a palace for insatiable appetites looking to gorge on seafood and beyond. It's self-serve traditional buffet style line. The line is shaped like a squared off U with hot/cold entrees, salads, and hibachi, crepe, & soup stations off to the right side; sushi and deserts (besides the crepes) to the left and dead center are the condiments, oysters, and crab legs. I may have a bowl of udon noodle soup now and then. I may peruse the tempura and gyoza apps. I may even take some chicken terriyaki yakitori sticks (which are yummy here). But when it comes down to it I'm here for a) sushi/sashimi and b) oysters. If I'm paying $30+/plate you better believe I'm have at least a dozen oysters and enough sushi to normally fill one of those wooden boats they use to serve a shizz ton of sushi on at restaurants that cost like $150. Now, you may ask, "is buffet sushi actually good?" Well, my smart aleck answer would be "well that depends on the buffet, but if you mean Minado specifically then yes!" They've got the standard, American faves (spicy tuna, cali rolls, philly rolls, blah blah blah), they've got the standard, more legit sushi (fish roe wrapped in seaweed, virtually any kind of sea life on a bed on sushi bound by a seaweed strip), and then they get inventive too (guacamole roll? beef roll? kiwi sauce roll? some sort of crazy peanut buttery roll?) and I must say I don't think I've had a bad piece of sushi. Well, nix that, every once in a while you may get one chewy ass surf clam or maybe something just reaching its shelf life of like an hour but that's it. I cannot really say anything bad about the sushi. The oysters used to be better. They used to taste fresher. They used to be bigger. But they're still good enough to pound like it's my job. They like to put a little ginger/soy type dribble on their bivalves here with a wedge of lemon. It's more sweet than vinegar. It's pretty good.. My biggest complaint about the oysters (well at least about the oysters having to do with the restaurant itself) is they never fully shuck em. They leave the oyster itself still attached to the shell. In other words you have to kind of scoop it out with your finger before you kick it back. This leads to booboos. Shells lead to owies on my lips and my delicate hands. Now let's get to the bad: First is the people here seem to have never been members of society before. Despite what some people say there ARE lines here (they have signs posted that say "please queue here" or something). While I don't expect you to start queuing at the entrees to get around to the sushi/deserts for goodness sake if I'm standing there waiting for the person ahead of me to take their allotted 5 oyster/plate maximum that does not mean I am not interested in getting oysters myself. I've had at least 4 different people literally step in front of me and start snatching. When you say something like "excuse me there are 6 people in line for those" they either act like they can't or very truly can't understand you. Oh, in that case go right ahead... Also, the management of the place seems kind of shady to me. Why? Because even though I would've come back anyway they used to advertise "Dine in your birthday month, eat free!" So we went in my birthday month. Oh that doesn't apply to tonight's dinner that applies to your next visit within 5 months. Oh okay, here's my Minado diner's club card. Come back a month later and ask for my free meal- "Oh of course, do you have your coupon?" Um, what coupon? "Oh your server gave it to you your last visit during your birthday month" Oh that's funny, because I'm pretty sure they didn't and you were not the eye witness you seem to portray yourself as. "Oh no problem, here let's give you a new coupon, but you can't use it tonight, on your next visit" Oh...thanks. Next visit comes: Here's my coupon! "Oh sorry sir we've discontinued that promotion but I'll talk to my manager" O....k..... Now I've got some scary older looking woman in a sky blue blazer gawking at me as the waiter speaks with her...yet she never looks at him just stares at me with fire behind those eyes....and the head shake...."Oh sorry sir my manager says we cannot honor it." Awesome. So my free meal ended up costing me $120...and I never got it. Like I said, I'd have been back anyway, just not 4x in 5 months
(4)
Kelly L.

Great place, huge selection and a fantastic deal for the price! The Hibatchi is tasty and I love the crab legs!
(5)
Nicole F.

Was so excited to go to Minado's for my 30th birthday, hadn't been in years as it is quite a ride and not cheap. I was upset to see that the prices were raised since we had last been and the food quality went way down. In addition, the hot food line had at least a 20 minute wait throughout the night, which I found weird (don't really come here for that, but was aggravated that it seemed to take 20 minutes to get through each line.). The sushi tasted weird and every oyster I had, had shards of shell in them which I had to pick out of my mouth. I watched several people waiting ridiculously long for food items and the sketchy kitchen staff would just ignore the people waiting. And what is with the grumpy guy working the hibachi? I get that you hate your job, but join the club buddy. The one nice thing I can say is the waiter, Ray, remembered us even though we haven't been in so long...he is great!! This place is good for the experience but other than that go elsewhere..really not worth the money and wait to get the food. AND DON'T EAT THE FRIED OYSTERS!!!
(2)
Dena L.

If you were to spend $30 at another sushi restaurant, you would be extremely limited on what you might eat. This is probably the most affordable way to eat hot, cold, sushi, salads, steak, seafood and more. I eat $30 worth of oysters before even touching anything else! Great food. The one thing that is frustrating, and that has needed some intervention for a LONG time, is the very long, slow & disorganized line. Restaurant staff does nothing to help this at all. And after all that waiting, now there is a 5 oyster minimum!
(4)
Daniel P.

Wonderful wonderful..I'd been meaning to go here for a while on several recommendations...and finally did! I was very impressed by their sushi selection and their jellyfish salad is fabulous... As others have written below me, don't go here for the standard Chinese buffet style options, although they aren't bad here by any means. But if you are going to come here for their food, make it the sushi and the udon bar. Their hours are great, as they have a specific lunch schedule and dinner schedule.
(5)
Elena L.

Great place. Food is always fresh, prices are reasonable, waiters are friendly, overall very good experience. And last, but not least - "Minado" is open on both Thanksgiving day and Christmas. Highly recommended!
(5)
chan n.

Good food but expensive. I thought they give you free refills on drinks but they charge you for each refill. Overall great experience though.
(4)
Munchie B.

Terrific all-you-can-eat Asian buffet with hot food, a soup station, a grill station, a raw bar, and a sushi bar. It's a bit pricey, but still a good deal if you're really hungry. Hot food is a solid 4 stars. Sushi average 4 stars, but can be 3 stars. Because of the volume, the sushi is incredibly fresh. There's just not a lot of variety. Minado is a great place for groups, and there always seem to be a lot of groups and families there. There can be a long wait for a table if you show up at the height of the dinner rush.
(4)
Debra L.

This place is actually quite good. I have been to crappy sushi buffets before (when I lived in New Orleans) and this is place is sooo not a crappy sushi buffet. Went here on Sunday at lunch time and there was no question as to how fresh the Sushi & Maki was...the guys making it couldn't keep up. Each time they put down a new tray it was swiped up in seconds. I didn't see any of the raw stuff sit on the buffet line for more than a few minutes. As for the coooked stuff, I stayed away from the fried selections but simply because there were too many other things that caught my eye. Dining companions liked the tempura, dumplings and crab balls though. I had a small bowl of made to order udon soup and tried a few of the cold salads (spicy calamri and Chinese chicken salad) plus the previously mentioned samplings from the sushi line. I can't even tell you how much I wanted to go back and get a second plate of food (that's the danger of buffets). But I refused to go there. I didn't want to be in a food coma for the rest of the day. I did try dessert though and was thrilled to see that they had self-serve ice cream (I had cookies & cream) and a good selection of mini cakes and fresh fruit. I tried a mini peice of carrot cake and was pleasantly surprised. I think it was less than $20 per person for lunch, which was a great deal. I took a star off becase well, it is an all-you-can-eat buffet (although not crowded or messy or anything like that) and I just think that's unfair to do to anyone with self-control issues.
(4)
Steven B.

Yeah, Its expensive. Yeah, its not the absolute highest quality sushi on the planet, but so what! This place is a pig out dream. There are so many different kinds of sushi, as well as a full assortment of hot foods, Its a big enough buffet that in order to maximize its return you have to map out a cohesive plan of attack. I like to start with a loaded up rolls plate, just grabbing for all the disgusting spicy mayo and sauce topped multi fish concoctions I can pile onto my plate. For the second round, I tone it down a little with more sashimi and quality sushi over rice types. From there I usually do a couple rounds of oysters, which are actually pretty good, and since they limit you to five at a time, they can provide the necessary built in break to give you a chance to catch your second wind. I usually do 2-3 plates of 5 on the oysters. From here I'll load up one good plate from the hot food line and then top it all off with the green tea ice cream. I realize this sounds a little barbaric, but lets keep it real, this is why you come here. I just want to help you maximize your return on investment.
(4)
Brandon W.

I hate buffets - this is one of the few exceptions. Everything here is great. I know you are probably thinking that you would skip over the hot entrees and salads and go directly to the sushi and rolls. Don't. Their salads are diverse from sweet crunchy cabbage with almonds to tangy/salty seaweeds. Their hot entrees are also great. I love the deep fried mackerel - juicy on the inside with a crackly crunchy skin. Yummm. And of course the sushi and rolls - ok, so you are not going to get high end sushi but what they do have is excellent. This is one of our regular places to eat. Everybody I have introduce Minado to have returned on their own.
(5)
Serena L.

i first heard about this place on phantom gourmet and being a sushi lover, i decided that i simply HAD to come here! i met a fellow sushi-loving friend for lunch and we were like kids in a candy store. the lunch price is great at about $17.00 each; given the amounts of food we ate, it was worth it. i loved the various types of sushi, and other asian fare such as gyoza, noodles, fried rice. last but not least, their desserts are great! the only improvements i'd like are the fruit selections and the sashimi selection. they had everything but hamachi when i was there. i don't know what the dinner selections are like but i'm certainly going to find out!
(4)
G S.

Buffets are strange places. Fill your plate with food, eat, repeat. I will say though that this buffet is a bit better because you're not dealing with mashed potatoes and slabs of beef. The times I've been there have been very few vegetarian options for rolls, but there were a couple (just not worth the price it costs to eat there). The posters who have suggested the green tea ice cream are spot on. That is delicious! The green tea cakes though are a little boxy-tasting.
(3)
Fatty N.

Totally anti climactic. The quality was well below my expectations and fighting 87 other people just to get an oyster is ridiculous. You have to lose all respect for your fellow man in order to get what you want here. Not a horrible place to eat but not worth the trek to Natick. I won't be returning. Some items were acceptable but others were damn right nasty, the soggy shu Mai for example reminded me of a fish stick covered in wonton wrapper
(1)
Christopher S.

A while back my best friend and his wife invited me to join them for dinner here one rainy evening. Living in Framingham practically my whole life I thought I knew every restaurant along route 9 and surprisingly never notice Minado before. So, that evening was going to be a new experience for me. I've been to many Chinese/Japanese restaurants, buffets and hibachis grills and feel that Minado is a breath of fresh air. Every last Saturday of the month my girlfriend and I come here to stuff our faces with Japanese hot, cold, sushi and dessert entrees always leaving with happy, full Buda bellies! We've been showing up without fail for the last 10 months and have no plans to stop our monthly tradition. What you have to know about Minado is that lunch and dinner differ from each other in a couple different ways. Of course the obvious difference is cost and depending on what time of the week you go you'll see a $10-12 price gap. I enjoy going first thing on Saturdays because the crowds are not as bad, the regular wait staff knows me and I am familiar with the food layout. After a quick drink order customers sprint for the sushi bar and here you often find yourself battling with the large Asian community as tongs crisscross over each other trying to snatch up the various kinds of sushi rolls. Chefs never can seem to have enough ready because within twenty minutes usually all the popular ones are gone until more are made. As havoc ensues at the sushi bar I'm usually on the other side with a plate in my hand calmly choosing my hot entrees. On my last few visits the Kobe Rice has been replaced with another type but most of the appetizers have remained: BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken Teriyaki, Crab Cake Balls, Gyoza Dumplings, Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura are some of my favorite picks. Dinnertime will often have more seafood for hot/cold entrees and diners are treated to a hillock of crab legs which rest on a mount of ice! Usually, I have two plates of hot/cold entrees with sushi before I move onto the dessert but don't expect anything fancy or awe inspiring because this is one of the points in the meal where nothing has changed. You'll have a choice between two flavors of soft serve (vanilla or green tea), cookies, Jell-O, cakes and pastries. However, what makes dessert here so unique is that everything is cute, bite-sized and artistically presented. Who said you cannot have five different types of cake in a single sitting?! What I like best about coming here every month is that I always feel welcome, known the routine and leave happy every time. Being a regular with my girlfriend we have become more recognizable and usually are greeted by smiling wait staff before opening. The one big disappointment when we come here is when the check arrives signaling it's time to go until next month. I've never left having a bad experience and have always been treated well. If there are any rules to Minado the only one is: COME HUNGRY. You seriously want to come here on an empty stomach because nothing is worse than having only one plate of food and not having any room for more. You'll find it amusing how lunch here will hold you until dinner time or even breakfast the next day! FIVE STARS MINADO *****
(5)
Eric W.

You are probably aware that public transportation to the Natick Collection area is a bitch and a half. We made it as far as the Natick commuter line stop (West Natick is better) and took a cab to Minado. For a cab, expect a twenty minute wait and some "interesting" insights into illegal immigrants on your trip. Minado looks for all the world like a Midwestern all-you-can-eat steak buffet, but instead of piles of mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, here you have a beautiful rows of fresh sushi. You won't feel as bad if you fill your plate three times. The rolls are mostly simple. The Philadelphia stole that show for me, with the salmon nigiri in a close second. The hot dumplings are a must-add to your plate, though you may have to wait. Your eyes will invariably be hungrier than your stomach, so choose carefully. The mall is a reasonable walk across the highway for some entertainment after your meal. (Our cabbie assured us we would DIE if we attempted to cross Route 9, but, thanks to a crosswalk, that was not the case.)
(4)
Sarah H.

I wish I lived closer to this place so I could eat as much sushi as I want more often. So the sushi isn't super-deluxe, but its pretty high quality given that they make so much they use rice-attaching machines. The cooked options are also very tasty, and the selection of salads is amazing. Desserts are served in bite-sized portions, and are also very good. Besides the food, the lines move quickly and sushi is made fresh pretty much constantly. Arrive at the wrong time and you might end up waiting in line for awhile, which might be annoying if you've starved yourself in preparation for the sushi. Another really awesome feature of Minado is the little signs listing the ingredients for every dish and sushi roll, with common allergens in red. Very helpful. Everything is spotless and the service is good, and they're ninjas when it comes to taking away empty plates.
(5)
Busy L.

I'm going to update this to 4 stars based on my last 2 dining experience here. The sushi quality is excellent and just eating that easily makes up for the cost which is $30.95/pp for dinner. I recommned if you are a sushi fan. Everything else you eat besides sushi is added bonus.
(4)
Anita E.

I must say I loved it. How can you not love all you can eat sushi and other 'interesting' foods? Some of the desserts were very good not like the normal boxed nasty buffet desserts. I love this place. It's also near the mall.
(4)
Wally C.

Went there for lunch, the variety of food was great, great place to try dishes that you would never try at a japanese place, the only downsize was when the bill came we paid up but i told my cousin not to put the tip on the card that i would leave cash, after we gave the receipt back to the guy he asked us why didn't we tip him...LOL I told him that we were going to in cash, that was a little weird...
(3)
Amanda M.

I have been here for both lunch and dinner and have to say that I enjoyed both visits. I found dinner to be almost the same as lunch with the exception that they serve crepes and crab legs and it is more expensive. The sushi itself was the same as far as I could tell. The highlight for me was the green tea ice cream machine, I could have eaten that all day! Also we were fearful of the rumoured rice policy they have, that if you do not eat all of the rice under the fish there will be a surcharge on the bill. Well no surcharges were incurred, but then again we ate most of our rice or discreetly covered it with crab leg shells!
(4)
Jimmy M.

I love this place, it's a giant restaurant with miles of buffet tables and a huge, HUGE selection of sushi, stuff I'd never heard of before. My son and I dared each other to try the jellyfish salad, and it was really good, we both went back for more. I wished the guys at the raw bar shucked the oysters faster, but if they did people like me would eat them out of business, so I guess it's understandable. The service was great, I had hot saki here for the first time, loved it, but be careful, that stuff creeps up on you fast. The place is very clean and the decor tasteful. I didn't give it more stars because my wife does not eat sushi, and she was not pleased with the section of the buffet where the warm food is. It was obviously left out longer than it should have been, and it was not hot. There was a really big selection, but none of it looked good. So if you both love sushi go for it, but think twice if you're bringing someone who doesn't.
(3)
Anna F.

Well worth the $32 (Sunday dinner price) and the trek out to the burbs. I have been to a buffet with sushi before. It usually consists of 3-5 roll varieties and perhaps a few types of nigiri and sashimi. This is the real deal. Over 40 varieties or rolls, nigiri, sahimi and marinated raw fish. There is eel, soft shelled crab, roe, squid, clam, tuna, mackerel, striped bass and more. There is also an oyster bar, crab legs, a hibachi station, a crepe station, assorted dim sum, soups, salads, grilled fish and more. Great selection of sake and bite sized desserts (if you've left room). The staff are quick and courteous and the food quality is great for a buffet. My only warning is to be ready for a wait to get seated on the weekend for dinner. Put your name in and check out the nearby shops (it's in a strip mall). Sadly, they don't take reservations.
(4)
Stephen D.

Yeah, here's the deal with this joint: For the money, you get to stuff yourself with mediocre sushi and decent Japanese fare from hot trays. Now, Ill forgive a lot of things if it's all you can eat; but I can't do this joint more than once a month. I know plenty of people who love it, but then you take them to a decent sushi joint and all of a sudden their eyes are open. Sushi should not be on a buffet, Im sorry, but the truth hurts.
(3)
Chris G.

The sushi buffet was quite good, and actually the first time in my life I've ever felt comfortable enough to eat sushi from a buffet. Outside of the sushi, the remaining items in the buffet were just ok, nothing wonderful. I also felt the price was a bit too high given the location and atmosphere (which was a little too cafeteria-noisy for me). With tip and non-alcohol drinks, dinner for two came to over $50.
(2)
Robyn G.

In order to get the maximum Minado experience, please come wearing your mu-mu or expandable pants. You will not want to stop eating. The first time you go here, you will not pace yourself, and you will probably make yourself sick. Sushi buffet? Really? Yes. Oh yes. I have converted every doubter I have encountered. Or, Minado has really. I just put the wheels in motion. I have only been to Minado for lunch ($16.95) and have not experienced the raw bar and sashimi that is available at dinner, but I can vouch for everything else. The sushi is no Fugakyu, but it's really good quality. There's a huge variety to choose from, including spider maki with teeny tiny softshell crabs (they must breed them themselves or something because I never seen them anywhere else). Everything is incredibly fresh, with the sushi chefs constantly replenishing the supply. In addition to the sushi, there's a buffet of salads, one of hot foods, and even dessert with ice cream. I'm a particular fan of the mini green tea cakes. If you think you have no room left in your entire body for anything else to possibly have dessert, you do. The cakes are only a square inch. And you'll probably try at least three, just to continue on the path of gluttony. If you were planning on shopping at the Natick Collection after lunch, it's not going to happen. You will not be able to move, never mind try on clothing. Do yourself a favor and shop first, work up an appetite, and do your damage at Minado.
(4)
lasok o.

I get very picky when it comes to sushi, so if you're looking for good sushi, you might want to try a fancier establishment and pay the extra money. However, for what you pay, the sushi is ok. What makes up for the lack of sushi selection are the other cooked dishes and assortments of salad on top of a very attentive and accommodating service staff. You have to try this place at least once...and if possible, go on a weekday during lunch when it isn't so busy.
(3)
Justin Gwailo H.

Make sure you go there starving! Seafood are quite fresh. This is probably the best seafood (and general Asian) buffet in Boston area.
(4)
Lilian W.

Need to feed people with bottomless stomachs? Craving all sorts of Asian, but can't narrow it down? Have a car and some spare bills for tolls? Then Minado's is the place to go. I personally don't like buffets, because I can't eat too much in one sitting, so the "all you can eat" benefit is sort of lost on me. I also can't eat raw seafood, so that novelty is lost on me as well. But if you need (Asian) variety, this is the place to go. Everything is fresh and refilled almost constantly. I love their desserts too. The dinner price is slightly pricier than I'd like, but that's all the more reason to go during lunch. BTW, they only take reservations for 10+ parties. We came here for a friend's birthday recently, and when we told the waitress about the special occasion, she lit up and was excitedly making small talk with us. She was super accommodating, as we asked for a crapload of stuff and eventually bothered her for plates and forks for our cake. (I know, we were so silly to bring outside desserts to a BUFFET! But alas, it was for a special occasion). It's quite the hike out from Boston, but I wish I had a bigger tummie just so I could come here more often.
(4)
yana v.

If you can eat more then 2 rolls before you're full this place is a pretty good deal. It's a bit pricey per person $15, but it is an all you can eat buffet. For a buffet, they have a pretty large variety and pretty good quality food. I wouldn't call it amazing by far, but it's decent. When I walk into places like these, (which is not often) I always wish I had Homer Simpson with me. I would pay to see him eat all he can which the poor Asian waiters and managers freak out that he's eating them out of house and home. Come on, you know that would be entertaining. I just want to know how much he'd need to eat before they start getting worried. :) Anyways, now that I'm back from cartoon land. They have a whole section for sushi, salads, some rise and noodle dishes and cooked fish. All pretty good, no complaints. The place is clean. Waiters are attentive, (well i hope they'd be attentive since this is a self service buffet, what else could they be possibly doing other then stand and wait for you to ask for something to drink or the check).
(3)
Michael V.

Best seafood buffet ever!!! When I'm in the mood for variety and variety of good food I come here. Atmosphere and service is ok... The quality of their food is awesome!! When I go I usually get the spider roll, sashimi, seared beef in cilantro sauce, and the warm crab legs. Of course other foods also like the udon noodle soup but those are some of my favorites. Writing this review is making me hungry!!
(4)
Iska B.

Yes there are disgusting and terrible all-you-can-eat sushi places out there. This is not one of them. Not by a long shot. The interior is huge and open and very clean. It does not smell fishy in there at all which is a key sign of a good sushi place as far as I am concerned. The sushi is made on the spot, you can watch them do it so it's not as if the stuff sits there for hours before you get to it. People snatch it up just about as fast as it is set out. It looks very appetizing as well, nicely made, and you can ask for just about anything they put out to be made into a hand roll, just for you! They have an admirable selection of lots of favorites (California roll, Spicy Tuna, Salmon Skin etc.) and a few unusual things. My personal favorite was the baby softshell crab...which I believe I ate at least six of. Aside from the rolls, the sushi itself was very fresh and the tuna was deliciously tender and had a lovely color. As for the hot food, I only sampled the miso soup which was, well miso soup. It was fine. Don't really see how you could mess it up. The desserts aren't that interesting either though they do have ice cream. The main reason I had the miso soup (didn't really want anything else but sushi) was because it was FREEZING in there! OMFG. It's October people, turn down the damn AC! Maybe they do it so you won't linger there too long. Whatever. Minus one star for that and well because it wouldn't be fair to give it the same amount of stars as Oishii...I mean there is no comparison to that. I would recommend lunch only as it is only $17 vs the $28 for dinner (on weekends). If you have a bottomless pit for a stomach like I do then you will most certainly eat $17 worth of sushi...I know I ate much more :)
(4)
Renee H.

I am in love...and I am not at all embarrassed to admit that it is with a buffet! Because, you see, this is no ordinary buffet, this is a delicious, CLEAN, sushi buffet!!!!! I really shouldn't even need to say more than that, but you know how when you are in love, all you can do is talk about the thing you are in love with, well... I definitely say stick to lunch if you don't want to loss your wallet. For $15 you get a HUGE selection of fresh delicious sushi! There are traditional rolls, and a couple of exotic ones. There are even some vegetarian selections if that is your thing! I have never really gotten to the GIANT selection of other foods, because really....there is all you can eat sushi! The place is immaculate, and a pretty great warehouse looking atmosphere. It is great for a large group! Just beware, if you go for lunch, they do start kicking you out right at 2pm, so make sure you give yourself enough time. And try not to leave your watch on the nightstand....You may have had her....but Minado and I are tied at the heart!
(5)
Hilary P.

Ok, there are 2 things you should know about me first: 1. I am a sushi fiend 2. I am whole-heartedly against all things buffet Yet, this place was quite phenomenal. The selection of sushi, rolls, hot dishes, salads, and seafood was so insane that everyone in our group of 9 (ages 10-52), even those who freak out about the prospect of eating raw fish, was totally satisfied! The sushi itself is obviously not the best ever, but it's also not scary or sketchy. There were a couple of bland rolls, but several were very good as well. The dessert selection is all about the custom crepe bar - where a cook makes crepes to order with the fruit(s) of your choice inside - definitely a don't miss of the meal! Everyone left here very full and very happy with their meal.
(4)
Gregory B.

In one word...fantastic! Like Christopher S., I also wish that there were more Minado's in Massachusetts. I used to work in Natick and would dine there every Friday for lunch, it's a great place to go with your business associates. I no longer work in Natick, so I eat there a lot less frequently. I would eat there all the time if it was closer to where I live or work. It's a good place to bring the family, even if your kids do not eat Sushi because they have a very large cooked section. Don't forget to finish your meal with some fresh fruit or ice cream to cleanse the palate. Go there hungry!
(5)
G P.

This place is good if you want to try a bunch of different sushi in addition to other entrÃ©es. I don't find the sushi to be anywhere near fantastic, but it'll get the job done.
(2)
Moomin T.

Great sushi buffet--easily the best sushi of this type to be had. If you are looking for fancy sushi, go elsewhere. This is standard stuff, but good. The dinner is getting way too expensive these days: come for lunch to get the same buffet for way less.
(5)
Bernie B.

If you a) love sushi or b) eat a lot, Minado is a bargain. For me, fulfilling neither of these two criteria, the experience was so-so -- fun company but not amazing food. $17 or so (when I went) is cheap for all-you-can-eat sushi, but not for one plate's worth of fried rice and chicken teriyaki at lunchtime. Because of the restaurant's large scale and buffet style, food would often either be gone, or somewhat cold as it sat out on the buffet. When I went, it was a Thursday around noon and the line was LONG (probably took 15-25 minutes standing in line through the whole buffet) and never died down. Worse, a lot of the patrons were unpleasant and pushy (not the restaurant's fault, I grant you) and either cut in front or yelled at you for cutting in front (there seemed to be no set protocol about whether you could enter the line at certain intervals or not...). I'd recommend this restaurant as a fun place to go with a group or to try some new dishes, but not if you're a stickler for quality or do not like sushi. For Japanese food you could certainly find a better and less crowded deal elsewhere.
(3)
Alyssa C.

It's a buffet. Good place to go to gorge yourself on sushi and stir-frys while you have a drink, but you do pay buffet prices and who knows if you actually get your moneys worth. The sushi was fresh, but the cuts were HORRIBLE - which is expectable (I don't bank on the fact that the chefs there have been through strenuous training). Everything was decent though.
(2)
Charles W.

The place is a medium-sized buffet. The service was okay, and the decor is alright, but I wasn't very impressed by the food.
(2)
Josie C.

One of my gal friends took me and another friend here for the first time a couple weeks ago, and we were pleasantly surprised! We were expecting a small, crowded, average buffet in a shady location, but instead we went in and found cute tables with paper screen walls and a much larger selection of food than most of the buffet places I frequent. And the all you can eat sushi is actually good! Imagine that, huh? Their selection is really good, since they offer traditional rolls, maki rools, and sashimi, plus all the sauces too (even though I never use them, they had spicy mustard, spicy mayo, wasabi, and pickled ginger). The rest of the buffet was a fusion of everything (salads, tempura, mixed vegies & meats, etc.) the works! For dessert they have cakes, jello, a few different flavors of soft serve ice cream (the green tea frozen yogurt was my favorite, but you can't really get that wrong :d ), and fruits. Probably the only buffet I look forward to coming back to. Plus it's right across from the Natick mall, so after a full day's worth of shopping you can get a nice, full stomach in as well for a cheapo price :)
(4)
Graham C.

This guy loves Minado. It's all you can eat. You want 25 pieces of sushi, go for it. You want 18 gyozas? Knock yourself out. And it's less than 15$ for lunch most days. I spent that on a salad at Whole Foods yesterday. Mountains of wasabi, attentive service, and Jell-O. What more can you ask for from a lunch spot? Watch the weekends, though as this place seems like it breeds kids.
(4)
Z T.

Great sushi buffet. Expensive but worth it.
(5)
Loan L.

I was just there for the 2nd time on Sat for a bday dinner party. The first time i was there, I didn't know better and had the sushi. Like Anthony Bordain says, "Be wary of all-you-can-eat sushi" or half price sushi. If i have not made it clear........do not eat the sushi. It's not of a very good quality and when you're eating raw stuff........quality is well, kinda important. I tried a lot of the skewers like the shrimp skewer and calamari skewer and it was really good. The steamed crab legs were watery and over cooked, but the tempura crab legs were good. The veggie tempura with the sauce is good. They also had some sort of korean-style bbq beef and that was very tasty. This place was not too bad, but I probably would not go back. If i want to to go to a seafood buffet, I'm going to Nordic Lodge.
(3)
Paola C.

AMAZING! So far, all my reviews have been great because I think I've only been putting up reviews for the good restaurants I've been to, lol. This place is another one of those great restaurants. It's all you can eat sushi at a price that cannot be beat. For $17/lunch and a max of $30/dinner how can you go wrong? I usually pay almost $20 for 3-4 rolls of sushi. Here you get a variety of rolls and sashimi along with all the ginger and wasabi you can fill up on, a shrimp cocktail and an assortment of vegetables and other chinese/japanese dishes like beef teriyaki, tempura, and pork fried rice. Plus if anything else, go for the adorable little desserts (although not the best tasting) or the crepe making station where you can customize your own crepe. The lighting is great, the decor is art deco modern and the noise levels are usually pretty good. The tables are open, although there are booths on the perimeter. It can be a little cramped at times so either go early or go later. Dinner can get crazy but I havent experienced lunch yet. Its really not expensive for what you're getting and the amount of food you have to choose from. For dinner you'd be spending close to $40 per person if you were getting a cocktail or tea and some other drink. Definitely try it if you have one near you!!
(5)
Angelique S.

The wait was ridiculous and unorganized. If we didn't ask about our table, we probably would have been waiting for an hour plus. The quality of the food is not so fresh. They were out or low on a few pans of food which I would have liked. Every time I went up to see if they had brought out a new pan, I was disappointed to find the same empty pan. Not thrilled about this place; probably not going back.
(2)
Christina G.

Heaven on earth. So many flippin' options!! I went for the lunch menu ($18pp) because I thought it'd be slower and less expensive than the dinner. I can't even begin to list all the different types of sushi I devoured because there were so many. I didn't try any of the hot food but it all looked really yummy. The desserts weren't so fab but anywhere I can eat buffet style sushi is a win-win for me. And the green tea ice cream was a delicious way to wrap up the meal. Overall, I will plan on treating myself to this place monthly as my sushi binge!
(5)
Bindesh S.

[+] Great sushi at a reasonable (lunch) prices, avoid if you are not into sushi. [-] Dinner is somewhat expensive.
(5)
Dirgni S.

Blech! I don't understand all the positive reviews for this place. I've been here twice for lunch and both times were horrible. Maybe the sushi at lunch is different from dinner, but when I was there, all they had were rolls. The fish was overpowered by mayo, cream cheese, or something else that completely overwhelmed the flavor of the fish. The cooked dishes were all lukewarm and bland, bland, bland. The seaweed salad, which I love when prepared well, was flavorless and gloppy. The only tasty thing was the soft-serve green tea ice cream.
(1)
Denis D.

Went back for the lunch buffet, this time on a weekday. I was expecting the buffet to be of lesser quality than the weekend lunch buffet. I was wrong! It was just as good, for 4$ less per person! Food was delicious, as usual!!! Slightly less crowded than on weekends (good!) Service was outstanding, starting with the guy who brought us to our table, very friendly and welcoming. Our waitress was absolutely charming. Bright beautiful smile, very polite, came frequently to check if we needed anything. Perfect! I wish we had service like that everywhere. Will definitely go back!
(5)
Jane L.

I came back again. Same quality like always. I tried the ramen from the cooking station. The broth was great. I really like the crepes with strawberry and banana. Yes, I am definetly a fan :-)
(4)
Young P.

I love sushi and I find myself visiting Minado from time to time whenever I have some serious sushi cravings. Although the dinner price is pretty up there, I think if you play the game right, you just might end up breaking even, if not leaving Minado regretting for letting you in. My game plan is simple. I attack the raw bar and the sushi section. I usually go for the crab legs because they are delicious. Recently, Minado has been very selective with their oysters so if you see a line by the crab legs, it is most likely because people are waiting to get their oysters from one of the ppl working there. But in my opinion, that is a waste of time. Oysters are good and all but certainly not worth wasting your time waiting for them to come out! After I consume those delicious crab legs, I move on to the sushi part. Now the reason why I get the crab legs first is because you can hide the rice underneath the leg shells. I never waste my stomach with rice. I only fill it with fish. I also grab all the uni. Why? well because uni is extremely expensive. So if you eat 10 uni rolls, you are already on the right track. I also explore their hot food section as well. I don't go for those stupid fried rice or wontons. What a waste of space. Instead, go for their cooked seafood selections such as clams, fried fish, and etc. I also highly recommend their udon. It is freakishly delicious. Very random but they also have crepes. I don't know why but I find them so delicious. So in summary, follow my 3 step plan and you will be guaranteed your money's worth. 1. Crab legs 2. Sushi, grab all the uni rolls. Why? because uni is good for you and probably the most expensive roll in the entire sushi selections. 3. Hot food, udon, and crepes.
(4)
Mary K.

Everyone says to go for dinner to make it worthwhile but I think lunch is just fine and at a fraction of the cost. It was quite busy for lunch on a Friday but it was still a good experience. Their hot and cold selections are plentiful and good. However, I think where they shine in their regular buffet options, they lack in their sushi skills. I'm not a huge sushi fan but I know what tastes good and what doesn't. It's not that the selection is bad, It's just for a place that boasts as a sushi buffet, I would expect better quality. Service was friendly and prompt. Because we got there around 1:30 (lunch ends at 3), they didn't refill all options but there was enough to choose from. For the money, I think lunch is sufficient - but maybe what people are saying is accurate. Maybe I should cough up the extra $14-$15 for dinner and the quality of sushi might be better. Not something I'd indulge in often but once in a blue moon, I'd take a drive here.
(3)
Jae L.

How, how, how can they afford to offer such fresh sushi at such great prices? Does the back of the restaurant have an entrance to an anomaly in the time-space continuum that allows them to go back in time to get their ingredients so cheaply?!?! (There's a Stephen King reference in there, folks...) Regardless of how they do it, I'll be coming back to enjoy it. They don't have super-crazy-good-creative rolls, but they do the usual combinations well and with very fresh ingredients. And if I can talk myself into giving the sushi and rolls a break, I'd like to try the bulgogi-like Korean beef dish a try. I'm told it's the closest thing I'll get to Korean food around here!
(5)
Lina S.

This is a great seafood buffet. The food is delicious and caters to those who aren't huge fans of seafood. The atmosphere is nice and the building is large, so there's ample seating and space to maneuver through crowded areas. The bussing people move quickly and finished plates never piled up. The stations are very clearly zoned: fried food, soups and noodles, raw sushi, rolls, and desserts. They were all well tended to and stocked (as well as switched out) frequently and the counters were kept nice and tidy. I'm one of those who aren't really into seafood, so I can't review that bit. As for the accommodations for customers like me, I was thoroughly satisfied by the teriyaki chicken and fried rice. I saw the ramen station, but only after I had eaten my fair share of food. The dessert station was a lovely spread, to include vanilla and green tea soft serve! There is no better way to end a buffet than with soft serve. I'd definitely come again, if not just to indulge in the California roll, ramen, and soft serve.
(5)
Big S.

4 stars, very surprising for this place. I hadn't been in years, and likely won't be going back. The sushi doesn't taste fresh, I know it is a buffet but I was expecting higher quality fish, perhaps tasting a bit more fresh. They have a lot of over the top rolls with cream cheese, sauces, mayo's and tempura. The chinese food selection is much better, feel safer eating fried or cooked meals here. I don't see myself going back. There aren't many sushi buffets that are good, but I wouldn't even put this one in mediocore for their fish quality.
(1)
Enrique R.

BEST SUSHI AND SASHIMI AROUND!!! THIS HAS THE BEST AND THE MOST OPTIONS OF SUSHI AND SASHIMI,SEAFOOD, AND FRESH JAPANESE FOOD AROUND!! Yes, it is very very expensive; but very worth the price!! Every time people grab sushi they replace it immediately. The system of tongs on the plates away from the food is nice change and leaves you confident that it's sanitary. It is extremely clean and organized! Very friendly wait staff. I wish they had more options for beer. Very limited, but delicious options for beer. Highly recommended, super delicious. A must go looking for great sushi and food!!
(5)
Theresa V.

Simple seafood buffet, but overerpriced. It's a lot smaller than I expected. ..But I guess I came from area that had really big better seafood buffets for cheaper. Most of the sushi they had was cooked and surprisingly not many seafood options.
(3)
Changun S.

-great sushi and hibachi selection -****gets crowded/lines...so go on weeknight instead~~ (but keep in mind: selection differs) -high turn over rate, so sushi is fresh -sushi rolls are not overloaded with rice... -nice sashimi cuts -lots of fruit, dessert
(4)
Sherie J.

My manicurist told me about Minado after a brief discussion about sushi. She said it was good and they had 'some' sushi and Chinese food and soups and crepes. Okay, I'm not a fan of buffets because people tend to do stuff like touch the food with their hands and I don't know, maybe they didn't wash their hands after they wipe or they have Swine...who knows. So I bit the bullet and was VERY surprised. There are alot, I mean alot of things to eat...I don't think one person could try everything. The sushi selection is HUGE. They have sashimi, sushi, hand rolls and regular rolls. They also have oysters, crab legs, steak tartare, spinach salad with peanut sauce, edamame and miso soup. I can't vouch for what I didn't try, but the sushi I mean for $30 I will go back, it's not bad, it's not the best, but....it's not bad.
(3)
Julie N.

I was so happy to finally go here that I found myself skipping my way into the restaurant. As we walked to our table I asked the waitress how this whole thing worked. She said that we could go up at any time and start eating before our waitress even came and pointed out the sections of the buffet. Hot, Salad, Sushi and dessert. We went after it before putting down our coats. I ended up with two FULL plates of food and attempted to justify it with the fact I was on the elliptical for 25 minutes that day. One plate ended up being the *not worth the calories or stomach space plate* and the other one ended up being licked clean. Even after all that, I had to eat another plate of the little desserts. All of the food was pretty good but I've had way better. The whole experience of the place was really great and I loved being able to try new things for $28. So, all in all? I'm so excited I ate here but I probably won't come back. I was still full from that feed bag 24 hours after I ate it. But I think everyone should at least go once.
(3)
Hiep V.

This Minado has gotten progressively worse sine the first time I've gone. The rice is terribly stale, and quality of fish is so so. The only reason why I enjoyed my last visit was because I starved myself throughout the day until dinner. Their seafood may probably be a better substitute for the sushi and sashimi. Do eat the oysters. As for the fried foods, and stir frys, keep it to a minimum. You're paying $25pp, why fill yourself up on noodles and rice?
(3)
Mo P.

Don't like (1) high price, $20-odd for lunch, $30-odd for dinner, (2) crowded and usually have to wait in drafty ante-room, and (3) not much to satisfy non-seafood eaters. Do like (1) the super tender beef and the vegetable tempura, and (2) making my wife happy because she *loves* this place (she's East Asian). We took a friend from Tokyo there and he said it was the best sushi he's had in America (he regularly visits Boston and Atlanta). Summary: great food, but expensive and I wish there was a little more for us non-seafood fans and a shorter wait to get in.
(3)
Kupkake K.

When my tummy is empty and I'm looking for some yummy food, I go to Minado's buffet. I'm a big sushi fan and this place has a great variety! The quality is good, the fish is fresh, and they even have some exotic seafood sushi such as sea urchins (very delicious). The selection changes every day so you don't get the same sushi. As for the entree buffet, what can I say you get a variety of vegetable and seafood. I like the many ways they make shrimp--shrimp on a stick, stuffed shrimp, shrimp balls, all sorts of ways. Buffet has fish--salmon, bass, tuna, snapper all sorts of fish (varies each day). It also has all types of Asian salads as well as your American salads. The nicest thing about this buffet is the all you can eat raw oysters! Snow crab legs...The raw oysters are in high demand and the guy can't keep up with shucking them fast enough! The buffet price is pricey but well worth going every once and while because the variety and quality is awesome! I've gone on different days and I recommend going on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday because I find that they put their freshest and best display of food. The only seafood missing is Lobster!! LOL! Minado will keep you guessing what's on the menu! The desserts are yummy! You can get a crepe, green tea ice-cream (the best), fruits, and cakes! Try them all! I love the cream puffs with the ice-cream! Yum! If you're not a oyster and snow crab leg fan, then go during lunch it's a lot cheaper! They still have a good selection of sushi!
(4)
Becka D.

Not to beat a dead horse...but Minado is *that* amazing that I wanted to write my own review for it. Yes...the idea of all-you-can-eat sushi made me a tad nervous, but I love sushi, I was starving & I trust my boyfriend...so Minado was the answer. SO GLAD I WENT!! Very tasty sushi, interesting salads, great hot food options. And a whole row of desserts to finished it all off...mmm, fatty heaven! (Rumor has it that there is even more out during their dinner seatings. I don't think my body could handle that though.) I liked that lunch seatings were cheaper too. We all ate for under $20 & loved everything! Even my vegetarian sister found enough to eat that would fill her up. Most useful hint that I got --- leave the rice from your sushi on your plate so that you don't fill up as fast. Save room for the ice cream & jello!
(4)
Bruce B.

I can't believe that it has so few reviews. Went here for a birthday and have been driven to addiction. It is a bit pricy for a buffet as before mentioned, but the amount of sushi and other Japanese flavors is amazing.
(5)
Kevin W.

Asian people flock to this joint, not sure why.
(3)
Ben W.

I went to this place a couple of weeks ago. Not impressed at all. The waitress gave us a drink that we did not order and, in the end, gave us the wrong bill. There is a long line and you have to wait for a while before you see the Sushi per se. I thought the long line is really a good business idea (from the perspective of making money--it nudges people to eat other stuff first), but not that good from customers' perspective.
(3)
John C.

I've been to minados about 5 or 6 times. each time i've enjoyed myself and my guest have enjoyed themselves. for a buffet you're not getting snubbed, there is plenty of good food and quality food. the sushi isn't fantastic, but it's not subpar either. it's still head and shoulders above grocery store sushi and on campus sushi but doesn't match up to the sushi of places like oishii etc. between the hot dishes, cold dishes, salad, and grill section there is plenty to go from. personally i'm there for the grill and different types of sushi as well as some fried items here and there. the salmon isn't too shabby either. sometimes they'll have lobster (dinner only) but it's rare. the place can get loud, but what do you expect, all busy restaurants get loud. i hate sitting too close to the food though. only fat people ask to be seated near food. if you ask, you can be seated further away, it's nicer, trust me. other than that, the place isn't too shabby, if you want to try a variety of sushi to see what you like and don't like it's not a bad place to try. oh, by the way they have pretty decent hand rolls too, made to order only. i'de give it a 3.5 stars, but i can't.
(3)
Orly M.

This place is amazing. It's expensive, but I get my money'd worth, eating my weight in raw fish. It's not the best sushi ever, but it's plenty decent and the value can't be beat. It gets really, really crowded, and yet the dining area is always spotless. The hot dishes are really yummy. Some Chinese, some Japanese, all in my belly. Desserts are good, too. Come with an appetite. Leave bursting at the seams.
(5)
Anoni M.

Whether you find Minado to be worth what you're paying for depends if you go for lunch and whether you like sushi/sashimi. If you don't like sushi/sashimi, it's a bit pricey to only eat the hot foods, lunch or dinner. I usually have been there for the lunch and go within the first fifteen minutes of the doors opening. Not only is there no line, you get first dibs on the sushi salad, too. The food is diverse, yet not too overwhelming. There's plenty of salads and hot food to choose from as well. The udon bar with the appropriate spices is pretty good and the salads are always fresh. I've usually had some fairly fresh food, given it's a buffet, and generally it's been a pleasant experience. It's a nice little gem in the greater Boston area. Something unexpected, I guess...
(4)
Eiffe Q.

Their sushi is just OK. Nothing stands out. The appetizer and salad sections are far better. I prefer dinner over lunch although dinner is more expensive, but you get a lot more choices which I think are worth the extra $$.
(3)
Qiang W.

A place full of food I like. The only draw back for me is that the salmon sashimi always looks not so good
(4)
Irene F.

I came here for lunch. There is a whole row of warm dishes, a made-to-order udon station + some soups, a row of cold dishes/salads, sushi, and a row of desserts. I tried lots of the different rolls and everything was fresh. Since this place is fairly popular, you don't have to worry about the food sitting around for a long time. Everything is very clean and comfortable. 4 stars: granted, I don't have much experience with the Asian buffet scene, but I had a good time. P.S. The desserts are worth saving a little room for, especially the little cakes.
(4)
Rob T.

Normally the words sushi and all-you-can-eat-buffet for me means a night of stomach cramps but not so for Minado. We make a family trip to Minado probably once a month on average. With alcohol dinner for me, my wife and daughter usually runs us $80 to $100. A little more than if I went to my favorite local sushi bar but then I leave Minado much more full and with a far greater variety of foods. The sushi is very good. The fish is adequately fresh and they have a pretty wide variety of interesting rolls. They'll even make a decent hand roll for you if you can catch the chef and raise your voice loud enough for him to get it right. The cooked food side is everything from tempura and gyoza to udon and kalbi. At times I leave feeling as if Ive eaten $80 worth of kalbi alone. And you can top that all off with a variety of fresh fruit, cookies, cakes and ice cream from the desert bar. The place is almost always busy and gets very, very busy on weekend evenings which is a good thing. They turn over an un-godly amount of food here which means what you're eating hasnt been sitting in the tray for very long (many times Im standing waiting for them to refill). I recommend arriving between 5:30 and 6. Early enough to avoid a wait but timed right so they're turning over food quickly. The waitstaff is generally great. Very attentive with bringing drinks and clearing empty plates. I've never been harrased by the waitstaff to leave either. This past Sunday we and some friends occupied a table from 5:30 to 9 without so much as an awkward look. We of course are always sure to compensate with a more than generous tip for having occupied their table all evening :) I've never left Minado feeling like I didnt get my moneys worth.
(4)
Ilya Jacob R.

Extra star for being a buffet. I went here for a birthday and good stuff. So much to eat - so little time. I guess the problem for me is that I don't really like eating sushi after it has been sitting out for any length of time. Otherwise, they just have so much stuff and all of it overall above average that I really think its pretty worthwhile to check out once in a while. I'd also be sure that when you go, you've prepared for it. Because I've learned that NOT eating (earlier that day) is the wrong approach. If you don't stretch your stomach in advance by eating regularly, you'll get full faster. And you don't want to waste money on a buffet.
(4)
max r.

This is arguably the worst sushi I ever had. Looks like they just went to home depot parking lot and hired a bunch of guys who lost the landscaping jobs. While fish is not spoiled it is the worst possible quality. Rice is extremely vinegary too. Per unit of value it is really expensive and a bad deal overall. You can get a decent lunch combination at Oga's that is 2 min away for for way less. They only saving grace was service which was prompt and attentive.
(2)
Victoria S.

It is the ultimate sushi buffet!!! It's a bit on expensive side compared to most buffets, but it's worth it. They have a huge variety of sushi and other food too.
(5)
Gary B.

This is the only way to eat sushi in my opinion otherwise it becomes too expensive. I will eat $100 worth of sushi each time I go there and it only costs me a fraction of that. The sushi is made fresh and turns over quickly. It is kept on chilled plates and if it sits out for more than about 15 minutes then they trash it. I have never seen that happen though as it turns over every 5 minutes or so. They have a number of salads ranging from seafood salads to cucumber salads to seaweed salads and more. The hot food side is just OK. It is perfect if you are going with someone who won't eat sushi, but if no one eats sushi then the hot food side is not good enough to justify the price. Lunch is cheaper than dinner, but dinner gets you so many more choices that I will only go for dinner now.
(4)
Gen M.

Yea... I love the place. Go to dinner rather than lunch, it's not that much more expensive AND you get to eat from the crepe station and the menu is more plentiful. The sushi is delicious and the variety is mind-boggling. I love going there, filling up on sashimi and sushi and salads and little pastry. The sushi portions have gotten smaller cuz it's the economy and the slices of fish are smaller and thinner, but thats with every sushi place, sadly. So, this place still maintains its awesomeness. I don't think it has fancy rolls like dragon maki and stuff like that, but it does have regular stuff and some philly rolls and such. I love it
(5)
Dave C.

So my girl and i came here and we had a eating competition ..... that was a long drawn out fight but i guess we ended up with a tie. we went to the hot side twice and the cold side twice and the dessert section once. was fun but i was full and could barely walk after it was all said and done. service is good the food is awesome and a good deal overall. GOGOGOGO
(4)
Leif H.

A wonderfully refreshing take on the typically low quality Asian-American buffet. Minado's twists it up a bit with a fresh take on their atmosphere, which is clean, modern and well light. The food you will experience is the opposite of fried and heavy lending itself to light and refreshing. Make sure you get their early in the evening if you expect to take advantage of their crepe or hibachi grill areas.
(4)
Jj D.

No other place can you stuff your face with sashimi, then king crab legs followed by raw oysters. Everything is fresh and the food looks great. The 30 dollar price tag for dinner is definitely worth it unless you are the person that eats the filler foods (rice, salad. etc.) They have over a 100 different types of sushi and everything is made right in front of you. They will also make you anything upon request. Not to mention free parking.
(5)
Allison L.

Great price for FRESH sushi buffet. This place is clean, sushi is always very fresh. Salads are good and many varieties. Udon soup is delicious. They also serve crepes at dinner time, and have more choices for sushi. The best part, they don't serve huge portion of everything. They cut the cakes into mini squares, serve mini sized crepes, little bowls of udon soup.... so you wouldn't feel guilty of wasting anything, and get a chance to try everything you want.
(5)
Igor K.

You gotta love all the snobs here who diss this place because the sushi is not "top of the line". Not sure how many times you guys have been to a buffet but when you find one that offers top shelf food or drink, no matter what type of cuisine it is, let me know. Minado is exactly as advertised - a no frills, stuff your face for $30 buffet that includes very decent sushi, very decent hot foods, all-you-can-eat crab legs and an ok Korean BBQ grill. If you're looking to be genuinely impressed by sushi, why are you going to a sushi buffet in the first place? Go spend $15 a roll at Fugakyu and brag to everyone how you had your top shelf sushi and paid through the nose for it. For anyone who wants to go to an asian-themed buffet and not feel like you are dying afterwards, Minado is the place.
(5)
Bella and Aleksey R.

I didn't think the sushi was as fresh as in many other places. Though it is "all you can eat" and you get an insane amount of choices, it is still rather pricey.
(2)
Linh V.

This place sucks AND expensive for what you get.
(1)
Gary F.

There's something about buffets that makes you eat like an animal at trough. Like, not only will you never see food again but there are also beasts lurking over your shoulder trying to steal your spicy tuna rolls. Gary has a tummy-ache. For real. Gary had to hobble like a fat American with his chubby lady out of Minado this afternoon. Gary now is a fat American. And the lady is chubby. Whatever. It's tight. Gary has to give tight points to a place where chicken wings, sushi, and cookies and cream ice cream are available under one (large, warehouse-looking) roof. I know, buffet sushi = botulism. However, the requisite two hours of digestion have passed and Gary is going strong. This place is tight. And delicious. And $15 that will keep Gary full and happy. At least until dinner (when Minado is more expensive and therefore not so tight).
(4)
John M.

Maybe I am being too generous with a 5-Star rating since this is the first time I ever had sushi, but that's the point. I've wanted to try sushi but never felt comfortable or trusting enough to try it. Minado is clean, well lit, filled with customers - lots of Asian faces- who look like they know good sushi when they see it. And they have more than just sushi so if did not like it, the evening would not be a total loss. Excuse the pun, but I was hooked on the first nibble. I am not a huge eater and I dislike gorging on food - but I do appreciate complex tastes and layers of flavor. Once I got the hand of it, I was like a kid in a candy store, going from counter to counter discovering new treats. I hear that it's a very crowded place on weekends, but I was there on a Tuesday and we had a very nice evening. Definitely a place I plan to visit more often!
(5)
Nikky E.

A+ for this place. There is no place like this ! A bit on a pricey side. Very good selection of food and sushi. They also serve alcohol. Not your typical shitty buffet. Got boring ofter a while...........
(4)
Steven P.

Long wait to sit. Long lines for the food. The food quality was pretty good, but the green tea ice cream machine had been broken for 2 weeks?? The bathroom was disgusting. I doubt i'll be back soon.
(3)
David K.

I really wish I could give this place 5 stars because the food is great and I love the fact that I'm not spending an arm and leg for sushi...and a lot of it! First, if you think a sushi buffet is scary, think again. This place can rival some of the best sushi places as far as freshness goes. The selection is excellent and it really gives you the opportunity to try different types of sushi that you would otherwise never even know about. The wait staff are very kind and usually very prompt. We go there so often though, so I'm not sure if they just recognize us or what, but we always feel very welcome. The cooked food is not too bad although I eat very little of it. The udon soup is great because you tell the guy behind the counter how much noodles you want, how much spice to put in, and other stuff. The salad selection is great but again, I don't eat much of it other than the seaweed salad. The peanut noodle salad is good too. For dinner, they have raw oysters which is just ok. Awhile back, they used to taste better only because they didn't put scallions and sauce on top. It was just raw and plain, the way I like it (with a little lemon). They are still good though, just not as good as plain. They also have crab legs for dinner. I have those once in awhile when I'm in the mood but usually not because although they legs are huge, they are cold. I usually like them warm like the way most China Buffet restaurants serve them. So, here is the star that Minado doesn't get. It's really two things that really irritate me about this place. Can someone working there PLEASE put the wasabi and other sauces somewhere else? It's currently located between the sashimi/oysters/crab legs and the sushi. There is usually a line that starts where the crag legs are and it continues around the corner where the sushi is. Tons of people think the sushi line starts where the wasabi is but IT DOESN'T!!! PEOPLE, PLEASE STOP CUTTING OTHERS!! THE LINE DOES NOT START WHERE THE WASABI IS! I've been cut by tons of people and I see it happen all the time. It's usually the older Asian people that perhaps don't know the concept of WAITING IN LINE or noticing that there is a line behind them. Minado management, please fix this. All it takes is having a fence that keeps people from cutting in. That's all it takes. Steal one from the airport. JUST GET ONE...OR TWO. I've been going here for probably 6-7 years and when I first started going, dinner only cost $25. Now for whatever reason, it costs $29.95. I used to go there for people's birthdays because they'd get a free dinner on their birthday but they changed the policy so that it requires a party of 4 and the birthday boy/girl does not get a free dinner that day. Instead, they receive a dinner gift certificate for their next visit. If someone is reading this months from now, I've written this on 1/2/09. We had three snow storms in the last couple of weeks and for two of those storms, we waited until after the storm to come out of hiding. We wanted sushi and decided to call Minado to see if they were open but they were closed each time. How many businesses are THAT afraid of a litle bit of snow? It just seems like this place is trying to shave dollars here and there and raise prices wherever they can. I'm a little surprised they don't charge for soda refills but that might be because they are trying to get you to drink more and fill up on beverages quicker so you don't eat as much. Still, I love this place and I guess I'd be willing to pay up to $35 for all-you-can-eat sushi!!!
(4)
M C.

This is a great example of what a good buffet is. It's a buffet, and therefore, I don't believe it should be based on the same rating scale as other restaurants that aren't catered to producing large volumes of food at a time. The yakitori sticks were amazing. They were by far my favorite and was the biggest difference in regards to the other seafood buffets I've been to. It's very similar to Todai. There are slight differences, Todai has hand rolls and more types of desserts, and Minado definitely has a wider variety of hot food. Some things that bothered with me: 1. I really don't like scooping my own ice cream, partially because I'm full and trying to expend that energy scooping out ice cream is really tiring, but mostly because I feel like its really really inefficient. I mean, there was a bottle neck at the ice cream freezer. It's a slow process to scoop, and you start forming this long line, blocking all the other desserts, and it just becomes a chaotic mess of people. Todai I think is more efficient in bringing food to the masses. 2. The udon stand was self serve, so those noodles were sitting in the hot water for a while. And while I didn't actually have room to try any, from personal experience of cooking udon noodles, they get soggy when they sit in hot water for an extended period of time, and they don't taste good...to me. 3. They ran out of cut pieces of fish midway through dinner, and had to replenish the sliced fish for the nigiri. So there was no nigiri for 20-30 minutes. That is no good. Faux pas in my eyes. It's a buffet, turnover is high, they should keep those sushi plates well stocked. Other than that, it was pretty good. Too bad its way out in Natick.
(4)
Jennifer O.

Its okay nothing too crazy
(3)
John V.

Went here twice a whiles back because everyone hails it as the best buffet around! And in terms of product and amount it is pretty damn good!!! There is a lot of Sushi available which isn't bad, not the best but certainly passable for buffet sushi. The food itself was pretty good as well. This place is very much a 3.5 star(er), but because it is sort of pricey for what you get, I'll go 3.
(3)
Katherine C.

Overpriced for dinner no matter what you say. $40/person? Then I come with high expectations. It's great they have so much selection, and a few items were good like the black mussels, beef teriyaki, tomato and hijiki salads. But majority of things were mediocre at best.
(2)
Quynh Nhu D.

I love and hate Minado with a passion. Hate the excessive wait. Yes I've tried to reserve but unless you have a truck loads of friends and family, you can't really reserve for 4 people. The hosts aren't always very nice or helpful, depend on the craziness of the people waiting I guess... The hot food line is slightly flawed... You will see a giant line of 20-30 people waiting in that line but when you look closely, its because it was lobster day and people are just standing there when the lobster are being changed (thats like 10minutes worth) and causing the line to get out of control. Suggestion: put the lobster at the END or the BEGINNING of the buffet so people can be considerate and move out of the way. I had to wait for a really long time just to get my mom some fried rice. That's cutting in to my sushi eating time. AHHH! Desserts... not always consistent. All taste pretty much the same in the end. The oyster line is also hilarious, people are like piranhas. There are people that will get 6 dishes and not give a damn if other people can get any. I think people are just rude in general so I wont blame the restaurant but, I'm just airing out how people need to calm down even if those oysters are really good. It's expensive so we can only go stuff our face once a month. QQ Love points now: Food definitely, lots of consistency in term of sushi-goodness. The rolls are nicely shaped and proportioned. Saba sushi so many WAHHH. Some old favorites and some creative new one that make you kind of confused at first but will grow to love. Sushi are made at expert speed, so if your favorite are gone just take a walk to the salad side and sushi will be ready when you come back. Sometime the salads are really awesome, sometime there's three piece of lettuce and some tomato but its depends on the date and time... The hot food sometime are worth the wait and are really good, love the stuffed shrimps they're my favs! Crepes station is really fun and a good dessert, but don't get too full because you still got to get your Green tea ice cream on! Especially love it here for the green tea soft serve. You don't need the 10 flavors of ice cream tubs like other buffet places, when you come to japanese buffet you GOT to have that green tea ice cream :) The servers can get too busy so you will have to flag them down a couple of time for drinks or the bill but hey just focus on eating the glorious amount of food, they'll bring the check eventually..
(4)
Suchitra M.

If I could add 1/2 star more, I would Went with the family today and the Sushi was fresh and amazing I don't know how they do it. It's a great example of efficiency Pace yourself The sushi and food isn't going anywhere. Take small amounts and go back for more. It's a little annoying to see people pile food sky high and overeat. But that's a whole different issue! We do this once/twice a year and it's always memorable. Great job for keeping this place continuously fresh and delicious
(4)
Pamela Y.

My sister and I stopped here for a quick lunch. Minado is always great for a quick lunch. There were very few diners when we arrived but the restaurant was bustling by the time we left. There is a nice variety of hot and cold dishes as well as soup and maki rolls. We are also fans of the green tea soft serve. :)
(3)
Keith C.

The first time I came here was with a Japanese woman, who described Minado as an asian cafeteria, and even going back several times since then, I really can't disagree. This place is expensive to eat at, so come hungry. Don't eat for a couple days beforehand and then hit this place like a hurricane. There are really two main areas: The sushi side, and the hot food side. Well, three if you count the ice cream machines, but let's focus on food for a moment. The sushi is magnificently multicultural. Minado is owned by Koreans and the sushi is made by Mexicans blasting bubble pop. They were rocking "Genie in a bottle" and Spice Girls while making sushi faster than I've ever seen someone make sushi. The hot side is much smaller, but has some quality food as well. Minado is certainly the highest quality (read: I am very picky about where I eat raw fish) sushi buffet place in the area, but wow is it expensive. That being said, you'll be ecstatic about the quality and quantity, at least until you see your check.
(4)
Justin K.

Probably the best sushi buffet you'll get in the area. There's lots of space so you'll never wait too long. Wide selection of sushi rolls and sashimi. The hot food selection is also good - I couldn't get enough of the beef teriyaki. The first time I went though the kalbi was overdone. They have a lot of dessert options but they generally range from whatever-pretty good, nothing amazing. I'd stick with the green tea ice cream. The price here is cheaper than other Minados I've been to (less than $30 for lunch iirc), which is definitely worth it considering that's about two specialty rolls at a normal sushi place.
(4)
L L.

My family likes to come here when we want sushi and don't have a lot of time. The buffet for lunch, while less expensive, is disappointing with the selection. If you like sushi rolls, then you will love it. If you want all you can eat sashimi and crab legs - then wait for dinner. Kids like the dessert area with fruit and small cake bites and soft serve ice cream. I like the udon soup in the back right corner. Be careful of the "white tuna" as I have read it can cause GI issues. Great selection of sushi rolls on the left and cooked items on the right. My family once joked that we got in and out of there in 35 minutes - and over $100 later. This is fast Japanese food for the masses, don't expect any culinary delights.
(3)
Leslie Y.

Eight of us came by for dinner this evening..... It had just opened for the evening dinner.....so everyone was lining up to get a seat.... Everything was ok...nothing spectacular or nor especially fresh... Crab legs were very soft n sticky n mushy....not fresh at all.... Liked the wat they cut the fruit....small thin slices.... At 32 bucks a person...I expected more but I have been spoiled from buffets in the Bay Area
(3)
Allison R.

Oh, you know, Minado is just your average, run of the mill, all you can eat sushi joint. The sushi is not made to order, but there is a hibachi guy who cooks up some kind of stirfry on demand. What you get for your $20 or so: -rows of buffet style dishes ranging from fried rice to sashimi to shrimp tempura to unidentifiable delicacies -a dessert section with spongy cakes -the option to serve yourself as much wasabi or spicy mayo as your heart desires -the option to leave food on your plate and go up for more The sushi rolls are a bit packed with rice, but the fish is fresh enough. Not bad.
(3)
Andrew C.

Good, but not excellent, and I think $25 would get you a fair amount of Sushi with better service. Yes, they have other stations but the other food is no better than you would get at a non-sushi Asian Buffett for alot less money so people are coming here for the Sushi. When we came it was crowded and the lines for the Sushi were a bit long but not terrible. The Sushi itself was tasty, fresh and their was good variety. Nothing fantastic jumped out at me but it was all good. The table service was underwhelming and our table got knocked a few times as the divider we were sitting next to moved when the table on the other side was bumped. I may go again but for the high price I think I would rather stick to a Sushi restaurant and have someone deliver me exactly what I want.
(3)
Jen J.

This place was OK..food is mediocre, but I guess you can't expect that much for a buffet. Don't expect any high quality fish -- mostly salmon, shrimp, imitation crabmeat, and tuna. They also offer a variety of hot entrees, udon noodle soup bar, salad, fruit, and dessert. There is usually a wait and service can be slow on the drink refills. You get a better deal coming here for lunch. However, they offer some additional specials like Alaskan king crab legs during dinner. As much as I filled my stomach, I left unfulfilled. Personally, I would rather spend $25 on a few rolls that taste a lot better at Ginza or Fugakyu.
(3)
Chin C.

The overall food is ok, some below par, some decent. I will sum up the food that I like here. For sushi I think the yellow tail is great, much better compare to other sushi here. For app/cold entree I suggest grilled chicken on skewer, deep fried shrimp, octopus, seaweed, cocktail shrimp, king crab, sapporo pork. And for the desert you have to try their crape, it's so good. My way to have buffet is that I try everything for a piece and on my last round I would grab the food I like most and finish with dessert.
(3)
Dave M.

Not as a good of a deal as it used to be. Having grown up right next door, my friends and I have frequented this place on regular basis over the last few years. We used to love it because we could spend $15 for lunch, and eat a million pieces of sashimi, no rice, no rolls. The last time we went there though, what used to be 2 lines (1 for hot food, 1 for sushi) had merged into 1 and we had to wait close to 30 minutes to get our sushi. Once we finally got it, per usual we gleefully ate the fish and left the rice on the plate, only to be informed by our waitress that the restaraunt now assesses you a surcharge if you don't eat the rice along with the sushi. I should add that the quality of the sushi is pretty mediocre, and that was fine when it was all you can eat, but now that they try to force you to fill up on rice, they drop a few notches in my book.
(3)
Jimmy B.

I follow several rules in life that I feel have kept me alive way longer than most would have expected. A few of these include: 1. never lying to the police 2. always listening to my mother 3. seatbelts, seatbelts, seatbelts 4. listening to my brother's advice and doing the exact opposite. Now, this may make me sound like a huge Sally but it's sound advice and has worked very well thus far. But perhaps the most important rule I've always followed: Stay away from discount sushi! I'd say I've learned this from experience but I haven't. The few times I've been at any sort of sushi buffet or discount sushi establishment I've left without eating. An important sushi rule- if the restaraunt smells like any sort of fish, leave right away! Sushi shouldn't have any sort of fishy smell! But Minado is the exception. Sure, I pay $30 per person and it might not be the BEST sushi, but it's good (and worth it). The hot bar and oysters (lots of them, freshly schucked right in front of you) make up for any issues you have with their selection of rolls. I've walked out of this place before probably 3-4 lbs heavier than I was prior to gourging. And while Minado might not be a place I'll go to all the time, once every few months is ok if I can afford it. Also, like some Yelpers said, be warned of the dinner rush. It gets busy and you may need to throw a few elbows at the folks who choose to not move and stare at the rolls.
(4)
matthew h.

Holy heapings Batman. I've never seen this much Japanese food in one place at one time. And, at $25 a plate, you can definitely get your game on. Aside from the wall of sushi, there are many other things to eat here including crab (whole and in parts), seaweed salad (to make you feel like you're being healthy), crepes (?!?) stir fries (naturally), and udon soup. wow. Oh, the trick to getting to the front door is to drive past it on route nine and then take a left into the shopping area and then backtrack all the way through the parking lot. It took us two tries to get there.
(5)
Ted A.

Came here on a Saturday Night. The place was packed and at 7:30 there was a 40 minute wait for a table for one. Given that my evening's entertainment was Minado, I stuck it out. The sushi and sashimi were outstanding. Also good were the oysters on the half shell, pork and shrimp shumai. Unfortunately, the pot stickers were filled with a mush and were just awful and the raw shrimp was virtually tasteless (which is typical of shrimp that has been carelessly frozen). At $29.95 for the weekend dinner rate, it is hard to give Minado anything other than a recommendation with reservations.
(3)
Naomi U.

This place has extremely hideous sushi.....I'm incredulous... a bit shocked even that so many of my fellow yelpers seem to love this place. It's in a cavernous space featuring tables placed in a grid, flashback to the gymnasium where you took your SATs, at the far end of which is a large multi-stationed buffet area. The decor (neon, plexiglass and chrome) is reminiscent of a low budget casino, and it's not nearly inexpensive enough to justify the strange and 95% rice maki offerings they call sushi.... While it's promoted as a Japanese Sushi place absolutely everyone I encountered there was Chinese. I say this to provide insight, not as a derogatory comment, I mean would you be calm if Everyone working in the "Trattorria Italiano" was German? The only Japanese food there the night I went was one station offering Udon; a wheat noodle soup. It might be better if they morphed it into a multi-station Chinese noodle and stir-fry place at $10 per person.
(1)
B D.

When first heard about Minado, I was slightly concerned with the thought of a sushi buffet, but upon going and experiencing it first hand, WOW! My recommendation is to get there when it opens. We went for dinner and got there for 5, there were a good 30-40 people ahead of us waiting in line, but the place is so huge that it went by rather quick to be seated. I had some cold/hot foods, but spent most of my time at the sushi part. Everything was made fresh and there were so many options to choose from. It is well worth the price because my husband LOVES sushi. So much so, we have between the both of us got the sushi boat for three, I ate probably 30% of it and he the other 70%. Give Minado a try, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
stacey l.

I've been to sushi buffets in Vancouver and they are a different caliber, but this place is damn good for the price. Perhaps I was lucky to get it on a good night on my first try, but I highly recommend this place and will go back. We got there right when they opened on a Friday night so the place was pretty empty, but as we ate it filled up. The entire time we were there they were fully stocked on everything. I went mainly for the crab legs and sushi so I didn't try a lot of the other things, but they all were higher quality than the average buffet. I was looking on their site and they have a frequent dinner card...I just may sign up since I know I'll be going back soon!
(4)
Christine R.

When I want a lot of Japanese food I go here usually for lunch for the cheaper prices. Don't be afraid of this buffet. The sushi and everything else is excellent. I usually begin with a big plate of sushi. They have so many to choose from. Don't expect any specialty maki rolls or the best sushi ever but its very good regardless and such a great price. Next I go to the hot foods section of the buffet in which they serve a variety of Japanese food including tempura. They also have an aisle of salads. Everything was pretty much delicious. Finally I finish with the desserts. They have several cute cube cut cakes of all different varieties. You must try the green tea cake. They also have green tea soft serve, fruit, and cookies. I always come here starving and leave too full to move. But I love my Japanese food and this is the place to go crazy with it. Its also a great place to have a group dinner or bring someone who has never had sushi or Japanese food in general. Overall, this is one of my favorite restaurants. I come here often and always leave with a smile on my face. Great prices and great food.
(5)
Tom D.

I've heard a lot about this place and finally got around to experiencing it for myself two weekends ago. My brother and I took our S.O.'s for a Saturday afternoon double lunch date. We arrived at 1:00 and were told there'd be a 1/2 hour wait. Not too bad, but I had been fasting in preparation for this buffet experience, so that 1/2 hour felt like an eternity. Finally, we were summoned and escorted to our table. Walking through the restaurant all I could think was "Damn, this place is huge!" There have a ridiculous amount of seating, though I don't think they were seating to capacity on this day, seeing as how we waited 1/2 hour and there were numerous empty tables. I can imagine that if they had just kept seating people the buffet lines would have been ridiculous, so I'm happier to have done my waiting in the vestibule rather than in queue for sushi. I sampled just about a little bit of everything, even a few things that I found quite frightening, such as the fried smelt. I know it's a buffet and maybe I shouldn't have had the highest expectations, but I had built this place up so much in my mind that it was slightly disappointing. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed my meal and I certainly got my $20 worth, but I just didn't get that feeling of elation and food nirvana I had hoped for. Hot entrees were ok and the cold salads I tried were all very good. The sushi buffet had its ups and downs. First of all, they need to crank out more of the popular ones that all us sushi-posers love, like spicy tuna and spicy salmon. I went up a couple times to find those trays empty. Second, some of the selections had waaaaaay too much mayo/sauce slathered on them, making them look a little unappetizing. Despite these negatives, overal I was pleased with the selection and flavor of most everything I got. I mean, there was bound to be one or two things I didn't like, so I won't hold that against them. Afterall, that's what buffets are about, throwing caution to the wind and trying some obscure food, knowing that should be you be revolted, there are trays full of safe options you can quickly scarf down to get that disgusting taste out of your mouth. The bottom line here is if you've never been to this place, do not go expecting the world's finest cuisine and you won't be disappointed. I don't think I'll make this a regular stop, but I could see going back occasionally.
(3)
Alec Y.

i think minado is a great deal. when it comes down to it, what makes this place delicious is the pure awesomeness of how much variety and food you can get. the service isn't anything here. you order the buffet and they bring you water, and then your done. i don't think theres much to comment on the service. the decor is nice. it's a HUGE space. and i think they do a good job filling it. the decor is bright and eye catching. i like it. the food. the food for buffet, is AMAZING. considering its BUFFET, all you can eat, the quality is great. theres so much variety of things you can get. theres the japanese food, the korean, the american and chinese. then theres just sushi. the sushi obviously isn't fugakyu or oishii or anything. but it's all you can eat! the only concern i have about eating at minado is mercury poisoning! so good
(4)
tom V.

There's something about Sushi being served in a buffet at room tempurature. I guess it maybe that i've been spoiled by Sushi buffets in California or even in the great NW where the fish is as fresh as you can get it everyday, but for some reason it's difficult to find good sushi in MA. I was impressed with the selection and the variety of the sushi available, but I was unimpressed with the actual sushi itself; it should not be served at room temperature. Although the restaurant itself was big, and a glorified version of China Buffet, the line to getting the sushi was completely nuts. Ever heard of that phrase, "never cut in front of a scrawny azn man in a sushi buffet line?" Well apparently this doesn't apply to there, those kids you see in the movie Tokyo Drift constantly cutting in front of me to grab all of the Unagi. So rude! What I was impressed with about this place was the non-sushi side of the buffet. A great variety of seaweed salad and fried tempuras. So despite the bad sushi and rude Tokyo Drift kids, I'd recommend this place for the fried Tempura. All in all it's still a buffet restuarant, so if you're starving and feel like getting fat, this is a good place to go.
(3)
Alicia C.

All-you-can-eat sushi? I must admit I was skeptical at first. I was introduced to this place by some former co-workers and we all met up here for a reunion when I was back in town visiting. The place won me over. Pretty great selection and good quality for a reasonable price. Also, there was plenty else to choose including soups, chicken teriyaki, seaweed salad, tempura... Needless to say we all stuffed ourselves silly with sushi and left in a slight food coma (darn you rice, why must you expand...). Great place, I only wish I had found out about the place before I moved out of the area.
(4)
AJ G.

Great place, good food. Definitely going back.
(5)
Jason w.

I'm in the area on business. Fired up YELP on my iPhone, and what a find it was. Nice. The short review: Good fresh sushi and specialty asian seafood. $30 for all you can eat dinner. Went on a monday evening. Not crowded. Go there. The long review: I've had good Sushi, where the stuff is flown in via FedEx daily. Was it that good? no... but it was close. No fishy smell at all (generally any fishy smell indicates unfresh fish) Particularly for a buffet, this stuff is great. Great selection of almost all kinds of sushi, and a great selection of other specialty foods. Mostly seafood. It was all great. To try and sample that many different kinds of sushi, non buffet, would cost hundreds... Here you can try what you want, as much as you want, for one price. I normally use the wasabi and some soy sauce in a bowl with sushi. Here, I realized that doing that is akin to using A1 Steak Sauce in a really good steak house. It screws up the flavor of a well prepared food. After the first plate, the soy/wasabi went away, and it was time to savor the flavor. Anything to be critical of? They need put more space between the chairs. I was alone on business, at a 4 chair table and was uncomfortable, bumping into the chair next to me. I ate with my leg half in the aisle. But I'm not a small guy, so maybe that's just me. Go There.
(4)
Adrienne A.

We went with friends for lunch - and this was a great deal (M-Th, I think, 16.95). We love sushi, and are totally spoiled by another more expensive high-quality Japanese restaurant near our house. Surprisingly, the sushi here was extremely fresh and on par with that, even offering mackerel sushi. They also have interesting things like smelt salad and an entire baked blue fish, great teriyaki beef, massively good tempura, nice western-type salads, great vegetarian options. Admittedly the dessert section is not spectacular. Traditional Japanese desserts are often not the kind of thing Americans like, so I don't know anyone who is truly into sushi who realistically looks for fabulous dessert and coffee after. Go to a dessert place if you must have that. The staff was very nice, non-hovering but present, dining room was clean and well-designed. We plan to be there many times in the future when we're in Framingham.
(5)
KMarie G.

Eh. It's cool that it is a buffet so you can try a ton of different sushi, but the quality is below average. The temperature of sushi is very important, and their sushi is room temperature, and should be a bit cooler. This is probably because it is sitting out on a buffet tray. Anyways, their dining area is huge and great for big groups. I'm a huge sushi lover, and this place just doesn't cut it in terms of quality.
(3)
S Y.

I'd give this 2.5 stars if I could. Nothing to much to say about a buffet, is there? It'll always be hit or miss, depending on what variety of food you like. It filled me up, yes, and rather quickly too. Lots of sushi but nothing stood out too much. Lunch prices are significantly lower than dinner so if you're planning to eat as much as possible with paying as little as possible, great time to go is then. I don't know where Todai's are located besides California but I would rather much prefer that. Crab legs are abundant and the mini-desserts and chocolate-covered strawberries are always delish. I miss Cali!
(3)
Anna W.

I normally don't like buffets (I love food, but I am not a huge eater and buffets are a waste of money to me), but this place is the exception. I absolutely LOVE it! I should preface this by saying that I do *not* like sushi and I don't eat the sushi there, but I eat all the hot food, desserts, etc. and it is so yummy! However, I've gone there with sushi lovers and though they say the sushi isn't the best, it is "very good" considering it is a buffet. the hot food is very fresh, and whenever anything runs out, they are pretty good about replenishing it quickly. The hot food is mainly seafood -- you will find some beef and chicken thrown in there, but there is lots of fish, shrimp, crab, etc. If you like seafood, this is the place to go. The staff is pretty attentive as far as drinks go and getting you anything else you need. The desserts are kinda blah... they are small and not very tasty. You can tell they are those thawed bite-sized dessert thingies that you can buy at Costco or BJs. In addition to the not-so-great desserts, I had to dock a star for the price. During off-peak hours, the price is reasonable ( under $20), but during peak hours, it shoots up to almost $30 after tax, and like I said, for someone who doesn't eat that much (I probably go up to the buffet twice before I'm stuffed), it's not worth that much to me. Make sure you go when you're HUNGRY! I've been to other Asian buffets and they do not compare to this one! If I lived closer to Natick, I would go there more often.
(4)
Seafoodie R.

NEW REVIEW Went back, not as impressed. Worth checking out if you want to spend the money OLD REVIEW This place is excellent, not your run of the mill buffet. The buffet itself is massive! they have sushi chefs lined up making nigiri and temaki (hand rolls) of anything you want or anything that may have been cleaned off the buffet. Baby soft-shell crabs that fit perfectly over a small clump of rice wrapped with a band of seaweed. They have delicious japanese salads mixed with seafood, seaweed etc. Raw oysters, shrimp, baked shrimp, snow crab, broiled clams, you name it!!!! Lots of authentic goodies you will NOT find on any other buffet! they have a small but excellent hibachi grille which you give them an order and they power it onto your plate! this place is fantastic, wait till you see the desserts!!!!!
(3)
John L.

Their food is great but their sushi is not amazing. They have many selection but it's just okay. It's alittle over price, but overall this is a good place with plenty of variety. I love their selections
(4)
J J.

Food is generally tasteless. Sushi is just not good. This place has good variety, but I think paying $30 for dinner is just not worth it. Staff is generally welcoming. I went there a few times simply because there are not many good buffet places here in MA...and I always have this buffet craving. If you like sashimi, it might be a good place to go.
(3)
Alyssa N.

A buffet for the adventurous eater. Kind of expensive, but there's a lot of choices. Food here seems fresher than the average Asian buffet, and there are hibachi and crepe stations. Sadly, I was too full to try the crepes. Lots of raw fish- basic maki and nigiri, as well as some sashimi and tataki and salads that involve jellyfish and the like. Dessert options range from pastry cakes (green tea cake was yummy) to fresh fruit to ice cream. I didn't realize that you can request hand rolls until I was way too full to stuff myself with anymore sushi or sashimi.
(3)
James P.

Minado might not be the place that you want to take someone who is not too adventurous and is a sushi virgin. You really have to know what to look for as far as quality and to justify the steep price of admission. Like others have said the quality of the sashimi varies, but most of the sushi rolls were reasonably good. I had some jellyfish that was kind of scary, but I always like to try something that I do not see too often. I have eaten at some excellent sushi places for (sorry for being an LA sushi snob) thus the reason for giving Minado its 3 star grade.
(3)
Ellen L.

Ok, so this place is a bit expensive, but i get my moneys worth! it's a very minimalistic interior. Lots of food options and the sushi isn't bad considering. It's the same quality as other all you can eat chain japanese places. Although you don't get the variety, I find it most worth it to go for lunch and absolutely gorge myself.
(4)
g-pap ..

recently the french released a tokyo edition of the Guide Michelin, and several rogue japanese chefs had the temerity to reject the highly prized 3-star ratings that they had been awarded. but why? because they out-snootied the french, saying that no westerner had the ability to discern good japanese cuisine from bad. sure. fine. probably correct, come to think of it. ... i know i have a not-japanese-approved rating system for sushi, namely: 1-how well made is it? is it an appealing temperature, texture, flavor? does it hold together when you pick it up and touch it with sauce? does the fish melt in your mouth? how are the staples like sake and tobiko and maguro? 2-what range are you getting? do they have too much junky stuff like california rolls, or cool stuff like uni and special chef creations? 3-value? i mean, sushi is so dang expensive, and i can't stand going to a place that leaves me hungry even after i've dropped 50$ or more. so, really really good sushi costing lots of cash does not impress me. if it is moderately expensive, then it does. for all-you-can-eat, because you are eliminating the not-full aspect, well anyting better than mediocre is tolerable. so minado? 1- the sushi is quite good -- not excellent but better than many sushi joints that are mid-priced (i'm looking at you, mr. sushi, and symphony sushi). the temp is ok and the texture is soft. 2-it's a buffet, with at least 30 types of sushi and rolls, which is pretty good. the lines are long around the sake and maguro and yellowtail but....that's ok. a ton of all-you-can-eat sushi joints i've been to have a limited menu you can order from. not so, mikado! furthermore, the buffet includes appetizers like seaweed salad and edemame and many other things; you can also get tempura and desserts if you are not protein-mad like me. 3-the brunch is like 12$. my last time there i was not too hungry and had 45 pieces of sushi. the time before that i had 65. this is optimum value. but seriously, this is way better than average and if you are a volume eating connoisseur, it KILLS the price/quality curve. hence, 5 stars.
(5)
Nathan W.

I've been here a number of times with my family and each time, I have found it slightly disappointing. It's definitely true: you need to be hungry if you eat here, because the prices just keep rising. I actually started my sushi life here, but when I went to other smaller places, I found everything more enjoyable. I agree with what others have said, sushi is best enjoyed not at a buffet. At Minado, it becomes a competition to stuff as much so-so food down your stomach, which is fun, but only for a limited number of times. The other stuff isn't that great either. There's a line of regular asian food drying out under the heat lamps; the "bbq" thing that sprung out of the unused portion of the hibachi grill; hibachi was better when it first opened; the udon noodle station is just awkward and not that interesting; desserts generally tastes like cardboard, except maybe the specialty ice cream (green tea) and crepes. Those are acceptable. The atmosphere is okay; there are a lot of asians though. So the stinginess may not be very conducive. I don't mean to be scathing, for there are places far worse than this but I won't go back on my own accord.
(1)
Jennifer G.

I love this place!! The best part is I can come here with my husband and he can eat pretty well from their other yummy dishes while I can eat fantastic sushi at a great price! Well, for the amount of sushi I eat when I go here, it's a great price. ;)
(5)
Le C.

This place is the best sushi buffets around Boston area as far as I know --- Best in the sense that's relative to other places. Note that I have been to this place many times over the years, lunch, dinner, weekday, weekends, so I can totally relate with many of the other reviews here. First thing to say is, the quality of the food at Minado is going down. They used to have much better sashimi, cut in decent size, fresher; replenished quickly. Now the sashimi are cut into uneven sizes, usually small to tiny, occasionally in bigger but in uneven shapes. The chefs obviously didn't put much effort in cutting the sashimi right. It's more like they were just chopping the fish into small pieces and pile them there, and the freshness is deteriorating, especially the tuna. They used to have lobster on the buffet menu, which at one time was their selling point. But then the lobster plates got smaller and smaller, the serving got rarer and rarer, and now lobster is completely off the menu. A few other sushi rolls, like the eel, or sea urchin, are also served in slower pace than other cheaper rolls. They obviously do that deliberately to save cost. So the $30 you spend there in 2009 will not buy you the same dining experience in 2008, and the difference is huge. However, Minado still has probably the largest all-you-can-eat sushi and sashimi variety around Boston and you do find tasty food here and there to enjoy, ranging from salad to BBQ ribs to fried rice. I also argue that you should not walk in there expecting the best sushi. You are paying $30 for a meal after all. $30 would only buy you 2 pieces toro in a top-of-the-line Japanese restaurant, and here it is all-you-can-eat. But I do expect decent buffet grade sushi, and it seems meeting such an expectation is more and more difficult at Minado. I would have given them 4 stars had Minado been able to maintain their quality consistently, and thus their reputation--- even the fried rice was not as good as before(they used to have shrimp in the fried rice, now only pork and vege). So it is a sad thing to see the quality of Minado to go down, for the restaurant as well as for a sushi lover such as myself. I still go there from time to time because I haven't yet found a replacement around Boston that can do a Sushi buffet with better or even the same variety. Minado probably is not great any more but other places are still worse. If anyone of you out there know such a sushi place, buffet or not, please do share it in your review. Thank you.
(3)
Pink Cigarette T.

My bf called them and asked if they could take a reservation for 7:30 PM and they said "sure ok, reservation at 7:30" and hung up. We thought it was odd that they didn't take our names or whatnot, and he called again with his name and she said ok, **** (insert name), and hung up. We got there at 730 and said we had reservations and they said we don't take reservations, the wait time is 20-25 minutes. IF YOU DON'T TAKE RESERVATIONS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH SAYING "WE DON'T TAKE RESERVATIONS HERE" !! DON'T SAY YEAH OK AND PRETEND TO TAKE OUR RESERVATION, IF YOU DON'T. To the owners of Minado, you should fire the person who answers the phone Saturday night. How unprofessional. Not taking reservations is not going to prevent me from dining here but lying about it or placating me is going to.
(1)
Selene K.

By far the best place I've found in the Boston area for Sushi. Great selections for lunch and dinner. I go to Minado in Natick on a regular basis.
(4)
Debbie M.

We love this place. it is highly unusual to find a place that my entire family really likes - but this seems to be it. My only issue is we eat too much - but that is a typical problem in an all you can eat place. me - I love the spicy tuna and volcano rolls, hibachi grilled skewers, chinese entrees, and the crepes (yum!) Skip - loves everything but mostly feasts on all types of sushi CJ (10 years old) - loads up on the shrimp and humongous crabs legs and the shrimp and pineapple skewers Sabrina (3 years old) - loves the vegetable tempura, fresh fruit, salads, rice and ice cream They also have beer. They are pretty kid friendly - they have kid pricing and smile at your kids and they will make you "kids chopsticks" so your kids can have a chance at getting some food with their chopsticks. My daughter loves all of the fish they have hanging around the restaurant as decor. If you go on your birthday they take your photo while you hold a silly parasol.
(5)
I D.

This place reminds me of my dreams...lots of food, and so delicious. I always did the fried side and then the sushi side, but I tried a new method of going backwards and started on the sushi side first. I can't believe I've never thought of that before. Needles to say I devoured my sushi and then had only a little room for everything else, but who cares...it's a sushi buffet!!!!!!...and they serve alcohol! Love their sake and plumb wine. It's not a good meal unless I'm deathly stuffed and want more food, but just can't eat any more. Mmmmmm, this is the best buffet ever, too bad it's far away from Boston, and not T accessible....but maybe that's a good thing.
(4)
Shan H.

All you can eat sushi, I can't help but give that a five-star! The sushi was amazing!! I wholeheartedly agree with the other reviewers who say that the hot food is mediocre. Stay away from the hot food and keep filling your plate with the maki rolls.
(5)
Han K.

For lunch, my old review stands. For dinner though although it's $10 more expensive, it's worth the extra money for all you can eat crab legs, oysters on the half shell and a much bigger and better variety of nigiri sushi and even some basic Korean style sashimi. You can easily eat your fill of that stuff and make your money's worth. I still think the quality isn't of the best, but for what it is, it's not bad.
(3)
Jacob R.

I went there to eat with my girlfriend last Saturday night. The wait was long but I understand that it's theweekends. We were finally sat to a tall Asian waiter with glasses and he was very friendly. He explained to us about the buffet as it was our first time and we took on his suggestion to try the udon soup and the steak from the hibachi grill. The variety of food was delicious indeed. The sashimi could've been better though. The service from our waiter was superb as he asked us a couple of times to check if everything was alright. He suggested for us to try the Alaskan snowcrab legs and taught us how to break open it to get to the tasty meat. When we were done with the main dishes, he reminded us to get desert, especially the crepes and green tea ice cream. In the end I wanted something other than coffee, or dessert wine, and our waiter suggested the rice flavor tea instead of the typical green tea which tasted great. All in all, the experience was adventurous. The food I would rate a 4.5 out of 5 but it would be the service that would draw me back to minado again.
(5)
Terry H.

As a friend of mine said it is "sushi paradise." It is best to get there right at opening time as things do clear out. I am a fan of oysters and uni and those tend to go fast. They work hard to get things back but during 'rush hour' it can get pretty tied up. I wish I lived closer or they would open another location. It is about $28 for dinner but I would spend that easily on a few rolls elsewhere. In all it is not somewhere you would go every night but if you go every couple of weeks it is a great value. I've been there for lunch and they don't have everything like the oysters, crab legs, lobster (it is mostly parts of claws and it does run out fast), and uni but it is about half the price.
(4)
Brian B.

Very decent quality for being a sushi buffet. If you are a sushi expert than understand, it is what it is. However, what they do is have lots of fresh items prepared right there in the middle of the buffet and it's all pretty good to excellent. Tons of stuff to choose from for all kinds of tastes. Sushi is only one part of what they do. One of favorite places to pig out on tuna rolls and sashimi. Worth going to.
(4)
Barry F.

have been a more than reqular diner for years - always wondered why the Salmon was not a dark red color - well now I know - they use FARM RAISED SALMON!!! not what I would expect for a sushi bar.
(2)
Tiffany D.

How have I not written about this place yet? I love it. I'd say 4-4.5 stars. It doesn't get 5 simply because it's a buffet and a bit pricey BUT the food is fresh, delicious and it's really easy to get your money's worth. Especially by loading up on seafood & sushi. I don't like how the crepe stand is only open at dinner time and only sashimi during.. lunch time I think it is. I hate it during "rush hour" because it's packed and the sushi gets cleared so fast. But there's lots of yummie variety of foods and desserts and the place is so clean! I love it there and I think the sushi is pretty good.. I've been to sushi restaurants that aren't as fresh.
(4)
Momo K.

the display is nice but everything goes downhill from there.... don't bring any sushi first timers here, they will probably not like sushi for the rest of their existence.
(2)
Cameo R.

One concern: Too often there is no hot or warm water in the women's restroom. (The staff uses the same restrooms that we do.) The Natick Health Dept has re-visited, and tells me that "they are working on it" or "we thought the problem was fixed". The problem is that there is little or no hot water available when the dishwasher is working.
(3)
J. Scott P.

I will drive the hour and a half it takes to get here. I can't say enough about it. i'm being vague only because you have to have the Minado experience if you like Japanese food.
(5)
cassandra L.

I enjoyed the salad bar here. Lots of selection! To be honest, if you are looking for quality sushi, you will definitely not find it here cause this is a buffet restaurant and they mass produce. If you are having a tough time deciding between Chinese or Japanese food, this would be your perfect go to place. For around $30 for weekday lunch, you get Chinese and Japanese hot food(the hot buffet is pretty decent), salad bar, sushi( btw, they will also make you a hand roll for you) and dessert bar (cakes, pudding, fruit, and ice cream). The service is great as well! This will be a nice place to go once in a while not a weekly hang out. Another plus abt this buffet is that it is located opposite of Natick mall. So you can eat and "exercise" later:)
(4)
Xin S.

I've only been here for lunch and absolutely love it. We always go right when they open so there's never a wait and everything is fresh and plentiful. The sushi selection is great and there are always new rolls to try. Salad and hot selections are impressive too. I always go a little crazy with dessert, they have the best little cakes, all very spongey and airy with not overly sweet whipped cream frostings, just like what you would get at a bakery in Chinatown. Best part is they cut them into tiny little squares so you can taste one of every flavor. Green tea ice cream is always great, skip the plastic cups they put out and get a soup bowl for it! I saw a review on here that alerted me to their rewards program which I didn't know about. Awesome lunch for $20, stuff yourself to the brim and you probably won't have to eat again for 2 days! (so it's actually a GREAT deal!)
(4)
Katie G.

INCREDIBLE. This is the first sushi buffet I have ever been to, and it was everything I dreamed it could be. A beautifully set up buffet where the sushi is so fresh you can watch the sushi artists make it and put it out on clean plates behind little labels telling you exactly what you are eating. The wait staff is kind and friendly, and your choices for food and beverage are never ending. I usually stick to endless mountains of maki, but they also have an array of noodles, chinese, and even some korean food. Always leave room for their delicious, intricate deserts! The location is hardly convenient, but the trek is more than worth it! Go with an empty stomach, it would be criminal to be full after just one plate, and always order up some sake!
(5)
Licong L.

This place used to be wicked good when it first opened. It's still good, but the quality of the food has declined. That said, it still beats the pants off any other buffet-style restaurant, and nothing beats it when you want to gorge on sushi and their awesome cold salads.
(4)
Daniel L.

Expensive, but what a great selection! They have a good variety of sushi and sashimi, but also many hot Japanese, Chinese, and other ethnic dishes. They even have crepes! If your going during lunch or a weekday, make sure to come early as they can run low on caviar and some other dishes.
(4)
Cee C.

The line was very long for a Saturday night dinner. But the food was really really really good. The sushi is made for you as your order, and mmm you can order handrolls. I have gone a few times and always enjoyed myself. A few friends and I have made a tradition to go on our birthdays, and binge. mmmmm crab legs there are very good and fresh there too.
(4)
Jason G.

I am not going to sit back and tell you that this is the best sushi you are ever going to eat in your life, but I am going to tell you that it is good, that you won't realize it's buffet, and that you will truly enjoy it. I have been here probably between 10-15 times. It is great. Weekday lunch is cheap, it had been $15.99, it is now $16.99, and come on, who can't eat $17 worth of sushi and then some? The price for weekday lunch is worth it. If you really know how to throw down grub then dinner isn't that bad at between $28-31 depending on weekday/weekend. Plus, for dinner they throw in crab legs, unagi nigiri, unagi hand rolls, and sashimi, and a crepe bar. I don't focus on the hot foods, but I know there are some differences there as well. The fish is always fresh and delicious and they have a wide variety. It can get very crowded sometimes. We usually fast from the night before and have a one meal day at 11:30am when we go here to beat the crowd. Try it, you will come back for seconds.
(4)
Meaghan B.

I'm not a huge sushi connoisseur... only been eating it semi-regularly for about two years now but I know that the sushi here is the bomb, and a good deal for all you can eat! Even the food at the cooked station is really good, they also offer a variety of salads and other seafood, such as crab legs, shrimp, etc. I love this place... I go every chance I get.
(4)
Sean M.

This place gives a decent bang for the buck. They have nice premiums like crab and oysters on occasion and because it is a buffet you get some hoarders. I saw a young woman waiting for them to bring out more oysters and she shamelessly took the whole plate! Next time up I boxed her out like Shaq under the boards. The sushi is B- to B+ grade. The hot entrees are decent the cold salads are just ok. The staff can be pushy at times. I mostly go for lunch. You can have decent meeting and eat quickly.
(3)
Anne C.

Great Japanese buffet with decent sushi. There are so many variety of sushi and temakis. The different salads and cold appetizers are excellent. I usually hit the salad first then the sushi. By the time I'm done getting my sushi fix. I just barely have enough room for the bite size desserts and fruit. So I never have any room for the hot foods. It's on the expensive side - $30 pp for dinner (especially if you don't eat sushi). It's definitely good for groups and my kids love this place.
(3)
Nutmeg Y.

I ate so much i had to be wheelbarrowed out. The place rocks. The food is excellent (for its value) and the service was great! I came here during lunch (around $18/pp). The sushi was pretty fresh. Even if you're not into sushi, there are plenty of cooked goods for you to devour. My favs are the tempura, albacore tuna (so buttery!) and of course the salmon!!!
(5)
Sandra C.

Great sushi buffet. Most sushi buffets offer only thin slices of fish on top of lots of rice or only cheaper rolls like california rolls, but this place doesn't skimp. They also have tons of seafood like cocktail shrimp and clams and lots of chinese and japanese cold and hot dishes. They also have an udon noodle soup, crepe, and stir-fry stations as well as the best green tea ice cream I've ever had. Pricey, but good to go to with a big group of friends like on a birthday or something. They'll give you a cake and a poloroid of you under a japanese umbrella. Come with a big appetite!
(5)
Inessa T.

It is good place if you go for quantity only, because quality is bad. Starting with maki-nigiri, rice is just glutinous kind short grain (or the cheapest sushi rice possible), which doesn't held together, when you dip a piece in soy sauce. Most maki are drowned in buckets of mayonnaise. By the way, I remember times, when they almost didn't use mayo. Probably, I am very old Going to sashimi station, you will find 3 boats with small chopped pieces of tail parts. Besides ugly looking, is consists mainly connective tissue, bring food grinder with you, you may have fish tartare. Don't they know how to cut row fish for sashimi, and what parts to use? Oysters when they available are swimming in sauce. Who would make it to a fresh oyster? Salmon tataki was good. The bad thing was that after first plate was empty, second one appeared very messy. It applies to almost all food. If you come first, you see nice presentation, after it food is thrown on plates like for pigs. Seaweed salad was not bad, so couple years ago it was much better. CrÃªpe was done from the mix of flour and water, presence of eggs was not detected. The best thing was beef from hibachi, unfortunately, we wanted sushi. Shumai was with brown-fried bottoms, and no choice to have, traditional for this place, steamed. But the worst was prepared food section. Ugly pollock skeleton rested forever with remaining bits of flesh translucent like they forgot to taw it and dropped in fryer straight from freezer. Other fish was tested by us and, no surprise, it was greasy and dry and tasteless. In general, every fried food, we had, been overdone. Going for desserts was pleasure. Maybe next time I will go straight for them. Just kidding, I will wait for changes. Almost forgot, service was very pleasant. Good luck to everyone.
(2)
Norina N.

this is a buffet restaurant...a huge place with incredible food....they have everything like crab legs, shrimp, oyster, fish, beef, salad, soup, alot more, u name it....the stand out thing is they have an ultimate sushi buffet, love it.....for dessert, love the pancake and green tea ice cream...$16 for each person on lunch time, and 25 for dinner....it's worth for every penny....if you love to try everything, this is a best place for you....oh by the way, forgot to mention that the service are great, staff are very nice....they give u whatever u ask for without an attitude....i've been to this place many times already, never feel disappointed, always left stuffing :)
(5)
Paula N.

Price goes up but the food is downgraded.
(3)
Joyce T.

Sushi quality is surprisingly good for a buffet. Salads are creative and yummy. Large restaurant with casual atmosphere.
(4)
Ariel G.

Great selection of sushi, decent quality and good price.
(5)
KC L.

The were a lot food. They have the usual seafood shrimp, snow craps, sushi. Where's the lobster, the sea bass? Too expensive for the usual seafood. This place was huge.
(3)
Juggy W.

One of the best japanese places around the greater Boston area for sure - make it one of your "places to go before im dead". Go before they have another price hike (already 2 in the past 2 years).
(5)
Sadalit V.

Minado is my family's current favorite restaurant and totally kid-friendly. It's not just sushi and seafood, there is something for everyone. Most of the families you will see there have children of all ages with them, but the decor and delicious food make you feel like a grown-up, which is so welcome if you can't stand the bugaboo creek aesthetic.
(5)
Robert L.

I had a birthday party here with 20+ family members. Service was fantastic as they were accomodating, letting us in first to set up. We asked to sit by the window so we weren't between two other tables, no problem. Don't expect quality of Oiishi in Brookline, it's a buffet. It's better than Todai's in Las Vegas over by Planet Hollywood, also a Sushi and seafood buffet. What makes this place a 4 for me is the combination of good tasting (not great) sushi and large variety of cooked foods available. Sushi buffet had all typical rolls, fish, salmon roe, even Uni. Key is to get to the sushi side (left side) of the buffet first and come around for the cooked food later. If you do it the other way around it's a long long wait.
(4)
Ryan L.

This place would get 4 stars if the sushi were better but the hot entrees is what saves it. I agree with the reviews that said this place has gotten worse. when it first opened everything was good. now the sushi is just mediocre as heck. I'd only come here for the hot entrees but given that I live so far away from here and the price is too steep to just come here for entrees, I just don't come here at all these days.
(3)
David T.

I went here at lunchtime (with my roommates and ten of their classmates) when it's a really good deal. All you can eat (good) seafood for $14! The best part is that this includes a wide variety of sushi. The salmon skewers were delicious too. I ate 3 plates full plus dessert. It was great, but I was way too full by the end (this is mostly because Andy's girlfriend kept putting food on my plate).
(4)
Sutee D.

I didn't enjoy the sushi buffet experience. Not sure if it's because of Minado or the concept of sushi buffet. A large selection, but the sushi was made assembly-line style and not with love. You can get your money's worth in terms of the amount of food you eat and the price of the ingredients, but for me, that's not what sushi is about.
(2)
Immer E.

it's expensive, but extra-heavenly for carnivores. all-you-can-eat sushi & sashimi, crab legs, oysters, shrimp, chicken, pork & beef dishes, seaweed salad, fish, noodles, bbq kebabs, rice, soup, tempura....there's such a large assortment of food. there's even a crepe bar and a tantalizing dessert area, including cakes, cookies and even green tea ice cream. yumm... i take my parents here for dinner on special occasions since they love it so much. it costs $25 on mon-thurs and $27 on the weekends. it costs extra for tea and per person, which they don't tell you up front. they keep this place pretty clean and the food presentation is very appealing. if you have issues w/ portion control (like me) you'd be smart to avoid this place.
(4)
Chlo S.

So much food! I'm a vegetarian and I had a lot of choices here, plus some sushi (non-fish of course) that I haven't tried before. Hot, cold, whatever you want.
(4)
Nausheen M.

They serve some really good buffet...a huge variety of sushi's on one side, oysters, shrimp coctail, some yummy salads, and many delicious teriyaki dishes. I love the crapes that they make with your choice of fruits. Their desserts are good too. Also, if you manage to go there on your birthday..your meal is free. Weekends are really busy so you should have about 30 min in hand to wait. This place is right opposite to the Natick mall so very convenient to go shopping and stop by here for dinner.
(4)
Dynne S.

For sushi, you really get a deal. But the quality is much lower. I definitely would not recommend it. In fact, I'd go to Oga's down the street instead.
(2)
sunny n.

Great Buffet with an awesome choice of sushi, sashmi, tempura, noodles, rice..the list goes on and on.... Chinese -Japanese mixed super menu....cool decor..loud..spacious..and a key hibachi grill! Always worth it! Bring you hunger and then some !!!
(4)
Lisa C.

I took some friends from out of town here cause we all kind of wanted sushi, but some also wanted hot food as well. I was definitely a big fan several reasons. Though it is $30, you can easily get your money's worth. The selection and quality of the sushi was really good for a buffet and it wasn't only your typical simple rolls...there were plenty of specialty and unique rolls, many different kinds of sushi, and even a section of sashimi if you didn't want too much rice. There was an ok hibachi grill (i wouldn't recommend it), several selections of soup, all kinds of cold seafood salads, other seafood like crab legs and oysters, a line of assorted hot food(tempura half crabs were good), and a nice little kind of special section in the back. you could get your own bowl of udon noodle soup with your choice of toppings and also random little foods (think korean shortribs, skewered chicken, etc.). The dessert selection wasn't very good...the cakes were bland and the cream puffs were kind of nasty. decent soft serve (vanilla and green tea) but no cones. also a crepe area which was nice. not fresh crepes, but still warm and pretty delicious.
(4)
Dee H.

I actually go to Minado's not for the sushi but to be able to graze on the wide selections of everything else. The only sushi I like there is the salmon roe and I think they serve that only during dinner :-( and I tend to head there usually for a weekend lunch. I'm able to enjoy all kinds of salad offerings, many of which I have yet to find anywhere else, in addition to the other dishes like steak, fish and various offerings of nicely prepared vegies. Because its a bit pricey to just go for the non-sushi items, I now go just for special occasions, like to celebrate a birthday. The wait staff is always pleasant and attentive. They're constantly removing dirty plates as you head back to the buffet tables for more food. There's something for everyone and I've always found the place to be clean. Oh, yes, when I'm not dieting, I really enjoy the little dessert cakes and cookies (they also have fruit and ice cream). All very yummy. Great place to go with a crowd. Oh, I found it extremely busy on holidays, so be warned and venture there on other days. Lots of parking, since the restaurant is in a strip mall. It's located at the bridal shop end of Sherwood Plaza in Natick.
(4)
Rally P.

The first thing that you need to understand is that this is a buffet so my rating is sort with respect to other buffets. Given that, the sushi is pretty decent. They have decent variety of rolls and the 'sushi chefs' will build you cones on request. When I'm craving a lot of sushi, this place is great. But what I really enjoy here are the Japanese-style salads/cold entrees. They're really good and you don't see them at a lot of other places. I end up filling up on dishes like seaweed salad, red snapper in ponzu sauce, beef tataki, and so many others. They also have a grill and will make you teriyaki stuff, and also udon soup. It's a pretty nice atmosphere too, very large, lots of tables, and the lines at the buffet tables move quickly. My only negative is that they have fresh oysters, but they pretty much disappear as soon as they're put out and then they don't refill them often.
(5)
Stacey D.

While the sushi quality & taste is just "okay," the hot entrees, soups, salads, shrimp cocktail, and desserts (like green tea ice cream and tiny cakes :) are all very good. Even if you only get 2 plates worth, it's definitely worth the price (~$25 for dinner)! Bring your family & friends and chow down!
(4)
So S.

Normally, the words "sushi buffet" sounds quite sinful. You don't expect it to be good at all, but this place has mastered the sushi buffet. pretty good sushi for buffet style. What I love more than the sushi are the very good salads. VERY good! Decent udon noodle soup. Also some decent hot food, which I rarely touch....I just go straight for the sushi.
(4)
Jay and Jenn O.

I love sushi. I love all you can eat. When its all you can eat sushi, whats not to love?
(4)
Grace U.

This place is truly the best buffet I've ever went to. The sushi is possibly the ultimate I've ever had in a buffet. There salads were interesting and I liked them. But try the tempura it's soooooo good my mouth is practically drooling thinking about it! The onion tempura is sooo good they're way better than onion rings! Also try the desserts they're cute and not-so-filling providing a not overstuffing meal (most people I know become full from dessert and look like sumos when they wer done no offense people!) So Minado a great buffet that could have gotten 5 stars except I took points off for the prices they measure the kids to determine the price!
(4)
Ruth P.

All you can eat japanese buffet - what more could you ask for?!? The prices here range from $14-16 for lunch (weekdays/weekends) to $23-26 for dinner (weekdays/weekends again), so I'm more of a fan of coming here for lunch, but I think this place is well worth it either way if you come hungry. Great selection of very fresh sushi in addition to grilled items and other japanese cuisine. I generally stick to the sushi to really feel like I'm getting my money's worth, but whatever works for you. :-) They also have a good selection of japenese beers and sakes to round out your meal.
(5)
Atrebor B.

Heaven doesn't want me; and Hell is afraid I'll take over. But if Heaven does permit my entry despite my morally repugnant ways, then the dining halls there should closely resemble the bountiful and delicious aisles of Minado. An experience at Minado's Japanese and seafood buffet is an extravagant gastronomical treat that won't be soon forgotten. The admission fee to this carnival of gluttony at its finest is a mere $25; a price I would willingly shell out despite my dwindling reserve of funds. A raw bar chock full of oysters, a smattering variety of sashimi, prawn cocktail, Alaskan crab legs just to name a few highlights. About 15 types of beautifully rolled sushi and nigiri. A made to order udon and sizzling hibachi counter with a gruffly chef. A mile-long hot entree selection with lobster, BBQ short ribs, with fish and shrimp prepared in every way imaginable. For dessert, there's cakes, ice-cream, and freshly made crepes by a friendly and clean worker. Words fail miserably to describe the pleasurable feelings I harboured upon departure. I love Minado and would dine here each week if my bank account and waistline could afford to. With Minado on earth, who needs Heaven?
(5)
Danielle K.

I am a frequent visitor to Minado, and I must say that I love it! I think their sushi is delicious and high quality. I usually go there for lunch because I don't really eat that much sashimi or crablegs, but I do not think $16 is at all unreasonable. Sushi is EXPENSIVE a la carte, and Minado lets you have all the sushi and hot Japanese food you want! I used to not be so adventurous when it came to sushi, especially the nigiri (raw fish on rice) sushi, but Minado has helped me expand my sushi horizons. Because its buffet style... you can just try one piece of something and see if you like it! If not, you don't feel like you've wasted any money since its a flat price and then you can just eat more of the stuff you do like!! Their hot food is delicious as well, and they have a ton of salads to sample! The dessert is so cute because they cut the cakes into tiny little squares so just like the sushi you can sample everything (make sure to try the green tea cake and green tea cheesecake!!) ! I went there recently and now they have SOFT SERVE GREEN TEA ICE CREAM!! Holy moly it was good!! The only thing is that you have to get there either right when it opens or about an hour before they close because it can get PACKEDDDD!! Once me and my friend went there for dinner on a weekend and as we were eating dessert and coming to the end of our meal, two huge tourbuses full of Korean tourists pulled up and swamped the place haha! Me and my friend, who is also Korean, thanked our lucky stars that we were on the way out because it was like locusts descended upon Minado and everything was cleaned out from the sheer volume of hungry tourists!! I must say though that that is NOT a typical situation, but I will say that it does tend to get pretty packed. Nevertheless, I've never had a bad meal there and I will continue to go there!! There is so much to choose from that you don't even have to like sushi... but it is a great place for the curious to try it ;).
(5)
Eli W.

They are very sloppy with regards to labeling their foods. The "vegetarian tomato salad" had shrimp in it. When I asked the manager, he shrugged and said "I guess they changed the recipe". As someone who cares what he eats, I can't eat at a place that doesn't care about their food preparation.
(1)
Joe B.

Awesome. Please take reviews with a grain of salt, cause they are often coming from prissy urbane internet reviewers who would still only take quality of sushi into account even for a buffet, and also complain its not as good as sushi in california. I'd also take task with any negative reviews complaining that they had to eat rice. Give me a break. Look, the fish is on par with most decent to good sushi places, and the value isn't even close. I went to a place in harvard sq recently that had a sunday special 1$ for nigiri pieces. If I were to compare, I'd say at Minado I ate about 60$ worth of similar to better quality sushi with a better selection. I went in hungry, and I worked out. I didn't even touch the hot bar, or the whole world on the other side of the restaurant. I pounded salmon, yellowfin, eel, uni, and a mix of sushimi until the day grew old. Then I conquered the oyster bar. I didn't even know they HAD an oyster bar. I went late on a thurs night, so it felt like a buffet just for me, but seriously, I couldn't ask for more on my birthday. I went to a sushi buffet in LA a few years ago, and this blew it away. This may be more of a review for the diner(man) who wants quality fish, and a full stomach, but these reviews picking apart subtleties about fish quality and nonsense like that, keep that talk in copley or newbury st, or some new york, san francisco forum. This place is the bomb, and for 25$, I don't ask questions, I hand over the money, and get to it. The free birthday thing, however, is now with an accompanying party of 4 paying customers, so keep that in mind.
(5)
San Y.

Minado is pretty good. The sushi is "great, the best" according to my wife who eats the sushi. I on the other hand prefer just the cooked foods. The cooked food is not bad....but thats because I'm picky. The fried rice is good...I can't think of anything else that was good (I was there just a few days ago), but I do remember liking the place. There is a huge selection of cooked and raw foods though. The decor is nice and the price is not great, not bad, about what I'd expect to pay for sushi buffet. The lines can get long at the buffet line...they don't replenish till something is empty...and rather than bringing a new plate of food out to replace something, they take the existing tray away, and several minutes later, they bring out the replacement tray. Not sure how that sounds to you, but its rather inconvenient for the customers...especially when they bring it out just as I pass that item. The place is located in a mall strip but parking kinda sucks. We had a good time as a family for lunch. I'd recommend it if you never tried it. You should especially go if its your birthday, as they'll give you a gift card for your return visit.
(4)
Todd M.

I've only been there for lunch twice, and it is a great deal for what you get. Dinner looks more expensive for just a few extra items. This is the only New England restaurant for this small, well managed chain. They have the turnover that it takes to serve fresh food on a seafood buffet. One can imagine how quickly a large buffet can turn into a desaster with out quick turn over and active maintainence, and this place knows how to keep it right. The friendly table servers actually earn their tips with quick drink delivery and friendly advice
(5)
U V.

i love this place....i'm not into sushi much but this place ROCK...u got variety of sushi plus for non sushi lover u got ur rice, noodle, etc.... on the other side.....i didn't want to leave this place even though i was full.....just want to wait & go to bathroom & come back out to eat more.....unfortunately people i went with were ready to leave so i had to leave with them..... i'm kinda of disappointed the place is far from where i live.....
(5)
S L.

Definitely the best sushi buffet place in the Boston area. They even have an amazingly huge selection of non-sushi dishes. The crepe station is an interesting, but nice, touch (they make it for you on the spot). Variety is definitely the strong point of this place.
(5)
Christina Y.

The best sushi buffet ever! If you have someone new to sushi, bring them here. There are tons of different rolls and sashimi to try and they can pick whatever they want. If they hate it, there is always the option of the japanese style food which is also very good. The place can satisfy anyone so its definitly worth trying! The best times to go are during the week for lunch b/c the lines are short, or at the beginning of dinner. It can get really crowded and you'll spend more time waiting than eating.
(5)
Ame k.

i love the sushi there.
(4)

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Address : 1282 Worcester Rd
Natick, MA, 01760
Phone (508) 647-0495
Website https://www.minado.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Minado

1282 Worcester Rd, Natick, MA, 01760

Minado Menu

Cold Entrees And Salads

Hot Entrees

Sushi - Maki Sushi

Nigiri - Sushi

Temaki - Sushi

Dessert - Pastry

Healthy Meal suggestions for Minado

Cold Entrees And Salads

Hot Entrees

Sushi - Maki Sushi

Nigiri - Sushi

Temaki - Sushi

Dessert - Pastry

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